Capítulo 31: Stealing Treasures

The plan I had formulated was simple - Breaking the lock on one of the cages and creating pandemonium. However, executing it was the test of my skills, patience and nerves.

I peeked inside the cavern from our hiding place near the dog tunnel and aimed my arrow at the cage nearest to me. It was barely within my attacking range, which meant my attacking power and accuracy was affected.

I could compensate for the accuracy with precise calculations but for attacking power, I had to give my best. For this reason, I decided to use one of the precious Fire Rune Arrow to guarantee the success of my plan.

My hands were clammy with sweat from the nervous excitement but my posture was steady as a mountain. I gradually closed my right eye and focused as I pulled the bowstring back.

Soon, the feathered end of the arrows was touching my cheek and the only thing left in my vision was the rusty lock. I inhaled a quick, sharp breath and then loosened the grip on the arrow.

Swoosh!

The world around me had come to a stand still as I watched the arrow glide through the air and strike the weakened lock.

Thunk!

The loud noise of the lock breaking and then falling on the floor echoed in the cavern. Dorukh immediately stopped chanting and looked in the direction of the sound.

Krrr!

The rusty gate of the cage also slowly opened at this inopportune movement. Yet, none of the dogs ran out, contrary to my expectations. With a single loud growl of the largest Wild Dog, all the other Wild Dogs settled down inside the cage.

The Dark Gnoll began to walk towards the broken cage and my heart jumped to my throat. Tiny beads of sweat began to form on my forehead, wondering whether we would be exposed.

If the boss discovered the arrow, it would be alerted to our presence. Then even hiding from the Dark Gnoll would become a difficult task to accomplish, let alone looting the treasure chests.

I even thought of retreating but then I noticed a subtle but intelligent movement from the largest Wild Dog in the open cage.

Its eyes were still closed but its ears were perked up as if it was listening to the footsteps of Dorukh. As the Dark Gnoll moved closer and closer to the cage, the Wild Dog Leader also tensed his muscles, getting ready to pounce.

Good Dog!

I smiled as I realized their plans and started a countdown in my head.

4…. 3…. 2….

As soon as Dorukh reached the open gate of the Cage, the dogs inside jumped on him. That was our cue.

"Go!"

I quickly signaled Zamir to dash towards the Chests.

The whisper echoed in the Cavern but it was soon drowned out by the loud barks of the Wild Dogs rushing out of the cage. They pounced on Dorukh and scratched and bit at him but their attacks were nothing more than annoyance to the Slave of Darkness.

The Dark Gnoll swatted them away like flies using his Scepter. He would then grab the downed Wild Dogs by their necks and throw them back into the cage, as if performing a chore.

Just when we reached the Wooden Box, Dorukh had already finished rounding up nearly half of the weaker Wild Dogs who escaped from the cage.

Zamir started to unlock the Chest and an unlocking bar appeared before him. It would take him at least 30 seconds to finish unlocking the chest but I was not sure if we had enough time.

Dorukh had already captured and put away all Lv3 and Lv4 Wild Dogs. Only the few untamed Lv5 dogs were putting up a fight. They used their skills - Infectious Claws and Rabid Bites - to resist Dorukh but even their resistance was faltering.

One after another, they too fell under Dorukh's Mind Control spell and were imprisoned in the cage once again.

Soon only two Lv5 dogs were left outside. Zamir looked at the situation anxiously and tried to speed up the process but to no avail. He still needed 10 more seconds to finish unlocking the chest.

"Samar, we need more time…"

Zamir said as another of the Dogs was imprisoned by Dorukh. I looked at Zamir and grit my teeth. I had to break open another cage and provide him with more time.

With trembling hands, I grabbed another Fire Rune Arrow and aimed at the farthest cage. It was out of my range but I could not approach it. Any closer and I would be within the Dark Gnoll's perception range.

I pursed my lips and aimed. The success or failure of our mission was resting on this one shot. I pulled the bowstring further back than normal and the Bow creaked under the pressure. Then I released my grip.

Zuup!

The Arrow quickly reached the cage but it failed to hit the lock. It instead passed through the gaps and hit one of the larger Wild Dogs inside, causing a huge -59 to pop up above its head.

Damn it! I had missed the shot.

However, the shot was not wasted. Soon, a loud howl echoed in the Cavern accompanied by the sounds of dogs barking. The howls and noises disrupted the Boss's spell and the Leader of the escaped Wild Dogs managed to break out from the Mind Control spell of Dorukh.

It immediately pounced at Dorukh with his mouth wide open, its fangs emitting a sickly green gas. This was the skill, Rabid Bite!

Dorukh quickly engaged the Dog again in a fight and it brought us the precious few seconds we needed.

Click!

"It is open!"

Zamir exclaimed as his hands picked up everything inside the wooden chest without abandon. As soon as Zamir put the first batch of goods away in his inventory, Dorukh paused and looked in our direction.

𐆐𐆑𐆒𐆓𐆔𐆕𐆖𐆗𐆘

It roared something in a language unintelligible to us however the fury in his roar was enough to convey the meaning.

"Hurry!"

I yelped and started to help Zamir loot the chest. My hands were moving on autopilot even as I kept an eye on the Dark Gnoll's movements.

The Boss monster no longer tried to subdue the Wild Dog with its Mind Control Spell. It instead unleashed a Dark Wave attack.

As it slammed the butt of its staff on the ground, a small ring of darkness spread out like a shockwave through the Cavern. It flung the Wild Dog into the wall of the cavern and instantly took away more than half of his health.

Oh Damn! That was more than 250 points of damage!

This single attack made us freeze with fear for a second. Zamir and I exchanged glances and started to move even faster as we looted every last coin and equipment in the Chest. By the time the Dark Gnoll walked closer to us, we had emptied the Wooden Treasure Chest completely!

Then just as the Dark Gnoll was about to unleash the same Dark Wave attack towards us, Zamir and I ran into the small tunnel leading to the outside world, leaving it growling with fury.

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