The eerie silence of the cavern was broken only by the soft, steady sound of dripping blood. The walls, once jagged and rugged with natural stone, were now slick with crimson, and the entire floor was a grotesque display of torn flesh and scattered organs. It was a sight out of a nightmare, something beyond the imagination of even the most hardened adventurers.
Not long after Aiden had left, a group of adventurers cautiously emerged from the tunnels, drawn by the overwhelming noise and disturbance that had echoed through the cave system earlier. Their torches flickered, casting long, uneasy shadows against the blood-soaked walls. The moment their eyes took in the horrific scene before them, a cold chill ran down their spines.
"What the hell…?" one of them muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
A thick, iron-like scent filled the air, so overpowering that it made their stomachs churn. For most of them, the sheer amount of blood, organs, and viscera scattered across the cavern was simply too much to bear. One by one, several adventurers clutched their mouths as they bent over, retching onto the ground. The sight, the smell, and the eerie absence of any intact bodies sent waves of nausea crashing over them.
"This… this isn't normal," another adventurer stammered, his face pale as he looked around in horror. "Where are the corpses?!"
Despite the carnage, there wasn't a single intact body to be found. It was as if the victims had been torn apart so violently that only their remains were left behind. Whispers of uncertainty and fear spread among them. Something beyond comprehension had taken place here.
"We can't stay here," one of the more experienced adventurers finally said, his voice laced with urgency. "The smell of blood is everywhere. If we can smell it, then so can the elite goblins. We need to get out before they arrive."
A shared understanding passed through the group. They weren't willing to take their chances. Whatever had happened here was beyond their strength to handle. With uneasy glances exchanged between them, they quickly turned back, retreating the way they came, each step carrying the weight of anxiety and fear.
Meanwhile, not far from the cavern, Aiden had already made his way down a familiar path. It led to the place where they had rested before entering the battle. He leaned against a nearby rock as he waited for the meal to be cooked on the small campfire.
After a while, soft groans broke the silence. Clara and Chloe stirred, their bodies aching from unconsciousness. As they slowly sat up, their hazy minds struggled to grasp their surroundings. Their eyes landed on Aiden, who sat beside a small fire, calmly tending to a meal as if nothing had happened.
They blinked, confusion settling in. "Aiden…?" Clara murmured, rubbing her temples. "Where… are we?"
Chloe, still groggy, looked around before focusing on Aiden again. "What happened to the boss…?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Aiden barely glanced up. He simply shrugged. "It launched an attack. You two fainted. I had to carry you out," he explained, his tone indifferent. "Even I wasn't going to fight something that strong."
Both girls stared at him, stunned. "Wait, but how did you get through the mana barrier?" Clara asked, narrowing her eyes in disbelief.
Aiden took a moment before replying. "My mom gave me a one-time-use talisman," he said nonchalantly. "It let me pass through the barrier, and I pulled you both out with me."
For a moment, silence filled the air as the two girls processed what he had just said. Then, as the realization sank in, gratitude overwhelmed them. Chloe, without hesitation, lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Aiden in a tight hug.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "If it weren't for you… we wouldn't be alive right now."
Clara nodded, her expression equally filled with gratitude. "Seriously, Aiden. We owe you."
Aiden merely gave a small nod, brushing off the weight of their words. "Eat up," he said, passing them a portion of the meal he had prepared. "We should head back soon. It's probably evening by now."
The three of them ate quickly, regaining some of their strength before beginning their journey back toward the dungeon's exit. Along the way, they encountered goblins, remnants of the chaos that had ensued earlier. Clara and Chloe, though still shaken, did their best to fight, but their nerves were evident. Their hands trembled, and their swings lacked the confidence they once had.
Aiden noticed immediately. He silently adjusted his position, keeping a closer eye on them, ready to intervene whenever necessary. He knew the brush with death had unsettled them, and it would take time for them to fully recover.
After navigating several cross-sections, the dungeon's exit finally came into view. A large crowd of adventurers had already gathered, many preparing to leave, others anxiously waiting.
As Aiden, Chloe, and Clara stepped forward, their ears caught snippets of hurried conversations.
"Did you see the boss goblin's cavern?" one adventurer asked, his tone filled with disbelief.
"Who wouldn't know about it?" another scoffed. "With all the commotion, even someone sleeping in the farthest part of the dungeon would wake up!"
"But the real question is… what actually happened in there?" a third voice chimed in. "There wasn't a single body—just blood and organs everywhere. Even thinking about it gives me chills."
Aiden feigned surprise, his expression carefully composed. Chloe and Clara, however, were genuinely taken aback. They turned to Aiden, whispering, "Did they all…?"
Aiden only gave a silent nod.
Both girls inhaled sharply, the reality of the situation dawning on them. The ones who had perished inside that cavern… were none other than the city's elite adventurers.
Exiting the dungeon, they were required to pay a sum of monster cores as a fee for taking items out. Without hesitation, they complied. The moment they stepped outside, the air felt lighter, but the atmosphere among the people was heavy.
The streets buzzed with hushed yet frantic conversations. The news of the bloody cavern had already spread. Everywhere, adventurers were discussing the incident, their faces lined with worry. Some stood near the dungeon entrance, waiting anxiously for their friends or party members to return.
As the sun dipped lower, casting an evening glow over the city, the tension grew even thicker. The guards prepared to change shifts when, suddenly, a commotion broke out.
"Wait… something's off!" a voice shouted.
The gathered adventurers turned, murmuring in confusion.
"Where are all the elite teams?!" someone exclaimed.
A wave of realization spread through the crowd. Among all the gathered adventurers, not a single one of the city's famous elite adventurers was present.
"That can't be right…" a man muttered. "I saw them all go inside earlier today."
Whispers turned into panic as people confirmed the truth—the elite teams had gone in… but had never come out.
Even the guards were stunned. They quickly exchanged glances before making a decision. "We need to report this immediately," one of them said. Without hesitation, they left to inform their higher-ups, sealing the dungeon entrance in the process.
Chloe and Clara, too, felt a wave of worry wash over them. They looked at Aiden, unsure of what to say. But Aiden simply exhaled and gave them a small, reassuring look.
"We can't do anything about what's already happened," he said. "Let's go rest."
Both girls hesitated but eventually nodded. There was nothing more they could do. With one last glance at the dungeon entrance, they turned and walked away, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily upon them.