Gratefully, I had an impeccable memory of the dungeon's layout, and the thunderous footsteps of our pursuers echoed behind us.
'Are you going to lead them out?!' Garen exclaimed.
Frankly, I had little choice. Unleashing the horde of orcs outside the dungeon would come with dire consequences.
If Vanessa and the others hadn't concluded their battle, my actions might place them in even greater jeopardy.
Nevertheless, if I opted for inaction, the barrier would shatter, and the orcs would unleash havoc on everyone inside. Ultimately, I found myself entangled in a great dilemma.
"At first, it was a risky plan," I began, my breaths punctuated by our frantic escape. "But listen closely to what I need you to do."
As I ran, I sketched a line on the dungeon floor with my sword. "Once all the orcs have crossed this line," I continued, "create an earth barrier, trapping them from both sides. Gradually reduce their numbers by separating them, layer by layer, using the earth wall."
Garen remained silent but poised, ready to conjure the earth barrier as soon as the orcs crossed the line I'd marked.
Glancing back at the pursuing orcs, I emphasized, "Ensure you split them into smaller groups with each layer of the earth wall."
As the last orc crossed the line, an earthen wall manifested, effectively blocking their retreat into the colossal chamber.
Simultaneously, another barrier of earth emerged, dividing the orcs into five layers of earth prison and reducing them to four distinct groups.
"Nice work!" I exclaimed.
'Raul!' He warned me of the approaching orcs from the front, just around the corner of the path.
"I figured as much. Their earlier screams signaled the others to block my escape," I replied.
There were only three slender orcs that had appeared, but I knew more would follow.
"From here on, I'm going to need all the help I can get to take them down," I told Garen.
"Are you seriously planning to fight all these orcs in the dungeon?" Garen asked incredulously.
"A few at a time, yes," I replied confidently as I charged toward the three orcs. They seemed to be just one level above the Groveguard monsters.
In the narrow, slightly widened corridor of the dungeon, the air grew tense with anticipation as the orcs snarled and brandished their crude weapons. I steeled myself as I tightened the grip on my sword.
With lightning speed, the first orc lunged at me, swinging a jagged blade. I easily sidestepped the attack, my body moving as if it were an extension of my thoughts.
I countered with a swift, low slash of my sword, aiming for the orc's legs. The blade met its target, and the orc howled in pain as it kneeled to the ground.
Before the other two orcs could react, I conjured a small but vibrant fireball in my hand.
With a determined swing, I sent the fireball, roughly the size of the orc's head, hurtling toward my second opponent. The orc let out a startled cry as the flames enveloped its head, igniting its hair and casting an eerie, flickering light across its face.
In a hurry, the orc began to pat at the flames, clearly distressed by the burning sensation.
Meanwhile, the third orc, seeing its comrades fall, grew enraged and charged at me with reckless abandon.
With the wind at my disposal, I harnessed the gusts around me. I leaped backward, seemingly defying gravity, and allowed the wind to carry me effortlessly out of the orc's reach.
As I landed, I fused my fire and wind magic with my sword. With a mighty swing, I unleashed a flaming tornado, a whirling tempest of fire and wind that spiraled towards the standing orc.
The tornado spun with mesmerizing intensity, flames licking the air as it twirled and danced, creating a whirlwind of scorching heat and ferocious gusts.
It surged toward the standing orc, tearing through the very fabric of the corridor with its destructive force.
The vortex of elemental fury tore through the orc's defenses, cut deep into its chest and engulfed its entire body.
The burning orc back away trying to stop the fire. As the first orc tried to stand up, I didn't give it the chance as I had already dashed at it and swung my sword, cutting its head.
[ You have slain an orc ]
[ You have gained +7 Essence Points ]
'Raul, that combination of fire and wind magic blended into your sword was a bit unnecessary. You've burned through a substantial amount of mana with that last attack,' Garen whispered, nudging me.
"Apologies, got carried away, thought it would do the job," I admitted.
'Keep in mind, more of them are on their way. You need to deal with the other two quickly,' Garen urged, his tone filled with urgency.
It wasn't just the orcs from my initial escape route; the ones trapped behind me were relentlessly trying to breach the barrier, pounding on the earth with their fists.
This time, I cloaked my sword in a blend of mana and wind, designed to conserve my magical reserves. With swift determination, I charged toward the two distracted orcs, their attention fixated on the fiery torment engulfing their bodies.
My strikes were precise, aimed directly at their throats, with the intent to end their lives in a single, decisive attack.
[ You have killed the orcs ]
[ You have gained +15 Essence Points ]
'In a battle against many foes, conserving your energy and making every strike count is key,' Garen's reminder echoed in my mind.
"Understood," I replied, wiping the sweat from my forehead, my clothes were already soaked.
As one of the earth walls crumbled, four orcs burst free, with one of them towering and muscular, while the others mirrored the previous trio.
'It's been half an hour since you entered this dungeon... Time is running short,' Garen cautioned.
I readied myself once more, drawing my swords forward as the charging orcs closed in.
"Grind hard like there's no respawn. How nostalgic…" As I lunged towards the oncoming orcs, a random quote flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected thought.
As I had managed to took down two slender orcs. Another wall had broken. Their number had significantly increased to 7. This time, I urged Garen to step in.
…
"It's suddenly quiet... on that side," Dixe remarked in a hushed tone as she maintained the ice barrier, which the orcs had been relentlessly trying to breach.
"The orcs screamed, and then... they just vanished?" Luria wondered aloud, inching closer to the barrier and pressing her ears against it.
"Should we... make our escape?" she suggested cautiously.
Dixe shook her head, her composed expression revealing her resolve. "This woman is severely injured and unconscious. It would be difficult to navigate this unfamiliar dungeon while carrying her."
The dark-haired woman lay on the cold dungeon floor, her right hand severed, but the bleeding had been staunched with the use of ice magic.
Luria leaned in, studying the woman intently. "She must be our judge," she suggested, seeking confirmation from Dixe.
Dixe nodded in agreement. "I believe so, judging from the necklace and the bracelet she's wearing."
Concern filled Luria's voice as she asked, "How long can you maintain the barrier?"
Dixe's response carried a hint of anxiety. "Not for too long... I'll inform you when my mana is nearing its limit. When that happens, be prepared to make a swift escape from here. Hopefully, by then, this woman will have regained consciousness." Her calm demeanor masked the underlying tension in the situation.
Their encounter with a horde of orcs, following a successful hunt against other dungeon creatures, had left a deep-seated fear of facing those formidable numbers.
Even with the arrival of the judge, their attempts to escape the ambush had failed. The orcs had overwhelmed them, and the three of them were swiftly captured and taken deeper into the dungeon right after Adlina's defeat.
Inside the dungeon's dark confines, the woman suddenly burst into flames and carried Dixe and Luria away, racing further into the labyrinthine passages. It was a desperate move, as the escape route was blocked by the pursuing orcs.
However, as Dixe and Luria were cradled in the woman's arms, Dixe couldn't help but notice that the orcs didn't seem interested in giving chase. It was as if they knew that regardless of where the trio went, it was a dead-end, and they toyed with their prey with cruel amusement.
Upon entering the colossal chamber, they were met with an even larger gathering of orcs than during their initial ambush.
During these encounters, it was the woman who suffered the most severe injuries during the desperate attempts to survive.
In her final act of defiance before collapsing, she managed to create the initial layers of the earth barriers on both sides. These barriers were further fortified with the addition of Dixe's ice magic.
Dixe quickly attended to the woman's wounds as soon as she realized the extent of her injuries, staunching her bleeding to the best of her ability.
"Why did they keep Miss Adlina alive outside?" Luria inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Dixe pondered for a moment before offering a suggestion, "Maybe they were using her as bait to ambush other adventurers."
"So, they've kept us alive just to serve as their next meal?" Luria asked, a sense of anxiety creeping into her tone.
Dixe nodded in response to Luria's question, her demeanor calm but filled with understanding.
"Luria," she began, her voice steady, "from this point on, we've been incredibly fortunate not to be eaten. Let's not lose hope. I believe the reason the orcs left us was because someone else entered the dungeon."
Luria's eyes lit up with realization. "Ah! You're right! It must be The Rescue Team! Your plan worked out!" She expressed a newfound sense of hope and relief.
The instant they found themselves ensnared within the barrier, Dixe took decisive action, breaking not only their own bracelets but also the judge's. It was an attempt to send a signal to the Guild, praying for assistance.
"Just... hopefully, the individuals who responded are strong enough to handle this treacherous dungeon,"
Dixe softly muttered to herself, her voice tinged with both hope and uncertainty.