Skull Temple

-Cave of Icy Mountains-

"You should never hide from an assassin." Shiv... why does he keep on repeating that line whenever someone hides from him...

"Oh, I thought it was someone I know but you're a girl? You have the same aura but I think it was just a mistake. What is a lone girl doing in this kind of place?" Oh yeah, I forgot that I have the appearance of a girl.

"I'm lost. I was just trying to explore the area but for some reason, I found this cave." Even my voice changed into high pitch...

"This is no place for an explorer like yourself. That's an impossible alibi, not to mention guards are all over the Icy fields and no one is allowed to check the Icy Mountains, but let's just say that I accept your reason. You dodged my dagger and that means you are not just a simple traveler. How about you join us in our exploration?" I can't trust this guy. His face is hideous and I think his personality too. (Yeah... like he's not)

"Ok then, are you sure this is the right way?"

"There is no such thing as the right way. Every path has its own obstacles and trials. We just have to keep on moving and find something worth keeping." Since when can you speak like that?

"By the way, my name is Shiv and this one is Covra from Serpentes. I don't want anyone to come with me but they insisted. So how about you?" Well, he can't hide his name because he is well known throughout the whole world of New Life Online so there's no reason to hide it.

"I'm Scy... Scythea. I live in the Order of Light City but I'm not really part of their guild. I just love the place and the view because I feel safe from bandits and monsters." I started to create a good background story to buy their trust.

He just showed me a smile... or I should say horror... telling me we're good to go.

We started walking deep inside the cave. The thing that worries me is that there are no monsters around. Ever since I explored the mountain, I never saw even a single Yeti. This only means that they were scared of the earthquake and hid or there are some Bosses nearby that are waiting to kill us.

"I hate this place. Assassins only live in the dark side like the Dark Brotherhood." This place isn't bad. It's actually the same as the Crystal Cave. The only problem is it's a lair of a trapped World Boss.

They're not really into chatting as silent killers so I just answered some questions that he throws at me.

-Deeper Part of the Cave-

As we go deeper, we still can't find anything worth our time. It's like we are just moving in circles.

"Pshhh.. keep quiet," I think Shiv detected something.

As expected from Shiv, he can easily detect those who are not even near us. I can't even hear or detect anything suspicious.

"I can sense a tremendous amount of auras deep inside the cave. We can't sense anything outside because their presence is being protected by something or someone. I knew it, something is off." He said worriedly. But why is he worried like that. We still have the numbers outside. Even in a large scale battle, we do still have a chance to win.

"Are their numbers even comparable to the army of the guilds in the Icy Fields? Why do you look so worried?" I asked curiously.

"Their numbers aren't as many as the army outside but they are high-level Orcs. I can feel it that they are not just regular Orcs." What?! I'm always wondering why these monsters are getting so stronger and aggressive at the same time. Maybe they are getting buffed by something... I don't like where this is going and he said Orcs... they're pretty strong.

"Should we continue exploring? It sounds dangerous." I asked. We can't do anything right now.

"We should. Just lay low and hide yourselves. There's no way they can detect us that easily." That's right, all of us have our own sneak specialties, mine isn't as great as them but I'm still proud of what I have.

So we tried to hide with the best way we can. As I sneak through, my sneak mastery is leveling up too because the more intense you are trying to hide against, the higher the experience it gives. The risk is a high factor like training with the World Boss.

*Sigh* we managed to pass the Orc army and I was able to look at them. I can't count them but if my guess is correct, there are like one-tenth of the guilds army combined.

I also think that I saw their leader, a giant Orc one and for some reason, it has the same red lines marks like the Centaur King and the Harpy Queen but I don't think it's a Legendary Monster Boss. Should be at least a Rare one. Are they connected to this?

We found two ways after walking too far. There's a way going down and the other is going up. We decided to choose the one to go up because the castle is at the top of the mountain so it was our obvious option. I've got a bad feeling about this though. If they can find us here then it would be a sure death to all of us.

We continued walking towards the upper way. We haven't met any problems so far. But I still can't figure it out if why are the Orcs camped here. Are they already gathering forces to be able to beat the humans? Unlike the humans' army, Orcs, on the other hand, do look like they are about to go to war. Their formation is well and it would be hard to break their defenses. Game devs designed the game well or they're just angry with the players.

"Hide... stay quiet..." Shiv commanded to both of us. So I hid as soon as he instructed us what to do.

I checked what we are trying to hide and they are two monsters. I can't see them clearly but they also have those red line marks like the other Legendary Bosses!

"Those monsters are Rare Bosses. If we can kill them in an instant then we can pass through..." I don't know what those monsters are but I'm pretty sure that they are all Legendary Bosses after getting that upgrade!

"No, those monsters are already Legendary Bosses. Even the three of us can't defeat a single one. Also, even if it's a rare Boss, we can't defeat them without making a mess and loud noises if something happens." I explained.

"You're maybe right about the consequences if we can't kill them fast but I am still not sure if they are Legendary, because it's just a Minotaur and Lamia." You might think that they are just both rare monsters but if my guess is correct, they are already Legendary Bosses and engaging with one of them would be really a pain in the ass. I can't defeat even one of them by myself. I need the help of the others.

"I think they are guarding something really important. So here's the plan. I can make us invisible at the same time for a couple of seconds but after that, I can't use stealth so we have to run like crazy when we are going back." It doesn't sound like a plan at all.

"Are you sure about this? What if they would discover us while trying to sneak behind them?" I asked. I can't afford to get killed here.

"No worries. My stealth isn't a normal stealth. With really high stealth, I can hide us and also disable the senses of nearby trying to detect us. Like the sound of our footsteps, the smell of our armor, and their ability to feel anything that moves around them." Now I know why Elou lost to this guy.

"Ok then. I think that's the only best plan we have right now." Still, I'm really getting nervous... I still can't trust this guy.

"DARK'S STALKERS" He used his spell. I still can see myself but I just have to go with them.

"Let's go, this spell's effect will disappear after a couple of seconds so we have to go as fast as we can."

So we walked straight ignoring those two who are guarding the place and as soon as we managed to get out of the place we found something really scary looking part of the icy mountain...

"What is that thing?! It's like another cave but it kind of looks like it was made by something or someone because it has a skull entrance design. The path also looks dangerous because it is made of thin and narrow stone bridge and there's a chance that it would crumble and we could fall to our deaths.

"Let's go straight. We don't have time to lose. Lady's first." Shiv... you, arse.

So I walked straight first and both of them are behind me while trying to cross the dangerous path. While walking, I tried to look below but damn, it's so high! Falling from that place would be a sure death. I should not look down or it would just make me dizzy...

*PUSH* I felt like someone pushed me from behind and as I checked who it is... it's Shiv... smiling... and now I'm falling!