We run.

We pass a room and a corridor after another.

The explosions and mechanical noises mix with the shouts.

They fight.

The elves are fighting something. Or someone.

Despite the injury, Fulzo's long legs allow him to keep up.

Once we reach yet another room with a swimming pool, we find the party.

There are no other doors.

No exit. It is a dead end.

Fulzo draws his sword and shouts something, but I hear him in the distance.

In front of me, Drucyw is swinging his flamberge at the metal leg of a quadruped.

There are signs of an explosion, and the ice is shattered, in the process of regenerating.

Vallycum is down. Inanimate. The open backpack and some white cubes lying around.

Amerio is behind him as he prostrate on the ice. Maybe he is praying? While Kavfyra is in front of him, she uses the golden shield to protect him.

Clavynia is nailed to the ice sheet. Inanimate. She is pierced in the heart by a leg detached from the quadruped.

The same being, which wriggles with its three remaining limbs, fights ferociously with Drucyw and uses each limb as a support or thrusting spur.

Drucyw brings down a slash that clashes against the creature's metallic skin.

It leaps and grabs the elf in a grip. Squeezing her with its three legs until she was helpless.

It does not take her long. The [Fire paladin]'s body gives way, and the sword falls.

When the being releases her, Drucyw's lifeless body also falls to the ground.

Without the possibility to use the [skills], they have not a chance. A shiver of terror runs through me.

Why do not they disappear? Why do their lifeless bodies remain here?

Shouldn't they disappear? Return to their world?

Questions are replaced, and an impending problem arises. Fulzo takes off his backpack. He is charging the creature. Shield in hand and sword drawn.

Kavfyra does not seem to want to intervene. Gron is pointing, with its hair standing on end and its claws showing.

I have to intervene.

I have to intervene, or it will be the end for this group.

I draw my sword and run. The blue wave that emerges reassures me.

The [abilities] work. Even without [skills], we can do it.

Fulzo lands a chop. It gets stuck in the joints of the being's leg. This one emits a shrill scream and turns its optical lenses towards the new rival.

With a judder, the being rotates on itself. Fulzo's sword flies away, and the mercenary falls to the ground.

The being stands on two legs, ready to harm him with the third.

It will not succeed. I will not let it succeed!

Ci-cin!

I lunge.

I sink with all my strength into that mirrored skin.

Crack.

Crash.

I do not believe it.

I cannot believe it.

Waves of blue light spread everywhere. The sapphire with the reflections of the sea…

…Fragments everywhere…

Yes, it shattered. It shattered in the center, breaking in several places.

The being's skin is bruised at the point of impact. Its eyes turn towards me.

It is impossible…

The creature prepares to impale me, but something makes it lose its balance, causing it to fall.

Fulzo threw himself on it, taking advantage of the distraction.

Kavfyra, taking advantage of the fall, rushes in brandishing her hammer sickle, striking the joint already damaged by Fulzo's blow.

The creature screams and loses the lower part of its limb.

It wiggles and hits Kavfyra who manages to protect herself with the tower shield. She ends up on the ground, and the being loses liquid.

Iridescent black liquid. The smell of petroleum.

It must have ruptured an artery.

It must be…

…died?

The being slows down its movements. The jet of oil ceases, and so its vital functions cease.

Now, it lies. Such as Vallycum, Drucyw, and Clavynia.

It lies before our eyes, and no one wants to say anything. Fulzo enters my field of vision and picks up the sword.

I hear Amerio cough, and Kavfyra walks away.

I continue to study bodies. With taps of my foot, I try to turn a limb of being.

It is too heavy.

Ci-cin, Ci-cin.

I use my tails to help me and manage to turn it over. Its lower body is not covered by metal. It is a tangle of tubes and cables, and it is leaking a few drops of oil.

I wish I could use [Scan].

The only solution, at the moment, is to leave. Take a piece of the creature with me and scan it outside the [Sanctuary].

I look up at my companions.

Gron is still. Fulzo is reviewing his ex-companions. Despite the betrayal, he seems unhappy.

Kavfyra and Amerio talk. He coughs several times and continues to point to the bodies.

He certainly noticed the abnormality of the situation. [Astral journey] does not allow the body to remain dead.

Is this a containment effect of [Sanctuary]? Or is it something different?

I open my mouth to speak to them. I think about it again. I have nothing interesting to say.

Using my tails, I pick up the piece of leg Kavfyra broke off from the creature. I bend down and pick up the fragments of my sword.

Sigh.

I hope out of here they come back together, reconstituting the sword.

Even if I do not remember the donor, I know it is important to me.

I reach for Fulzo's backpack and put the pieces inside. I would put it on my shoulder, but it is an elf backpack. Almost as tall as me.

I feel Gron's paw on my ankle.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Ci-cin.

“Gron…” I turn around. I bend down to pet its head. I pick it up. “I'm not sure what to do—should I try to judge them?”

Gron comes out of my arms and looks at the bodies.

It looks at me again. “I think you should try. Judgment is a System skill. If nothing else, it will clarify. If they're alive, it won't work, right?”

It is true.

[Judgment] does not work on the living.

We need to do some tests.

There are three bodies. Too big for me. Amerio cannot carry any. Consequently, only two can be taken out…

…perhaps given the obstacles along the way…

In any case, one can be used as a test.

But which of them?

I raise my head and look for Fulzo. He is talking softly to Kavfyra.

No, not quietly. The noise of magical electricity passes through the wires, the distance, and the room acoustics. These elements make me feel them in a whisper. But from the gestures, it is clear that they are speaking.

Peaks of anger in the discussion.

I breathe in. I raise my voice. “Now, I will judge the one who stabbed you.”

Hearing my words, the three surviving adventurers turn to me, interrupting their discussion.

♦

“Clavynia. She was the one who stabbed me.”

Before the others could speak, Fulzo answered my question.

I look around. I walk towards the body of the elf hunter.

Having arrived, I bend over on my heels. I place my hand on her face. She is contorted, with an expression of pain.

The pain of being nailed to death?

I have tried something similar in the past, but the outcome was different.

Ci-cin.

[Judgment]

I do not expect it to work. I do not know what to expect. The situation is so far-fetched that I can hardly believe it.

I retract my hand and stand up.

[Judgment: Nightmare]

Oh, it worked!

The body begins to sublimate, giving off the now-familiar smell of gas.

So, in this part of the dungeon, you do not become ash?

So, they really died!? Despite the astral form?

Hmm…

“HEY! What did you do to Clavynia!?”

I turn to Kavfyra.

Her face is livid, with red cheeks and throbbing veins on her neck and forehead.

“I judged her. It is the task entrusted to me by the System.”

“OH, what do you mean?! What are you talking about!?”

“I've already introduced myself, right? In any case,” I bow a little, lowering my ears. But I throw a defiant look at the presumptuous one. “I am N, Empress of the Underwasteland. She who judges the deceased.”

Clavynia's body has disappeared, and even her smell in the air is fading.

There is a fair distance between me and the magicians. In the middle, on the ice sheet, are Gron and Fulzo.

The [Cursed priestess] holds her weapon, pointing the apex of the sickle towards me.

“You're lucky that magic doesn't work here. But if you dare to touch another of my companions—”

«Fssss.»

“Oh, now that they are dead, they have become companions?”

“How dare you? By the name of Ivykku, lord of—”

“Kavfyra, stop it.” Fulzo intervenes while he places the backpack on his shoulders. “Didn't you see what happened? Because of you, we awakened a monster, and because of you, three other adventurers died. Added to those steps to reach the temple from which we come—it is clear that you aren't cut out for command.”

“How dare you!? Betray me. To betray us is to condemn all elves!”

“You say that. First of all, you betrayed me. Second, our people will die anyway. And this is because of you who persist in not obeying the lady of this place.”

“Tsk.” Kavfyra looks away.

Amerio has hood turned towards me. I cannot see his eyes. I think he's watching me. Maybe, he's up to something.

Fulzo comes over and pets the head of my snake-headed tail.

“N. I made up my mind before, but I'll reiterate it more clearly. Help me. In the name of my people. I renounce the authority of the priests of the beautiful gods, I renounce my pay, and I surrender myself to you.”

I feel my cheeks reddening. Uh, how embarrassing!

How did we get to the point of such submission!? In short, I…

I…

“Er, all-all r-right. Then I'll tell you right away what we'll do.”

“At your orders.”

“Um, don't be formal. Not so… anyway, take one of the bodies. We have to go back, and I have to do some research.”

“Backwards? Some research?”

I nod. “Research into the nature of these creatures,” I point to the iron carcass, “and why they died instead of returning to their world.”

Fulzo places a hand on his side. “Hmm, I see. I will obey.”

After those words, he walks away. I see him trying to carry Vallycum, the [Explorer], the smallest of the survivors, onto his shoulders.

“You two can continue to advance on your own. That's what you want anyway, right?” My voice comes out more hostile than I want.

Amerio tries to stand on tiptoe, which is difficult due to his hump. He whispers something in Kavfyra's ear and retreats.

She looks at me fixedly.

I cannot decipher her expression, but I understand there is hostility.

I see.

I see it in her hand.

“We'll go alone. Don't worry, you, horrid monstrosity.”

Kavfyra throws a glowing cube at Fulzo and me.

[Holy explosives]!

They must have picked it up off the ground when I was not looking! I have to—

An explosion throws me away.

I see a very pure light appear. I feel my ears plugging, the shock wave.

I do not understand, but maybe Fulzo shouted something.

When I open my eyes again. My head spins.

I put a hand on my forehead. I am trying to think clearly. I hurt all over, and my green blood oxidizes on my skin.

[Immortality] still works. I am already healing.

Around me, there is the echo of receding footsteps. The smell of gas, ah, here's the hole in the ice—

The hole in the ice!

The bodies disappeared. A sense of anxiety takes over my body. My wrists stiffen, and I watch the plate recompose itself homogeneously.

There is part of the creature. There are no corpses. Fulzo's backpack is…

…there.

Gron is fine, hidden behind that same backpack damaged by the explosion. The cat gives me an eloquent look.

“Go, Gron. Chase them and keep me updated.”

It snaps. Only later did it occur to me that even if [Prayer] worked, it did not mean I would have had a way of achieving it.

But that is how it went now.

Next to the backpack, Fulzo is seriously injured and unconscious.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Luckily, he did not fall into the small chasm.

I stagger groggily.

The echo of the footsteps of the fugitives arouses deep anger in me but now is not the time.

I kneel and pick Fulzo up in my arms.

He gasps. He is covered in blood and looks at the ceiling with glassy eyes.

He grabs my arm with his big hand.

“Shh. Don't worry. I'm here…” I do not know what to say, and I put my hand on his.

He's the second person I've seen die, and I still think he's not pleasant at all.

I would do something more. Words of comfort cannot save lives. Being a mercenary, he probably had a dissolute life.

When he dies [Nightmare] will be the judgment he will receive from the System.

Sure.

Sigh.

Ci-cin.

I feel his muscles tense. His clothes are in pieces, and he is covered in horrible burns. I probably was too. But I am immortal, and even when I was not, I had superior regenerative abilities.

“Rest, rest.” I cannot even pet him for fear of hurting him.

I see his mouth move. “And—el… Elixir…” Fulzo voice comes out faintly, mixed with the gurgling of blood in her mouth.

I prick up my ears.

“Elixir?”

He tries to nod. “Backpack… box… wooden box.”

I immediately understand what he is telling me.

I put him on the ground and spring to the backpack. I stick my head and arms inside. Thanks to the fragments of the sword, I can see.

Next to a pair of cursed [Holy explosives] are saddlebags, the creature's metal limb, and a rectangular dark wooden box.

I take it and slip off.

There are some writings on it, but I do not understand them.

I raise my head towards Fulzo. With one crooked eye, he is watching me. He nods at me.

I run to him and open the box. Inside there is a strangely shaped bottle, a sort of knot of glass straws. Inside is a bright green liquid.

“Wet… wounds.”

I cut the paper seal with my nails, uncork the bottle, and pour it on Fulzo's burns.

The body begins to smoke, and a scent of unknown spices spreads through the air.

The wounds begin to regenerate. They're going slowly. It will take a few minutes.

Ci-cin.

I sit cross-legged and watch the elf's body regain color. Unfortunately, the most serious wounds become scars. Adding to the many already present.

“Thank you.”

“Hm-hmm, you're welcome. Luckily, you had such medicine.”

“Haha. After so many years, talking about luck is not the case.”

Silence falls. By now, the fugitives are far away. I no longer hear their footsteps.

Fulzo manages to sit down. Even when sitting, he is too tall, and I have to lift my face to look him in the eyes.

“I'm sorry about everything. I imagine you hate elves by now.”

“No. I owe a lot to the elves.”

“Are you talking about heroes or nobles?”

“Maybe. It's stupid, but I've been wondering about it before. Like you, but she is also much shorter than you. I mean, aren't you from the same planet?”

Fulzo blinks in confusion. He does not know that in times of stress, I tend to talk nonsense. “Actually, it's you who is very short…”

“…”

“Sorry, sorry. Your cat rather?”

“Gron is following the two fanatics.”

Fulzo puffs out his chest and exhales.

Fanatics.

Assassins.

Wicked.

“I know what you're thinking N. I don't want to dissuade you. I'm glad you don't think of us all as them. They are part of a powerful faction, what's left of it at least, and—”

I raise my palm. There's no need to continue.

“Quiet, rather. Now we have to go back. I need my skills to analyze evidence.”

He smiles. “Perhaps I can give you some good news on this.”

“Meaning what?”

“There's no need to go back. I just used an automatic skill. Also, you used a skill just now, didn't you?”

“HUH!? But the story of Amerio who sensed the obstruction spell with his wand?”

Fulzo stands up, silhouetted against the light of the room.

“Listen. I think it was a misunderstanding. The barrier dissolved itself in the hours following the awakening. That gigantic being was held captive by the spell. We broke it. It just took a few hours to complete the process.”

“Is this a possible thing? Also, didn't you use an ability instead of a skill?”

“Sure. Amerio himself knows imprisonment spells of that kind. Not that extensive. As for me, I'm sure. Erect is a skill. It sacrifices a third of my maximum vitals. But reduces the damage from a killing blow to the bare minimum.”

“Do you use levels?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…” I put my hand on my chin and look away.

The hypothesis holds.

If what Fulzo says is true, it means that [Sanctuary] is a powerful containment spell.

The [Holy explosive] or attack on the creature deactivated the spell. This would explain why [Judgment] worked, along with this [Skill] [Erect] of Fulzo.

Uh, but this!

“From your face, I can tell that you understand. Yes, they too should have regained the ability to use skills.”

“I understand. This also applies to Gron then.”

“I hope he's careful. Amerio, even sick, is a fearsome magician. While Kavfyra is the strongest priestess. It is no coincidence that they organized this mission.”

“I guess you were the best too.”

Fulzo holds out his hand. I shake my head and stand up, rocking on my heels. I straighten my skirt.

“If you don't count heroic exceptions, we were the best. Different companies, but the best.”

“Haha. Then there is no need to worry.”

“N, I understand that you are strong. Coming out of the explosion unscathed proves it—but don't underestimate them.”

I try to pat Fulzo's now healed shoulder. “Ngh! Don't worry. You see, skills aside, Gron is probably stronger than them. If only it were less cowardly… ah, you know what?”

Fulzo tilts his head.

[Necromancy]

[Necrohound] emerges from the walls. There are seven. They should be enough.

The hounds do not wait for orders and set off in search. I just hope they can smell the fugitives.

Indeed, the [skills] may have returned, but the [Astral journey] has been compromised.

The corpses, even at [Sanctuary] dissipated, apparently remain here. As if this were their entire body, adapted to the environment.

Fulzo looks at me with his mouth wide open. I flash a mischievous smile and wink.

But now I have things to do.

I start rummaging in my backpack and extract the quadruped's limb.

Moment of truth.

[Scan]