Chapter 462 Stranded [Pt 1]

Chapter 462 Stranded [Pt 1]

[A Few Days Later]

"Huu..." nove(l)bi(n.)com

Noah Sherlock stood at the forefront of his previously small, now large, group. His grip was tight on the hilt of his katana, the Night Blade.

Around him, the air crackled with tension as the group navigated through the labyrinthine corridors of the Grand Calamity Class Dungeon.

The Mass Teleportation Incident had scattered them, separating friends and allies in a chaotic jumble of fate.

With each step, Noah could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down upon him.

As a Heroic Rank adventurer, it was his duty to lead his group through the perils of the dungeon and ensure their survival. But the odds were stacked against them, with weaker adventurers mixed in among their ranks and the ever-present threat of powerful undead monsters lurking in the shadows.

'With the constant threats everywhere, we've hardly slept. Everyone is exhausted...'

Even though the rest still managed to get some shuteye, he could not. He had to protect the hundred or so Adventurers with him, no matter the cost.

The only good news about all of this was that he managed to Level Up a lot. Still, with the constant stress weighing him down, he felt weaker rather than stronger.

Noah glanced over his shoulder at the exhausted faces of his companions. Their strength and morale were pretty much worn thin by constant battles and relentless danger.

But there was no time for rest or respite, not when the survival of every member of their group hung in the balance.

'I'm probably the youngest here, yet...'

Drawing upon his skills and three weeks experience, Noah steeled himself for the challenges that lay ahead.

With a silent command, he activated one of his Enchanted Items, allowing him to move with supernatural speed and agility.

~WHOOSH!~

Shadows danced around him as he led the charge, his blade flashing in the dim light of the dungeon.

After scouting ahead and returning, he led his group forward.

Their journey brought them to a vast chamber, its walls adorned with ancient runes and symbols of mysterious power.

But, this Zone they found themselves in was no sanctuary.

The air reeked of decay, and the ground was littered with bones of fallen comrades. Even with the forbidden beauty all around, it was still a house of death.

As, other than the dead bodies on the ground, lurking in the shadows were the undead horrors that would haunt anyone's nightmares.

Zombies... lots and lots of them.

Most of them were the average kind, but Noah could spot a couple of Greater Zombies in the mix.

'Looks like another round of battle...' He sighed.

Noah's hand tightened around the hilt of his katana, the [Night Blade]. Its gleaming edge held the promise of salvation for those who followed him.

His cloak billowed as he stepped forward, a lone figure determined to defy the chaos that threatened to consume them all.

But, he couldn't stop.

~VWUUSH!~

Noah's heart raced as he fought on, his blade dancing with the fury of a man possessed.

~SWiISH!~

The shadows twisted and writhed around him, their dark tendrils snaring the undead and dragging them into the abyss.

~WUUUM!~

With each swing of his blade, Noah felt the weight of the enemies pressing down on him. But he refused to yield, refused to succumb to the despair that threatened to engulf him.

'I'm reaching my limit...'

He never imagined going down in the Dungeon. Even now, the idea of dying wasn't something he readily embraced.

But somehow... Noah felt good.

He felt happy, being able to fight and defeat so many enemies while everyone had no choice but to rely on him.

This version of himself... it was close, a lot closer, to the ideal he sought after.

And so, he didn't bother worrying about dying, or fearing for what would become of his life if he made a single misstep.

Noah just kept swinging his blade, living in the bliss of the moment.

*******

[Moments Later]

"Haa... haa..."

As the last of the Greater Zombies fell, Noah stood amidst the carnage, his breath ragged and his muscles aching.

But there was no time to rest, no time to savor his victory. For danger still lurked in the shadows, waiting to consume him, and everyone else, once more.

With a weary sigh, Noah tightened his grip on the Night Blade and pressed forward.

Once again, just like before, he was able to win.

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading!

Still like Noah's development, I won't lie. Let's hope nothing bad happens to him...