Volume 8 : CHAPTER – 4 : SHRINE OF MALICE (2)

I had once made a promise to myself to never feel this vulnerable again. By always believing in myself, that was how I strived to become one of the strongest adventurers.

I relied on self-belief to become a powerful adventurer, a trait I cultivated since childhood when I dreamed of embarking on expeditions. I pushed myself to the limit to overcome obstacles.

But how many times has it actually worked?

I had to always depend on my fellow adventurers. Therefore, I made another promise never to let any of them down, as protecting each other is what we adventurers do on our job.

If it was just one calamity class basilisk monster. We could have made our escape. But three, it’s like someone really doesn’t want us to get out of here.

I can’t let this become everyone’s grave. That’s why I asked everyone to leave while I stalled the three monsters. I am the strongest here, so it was my responsibility to bear it.

I know no one in the right mind would dare to think so to do that alone. Neither I am foolish enough to believe I would come out of this unscathed. But even if there is a slight chance that everyone will be able to make it out alive, that could only be called a miracle. And I wouldn’t know unless I try it myself.

But the dungeon would rather relish in its cruel and unforgiving nature, delighting in our despair than give us a fair chance. After all, that tiny hope was also lost when the monsters sealed the exit.

I don’t know how long it would take for Asher and Thorne to clear out the way, but I would have to do everything to hold them.

‘I am sorry, but I am again going to make this foolish decision.’

While I was still preparing myself to face them alone and the uncertainty gripped everyone’s heart from making a move.

Amidst the hopeless darkness that enveloped us, none of us could see a way out of this alive.

⸺That’s when she appeared.

Perched atop one of the towering basilisks, defying the odds stacked against us.

It was the girl in the mask. Exuding an air of grace and composure even amid the dire circumstances. With a swift and graceful descent, she landed atop the basilisk and with a single step kick, brought it crashing to the ground.

Before we could fully comprehend what had happened, the basilisk lay unconscious, its skull shattered and brain crushed, leaving us in a state of confused panic.

It was then that she approached us, her voice cutting through the chaos, “If you stand there still, then you will die.” she warned.

It was only when the other two basilisks began circling us that I finally understood the gravity of her words.

“Regis, Hana can you take care of the basilisk on the right.”

“Huh….us.” Regis was troubled by the sudden monster extermination request from Alicia. It was just that the request was particularly ambitious for her first dungeon expedition.

But Regis instead of letting herself get discouraged would rather shoot the enemy in the eye. Without a glimpse of fear, she takes out her bow and prepares her magic shots. Taking aim at the giant body she was sure she would land a hit.

Unfortunately, all her quick shots were missed. The snake slithered in a typical way dodging all the arrows. Its body was capable of contracting and making its scales even harder.

“How can that thing even move like that?” Regis yelled surprised.

Hana puts on her best angelic expression and exclaimed, "Oh, don't worry! I can totally handle that.”

The next moment, Hana spun fast to get behind the serpent. Regis failed to see what Hana planned to do until she saw her grab the whole basilisk serpent by its tail.

“That’s insane.” No one was untouched by that feeling. Not even the basilisk could have seen this coming.

“I guess I will have to again re-evaluate Hana’s real strength.” Alicia sighed.

With a swift motion, Hana swung the serpent through the air, using its own momentum to slam it into the dungeon wall. The basilisk let out a hiss of fury, trying to shake off Hana’s grip.

But Hana was already on the offensive, she held on to the basilisk so tightly that the crackling of the monster's scales could be heard.

Regis could feel the air thick with tension, and Hana somehow grabbed the chance for her. There was no way she would let it pass.

Regis then takes a deep breath, steadying her nerves as she gazed upon the monstrous beast before her. Regis drew back the bowstring, feeling the weight of her magical arrow in her fingertips.

Regis believed in Hana that she would be able to hold onto the basilisk long enough for her to concentrate all her magic power. A lame arrow would never get the job done. So, Regis wanted to fill it with her magic energy until she was satisfied.

From the time Regis had started journeying with Alicia, she had found herself relying on her magic more rather than hating it. And with every shot, the destructive nature of her magic was taking a much more ruthless form.

Every time she unleashed a spell, she felt a surge of power that was both exhilarating and terrifying. Where once she had been hesitant to unleash her full power, now she reveled in the destruction she could wreak with a single incantation.

And right now, more than anything she wanted to find out what her magic arrow could do to the calamity class monster. The air crackled as Regis drew upon the vast reservoirs of magical power within her. With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a torrent of arcane energy, channeling it toward the basilisk.

“With power at my command, let the magic be reborn. [Sifirel Storm]”

With a fierce cry, Regis released the arrow, watching as it soared toward the monster with incredible speed.

The arrow struck true, piercing the creature's scaly hide.

At that time no one believed a mere arrow could pierce the basilisk, but when the magic revealed its true nature.

The body of the basilisk at the impact started twisting and the surface becomes unstable. Regis’s destructive magic interfered with the creature's magical construction and annihilated it.

The monster writhed and screeched, its once-imposing form crumbling to the ground. Hana too let’s go off the body as it had stopped responding.

“Master we did it.” Hana cheered from afar.

Regis too could be seen overjoyed at her victory.

“That leaves…” Alicia, Regis, and Hana looked to their right.

“Are these kids for real?” Asher spoke in an exhilarated voice. For her, it was like a challenge, and she was never the type to back down.

“We were able to injure it the last time but I don’t think the same would work again?” Thorne watched the movement of the remaining basilisk not letting it escape from his range of defense for now. It looked much agitated after losing two of its brethren.

“That’s a fair point…” Alicia thought for a moment and then decided to guide the heartland adventure party to victory.

She looks at Thorne, “I want you to make the whole ground soft.” Alicia remembered that Thorne excelled in using earth magic as he had previously demonstrated.

Alicia then looks at the healer Leafa who still looked terrified. “Use your plant magic to grow roots and block the path of the basilisk.”

“Wait, how did you know!” Leafa was surprised as this magic was her secret and she hadn’t even told about this to her teammates.

But when she looked at Alicia she could see a terrifying red glow beneath her mask. As if she was seeing through everything.

“I see now.” Thorne did not ask further questions and decided to do what he was told. He knew what was at stake and the moment he becomes unsure he would lose everything.

“By the power of earth and stone, I ask that you soften and make prone. Allow me passage through this ground, With this spell, let softness be found.” The earth was now soft to the extent that Thorne could feel his feet sink into the ground.

“Alright. I will do it too.” Leafa finally made up her mind as well. She hosts her staff on the ground and sticks her palm to its surface.

“From the ground, these roots do spring, with wine and magic, let them flow.”

In response, the magic energy channeled into the soft ground now had thick roots emerging from the surface. And like a barricade, they structured into a complex mesh on either side of the Basilisk. Leaving only a single path for the basilisk to move along.

Even though those roots won’t hold out long to keep the basilisk in check, the final touch to them was still left.

“Now miss fire witch.” Alicia beckoned to Asher.

“Yeah, I know. I have seen plenty of crazy things happen, but this one is on a whole other level.” Asher seemed awfully excited and had got a general idea of what Alicia wanted to implement.

“So, you want to turn this monster’s own den into a grilled roast.” Asher gave Alicia a challenging smile which was received with a predatory grin.

“In return let me show you my greatest fire spell.” With a snap of her left-hand finger using the gauntlet, Asher creates a bright yellow flame reminiscent of the color of the sun, which sparkles brightly.

“Let the flames of my will and the strength of my desire, create the mightiest wall of fire.”

A myriad of flames splits in two and now the walls of roots turn into a solid wall of flames. The temperature was so high, that the surrounding rocks melted in an instant.

Leafa had to keep on channeling her magic in the ground to replenish the burnt-out roots.

Now all eyes were on the leader of the Heartland Clan, Galen. Me.

“You don’t have to tell me. I know what I have to do.” I grit my teeth in resolve.

“Then use your shadow blade. Monsters are vulnerable to dark magic.” The girl in the mask asked me.

“I will use it to the best of my ability.”

“Isn’t that too much? The flames will soon explode and will get both to the monster and him.” Asher warned.

“Don’t worry. I just have to be fast enough. I can do this.” I told Asher there was no need for concern and she did not need to hold back on using her flames to the fullest.

The Basilisk won’t be in that position long before it realizes it’s a trap. So, this was neither the time for me to hesitate nor wait to figure things out. Trying to take my chances would be equivalent to running from killing a strong monster.

I give the signal and Asher raises the fire magic. Standing before the monstrous beast, I drew upon the shadows, conjuring a dark and powerful energy that coalesced into a blade-like aura around my hands and sword.

I dash at full speed straight into a one-column charge. The flames were hot and I had to solely rely on my magic defense. Leafa can’t provide support because she was busy maintaining the roots.

“I will make this fast.”

The heat was becoming unbearable for the thick skin of basilisk as well. Since it was unable to get near Asher’s firewall, it raises its body up, revealing its underbelly. The only place where the scales were less concentrated.

The monster roared in fury, lashing out.

“No, it's going to happen. Come out.” Asher shouted. It was a little too soon for the blast to happen than she predicted.

‘Will I be able to make it.’

Everyone had their doubts and worries.

I had too, but instead of overthinking, I decided to use wind magic. Certainly, it will be dangerous to use it in this environment. But if I time it right then I might have the chance.

I spun forward, using wind magic to throttle myself at the exact moment when the explosion happens. Despite the deafening sound, somehow I was able to see things more clearly.

My comrades watching me, the basilisk shrieking in pain and finally my shadow blade aura slicing through the air with deadly precision. With a swift movement, I slipped past the beast's defense, my blade slicing it clean from its mouth down to its belly.

Dark blood spurted from the wound as the creature howled in pain and finally the explosion completely engulfed everything.

***

“Leader!!” All the party members called out to him, unable to see anything in the explosion.

When the smoke cleared, the Basilisk was found split in half almost symmetrically. The party leader, Galen lay motionless on the ground.

Everyone ran towards him to check on his condition.

From what I noticed, he used wind magic around his knees and back to propel through the explosion and his shadow blade aura did the rest of the job. That was a smooth cut.

--- A small announcement ---

“Leafa can you use your healing magic?” Asher asked after checking on Galen. His arms had a nasty burn.

“It's not like I cannot heal them. But it will take some time after I have replenished magic.”

“Don’t worry. I will be fine.” Galen said.

“That was some awesome body augmentation magic little girl.” Thorne approached Hana.

“That was not magic. That was my own strength.” Hana replied courteously and proudly.

“Yeah, I know. That was a good joke. Of course, you would keep such a deadly thing a secret.” Thorne laughed.

Hana was again at a loss for words even if she told the truth. Unfortunately for Hana, no one would believe her even if she insisted upon it.

“That’s not the point here. And just who are you?” Asher approached me strongly.

I thought it was best to show them than tell.

“I told you I am Alicia. And I am a healer.” I went near Galen and cast my normal healing magic.

[HEAL]

A stream of golden light envelops Galen’s hands and they were instantly restored to normal.

“I have never seen healing magic work so fast and that too without a chant,” Galen said in amazement as he tried moving his hand normally and found it at best.

“Yeah, I am not buying that.” Asher still refused to accept my introduction.

“It's alright everyone has their secrets. We should be proud of ourselves for defeating a calamity class monster.” Galen tried to cheer up everyone.

“Yeah, regarding keeping secrets. We have one of them right here.” Asher glances at Leafa. It's not like she would just forget Leafa using plant magic when she hadn’t told about it to her team.

Most probably it was because Leafa’s plant magic was not that strong. That’s why I had asked Thorne to soften the ground. This would have worked to slow down the basilisk as well as make the soil more suitable for Leafa to use plant magic.

“Yes, mam. I will tell you everything.” Leafa squealed.

They all are such cool adventurers and even Regis and Hana were able to pull it off.

That means I can now rest easy in a dungeon exploration if I am with them. It’s not like I was planning not to work with this excuse.

“The basilisk at the back. How is it possible for them to restore even in such a condition?”  Leafa pointed out at the regenerating flesh of the basilisk whose head had been crushed by my foot.

The other two had also begun regenerating.

“They are always such a pain.”

I remember fighting almost twenty of them on one of the floors of the Tathya Labyrinth. But the biggest issue was not their large number. It was the confusing maze-like structure on the floor. So, I had to use magic to flatten the entire floor till nothing was left.

“So, the best way is to always obliterate them to nothing.”

[BLACK FLARE]

From the tip of my finger, a small droplet of black flame dips into the flesh of the basilisk.

From a tiny flicker, it evolved into a raging blast of black flames consuming the body of the basilisk and feeding on its own magic.

Abruptly the basilisk turned into fragments of light and vanished before burning itself out.

“Oh no...” Leafa whispered.

“What happened Alicia?” Regis was unable to understand everyone’s shock.

“Those three basilisk monsters were not the floor’s boss but were just summons.”

***

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