###Chapter 24: Winter Icelyn
Arie remained unconscious as Agin carefully lifted him onto his back, ready to retreat and regroup. Princess Lea and Liana, though drained, followed close behind, supporting one another. But something didn't sit right with Lea. She glanced back, her instincts flaring as the teacher stood in the distance, his form eerily still, a sinister grin tugging at his lips.
"Teach—" she started to call out but froze mid-sentence. She gasped, her voice breaking into a frantic scream: "Look out!"
The faint glint of something on the ground caught her eye—a magic bomb, glowing faintly with an ominous hue. Her heart dropped.
Agin whipped his head around just in time to see the bomb's magical energy swell, pulsing erratically. His battle-hardened reflexes kicked in, and he threw up a protective barrier around himself, Arie, Liana, and Lea.
The bomb detonated in a deafening roar, and the ground beneath them collapsed, sending debris and bodies plummeting into the darkness below. The teacher stood at the edge of the newly formed chasm, watching the chaos with a twisted grin.
"Master,"
he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible over the echoing explosion.
"The plan has been executed."
The scene shifted below as Agin, Liana, Princess Lea, and the unconscious Arie tumbled through the abyss. The descent felt endless, the air rushing past them, adding to the disorientation.
"Why haven't we hit the bottom yet?"
Princess Lea shouted over the roar of wind, panic rising in her voice.
The faint glimmer of the dungeon's floor finally appeared beneath them, and Liana, mustering the last of her strength, whispered a spell. "Water Cushion!"
The ground below shimmered, transforming into a pool of water just before they landed. The impact sent shockwaves through their bodies, but the water broke their fall enough to save their lives. Agin struggled to his feet, coughing and drenched, before dragging Arie and the others out of the pool.
"Liana!" Agin called out as he gently shook her, but she was unresponsive. The mana strain and physical toll from the battle had finally caught up with her.
After checking to ensure she was breathing, Agin turned his attention to their surroundings. The chamber was enormous, its jagged walls illuminated by a faint bioluminescent glow.
Agin barely had time to catch his breath before a faint clicking sound echoed through the chamber. He froze, his instincts on high alert. Princess Lea tensed beside him, her grip tightening on her blade.
"Do you hear that?" she whispered.
Before Agin could answer, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows, then another, and another. A low growl rippled through the air as the creatures emerged—killer rabbits. Their wiry bodies twitched unnaturally, their claws gleaming like knives.
"What... are those things?" Lea's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Killer rabbits," Agin said grimly. "Fast, vicious, and relentless. Stay close."
The first rabbit lunged, a blur of motion that Agin barely parried in time. Its claws screeched against his blade, sparks flying. Another attacked from the side, forcing Lea to block with a desperate swing.
"They're too fast!" Lea shouted, staggering back as another rabbit swiped at her leg.
Agin gritted his teeth, sidestepping an attack and countering with a precise strike that severed one of the rabbit's legs. It screamed, a high-pitched, unsettling sound, before another of its kind leaped over its body to attack him.
"Don't stop moving!" Agin barked, pivoting to cover Lea's flank.
The rabbits swarmed them, their movements erratic and their speed overwhelming. Agin's spear flashed as he struck down two more, but a sharp pain shot through his arm as one of the creatures sank its claws into his shoulder. He roared, slamming it against the cavern wall and finishing it with a thrust.
Lea spun, her sword narrowly missing another rabbit that darted past her. Its claws raked her side, drawing blood. She cried out but didn't falter, driving her blade into the creature's back.
"Princess, focus!" Agin shouted, cutting down another rabbit that lunged for her exposed side.
"I'm trying!" she snapped, dodging another attack.
The battle was chaos, their exhaustion amplifying every mistake. The rabbits were relentless, their glowing eyes a constant, unnerving reminder that there were still too many left. One leaped at Lea's face, its claws outstretched, but she ducked at the last second, slashing upward and splitting it in two.
Agin swung his blade in a wide arc, forcing a small group to scatter. His breath came in ragged gasps as he realized just how outnumbered they were.
"We can't keep this up," he muttered, parrying another attack.
"We don't have a choice!" Lea replied, driving her sword into the ground to block a rabbit that burrowed up from below.
With one final coordinated effort, the two fought back-to-back, their strikes growing increasingly desperate. When the last rabbit fell, its body twitching in its death throes, Agin and Lea collapsed to their knees, drenched in sweat and blood.
But the relief was short-lived. The ground trembled, and the sound of heavy footsteps filled the chamber.
"What is it now," Lea whispered, her voice trembling as she looked up.
From the shadows, three massive forms emerged, their armored exoskeletons glinting ominously in the faint light.
"Leviacrabs," Agin muttered, his grip tightening on his sword.
The creatures towered over them, each with jagged pincers capable of crushing stone. Their glowing, multifaceted eyes locked onto the group, hunger emanating from their every movement. The largest one clicked its pincers together, the sound reverberating through the cavern like a death knell.
"This just keeps getting worse," Lea whispered, positioning herself beside Agin.
"Stay sharp. These things aren't just tough—they're smart," Agin said, his voice firm despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
One of the Leviacrabs let out a shrill, piercing screech before lunging forward.
Agin raised his sword. "Here they come!"
Meanwhile, Eldren and Adrian had managed to slow their descent, using their weapons to pierce the walls and control their fall. The two landed awkwardly but safely, disoriented but alive.
"What just happened?" Adrian asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"The floor collapsed," Eldren replied grimly, scanning their surroundings. "But something feels… wrong."
Their suspicions were confirmed as the teacher descended after them, feigning shock at the scene. "You two… You're alive?"
Eldren's eyes narrowed. "Barely."
The teacher's expression twisted briefly before he masked it with feigned concern.
"We need to regroup and find the others. Adrian, help me gather the unconscious students. Eldren, bring Iris here."
Eldren hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to remain on guard, but he complied. As he carried Iris toward the teacher, the older man suddenly lunged with a dagger.
Eldren, anticipating the betrayal, blocked the strike with his sword and leaped back.
"What are you doing?!"
The teacher's grin turned feral. "Finishing the job."
Activating a stealth skill, the teacher vanished from sight. In a flash, he reappeared behind Adrian, driving the dagger into his abdomen.
"Adrian!" Eldren shouted, his voice breaking as his friend collapsed.
Before Eldren could act, the teacher struck again, his blade finding its mark. Eldren fell to the ground, his vision fading as he saw the teacher raise a glowing artifact.
"The children have been dealt with, Master," the teacher murmured as the artifact began to drain energy from the unconscious students. Eldren's thoughts turned to regret as the world went dark.
Back to the chamber, where Agin and Lea, battered and bloodied, pressed their backs against the cold chamber wall. Seven Leviacrabs surrounded them, their sharp pincers snapping rhythmically, echoing like the ticking of a death clock. The monsters' hard, chitinous shells glistened under the dim light, and their glowing red eyes bore into the pair like predators savoring a final moment before the kill.
"We can't... take another hit," Lea panted, her sword trembling in her grip. Blood dripped from a gash on her forehead, stinging her eyes, but she refused to falter.
Agin clenched his jaw, gripping his spear tightly. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his legs felt like they could collapse any moment. Still, his protective instincts flared, pushing him to stand firm. "No running, Princess. If this is it, we go down fighting."
Lea managed a faint smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
The Leviacrabs edged closer, pincers raised high. Agin raised his spear, muttering a silent prayer. Just as the monsters lunged forward, an explosion of golden light erupted behind them, flooding the chamber.
"Stop!"
The monsters hesitated, momentarily blinded by the brilliance. Agin and Lea shielded their eyes, squinting toward the source.
Emerging from the glow was Liana, standing shakily on her feet. Her golden aura flickered like a flame in the wind, but her resolve shone as bright as the sun.
"Liana?" Agin gasped, disbelief and hope flooding his voice.
The girl stumbled forward, her staff glowing with raw magic. Though her face was pale and her body trembled with exhaustion, her eyes burned with fierce determination.
"Sorry, took me a while," she said, her voice trembling but filled with unyielding resolve. She slammed her staff into the ground, and the golden aura surged outward like a protective wave.
The healing light washed over Agin and Lea, sealing their wounds and revitalizing their battered bodies. Both gasped as strength returned to their limbs, and the crushing weight of exhaustion lifted slightly.
"You're crazy," Agin muttered, his voice catching.
Liana smirked, though it was faint. "I'm crazy enough to save your lives."
The Leviacrabs hissed, recovering from their shock, and turned their glowing eyes toward the small girl. Agin stepped in front of her protectively.
"Stay back!" he growled, raising his spear.
But Liana raised her staff again, the light around her intensifying. "No. I'm not done yet."
With a sharp cry, she unleashed a pulse of magic. The Leviacrabs screeched as the light momentarily stunned them, giving Agin and Lea just enough time to charge forward.
"Let's end this!" Lea shouted, her voice renewed with fire.
The trio fought together in perfect synchronicity—Lea's sword danced with lethal precision, Agin's spear struck with deadly force, and Liana's magic supported them, providing barriers and bursts of light that threw the Leviacrabs off balance.
Though the fight was grueling and the Leviacrabs' attacks relentless, the team pressed on, their unity the deciding factor. Finally, the last Leviacrab let out a guttural hiss before collapsing, its shell cracking under Lea's final blow.
As silence fell over the chamber, the three stood amidst the carnage, panting heavily. Agin turned to Liana, his face filled with relief and gratitude.
"You saved us," he said, his voice soft but sincere.
Liana gave a weak laugh, her legs buckling. "Don't... make me do that again."
Lea caught her before she could hit the ground, cradling her carefully. "You were incredible."
Before they could celebrate further, the chamber trembled once again. The ominous rumble sent chills through their spines, and they turned toward the darkness, where more monsters... came.
They were surrounded, monsters coming at them from all sides, exhaustion pressing down on them like a crushing weight. The monsters snarled and roared, closing in from all sides. Agin raised his weapon shakily, his breathing uneven.
"This… this might be it," he muttered, his voice grim.
Just as their fate seemed sealed, a faint, rhythmic echo filled the chamber. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate, growing louder with each step.
From the shadows, a figure appeared—a woman. Her blade shimmering with an almost ethereal glow.
Without uttering a single word, she advanced. Her strikes were precise and unrelenting, each swing cutting through the monsters with precise efficiency. Every slice hits with precision. The group could only watch as the seemingly endless horde fell, one by one, until the floor was littered with lifeless bodies.
When the final monster collapsed, silence fell over the chamber, save for the soft hiss of blood dripping from her blade. She lowered her sword and turned toward them, her piercing green eyes calm yet commanding.
The figure stepped forward, revealing herself in the dim light. Her white armor glowed faintly, and her light-blue sword shimmered with ethereal energy.
"Who are you?" Agin asked, his voice hoarse.
The woman replied.
"Winter Icelyn. Level 13 adventurer."