Chapter 23
At the bottom of the tree a head of a man
with its hands were sticking out as if he died stuck in this tree
The head that was sticking out looked like it was a stone statue. The group slowly and carefully went near it
Riley
"What are we even supposed to do here"
Sreya
"Just, what is this place ?"
Lisa
"Isn't this the same as the painting we saw in the 9th floor?"
Merlin
"Now that you mention it. This would mean we are still inside the Dungeon"
Sreya
"So, we just have to find a exit"
As the four of them were talking, they were interupted by a voice
Riley
"Guys where did that voice just came from"
"Its.me"
As thyme heard that voice they looked towards the head sticking out the tree, the mouth of the head moves as it continues
"Finally, after so long someone finally came here, I'm soo happy"
The four of them were freaked out and screamed in unison
"Thaat thing just talked!!!!!"
Oh and , the ostro also screamed with them
"Peeeèèeeeeeeeeeeeek"
"STOP SCREAMING !"
screamed the statue, as the group stoped screaming and gave him the attention
"Please, help me, free me from this eternal torture"
Riley ( frowning )
"Free you?"
"How did you even get stuck here and who are you" asks sreya suspiciously
" where are my manners, I'm CROLENN and my life was preserved by this world tree as the hero left me alive for suffering"
The way the man was talking, it seemed like he was in need of help and the group started to wonder if they should help him or not
Amidst all this lisa went near the man and pointed her spear near his neck and said threateningly
"Even with vines covering your eyes, i believe you know that I'm pointing my spear at you, you will only answer my questions or..."
The scared man nods as lisa continues
"Are we still inside the Dungeon "
"Yes"
Lisa continues after hearing the statue affirming
"Where is the gate to the next floor"
"I dont know, its somewhere hidden behind vines"
"I see" say lisa as she sharpens her gaze and says while pointing at a wall on the right
"Riley, can you cut off the vines covering that wall"
"Sure" says Riley, as he cuts off the vines a gate emerged
Lisa removes her spear and starts to walk away
"Wait! What about me ?"
Lisa sighs and turns back to say
"You are obviously stuck here for a reason, and the story you told, i have no trust in it, you said you are king Crolenn. Just a while ago we were almost killed by the kings statue and you expect us to trust you. What a joke"
Saying that, lisa and the other left the floor. while going through the path, merlin ask lisa
"Lisa, don't you think that was harsh of you, i mean we could have heard him out a bit more"
Lisa answers merlin with a straight face
"Our lives are at stake here, if i have to choose between his suffering and our well being, the answer was quite simple"
Merlin quiets down as she room realized that lisa was right, riley on the other hand was smiling as tears started coming out of his eyes. He thought -_-
[ lugh, you bastard, the poor innocent girl i saw at the entrance ceremony is no more, she's acting just like you, ;_;"
Sreya pov [she has changed,she's not longer that awkward girl, she is now more confident and more strong and smart, but. Just what is her drive, what motivates her?]
They stoped as a gate appeared after going through it, the floor illuminated. They were now standing in a 600ft wide and 400 ft tall floor. The ceiling and the walls of the floor was filled with infested eggs. The group was terrified att the sight
Riley
"NO FREAKIN WAY!!"
Sreya
"Are! Those INSECT EGG'S? "
Lisa
"Walls and ceiling are filled with eggs,There's no way we can FIGHT THIS AMOUNT!"
AS THEY WERE CONFUSED,SCARED AND TERRIFIED, AN EGG FELL FROM CEILING
As it hits the ground, the egg bursts releasing a gooey liquid, slowly something started to crawl out of it, as it stood up, its mosquito like eyes glowed Red, its blade like arms showed their reflection, its slim body covered by an exoskeleton strong as steel
The four of them were terrified at the sight of this black insect
Riley sensed something and quickly drew his sword and stoped the death blow meant for lisa. As the realisation hit lisa she was shocked as she didn't even see the black insect had gotten in an attacking range. Insect used its other blade like arms to slash Riley, but was deflected, resulting in an Shockwave, taking the chance riley pushed back the insect with its blade making distance, the insect flew back and landed on its feet
Lisa
"I couldn't even follow its movement "
Riley
"Neiither did i , it was pure Instinct. Sreya! Create a strong shield around the three of you, ill take care of this bug"
Hearing riley, sreya made a 360 barrier around them, but merlin got flustered
"Are you seriously gonna let him Fight that thing alone Sreya!"
Sreya
"Merlin, I understand your worries, but, if my brother says he can handle it, than that's exactly what he'll do"
Lisa
"Yeah, merlin, I believe riley is very capable, we need to put our faith in him"
Merlin still worried, but decides to cal down. Lisa looks at riley and thoughts together herself
[When me and lugh were still in the countryside, lugh once talked about his friend, a friend who was strong enough that even lugh wonder if he would loose infront of that friend if he had mana, and now that very friend is standing infront of me. Are you just as strong as you are siad to be Riley kerma]
Riley points his sword at the insect " yo, are you ready to be squashed like a disgusting bug you are"
Hearing which the.black insects eyes glowed even redder indicating its been angered
Both riley and the insect stood still waiting for the other to move first, as the insect moved its blade an inch, both riley and the insect vanished, followed by the creation of flashes due to the clash of riley's blade and the insect
The speed at which they were clashing was soo high that merlin and sreya werent seeing anything but the flashes, as lisa stood there stunned she noticed that even she can't follow the movement
As the insect appeared, it used its blade like hands to slash at riley with such force that he flew to the ceiling even after blocking it
Riley landed on the ceiling, using his feet he pushed himself back towards the insect and went for a downward vertical slash which the insect blocked, resulting in a big Shockwave
As soon as riley's feet touches the ground, he vanished alongside the insect. flashes due to their clash were once again visible, this time even larger than before
After consecutive sword strikes, both him and the insect finally appeared, air flowing in the room as water flows in a river
Riley's gaze was fixated on the insect and the eyes of it were glowing red, at that exact moment, riley's left arm was cut off, blood splattered
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Meanwhile in the room where that man was sealed inside that world tree, only his hands and head were sticking out, with its eyes covered by vines
The man heard calm footsteps moving towards him. The man once again asks for help
"Young man, please help me, burn the top of this tree, I was sealed here by the hero 3 centuries ago and left alone for eternal suffering "
"Eternal suffering, what is your name"
asked the man who was now standing right infront of the him
"My name is CROLENN, i can help you get the tressures within this Dungeon tha--"
He stops talking as the unknown man touches the vines covering his eyes, the vines started removing themselves from his eyes enabling him to open his eyes
As he slowly opens his eyes, He sees a man who eyes glowed crimson red, this man had a scary smile on, as he looked towards the man who claims to be king Crolenn
"WHO ? Are you! "
"Me? I'm lugh, but you won't know who I am, unless I tell you my full name, its DragonHart, Lugh DragonHart "
Said lugh in a calm but scary tone, the face of the sealed man went pale and replace by complete terror .