Free Web NovelChapter 218: _This Isn’t A Cave
After several minutes of staying back to collect aether crystals, the team continued moving deeper through the cave. Ambrose offered to hold the bags containing the aether crystals—a gesture a few of his teammates saw as nice.
Little did they know that he only did that so he’d be less likely to fight.
After Captain Killian’s not-so-subtle probing and the way Leon just happened to guess the rank of his weapon, he’d become extremely cautious.
Weary.
The whole point of joining a much smaller and weaker Guild was to gather resources the easiest way while keeping a low profile.
He couldn’t do that with people actively monitoring his every move.
Speaking of which—
"I’m curious," Ambrose broke the silence between himself and Leon.
They’d been walking side by side all this time but neither of them had said a word. Although he could’ve sworn he caught the guy peeping a couple times.
Not creepy at all.
"How do you know my frost dagger is A-Rank?" He went on, angling his face to the Esper. "I mean, sure it could be a harmless coincidence. But... you know. It was quite impressive."
Leon smirked. "My father was an aether weapon expert." He revealed casually. "I’ve learnt how to spot details that can help me accurately guess a weapon’s Rank and even potential abilities."
Ambrose’s eyes bulged. "Well, damn."
"Indeed. So don’t worry. I’m not a spy sent to uncover your darkest secrets or anything."
The Guide chuckled lightly at that, although his eyes flickered with doubt.
Because why the fuck did he say it like that?
Meanwhile, Loki was having a field day mentally. Ignoring how boring the beasts in this dungeon have proven to be so far, playing around with this C-Rank was quite the entertainment.
For starters, their father was never a weapons expert. In fact, they never met the man to begin with.
The explanation for how he knew the rank of Ambrose’s weapon came simply from his innate SSS-Rank ability to see and read aether.
An ability which for whatever reason couldn’t work on the Guide.
Even now as they talked they couldn’t see or read any aether from him. They could sense something. But it was jumbled up so much that guessing any Rank other than C-Rank was nigh impossible.
Yet that only spurred their desire to find out why.
"Everyone stop."
All heads swerved to the captain ahead of the team. And then further to what lay before them.
Ambrose arched a brow—then his expression shifted into something grim. "Shit."
Littered on the cave grounds just a few meters ahead were deceased spiders. The same species as the ones they faced earlier.
Their bodies were mangled and wrinkled like raisins left under the sun for years. That and the dried patches of blood were clear signs they’d been dead for a while.
"We didn’t do this." The female Hunter mumbled.
"Well, duh." Another one said. "Did they fight each other? Kill themselves or something?"
"No." Ambrose uttered loud enough for everyone to hear. "Something more powerful did this. More dangerous."
The team fell silent.
Even the Hunters who’d spent most of the raid complaining and second-guessing every decision suddenly looked uneasy.
Captain Killian crouched beside one of the corpses, pressing two fingers against its shrivelled shell. The moment he did, the remains crumbled further.
His expression darkened.
"How long?" one of the Guides asked nervously.
"Days." Killian rose to his feet. "Maybe longer."
A chill swept through the group.
Ambrose didn’t like that answer one bit.
Not because of the dead spiders.
Because of what the system was showing him.
[Aether density increasing.]
The notifications blinked like a giant red flag.
His brows furrowed.
The deeper they ventured into the cave, the stronger the ambient aether was becoming. That wasn’t normal at all for a C-Rank dungeon.
"Let’s keep moving." Killian finally decided.
Nobody argued.
The cave stretched endlessly ahead of them.
Every few minutes they stumbled upon more crystal formations protruding from the walls. Some were no bigger than fists.
Others were taller than grown men.
The sheer amount of aether crystals made Ambrose’s skin crawl.
It felt wrong.
Like the dungeon was feeding itself.
"Are there usually this many?" One of the Hunters asked.
"No."
The answer came from both Ambrose and Killian at the same time.
The two men exchanged glances. Neither looked happy.
As they continued forward, the ceiling gradually rose higher. Then higher. And higher still.
Until eventually the tunnel opened completely.
The team stopped dead in their tracks.
"... Holy shit."
Gold coins littered the ground everywhere they looked. Jewels sparkled under the crystal lights. Ancient weapons lay
scattered among piles of treasure.
Massive stone pillars rose toward a ceiling so high Ambrose couldn’t properly see it.
At the centre stood an enormous throne carved from black stone.
The moment Ambrose saw it, his stomach dropped. "This isn’t a cave."
Nobody responded. Because everyone had reached the same conclusion.
It wasn’t a cave. It was a throne room.
A gigantic one.
"Whose throne room is this?" Someone whispered.
The question barely left their lips before reality distorted.
A crack appeared in the air.
Then another.
And another.
Then dozens.
"What the hell—?!"
Space shattered all around the chamber as portals burst open one after another.
The first creature stepped through.
It was eight feet tall with green skin, massive tusks and donned in heavy armour. It held a battle axe the size of a grown man.
An orc.
Then another emerged.
Within seconds dozens were pouring out from the portals.
Their weapons gleamed under the lights, their eyes burning with intelligence.
And unlike the spiders... These things looked organised.
Like an army.
Fear swept through the team.
"Retreat!" Somebody screamed but the Hunters were already on the move.
Only to freeze.
The tunnel they’d entered through was gone. Solid stone covered the entire wall behind them.
No entrance or exit.
The realization struck everyone at once.
They were trapped.
One of the orcs stepped forward just then. Its armour was decorated with gold and crimson markings.
Clearly a leader.
Slowly, it raised its weapon.
Then every portal in the throne room erupted with movement as more and more orcs emerged from the darkness.
Ambrose’s heart slammed against his ribs.
’So much for an easier dungeon raid.’
