Chapter 39

Ray began to push the mana in his body through his body and sped it up. Ray noticed that his mana was circulating without any difficulty, it was going by faster and faster. His mana that was leaking out of his body began to get darker, the hue almost visible to the naked eye. He began to heat up and release a bit of steam from his reddening skin due to the sheer speed his mana was circulating through his body. Ray noticed his mana core was dark brown, but he could see it visibly whitening towards brown.

"Do you guys need help?" Ray shouted. "If you do I can help but if not I would like to stay here, I think this dungeon and vampire' mana are making it easier for me to refine my mana."

"No, we can handle this now, its on its last legs" Amelia responded as she dodged its claw and threw a fire covered punch at its abdomen.

Ray sighed in relief as he continued to refine his mana. He didn't know when he would get an opportunity like this again. He continued refining. The pressure was getting easier and easier to withstand until there was a slight suppression but before he could continue, the suppression completed faded. It wasn't from mana refining. Ray opened his eyes to see the Vampire absolutely battered. It was so weak it's mana in the atmosphere had almost faded.

The vampire let out a spine-chilling scream, its body contorting in pain.

Its hold over the chamber weakening. James seized the opportunity, channelling his mana into a devastating final blow, striking at the heart of the vampire's darkness.

With a final, resounding crash, the vampire collapsed, defeated.

The chamber fell silent, save for the heavy panting of the Silver Fangs, their bodies battered and bruised, but victorious.

Ray, his chest heaving with slight exertion, looked around at his comrades, their eyes reflecting a mix of exhaustion and relief. They had overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds, proving their resilience and unwavering determination.

Amelia's voice broke the silence, her tone filled with pride and admiration. "We did it. Against all odds, we emerged victorious. This battle has tested our limits, but we have grown stronger together."

"I wasn't able to help" Ray sighed.

Amelia turned to Ray, her eyes shining with empathy. "Ray, don't be so hard on yourself," she said, her voice laced with compassion. "We all have our own roles to play in this fight. Your presence alone has made a difference. You being here gave us more energy to be able to push forwards successfully against this vampire even if you didn't take part".

Ray and the Silver Fangs stood victorious, their bodies battered, and their spirits tested. They had faced unimaginable challenges and emerged triumphant. As they gathered their rewards and prepared to leave the dungeon, their bonds strengthened, and a sense of camaraderie permeated the air.

As the Silver Fangs basked in the aftermath of their hard-earned victory, their attention was suddenly drawn to a commotion at the chamber's exit.

A bunch of spells were launched towards them haphazardly.

"Lucia!" Amelia shouted as she prepared to fight again.

Lucia conjured a shield and as the spell fog faded, they saw who their attackers were.

A group of cloaked figures, their hoods pulled low to conceal their identities, hurriedly made their way out. Intriguingly, a rune was emblazoned on the back of each cloak, a symbol that piqued the curiosity of the Silver Fangs.

Ray's eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of one of the figures. There was something oddly familiar about their movements, a flicker of recognition that sent a shiver down his spine. He couldn't quite place it, but a nagging feeling tugged at the edges of his memory.

Without hesitation, Amelia gestured to the Silver Fangs, signalling their pursuit. Despite their weariness and injuries from the gruelling battle, the Silver Fangs rallied their strength and gave chase, their determination unwavering.

However, the cloaked figures proved to be surprisingly agile, their steps swift and purposeful. They weaved through the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon, their escape becoming increasingly elusive.

Ray channelled his mana into his superspeed but instantly stopped. His body felt excruciating pain as he dropped to his knees. He was running on so much adrenaline, it numbed the pain his mana refinement brought to him.

His injuries throbbed, protesting the exertion, but he pushed himself to the limits, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a growing suspicion.

The chase led them through winding corridors, past remnants of fallen adventurers, their broken weapons and tattered armour strewn about as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking within the dungeon. But the cloaked figures remained just out of reach, their forms disappearing around corners and into shadows.

As the Silver Fangs rounded a final corner, their breaths ragged and muscles screaming in protest, they found themselves at a dead end. The cloaked figures had vanished, leaving no trace of their passage.

Ray leaned against the cold stone wall, frustration etched on his face. He cursed his injuries, berating himself for not being faster, for not catching a glimpse of the figure's face. The sense of familiarity taunted him, teasing his memories but never revealing its secrets.

Amelia started to speak, concern etched in her eyes. "We did our best. We'll have to regroup and strategize. But mark my words, those cloaked figures won't escape justice for long."