The Enigmatic Return (Neera and Jean) novel Chapter 1212

Shane and the others looked at him with solemn expressions. Their lips moved slightly, but they remained silent.

Caleb continued, “I understand how you feel, but please trust me. Darcel will definitely bring Ms. Garcia back safely. The most urgent matter now is our next course of action.”

Charles furrowed his brows in uncertainty. “So, what should we do now?”

Caleb's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze deep and distant as he looked towards the valley, strewn with countless shattered rocks.

“It's quite simple. We head towards the mountain peak while searching for Darcel and Ms. Garcia along the way. Since we've all been separated, we must find a way to regroup. Given that we all share the same destination, they will surely head towards the mountain peak once they escape from danger. All we need to do is move forward.”

He paused, his tone taking on a somewhat profound significance.

“But before we set off, we should definitely sort things out here.”

Shane was puzzled. “What else is going on here?”

“Don't you find it strange? The mountain was perfectly fine, so how could it suddenly collapse? And before the collapse, did any of you hear an explosion?”

Charles immediately nodded. “I heard it! It seemed to come from above the valley!”

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “That's correct. So this mountain collapse wasn't a natural disaster, but a deliberate act. Someone caused it.”

Shane also realized. “Are you saying that it was those individuals from earlier who did this?”

“It's highly likely. As the saying goes, 'a person can't run away forever.' It's not always about people. Traces are left behind after something is done. The clues you're searching for are right here, within your reach.”

Both of them were perceptive individuals. Shane immediately grasped the implications of his words. He turned his head to gaze deep into the valley, at the collapsed section, his eyes filled with darkness and coldness.

...

“Are you well-rested?” After surveying the surroundings, Darcel returned to inquire.

Neera nodded. “I'm actually fine, but I'm more concerned about you. With all those injuries on you, are you sure you can handle leaving now? If you strain yourself, it could be really painful.”

Darcel appeared nonchalant. “It's alright. Your medicine is very effective, and I'm feeling much better now. We should depart as soon as possible. They might be searching for us right now, probably heading towards the mountain. It's not ideal for us to be separated, so it's best if we catch up with them as soon as possible.”

Neera understood that her medicine wouldn't work immediately, but she also realized that time was of the essence and they couldn't afford to waste any more of it.

“Alright. Let's go then.” She stood up, brushing off the dirt from her clothes, and tidied up her hair, trying her best to appear presentable.

“But what should we do next? We're at the bottom of a cliff. I'm not sure if there's a way to climb back up the mountain...”

Darcel walked to the bottom of the cliff and pointed at the vines.

“I've checked. There's no path to take. The only way is to follow the vine and climb back up.”

Neera tilted her head back, swallowed, and said, “Alright then.”

There's no other option at this point. No matter how challenging it becomes, she had to persevere.

And so, the two of them quickly grabbed onto the vines, climbing up bit by bit.

Although this cliff wasn't completely vertical, there was still a slope, making it relatively easier to climb.

However, gravity played a role in everything. Overcoming their own weight proved to be quite a challenge.

Neera had only climbed halfway when her fingers and palms became raw, causing intense pain.

In addition, the injury she sustained a few days ago had reopened due to the strain on her shoulder, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.

While switching hands, a sudden sting caused her grip to loosen inadvertently, almost causing her to fall.

Luckily, Darcel was right beside her. Seeing this, he quickly and skillfully wrapped his arms around her.

“Don't be afraid. Just hold on to me, and I'll take you up there.”

The man's deep voice resonated above her head, causing Neera to hesitate, instinctively wanting to refuse.

“No need. I can do it myself...”

However, Darcel insisted, “Don't push yourself. Your hands are injured. If you continue like this, your hands will be ruined.”

Neera gritted her teeth. “But you're in the same situation.”

Darcel remained calm. “No worries. I'm a grown man, so I can certainly handle this weight. Just hold on tight to me.”

Neera hesitated for a moment, feeling that it wasn't right. However, the current situation was a matter of life and death. Therefore, she wrapped her arms around his waist without further hesitation.

Nevertheless, she didn't rely on him completely, but kept one hand free to hold onto a vine.

“By using your strength like this, I can also help you conserve some energy.”

Seeing her determination, Darcel pursed his lips and nodded in agreement.

After a strenuous climb, the two of them finally reached halfway up the mountain again at daybreak.

As they climbed, both of them were exhausted to the point of collapse, instantly falling onto the flat ground, panting heavily, with no desire to get up.

“Finally... I made it up here. I'm so exhausted. This is way more tiring than staying awake for three days and three nights in the lab without eating or sleeping...”