There were numerous chambers that the dungeon core formed when it began summoning the Groundlings, along with numerous paths leading to the exit.
It was a growing dungeon that had several dozen Groundlings who worked tirelessly to expand and carve out the passages. They had created a room for food, a storage area for weaponry, and a path that connected to the river, all with the intention of making paths that led within the chamber. The rough walls still bore the marks of claws and crude tools, the faint scent of damp earth mingling with the old blood spilled during the last battle.
The river continued past it and led even further underground, its rushing sound echoing like a constant reminder of escape.
Yet of all the exits available, this was the one Thane chose to rush into.
But this wasn't an accident. It was all part of Thane's plan.
He knew with their incredible Dexterity and the Orgrath's regeneration, he would never escape on foot. One eye had already healed. And though Thane knew some magic was involved as he saw mana circulating, he didn't have any hope of escaping through the other tunnels.
The small tunnel from where he came had numerous Orcs, and one even had a dangerous flow of Mana.
And the other exits were no-go. The massive giant had Dexterity that far outmatched its size, moving with terrifying speed that belied its hulking frame. So, since the start, Thane had decided that the river was his way out.
And to ensure his escape, since his sudden retreat, Thane had opened the Celestial TV's item storage and commanded it to store something unexpected. Air. The impossible. The mad gamble of a desperate genius.
And it worked.
[Storing Air...]
[Warning: Intangible matter detected. High containment costs applied.]
[Maximum Volume Capturable: 1,000 L]
[Storage Cost: 150 KB per liter = 150,000 KB (146 MB)]
[Stored: Compressed Air Pocket: (542/ 1,000 L) 54% Complete]
It had taken him minutes to store the vast amount of river water before, but the storage of air was faster, pulling invisible currents into the system. The vacuum tugged at his chest as if the world itself inhaled. A bubble of breathable life condensed into the Celestial TV, causing his skin to prickle and his Spirit senses to hum strangely at the disturbance in the flow.
But to reach this point, Thane had to fight tooth and nail. With a quick stab, Pointy Justice pierced through the neck of an Orok. Warm blood sprayed across his armor as he ripped the weapon free.
Without pause, he snatched the axe from its limp hand and hurled it toward another.
SPLECH!
The axe buried itself into the Orok's collarbone, dropping the creature with a wet crunch.
"Useless soldiers!" The Orgrath roared, echoed out.
Thane began to fight at the nearby Oroks, even as the Orcs charged at him and would make axe throws.
But Thane's enhanced strength and sharpened reflexes made him a whirlwind, evading and even throwing the nearby axe back at the approaching Oroks.
Thane withdrew inside the chamber and avoided another volley of ranged attacks as he slew the last Orok inside the chamber.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The booming sounds drew closer, heavy footfalls that made the stone tremble. Thane knew the giant was rushing toward him once more. His pulse quickened, but his hands did not falter.
"Pointy Justice!" Thane called out and wielded his spear, sweat streaking down his temple. Hearing no sounds of weapons being thrown yet, he sprinted for the opening, Pointy Justice ready in hand.
Glancing forward as he slipped out of the chamber's opening, he caught sight of the Orgrath barreling forward, its wounds already knitting, one eye glowing with baleful fury while the other remained wounded and oozing.
"Now!" Thane pressed the power button.
FWIP!
The Celestial TV blinked into activation as Thane raised to hurl his spear.
[ENEMIES DETECTED.]
[Celestial TV shutting down...]
[5]
The Orgrath's roaring rage was fully displayed. Its roar was also caught in slow motion, shaking the cavern; tusks from its wide mouth gleamed, and saliva sprayed as its muscles bunched to spring.
[4]
Thane's body felt like it was moving in syrup, every muscle straining. Only his fingers, clutching the remote, moved in real time. But he kept forcing his body, and he could even notice that his movements in this state would definitely be faster than he was in normal time. And this advantage would be the assurance that his plan would succeed.
[3]
He steadied his aim, eyes locking onto the beast's one remaining good eye. Supreme Perception outlined the target in blazing red intent.
[2]
Spirit gathered along his fingertips, crackling at the edges of the spear. He breathed deeply, the world fading until there was only him and his prey.
[1]
And then, at the last half-second, he swapped Pointy Justice for Stabby McGee.
WOOSH!
The spear disappeared, and the small, short dagger was hurled. The Orgrath, expecting the long arc of a spear, moved to slap it, only to be caught completely off guard.
The dagger whistled through the air, so much shorter, so much faster. Its path slipped right before the monster's large palm could swipe it.
STAB!
The blade buried itself deep in its remaining eye.
"ROOOOAR!"
The cavern quaked as the Orgrath's head snapped back, and he lost his balance, tripping on a misstep.
BOOOOM! CRASH!
The giant toppled, crashing to the ground, sliding across rock, and smashing through the chamber's opening. The impact sent dust and shards flying, rattling weapons from the hands of nearby orcs.
Thane saw the chamber doors blocked with the
"Master!" an orc howled, eyes wide with terror.
But the giant was reeling, stunned. Struggling in pain as his eyes were somehow gouged out in his crashing fall. And Thane saw his opening.
Before Thane was the big, grotesque behind of the Orgrath that sealed the chamber.
For half a heartbeat, doubt whispered in his mind. Then a remnant of sinful nature, twisted logic that hadn't fully died with his resurrection, suggested something outrageous. Something brutal.
"Gotta get ready for a thousand years of pain..." Thane muttered grimly, clenching his teeth. He poured half his Spirit into his arm, remembering how his last overcharge nearly tore him apart. This time, he would focus on the damage.
"Pointy Justice! I now call you... Sodom!"
STAB!
Spirit Piercing Explosive Strike tore through flesh in the most humiliating of places, leaving a painful hemorrhage. His Supreme Perception guided him unerringly to the hole, the least defensive part of the Orgrath next to his eyes.. The strike detonated like a Spirit bomb in the rectum of the beast.
The angels surely wept, or cringed, as the blast echoed.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAR!" The Orgrath's howl was unlike any before—anguish, fury, humiliation, all rolled into a single monstrous scream. Its entire body convulsed, leaping in reflexive agony.
BOOM!
The giant collided with its own allies, crushing orcs beneath its weight as it staggered, flailing wildly. Warriors screamed in pain as bones snapped beneath their bulk.
"AHHHHH!"
"Master Stop!"
Thane was rather amazed at how accurate his strike would be and how deep it penetrated.
"That was a hole in one..." Thane was amazed, then shook himself awake to fight.
The Orgrath continued to wince and thrash in pain. It tumbled, fumbled, clenching desperately as it squealed in pain, its pride shattered.
Thane's spear broke in his hand, the backlash ripping open his right palm. But unlike before, he'd contained the damage. Blood dripped freely, but he could still fight.
Without hesitation, Thane hurled members of the Stabby family into the stunned and flattened orcs. His daggers finding throats and chests. Screams echoed as more fell. At the same time, the Celestial TV hummed, greedily absorbing corpses into its storage.
Four orcs, several Oroks were gone in flashes of light.
"Ooohh! The Orgarath's eye!" Thane was amazed at the rare find. The eye still had his dagger in it.
Thane moved quickly, but the moment he felt a terrifying killing intent, he raced back to the chamber and continued as planned.
SPLASH!
[Stored: Compressed Air Pocket: (785/ 1,000 L) 78% Complete]
Cold blackness swallowed him whole. His Dark Sight cut through the waters, the currents pulling him deeper. He pressed his palms to his mouth and retrieved the stored air. Bubbles surged, filling his lungs with precious life.
Above, orcs scrambled to the riverbank, diving in with axes clenched between teeth, others heaving boulders into the waters.
"Don't let escape!" An orc cried.
The surface exploded with foam and stone as several Oroks chased Thane and hurled their weapons.
Thane twisted, rolling as a massive rock thundered past. His Supreme Perception blared.
All of a sudden, he felt a familiar force.
Spirit! But not of his own making!
SPLASH!
He spun just in time to see a submerged orc's axe slash by, missing his leg by inches before embedding into the river floor.
"That was some crazy Spirit art!" Thane's eyes widened.
"It was the Lord's providence that this one wasn't among those I fought earlier… or I'd already be dead!"
The current grew stronger, dragging him deeper into the labyrinth's veins. The furious howls faded behind him, muffled by stone and water.
But then, a roar so mighty it rattled his bones echoed even under the waves.
"HUMAN! I FIND YOU! YOUR EYES MINE!"
"Jeerpers creepers, dude. You literally can regrow another eye." Thane felt creeped out by the Orgrath's sudden obsession with him.