Chapter 79: Visions of Doom

Supporting Eolka, I strolled slowly towards the plain.

The fight on the plain was slowing down. The trolls had been exhausted, and only a few monsters remained, swinging their maces and howling, though their thunders would soon die down.

Of course, our side had also suffered significant losses.

"There are around 100 trooper survivors."

The city guard forces had already sacrificed many before the cavalry joined the battle.

A large portion of the cavalry had perished while facing the monsters, and the majority died while the remaining troll riders joined the fray. If we hadn't used fire, they would have been completely wiped out.

The forest behind us was still on fire.

Continuing like this, it could all fall apart, but that didn't matter. It could even be to our advantage. After all, it was a significant troll habitat. If it burned completely, the trolls would be eradicated as well.

Jenna and Aaron joined us from a distance.

Both Jenna and Aaron looked wrecked, their leather armor stained with rain, blood, and scorch marks.

Jenna quickly brushed the darkened ash off her nose, her demeanor fatigued from the relentless battle.

The final monster was putting up a fierce fight, but its strength was waning. Many arrows were embedded in its massive body, and its swings with the mace were gradually slowing down.

The plain was a grim scene of carnage, littered with bodies of humans, trolls, horses, wolves, and monsters. Limbs were missing, and the gruesome aftermath was shrouded in a mixture of blood, mud, and water. Aaron's face showed a mix of disdain and distress.

Finally, the last monster toppled to the ground, crushed and lifeless.

As the city's north gate opened up, a cavalry leader on a white horse removed his helmet. He engaged in conversation with a man who appeared to be the defense commander. The distance was too far for us to hear their words, and truthfully, we were not in the mood to care about their conversation.

Edis, standing in a secluded corner of the outer wall, waved at us, signaling that everyone appeared to be safe. It seemed that no casualties had occurred among us.

Surprisingly, there was no message indicating our return to the Goddess's embrace, which usually followed successful missions.

"Thank heavens nobody seems to have died," Jenna said with relief.

"We're definitely in a different situation from the fifth floor. But why isn't the stage ending? Shouldn't the mission be complete?" Aaron questioned, his curiosity mixed with frustration.

"Maybe we need to extinguish that fire?" Jenna suggested, gesturing towards the still-burning forest.

Aaron sighed, feeling clueless about how to accomplish that task. "How in the world do we do that?"

As they both followed me, I couldn't help but feel that something was amiss.

"Something's odd."

We had already dealt with all the monsters that plagued the plain. Only the remnants of human forces and us were left.

However, the stage-clear message didn't appear, leaving us puzzled.

Surveying our surroundings, we saw a grim sight of lifeless bodies scattered across the plain. The city walls stood tall and sturdy, but the siege tower was now in ruins.

Nothing remained to be done anywhere.

[Now Loading.]

Suddenly, the sky darkened, causing us to look up with concern.

[Restoring.]

[An error occurred in the server, and the connection was lost. Please wait a moment.]

"?"

Near me, Jenna and Aaron seemed to be having a conversation, but their words halted, and they froze completely still.

Once again, I looked around, taking in the eerie silence that surrounded everything.

Aaron and Jenna remained frozen mid-conversation, the officers on the wall halted abruptly, and the soldiers tending to the wounded were still.

Everything seemed frozen in time.

I found myself alone, the only one moving.

"Look behind you,"

I pivoted, and there it was—the burning forest. Amidst the swirling smoke and dancing flames, a presence watched me intently.

Their features remained obscured, making it impossible to discern their form, but I knew for certain they were there. Hovering above their head, a message revealed their mysterious identity.

[SSSH Lv.999]

"You knave."

Beside them stood a sinister figure cloaked in dark robes.

[Dark Cleric Lv.15]

The mysterious figure gave me a brief glance before fading further into the engulfing inferno.

"You," a chilling voice resonated towards me.

"I will be waiting for you,"

[Reclamation Complete!]

[Reconnecting to the server. We apologize for the inconvenience.]

Once again the sky brightened, and time resumed its relentless march.

I remained frozen in place, unable to locate those ominous figures anywhere.

I ground my teeth in frustration.

The Dark Cleric.

A fearsome entity that had never been reported on the lower floors.

Its distinct characteristics

Its features

"Hyung-nim, is something wrong?" Aaron asked.

I scanned the surroundings.

The plain was now strewn with various carcasses.

City walls, ground level, entrance of the gate, and inside it—all marked with the grim aftermath of battle.

I spoke firmly.

"Listen closely, all of you."

"Yes?"

"Advance directly to the city. To the same spot where we first emerged. Ignore what's happening around you. Stay focused on the task at hand. Understood?"

"Your meaning could be a little clearer."

"Our mission isn't over yet."

My gaze was fixed on the gate's entrance.

The Rangers' leader and the defense commander, who had been conversing earlier, were now drenched in blood.

With a weakened grip, the leader attempted to speak.

"Roaaaar!"

What emerged from his mouth wasn't a victorious roar but rather a guttural sound that seemed to come from the depths of his chest.

The soldier he had been carrying on his back suddenly had a hole in his chest.

The person who had been dead until a moment ago was now writhing and crawling out.

"What is this?"

There were no clues.

It was a completely random pattern designed to mock the masters.

But there was one thing

I would never forget it.

The voice of the mastermind who drew me into this dreadful domain.

Bodies littered the ground, and they were stirring to life.

[Living Carcass Lv.??? X 2436]

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