Four people...we were four people when we first started our little party. It's been six years since then. We gradually became stronger. We gained enough recognitions from the people as one of the popular dungeon explorer teams.
This was our last C - rank dungeon. We were supposed to go to the association tomorrow and finally register our little party as a guild. We were happy. With this, we will finally complete our C - rank dungeon clear quota.
Four people...the number of people entered this C - rank dungeon today. It was not a tough dungeon. It's already been cleared several times before. We already knew the floor plan and best verified subjugation method. We were supposed to clear it in five hours.
But because it was our last C - rank dungeon before our party will be dismissed and reborn as a guild, we were specially taking our time clearing it. It's been six hours. Only two more floors left to go.
We had already cleared the past four floors. The monsters were not very strong. Only the named monsters and the final boss were left. At that time it begun...
There's a rumour spreading around in explorer society recently. Several explorers has been missing lately. They were last found heading inside a dungeon. They were all C - rank dungeon explorers.
Many people took it seriously and many didn't. We were the middle ones. We took it seriously but didn't take appropriate measures. Because we believed we were strong enough to came out of any disasters related to C - rank dungeons...sigh...
It happened while we were fighting with the named monster on fifth floor. It was quite tough but after struggling for half an hour we defeated it somehow...but suddenly we found out we were poisoned.
There were only four of us. We didn't consider the chance, that their might be one traitor among us. We were together for six years already, and we will be together in the future too. We took appropriate antidote, we carried with us in case of any debuff effect from a monster.
After all it was a dungeon, anything can happen here. But the moment we opened the dungeon boss's room's door, we found out, we are poisoned again. And this was more potent.
We didn't know what was the reason, but an enmity was coming from everyone. But no one said anything anymore. We entered the boss's room, it was a blood ogre.
We knew the attack patterns already. A weapon throw, then a frontal dash. The archer shoot an arrow to divert the ogre's saber. And the tanker tanked the frontal dash. I was a 4th circle mage.
I casted chains to restrict it's movement, and the healer who was also a debuff master casted a debuff on the monster. Then the archer can easily target the ogre. It was solid plan. But the arrow didn't follow the direction it supposed to. Instead it stabbed my belly.
I was a mage, obviously the weakest one in terms of physical strength. It was quite painful. And there was a debuff effect in it too. I was immobilized for seven minutes. I felt betrayed. I was slowly loosing my ability to open my eyes. It was fuzzy.
I could only hear their annoyance. Like the tanker was shouting because someone casted a fourth rank blaze spell on him and the healer was shouting because someone shot a poisoned arrow towards...I slowly lost my consciousness.
After a while I slowly opened my eyes, it was fuzzy again. I somehow concentrated my energy in my eyes...it was a mess...there were blood everywhere. Human blood! It felt like someone pushed my eyes open, there were three people who were whispering.
So they did betray me huh! That was what I thought. They changed their dresses, I guess it was stained with my blood, they needed to change it. But the slimmer figure, looked like hurt. No all three of them were quite hurt!
Did they fight each other? It doesn't make any sense. We were so good together. We were a team for six years. Was all that intimacy a facade? If that's the case I will take my revenge.
The wound was not fatal, but because I am covered with so much blood, my wound can't be seen easily. It's my only chance. I gathered all the energy I could, there was a 5th circle spell, which has a great toll on body. I could only use it once.
I gathered the last drop of my strength. Even if I die, I will take them down. My drew out my vital energy too. But when the spell will be completed, they will notice for sure...afterall we were comrade for so many years. So what? I will die even if I have to but I will inflict as much damage I can. At least that's what I thought.
But suprisingly no one noticed it. It was unbelievable. But who cares it's my last chance. I shouted the spell, "Fatal Judgement! Now die you bastards." It was a perfect cast. That's a area of effect spell, no one will get away from it.
And suddenly another area of effect spell casted through out whole area. It's the healer! But it was healing my wounds and giving debuffs to those three. I turned back while laying down on chest on the sea of blood.
The healer, covered in blood, was sitting behind me on while supporting the back on wall. What?! And beside the healer, the tanker and the archer were lying cold. The healer gave a smile of relief and fell towards the front.
Believe me that was the time my heart ached, my mind was like splitting open, I couldn't even cry. Nothing was coming out from my eyes. Huh! Few minutes after I could smell the burned three bodies in front of me.
The boss was already defeated? Well they could have defeated it after sending ud to hell. I could a little bit of strength from the healer's last buff. I have to live. They believed me until the end. the healer could have lived. But I was healed instead.
I rubbed my blood covered body on the stone floor and started to move it towards the exit. I couldn't even stand up. I pulled my whole body for 3 hours straight and slowly went towards the exit.
I was almost near the exit, at that time I heard the people's voice. I was a bit glad to finally see the ray of hope. I pulled my body more. And somehow pushed my head over the exit. And I heard the voice-
"The target is the criminal group who was killing the C - rank dungeon explorers until now. They don't spare anyone. We also do the same. It's been over fourteen hours, since the designated explorers went in. They are dead by now. The moment they come out shoot!"
"Captain! A head is coming out"
"Shoot!"
I shouted with all my strength, "Wait....I am from the explore-"