As they ventured deeper into the cave, the atmosphere became heavier. The darkness swallowed them, and shadows stretched across the rough stone walls.
Sean pulled out a small emerald-green gem from his pack. As the light from the gem began to glow, it cast a faint, eerie light around the group, gradually illuminating the path ahead. The gem seemed to pulse, its glow pointing toward a specific direction.
"It's just ahead," Sean said flatly, already preparing for the next phase. "Get ready."
The knights fell silent. Each of them unsheathed their swords, though none of them seemed eager to face whatever waited ahead. They knew they were outmatched by whatever they were hunting, but as knights, they still had the basic skills to defend themselves.
Harry, following along but keeping his distance, felt the tension rise as they continued down the cave. The air was thick with anticipation.
They walked in silence until the sound of a distant 'bang' echoed through the cave. It was a low, reverberating noise, like something heavy had just moved. The group immediately froze.
Ahead of them, something massive shifted in the shadows. When they looked up, their eyes widened at the sight of the creature standing before them; huge, imposing, and ready for a fight.
The monster before them was nearly four meters tall, with a humanoid shape but four muscular arms. It was in the middle of devouring a wild beast when it noticed the group.
"Is this the one?" Henry muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Without a word, the knights charged forward. The light from their life energy flashed like a beacon, illuminating the cavern.
Startled by the sudden attack, the creature let out a furious roar and lunged forward. Its massive frame caused the ground to tremble beneath its feet, sending shockwaves through the cave. The very earth seemed to groan under its weight.
But despite its terrifying presence, the combined might of eight knights was too much. In a flash, the creature was overwhelmed. Its giant head was severed cleanly, rolling away from the rest of its body. Dark, viscous blood spilled across the cave floor, releasing a strange, rancid odor that lingered in the air.
"Is that all?" Henry sneered, wiping his blade. "A monster like this is no match for a knight, let alone eight of us."
Harry, however, wasn't so sure.
His senses, sharpened by the life energy within him, detected something off. The monster's aura wasn't what it should have been. It felt chaotic, unstable, nothing like the Soul Beasts Sean had described. Logically, it didn't make sense.
"Be careful!" Sean's voice broke through his thoughts.
The wizard's expression had shifted to one of concern. "This isn't a Soul Beast at all!"
The words sent a ripple of confusion through the group. What was it, then?
Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them began to tremble. It was subtle at first, but the vibrations quickly grew stronger. The sound of massive footsteps echoed from the entrance behind them.
When they turned, their eyes widened in shock.
Huge figures, seven or eight in total, were emerging from the shadows, blocking the only exit. These monsters were unlike anything they had seen. Each one had a different shape, but all were just as menacing.
"Stay alert!" Sean shouted.
His warning came too late. Without a moment's notice, the ground exploded beneath their feet, sending debris flying in every direction. The entire cave began to shake violently, and the walls cracked as the very foundation of the cave seemed to crumble.
Panic set in as the cave threatened to collapse around them. They were trapped, surrounded by monsters, with no clear way out.
Harry's instincts flared, and he immediately sensed something was wrong. Without wasting a second, he grabbed Sean and yanked him away from the danger.
They sprinted forward, leaving their previous position behind in a blur of motion.
Behind them, agonized screams echoed through the cave, sending a chill down Harry's spine. In the dim light, he could barely make out the horrifying scene. Two knights, their bodies grotesquely swollen and reddened, writhed on the ground in pain. They could no longer resist; the monsters had closed in, capturing them with terrifying speed.
"Corrosive venom!" Sean's voice rang out in shock. "This is a trap!"
It didn't take much for the others to realize what was happening. What had started as a simple monster hunt had quickly turned into a nightmare. The appearance of so many monsters, the explosions, the poison, it all pointed to a well-laid plan, a conspiracy in the works.
"It's all your fault, isn't it?" Henry's voice cut through the tension. He glared at David, his face contorted with rage. "I should've known. That old man, so eager to get me involved. It was all a trap!"
His hand flew to his sword, his anger boiling over. "You want to kill me and take my family's land, don't you?"
Before anyone could stop him, Henry charged at David, sword drawn, intent on confronting him. The other knights looked uneasy, their faces reflecting doubt and suspicion. Most of them had been hesitant to join this hunt from the start, but Earl Thorne had convinced them. Now, seeing the monsters and the chaos, they couldn't help but question everything.
Henry was ready to fight, but just then, a sharp, distant scream echoed, followed by the heavy sound of footsteps. The monsters were closing in.
Henry hesitated, his sword still raised, as he turned to look behind him. Realizing the imminent danger, he scowled and reluctantly lowered his blade. Without another word, he motioned to his men, and they swiftly moved off in a different direction, away from the monsters.
Harry and Sean exchanged a glance, then silently veered off in another direction, away from the conflict. But as they moved, Harry's eyes flicked back to David, who still stood frozen, dazed by the chaos around him. Harry's brow furrowed, and with a quick motion, he grabbed David and pulled him along.
As they distanced themselves from the others, Sean shot Harry a puzzled look. "Why are you dragging him with you?"
"At times like this, the more people, the better," Harry replied quietly. "Besides, Mr. Sean, you don't think Lord Thorne is behind this, do you?"
Sean shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That's impossible. If Thorne were behind this, why would he send his most talented son into the heart of the danger? Those monsters aren't going to care who he is."
Harry wasn't so sure. But for now, there were more pressing issues to deal with. The monsters were closing in, and they needed to find a way out, fast.
"I think Mr. Sean must have some insight into this accident, right?" Harry asked, turning his gaze to Sean.
"I do," Sean replied confidently. "The Corpse Soul Beasts that appeared here weren't a natural phenomenon. They were artificially bred."
"Artificially bred?" David asked, wide-eyed. "What's the point of that?"
"There are several reasons," Sean explained. He glanced at David before continuing, "For wizards, Soul Beasts are incredibly rare and valuable materials."
"But for certain wandering wizards, Soul Beasts have a particular significance."
Sean paused for a moment, then added, "They can help a wizard become a formal wizard."
"Wait, do you need a Soul Beast to become a formal wizard?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow.
"Not exactly," Sean clarified. "Ordinary wizards don't need a Soul Beast. But the process of promotion to a formal wizard requires a massive influx of vitality. Special materials with high vitality are needed for that, and the heart of a Corpse Soul Beast is one such material."
He paused again, choosing his words carefully. "The problem is, while the heart of a Soul Beast can help with promotion, it's not the best option. Its vitality is limited, and it comes with risks. Most wizards use higher-quality materials when they promote, potions or other superior ingredients."
"But for wandering wizards, it's different," Sean continued. "They don't have access to those resources. Their lives are tougher, so they'll take whatever they can get. For them, a Soul Beast heart is a good, if imperfect, choice."
Harry nodded slowly, starting to understand. "So it's like how knights train. Those who can afford knight potions drink them daily to improve, but others don't even have access to the basic training methods. Wizards are the same, those with resources have many options, while the ones without will take anything they can find."
"Exactly," Sean agreed. "Wild wizards, those without formal training or resources, are at the lowest rung of wizard society. They'll use whatever materials they can get their hands on."
"But still," Harry pondered, "is the promotion to a formal wizard always about having enough vitality?"
A thought suddenly crossed his mind, and his gaze shifted to the life ritual he was carrying.
"It's a trap," Sean said flatly. "Breeding a Soul Beast requires an immense amount of pure vitality. Only the most powerful vitality can create the best heart for a Soul Beast. Ordinary people's vitality won't cut it."
"So, he's targeting us?" David asked, his voice tense.
"Exactly," Sean nodded. "Compared to most people, knights have the purest and most potent vitality. The life seed in your body is highly sought after by wizards."