After dealing with the bandits, Liam turned his attention to the treasure room. With all the threats eliminated, the eerie silence was now filled with the faint glimmer of gold and silver under the dim lighting. Piles of coins, rare gems, and ancient artifacts lay scattered across the room, their presence a stark contrast to the violence that had just unfolded.
Liam stepped closer to the treasure, his eyes scanning the various valuables. He wasn't interested in the wealth; it was the potential magical artifacts or anything with significance that caught his attention. Slowly, he began analyzing each item with his [Appraisal] skill, checking for anything out of the ordinary.
As he touched a golden chalice, a tab appeared:
---
[Golden Chalice of Aether]
Effect:
A ceremonial object used in ancient rites. Said to increase magical affinity when holding liquid inside it.
Rare Artifact.
---
Liam's eyebrows raised slightly. "Not bad," he muttered, pocketing the chalice for future use. He continued to sift through the pile, finding a few enchanted weapons, some ancient scrolls, and other valuable relics. Most of the treasure was just that—treasure—but the few magical items he found were worth noting.
Once he was satisfied with the appraisal, he stood up and turned toward the entrance. He walked back to the camouflaged wall where the women and children were still staying, protected by the shield he'd set up. He reached out, placing his hands near the wall, and whispered the command to deactivate it.
[Deactivate]
The divine shield, with its [Camouflage] and [Decay] attributes, shimmered faintly before vanishing into nothingness. As it disappeared, the light from the treasure room spilled into the dark corridor, illuminating the once-dreary space. Slowly, the trapped women and children began to emerge from the darkness, their eyes wide with a mixture of hope and fear.
They cautiously stepped out of the prison-like room, shielding their eyes from the sudden brightness. Their gazes turned to Liam, who was calmly waiting for them to regroup.
Liam nodded, motioning for them to gather near him. "It's safe now," he said in a calm voice. "The bandits are gone."
The women and children, relieved, began to approach him, hesitant but trusting. They had heard the chaos that had unfolded earlier, but now, seeing their rescuer standing amidst the treasure, they knew the ordeal was over.
Liam, while still keeping an eye on his surroundings, allowed them a moment of respite. He knew they were tired, scared, and confused, but this was only the beginning of their journey to safety.
For now, he waited as they gathered, ready to lead them out of the cave and back to freedom. But first, there was still something gnawing at his mind—the mystery of the treasure, the secrets it held, and what the bandits had been planning with such wealth. That would have to wait for another time.
Liam took a moment to assess the new set of treasures before him, each item glinting under the dim light. He knew he had to remain vigilant, so he released the snake, instructing it to take position at the entrance of the cave. "Stay alert and keep watch," he commanded, hoping the creature would protect against any further threats.
As he examined a beautifully crafted dagger, a sudden, sharp pain pierced his chest. It was as if a dagger had been thrust deep into his heart, only to vanish just as quickly as it had come. He instinctively placed a hand over the spot, confused. He was surrounded by the protective barrier of his [Divine Shield], a skill designed to nullify most attacks. How could he feel pain?
In a flash, understanding dawned upon him. It wasn't an attack that had hurt him; it was his bond with the snake. The connection through their [Blood Mark] and [Dominate] had been severed. Fury ignited within him at the realization that his first tamed creature had been slain, despite the defenses he had in place.
He turned back to the women and children, who had been watching him with wide eyes. "Stay here," he instructed firmly. "There are new foes nearby." They nodded obediently, the trust in their eyes reminding him why he had come.
Liam knew he couldn't place a blood mark on the frightened women and children, but he needed to be prepared. He activated his [Mark] skill, applying various buffs to himself: [Speed], [Strength], [Haste], and [Flash]. The rush of power surged through him as he felt his muscles tighten and his reflexes sharpen.
With newfound speed, he raced through the dimly lit tunnels, swiftly closing the distance to the source of the disturbance. As he emerged into a wider chamber, he confronted a group of figures that looked like heroes, dressed in armor that glinted even in the darkness.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
One of the heroes stepped forward, a tall figure with yellow hair that fell over his forehead. "We are heroes of Celestiya," he proclaimed. "We've come to vanquish the bandits who have taken refuge in this forest."
"I'm not a bandit," Liam shot back, his tone sharp. "I cleared the bandits' cave, and I already dealt with them."
The heroes exchanged glances, skepticism evident on their faces. They were hesitant to accept his claims.
"Did you see a snake?" Liam pressed, his heart racing with concern.
A burly hero with a rough beard stepped forward, a glint of pride in his eyes. "We killed the snake," he declared confidently.
Liam's anger flared. "That was my friend!" His calm demeanor shattered, replaced by a wrathful glare. The heroes instinctively shifted, their postures tensing as they readied themselves for confrontation.
The yellow-haired leader raised a hand, attempting to maintain peace. "Hold on. If you've truly taken down the bandits, then you must be strong. But that snake—"
A white-haired hero beside him, brandishing a gleaming shield, interrupted. "No, it must have been the snake's venom that did the work for you," he dismissed, a cocky grin spreading across his face.
Liam's patience was wearing thin. He felt a surge of determination to defend his fallen companion and prove himself to these so-called heroes. "I did it alone! You have no idea what you're dealing with!" he growled, preparing to unleash his wrath upon the heroes who had mistaken him for an enemy.
Liam's eyes gleamed with a thirst for revenge as he assessed the heroes standing before him. He quickly sized up their roles based on their weapons: Caiser, the yellow-haired swordsman; Rizuard, the white-haired tank with the shield; Silvana, the purple-haired mage; Keith, the burly assassin; and Kanya, the brown-haired archer. The mage, Silvana, seemed the most dangerous, especially with his unfamiliarity with this world's magic system. His attention shifted, sensing movement.
Suddenly, Keith vanished from sight, only to reappear behind Liam, his dagger poised to strike. Thanks to [Focus], Liam anticipated the attack. He countered with a swift blow, his fist creating a gaping wound in Keith's chest. Blood splattered, and Keith staggered backward, gasping for air.
Before Liam could react further, a flash of lightning came from Silvana's outstretched hand, striking directly at him. The powerful bolt slammed into his [Divine Shield], but Liam felt the strain of it as the barrier struggled to hold. It wouldn't last much longer.
He gritted his teeth and uttered the command: "[Retribution]."
Instantly, all the damage absorbed by the shield was reflected back at Silvana. The electric energy crackled and surged, shocking her and paralyzing her where she stood. Her body convulsed, and Liam exhaled, relieved. "So, you weren't planning to kill me, huh?" he muttered, his gaze cold and calculating as he turned toward the rest of the heroes.
Kanya, the brown-haired archer, knelt beside Keith, her bow now on the ground. Liam guessed she was trying to heal the burly assassin. He couldn't allow that. Meanwhile, Rizuard, the white-haired tank, bared his teeth and shouted in fury, "You're going to pay for that!" His shield was raised, but Liam could tell his anger was more from frustration than strategy.
Liam scoffed, meeting Rizuard's glare. "I was defending myself. He attacked first." His calm words only seemed to enrage the tank further.
Caiser, the yellow-haired swordsman, finally made his move. He charged forward, sword drawn, but his hesitation was clear in his eyes. It was as though Caiser wasn't fully committed to this battle, perhaps doubting whether Liam was truly the enemy. But Liam wasn't taking chances.
In a single flick of his wrist, multiple barriers formed, encasing the heroes in shimmering, impenetrable walls. He watched as they futilely tried to break free. Even Silvana, now waking from her paralysis, struggled to gather her magic. Seeing this, Liam quickly added an attribute to the barrier: "[Paralyzing Domain]," the same one he had used on the snake earlier.
Silvana's efforts grew sluggish, and soon she collapsed again, completely incapacitated. Liam's lips curled into a dark smile. "So, this is what it's like to break a hero."
Stepping toward Caiser, he reached down and grabbed the swordsman's weapon. The blade was finely crafted, a hero's sword. But it wasn't the sword Liam was interested in. He cut his finger lightly on the edge, watching the blood drip from his wound. Placing the bloody finger in his mouth, Liam activated his next move. A bright red light surrounded Caiser's body, and Liam wasted no time moving toward the other heroes.
The red glow from Caiser slowly faded, and Liam stood back, saying the words that had brought the snake under his control before: "[Mark Trigger] [Dominate]"
Nothing happened.
A notification flashed in his mind: [Dominate cannot be applied to the given targets.]
Disappointment washed over Liam as the realization set in. His gaze lingered on the heroes, now trapped and at his mercy. Though [Dominate] had failed, the satisfaction of subduing them still sparked within him. "Looks like killing a hero won't be as easy as I thought," he mused aloud, his voice low.
Still, their lives were in his hands now, and they had slain his companion.