Things happened simultaneously and slowly, as if time itself wanted to witness this moment. Jael realized that the fire wasn't actually burning him, instead, it was entering his skin and filling his heart.
The monster bite down faster than Jael could react but something else reacted. The book flared, and green destructive energy blasted out, hit the monster, and sent it flying.
At the same time, the energy rebounded and hit Jael, it twisted the air around him. "What the he....!" He didn't get to finish because he was gone, he was drawn into the portal that opened behind him.
The monster raised its head and let out an air-splitting roar that shook the dungeon room. It's precious. It has been taken.
°•●●•°
The first thing Jael realized when he regained consciousness was that he wasn't in the dungeon, the second was that he was in some kind of tight place that cramped his limps.
He tried to sit up, and his head reeled; his stomach rolled with nausea, and he gasped, letting his head flop back. "What..the...I was just in the dungeon." He remembered the monster and he shuddered.
Jael couldn't remember what happened after that or where the artifact was. He clenched his hands, but it was not there. He tried to smile but the pain in his head turned it into a grimace. "Another dream dashed."
"Hey, you're awake?"
The voice was like two stones rubbing together, a deep smooth baritone. Jael thought he was alone wherever he was; he was so surprised he sat up. "Oh!" He shouted as his head slammed into something hard.
"Hush! Keep quiet!"
He rubbed his head but it didn't help with the splitting headache. He finally looked around. Although it was dark, for some reason, Jael could see. He was in a cage meant for animals like dogs, so small he couldn't spread his legs.
In front of him was another cage and another one beside it, but inside the one directly in front of him was the biggest man Jael had ever seen, faintly outlined in the dark. "Are you awake?"
He put his hand on top of it, and he marveled at how solid it feels to touch. On the closed cover was written, [Monster Taming Necromancer Art] and [Mors].
But summoning his Codex with all the pain in his head was too much and Jael slumped again, the Codex winking out.
The big man grunted. "Well. That's impressive. A new powerful Codex, but it's weird; his aura says he's Iron, but he said he's just Awakened."
"Doesn't seem to have the dense quality of a skilled Iron. He's like a bronze who's just discovering his abilities, but he's Iron,' The woman's sharp voice said, but when she continued, it came grudgingly. "Rare or epic Codex. I think they made a mistake by not cuffing him."
The big man chuckled. "What a weird guy."
°•●●•°
Jael woke with a bitter taste in his mouth; it was a good thing he remembered where he was, so he didn't immediately open his eyes; he heard two people talking close to him. It wasn't the big man and the woman.
"Madame will be very happy, to think we will capture one more."
A second voice chuckled. "And he just fell in front of us."
"I wonder if they will be edible after the ritual. I've not eaten a Khantari before. I feel they won't be too stringy like the dwarves." The first voice replied.
He didn't like the sound of that. Jael slowly opened his eyes while he kept his breath even and smooth, pretending to still be unconscious. He was still in a cage but it was now on top of a moving platform carriage pulled by two men from the sides.
Men dressed in black robes and masks were pulling it along a stone tunnel. Two other carriages were in front of him, each carrying cages. The two that spoke to him earlier, Jael assumed. How he ended up here, he didn't know, but what he knew was that he had to get the hell out of there. Fast.
He flexed his muscles without moving; he felt the strength in his limbs. His head is clearer too. Time to get out of here and know exactly what Is going on.