Episode 264
Jason gasped for air, struggling to maintain the magical barrier. His breaths were ragged and heavy.
The relentless assault from the beasts had left everyone exhausted and injured. Behind Zion, Alice and the other children from Lubern huddled together, trembling with fear.
Aaron tried to reassure the children. “Don’t worry. We’ll get out of here safely.”
He glanced over at Arina, who was meditating with her eyes closed. She had spent the last few days maintaining the protective shield, draining her magical energy.
The beasts had repeatedly attacked, waiting for her power to wane before launching a full-scale assault when the shield weakened.
Just then, the dwarves who had gone to scout the dungeon returned. Rick approached them.
“Is there a way out?” he asked.
The dwarf leader shook his head. “The paths are too convoluted, and they lead deeper inside, not out. If we take the wrong turn, more beasts could swarm us.”
Rick nodded grimly and turned to Jason. “How long can you hold out?”
Thanks to Arina’s training, Jason’s magical reserves had increased, allowing him to sustain the barrier longer. He wiped the sweat from his brow. “At most… thirty minutes.”
Rick swallowed hard. Arina needed to recover her strength within that time for them to have any chance of escaping.
At that moment, Kay and the Syndicate members returned from another direction. Kay whispered to Rick, “There are more signs of beasts over there.”
Rick’s face turned pale. If more beasts came now, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
Kay looked at the frightened children of Lubern. They had just escaped the Holy Kingdom and found freedom; she couldn’t let them die here.
Arina opened her eyes and spoke, her voice calm and steady. “Listen to me, everyone.”
All eyes turned to her. “I’ve regained some strength. While I hold off the beasts, move towards the area with no signs of them. Sir Zeke will lead a rescue team soon. We just need to hold on until then.”
The children behind Zion began to cry. “Arina, no… come with us!”
Arina gave them a gentle smile. “It’s my fault for bringing you to such a dangerous place. Kay, please take care of the children.”
Alice ran to Arina, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry, Arina. I insisted on coming… I’m so sorry.”
Arina stroked Alice’s hair gently. “Don’t worry, Alice. I’ll protect you. Just listen to Kay and stay safe, okay?”
She signaled to Louis, the oldest of the Lubern children, who managed to hold back his tears and led Alice away.
Kay nodded at Arina’s words, while Rick and the others prepared to find a way out with the dwarves.
Suddenly, a growl echoed from the direction Kay had come from. Rick drew his sword. “Everyone, prepare for battle!”
Beasts were closing in from both sides, creating a dire situation. A beast resembling a panther leaped from the shadows.
Rick charged forward, swinging his sword. “Haaah!”
Clang!
His blade clashed with the beast’s claws. The dwarves, wielding hammers, followed Rick’s lead and attacked the beast.
“Chaaarge!”
Boom!
The beast nimbly climbed the wall, targeting the most vulnerable children.
Screeech!
Zion, who was protecting the children, raised his hand and used his bloodline ability.
Screeeech!
The beast froze mid-air, but Zion’s telekinetic power was weaker than before due to his recovery. Blood trickled from his nose as he strained to protect the children.
“Damn beast! If I had my full strength, you’d be nothing!”
Aaron scaled the wall and slashed at the beast’s vital points with his dual swords.
Slash!
With Aaron’s attack, Zion pushed the beast into the wall.
Crash!
As Zion broke into a cold sweat, Alice approached him with a worried look and used her healing magic. “Are you okay, Zion?”
Zion tried to act nonchalant. “This is nothing for someone like me.”
He was putting on a brave face, but his body was on the verge of collapse.
Then, another growl echoed from deeper within.
Screeech—
More ferocious beasts emerged from the darkness. Just as Rick and the dwarves were about to charge, a brilliant light flashed behind them.
Zap!
Arina unleashed a bolt of light at the beasts.
Screeech!
The beasts writhed in pain, and Arina shouted from behind, “Go now! Kay, protect the children!”
A powerful light emanated from Arina as she prepared to unleash another attack to clear a path.
But suddenly, the dungeon shook with a thunderous roar.
Roar!
A new, unfamiliar sound filled the air, different from any beast they had encountered before. Everyone tensed, on high alert.
From the shadows, a new beast emerged, a monstrous fusion of a cyclops and a werewolf, blocking their path with its massive bulk.
Despair washed over the group, but Arina quickly regained her composure. “Jason, bring down the wall. I’ll distract the beasts while you lead everyone to safety.”
Jason was taken aback. “I can’t do that!”
But Arina’s body was already crackling with white electricity. “I can hold them off alone. Please… protect them.”
Jason clenched his teeth at her words.
The giant beast roared again.
Roar!
Arina fired a bolt of light at the beast.
Zap!
The giant beast staggered but didn’t seem as affected as the others.
Screeech!
Arina shouted, “Jason, now!”
Just as Jason closed his eyes to bring down the wall, a monkey-like beast suddenly dropped from the ceiling.
Screech!
It was small enough to go unnoticed and lunged at Arina.
Screeech!
Zion reached out to stop it, but couldn’t fully restrain it.
Slash!
Arina, maintaining her attack, was struck by the beast.
“Arina!”
Arina fell, and Claire immediately fired arrows at the beast.
Screech!
The beast dodged and retreated, but Zion used his power to hold it in place, allowing Aaron to finish it off with his sword.
Jason rushed to Arina’s side. “Arina!”
Thanks to Zion, the beast’s attack had only grazed her, but the wound was turning black from the beast’s taint.
Roar!
With Arina’s attack gone, the beast charged again.
Rick and the dwarves gritted their teeth and readied their weapons.
“A dwarf never retreats!”
“Grant us the power of pure fire!”
They charged bravely, but the beast’s kick sent several dwarves flying.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
The fallen dwarves coughed up blood, their bodies trembling.
Rick and Arin, who had dodged the attack, stood before the giant beast.
“Take this!”
Rick charged with his sword, unleashing the Solma family’s secret technique, the Five Light Sword Art.
Slash!
His swift blade targeted the beast’s vital points.
But the beast swatted at Rick as if he were a mere fly.
Roar!
While Rick engaged the beast, Arin conjured flames.
“Fire Lance!”
A series of advanced fire spells flew at the beast.
Boom!
But the beast, having withstood Arina’s attack, was unfazed by the Fire Lance.
Kay, from behind, also cast her magic to assist.
“Dig, Bound!”
The ground beneath the beast caved in, and vines shot up to ensnare it.
Seeing the magic take effect, Kay quickly cast another spell.
“Slow!”
In an instant, she had cast three spells without incantation.
Roar!
Fortunately, Kay’s layered magic slowed the beast’s movements.
Rick seized the opportunity, charging at the slowed beast and driving his sword into its heart.
Thud!
His aura-infused blade pierced deep into the beast’s heart.
Rick tried to pull the sword from the beast’s heart, but the creature’s powerful muscles held it fast.
“Ugh!”
Arin shouted to Rick, “Rick! Fall back!”
The beast, momentarily immobilized by layered spells, began to stir again. It swung its massive arm at Rick, who was still clinging to its body.
Swoosh!
Crash!
In an instant, vines summoned by Kay wrapped around Rick, pulling him to safety.
The beast, despite the sword lodged in its heart, seemed unfazed and resumed its slow, menacing advance. Despair washed over Rick and the others.
Meanwhile, the protective wall Jason had conjured was starting to crumble. The enormous beast roared and charged at the group.
Roar!
Boom!
Suddenly, the beast’s entire upper body was blown away.
“What?”
Rick, standing right in front of the now half-destroyed creature, stared in disbelief. Kay and Arin were equally stunned. They blinked, slowly turning their heads.
As the wall collapsed, a familiar figure emerged. Black hair, dark eyes—Zeke Draker had arrived.
Behind the fallen beast, more of its kind were charging forward. Zeke leapt forward, grabbing the massive hammer that had felled the creature. It was the “Giant Slayer,” a gift from the war god Tyr.
Zeke swung the Giant Slayer at the oncoming beasts.
Crack!
With a single, powerful blow, the charging beasts exploded, just like the first. Zeke moved among them, wielding the hammer with a supernatural grace.
Screech!
The beasts lunged at Zeke with bared fangs, but each swing of the hammer shattered teeth, broke bones, and burst bodies. Soon, the dungeon corridor was littered with their remains.
Thud!
With the beasts vanquished, Zeke set the Giant Slayer down and distributed healing potions from his inventory to the fallen. The injured dwarves quickly recovered, thanks to Zeke’s potions.
After checking on the dwarves, Zeke made his way to Arina, who had been knocked down by the beast. He swiftly applied healing and recovery spells, and a warm light enveloped her. Slowly, Arina opened her eyes.
“Sir Zeke, you came.”
“I’m sorry I was late, Lady Arina.”
Alice, who had been sobbing quietly, ran to Zeke and clung to his back. “Sir Zeke! I was so scared!”
Sion and Aaron leaned against the wall, catching their breath, relieved.
Helping Arina to her feet, Zeke said, “This place is dangerous. Let’s head back to the camp. We’ve set up a new base there; it should be safe.”
Zeke called for the Kaiman and Gurav units to escort them safely back to the camp. Upon arrival, they were astonished to see the camp fortified with walls made of bone. But exhaustion soon overtook them, and they fell into a deep sleep.
Zeke let them rest, and the next day, he gathered everyone for a meeting.
Once they were assembled, he addressed them. “What we’re dealing with here isn’t a Medusa.”
Rick questioned him, “But the legends say only Medusa has the power to petrify. Is there another creature with such abilities?”
“There is something far more dangerous,” Zeke replied, his brow furrowed. “The apex of all beasts, known as the Four Fiends.”
His eyes gleamed sharply as he continued, “One of them, the Qiongqi, is here.”