Chapter 29: From Below

Chapter 29: From Below

The trio dashed forward, away from the falling stones and towards the terrifying presence. They would have outrun the collapsing tunnel if every step didn’t feel like wading through malevolent molasses.

A chunk of ceiling fell from above, Leif instinctually tugged at his newest skill. [Gold Iron Physique] activated as two arms of ethereal gold erupted from his shoulders. Unlike before the limbs were far more defined, and though they were still far from opaque the skill's projections were distinctly more solid.

Leif caught the rubble and tossed it aside, another slab of stone crashed down but he rolled away. He used his two golden limbs to push himself quickly up to his feet. He spent a brief instant to marvel at how good the skill fusion felt.

Before if I’d tried a similar stunt the skills structure would have strained, maybe fractured.

“Push back the aura! Together, now!” Sieg bellowed.

For a brief moment the spriggan was confused, push back? How? But the answer was clear as he felt the auras of both humans billow out and shove against the dark whispers. Leif copied them, his own aura pushed into theirs from behind.

It worked, the malicious presence retreated and the trio dashed forward. And not a moment too soon, the way back came crashing down in a shower of stone and debris. Leif conjured [Under My Protection]s barrier to protect himself as he stumbled out of danger.

Dust sprayed everywhere, turning the air into a chalky mess. “Away.” Marcus coughed, a purple mist sweeping the air around him clean. Sieg just breathed out heavily, icy wind clearing away flying detritus.

Leif was suddenly and acutely aware of the downsides of being able to taste from all over his body. Dust got everywhere, seeping into the tiny cracks between his bark. The three stumbled into the chamber they had barely made it into.

From somewhere deep within the darkness the sounds of something crashing around was heard. It seemed far enough away that Leif didn’t suspect it was an immediate danger, whatever it was.

“Good news guys.” Marcus whispered. “This place isn’t flooded with water.”

“After all this, we actually found our objective.” Sieg sighed. “I’d trade any amount of extra credit for my life at this point.”

“Found what?” Leif asked.

“Dungeon.” Marcus said simply. “It's the source of the awful aura, a place where mana filters down from above and coagulates in the depths of the world. A monster breeding ground; depends on the type of mana what kind.”

“I’m betting undead. Or death attuned monsters at least.” Sieg said, worry in his voice.

“Lets hope there are no corpses lying around down here then.” Marcus said, ever the optimist.

They took in the rectangular chamber as the mage sent a ball of light zipping around. Every ten metres or so was a small side room carved into the walls. Within were person sized slate stone boxes.

“We need to leave. Right now.” Sieg barked, no longer keeping his voice low.

Eighteen ornate stone coffins lined the left and right of the chamber in small alcoves, they were perfectly spaced, each with a smaller metallic statue at the coffin's head.

An insectile creature the size of a small shack struck down into one of the coffins, the stone split with a crack that shook the air, disturbing resting particles. It was long and surprisingly slender for its size, six segmented legs and wickedly sharp mandibles.

It chittered and turned to the trio. Now facing them Leif noticed more details. Patches of rot snaked along its cracked obsidian carapace, a sickly black-green light flickering within its wounds. What's more, the same twisted unlife energy dwelled within.

Refugees streaming into a city fronting a vast lakeside.

Scared villagers, destroyed lives.

A month of two armies going back and forth, neither engaging.

Victims on both sides.

The golden blood in Leif’s veins ran cold. Faces he no longer recognised flashed through his racing mind before dissolving into rain and darkness.

Leif hissed, anger churned deep within his soul. The enemy. Fragmented images from a long fought battle bubbled to the surface. A part of him desperately wished to grasp these memories. To become as he was, but Leif doubted he had the luxury of time.

“Enslaver.” Sieg spat. “I thought they had all been killed during the war. There shouldn’t be any more in Pherin”

“Apparently not...” Marcus commented.

The undead ant monster observed them each carefully, it’s antenna twitched in apparent displeasure.

“We need an exit Marcus, we need one right now!” Sieg snapped as he stepped forward, mana shards clattering to the ground as he brought his axe into a ready position.

“Behind the statue, there’s a small tunnel.”

Leif stepped up beside Sieg, his golden eyes alight with boiling emotions. His internal energies thrummed with anticipation. “Can we kill it?”

The large man looked at him like he was insane.

Hostility, hungry and frenzied, lanced into Leif with an almost physical force. The colossal ant reared up and shrieked, the sound shook the chamber. Then it charged.