Team 0 pressed onward through the treacherous desert, the lake turned dungeon stretching out before them like a vast, uncharted ocean.
The further they ventured, the more the environment seemed to challenge them. Winds picked up, making it impossible to orient themselves if not for their enhanced SENSE.
Despite the intensity, their gear held up, shielding them from the worst of the stinging sands.
James led the way, his Thakinetic Awareness a beacon in the chaos, alerting them to the presence of monsters lurking beneath the sand or camouflaged against the dunes. Their encounters with the dungeon's denizens were frequent but well within their capabilities.
The first challenge came in the form of a massive stone golem that rose from the sands like a monolith. Its towering form was imposing, each step causing the ground to tremble. Daniel took the lead, his shield absorbing the brunt of the monster’s mighty blows, while James and Lauren flanked it, exploiting its slow movements to land precise strikes. Maria's flames scorched its rocky exterior, causing cracks to form and expand with each hit.
After a relatively short battle, the golem crumbled, breaking apart in a shower of stone and dust. They quickly harvested the mana stone and moved on, not wanting to waste time when there was so much to do.
Since they had decided to change their route, their presence in the northeastern part of the dungeon would be challenging to explain. Thus, they resolved to hide until they could gather enough evidence that their suspicions were correct and not just words in the wind.
The next encounter was with a swarm of smaller golems, their numbers making up for their lack of size. They rushed Team 0, trying to overwhelm them with wave tactics. It was a chaotic fight, with each team member fending off multiple attackers. Ezekiel's spells proved invaluable, buffing his teammates and providing much-needed help, especially to those like Daniel and himself, who didn't have the AGI necessary to handle so many of the creatures.
To James, these smaller golems were more of a nuisance. Their attacks easily deflected or dodged.
They eventually dispatched the swarm without sustaining any serious injuries, while Daniel and Ezekiel got a level.
Further north, where the trail of destruction was sparser and more time had passed since the last massacre, they also encountered a few lizard-like creatures, their scales blending seamlessly with the sandy environment. These encounters were rare, likely due to the Emerald Guard's actions and ruthless efficiency. The lizards were quick and agile, and their venomous bite would have been a problem had Team 0 lacked the powerful battle suit the AA provided, but their teamwork and sheer power easily outmatched the monsters.
For being an early G-rank, the dungeon proved unusually complex, considering the sheer difficulty they had in navigating the land and the constant waves of monsters - even after the herds had been thinned by the poachers.
Just thinking about how many there could have been… This dungeon is extremely densely populated. They must have culled hundreds.
That kind of poaching couldn't really be excused by simply saying a couple of Awakeners had stumbled upon the dungeon and had not checked to see if it had been assigned. This was a systematic operation in which several people had deliberately and knowingly taken part.
Suddenly, James felt something brush the edge of his senses. A presence not nearly as simple-minded as the golems, nor as instinct-driven as the animal monsters.
"There is someone following us." He said over the roar of the sandstorm and saw his teammates stiffen momentarily before forcibly relaxing. They all knew that abruptly changing their behavior would quickly alert their stalkers that they had been noticed, which they didn't want.
"Do you think they are trying to see if we are onto them?" Maria asked, coming closer so that she wouldn't have to shout.
"Also, do you even know if it's the team we know or if it's other people?" Lauren added before James could reply.
He grunted, taking a moment to concentrate on his skill to get a better feel for those far away presences. Once he got what he needed, he opened his eyes. "It's them, though they are keeping almost to the edge of my senses, so it's difficult to tell what they are feeling."
"Which means they might know about your sensory ability." Ezekiel noted, his voice tinged with concern. "But they don't seem to know the extent of it. That's odd. Who could have tipped them off?"
James frowned, troubled by the same question. The knowledge about his Thakinetic Awareness was not something he had shared broadly, and very few people beyond the high command of the AA knew of it. "I don't know, but if that's true, they might know more about us. We need to stay alert."
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Once it became clear that their stalkers were not about to approach them soon, Team 0 cautiously resumed their walk, not wanting to tip them off that they had been noticed.
As they continued forward, the presence of the Emerald Guard team grew closer. It was clear they were being cautiously tailed, likely to see how much they had figured out.
Daniel's grip on his shield tightened. "If they try anything…"
"We'll be ready.” James assured him, eyes scanning the shifting sands. "Let's not jump to conclusions. They might just be keeping tabs on us."
The wind howled around them, the sandstorm reducing visibility to near-nothingness, yet Team 0 marched on, unwavering in their resolve. They were prepared for any confrontation, trusting in their skills.
So far, every other Awakener within the same rank as us has been relatively easy to deal with. Even Tea's team, for all that they are supported by a major Guild, are not as good as us. We might only have a problem if they have allies nearby, but I haven't sensed anyone else yet.
Finally, after almost an hour of trudging through the sandstorm and dispatching its denizens with ease, stopping occasionally when they noticed another site of a massacre, James felt the Emerald Guard team come closer, their approach cautious yet deliberate.
Carter led them, his expression unreadable beneath the harsh desert conditions, but James could feel a steely resolve that hid a small amount of regret.
It seems like you already decided what to do with us, huh? Well, I can promise you, it won't be that easy.
“Hello there, James and company.” He greeted, his voice barely carrying over the storm. "Fancy meeting you here."
James responded with equal caution. "Carter. We didn't expect to see you in this part of the dungeon."
The exchange was guarded, each team weighing the other. Maya's eyes darted between the members of Team 0, her hand resting on her bow. Leon's gaze was sharp, his body language tense, while Elise remained silent, her staff held loosely in her hand.
Carter's eyes flickered briefly, a sign of his own unease. "We're just making sure the dungeon is thoroughly cleared. You know, for safety."
James nodded. After all, they were pretty far from their agreed-upon area, too, so he couldn't push the issue too much.
"I can appreciate that, but we have noticed unusual activity in this area and have started an investigation. We'd appreciate it if you could steer clear for the moment. We wouldn't want the evidence to get more murky than it already is, thanks to the sandstorm."
Carter's eyes narrowed slightly, and his suspicion deepened. "Unusual activity? What kind of activity are you talking about?"
James maintained his composure, though he could feel the tension rising. "We've encountered several areas where monsters have been slaughtered for their mana stone but not harvested. It looks like poaching to us, but we're still trying to gather more information."
The air between the two teams crackled with unspoken tension. Carter exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible glance with his team. It was enough for James to confirm his suspicions. They knew more than they were letting on.
"You think there are poachers in this dungeon?" Carter's tone was incredulous, but James could recognize feigned surprise, especially since he was observing the man's emotions slowly moving towards grim determination.
"That's what we suspect.” James replied evenly, watching the Emerald Guard team closely. "And we intend to get to the bottom of it." He deliberately didn't expand any further, as even though he was almost sure the Emerald Guard team was involved, he still wasn't about to disclose an investigation's details to people not in the AA.
Carter nodded slowly, a calculating, dangerous emotion passing through him." Well, if that's the case, we'll leave you to your investigation. Just be careful. The dungeon can be unpredictable."
As the Emerald Guard team began to retreat, James felt a surge of energy from them. His Thakinetic Awareness flared, warning him of an imminent attack. He reacted instantly, shouting a warning to his team. "They're attacking! Get ready!"
Team 0 sprang into action, their training and instincts taking over. Daniel raised his shield, bracing for impact, while Maria prepared several fireballs and Lauren readied her weapons. Ezekiel immediately began casting his support spells, enhancing their abilities.
The Emerald Guard team moved swiftly despite their initial surprise attack failing to catch Team 0 off guard. Carter charged forward, his sword drawn, aiming for James. Maya loosed a volley of arrows to pin down Maria and Lauren. Leon darted towards Ezekiel, his daggers flashing, while Elise began chanting, her staff glowing with magical energy.
But Team 0 was prepared. James met Carter's charge head-on, his fists glowing with mana. He delivered a powerful punch that sent the man staggering back. Maria countered Maya's arrows with a precise hail of fireballs, providing cover for Lauren to move in and engage Leon. Ezekiel, protected by Daniel's shield, continued to cast his spells, turning the tide of the battle in their favor.
The fight was intense, but Team 0 had the upper hand. They moved with precision and coordination, countering every attack and exploiting every opening.
James, having gotten an idea of his opponent's strength after the first bout, moved to re-engage, increasing the output to his limbs, aiming at finishing the fight as quickly as possible. Especially so, since he could sense the Emerald Guard team resolve to do anything necessary to shut them up about what they had found.
He slipped around Carter's swing, easily dodged the follow-up, and once inside the man's guard, delivered a devastating uppercut to the jaw. The force of it was such that it completely destroyed the rebreather the swordsman had strapped on, and it also sent him flying for several feet until he landed roughly on the sand, sending it flying everywhere.
Once the others realized what had happened, it was too late. James had already closed the distance to where Lauren was overwhelming Leon, and his presence was enough to distract him enough the Rogue could finish him, dropping him with a blow to the back of the head.
"I almost had him." The brunette complained, annoyed at being interrupted, but James shook his head, turning to where the others had finished their fights.
"We're arresting you for interfering with an investigation and assault on an officer of the law." He declared, his voice firm as he approached the subdued Emerald Guard team. "You'll have to answer for your actions, but cooperating will make things much easier for you."
"We will find out what's going on." Daniel said, his voice grave. "If you are involved in illegal operations, now is the time to speak up."
The Emerald Guard team, however, was visibly shocked by how quickly they had lost. They didn't offer a token resistance as they were searched for communication devices - which were promptly confiscated - and then marched out to the dungeon's limits, where they'd stay until the investigation could be completed.
Team 0 briefly discussed whether one should stay with the prisoners, but they dismissed it. Lauren fed them a paralytic poison that had been given to her by Miss Walker - just in case they ever needed to arrest someone and then could not hang around - and once they had made sure no monster was likely to attack them while they were helpless, Team 0 resumed their trek to the north.