After the group rested they moved on, stopping outside a darkly colored ornate door the group stopped. Stepping forward Ezekiel stopped and faced everyone, the dark purple cloak attached to his shoulders making him seem to blend into the surrounding shadows. "Alright listen up everyone," Ezekiel said, your healers all received a small bag of magic stones from me that should help us with this fight. As soon as we enter your healers will throw these far and wide to scatter the room with light. As nobody has made it this far and refurned, be ready for anything. Based off the Lesser Lycans id hazard a guess that we will se an evolved Lycan when we enter. Be ready for anything shield bearers, as your shield wall will be our best defense. Everyone ready their crossbows and as soon as the target is lit up, you may fire as you wish.
Ezekiel mustered up his strength and pushed the doors open. As the group entered, the healers did as instructed, scattering the stones around the room. "Prince, it would be best if you used War cry. The noise should bring the dungeon monster, as well as bolstering the men" ezekiel said quietly from his side, seeing some of the men were still shaken.
"As you wish," the prince said, unsheathing his sword he clashed it against his shield, and with a gutteral roar, activated Warcry bolstering his mens attributes by 5%.
Ezekiel flexed his hands feeling the slight difference through his body, but soonafter a heavy thud sounded from ahead, interrupting the mens rapture with the princes ability. "Archers fire!" Ezekiel called out simultaneously with the General.
Loosing his own arrow he aimed for the mouth, arrows stuck into the hide and blood could be seen seeping from the wounds. "Charge!" The general shouted. The shield men oicked up their shields and advanced as a singular unit moving to surround the beast. The general charged from the flank. "Shield bash," he shouted slamming his shield into the wolves leg. With a loud howl of pain the knee collapsed as the wolf fell towards the shieldmen. Who stood with pikes braced. The wolf fell upon the spears, and with a whimper it was no more.
"Apologies, commander." ezekiel said bowing his head. "I did not mean to order your men around i simply got caught up in the moment."
"Worry not," General Icaria said, "If not for you and the stones many may have perished this day."
"Your too kind, General." Ezekiel turned and walked to the wolf. Removeing the parts worth the most he stood up. His dimensional storage bag having already absorbed the items. "Lets see what this dungeon's Artifact has in store for us."
Moving on the prince looked at Ezekiel with a small smirk. "So i heard that despite being an A+ Rank this is your first dungeon? Is it the Dungeon Overseer that causes you this reputation?"
"Yes, that is correct your highness. I suppose we shall both be seeing iur first artifact today."
After the wolf had been defeated the darkened mana had begun to dissapate, leaving behind a slight haze. Through that haze shone a bright purple light. Sitting atop an uplifted Square Alter sat a set of Deep Purple Gauntle's, eacha. Mirror Image of One another.
Walking uo the the Alter, the General, Prince and Ezekiel. Stood looking at the beautiful Armor set in Awe.
"The prince Motioned to Ezekiel, as this is the first dungeon youve cleared, i assume this is your first time laying your hands on an Artifact. I dont figure theres a harm in touching them."
Ezekiel moved forward, "It would be an Honor Prince. He reached out, grabbing on of the gauntlets, he turned it over examining the exquisite craftsmenship. On the palm there was a Circular Symbol filled by 3 overlapping triangles, he brushed his finger against it, slowly tracing the circle. The Gloves slowly lit up and reachout out he grabbed the other glove. The moment his fingers brushed against the gloove a purple light flashed throughout the cave. As a loud explosion sounded Ezekiel was blown across the room, purple flames eating away at his body. He never even had a chance to scream.
The prince's laughter rang throughout the room. "Such a beginners mistake thinking you can just casually touch an artifact. The amount of malice and cursed energy residing in them will always have a side effect." The prince said shaking his head as he walked towards Ezekiel. But as he reached for the gloves something strange happened. Purple light flashed throughout the cavern yet again.
Right before their eyes the melted and broken body of Ezekiel mended. The gloves attached themselves to his hands, and slowly sunk beneath the skin. Waking with a groan, Ezekiel looked up at the concerned expression of the prince. But without further ado, cracks began to spread throughout the cavern.
"Damn you! The prince shouted as he backed away from the widening crevice that seperated him and Ezekiel. "Youll pay for stealing the artifact, use the scroll. The prince said as a white light flashed througb the room, they disappeared.
Outside the dungeon, where the dirt and dust sorayed from the opening the white light flashed once again. The prince appeared, with half his men missing. "I suppose that was the limit of the scroll." The prince shrugged anger lacing his face. He whirlled around. "Commander, put a bounty up for Ezekiel Beckendorf. Don't draw too much attention just make it large enough to get people interested."