Fantasy Realm [One Piece] [Harry Potter] [Naruto] - [Progression] [LitRPG]

Chapter 50: Dali Underground & Meeting a Chocobo

Alex is angry, angry with himself. He didn't think about the item slot limit and now has a serious problem he desperately needs to solve!

"Snap out of it, you need to focus on what's ahead of you. If you need space, throw away some gray food items. You may lose out on a few hundred FC, but who cares when your bags are filled with items valued at tens of thousands of FC!" Alex tells himself, trying to reign in his "perfectionist" character, fighting the urge to "Reload," a thought bordering on insanity.

As the group enters the Dali underground, they sneak along tight passages carved into the heavy rock. The stone down here reminds Alex of the cliffs he had visited earlier to "get rid of the problem he caused."

"Damn, this facility isn't just big, it's huge. Such a small village, but the underground is nearly as big as the village itself. Did they build the village over some sort of cavern? This would take ages to construct, at least part of it must be natural."

They spot a group of men standing near a small building next to a chocobo, apparently used to transport goods through the facility. The men discuss the Mayor, his brother, and mention Vivi who stands besides them looking scared. Zidane wants to rush in and rescue him immediately, but Garnet pulls him back, dragging both him and Alex along with her.

"Look at those giant barrels! Do you see the pattern on them?" Garnet points out. "I've seen that same pattern on barrels in the castle before. I need to figure out what's going on here. I want to save Vivi more than anything, but if we fight these people now, we might miss out on the truth. Let's wait a few more minutes before we chase them. They're close by, and we won't lose them."

"I don't agree with this," Alex mutters, his tone firm. His time with the group is coming to an end, and he can't help but reveal his true thoughts.

"You might be putting Vivi in danger. I know you want to investigate the connection between this place and the castle, but you could still do that after knocking out those kidnappers. Your need to avoid conflict is currently more important than saving Vivi. These people clearly aren't up to any good, and they don't look very strong..."

"I... No! Perhaps you're right. Let's save Vivi!" Garnet says, her voice hesitant but determined.

Alex nods, his voice softening. "For now, since we've committed to a stealthy approach, let's stick with that. But the next time we see him, we free him, no matter the consequences. Agreed?"

Garnet meets Alex's gaze earnestly. "Yes! Thank you."

"Let's go already," Zidane urges, clearly impatient.

They all move forward, deeper into the underground, preparing for what's next.

They search the small hut for clues but find nothing of note. Alex, however, uses the time to examine the chocobo nearby, even giving it a gentle pet. Despite the tense situation, Alex is amazed by the giant yellow bird-like creature. He hasn't seen a chocobo since arriving in Alexandria, and now, standing before one, he marvels at its majestic yet practical nature. Despite their remarkable appearance, chocobos are essentially used as substitutes for horses, donkeys, and even oxen depending on their owner's needs. This particular chocobo appears to be used for heavy labor, mainly the transportation of goods.