Chương 26: Panic
A deep, resonating hum filled the corridor as the ground beneath the adventurers shifted.
They barely had time to react before the gravitational force pulled them down, their bodies suddenly feeling impossibly heavy.
"What the—?!" one of the soldiers cried out as he was yanked to the ground, his armor clattering against the stone floor.
The others quickly followed, their weapons slipping from their hands as they struggled to stand.
The leader, though more experienced, gritted his teeth as he fought against the pull.
His glowing amulet flickered again, the last remnants of the barrier sputtering before shattering completely.
Seth didn't waste a second.
"Now," he whispered, unleashing the Dark Flame Wraith and Greater Shade in a coordinated assault.
The wraith surged forward, its dark flames blazing as it descended upon the adventurers, no longer hindered by the barrier.
Its fiery tendrils wrapped around the nearest soldier, engulfing him in black flames.
His screams echoed through the chamber as the flames consumed him, leaving only ashes behind.
The Greater Shade struck next, its form barely visible as it slipped through the shadows, targeting the leader.
The adventurer managed to raise his sword just in time, blocking the shade's initial attack, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling back, still struggling against the gravitational pull.
The remaining soldiers, trapped by the gravity well, were sitting ducks.
One by one, the dungeon's creatures picked them off.
The Elite Shade Stalker, still lurking in the shadows, took its chance, delivering a precise, lethal strike to one of the mercenaries, his body crumpling to the floor without a sound.
Seth could feel the tide turning.
The adventurers were crumbling under the pressure.
The leader, now alone, fought valiantly, but it was clear he couldn't hold out much longer.
"Fall back!" the leader shouted desperately, though there was no one left to hear him.
At this moment, he caught sight of a lady and a child which he mistook for his comrades, but sadly, on a closer look, he had no recollection of them.
In a valiant effort, he persisted to at least escape with these.
His eyes blazed with determination as he charged towards the lady and child but the Greater Shade interrupted his charge.
Refusing to bow under the pressure he swung his sword in a wide arc.
The blade crackled with magical energy, slicing through the air toward the shade.
But Seth had anticipated this.
At the last second, the Greater Shade shifted, its form dissolving into shadow just as the sword passed through where it had been.
The leader stumbled, his momentum carrying him forward, right into the path of the Dark Flame Wraith.
The wraith's fiery tendrils coiled around him, and for a moment, the leader's face twisted in pain as the flames consumed him.
But he didn't scream.
Instead, he locked eyes with the wraith, his mouth moving as if he were whispering something.
Though only audible to the people behind the wraith.
Then, with a final, defiant glare, he fell silent, his body crumpling to the ground and his eyes lingered on the lady with thoughts of confusion as the dark flames extinguished his life.
Following this scene, the lady who happened to witness it all stepped back into their confided room with apprehension on both of their faces.
Only they knew what disaster Seth had brought on himself.
Meanwhile ...
Seth exhaled, the tension in his body finally easing.
The battle was over.
He surveyed the aftermath, the charred remains of the adventurers littering the corridor.
His creatures prowled the area, ensuring there were no survivors.
The Dark Flame Wraith flickered back into the shadows, its task complete, while the Greater Shade returned to its post, ever watchful.
[Mana Reserves: 450/1000]
"Not bad," Seth muttered, though he knew this victory had come at a cost.
The mercenaries had been far more organized than the usual adventurers, and the presence of the priest meant that divine eyes were now on his dungeon.
That complicated things.
He turned his attention back to the dungeon interface, quickly reviewing his remaining resources.
His mana reserves were lower than he'd like, and the rival dungeon's influence still lingered on the edges of his awareness.
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
But it seems he should go check on his hostages, a little pride set in at the show of his merciless slaughter.
Soon afterward, he appeared in front of the door to their room.
One could call it a door or call it a slab of well-cut-out rectangular rock that, without hinges, served the work of a door well.
He knocked heavily before pushing it open.
However, in reality, because of the thickness of the door, it appeared quite light to the occupants.
To his shock and amazement, the whole place which they had managed to make lively was now empty.
Malia stood in a corner with Alex behind her.
She shivered from the thought of being caught and she posed no resistance now.
She had earlier watched the battle from start to finish and understood the dungeon's strength with its summon right now.
She felt the Mana density change in the air was probably related to the sudden growth in power and strength as well as the number of his summons.
Seth was stunned at seeing the lady with fear in her eyes staring at him.
Right now, if Seth decided to attack, the only person who could save her would be the redhead, but different from their thought, Seth has no beef with them.
So he casually walked away from the door and sat on the slab where Alex lay when he first came.
"You know if there's a problem, you can tell me, that's why I try not to come off as a hostile host."
Seth said in a mild tone
Though it wasn't enough to convince Malia and her brother, she rather try to savor her humanity.
"I know you're the dungeon manager and you care for the dungeon but as advice to you, your humanity, you should leave, I don't know your circumstances but the longer we stay, the more time we waste," Malia said in a rushed tone
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