As the vanguard of zombies and skeletons advanced into the ruined temple, Jay and his commanders watched intently. Suddenly, intricate glowing patterns flared up along the temple walls, forming a magic formation that engulfed the entire structure. Jay's brow furrowed as he sensed something was off—the formation didn't extend beyond the entrance, and the skeletons and zombies that had entered vanished without a trace.
Adonis stiffened, his expression grim. "Master... my skeletons—completely destroyed."
Almost immediately, Amelios echoed the same report. "The zombies... they're gone too. Something in there wiped them out in an instant."
Jay narrowed his eyes. So it's a trap waiting for all of us inside. The realization dawned on him—if they entered blindly, there was a risk of his forces being scattered or worse. He couldn't afford to lose anyone, not in a meaningless encounter. The formation was likely designed to divide them, and if separated, he wouldn't be able to summon reinforcements effectively.
Making a quick decision, Jay raised his hand and commanded, "Return."
At his word, the skeletons and zombie legions faded into shadow, dissolving back into his summoning space. The three black-eyed ghouls followed, retreating to safety without a sound. Only Jay's key commanders—those powerful enough to act autonomously, like Chenoo—remained nearby, able to enter the shadow space at will without consuming Jay's mana.
Soon, even they began slipping into the dark sanctuary of his shadow, leaving only Jay standing at the entrance. Just as he prepared to send Pluto in, the black-eyed specter remained still, lingering by his side.
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Why are you still here, Pluto? You should head in too."
Pluto crossed his arms, his tone wary. "Master, what if there's a restriction placed inside? Something that prevents us from being summoned back once we enter? If that happens, we could be trapped, leaving you alone."
Jay tilted his head in thought. The possibility wasn't outlandish—if the magic formation could obliterate his vanguard, it might have more dangerous traps hidden inside.
"I see your point," Jay admitted. Turning toward the shadows around him, he whispered, "Amelios, Seraphina." With a shimmer, the two powerful commanders emerged from his shadow space, both silent and alert.
"Master?" Amelios's voice was laced with concern as he awaited orders.
Jay relayed Pluto's theory. "If the formation blocks summons, I'll need the strongest protection I can muster. That's why I called you two. Pluto stays by my side as well—just in case I need to fuse with him."
Amelios nodded, his gaze sharpening. "I hadn't considered that deeply, Master. If the formation disables summoning, the situation could turn dangerous very quickly."
Seraphina's crimson eyes gleamed as she gave a slight nod, her agreement with Amelios clear. "We'll be ready," she said softly.
Jay took a deep breath. "Alright then. Pluto, you're with me. If anything goes wrong, I'll call for you two immediately."
Pluto grinned, his spectral form flickering. "Master, with you and me together, there's nothing we can't face. Besides," he added slyly, "I just hit level 30—might as well put that to good use."
Jay chuckled. "Fair point."
He glanced at the ominous ruins ahead, feeling the immense pressure emanating from within. Whoever—or whatever—awaited them inside was growing impatient.
"Enough stalling," Jay said with a smirk. "Let's head in and meet whoever's waiting. I'm sure they're eager for company."
With that, Jay stepped forward, Seraphina and Amelios flanking him, and Pluto gliding silently beside them.
As Jay, Pluto, Amelios, and Seraphina stepped beyond the massive, cracked doors of the blackened temple, a sudden surge of magical energy pulsed around them. The walls flickered with ancient runes, lighting up in response to their presence. Beneath their feet, a massive purple formation hummed to life, spreading tendrils of magical energy through the floor. The power of the formation surged upward, encasing them like a web spun to capture intruders.
Jay narrowed his eyes as the magic engulfed them. "If this formation separates us, find me. I'll use my lock-on skill to track you all," he ordered, keeping his voice steady. His commanders nodded in silent understanding. A brilliant flash of light exploded from the formation, swallowing everything in its path.
When the light faded, Jay found himself standing alone in a pitch-black hallway. The corridor stretched endlessly in both directions, with no visible source of light. However, his enhanced vision allowed him to see clearly despite the gloom. This place is playing games with us, Jay thought, his senses sharp as he scanned his surroundings.
Activating his lock-on skill, a glowing map appeared in his mind. His allies' locations were marked with green dots, and to his relief, they were only twenty meters away. Good, they're close, he thought, starting to move in the direction of the nearest signal.
However, as Jay approached the spot where the green dot should have been, he came face to face with an imposing stone wall, smooth and solid. His jaw clenched as he examined it. On the other side of the wall, the green arrow representing his ally was moving toward him as well—but the wall remained firmly in place, blocking any reunion.
What kind of trick is this? Jay thought, frustration flickering through him. Just as he was about to try a spell or summon a minion to investigate, the muffled sound of a heavy impact echoed from the opposite side of the wall.
BOOM! BOOM! The blows were powerful, and Jay could feel the energy radiating from the impacts. Whoever was on the other side was hammering away, launching energy attacks, trying to break through the wall.
Jay placed his hand against the cold stone. Not a single crack... Whatever enchantments were embedded into the temple walls were formidable.
He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the map his lock-on skill projected. The green dot stayed still on the other side of the barrier, indicating one of his allies was trapped just as he was.
The booming sounds persisted, relentless and fierce. Whoever was on the other side wasn't giving up—and Jay had a good guess who it might be.
"Amelios... he's trying to blast his way through," Jay muttered to himself, recognizing the sheer force behind the attacks. But despite the onslaught, the wall remained untouched, thick and impenetrable.
With a sigh, Jay stepped back, analyzing the situation. These walls aren't normal... This temple's trying to keep us apart for a reason.
He activated his lock-on skill once more, tracking Pluto and Seraphina's signals. They were nearby, moving around—likely looking for ways to regroup with him.
"Stay calm, Jay," he told himself. "There has to be a way through this."
He glanced back at the stone wall, the muffled bangs still vibrating through the surface. Whatever awaited deeper inside the temple was trying to mess with them—but Jay wasn't about to let a wall stop him.
Drawing a deep breath, he began exploring the hallway, determined to find another way around. The oppressive atmosphere of the temple pressed down on him, but Jay grinned. They think they can keep me from my legion?let's see if you can stop me then !
Jay's eyes narrowed as he called into the shadows, "Come out, Chenoo."
A ripple surged through the dark depths of his shadow space, but it quickly stilled, confirming Pluto's worst fear—something was actively suppressing his ability to summon creatures from within. Jay clenched his fists. Damn, Pluto was right... We're dealing with some nasty restrictions.
Then, without warning, his shadow space vibrated again—this time violently, as if something within was struggling to break free. The magic formation beneath Jay's feet hummed to life, glowing ominously. Symbols spread along the ground, building momentum toward reactivation. Jay's heartbeat quickened, his mind racing.
This formation is trying to lock everything down. If I don't act now...
A sudden thought crossed Jay's mind—a gamble. He had never tried it before, but desperate times called for bold measures. Before the formation could fully activate, Jay raised his hand and shouted, "Medium Curse of Words—Stop!"
The symbols flickering with magic abruptly dimmed. The flow of energy faltered, disrupted by Jay's incantation. The air pulsed as if the entire temple hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the forbidden curse.
And in that instant, the ground beneath him exploded outward as Jay's shadow burst open, releasing a towering figure cloaked in snowy fur. Chenoo emerged, his eyes gleaming with malice, his two sharp horns glinting as the frigid air around him chilled the stone floor.
Jay grinned, though beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. The summoning had cost him dearly—his once-steady mana pool had plummeted, nearly drained to the point of exhaustion. But it was worth it. Chenoo roared as he fully materialized, his presence thick with malevolent energy.
With a low growl, Chenoo raised his massive hands and conjured a purple sphere that pulsed with destructive energy. The orb shimmered ominously, crackling with latent power—small but deadly, a ticking bomb waiting to unleash devastation.
Chenoo glanced at Jay briefly, a wicked glint in his eye, before smashing the purple sphere down onto the formation beneath their feet. The impact was deafening.
BOOOOM!
The purple orb detonated, sending a shockwave through the ground. Combined with the residual power of Jay's Curse of Words, the formation cracked and shattered like brittle glass. Magical runes fizzled, malfunctioning under the combined force of destruction and forbidden magic.
The floor trembled violently as fragments of the shattered formation disintegrated, leaving a smoldering crater in its place. The oppressive energy that had gripped the temple wavered, thinning like smoke scattered in the wind.
Jay let out a breath of relief. That should do it.
Without wasting another second, he channeled the last drops of his mana into summoning his skeletal and undead legions. One by one, bones clattered and shadows stirred as his forces materialized around him, rising from the dark void. Armored skeletons stood ready, undead beasts snarled, and necrotic magic surged within the ranks.
Jay swayed slightly from the mana drain, but the sight of his legion forming at his command fueled him.
As chenoo rolled his shoulders, Jay let out a low, rumbling laugh escaping him. "They thought they could trap us..." Chenoo following jay's declaration then cracked his knuckles, eager for more destruction.
Jay gave him a sharp grin. "Not today."
The skeletal soldiers clutched their weapons, ready for whatever lay ahead. As the oppressive atmosphere of the temple faded, Jay felt the tides shift—this place, no matter how cursed or ancient, would soon belong to him.
Jay exhaled slowly, grounding himself after the intense surge of magic. His mana reserves were dangerously low, leaving him drained, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they began to replenish.
"Let's wait a bit for my mana to recover," he said calmly, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping over him. His skeletal and undead forces formed a defensive perimeter around him, their eerie silence comforting in its familiarity.
Chenoo stood nearby, watching the shadows with a predator's patience. "A wise choice, Master. We wouldn't want to charge deeper into this cursed place half-prepared." His cold breath condensed in the air, giving an otherworldly chill to the dim hallway.
Jay leaned against the cold temple wall, his fingers tracing its cracked surface as he planned his next move. "Once my mana is back, I'll summon the three Black-Eyed Ghouls and Adonis. With their abilities, finding Amelios, Seraphina, and Pluto will be much easier."
Chenoo gave a slow nod, his large frame looming like a mountain. "They'll be waiting for us, no doubt. Separated or not, I don't believe anything inside this temple can keep them from reuniting with you for long."