With an effortless grace, they glided through the cavernous passage, the subtle breeze that enveloped them seeming almost like a partner in their dance.
The wind caressed their forms and seemed to propel them forward. It swirled around them, with each stride, they harnessed the subtle currents, allowing the wind to carry them along the cave's twists and turns.
They navigated the currents with a seamless fluidity, leaving behind only the softest traces of their presence in the air.
Their progress abruptly halted when they came upon the aftermath of a fierce conflict. The elf's discerning eyes roamed the path, exposing the lingering traces of earth moulded and erupted upon the walls and floor.
These remnants bore the unmistakable signs of a fierce confrontation, as if the very earth itself had been summoned to wreak havoc and engage in battle.
On the walls, gouges and furrows marred the stone, evidence of the earth's tumultuous upheaval. The floor displayed deep impressions, as though the ground had been forcibly moulded and shaped by the manipulation of earth magic.
Strewn across the ground were the lifeless forms of numerous orcs, bearing the marks of a violent encounter. Approximately fourteen of these creatures lay scattered, some displaying evidence of broken bones and burned marks.
"Something had happened here." The girl calmly spoke.
Aria turned to her mentor, seeking some sign of her reaction, but the elf's face remained impassive.
"It appears that a battle took place here," the elf remarked, her gaze now resting on Aria.
Understanding the implication, the young girl knelt down and gently placed her hand on the cavern floor, closing her eyes in concentration.
At first, the vision that washed over her was hazy and indistinct, but gradually, clarity descended upon her senses.
In that moment, Aria witnessed a grim tableau, numerous orcs had been mercilessly crushed by the very walls and floor of this cavernous path, their forms reduced to lifeless.
With marvellous and devastating force, the very earth itself seemed to rise up, crushing the bodies of the orcs.
Some of the burly creatures attempted to fend off the inexorable walls, but they were met with ruthless flames that consumed them alive.
The intense fire weakened their forms, rendering them vulnerable to the relentless pressure of the encroaching walls.
As swiftly as it had begun, the cataclysmic display came to an end. The walls and floor of the cavern returned to their normal state.
In the midst of this chaos, a small figure emerged, a mere child in stature. With dark hair tinged with shades of violet, it was a boy who had orchestrated this formidable display of magic.
Though his young frame bore the unmistakable weight of exhaustion, his eyes blazed with an unwavering determination as he gazed upon the lifeless and the remaining orcs.
And with that, the vision came to an abrupt conclusion, leaving Aria with a haunting glimpse of the past.
The elf inquired, "What did you see?"
Aria's eyes held a mixture of shock and disbelief as she answered, "All of these orcs... were killed by a single child." Her revelation left the elf equally astonished by the grim truth she had unveiled.
"Did you find any traces of him or the girls?" the elf inquired.
Aria shook her head in response. "No, my vision only shows me that."
Resuming their exploration, they pressed forward along the path. The path opened up into a sprawling, expansive chamber, a stark contrast to the narrow tunnels they had journeyed through.
This chamber was cavernous, its sheer size overwhelming. Several tunnels and passages branched out from it like the gnarled branches of a twisted tree, creating a complex labyrinthine network.
Jagged stalactites hung menacingly from the ceiling, resembling icicles forged from stone, casting shadows that danced upon the walls.
The walls themselves bore strange markings and symbols, etched with precision into the rocky surface. These markings exuded a faint, eerie glow, illuminating the chamber with an otherworldly radiance.
Bones littered the chamber floor, an unsettling sight. These were not just the remains of orcs; they were a chaotic amalgamation of various creatures. Skulls and skeletal fragments were strewn haphazardly, creating a grisly mosaic beneath their feet.
"That's…"
As they swiftly approached the ice wall barrier, their hearts raced with anticipation. However, upon reaching the barrier, they were met with a disheartening sight – the once-solid ice barrier had been shattered, its remnants scattered across the ground.
It appeared as though the barrier had been breached from the inside, rather than from any external force.
Aria's fingers gently brushed against the fractured remnants of the barrier as she spoke, "There's no doubt that this is Dixe's ice magic."
As her hand made contact with the ice, another vision seized her consciousness, pulling her once more into the depths of the past.
…
"Get ready. I can't hold this wall any longer," a determined voice urged.
Luria, with the unconscious woman draped over her back, rose to her feet. Despite the woman's weight, Luria's strengthened body with mana seemed to effortlessly bear the burden.
"Which way are we going to run?" Luria inquired, her gaze fixed on Dixe.
Dixe's response was swift and resolute. "The way we came from."
The moment the ice wall yielded to Dixe's command, they wasted no time in bolting toward the path that lay beyond.
However, their escape route was swiftly blocked by a horde of menacing orcs that came out from that path, their presence heralded by the sound of the collapsing ice.
"Trouble," Luria breathed, her eyes locked on the approaching orcs.
As the orcs gazed at them, ready to strike, a sense of urgency filled the air. Dixe scanned the area, her gaze darting between potential escape routes. Uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her torn between choices.
Just as she made up her mind, a powerful gust of wind surged through the chamber, scattering the orcs that had been closing in and creating a momentary path to freedom.
"You should have told me that you could have done that sooner! For fuck's sake!"
A boy suddenly emerged from one of the paths, crushing one of the slender orcs beneath his foot before incinerating it with the fiery flame in his hand.
Luria, Dixe and the boy exchanged astonished glances as they processed the unexpected turn of events.
"Oh." The boy's deadpan expression added to their sense of bewilderment.
…
'Crap. There's no way I can make a breakthrough through all these orcs! Why are there so many of them!?'
As I continued to swing my sword, I reached out to my inner companion.
"Garen, do you have any ideas how I can escape from here?" I inquired, my voice resolute even amidst the chaos of the battle.
Garen remained silent for a brief moment before offering a glimmer of hope. 'There is a way, actually.'
My gratitude shone through as I slashed down two more orcs with my sword.
[ You have slain the orcs ]
[ You have earned +14 Essence Points ]
As the orcs charged toward me in a united front, the very walls and floors of the chamber surged with power, hurtling toward the invaders and crashing into them with relentless force.
The walls and floors of the chamber seemed to come alive, responding to an unseen force. The rocky surfaces shifted and trembled as if obeying a command.
With astonishing speed, sections of the cavern's walls and portions of the floor surged forth like mighty tidal waves. These rock formations, fueled by the earth mana essence, bore down upon the oncoming orcs with unrelenting force.
The impact was thunderous, as stone met flesh and bone. Few of the bulky orcs were trying to hold against the force, their collective charge shattered by the relentless assault of the walls.
Amidst my own astonishment at the unexpected intervention of the chamber's surroundings, I seized the opportunity.
With unerring aim, I directed a fiery blast toward the orcish assailants who had been impacted by the forceful assault of the chamber's walls.
The flames caused discomfort and confusion among the orcs, leaving their bodies engulfed in flame and struggling to maintain their footing.
Though some were overwhelmed and incapacitated, a few managed to evade the flames and the walls.
"That's a brilliant idea, Garen. Why didn't I think of that?" I exclaimed with a mix of admiration and frustration.
Garen replied with pride. 'I had that idea since before entering the dungeon. From the look of the dungeon, I knew that this would be a cavern-type of dungeon. So, I—'
I interrupted, a hint of irritation in my voice. "Wait, you knew and you had this idea since the beginning?"
Garen's presence resonated with a sense of calm assurance. 'Yes, it was one of the easiest methods to deal with them, especially in a confined space like this.'
My emotions swelled, and I continued, "Then, why didn't you suggest it earlier?" My frustration teetered on the brink, awaiting Garen's explanation.
Garen hesitated for a moment, then admitted, 'That's... because I thought that... It would be good training f–for you. Yes.'
My anger flared, and I lashed out, "You kidding me!? Forget about your training nonsense. We're here to save people's lives, damn it! That's why I'm willing to spend my Essence Points."
However, our argument was abruptly interrupted as the orcs unleashed a cacophonous scream. Initially, it seemed like a battle cry, but the sudden change in the orcs' demeanour caught me off guard. They panicked and scattered, fleeing from me.
Now infuriated, I muttered through gritted teeth, "Oh, great. I'm not in a good mood now." Fueled by rage, I sprinted after the fleeing orcs.
As soon as they entered the colossal chamber, I didn't hesitate. I summoned a devastating gust of wind, more powerful than any wind attack I had ever conjured before.
Frustration simmered within me, knowing that Garen had the capability to eliminate all these monsters in an instant, without me having to exhaust my energy in combat.
The powerful wind struck the orcs, sending them flying and scattering them away from the entrance they had just come through.
I emerged from the cavern path, my boots landing on one of the fallen orcs.
"You should have told me that you could have done that sooner! For fuck's sake!"
In the heat of the moment, I didn't hesitate. I unleashed the full power of my fiery flame, burning the orc beneath me alive with the most intense flames I could conjure.
As the flames subsided, I finally noticed the presence of two girls before me. One of them carried an unconscious woman on her back. The intensity of the situation hit me as I looked at their startled expressions.
Realizing the impact of what I had displayed and said in the presence of the girls, I couldn't help but feel regretful.
"Oh." I bit my tongue, recognizing that I had likely left a frightening impression on them.
With a sigh, I admitted, "I've had enough of this dungeon already."
I glanced at the remaining orcs, noting that none of them dared to make a move in my direction. The tense atmosphere hung in the air as I contemplated my next course of action.
'Raul…'
'What now!?' My voice filled with rage.
'Y–you have 10 minutes left before the boost ends.' Garen reminded me. His voice was nervous.
Garen's reminder jolted me out of my frustration. With a sense of urgency, I acknowledged the time constraint.
I only had 10 minutes left before the boost from the items I had consumed would fade away. This realization prompted me to change my approach.
My voice, now calmer, heeded Garen's advice and decided to spare himself from further conflict. The remaining orcs had lost their will to fight as well, making it unnecessary to engage them any longer.
Turning to the girls, I suggested, "Hey! Let's get out of this dungeon," and began walking towards them.
The two of them nodded.
As we were prepared to leave the dungeon, an unexpected development unfolded. The path that had previously been blocked by an ice barrier suddenly broke, and a group of orcs emerged.
However, to our surprise, these orcs didn't immediately attack. Instead, they formed a path, clearing the way for a single orc who appeared to be distinct from the others.
This particular orc emanated an eerie and unsettling aura, distinctly different from the others.
His imposing, darkened armor seemed to absorb the feeble light of the cavern, casting ominous shadows across his towering form.
The massive sword strapped to his back gleamed with malevolence, its sharpness hinting at the deadly power it held.
For the very first time, an instinctual terror coursed through my veins, compelling me to flee from the sheer monstrosity of this creature.