"Your trial shall begin!"
Throughout the whole message not a single one of the adventurers spoke a word. They listened in silence.
After moment the message ended, the first to speak was Kyle.
"That... what may have been the reason the dragon king's message to be here?"
Tidlen was next.
"No… that's not the question. What… did we just learn?"
"This is dangerous! We will be in grave danger if the fact that we know this is found out!"
Lily exclaimed in shock and fear.
"The demon lord… who or what actually is he?" Matt wondered.
The Dwarves were allies with the demon nation as they had also been exploited for their construction and rune magic skills. The dwarves even though small in height, had a lifespan almost as long as humans(120-125yrs).
They had innate skills with planning and construction; thus, they were constantly exploited, even sold as slaves.
"We are already in so much danger after knowing this and you still want to learn more?!" Lily asked, clearly annoyed.
"Guys…, I don't think… we should be discussing this right now. I am worried because the dragon king mentioned something about… a trial beginning."
Ray reminded everyone. He was also shaken; it was obvious in his voice.
But of course truth is unknown to anyone present.
"That's right! Everyone we must stay alert until we get out of the ruins. There have been many cases of casualties because of carelessness."
Kyle had regained her composure and she was back to being the leader.
"Yes, let's leave this room. I don't feel safe in here" Lily agreed.
The group started to head back to the opening of the room, to the hidden passageway.
But just as they a crossed a certain design on the floor, immense mana, erupted.
The violent mana rushed to their bodies. Everyone was blinded for a moment. They suffered an unexplainable amount of pain.
But it stopped just as suddenly as it came.
When they opened their eyes all they could see was darkness. It was a huge arena like place. The fire was lit on the walls but they did not give any warmth or brightness.
They looked around searching for others. Desperate.
***
That message was more of a warning.
He wished to warn the world of my dangerous existence. He even sacrificed his remaining life to make sure that I would not destroy it.
Well even if he hadn't done that; I would not destroy it, as he did not manipulate the contents or anything like that. I will not destroy honesty!
Ray chuckled to himself for some unknown reason.
I guess the message left everyone in shock. Its understandable as not everyday you listen to the great Dragon king, especially some thing like this. Even the content must have been frightening. I was also quite astonished.
'But I am more worried about the trial thing he mentioned in the end.'
"Guys…, I don't think… we should be discussing this right now. I am worried because the dragon king mentioned something about… a trial beginning."
Listening to this, Kyle regained her composure. While Lily urged us to return.
'She is a good leader.'
We began walking toward the hidden passage way. But suddenly quite a large amount of mana engulfed us. Even I couldn't detect it.
The mana rushed towards me. It was blessing as taking in such a large amount of mana at once would increase the total mana, though usually this would cause the body to burst for normal people… but not me.
But I can't say the same for my party members.
I'll just absorb mana until only a safe amount remains. This is good for me.
Hmm...There is also a transportation spell a transports all the one who absorbed the mana. But if you don't absorb the mana you will die as the body will not be able to stand exposure to such a large amount of mana.
'Its quite the genius idea...I should stop my solo analysis.' Ray commented as if unaware of the danger.
***
Kyle stood shaken because of the sudden transportation. She searched for her team in the darkness, but she could only see a faint silhouette.
She slowly approached it, her daggers ready. She could finally make out the shape of a human. She called out to it in whispers. It seemed like they finally noticed and started heading towards her.
That person turned out to be Tidlen.
"Whew, thank god. I thought I was alone.''
Tidlen looked tired. His voice was also dry.
"What happened to you? Why do you look so tired?"
Kyle asked.
"I…have been here since an hour. I c-couldn't find anyone."
"An hour! I have only been here for few minutes."
Kyle was astonished hearing Tidlen' s reply.
But Tidlen explained.
"This dark fog muddles our sense of time. You are also sweating and thirsty, aren't you?''
Kyle finally noticed her own condition. She checked her flask for water but it was empty. Only a few potions were left. Even her dagger was chipped.
Tidlen was also in a bad shape. He had only two potions left. Though his mana had been completely filled and also increased to the mana exposure, other than that, he was completely exhausted. Both physically and mentally.
"Let's not try searching for others and wait. If it is as you suspect, then we would only waste our energy"
Kyle decided.
"I agree with you on that. But… I don't know if we can last… till all of the others come. I am starving… do you have any food?''
Both Tidlen and Kyle were starving. It was most probably because of the absorbing of such a large amount of mana. Their bodies were exhausted.
They decided to sit down and wait for others.
Si---ik!!
But suddenly they heard. As if a blade struck a rock. They instantly became alert.
"Guys don't attack, it's me, Ray"
But they heard Ray's voice. They felt a bit relieved, but they did not lower their guard. After what they had experienced, they would not even be surprised if they found an enemy using Ray's voice. But thankfully their worry was unfounded.
Ray's figure became clearer and clearer. Finally, they could see him. His clothes were cut and torn. He had a bruise on his left hand, and was limping. But his eyes glowed in the darkness like that of a cat.
Looking at his glowing eyes, Tidlen asked, "Sp this is your special ability?"
Ray nodded without elaborating.
"How long has it been for you?" Kyle was the next to ask.
"It's been an hour. And its not safe. There are weird creatures that attack you if you move. Not instantly but they attack you if you keep moving for some time."
"Hmm… monsters. Is that why you are in such bad shape?"
"Yes, even I can only see them as silhouettes. They attacked me continuously when I was looking for the team."
"Ha…now we even have to deal with invisible monsters! I am exhausted! Do you have any water, Ray?" Tidlen was very frustrated.
"Yes, a bit. But can't you get water using magic?"
"I tried. But I can't use elemental magic or healing here. All I can do is curse magic or use basic mana attacks. Any ways, please pass me the water bottle."
"Ray, were you able to find the others?'' Kyle asked without much expectation.
"Yes. But Matt got injured in the leg when we were fighting our way searching for you guys. Lily is with him right now. They are resting at a place that looked safer than the others. Come on lets also get going. Be alert, we may be attacked at any moment!"
***
Ray was the first to 'regain consciousness', and he found himself near Matt and decided to wait.
Matt slowly started to wake up.
"Where am I? Where are the others? Ugh… I can't see anything''
He was very perplexed. But he calmed down in a few seconds. Only then did Ray show himself.
Matt's eyes lingered at the glowing dark blue eyes, before making the connection. "Haa...Man I'm very thirsty. Do you have any water?"
"Here you go."
"Ray, what do you suggest we do?" Matt asked as he drank the water.
"Let's first find the group."
"Agreed"
Then they started moving towards a random direction. They could see nothing and they couldn't sense anything with their mana. Thus they tried to find some kind of outer perimeter or wall first.
'What's that?'
"Matt! Behind you!" Ray shouted suddenly.
But before Matt, who was still croaky from digesting the mana, could react, he was slashed by an unclear silhouette. It had come suddenly and made almost no sound, like a deadly assassin.
It wasn't fatal and it only slashed Matt's leg. The creature attacked again but this time, Matt blocked it with his shield. Ray wasn't idle. He immediately closed the distance and attacked that blurry silhouette.
After a while of silence,
"Haa, I felt resistance to my blade. It is hurt, it probably won't attack immediately. How's your leg Matt?"
Ray first reassured Matt and then asked about his condition.
Matt poured the potion on his bleeding leg but it was clear that the injury could not be easily cured using a potion.
"Well… at least I can walk now. Let's get going."
[To be continued]