We walked for what felt like forever. The torches illuminating the tunnel continued, igniting as soon as me and Arvalor got close to them. Additionally, this feeling of low dread began to build up on my spine. I couldn't explain it, but for some reason, the deeper we went and further we descended, the more I got the gut feeling that following this path was a bad idea.
Arvalor also looked like he was on guard.
The shadow beast was throwing its gaze all over the place, the shadowy flames that made up his body gently tingling. "Guess I'm not the only one who's nervous… Though I suppose it makes sense. It'd be foolish to drop our guards, especially now that we've entered what I assume are completely unknown and new dungeon grounds."
Just my luck.
Trying a new endeavour for the first time and of course, it goes horribly wrong. At this point, I must wonder if fate had it out for me.
As we ventured further and further, the tunnel's appearance shifted — away from the cave-like environment, and more like a hallway. The walls began to look like they were made with bricks and stone, the ground under us slowly shifted to tiles and the ceiling above us became an arch, made of smooth stone. Most bizarrely of all, the torches continued, as well as there was no sign of age or vegetation, like you'd expect in ruins.
The entire 'castle' above looked aged and like it had been abandoned for a long, long time — how come this section of the place didn't?
Something that also began to fill me with unease is the air itself. I couldn't exactly explain it, however the air began to feel… heavy. The further I went down the tunnel, the more it felt like I was being suffocated. Nothing seemingly changed in the hallway, and yet everything felt so foreign.
The dim fire light from the torches slowly began to look hazy.
I could even swear I was starting to see the walls shift a bit – moving in a wavy pattern. "Am I seeing things…?" I thought, throwing a look at Arvalor. The shadow beast looked unaffected, still throwing its gaze around. Maybe I really was simply imagining things…
The hallway continued for a while longer, until it finally ended, exiting out into an enormous room. Stepping into it, the air felt the heaviest here. I felt like I was going to be crushed by simply standing in the room. Taking a few steps further into the room, I fell to my knee, Arvalor quickly catching me, looking stressed. "I-I'm fine…" I said to the shadow beast, before looking around the room.
It was enormous, spacious.
Columns were lined out, stretching all the way to the ceiling. The ceiling itself was a giant arch, on which was what looked like a single massive mosaic. On the mosaic, I could make out the image of a dragon, beside it a man, who had his arm on the dragon while the two of them looked out at a kingdom in the distance.
"Some royalty or something…?" I commented, before coughing gently.
Then, I suddenly heard a voice speak in my mind.
[ WARNING ]
High density miasma detected.
It is advised that you leave the area immediately.
[ WARNING ]
Miasma…? Is that why the air feels so heavy?
I forced myself back onto my feet, before leaning a bit onto Arvalor. "Let's go deeper…" The shadow beast looked concerned at first, however after seeing my expression, he kept moving forward, matching my pace as I continued to lean on him.
Moving deeper and deeper into the room, the air grew heavier and heavier.
It was slowly becoming unbearable.
However, I kept pushing forward.
In front of us, at the other end of the room, were massive gates. Looking at them, I couldn't help but shed a cold sweat. The magical energy surging from the other side of the gates was immense. It was so strong, it nearly overpowered the heavy miasma in the air. "I'm going to guess there is an enemy on the other side of the gates…"
I commented gently, gripping my spear tightly, before nudging Arvalor to keep going.
We drew closer and closer to the gates — and my vision was beginning to fail me. My body began to feel weak, however I held on. Everything felt heavy. My head felt hazy. Things began spinning around me…
"Just a little more…"
I thought, falling a bit to my knee. Arvalor quickly caught me, before helping me stand back up and leading me forward. Eventually, we reached the gates. The air felt the heaviest here. My entire body felt tight — as if I was about to burst. "O-Open… it…" I pointed at the gates.
Arvalor nodded, before using one of his paws to push open the gates.
They resisted at first, however after another moment or two, the gates opened, creaking open. The magical energy that rushed out from the room beyond them hit me like a truck. It felt like a strong gust of wind was sent at me. I barely managed to resist, holding tightly onto Arvalor who was using his body to shield me.
Once the magical energy had blown over us, I looked at the room beyond.
Torches were lit inside it, illuminating it. Though I was unable to make out what the room was, as my vision was basically null at this point – everything being blurred and hazy. Then I felt and heard Arvalor growl as he looked inside the room.
"Is there someone inside there…?" I thought, trying to squint my eyes to make out anyone who may be inside the room.
However to no avail.
Then…. A voice from the room spoke. I couldn't make out what it said though. My head was spinning. I stepped into the room, Arvalor slowly helping me, all the while gently growling. As we stepped into the room, the air suddenly felt different. A bit of the heaviness disappeared, instead replaced by immense pressure.
It felt like I was in front of the Southern Beast once more.
Again, a voice spoke — this time sounding a bit confused.
"I can't make out what's being said…"
"My—... apologies…." Suddenly I heard something speak directly in my mind. My eyes widened in shock for a second, before a sharp pain hit me in my chest. Then, I felt something warm – as if a fire was ignited inside my chest. At first, I felt it in my chest, then the feeling of warmth carried through my entire body, giving a rather funny feeling.
Suddenly, the heavy feeling disappeared. My body felt normal once more. My head stopped spinning and when I looked at my hands, my vision was back to normal as well. "What the…?"
"That… should be better… now." I flicked my head up as soon as I heard someone speak. With my vision being back to normal again, I could finally see what the room me and Arvalor just entered was. It was a bit smaller than the previous enormous hallway, however it was still rather big. There were columns on the sides, with what looked like fire podiums on them, gently crackling.
Above each podium, was a banner, with an emblem I did not recognise.
A rough image of a dragon's head, that seemed to be made in the shape of a flame. On the ceiling, there was another massive mosaic, this time of a castle – one that looked heavily similar to how the dungeon they had entered looked like.
At the end of the room, I saw a throne, above which was a larger version of the banners above the fire podiums on the columns. Under the banner, on top of the throne — I saw it.
The one I assumed had been speaking — a figure sitting on the throne, a skeletal crow sitting on its shoulder, staring back at me with empty eye sockets. The figure itself was dressed in red robes, with gold accents all over it. Over its shoulders was a thick black cloak that hung down its back, with a hood that covered its head. Over its wrists, were golden cuffs — however those were not what caught my attention the most.
Rather, the figures' hands themselves caught my attention.
They were skeletal. With a few rings on some of the fingers. I shed a sweat – the figure was clearly not a human, based on the hands alone, and the magical energy that radiated from it… Well, to say the least, I now knew where the immense magical energy that was spread across this entire room was coming from.
The figure looked at me, a pair of shining red eyes piercing the darkness cast over its head under its hood. "Welcome…. My dear… visitor."
I gripped my spear tightly.
Something felt off. Something was telling me to be careful.
The feeling of dread that I had when I was moving through that tunnel returned and was even worse. For a moment, I could even swear I felt my fight or flight sense kick in, before I quickly drowned it back down. "Who are you..?"
I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Arvalor glared at the figure, growling. The figure remained silent for a moment, before exhaling. "My name… is…. Or at least… used to be…. Odale." The figure responded. Upon hearing the name, I repeated it in my mind a few times. For some reason, it sounded… Familiar. Like I had seen it or heard it somewhere before… I couldn't explain why though. I don't remember seeing or even hearing it before, and yet, it felt familiar…
"...'Used' to be?" I raised an eyebrow. Odale nodded.
"I have… been here for so… very… very…. Long." He stated, lowering his head. Then, the skeleton picked up his right arm, moving it over to the skeletal crow on his shoulder, the crow hopping onto his ring finger,before looking at Odale. "Waiting…. And waiting…. And… waiting…. For you to come."
For… me?
Why would he be waiting for me…? I don't even know this… thing. Other than the name feeling a bit familiar, I don't remember ever encountering this… 'person' — if you could call him that.
"Apologies, but you might have something mixed up… I don't even know you…"
"Of course…. Because… we have not…. Ever met…."
It— knows…?
"Then why do you say that you've waited for me?" I asked, looking at him with a rather confused gaze. Odale remained silent for a moment, before leaning into his throne.
"You…" He raised his other hand towards me, pointing his skeletal finger at me. I managed to examine it a bit more — cracked, slightly charred and dirty. It clearly showed that he was old… even ancient perhaps. "You found…. My tomb… and….. Defeated the…. Guardian…"
Tomb? Guardian?
What on earth was this thing…. Then – It clicked.
Tomb — where had I been that had looked like a tomb? The first two times was Arabor's 'tomb' where he was sealed, which obviously couldn't be the one. Then, it was Arvalor's 'tomb' – where I fought against him in a fierce battle, at the end of which, I used my 'Shadowlord' skill to create a shadow beast from Arvalor's corpse.
And the final time I remember entering a place that resembled a tomb… Was that A-Rank dungeon I found in the Abyssal woods. Inside, I remember facing off against a bunch of giant stone statues, before the 'corruption' kicked in, due to my connection to the Abyss. Then, after regaining consciousness, I opened a sarcophagus, inside of which…
"...That was you? The corpse I found… H-Holding this book." I quickly reached into my bag, rummaging through it for a bit, before pulling out the strange book I had found in that dungeon back then – the red gem on its cover glimmering gently in the fire light. The figure looked at me silently, before chuckling.
"Indeed…. That was…. Me. That book…. It is my…. Journal.."
Journal? Then…
I flipped the book open to the very first page, in which was the signature. I finally remembered why the name 'Odale' sounded familiar. While I am unable to read the language that the book is written in, my subconscious mind must have somehow picked up the 'name' in the signature, without me exactly realising it.
After all, I remember a split moment after I opened the book for the first time, where a gentle, almost unnoticeable tingle went off in my mind. "But then…. If that was you in the tomb…" I looked at the figure with an on-guard expression, before closing the book and quickly placing it back inside of my bag. Then I spun my spear, grabbing it with my other arm as well, before pointing it at Odale.
"How are you here? Or rather, what are you anyway? Someone who's dead and whose body is in a tomb, shouldn't be around."
"Indeed…. I shouldn't be around.."
Odale agreed, before getting up from his throne, looking down at me with his piercing red eyes. Then, he began to step down. "I have…. Been cursed. This castle…. A mere mockery of…. My once grand… kingdom. And me… its prisoner…" Odale looked at me with sharp eyes as he reached the ground.
"What stands before…. You…. is my mere…. Soul. Soul… that has been cursed… to be a prisoner."
Prisoner? Soul? Cursed?
It all sounded… a bit like nonsense. The magical energy that radiated around Odale felt immense, not at all something I'd imagine a 'soul' would be able to possess. And on that topic — surely 'souls' wouldn't be able to exist without a physical body? Even if he says he is 'cursed', there is no way he was 'just a soul'.
Something felt off.
Seriously off.
Arvalor growled loudly. I shed a sweat, narrowing my eyes on Odale. "May I assume you are the reason that 'trap' went off at the top of the room?" Odale nodded gently. "My… apologies. I needed…. A way to separate…. You from them. That….. Was the only way… that I could do so."
"Why?" I slightly shifted the shadows around me, to slowly rise up. "Because… I wish to test…. You."
"Test me?"
"Yes…. test you. Test…. Whether you really are…. The 'hope' I have been waiting for." Then, Odale raised his head up, the darkness cast over it by his hood slightly lightening up, revealing his skeletal appearance under it. A pair of bright red eyes shone in his eye sockets, while I could spot a gentle light from his chest. The gates of the throne room flew shut — a magic circle shining over them. The only exit was now sealed.
Then, I sense something.
I quickly leapt forward, avoiding a sudden spear that crashed down into the ground where I had stood moments prior. A sneak attack. I grit my teeth, before looking at Odale. The skeleton slowly flew up into the air, the skeletal crow flying around him while screeching.
"Now…. allow for the… test to begin."
Odale stated, his eyes shining brightly before black lightning gently sparked from his body. Then, on the ground under him, a thick, dark purple shadow formed. From it, skeletons began to rise out, each one with shining red eyes. An undead army, so to say.
Within mere moments, a massive army of undead was standing under Odale, each one equipped with rusted weaponry and beaten armour. Odale reached with his right hand into a small dark purple 'warped space', rummaging a bit, before pulling out a golden sceptre. The sceptre's top was formed in the shape of a dragon's head, with a bright red gem in its mouth, while its handle was black. Spinning it, Odale pointed the sceptre at me and Arvalor.
I shed a sweat, forming as many small venom orbs in the around me as I could. "Show me…. Whether you can…. Carry on… the beacon of hope…" Odale stated, his eyes shining brightly as he floated above the undead army below him, the skeletal crow continuing to fly around him, screeching.
I narrowed my eyes on Odale.
After a moment, an information window opened.
[ Monster ]
Name; Odale Ordial
Species; Elder Lich
Level; [Unknown]
Once a great ruler, now a shadow of himself. Often called the 'Fire Prince'.
The true boss monster of the Fire Princes domain.
[ Monster ]
"The 'true' boss?.... I'm going to take a guess on the fact that the guild has no idea about this." I shed a sweat, before taking in a deep breath. Then, I raised my spear up. "Looks like I will have to fight my way through… Very well. Let's see whether I can pull this off." I narrowed my eyes. Even though Odale was most definitely stronger than me, based on the magical energy that radiated from his body, I wasn't going to go down without a fight.
Arvalor stepped forward, before taking in a momentary breath – then, unleashing an ear piercing roar, which shook the entire room.
Arvalor has activated [Intimidation].
After that, I swung my spear at the undead army, firing off a barrage of venom bullets. The undead simply stood there, tanking my barrage - their numbers quickly dwindling down. After my barrage stopped, the undead that had been defeated by my venom barrage suddenly rose out from the dark purple shadow once more.
"Looks like in order to take care of them… I'll have to go for the one who summoned them." I looked up at Odale. The lich looked at me with an empty gaze. Then, with one movement of his sceptre, he ordered the undead. The army then began to charge towards me and Arvalor.
"Arvalor, keep them busy!"
The shadow beast roared, before charging back towards the army of undead, quickly crashing into them and beginning to maul through them. Meanwhile I launched myself up into the air and towards Odale, swinging my spear at the lich — only to be blocked by a red magic shield.
Clicking my tongue, I quickly used the shadows from the pillars to form a platform under myself, landing onto it.
Locking eyes with Odale, I brushed off my chin. The lich flew back a bit, before raising his sceptre up into the air. Then, an undead dressed in much thicker armour than the orders leapt up, before launching at me with a longsword. I quickly parried the strike, before pushing him back. The undead landed onto what looked like thin air, before looking at me with shining eyes through its helmet.
Pitch dark armour, red shining eyes, a longsword and magical energy that surged around it, much stronger than the other undead. Definitely a much, much more powerful undead.
Narrowing my eyes, I took a peek at its status.
[ Monster ]
Name; Dean
Species; Greater Lich
Level; [Unknown]
Once a strong knight, now just another cursed soul.
As a Greater Lich, it possesses much higher intelligence and much more power.
[ Monster ]
Exhaling lightly, I lowered my frame for a second, before launching at the Knight, swinging my spear down at it. The knight parried my strike, before knocking me back and attempting to retaliate – however I quickly used the shadows on my body to form a quick shield, blocking the strike, before kicking the knight to the side and into a pillar.
Landed on another platform that I formed from the shadows around, I looked at the pillar. Through the small dust cloud, the knight climbed out of the rubble, brushing off its armour, before looking at me again.
"This might take a bit…" I thought, before spinning my spear and aiming it at the knight, who simply glared at me with its shining eyes.