Chapter 29: Into The Unknown (2)
Third Person's Point of View
"Fufu… Now, let's see if you survive this time, tough lady."
A cloaked man lurking outside the dungeon who's sitting on a tree while casually watching the entrance. He's been there since before the 1st platoon entered.
He pulled out a booklet from his chest pocket and read its contents. He was commanded to bring the lady but he didn't sense anything unusual from her aside from being quiet in the corner. Now, he's wondering if the story from the Red Wolf Lord was even real.
He thought about trying to get close to the target by impersonating a magician assigned to duplicate this booklet but from what he observed close-up, the said lady wasn't even qualified in strength to kill a high ranking vampire. Overall, his impression of her is not that high so even if the Lord ordered to bring that lady, he could just disregard it since they thought their target was a hybrid when she's actually not.
The man said, "Too bad. I couldn't let you off because you are suspected of killing one of ours, this is just a payback."
He leaned on the tree and skimmed through the pages. He was actually amazed at how detailed the information it contained, they could probably conquer this dungeon in less than 2 days. But of course, that'll only be possible if they had the complete information.
"Dead or Alive, if you happen to escape death over there, I could just kill you over here." A sinister smile curved his lips and waited for the time being.
-*-
Devon reached the -41st floor; it was still thanks to Randall's booklet that it only caused them fewer casualties than expected from raiding an average dungeon. But this very dungeon they're in we're stronger than average so he considered Randall's Intel as the major component of raiding it successfully.
"Captain, what do you think of that guy who provided us information?" Asked by Devon's right hand man, the dungeon raid's first platoon Vice-Captain, Jullian Coryell.
"Which one? Sir Randall or the Adventurer?" He asked, they already cleared the they're currently in and they're taking their time to take a rest and eat after fighting each floor nonstop.
"The one that got conflicted with the Crown Prince, Sir Randall." He pointed.
'Sir Randall? Well, of course, has a strong responsibility to protect his relatives like Sir Keaton, even their family knight.' - Devon thought
"He's intelligent. He got the information we failed to provide, without it… Who knows what this dungeon will be for us. If we happened to follow our original plan and strategy, just think of the outcome, do you think we'll have a chance to reach this floor?" Devon pitifully smiled, he couldn't deny his incompetence.
"Just as I thought. That guy, after I saw him, I thought he was just an arrogant being of the same caliber as the Crown Prince. But I saw how deep his gaze was when observing… The only thing I thought was he's more terrifying than the Crown Prince." Jullian leaned on the wall and looked at the sky.
The setting of the floor is a garden. Full of dead monster plants they killed. Devon was confused about what his Vice-Captain was talking about. He knows how heightened Jullian's senses are because they've been together for years; he has sensitive senses when it comes to gut feeling and auras.
"My gut feeling warns me that he's more than dangerous. The moment he walked towards the dungeon entrance, I saw how his dark aura ate the evil aura sipping out of the dungeon. I don't know if I was the only one who noticed it, but it made me tremble." Jullian confessed.
Devon gulped but he couldn't believe it given the behavior of Randall during the modeling deal, it was unlikely of him. But he's still considering Jullian's remarks because he knows nothing about Randall aside from being a model before the dungeon raid.
"…Let's move on. The 2nd Platoon is about to catch up on us." He avoided the topic and reached for the tracking device Polestar gave him. It was to ensure the distance they had with each other's platoon.
He read the booklet page for the -42nd floor. His temple crumpled as he tried to find the page supposed for the next floor, but there's none. There's only the -43rd, -44th, -46th, -48th to -50th floors.
He could've sworn he read the whole book and never skipped any part before, but why is there a blank page for -42nd, -45th, and -47th floors?
"What's the matter Captain?" Jullian noticed the frown on Devon's face.
"…I can't find it." He answered, still trying to flip the pages hoping he'll see it. "The information for the next floor, I don't have it." He's frown changed to worry.
Then Jullian's expression went from surprised to serious.
'…We'll finally feel the real danger of the dungeon then.' - Jullian thought
He's not relieved that there's no information for the next floor but he felt a sense of excitement to finally go raid for real. It's because they've grown carefree and rely on the booklet a little too much that the knights feel bored to think it was very easy to conquer this dungeon; moreover, they reached here with only three or four casualties below the average number of death that's supposed to be.
"Then… we need to boost their vigor, right Captain?" Jullian jerked his thumb towards the carefree chatting knights.
Just like Jullian, Devon also feels the boredom of the knights. He wanted to proceed without the guide or whatever information but he didn't know the dangers of the next floor. Will he be able to take responsibility for these people's lives?
'No. I just need to believe in myself just like how that person believes in himself before courageously went straight to the entrance.'
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Devon sighed and faced his platoon. '…If he can do it, then everyone could.' - Devon thought
"Everyone! From this floor forward, there will be no guide to follow. The real raid will start, so never let down your guard. We could die at any moment once we enter the next floor, do not treat it as you treat the previous floors. As always, be alert!" Devon declares, "Advance."
The knight's energy was low but after the powerful warning from their captain was heard, their original vigor was refilled. All of them let out their war cry. Jullian grinned as the atmosphere was tense with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
The knights prepared their original equipment and weapons. The defense team readied their shield as the magicians also prepared their multilayered magic shield over the platoon. Devon pressed the -42nd floor and the portal appeared.
-----
When they arrived at the next floor. Dark scenery greeted them; this is another forest ground setting. The air was humid and the ground was a bit damp. Devon, as the Captain, looks around the area without leaving his spot. His eyes are still adjusting to darkness when a glint from a fast blade passed his vision towards them until it collided with the magicians' magic barrier.
Because of the sudden impact, some magicians lost their balance and some lost their concentration. The 1st layer magic barrier broke in an instant.
"Fall back! Magicians prepare another barrier! Block the other one! Knights be ready just in case the barrier breaks!" Devon commanded as he pulled out his sword and ready the stance.
Another blade from the back side collided with the barrier and the second layer broke. Devon saw two giant blades attached from something concealed in the darkness.
Then all of a sudden, a pair of eyeballs appeared from the center of the twin blades. All of them felt the killing intent from those eyes, just like a predator in waiting. Jullian could tell right away what type of monster they had confronted.
"…Kamacuras." Jullian blurted out in astonishment.
Venter, one of the fairly powerful Magicians in the Platoon, heard Jullian and casted a spell to enhance his vision to have a better view of the said Kamacuras. He gulped at the sight he saw. Kamacuras is a giant monster that looks like a praying mantis, it has a thick dark red exoskeleton and amber eyes, it has sharp blades that could slice even the thickest boulder cleanly. It is one of the rarest monsters that appeared in history.
Venter could be considered the highest ranked 6th-circled magician among the magicians present, and he admits that he couldn't defend against one attack from it even with the help of other magicians, combining their magic.
Devon ordered everyone to duck when he saw another incoming attack. On his cue, everyone obeyed but that did prevent the third layer magic barrier to be sliced in half above them. The Kamacuras passed through their first defense but he couldn't risk using the second defense to defend the next attack.
'…The knights won't be able to endure the blow with their shields alone.'
"Venter! How should we beat that?! Do you know its weakness?" Devon asked. There's only one thing he knew just by looking at the monster in front of him.
Danger.
"Captain…! The eyes!" Venter yelled and prepared his long-range attack.
"Archers! Formation 6! Aim for its eyes!" Devon commanded. The other magicians focused on creating a barrier along with the knights defending with their shields.
Venter was the first one to attack. Long red light from Venter's magic circle on his hands was released like a laser aiming at the monster's eye. When it got hit, green blood splashed from it. That was the cue of Devon to yell.
"Fire!"
Several arrows supported by magic flew to the monster's eyes. Jullian then commanded the footknights to fire the harpoons to the monster's blade and feet, and pull the rope altogether to control the rampaging monster.
The monster shrieked that almost made them deaf, even the earplugs weren't enough to block the sound. But they didn't give up. The knights who can stand the sound jumps up with their swords to cut the legs and finally it's neck. Devon was the one who jumps higher than anyone else to aim his sword at its neck.
Everything was fine and even when they were afraid at first, everyone was prepared and ready. Jullian watches the synchronized movements of everyone. He thought the knights would lag behind at first but they followed well.
*glint*
As if time slowed down in Jullian's vision. Devon's momentum in the air slowly closes the gap between the monster and him. The knights slowly cut the monster's legs with their swords, and the magicians slowly cast a spell.
Jullian couldn't move. No, he wasn't able to move. His body was somewhat petrified when he saw the thing that glinted behind the fallen monster. He wanted to yell and warn everyone but it's too late.
A fast light passed through the knights' bodies who were cutting the monster's legs. Seconds later, the knights' bodies slowly fell apart, cleanly cut in half from their torso as blood splashed on the ground, guts scattered everywhere, and the splatter blood on the remaining knights' faces, including him.
In an instant, 69 knights died, and about one fourth of their platoon members got wiped out in a single attack. The fallen Kamacuras also died; it was cut horizontally just like the knights.
Devon, who landed on the fallen monster's head when pale and his eyes shook at the sight of his men on the ground. Until now their group's casualties did not exceed more than 5, and wounded more than 10.
As if fate played a joke on them, the lives he managed to save thanks to Randall's guide, got reduced in one fell swoop. Anger and fear mixed inside Devon's head as he turned around to face the creature responsible to what happened.
With Venter's magic spell, letters appeared above the creature's head.
-*-
*ha* *ha* *ha* (panting)
'…Fuck.'
Different curses floated inside Yoren's head as he ran away at the crown prince's command. Half of their platoon got wiped out on floor -38.
For some reason, information of -38 -40 and -43 were gone. This the first floor that they have no information about but they chose to challenge the floor anyway as long as they are prepared. But things went wrong the moment the monsters appeared. They thought it was easy just like the previous floors but they thought wrong.
The remaining knights are scattered and he wasn't sure if the number of casualties increased, it's been 30 minutes since the crown prince commanded them to ran away.
*screechh*
*howling*
Cold sensation creeped down Yoren's spine as soon as he heard that sound. He immediately searched around to hide and hold his breath. Fear took over him and tears flowed down his eyes.
'I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die.'
Sound of footsteps was heard from behind the rock he was hiding. It was like his soul slowly leaving his body in fear not to make any sound, he waited for the footsteps to pass but strangely, he only felt it stopped because the sound of footsteps didn't died down.
*howls*
Goosebumps covered his body then…
*trickled*
Yoren felt something drop on his shoulder but he didn't try to check it, afraid to make any unnecessary sound. But the trickling did not stop and his imagination took over his head.
His hand automatically reached for the hilt of his sword and he bit his lips and with closed eyes, he forcibly thrust the thing that was the cause of trickling liquid on his shoulder.
*screech!*
The loud sound finally died down. Yoren stood and staggered the moment he looked at what he did. Just as he thought. His imagination was right, the ghoul was watching him from above and the liquid that trickled on his shoulder was blood from its mouth… probably the blood of someone from their group.
Yoren lost his strength to stand and fell on his knees. He regretted joining this raid. Anger rose in his eyes as he remembered the woman who ran away leaving him behind. He blames that lady, if it wasn't for her he wouldn't experience this. Another person he blamed is aimed at that person who provided them incomplete information.
'That bitch, Amelia and the bastard, Randall. You definitely pay for this double.'
According to the magician that was with them after they saw the monsters of this floor, those are flesh eating monsters with agile bodies, they have no eyes but their hearing is comparable to bats. He also added that on this floor, hundreds of Ghouls are present.