{Argus's POV}
Sylvan's efforts in controlling the undead provided crucial support, giving Argus the opportunity to continue killing the undeads.
Argus moved swiftly, cutting down the undead with his scythe while Sylvan protected the villagers. He didn't feel heavy-hearted or shocked, having experienced such tragedies before and learned to overcome them. Instead, there was a familiar bitterness, a reminder of the past, but he pushed through, knowing that he couldn't stand by while others suffered.
As he fought, Argus noticed that some of the villagers, despite their age or disabilities, were bravely defending themselves against the undead. He admired their courage but remained focused on reducing the casualties as much as possible. He wasn't a hero, but he couldn't turn his back on a situation where his strength could make a difference.
Unbeknownst to Argus, the negative emotions swirling around him—the fear, anger, and grief of the villagers—were slowly being transferred to something inside his spatial ring. The ring, though seemingly just a storage device, somehow absorbed these dark feelings along with its contents. Argus, however, remained unaware of this strange occurrence as he continued to fight, determined to end the undead threat.
As the battle continued, the villagers' emotions intensified. Still, instead of being overwhelmed, Argus felt a strange sense of detachment, allowing him to focus on the task at hand. Sylvan's tree-like body, with its pink Sakura-like leaves, stood tall at three meters, using its roots to entangle the undead, pulling them away from the villagers. It sometimes used its leaves to strike at the enemies, though Argus had instructed it to leave most of the attacking to Astrea, whose magic was more effective in this situation.
Sylvan had grown significantly from its days as a sprout. Now, as a young tree, it stood 3 meters tall, its branches sturdy and robust. The leaves had transformed into vibrant pink sakura blossoms, adding a delicate yet striking contrast to its form.
A small, distinct drop of blood marked its bark, a new feature that had not been present when Sylvan was still a sapling. It is Sylvan's Unique mark, the same as Astrea's 8 pointed star mark on her forehead.
Finally, after what felt like hours when reality it just a few minutes, the last of the undead fell. The village was littered with the corpses of skeletons, zombies, and ghouls, alongside the tragic remains of some villagers who hadn't been lucky enough to escape. The air was thick with the smell of death and the sounds of grieving.
"Sob... Sob... Mom!" a child cried out.
"No! My wife!" another voice wailed.
The joyous festival had turned into a scene of sorrow and despair. Different negative emotions filled the atmosphere—grief, anger, fear. Some villagers were in shock, while others were visibly trembling with rage.
"Where did these undead come from?!" one villager shouted, his voice laced with anger and confusion.
"They suddenly appeared out of nowhere," another replied, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
The veteran adventurers and the village head stepped forward, trying to calm the crowd.
"There's likely a Hidden Dungeon nearby that wasn't cleared. It must have undergone a Dungeon Break, releasing these undead," one of the adventurers explained.
"That's the only explanation for this attack," another added.
"There were no undead near our village before now."
The villagers, hearing this, only grew more upset. The air buzzed with anger and frustration. Argus, still standing amidst the chaos, didn't notice that the negative emotions of those around him were continuing to be absorbed into whatever was inside his spatial ring. All he knew was that he had done what he could, and though he wasn't a hero, he had helped to reduce the number of lives lost.
The villagers began to gather around Argus, their faces showing relief and gratitude. Some approached him with tears in their eyes, others with admiration.
"You saved us! Thank you!" one villager exclaimed.
"Yes, without you, it could have been much worse," another added.
Argus stood there, listening to their words. His expression remained calm and composed, hidden behind his mask. The deep, resonant voice that came from him, thanks to the mask, made it difficult for anyone to identify him.
"I just did what I could." (Argus)
His tone steady, showing no hint of pride or self-importance.
The villagers continued to express their thanks, their voices filled with relief and admiration.
"Truly, we owe you our lives. How can we ever repay you?"
"There's no need for that. I'm just glad I was here to help."(Argus)
Nodding slightly. His mask and cloak effectively concealed his identity, so even the grateful villagers had no way of recognizing him.
Despite their praise, Argus didn't let it affect him. He had faced similar situations before. While he felt like helping, he didn't view himself as a hero. He simply couldn't ignore people in need, especially when he had the power to reduce the number of casualties.
As the villagers slowly dispersed, still whispering their thanks, Argus remained focused on his task: to clear the dungeon that was causing this since after a while another batch of undead will be released by that dungeon to cause trouble.
Suddenly, he noticed a faint shift in the air around him. The once overwhelming negative emotions had faded significantly, leaving behind a calmer, quieter atmosphere. Though there was still sadness, it wasn't as sharp or heavy as before.
Unbeknownst to him, those negative emotions had been slowly absorbed by what lay within his spatial ring. The village was beginning to heal, and Argus, too, felt a small measure of relief.
With his mask and cloak still hiding his identity, he took a deep breath and prepared to move on, ready to go in the direction where the undead comes.
'This probably came from the 20th Dungeon.' (Argus)
He thought as he dashed toward the dungeon.
'The guards of that dungeon were likely called away, as they wouldn't let a dungeon break happen with so many villages around it. I need to hurry before things get worse.'(Argus)
He had already recalled Sylvan earlier when its assistance was no longer needed. Argus felt a surge of urgency as he realized that he was partly blamed for the situation. With the Obscurite Clan's guards gone to handle the emergency, the dungeon had been left unattended, causing it to destabilize and allowing the undead to escape.
Argus remembered that Sebastian had said all members of the Obscurite Clan were called together for an emergency. Sebastian had also mentioned that this call included the top powers from all the races. Argus thought this might be something big, but he didn't worry too much about it.
Argus knew he had his own urgent tasks to focus on. The immediate need to ckeat the dungeon and make it stop to cause more casualties. Even though he was curious about what was happening with the clans, he decided not to get involved or be distracted. His priority was to handle the situation in front of him.
As Argus made his way towards the 20th Dungeon, he encountered another group of undead. These creatures were stronger and more numerous than the ones he had faced before. The sight of them confirmed his fear that the situation was worsening.
"This is getting worse," (Argus) muttered to himself.
Argus quickly summoned Sylvan to his side. The plant's tree form, now a young sakura tree with pink leaves, appeared behind him.
"Help me with these undead," (Argus) instructed, as Sylvan took its position.
"Master, these undead are more powerful than before. Be careful."(Astrea)
"I know. We need to clear them out quickly. Let's push forward." (Argus)
With Sylvan providing support and Astrea's warning in mind, Argus readied his scythe and prepared for the fight ahead. Argus and his team quickly dealt with the new wave of undead. The battle was intense but swift.
"You're doing great, Sylvan! You too Astrea." (Argus)
He called out as he fought off the undead. Sylvan's roots and branches moved with precision, helping Argus clear the area effectively.
After the battle, Argus turned to Sylvan. "Help me gather the drops."
Sylvan extended its branches and began collecting the valuable items scattered on the ground. Argus noticed that his spatial ring had been upgraded to an elite level. It now had a higher capacity and could store items without needing to be lifted, making the process much more convenient.
Once all the drops were collected, Argus recalled Sylvan into his Soul Sea. He quickly moved forward, hurrying toward the 20th Dungeon, driven by a sense of urgency.
"I hope all the undead are heading in this direction." (Argus)
He wasn't overly worried, but he wanted to avoid more casualties. If the undead spread to other villages, it would make the situation much worse. He knew that if he could keep them concentrated in one area, he might be able to manage the threat more effectively and prevent further harm to innocent people.
Argus ran at full speed, not allowing any undead to escape his scythe. His movements were precise, and he swiftly dealt with each foe. When he finally reached the dungeon portal, it released another wave of undead. Argus took a deep breath, focusing his attention on the new threat.
Argus fought through the new wave, his scythe cleaving through the undead with practiced ease. After a fierce battle, he cleared the last of them and stood, catching his breath. He gazed at the swirling dungeon portal.