111 An terrifying overview

During the time where the humans were only weakly trying to do something, the other side was not as idle as them. If someone said that they were not surprised that their base was finally discovered, it was mainly because they knew very well what was the cause. It was hard to miss a long line of tall trolls leaving the mountains to disappear from the sight at a specific spot. And even someone as powerful as they were couldn't manage to get rid of all the spies and observers well hidden in the entire area.

The only thing they still hadn't manage to understand was the identity of the one that called that expedition. They were heavily favoring the White Hand, or should they say the Organization. If it had been the Kingdom of Massalia, they would have sent the remnants of the mage still alive, to at least be present in case something went wrong or maybe even study the magic shield surrounding the base.

But up to that point, the four survivors of the Demonic Empire still didn't know what to really do. They had the intelligence to not make too many noises, contrarily to the Dark Gods that awakened the Saksa, so they could only create basic plans to slowly conquer this planet. But besides killing everyone, right now, not a lot of propositions were made. Of course, Ymir was hungry and Kardel needed something to accelerate his healing, that's why two voices were for a complete slaughter.

Malakov, on the other, truly didn't care at all. When Leilade was here, he dare not propose anything that wasn't her will. So, like an obedient lich, he only howled at the two when he saw the Empress was unhappy. As for the later, she did have one or two ideas, but they were always destroyed by the Viscount, that sometimes agreed with the two brainless commanders.

(We are discovered, now we need to show strength. If you hadn't decided to wipe out the magus of the Academy of Massalia, we could have tried something else. But since we are in enemy territory, surrounded by foes everywhere, our only hope is to inspire so much fear that they will back off for a long period of time. And by that time, Master Agnil will have finished equipping our army.)

She thought of several things, like allowing the adventurers to leave with a hefty amount of gold and rare weapons. Just a few would be a drop from the sea they already possessed, as for the gold, it was the same Meridiana discarded because it was too foreign. With that, they could have hoped to attract greedy fighters willing to risk their lives for profit. By doing this, they could have created a slow supply of humans for themselves.

She had always planned that when she first decided to create that base underground. If not for the ones that managed to link them to this place, it could have been a normal dungeon that was only recently discovered. She had even asked Malakov to begin preparing enough mana to fake an earthquake. Like that, the entrance would have been accidentally dug, and everything would have been logical.

(It could have baited a few at first, but even then, what you wanted is incredibly rare in this world. Even from the memories of all those people that were killed, such dungeon only exists in 2 other locations. In all the human nations, something similar does not even amount to 10. And because they are all deadly, they are most of the time left alone. It's not like gold or weapons could grow back after being taken. Past the initial rush, when the danger is too high, everything beyond is only dreams and no one is willing to die.)

What the Viscount said was entirely true. Most of what the inhabitants of this planet call dungeon are past fortifications or lairs created by superior beings. Whether it was the Dark Gods, the Lich King, or anything that reached a certain level of power, they could amass vast quantities of wealth and treasures. But like the Necropolis of Ptolekh, they were forbidden zones, were not even madmen even thought of entering it.

"Fine, if only the Saksa was not present, I wouldn't have to think of petty tricks. Maybe I should pay a visit to the dwarves, after all, they are the ones that apparently were the closest." While thinking this, she looked at Ymir and Kardel, that were expecting to finally have something to do.

"Malakov, accompany Kardel outside, you can kill everyone that is hidden in the vicinity. Ymir, you can have everyone but the adventurers. None of them will die if they don't do stupid stuff, but you can kill whoever attacks you."

"Empress." The slightly deformed black panther and the red giant bowed in front of her and began to prepare themselves. Even if Malakov looked with disgust at his bony hand that was touching the fur, he did not complain and executed his order. As for Ymir,she had something special for him.

"My friends, we are all experienced adventurers. We all have survived deadly situations, escaped the clutches of death more than once. We are the best that Ronta can offer, and today is not any different. Twenty veterans will not succumb to ghosts of the past, we will explore this tomb, we will return with treasures and we will shove it in the throat of those bastards! Are you with me?"

"Yes" "Hourra!" "Let's show them"

In the middle of the first room, Kozak was trying his best to ignite the spirit of his fearful friends. Without a fighting mentality, they would have fled in panic at the first obstacle. Not that he blamed them for that, but someone had to be in charge. And since none of the others wanted that position, he had to take it.

However, past the three or four seconds he said that brave speech, he suddenly saw the faces of the adventurers getting paler and paler. Some were even pointing their fingers at something behind him, mumbling inaudible words. Right before he turned around, he finally understood what they meant by "Ghosts of the past!"

Leaving the statues one by one, terrible spirits grabbed their weapons and headed toward the exit, they totally bypassed the living and trembling group, someone even passing through their bodies. The unfortunate ones that suffered that fate passed out in fear, their bodies shaking violently. They couldn't even raise their weapons against such a threat, not that it was necessary.

THOMP THOMP

All turning toward the wall from where the sound came, they saw a massive metallic silhouette leaving a perfectly intact wall. The uncanny resemblance between that newcomer and the statues was obvious. If not for the fact that the floor was resonating after each of his steps, they would have taken him for another spirit.

"What do we do? We attack it?" "I don't know." "Maybe he is not hostile?" "Have you seen such a terrifying monster not attacking everything?" "Well, the ghosts didn't harm us." The group of humans broke into discussions, not daring to make the first move. Meanwhile, Ymir was walking slowly but steadily toward them. He tried his maximum to appear as threatening as possible.

His purpose was to bait one of those morons that came here into trying to harm him. That way, he could have more flesh, since Kardel will have a claim on most of the hidden assassins in the surroundings. They all saw the situation beyond the gate of their base, in reality, only 5 guards or whatever they were called could be considered not hidden.

"LEEEEEEEEER..." "STOP IT!" Someone lost his mind due to the pressure, but thankfully, the old man Dickon managed to trip him. After the shock of his head touching the floor, the reckless warrior lowered his head and return to his group. Seeing this, Ymir could only inwardly despise that white-haired man. Why did he had to ruin such a great opportunity for him?

THOMP THOMP THOMp thomp

Naturally, they made way for the giant in armor, allowing him to go through their group. Only after he was gone did they all sigh in relief, forgetting one crucial fact for a few seconds. Between the ghosts and that thing, it was normal for their minds to relax a bit. Until Hugo violently slapped his head while shouting what he realized.

"Wait a minute, they just blocked the exit!" Linking the presence of the very things that terrified them beyond the darkness that symbolized the gate with the fact that it was their only way out, everyone was stunned. But at this point, they would rather stay here for a few minutes than even make a single step outside. Like that, they patiently waited, for what? Even they didn't really know.

SPLASH

Half of a human body flew through the black membrane, crashing a few meters away from them. They had a hard time recognizing who it was until they noticed his rich clothes. The worst part was that he was not completely dead, holding on his life. His eyes glimmered with madness and pain when he saw those in front of him.

"REQ--UEST ... BLACK--WOOD ... OBEYYYYYYYblurg!" His last word was snapped out by his red blood that was leaking from his mouth. Even in his worst nightmare, the servant of Lord Blackwood would have never guessed he would die in such a way. A few seconds later, the ghosts floated slowly toward their statues and the black giant appeared.

He did not even slow down while picking up the half-corpse that was tainted with blood the clean room. The all thing seemed to be a bad dream for most adventurers, and they could only pinch themselves and shudder. The spectacle outside was not any better. They could distinguish the armors the mercenaries and the guards wore, and see the massive amount of blood spilled everywhere. But no corpses, no skeletons, not even a limb in sight.

"Look at the statues!" At those words, they all turned like on man. Blood was leaking from the maws of the demons, and the tips of their weapons were the same. They were certain that if they entered once more, they would see the same thing inside. But who would have the gut to do that? Returning to the encampment, they discovered that the horses were also missing.

Faithful to their nature of adventurers, they tried to salvage as much equipment as they could. But most were utterly broken or destroyed by something with a terrifying might. In the vicinity, they also managed to discover traces of ambushers. They were probably the same that targeted them with crossbows but strangely, they felt pity for them. It was a miracle they were unharmed, but they wouldn't have wanted that fate even to their worst enemies.

Wanting to leave this place as soon as possible, they did not dwindle any longer. None of them noticed the black panther that was resting leisurely above their head. Even if he looked a bit thinner than at his arrival o this world, Kardel was no longer just a shadow of his former self. But still, he was not full yet, and those retreating humans looked delicious. Wondering that if one went missing, will someone notice it or not. Right when he began to move, he noticed a skeleton looking at him from the ground. Growling angrily, he jumped on it and tore it apart, not forgetting the smile his victim harbored.