Luckily nothing major happened the next week giving us only 7 days left until a dungeon break would occur. I still haven't made up my mind about if I should try and go into that world or if I should just stay in and wait it out. I had been mulling the pros and cons of each option so much that I was driving myself insane.
“Portal activation occurring.” Daisy’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Yes! Finally!” I jumped up excitedly. Anything to get my mind off this decision. “Show me the footage. How many of them are there this time?” I called everyone to get into positions and rushed to mine. The footage from the surveillance spider showed me a force of 7 elves this time. They were equipped mostly the same as the 3 that came earlier. However, this time two of them held spears in their hands instead of bows. I guess they are the vanguard then. Spears were annoying especially since I only had poison spiders as long-range fighters, and honestly, they were more like midrange fighters. Still, if they are in the front, then they would be the ones taken out by the traps.
As the elves came into the dungeon they spread out slightly looking around anxiously. Since 3 had already died, they came in with caution. After checking the surroundings they made their way to the entrance of the caves. They did the same as the first three and covered one eye for a few minutes before advancing further. I switched to the surveillance spider in the second first room and watched as the elves entered. As I expected, the two elves with spears were in the front leaving the way. I waited with bated breath as they moved forward. When the front two reached the middle of the room they walked through the spider web on the ground. Instantly two buckets in the ceiling tipped over and poured out poison through holes in the ceiling. The elves heard the noise and instantly looked up but it was already too late. Poison doused the two elves with spears forcing the rest to run backward. The two that got covered writhed in pain before collapsing, dead or unconscious I couldn't tell.
I sent the trap spider to collect the corpses real fast while the others backed out of the cave. One was clearly dead while the other was about 2 breaths from dying. I had Tank 1 kill this one and instructed the poison spiders to begin eating them.
It was a slow process to have them eat the elves, but it wasn’t so slow that I was concerned of the others attacking as we waited. According to my surveillance spiders the elves had backed up into the forested area looking over each other for wounds. It seemed that at least one of them had been poisoned in the trap and the others were treating him. It looked like this team had brought something that was used as anti-poison. They were rubbing a white cream over the spots that the poison had hit. It seemed like even with the quick speed of treatment the elf was clearly in pain.
“Although it's a little disappointing that they have a way to combat my poison idea, it would still cause some issues if I can hit them with it.” I watched closely as the elves caught their breath and got ready to enter the caves again. “Alright, get ready.” At my words everyone got back into position including the poison spiders who were almost done with their meal.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Like the first time, I threw javelin at the wall when the elves approached. The shrapnel peppered a few of the ones in the front which forced them to slide back a few paces. They hurriedly put the ointment on the wounds immediately and continued forward. With 5 elves remaining we waited for the head to head match that was to come.
The tunnel was tight enough that only two elves could advance at a time. They rounded the corner and charged at the two leading tanks with blades drawn. They hit fast and hard, sparks flying as the blades clashed with the armor of the tanks. They weaved and dodged the strikes from the tanks weaponized arms slicing frantically. Their accuracy was incredible, each strike hit the same area chipping away at the bone. A stream of poison shot over the tank's shoulder coating an unsuspecting elf. The other seeing his comrade fall dodged the poison aimed at him. He jumped to the side, filling a space between the two tanks. I was waiting for that and launched a javelin at him, piercing him through the chest. Tank one crushed the skull of the one who got covered in poison bringing the first wave to an end.
The elves didn’t give us any time to recuperate and 2 more charged in immediately. They aimed for the same spots as the first two chipping at the bone even more. Tank 2 hissed in pain as blood seeped from the wound. They jumped back dodging the poison attack before stepping in again. Behind them I saw the shadows move and arrows fly. Duck! The mental command was shot at both poison spiders who crouched down just in time to miss the arrows that were fired at them.
I launched two javelins quickly into the shadows as the elves jumped to the side coming into view. Trap go try and trip them up. Remember to be safe before anything else. I heard the spider in the room behind me dive into its tunnels and make its way to the first room. I sent a few more javelins their way with extra strength having them explode with greater force. I saw one of them wince and step back out of view. Tank two let out a harsh scream as the elf shoved a blade into the same wound.
“Damn it” I lunged forward pushing him to the side and striking with my hammer and shield. I managed to catch the elf by surprise and clip his shoulder. The crushing sound of bone breaking split the air along with a harsh scream.
The elf hit his knees from the force of my hit. I followed up with another hit caving in the elf’s skull. 4 down, three to go. I got a burst of accomplishment and saw the trap spider pop into the room with an elf's head between its pincers. Make that 5 down. With a mental command I had the poison spiders coat the shield as the remaining elves rounded the corner with bows drawn. Before they could release the arrows I raised my shield above my head and launched the shield at them with all my might. It sailed at them incredibly fast, shattering against the far wall. The large pieces of rock shot in every direction causing the elves to dash back covering their faces. Both poison spiders shot past me into the tunnel aiming for the fleeing elves. Simultaneously the trap spider launches back to the tunnel. After regaining my balance from the throw I charged the tunnel rounding the corner preparing for battle.
My rush was not needed. Both poison spiders were already on the elves sinking their fangs into them. Their bodies twitched, but they were completely incapacitated. There was one more elf at the far end of the tunnel that raised its bow. Before it could correctly aim a door opened up to its left and the trap spider came through crunching down on its skull making a sickening pop. The arrow he had in his bow bounced off the wall behind me and clattered to the floor.
Round 2 belonged to us.