Chapter 20

The tension in the corridor shifted abruptly as Byte emitted a sharp warning beep, his sensors flaring with red indicators. I spun around, scanning the glowing crystal-studded hallway. The soft, ambient glow from the walls seemed to flicker ominously, casting strange shadows that danced and shifted like living things.

“Something’s coming,” Felix whispered, his grip tightening around his staff. The faint, rhythmic thrum of the Mana Conductor Crystal seemed to pulse faster, resonating through the stone around us.

Byte’s cat-ear sensors, sharp and twitching, pointed down the hallway behind us. I turned, eyes straining against the dimness, and then I saw it—a dark shape, sliding along the ceiling with unsettling speed. I activated [Identify] just as the creature dropped down with a chilling hiss, landing in front of us with a thud that shook the ground.

Manavore Lurker

Level 13

Description: A subterranean predator that thrives in mana-rich environments, the Manavore Lurker feeds on the mana of its prey, draining their reserves and leaving them weakened. Its crystalline claws and fangs can tear through most armor, and it has a natural resistance to spells due to its mana-absorbing nature.

“Oh great,” I muttered, my heart hammering in my chest. “A creature that eats mana. Just what we need.”

The Lurker was larger than I’d expected, with a sinuous, eel-like body covered in rough, iridescent scales that shimmered with a dark, oily sheen. Its eyes glowed with a sickly green light, and its maw opened to reveal rows of crystalline fangs that glistened menacingly. It let out a low, guttural growl, its gaze locked onto us.

“Maura, we need to keep it away from the crystals,” Felix warned, his voice tight. “If it feeds on them, it might get even stronger.”

“Noted,” I replied through gritted teeth, summoning my energy sword. “Byte, circle around it. Felix, support from the back. Let’s not let this thing get too close.”

Byte let out an affirmative beep and darted to the side, his new enhancements making him more agile than ever. The Lurker lunged at him, but Byte rolled out of the way with a burst of speed, his fangs gleaming as he whipped around to face it again. As the Lurker turned its attention back to me, I saw an opportunity.

I summoned [Electric Surge] channeling a burst of energy through my sword. Lightning crackled along the blade’s edge as I swung, slashing across the Lurker’s side. The creature shrieked, its body spasming as the electricity coursed through it, but to my dismay, the effect was short-lived.

The lurker spun it’s attention no longer on Byte and focused it’s green and glowing eyes on me.

“Damn it! It’s absorbing some of the mana from my spells!” I shouted, taking a step back to move into a more defensive position.

Felix’s eyes widened in understanding, his grip on his staff tightening. “We can’t rely on just spells against it. We need to hit it physically—somehow disrupt its focus.”

“Easy to say,” I muttered, dodging to the side as the Lurker lunged at me with startling speed. I barely managed to deflect its strike with my sword, the impact sending a jolt of pain up my arm.

Byte flashed his LED sensors brightly blinding the creature momentarily who was only used to the dimly lit dungeon. It flailed around clawing at it’s eyes and Felix shouted over the guttural screaming of the beast, “That won’t hold it for long. Can you get in close while it’s stunned?”

“On it,” I said, adrenaline flooding my system. I dashed forward, using the momentary opening to slash at the Lurker’s legs. My blade hummed as it cut through the creature’s crystalline hide, leaving a deep gash in its limb. The Lurker screamed, its body shuddering violently as it struggled to recover.

Byte seized the opportunity, zipping forward and ducking under the Lurker’s thrashing form. With a precision born from his new enhancements, Byte jabbed his venomous ears into the soft underbelly of the Lurker. A hiss escaped the creature’s maw as the toxin took effect, its movements becoming sluggish and erratic.

“Great job, Byte!” I called out, keeping my focus on the Lurker as it reeled back. But the creature wasn’t done yet. It swung its tail with brutal force, catching Byte and sending him skidding across the stone floor.

“Byte!” I screamed, horror clawing at my chest.

Byte righted himself, his mechanical form battered but functional. He let out a defiant series of beeps, as if to say, I’m not done yet.

Felix was already moving, his staff glowing brightly. He threw out his free hand, conjuring a barrier of force that pushed the Lurker back, giving Byte the space he needed to regroup. “Keep hitting it! We’re wearing it down!” Felix shouted, his face set in grim determination.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Lurker’s eyes flared with anger as it charged forward, barreling through the barrier with raw power. I braced myself, set to hit the monster with a charged mana infused strike. My sword lit up, glowing with electric energy as I met the Lurker head-on.

“Take this!” I roared, bringing the blade down with all my strength.

The impact was explosive. Lightning arced from the blade, coursing through the Lurker’s body in a crackling web of energy. The creature convulsed, its body shuddering violently as the electricity overwhelmed its systems. With a final, ear-splitting shriek, the Lurker collapsed to the ground, its limbs twitching as the last of its strength faded.

Panting heavily, I staggered back, feeling the exhaustion wash over me in waves. “Is it… dead?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Felix approached cautiously, his staff still raised. He prodded the Lurker’s body with the tip of his staff, and when it didn’t move, he let out a shaky breath. “Yeah… I think we got it.”

I relaxed, letting my sword’s energy dissipate. My limbs felt like lead, every muscle trembling with fatigue. Byte rolled over, his metal frame dented and sparking slightly, but he emitted a triumphant chirp.

I couldn’t help but smile at him. “You did great, Byte. You really pulled through.”

Felix gave me a weary grin, wiping sweat from his brow. “That was intense. And we still have to deal with whatever else this dungeon throws at us.” He knelt down, picking up one of the Manavore Lurker’s claws and examining it closely. “These materials are going to come in handy, though.”

Just as I was about to respond, a movement from the Lurker’s body caught my eye. A flicker—no, more like a twitch. Panic surged through me as I noticed the creature’s tail shifting ever so slightly, then its limbs began to stir.

“Felix, get back!” I shouted, stumbling as I tried to raise my sword again. My heart pounded in my chest, the realization hitting me like a sledgehammer. The damn thing wasn’t dead!

With a guttural snarl, the Lurker’s eyes flared back to life, glowing a furious jade. It lunged upward with startling speed, its body contorting as if driven by some last, desperate surge of power. Felix was caught off-guard, barely managing to throw himself to the side as one of its massive claws swung toward him missing and barreling into the crystals on the corridor wall.

“Shit, it’s regenerating!” Felix yelled, scrambling to his feet, his staff crackling with energy. “How is it still alive?!”

The Lurker reared back, its broken body writhing as shards of crystal reformed along its limbs. A sickening crack echoed through the cavern as its fractured bones snapped back into place. Black ichor oozed from the gashes along its side, the substance bubbling and sizzling as it began to close the wounds.

Felix cursed under his breath, raising his staff high. “We can’t let it keep absorbing energy like this. It’ll never stay down!”

I grit my teeth, adrenaline spiking through me as I forced my exhausted body back into motion. The Lurker’s form was still unsteady, and Byte was already on the move, his sensors glowing brightly as he assessed the threat.

“Byte, flank it!” I commanded, my voice hoarse but determined.

Byte beeped in acknowledgment, zipping around the Lurker with remarkable speed. The creature turned, swiping at him, but Byte ducked low, his small form darting under its reach. With a burst of agility, Byte jumped, landing on the Lurker’s back. His fangs bared, glinting like polished steel as he bit down into the creature’s hide.

A surge of electricity flowed through Byte’s fangs, sending pulses of energy deep into the Lurker’s body. The creature howled, thrashing wildly, but Byte held on, his fangs glowing as the venom began to spread.

“Now, Felix!” I shouted, struggling to keep my footing as the ground shook beneath me.

Felix nodded, his face set with determination. He spun his staff, a complex sigil forming in the air above him. The lines of the sigil burned with blue light, casting eerie shadows across the cavern walls. “Boost!” he called out, releasing the spell.

While the boost was active I unleashed my new spell [Arcane Barrage]. A concentrated wave of arcane energy shot forward, slamming into the Lurker’s side. The creature screeched in agony, its body convulsing as the spell tore through its weakened form. Shards of arcane bolts shattered off its limbs, clattering to the ground in a spray of debris.

But it still wasn’t enough. With a final, defiant roar, the Lurker swung its tail with bone-crushing force, knocking Byte off its back and sending him tumbling across the floor.

“No!” I cried out, fear gripping me as Byte’s form skidded to a stop. He lay still, sparks flying from his damaged chassis.

The Lurker’s glowing eyes turned toward me, hatred and hunger radiating from its gaze. I took a shaky step back, pain and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm me. But I couldn’t let it end like this. Not after everything we’d been through.

Gritting my teeth, I forced my mana to surge, calling upon every last ounce of strength I had left. “Felix, I’m going to give you everything I have left. Boost me with everything you’ve got!” I said, pouring the remaining dregs of my mana into a swirling sphere of energy.

“Got it,” he replied, his voice steady.

Felix’s staff flared to life, the sigil forming and illuminated the whole area as it let out an incredible blue glow. The moment he activated it I unleashed my charged up [Arcane Barrage] a second time pouring every last ounce of mana I had left into the spell.

The arcane bolts struck the Lurker dead-center, burrowing into its body before exploding outward in a blinding flash of light. The shockwave rippled through the cavern, sending chunks of stone and crystal flying. The Lurker shrieked one last time, its form disintegrating under the immense pressure of the spell.

When the light faded, all that remained was a smoldering pile of debris and the faint, acrid smell of burnt mana.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping for breath. My limbs trembled with exhaustion, and I could feel the last of my strength slipping away. But the Lurker was finally gone.

Felix stumbled over to Byte, who was still lying on the ground. He gently lifted the little bot, examining the damage. “Byte… come on, buddy, don’t be down for the count just yet.”

Byte let out a weak, but insistent beep, his sensors flickering back to life. He wobbled slightly, his movements sluggish, but he was still functional.

I managed a tired smile, relief flooding through me. “You did it, Byte. We all did.”

Felix nodded, a weary smile on his face. “Yeah… but let’s not do that again anytime soon, okay?” He glanced around at the ruined corridor, the once-glowing crystals now dim and cracked.

I pushed myself to my feet, wincing as pain shot through my legs. “Agreed. Let’s grab what we can and get moving. We can’t afford to get caught off guard again.”

With a final, shared look of determination, we began to gather the remnants of the Lurker and the shattered crystals. We had survived, but this corridor wasn’t over yet.