Deep under ground I walked through what appeared to be a maze, so far the whole place appears to be a normal cave, except for the occasional blue glowing veins on the walls.
I had been exploring this cave system for almost a day now and I was sure I was close to the end.
I knew this because the deeper I go the more mana I could feel. I had high hopes for this place, there was no way this whole thing didn't have anything of value.
After another day of continuous walking I was running low of food and water, if I didn't go back by tomorrow I would have to starve walk my way out.
I decided to take a risk since the exit wasn't had to get too. It only took me this long to get this far because of the many dead ends.
After an hour or so I finally reach a large open room, the walls are full with mana, and the most interesting thing of all; a large fissure like source of mana is embedded into the furthest wall.
With a huge grin I walk towards it planning to observe, study and most likely take with me afterwards.
But before I can even get half way I realise somethings off.
'did that shadow just move?'
As far as I know shadows don't move unless the source of light or darkness move.
In a second every one of my swords move to surround me Barrier at the very front. With eyes glowing I get ready for whatever is to come.
Ten seconds
Twenty seconds
Thirty seconds
Getting tired of waiting I send my two great swords to the roof facing different directions, I control them to start moving in a circle as fast as possible while slowly expanding outwards and then moving downwards.
Before the could reach the middle height of the room shadows sprung forth towards me, eight to be exact.
I notice there figures are human as they get closer. Not waiting to be assaulted by eight figures my two normal swords shoot out towards the incoming back figures.
I can't see their explanation but the must be surprised, after all two of the people get impaled. I note that the other two figures behind me hesitate after seeing their friends die so easily.
The two swords spinning above us stop before going for the closest attackers at my front but their not fast enough.
As the first arrives he goes straight for my neck, sadly my shield sword isn't as slow as it looks. With great effort I can move Barrier as easily as my other swords. And since my life is on the line 'great effort' is a small price to pay.
Clangs are heard as the figure in front of me clashes with Barrier. I use a little more juice to fling the assailant away before turning to the ones behind me. One of then pulls out three daggers in-between his fingers and throws them at me, I position my large sword vertically and easily block all of the them. I then opening my leather jacket and two shurikens move towards them.
I see two more daggers move towards me before a sudden pain erupts on my ass and another on my calf muscle.
Looking back I notice the incoming threat, behind me.
'shit.'
I grab Barrier before launching it and my self to the side of the cave. Now with a clear view of all my assailants I move every sword of mine towards my front, plucking even the ones that had impaled the previous two.
The first to approach his the person who had thrown the daggers at my back, I move my great swords in position. Before shooting one of them forward. The figure easily jumps over the blade but before he could land my other great sword slashed down and splits the figure in half.
"Jaiiiiii!"
The figure I had previously launched into the wall shouts be saying something and making the other figures stop.
"Aley ne kayi maje!"
Suddenly I feel the mana around me move in a peculiar way.
"Please stop!"
The man says as he sees me preparing another attack.
"We mean no harm."
'Yeah, I don't buy that.'
Still very prepared I don't lower my guard. Suddenly the confirmed man goes down on both knees.
"I beg of you, please! Spare us."
"Why? You attacked first."
"Because we are the last of our kind."
The man says as the shadow like cloud around them dissipates.
I finally get a clear view of my assailants. Apart from the man on his knees, every other figure is a woman.
After a few seconds of observation I realise the beings in front of me are not human.
Dark grey skin and white hair, their eyes have a white pupil. But the most interesting thing to catch my eyes are the above average long and pointed ears.
"What the... elves? Dark elves?"
"We are called the Eloshan. But yes you kind refers to us as Dark elves."
"Yet we have no relation with those tree huggers."
As the leading figure explains an annoyed retort escape one of the women.
"Aley! please not now."
The leader shouts.
"Please we came to this world seeking a new home, we had no were to else to go."
"Why? What about your old world."
"We are slaves there and one that is most prized. We are the last hope for our kind."
I realise that there whole configuration is most likely for a repopulation program. I male and seven- four females.
"Fine, but did you get to this world?"
The man with a sigh of relief points towards the glowing vein at the end of the room.
"we were given an offer by the dungeon to serve, as long as we protect it we live."
"So you are connected to the dungeon?"
"Yes if it dies so do we."
"Aiken lo oten Ka ye"
'They seem to be speaking in another language.'
"What if he wants to destroy the core, what then?"
The leader retorts back to the woman. I then realise than when he spoke his lips didn't sync with his words.
"How can you speak my language?" I asked.
"Our kind used to work as assassins we developed a way to use mana as a way of translation and communication. My name is Aiken by the way."
"Jacob, huh sorry about your other friends." I said lowering my guard a little.
After an awkward silence Aiken the Dark elf leader spoke.
"Is there anything else you need?"
'What the hell does he mean by that?' I thought.
I hadn't come this far for nothing, I need something before leaving here.
"I came looking for treasures, specifically pleasures ores."
"mph, mala tatek humans."
I didn't need to understand their language just by looking at her body language I knew what she said was along the lines of "classic human greed."
"My apologies, but we have nothing to offer you, we came here with nothing but the clothes on our body.
"Fuck!"