Cautiously, but with haste, Jaron explored the caverns. Traveling farther down he found splitting paths crossing into each other. It was a maze and he was completely lost.

He huffed and leaned on the wall. He didn't have time for this. The kids were lost, confused, and scared were stuck in this forsaken labyrinth. He needed to find them or the vow he made in front of the cave, No, the vow he made when he left home would be broken. To become a great man, a great warrior. However, failing to protect two innocent people on his first mission, isn't the way to his goal. There was no other path. He must find them.

Jaron walked father into the damped caves. The quietness and darkness held firm against his rush light until he stumbled upon a blue light shining. Light, all the way down here? Extinguishing his rush light he crept close to the wall towards the light. Reaching the end of the tunnel an enormous chamber emerged.

In the center of the room three underground waterfalls fell from the ceiling into an underground pool of water. The blue light shined through the holes where the water flowed from. Different tunnels paths fill the walls like a beehive.

He scanned the room for any sign of danger. There was no movement but flowing water. He relaxed and stepped in, but froze.

There by the pond he almost missed it. A person stood tall and lean with broad arms and shoulders. A Dark aura wrapped around the man's body. He didn't know who he was, but Jaron felt sick looking at him.

"Who's there?" The man called out.

In a second Jaron ceased any aura of his mana and held his breath.

The man scratched his head. " Was I imagining things? Nevermind, where did that blasted woman go? Without her I can't controlled the stupid rat."

The man formed an eerie Aura around himself. He took a step in the opposite direction of Jaron. Jaron's shoulder eased as the dangerous man moved far away from him. Then in a blur the man's feet movement changed.

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" Hello there, little rat." The man's grin appeared in Jaron' sight. Taking a step back he raised up his mana armor, but the man grabbed his neck.

He snarled in his ear." Let's get a good look at you in the light."

With one hand he flanged Jaron into the large chamber. Hitting the floor he tumbled several times until submerged into the shallow pond.

The room spin as he laid in the water. The man's steps echo off the camber walls. He knew he couldn’t stay on the ground, but muscles refused to cooperate. He circled his mana and regained his balance. Standing on unsteady legs, He pulled out his pistol. His hand shook as he aimed at the man. He pulled the trigger, but the man side-stepped ignoring the bullets and strolled towards him. This was not good. The man was a monster of a higher caliber than the original mission Jaron had prepared for.

" Wow, look at you. A fancy coat with a fancy gun. You are one of those noble pigs."

Jaron glared at the approaching man.

" Whoa, nice glare. You have the making of a decent warrior. But not with those weapons." He stepped closer.

Jaron shot at him. The magic bullet bounced off the man's sickly aura.

" See, useless. Why is a perfectly good warrior pretending to be a mage? Using tools with runes and spells. A waste, I say." The man clicked his tongue.

Jaron spin his pistol barrows to the lightning rune. He pulled the trigger sending electric scattering across the floor. The men stepped straight into the field undisturbed. The man kept his pace toward him with a listless smile and lazy steps. But each step he took an unbearable pressure increased on Jaron.

Jaron lowered his gun. He needed to make a run for it. He had no chance against the monster and staying would be suicide. Taking a step back he rushed though the pond but the water tripped him. He scrambled to regain his balance as he crashed back onto the ground. The shock of the cold water sent him into an uncontrollable tremble. His body no longer listened to him as he tried to stand back up.

The sound of the man's heavy boots splashed at the edge of the pond. Jaron lifted his gun and shot one more shot.

The man shook his head.

" I told you to stop using weak mage magic. Here, I will show you the power of pure mana."

The man tapped his foot, then with an instant he covered the remainder of the pond, slamming downwards a fist into Jaron's gut. The air rushed out his body and pain spread. His vision faded to black.

The last he heard was, "See, A lot more manly," Before he lost his consciousness.