After bypassing the traps at the threshold of the cave, navigating the cavern became effortless. In hindsight, interrogating the overseer was meaningless, but at the same time it would have been a reckless disregard for caution if they didn’t follow protocol.

Mana Crystals were an expensive resource; it was easy to deduce that they would only be utilized on the path leading to something significant.

And so, it wasn’t much of a surprise that half a mile into the cavern’s depths, where Mana Crystals adorned the walls like precious jewels, the atmosphere shifted, revealing a hidden sanctuary within the heart of the mountain.

The crystals, now larger and more refined, brightly illuminated the path. The rough terrain transitioned into a luxurious setting—a red carpet led the way into an expansive chamber, revealing a meticulously crafted space.

The cavern’s floor, now smooth cobblestone beneath lush carpeting, hinted at opulence. Tapestries adorned the walls, depicting picturesque scenes of rolling plains and forested valleys. A magnificent chandelier, casting a warm glow, hung from the ceiling, adding an air of grandeur to the space.

Within this hidden haven, two men lounged on separate plush couches, surrounded by extravagance. Subservient female Beastkin knelt on all fours, their backs providing a comfortable surface for the men’s legs. Tenderly massaged and attended to, they were served fruit and wine by two human females, painting an ambiance of indulgence and leisure.

“It’s unusual to find rats scurrying around in this place,” said one of the men as he stirred the wine in his flute and took a brief sip.

“Forget unusual,” responded the other man with a scoff. “This has never happened before. So much for your concealment spell and the worthless traps.”

Ignoring the reproach, the man narrowed his eyes shrewdly, assessing how the light refracted through the red liquid in his glass. Even the devil’s luck wouldn’t be enough to find this place, much less to bypass the traps. There’s obviously more to these rodents than meets the eye. “I wouldn’t underestimate them if I were you.”

Feeling offended by the warning, the other man jerked his shoulders aggressively, driving away the woman who tended to him. Then with a dark scowl, he pushed to his feet and faced the entrance of the chamber from which a flippant voice arose.

“You guys sure stick out like a sore thumb.”

“What was that?” the man who was standing spat, a blood vessel throbbing in his temple.

Daisuke nonchalantly stepped out of the darkness and into the light, hands tucked into his pockets. “You both are obviously warriors, not gentlemen,” he said, assessing the garments and old scars they wore. “So you just don’t quite fit in with all the luxury you’ve got going on here.”

The man angrily gritted his teeth.

Milo shrunk back. “Sh-Should you really be provoking them like that?”

Rexar frowned with contempt. “More importantly—”

“They have hostages,” Elena interjected with a frown, biting her lip furiously when she noted the woman who was still being used as a footstool. “I can’t believe the way they’re being treated; it’s so demeaning.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be joining them shortly,” were the last words that the man uttered before unfurling his arms that were now aglow with a purplish aura.

The chamber rumbled and a dark hum followed, accompanied by the thunderous shattering of rock. Daisuke retrieved the Lipanthyer’s Fang and assumed a battle stance in time to witness as a crude arm made of stone burst upward through the carpet with unbridled veracity.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Within moments, a large golem towering at least nineteen feet emerged from the ground. Its body was forged of rock—rough-hewn and cold, and its round, sunken eye sockets exuded an eerie glow.

“Wh-What the hell is that?” Rexar exclaimed.

“It’s a stone golem,” Daisuke explained in a hushed tone, “which means this guy’s likely a conjurer.”

Elena and Rexar looked confused.

“A conjurer is able to summon spiritual and elemental beings and command them in battle,” Milo explained.

“At least one of you did your homework,” Daisuke murmured, much to Elena and Rexar’s embarrassment. “You three focus on the other guy and find a way to rescue the hostages.”

“Right!” the trio responded in unison.

“Imbeciles!” barked the conjurer with a smog grin. “Instead of devising a strategy, you fools should have desperately tried to make your escape. Although, it would have been a complete waste of time.”

Daisuke pivoted his head around at the man’s gesture, only to note that another golem was blocking the only passage in and out of the chamber. But he didn’t despair.

A brief glance at his feet reminded him that Zephyr was absent, so he was entirely on his own. But that didn’t sully his resolve, nor his speed. Daisuke leaned forward as a large fist came crashing down with the force of a small meteorite, sending a wave of destruction rippling through the chamber.

The women screamed as debris rained down like hail. As the dust cleared, the golem raised its jagged arm, expecting to see the crushed and skewered remains of its prey, but there wasn’t even a single spec of blood.

“You wouldn’t be the first to mistake predator for prey,” whispered Daisuke, his back against the conjurer’s.

The man gasped in shock, but it was too late; with a swift, fluent motion, Daisuke spun around, his dagger drawing a bright trajectory toward the bastard’s neck like a beast aiming for the jugular of prey.

CLANG!

The blade collided into a clear barrier, which prevented it from reaching its mark. The conjurer leaped back in the same beat, his expression a cold twist of horror and exasperation.

Daisuke noted as the man raised his hand, the precious stone atop one of his rings crumbling and falling away.

“That’s...” Daisuke’s eyes narrowed contemplatively. Is it some sort of one-time-use barrier?

“He’s fast!” the other man—the less angry one—exclaimed as he urgently sprang to his feet.

“Vernie!” called the conjurer in a telling tone.

“I know!”

When Vernie started an incantation, almost mechanically, all eyes shifted to him. Without instruction, Rexar, Elena, and Milo surrendered to their battle instincts and launched their fastest spell to intervene: Magic Missile.

But it was futile.

Similar to the conjurer, a single ring was sacrificed to erect a protective barrier against the swift assault. As a result, the incantation culminated with the conjurer receiving a buff that significantly increased his mana capacity.

Daisuke’s eyes narrowed, his surprise shifting to annoyance. Shit! Don’t tell me that guy uses support magic! Hey!” he called out to the trio with evident urgency. “You need to get rid of that guy pronto, or we won’t stand a—”

A quake more intense than the last arrested the room, and the conjurer’s prolonged roar made the atmosphere all the more ominous. Veins bulged in his forehead as he summoned his power, saliva drooling from his gaping mouth.

Before Daisuke could act, the golem guarding the entrance closed in, bringing down a stone mace toward his head with explosive force that sent shrapnel flying in all directions.

The pair of human women huddled together in a corner wasn’t so lucky; a fleeting cry was the last sound to escape their lips before their lives were swiftly extinguished by a lethal projectile. And the other women looked on in horror.

“Run!” shouted Elena.

Stirred from their petrified state by the compelling voice, the two remaining females scurried toward their kin. But Vernie wasn’t just about to let them escape with the highly classified information with which they had been exposed.

With a flick of his hand, darts made of ice flew on a trajectory toward the back of their necks.

CRASH!

They shattered like glass against Rexar’s gauntlets as he threw himself forward to intercept. Lowering his arms, he leered at the bastard who seemed more disappointed than remorseful about what he almost did.

“Hurry! Hurry!” called Milo, ushering them toward the exit. “Use your nose; it will lead you back to the others!”

“R-Right!”

“Thank you!”

The girls breathed but a single word before disappearing into the void. Then the trio huddled together defensively and regarded Vernie with obvious disdain.

From the corner of his eye, Daisuke noted the women who had been liberated and those who perished. But it wasn’t wise to divide his attention any longer; as the tremor grew fiercer, four more golems began emerging from the earth as if it were made of clay.

In but a moment, the once extravagant chamber was reduced to the appeal of an average dungeon; broken cobblestones and tattered carpeting cascaded off the impressive mass of the towering golems. Furnishes and other décor that were among their ranks were reduced to rubble.