After the intense battle, the underground chamber fell silent, save for the crackling of residual flames and the settling of debris. Adrius stood amidst the aftermath, his chest rising and falling with exertion, but his expression remained composed.
The giant serpent lay defeated at his feet, its massive form now motionless and surrounded by smoldering remnants of ice. The air was thick with the scent of burnt scales and lingering traces of magic, creating an eerie atmosphere in the dimly lit chamber.
Erend, Adrien, Billy, and Saeldir approached Adrius cautiously, their swords still at the ready, though the danger had passed. They looked upon the scene with a mixture of awe and relief, their faces illuminated by the fading glow of embers.
"You're..." Billy stared at the scene in front of them with wide eyes. "You're pretty strong."
"See? I won't be a burden on your journey." Adrius let out a small laugh.
The four of them looked at Adrius with different eyes now. Previously, they knew that Adrius was strong, but they didn't expect him to be this strong. Turns out the title of Archmage is not a title that just anyone can attain.
However, the four of them didn't look as impressed as Adrius thought they would be. That made him slightly disappointed.
But then again, he was facing the residents of the Elf Palace. Although he wasn't entirely sure of their identities, he could sense the humming of incredible power from them.
They emerged from the ancient underground structure. After that, they found themselves greeted by the sight of rain-drenched scenery stretching out before them. It still rain outside after three days.
The storm that had raged aboveground seemed to have subsided, but the air was still heavy with moisture, and the clouds hung low in the sky, threatening to release another downpour at any moment.
Adrius glanced up at the sky, his brow furrowed with concern.
"The storm shows no signs of letting up," he remarked, his voice barely audible over the sound of raindrops pattering against the earth.
Erend, Adrien, Billy, and Saeldir exchanged worried looks.
Saeldir were forced to follow them because they also felt that something was wrong in this town. Not long after, they met a man who turned out to be the mayor of this town.
"Thank the stars you've arrived," the major said, his voice trembling with urgency. "The undead have been terrorizing our town at night, attacking our homes, killling our family and livestock. We fear for our lives!"
Adrius exchanged a concerned glance with his companions, their resolve strengthened by the villagers' plight.
"We will do everything in our power to help you," he promised, his voice unwavering. "Tell us more about these attacks, and we will devise a plan to put an end to them."
Even though they were pressed for time, now they were facing people who needed help. They all agreed to assist them.
With the guidance of the major and other villagers, they learned that the attacks occurred under the cover of darkness, when the streets were shrouded in shadows and the moon hung low in the sky.
"We should be able to handle this easily, right?" Billy said.
"Yes. If only killing the undead wasn't a big deal. But we have to address the cause, don't you think?" Erend said.
"Right," Adrien agreed with that.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in shades of deep purple and fiery orange, a palpable sense of dread settled over the town.
Suddenly, from the depths of the surrounding forest, a low, guttural moan echoed through the night air, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it. The ground trembled beneath their feet as a horde of undead emerged from the shadows.
The villagers watched in horror as the undead horde advanced. Their ranks swelling with each passing moment. The sound of their ragged breath and the clatter of bones against stone filled the air, drowning out all other noise.
With a sense of urgency, the five companions sprang into action. While the townsfolk get into hiding.
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