Arthur Leywin POV
We were halfway through the cave when suddenly Elijah, who was behind me asked. "How did you know that the cave was going to explode with steam like that?" Everyone's eyes shifted toward me, waiting for my answer.
"I didn't," I replied without turning back. "I knew that something was about to happen, but even I didn't know exactly what."
The giant worm that had been constantly burrowing in and out of the cave, creating more holes, suddenly stopped in front of us, blocking the exit. Without warning, it whipped its head forward and smashed at the ground we were standing on.
I created a water barrier, which deflected all the debris coming our way. Jasmine created several wind bullets and with a flick, jasmine released them towards the worm. Each bullet pierced the worm, making it let out a painful scream.
Elijah quickly erected a huge stone serpent cuffing the worm.
Noah and Caera dashed towards the worm with their weapon in hand's Coiled with fire. When they were close enough with of their weapons, they slashed the east without mercy burning it.
The beast let out a painful cry before rushing back into the tunnel.
"Let's go!" I ordered everyone as we rushed towards the exit. As soon as we passed the exit, the cavern shook followed By another explosion. Jasmine created a windshield to block the steam coming from the greysers.
We soon arrived in the dim hallway.
" Tsk, those oversized worm wasn't even strong." Lucas shook his head, disappointed.
" Thats a big word for someone who didn't do anything. Do you think I didn't noticed? You were frozen when everyone was facing that giant worm." Oliver spat, looking at Lucas.
" You weak commoner dare to mock m-" Before lucas could continue. I interrupted.
"Enough!" I roared instilling mana to my voice. My voice echoed through the corridors as Oliver and Lucas immediately snapped their mouths in surprise.
"This isn't the time to fight among yourselves. All of you are free to kill each other once we are out. For now, get your head out of your ass."
" Samantha and Elijah, we need you guys to stay focused and set up a barrier at a moment's notice." I continued, getting a nod of affirmation from the two of them.
I leaned back against the wall closing my eyes. When I suddenly feel someone sit beside me, I turned around to see Noah beside me.
"I think we agreed that it will be less stressful, but seeing that the brat is with us, the opposite happen." Noah Said. As I chuckled.
A sudden thud noise made turned around to see Kriol with his hand raised toward us.
"Here, these are my special travel sandwiches. I have them when I'm feeling down." Kriol smiled, handing us a sandwich.
"Thank you." "Thank you."
"The best way to eat this is by torching the inside slightly, just enough for the cheese to melt." He explained.
I turn my head at Noah, doing what Kriol just said. When he finished, I and Kriol asked him to do the same for us.
This is delicious!
Looking at Noah I saw him devouring the sandwich like a madman. It seems like he also had the same thought.
"Tasty, right?" Kriol asked.
"Very." I replied.
"This is so delicious! Who made this?" Noah asked, while licking his finger.
"My fiancee created the recipe herself. Down to the way you dry and season the beef." Kriol replied, looking at the ground.
"Well, you're a lucky man. Please send my gratitude to your fiancee for the delicious meal." I said. While Noah nodded his head.
" Yeah you're a lucky man to have a fiancee that know how to cook. Please also send my gratitude" Noah said.
"I-i will." Kriol replied.
After a few hours of rest, we decided it was time for us to move on. As I got up brald walk towards me.
"I think you should lead the group. You were the most level headed among all of us. And if it wasn't for you, some of us would've been dead by now." Brald stated seriously.
"Alright." I nodded as we prepared to leave.
After we replenished our mana core, we continued marching down. This hall wasn't as long as the previous ones but at the end of the hall was a large, double door with a familiar runes etched all over it.
I see Noah step forward, and analyzing the runes. He glanced towards Caera before going back to where he was positioned.
"I-I don't get it, even this part is different. There was never a door here," Brald groaned shaking his head.
"The only thing that was the same was the first Cave where the batrunners had been." He continued, analyzing the runes.
"Well, no use complaining about it now," Reginald shrugged, lifting up his hammer. "I don't know what those runes or symbols are but there are cracks all over them. I doubt they'll do much now," he said as he swung his hammer.
The impact his silver hammer made against the old, metal doors created a shower of sparks as a deep thud boomed.
Reginald was visibly shocked by the sturdiness of the door as it lay intact.
"Impact Blast!" The door shuddered this time, but stayed firm.
"Impact Blast!" The blow this time was harder and the door clicked before opening just a little. Stepping forward, Reginald gripped at the slight opening and pried the doors open.
I couldn't see what was on the other side, but the burly augmenter took a step back as he muttered, "What in the..."
On the other side of the large doors was a beautiful meadow that stretched out far beyond my view. As we all peered agape at the brightly lit field of grass that glittered like polished emeralds, for a moment, the fact that we were underground seemed like a dream.
"Let me guess, this field wasn't here last time either," Reginald muttered as his eyes stayed glued to the enrapturing scenery in front of him.
Brald let out a sharp breath as he continued to stare at the field. "N-No, nothing of the sort."
After mumbling something indiscernible, Reginald let out a sigh of resignation and stepped through the door. The rest of us just exchanged hesitant glances before following after the hammer-wielding augmenter.
Stepping into the meadow, I studied the large area. I almost thought that we had stepped through some teleportation gate out of the Dire Tombs until I looked up to see the rows of stalactites high up on the ceiling. The deposits of calcium that littered the ceiling of this cave glowed brightly, to the point where I had to squint to make out any details.
What I found suspicious, though, was the very fact that a space like this could exist underground. There were no pillars visible and this area stretched for at least a few hundred meters in all directions. With such an extensive open field with no supports holding it up, I was surprised that this place hadn't been buried in rocks.
"Wow! It's so pretty!" Samantha gasped, her head constantly turning to take in the view.
Tall trees and bushels of shrubs dotted the field. Even I couldn't help wanting to just lay down and relax here but ever since we walked through the door, the hairs on my body had been standing on end, as if my body wanted me to stay alert.
Everyone's guards seemed to be down except for Noah, Caera, Jasmine and Elijah, whose eyes kept darting around as if searching for anything suspicious.
"Something's off. Keep your guards up, everyone." I remained vigilant with my shortsword out and my left hand on the grip of Dawn's Ballad, which was still sheathed.
"Are you sure? I don't even hear anything, let alone see much besides the grass and trees," Kriol asked dubiously. I could tell he was a bit doubtful but he followed my advice and raised his shield.
I continued examining our surroundings to see what was making me feel so tense. The light that radiated from the stalactites glowed much brighter than the ones from the previous caves. There was also a thin veil of haze layered over the meadow but that was it. There was literally nothing else besides the plants and this mist.
What am I missing?
However, soon enough, the mist around us began to gradually grow more dense, eventually thick enough so that I could only make out the shapes of everyone around me.
Suddenly, a deep thud broke through the silence hovering around the mist.
"Clara? Is that you? H-How are you alive?"
I whipped my head to the direction of the voice in time to see that Kriol had dropped his gigantic shield and was holding his arms out, reaching desperately at something in the distance.
"I knew you couldn't be dead, Clara! Stay there! I'm coming to get you!" Kriol bolted off, leaving his shield behind him.
Noah grabbed his arm before slapping him.
"Wake up! It's an illusion," Noah roared.
I knew it!
"Everyone! Stick together! This mist is playing tricks on your senses. Samantha, barrier!" I ordered
Everyone got closer to each other as Samantha raised a barrier around us. Kriol was visibly shaken as he hesitatingly picked up his shield. Samantha wanted to ask about Clara but stopped herself after seeing Kriol's face.
"Jasmine, clear the mist. Everyone, prepare yourself for what will come after the mist is gone. Kriol, get a hold of yourself," I ordered, turning towards everyone.
Kriol gave me a nod and prepared his shield. Jasmine took a step forward and raised her hands. A globe of wind formed between her hands. I turned towards Samantha and gave her a nod, signaling her to take down the barrier.
As the barrier went down, Jasmine instantly stretched her hands out, releasing a torrent of wind all across us. The wind spell was strong enough to knock off the wind across the entire cavern and reveal the one who was hidden all this time.
"N-No way..." Samantha's face drained of color as she slumped in resignation.
Five Elder guardians, which was hidden all This time came into our view as the mist cleared. Five pair of red eyes glared dagger at us.
Jasmine prepared another wind spell to clear off the remaining mist surrounding the beasts, which made its form clear to us.
"I-I've read about a monster that looked something like this," Samantha stuttered in horror, sinking to her knees in complete resignation. "I think th-that's an S-Class mana beast called the e-elderwood guardian!"
"It can't be, right? What the hell would an S-Class mana beast be doing here? Especially five of them?" Reginald almost dropped his giant hammer as he peered up at the elderwood guardian in dread.
"We have to run!" Brald yelled, snapping everyone out.
We can take them down, with Noah and I being a white core, and jasmine a high-silver, We can easily take them down.
The only ones who were unfazed by the beast currently were Noah, Caera, Jasmine and me. One of the beast roared and the tendrils of vines rushed towards us. All of us prepared to intercept the vines and took them out.
I turned around to give other orders, but a ball of fire hit me.
My mask fell down from the sudden
attack, but I was able to protect myself from the hit. The smoke from the attack allowed me to hide my face from the others. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Elijah's eyes widened and staring at my face.
"Note!" Noah, Caera and jasmine yelled. And jasmine rushing towards me. Lucas launch another attack towards jasmine, which would've caught her off guard.
I quickly put on my mask and released a wind spell, which intercepted Lucas's spell and protected Jasmine.
Before anyone else could react, Lucas released more attacks towards everyone, as they barely managed to dodge or were wounded.
"What the hell are you doing?" Elijah cried out.
"You think I'd risk my life to help all of you escape? Be honored that you'll be the valiant heroes that stalled the beast enough for me to escape! I'll tell everyone all about your courageous deeds!" he scoffed, turning back just to shoot me an arrogant smirk before conjuring a smokescreen.
Lucas' attacks knocked out everyone except Noah, Caera, Elijah, Jasmine, and me.
"Elijah, Caera, protect them. While the three of us deal with this." I ordered
"Let's go!" Caera said. Before Elijah could say Anything.
The two of them gather everyone who was unconscious. Before, Elijah conjured a metal dome covering the others. Caera gave us a nod, gesturing us to go all out.
"Noah you take the two on the left, I will deal with the two on the right, jasmine you deal the last one." I ordered while removing my concealer Noah doing the same. The two of them nodded, before we dashed towards our targets, with weapons on hand.
Noah use the black fire he called soulfire, both him and Caera can use it. But, Caera can't use it the same way Noah can, Noah started attacking the Elderwood Guardian, as the beasts yelled in pain.
Jasmine created several wind bullets, while running towards her target.
Turning my head facing-off the remaining two putting my sword bact to my ring. As I dashed towards them with absolute zero on my both hand, freezing everything I touched. I run circled on both of them freezing them both. Stopping at the middle I then released a blue lightning barrage, a quick and powerful spell I called, lightning surge, killing the both of them in instant.
Turning my head around, I see Noah taking out the cores from the beasts he killed, While jasmine doing the same.
I then decided doing the same. After removing the cores the whole place begin to shake, turning my head I saw a wyvern descending in front of us.
Looking at the wyvern, this wyvern have the strength of an SS-class mana beast.
The beast roared. As the entire place tremble once again.
I quickly turn my head where Noah and jasmine are, as they both gave me a nod. We all dashed towards the beast, as I draw my sword back I then coated it with fire, noah his spear with a soulfire, and jasmine keep sending wind bullets.
The wyvern tried to fight back against us using wind magic. It didn't take long before we killed the Wyvern. Taking out it's core then throwing it along with the two Elderwood Guardian core at jasmine.
Noah picked up what I mean also throw the cores on his hand to jasmine. Jasmine catch it one by one, then looked at us confused.
"That should've be enough for you to reach the white core like us." I said with a smile.
"Yeah, and when you reached white core you can go back to your family and bragged your power." Noah said while laughing, probably thinking about the faces of those who abandoned jasmine After knowing she reached white core.
"Thank you!" Jasmine excitedly said. Before started absorbing mana, not paying attention to her surrounding.
Noah walked towards me.
"She's so excited that she forgot the others." Noah laughed while pointing the metal dome.
I also laughed at her behavior. Before saying, "Let's go and check them." Noah just nod his head.
Arriving at the dome then knocking on it. I can hear movement inside and the metal dome tremble, and a path opened up revealing Elijah.
"It's all clear, you can go out now." I said looking at him.
"They were still unconscious, you can come inside first and sit." Elijah said without asking anything. Probably Caera tell him something to reasure him.
"Thank you." I said as Noah and I enter the dome.
"Where's jasmine?" Caera asked.
"She's currently absorbing the cores." Noah replied, and Caera nod her head.
After all of us take our seats, there's a moment of silence before Elijah speak.
"I didn't expect the famous masked swordman's was a kid around my age and also at the white core stage. And Also Caera also said that Noah is also a white core." Said Elijah as he chuckled.
I and Noah chuckled.
"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Arthur Leywin, 11 years old turning 12 this May, a white core stage and Quadra-elemental and deviant on all of them." I said as Elijah looking at me with an expression of shocked across his face. Caera and Noah just laughed at his reaction.
"I'm Noah Wilson, 12 years old, a white core stage, with earth and fire attributes." Noah said after he calmed down.
"And I'm Caera Denoir, aslo a 12 years old, solid-yellow stage with cracks, and a fire attribute." Caera said.
"What about you? And why are you placed in your rank without being tested?" Caera inquired looking at Elijah.
He looked at her before saying.
"Aren't you and Noah the same? Anyway."
"I'm Elijah knight also a 12 years old, and at the dark-orange stage with single specialization on earth." Elijah explained and all of us nodded in understanding.
"How did you do it tho?" I asked.
"Do what?" He said confused as he look at me.
"This," I said pointing at the metal dome."I thought only dwarves were able to manipulate metal... and even then, I was taught that they could only manipulate existing metal, not create and conjure it."
"I was raised in the kingdom of darv and I don't know where I originally came from. The elder that took care of me since I was little always avoided the subject of my parents so I never got a clear answer. And I was send to be representative of Darv, they said I should make a name for myself so I became an adventurer."
"I see." I said while removing a healing stone and walking where Oliver is.
"Arthur what is that? You never told us about that." Caera asked.
"You didn't asked so I didn't tell you." I responded. "And this is as healing stone my mother gave before I started being an adventurer."
A few minutes later Oliver woke up, I then ordered him to heal the others, A little while all of them were now awake.
"Come on, it's all clear we can go out now." Noah said after the others woke up.
"H-how did you do it? It was clear to all of us that theres a total of five Elderwood Guardian, how did the 5 of you defeat it?" Reginald asked.
The others also nodded, and looking at the two of us waiting for an answer.
Before I could reply, Noah responded first.
"Note is at the white core stage, and jasmine is a high-silver, each one of them fight against two Elderwood Guardian. While I deal with the last one, I killed mine as fast as I could before helping jasmine Note doing the same." Noah explained. While the others nodded their heads in understanding.
"What about the cores?" Oliver asked, with greed.
"We will take them with us since we are the one who killed them." I responded looking at Oliver, Oliver didn't say anything and just looked at the ground.
"After we deal with the Elderwood Guardians, a wyvern arrived and we also killed it. You could take it corpse, and butcher it, then sell them and divide the profits my group will not take anything from it." I added, and they just nodded their heads before moving where the wyvern is.
I decided to check jasmine, so I started walking to where she is, Elijah Noah, and Caera following behind. When suddenly Elijah asked.
"What are you gonna do about Lucas?" Hearing this I stopped at my tracks. Before I could say anything, I hear a faint noise of footsteps signalling a group of people are coming.