Chapter 15 Cavern of Death

Inside the dim cave, Iryoku walked in tense silence, flanked by Léon’s warriors. The old mage, Ulric, led the way, his outstretched hand casting a faint, flickering light spell that painted eerie shadows on the cave walls. The group instinctively drew closer to the glow, their footsteps echoing ominously in the confined space.

Iryoku’s eyes locked onto the back of Léon’s head, unblinking. Each word exchanged between Léon and Ulric about the bounties they sought felt like nails being driven into his mind. His heartbeat thudded louder with each step, but his face betrayed no emotion. The subtle tension in his body was imperceptible to those around him, but he could feel it—the sharp, primal instinct screaming at him to act.

As they entered a vast chamber, the spell’s light stretched out, revealing a dome of crooked stone. Iryoku closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He steadied his racing heart, forcing his breathing to even out. A creeping stillness overtook him as he heightened his senses to their absolute limit.

Then Iryoku heard the faint, unmistakable sound of swords being unsheathed.

Iryoku didn’t hesitate. Without opening his eyes, his hand flew to his belt, drawing one of his daggers. In one fluid motion, he threw it with deadly precision. The blade whistled through the air toward the pair ahead of him.

Léon reacted instantly, pivoting and raising his slender sword to deflect the attack. But the dagger wasn’t meant for him.

A sickening sound echoed through the cavern as the blade struck its true target—Ulric. The dagger pierced the mage’s back, embedding itself squarely in his heart. Ulric let out a choked gasp as his light spell faltered, plunging the room into total darkness.

"Kill him! Now!" Léon roared, his voice reverberating through the chamber.

But the darkness was Iryoku’s ally. He opened his eyes, his pupils dilated, adapting instantly to the black void. Before the warriors could organize themselves, Iryoku struck.

He moved like a shadow, silent and lethal. One of the armored men beside him shifted, drawing his sword, but Iryoku was faster. With a quick sidestep, he drove his dagger into the vulnerable spot between the man’s neck and shoulder armor. The warrior gurgled and collapsed as Iryoku yanked the blade free.

Another figure lunged—a woman, her shield raised high and sword slicing through the darkness in a wild arc. Iryoku ducked low, her blade whistling just above his head. Rising swiftly, he drove his dagger upward, the blade piercing through the soft underside of her jaw. She froze for a moment, her shield clattering to the ground before she crumpled lifelessly.

“Light a torch! Now!” Léon shouted, his voice filled with fury and desperation.

Iryoku moved like a shadow, snatching up the fallen woman’s shield and sword. In one smooth motion, he hurled them in opposite directions. The sword flew with deadly precision, embedding itself in the side of another female warrior’s head. She collapsed without a sound. The shield, meanwhile, struck another man square in the chest, throwing him off balance.

Before the man could recover, Iryoku surged forward. His dagger found the unprotected gap beneath the warrior’s chin, driving upward with lethal force. Blood sprayed as the man crumpled to the ground, gurgling his last breath.

Léon stood motionless, his face pale but his eyes burning with rage. The chaos around him was barely visible in the darkness, but he could hear the sounds of death—the gurgles, the muffled cries, and the heavy thuds of bodies hitting stone. He tightened his grip on his thin, elegant sword, assuming a defensive stance.

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"Stay close!" Léon barked, but his words fell on deaf ears.

Suddenly, a faint glow flickered to life as one of the warriors managed to ignite a torch. The flames illuminated the gruesome scene—bloodied corpses strewn across the cavern floor. Only Léon and the man holding the torch remained alive. The warrior glanced nervously at Léon, standing a couple of meters apart.

The torchbearer’s hand trembled. Then, without warning, the torch slipped from his grasp, tumbling to the floor. His body followed, collapsing forward in a lifeless heap. Blood pooled beneath him, and the faint light of the torch cast eerie shadows over his fallen form.

Léon's composure shattered, his face twisting into a mask of pure rage. He bellowed into the darkness, his voice dripping with venom. "You bastard! I'll kill you and those women slowly and painfully! Come out and face me, you coward!"

The torchlight flickered weakly, barely illuminating the cavern.

Iryoku stepped into the faint glow, his figure shrouded in shadows, his grin sharp and mocking. “You won’t see another day, ‘captain,’” he said, his voice low and cold. With a swift motion, he tossed a bloodied sword at Léon’s feet.

Léon reacted with inhuman speed, his slender blade flashing downward to deflect the thrown weapon. The sword ricocheted off the floor, bouncing back toward Iryoku.

Iryoku ducked smoothly under the rebounding blade, his face unfazed. Closing the distance, he lunged with his remaining dagger, aiming for Léon’s liver with a horizontal thrust.

But as his dagger made contact, a blinding force erupted. Sparks flew as his blade struck something, the impact jolting through his arm. Iryoku leapt back, shaking his numbed hand as Léon stood unmoving, his sword glowing faintly with a pulsing, golden aura.

Léon sneered, his composure returning as he realized his advantage. “Did you think I was weak?”

Iryoku's grin faltered for a moment, his mind racing. "No... I knew you were the most dangerous." His eyes narrowed, studying the glowing sword. Is it a magic weapon? A barrier? Or maybe... a magic skill?

Without a word, Iryoku moved toward the fallen torch. He crouched low, snatching it up before snuffing out its light with a sharp twist of his wrist. The cave plunged once more into complete darkness.

Léon hesitated for a fraction of a second, his glowing blade the only source of illumination. The faint golden hue reflected off the cavern walls like eerie specters. “Hiding again? Coward!” Léon shouted, his voice echoing.

From behind, Iryoku struck. He retrieved his other dagger silently and lunged with both weapons, aiming for Léon’s back.

But to his astonishment, both blades met resistance, rebounding with a metallic screech. Sparks danced as Léon twisted his body and moved his sword with uncanny precision, parrying both strikes in a single, fluid motion.

“You’re fast,” Iryoku muttered under his breath, stepping back as Léon turned to face him.

“And you’re reckless,” Léon retorted, his golden sword humming with energy.

Before Iryoku could respond, Léon thrust his sword forward with lightning speed. Iryoku dodged to the side, feeling the blade’s edge whistle past his ear. Seizing the opening, he retaliated, aiming a dagger at Léon’s ribs.

Once again, Léon’s blade intercepted the attack, sparks flaring between them. The sheer force of the parry sent Iryoku stumbling back. A sharp pain shot through his left arm, and he felt warm blood dripping down to his fingertips.

His eyes darted to the wound. The blade had barely grazed him, but it was enough to remind him how lethal Léon’s attacks were.

Léon smirked, lowering his sword slightly. “Is that it? I thought you’d be more of a challenge.”

Iryoku’s grip on his daggers tightened. His breathing steadied, and his gaze sharpened, calculating his next move.

Léon shifted his stance, raising his blade defensively once more. “Come on,” he taunted, his tone venomous. “I’m waiting.”

Iryoku held his ground, unmoving. Then, without warning, Léon’s expression changed. His eyes darted around the darkness, his smug demeanor replaced by confusion.

“He’s gone,” Léon muttered, lowering his sword slightly.

His hand darted into his bag, retrieving a fresh torch. With a swift motion, he lit it, and the flame sputtered to life, casting flickering shadows across the cavern walls.

The room was eerily silent. Bloodied corpses surrounded him, but Iryoku was nowhere to be seen.

Léon’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the darkness beyond the torchlight. His voice echoed through the cave, a mixture of anger and unease. “You can’t hide forever!”.