As the last of the bats fell, the ground shook violently, and lava streaks erupted, catching everyone by surprise.
Lucas acted quickly, grabbing Note and Elijah and summoning a firewall within nanoseconds.
Brald shielded Samantha, while Kriol protected Jasmine and Reginarld.
The lava subsided, but not without causing serious damage.
Brald's arm was caught in the attack, burned to a crisp, with blood flowing from the open wound.
Kriol and Reginarld grabbed Brald, who was writhing in pain. Note quickly cauterized the wound with his fire magic on his sword, trying to stem the bleeding.
Samantha, tears streaming down her face, used her water magic to cool the wound's temperature, her efforts frantic but necessary. The group was in a dire state, shaken and injured.
The group took a break, and everyone settled down to eat.
Lucas glanced at Elijah, who was sitting nearby. With a casual flick of his wrist, Lucas summoned another batch of lobsters and handed one to Elijah.
"Here, take one," Lucas said.
Elijah scoffed, raising his hands to decline. "No need."
Lucas's expression turned serious. "It's a command."
Elijah, taken aback, looked at Lucas before reluctantly grabbing the lobster. "So, how do I eat it?"
Lucas demonstrated, cracking open the shell and revealing the succulent meat inside. He watched Elijah closely as he took his first bite, eager to see his reaction.
Elijah's eyes widened. "Wow, it's actually pretty delicious."
Lucas combed his hair back with his fingers and spoke in a prideful manner. "Now you commoners know the taste of real cooking."
Elijah nodded, savoring the lobster. "I have to admit, this is impressive."
Note approached Brald, his expression serious. "Brald, you need to decide whether you want to continue this or not."Brald stayed silent for a moment, then spoke with a heavy heart. "This will probably be my last dungeon dive. I want to see it through to the end."
Note nodded, respecting his determination. Brald continued, "But you'll be the captain. You've been the most level-headed here."Note looked around, seeing the support in everyone's eyes.
Even Lucas gave him a thumbs-up. Stunned but resolute, Note accepted the responsibility."Alright," Note said, "we'll rest for an hour, then move out.".
"Alright, everyone, let's move out. Stay alert and watch each other's backs. We're in this together," Note commanded, signaling the end of their rest.
The group nodded, storing up their belongings and preparing to move forward. As they advanced deeper into the dungeon, the air grew thicker.
They were soon met with a dead end—a solid wall. Reginald, with a hint of sarcasm, asked, "Why is it also not here before?"
Brald, a bit low in spirit, replied, "Yes."
Reginald aimed his heavy hammer at the wall, pouring earth attribute mana into it. He struck the wall, causing some damage but it still stood firm.
Jasmine volunteered to help. "Try it again," she said, preparing wind mana in her hands.
Reginald hit the wall again, this time with Jasmine's wind mana empowering his strike. The wall crumbled to dust, revealing a misty landscape with greenery.
Note gestured for everyone to move forward.As they moved, Note could feel something was off. The place didn't seem to be what it looked like.
Suddenly, Kriol screamed, "Claire, I knew you were alive!" He dashed into the mist.
"Everyone stay close! It looks like the mist is an illusion. Lucas, use your magic and try to clear the mist. Samantha, you too!" Note shouted.
Lucas nodded, summoning his fire attribute mana. He created a swirling vortex of flames, pushing it into the mist. Samantha followed suit, conjuring water magic to manipulate the mist. Together, they created a clearing around the group.
The mist parted, revealing the true nature of their surroundings.
The mist parted, revealing the true nature of their surroundings. They were all standing on vines that crisscrossed the entire place. "How couldn't I feel this," muttered Note as he looked back at the others.
He was shocked to see everyone looking upwards with spooked faces, except for Lucas, who was smiling like a child seeing his favorite toy.
Note followed their gaze and turned forward.He was stunned to see a beast made of the same vines they were standing on.
It was about 75 feet tall and resembled a horseman with a lance in its hand. "Elderwood Guardian," screamed Samantha. "It shouldn't be here in an A-rank dungeon! It's a freaking S-rank beast," Reginald said, his voice full of anger.
"Finally, I found you, Clara," a voice came from the beast, and it was from Kriol, now incorporated into the body of the Elderwood Guardian.
Seeing his lifelong friend in this state, Reginald went into a berserk rage, summoning earth armor around himself and his hammer as he leaped at the Guardian.
The vines of the Guardian started attacking everyone. Brald, also seeing this, went wild, charging forward with a battle cry.Reginald's hammer struck the Guardian's vine-covered body, but the impact barely made a dent.
The vines retaliated, lashing out at him. Brald joined the fray, his light attribute mana flaring as he tried to sever the vines with his sword.
"We can't fight this, let's go, Arthur," Jasmine urged, pulling at Note.
"But I promised them. I can't leave like this,"l Note interjected.
Jasmine also interjected," and I promised your family ."she said as tears ran down her face.
"We will, but not like this," Note screamed, "Everyone, retreat!"
He picked up Samantha and started heading for the exit, Jasmine countering the vines attacking them.
Lucas grabbed Elijah and walked towards them, Brald defending them from behind. As they reached the exit, they found it completely surrounded by a thick wall of vines.
They attacked it, but it didn't even budge. The beast, with its viny lance, targeted Lucas and Elijah.
Lucas readied a retaliation spell, but Brald countered the attack with his blazing sword, screaming like a maniac, "Stop bullying the kids!"
He leaped and attacked the Guardian.Note tried to exit through the wall of vines but was unsuccessful.
Another vine came crashing towards Jasmine. None were prepared for it. Lucas was busy giving a healing potion to Elijah.
Note was attacked by a vine and thrown to the ground, his mask falling off.
Lucas stood straight, eyes fixed on the Elderwood Guardian, and drank a mana potion.
"Yo Note, still alive?" Lucas asked, smirking.
Note stood up, Lucas complimented glancing at Note. "You look better with your mask off."
Lucas tossed a mana potion to him. "Thanks," Note replied, catching it.
Lucas summoned his sword, the black blade's runes glowing with an ambient light.
Lucas summoned his sword, the black blade's runes glowing with an ambient light. Note glanced at him, "I thought you were a conjurer."
Lucas smirked, "I am." With a wave of his hand, Lucas summoned a Fire Guardian. Flames erupted from the ground, forming a blazing figure that rose to 60 feet.
The Fire Guardian attacked the Elderwood Guardian, its fiery strikes damaging the beast, but the Elderwood Guardian regenerated quickly.
"Got any more cards up your sleeve? It would be a nice time to show them," Lucas called out.
Note nodded, "If I can't kill it, you try." His body began to glow with runes, and his auburn hair turned white. "Phase Two, Dragon's Awakening," he muttered before launching himself at the beast.
Lucas smirked, thinking, "Looks like I don't even need to do anything."He dragged the unconscious Samantha and Jasmine near Elijah, who was staring in awe at the fight.
"Oye, be ready to make a barrier, a strong one, okay?"Elijah nodded, still stunned.Lucas observed the fight, which lasted less than ten minutes. The whole Beast was now covered in Ice as well as Notes Whole arm.
As the Elderwood Guardian was about to fall, Lucas gestured to Elijah to make the Earth Wall.
He leaped forward, picking up the now bloodied body of Note and the core of the Elderwood Guardian."Got it," Lucas said, securing the core. He looked down at Note, who was barely conscious. "You did good," he muttered, carrying him back to the others.
Lucas rapidly went near to Elijah as he summoned a strong Earth Wall around them.
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YO GUYS HELP ME HERE:÷
So Should we give the Core to Arthur or not, he mostly deserved it. But, I don't exactly remember how it effects the story, but was there a scene where Agrona blackmailed Arthur using the Elderwood Guardian core or was it Sylvie. Help me out will ya.
I also know that this chapter was'nt exactly that great. Personally I just wanted this shit to over 😅.