Villain Ch 49. Underwater Dungeon
About 5 minutes later, they were finally ready. Shea decided to become a mage. Vivian became an archer and Zoe became a swordsman. It was weird since their appearance was not matched with this place at all. They were like a group of players who entered the last boss dungeon.
"See you in Ilude," Allen reminded them again, his voice low and serious.
After the others answered him with a nod, he entered the portal. A screen appeared in front of him.
[Where do you want to go?]
1. Illude Town
2. Ront City
3. Eyon Village
4. Gorroc City
5. Berlt Harbour
He chose Ilude.
The feeling of being pulled apart and reassembled in a different location was disorienting, to say the least. But as the light faded and he looked around, he knew he had arrived in one piece.
Ilude Town was a marvel to behold, a sprawling medieval city with towering walls and narrow streets. The buildings were made of stone and timber. As Allen appeared at the town's gate, he felt a sense of awe wash over him as he had never seen the town in this peaceful state before.
The players around him were passing and chatting, going about their business in the bustling streets. Their weapons clanged against their sides as they walked.
"Welcome back, adventurers!" Thera exclaimed, her face lighting up with a cheerful smile. Her presence was a welcome distraction from the gloomy Cursed Crypts.
Allen quickly regained his focus and turned to his companions.
"Let's go," he said, his voice steady and determined. He started walking, leading the way through the bustling streets. Although he wanted to take a moment to appreciate the scenic beauty of the town, he knew he had to prioritize his mission. He had to focus on their mission first before he could visit this place again since once his disguise was finished, he would be teleported back to the Cursed Crypts. Indeed, the time limit would increase if he raised the skill, but he decided to increase it later and concentrated on his fighting skills.
The group moved in unison, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestone streets as they made their way towards the ship waiting for them in the Northeast.
The ship loomed ahead of them, its massive wooden hull towering over the dock. The sails were unfurled, ready to catch the wind and propel them toward their next destination. An NPC stood at the helm, his weathered face crinkling in a smile as he spotted the group approaching.
The gruff-looking sailor greeted them. His rough hands were calloused, and his face was etched with the lines of a life lived in harsh conditions.
"Welcome aboard, adventurers," he grunted, eyeing them warily. "I'm the sailor in charge of this vessel. We've got two destinations on the docket today - Berlt Harbour and Underwater Dungeon. Which will it be?"
Allen stepped forward to address the sailor. "We'll be heading to the Underwater Dungeon," he said firmly.
The sailor raised an eyebrow, his gruff voice tinged with skepticism. "Are ye sure about that? The waters can be treacherous, and there be all manner of beasts lurking down there. It'll cost ye 100 coins for one trip back and forth."
Without hesitation, Allen nodded. "We're sure."
The sailor grunted in acknowledgment, then barked out orders to his crew as they set sail towards the treacherous depths of the Underwater Dungeon.
As the ship cut through the waves, the group could feel the tension mounting. A couple of seconds later, the ship finally came to a stop at a rocky outcropping jutting out from the water. The sailor nodded grimly, indicating that they had reached their destination.
"Ye'll need to make the rest of the way on foot," he said gruffly.
Allen looked around in awe, taking in the beauty of their surroundings. The island was a riot of color, with lush green trees and bright flowers covering every inch of the ground. In the distance, he could see the glittering expanse of the sea, stretching out to the horizon.
Sailor grunted, adjusting his hat as he surveyed the group. "The entrance to the cave is just ahead. But be warned - the path is treacherous, and danger lurks around every corner," he gave them a clue.
Turning around, Allen led his companions towards the cave, keeping a wary eye out for any sign of trouble. As they approached the entrance, they noticed another Thera standing in front of the cave. He bet it was to save their location and access their storage.
They also noticed the commotion taking place in front of it. Several players were milling about, chatting and laughing as they geared up for their own adventures inside. A few of them were accessing their storage, carefully selecting weapons and potions to aid them in their quest.
He turned to his companions, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Let's take this as an assassination mission," he reminded them sternly. "We should stay anonymous as much as possible. We can't risk being caught." If they got exposed, Jane, Alice, Larissa, and Bella would have a hard time completing their mission.
Shea nodded in agreement, her eyes blazing with determination. "You don't have to tell us. We understand what we have to do," she replied confidently.
"Cool," Allen replied.
They made their way through the dark and foreboding cave and couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension about the details. Despite its name, the water was only ankle-deep, hardly enough to warrant the title of "underwater." It was like a shallow puddle under their feet, reflecting the dim light of their torches and casting eerie shadows on the rough stone walls.
The cave itself was massive, stretching out before them like a labyrinth of twisting passages and dark chambers. It was easy to get lost in here, with no clear signs or markers to guide them on their way. But different than the Cursed Crypts, they could navigate this place with the normal navigation maps on the corner of their screen.