Chapter 18: Chapter 17: life… death

"I'm… ready," I exclaimed.

"Good, you prepared some food right?"

I nodded at his statement.

"Well then, let us go."

We began to descend underground. There was a stair nearby acting as the entrance of the dungeon.

Still, the aura is getting thicker and thicker with every step I take. The aura's nature is like an ocean of deep loyalty and hatred. This collision of emotions makes me want to throw up.

The concept of an aura is weird. Releasing one's emotions and feelings to pressure and detecting your enemy is very vague. The way it works is mysterious.

We reached the end of the stairs which was surprisingly fast. There was a big door covered in unknown runes fuelling its powers. Some of it has fallen off though.

"This… this is the god of beasts' runes," he said. "Why is it losing power?"

Since the god of beasts was the one who made the concept of dungeons, it's only natural he owns some of the things here.

Runes are sort of a battery that stores mana inside of them. This can power a house for a month making it one of the most useful techniques to ever learn.

Regardless, losing the main source of power may result in disaster. A disaster that should be avoided before it even comes.

I tried to push the giant door but it didn't budge one bit. Maybe it's due to the sheer power of the runes engraved on it.

"The entrance isn't that way Lapiz."

He then pointed at a different door with a slightly smaller size than the previous one. No, it's massively smaller. The difference in size is huge.

I followed him with a slightly embarrassed face due to my mistake. 

He raises his arm and mana overflew his palm. He compressed it and gave it to the door eventually opens up a straight path.

"Just in case. Summon Servant!"

White light emerges in front of him leaving a man in his 50s(?), It was Fidus.

"Guard the entrance. Do not enter the dungeon unless needed and be wary of your surrounding."

He nodded. 

We entered the dungeon and the first thing I felt was the sheer force of the Aura. My head began to hurt a bit and nausea is slowly creeping up on me.

The surrounding was dark and cold. The pillars were huge and a murderous aura was seeping through them. It was frightening but still bearable.

"That's all you got Lapiz?" Wrath asked me with a smirk.

"This… is nothing," I said trying to put on a tough face.

Going back now will achieve nothing. Besides, the aura doesn't deal with physical attacks. Rather, it only attacks me spiritually. That sounded bad on paper but spiritual attacks are weak on people with a strong will.

Contradictory to the opinions of others, I have a formidable will.

While walking, we reached a room with nothing but a door before us. The runes engraved were full of power yet there were only a few of them.

"Is… this the first floor?" I asked. This is the first time I'm exploring a dungeon so questions are necessary.

"Not quite yet, this door right here should lead us to the first floor… the runes too… Lapiz, alert yourself."

I nodded without hesitation before casting my spells. 

The room was already quiet yet the eerie atmosphere bugs me. The aura is getting thicker and thicker and it's coming from everywhere.

"Left!" Wrath warned.

All of a sudden, an arrow in blue flames was shot at me at high speed leaving me startled.

"Wind: scutum!"

Thankfully, I was able to cast out a spell to defend myself.

All of the wind spells that Wrath taught me thus far were very useful. He would teach me bit by bit throughout this whole journey. This isn't the time to reminisce though.

"That's… fast."

"It's an ambush. Mindless monsters using tactics? Are their even mindless monsters?" Wrath talks to himself.

Arrows were shot from every direction and all we could do is defend ourselves. The perpetrators are the skeletons guarding this place against intruders.

Their attacks are random and are all over the place. I can't see any patterns in their attack yet somehow, they manage to synchronise themselves.

"Wind: hasta Aeris!"

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Spears of wind suddenly appeared and attacked places where the blue flames came from.

The sheer number of them should be hard to control yet Wrath is doing just fine. His immense control over this specific spell is just that great.

He successfully destroyed all of them in a hit without any difficulties.

Those skeletons became ashes the moment they died yet the lingering feeling I'm having still resides.

"There are… more. Enhancement: perception." 

Moments later, a small but gradually growing earthquake appeared. With every passing second, the more chaotic it was. The pillars were even cracked from the event.

Clanking sounds of metal are being heard from all directions. 

I alerted myself even more and prepared spells without any hesitations as I prepared… for an incoming attack. 

"They're coming," Wrath warned me.

Hundred of armed skeleton soldiers began to appear one by one. Their strength is probably almost the same as the skeleton knight I fought long ago yet their armour makes up for it.

Rows of undead archers at the back are aiming at us. Two giant skeletons are walking breaking the floor and killing their allies.

And lastly, one of them is at the back with a big scythe full of malice and… death.

"Lapiz. Cover my left. Block any projectiles that would come. Wind: Inanis!"

I nodded. All of the accumulated spears that were released fused making an unstoppable weapon.

Not even a second later, it ploughed through the hoards of enemies with nothing but a single strike. One of the skeleton giants tried to block the attack but his efforts were only in vain as it effortlessly went through his core.

The attack was so strong that it made a gravitational pull just from the sheer amount of mana Wrath infused it with.

It only stopped when it hit the corner of the dungeon. It immediately dispersed as if that attack was nothing compared to the power of the dungeon walls.

That isn't the end though. Wrath rushed in the lines of the enemy destroying everything in his path. He doesn't even use any spells at the moment.

"Lapiz! Don't faze out!" 

Wrath's shout brought me back to reality in an instant. I nodded and prepared my spell immediately.

"Wind: hasta Aeris."

My spell is only a fraction of what Wrath has. People may even wonder if they are the same spell yet the destructive power it has is enough to kill a skeleton. I just have to aim it right.

I fired my spell at specific enemies that can cause Wrath some problems. Doubt that he needed it though, it's just a massacre at this point.

"Amazing," I murmured.

To be honest, this is the first time I see Wrath in the battle for a full minute. Usually, he would always kill his enemies in an instant which does make sense but sometimes, I would want to see how well he would fight.

His fighting style was like a beast that learnt patience and persistence. His attacks look so wide leaving so many openings yet the moment you would exploit them, a counterattack would emerge.

We were doing well. The enemies can't even come close to me due to Wrath killing them all in a hit yet there seems to be no end to them.

This lasted for hours and hours until something suddenly changed. 

The aura became sinister all of a sudden and the scent of death became apparent. That's when I realise, the one with the scythe was preparing for an attack.

"Life: cut."

The world slowed down for a split second. Memories of the past flashed through my mind faster than my perception enhancement could ever have. 

Wrath is hurrying himself to cover me yet the spell of the enemy was so fast that it might be at the same level as Inanis with its speed alone.

I forced myself to move yet all I could do is think. Without even realising it, my instincts forced me to cast a spell, a spell that I haven't used for days now. And a spell that I have dearly missed.

"Death: tilemetaforas."

 

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