Nuckelavee

As they went inside the dungeon, Aziel didn't drop his guard even for a second. They continue to walk when Aziel saw Rocky crying without making any sound.

This is where Aziel realized that Rocky was being used by someone for some reason.

He grabbed Rocky's shoulder and whisper in his ear.

"Don't worry Rocky, they won't be able to hurt you. I got your back so just pretend to follow their orders, and let's lure them inside." Aziel spoke with a hint of light in his eyes.

Rocky couldn't believe how Azile knew what was going on. And if everything goes south, he knew Aziel was strong enough to take care of himself, but he was having doubts on whether Aziel can really save their asses against a strong group.

"Can you trust me as your friend?" Aziel asked Rocky, looking into his eyes.

"Y… yes." Rocky stuttered.

"Good. However, from now on I want you to tell me whether you have something or someone bothering you. In exchange, you are to train with me all the time as I learn magic in the library with you. You got it?" Aziel asked Rocky firmly.

"Yes! Although I can't promise not to disappoint you, but I will do my best." Rocky answered definitely, as he wiped his tears and snots.

"Alright, lets move farther inside, just don't let Jake knew this for the mean time as you know how he would react." Aziel instructed.

Rocky nodded, and they walk farther inside the dungeon.

Aziel forgot to bring his spear with him, so he was a bit worried about what was going to happen.

A little while later as they walked farther inside the dungeon, they had come across a three passage way.

Aziel scanned the three passages by sensing it using his earth magic.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked Aziel as he saw him touching the ground.

"I'm looking for the best way through using it with my earth magic. I can scan the area if I touch the ground." Aziel responded.

Eventually, he found that there is a chamber along the path in the middle tunnel, and has many beasts at the end of it. So, he proposed to take this path as he thought of it as the best one to walk into. 

However, he did this without consulting his two roommates, only after they got into the chamber part of the tunnel and hid behind a huge rock when Aziel discussed to Jake and Rocky what was going to happen in a while.

"What!?" Jake yelled as soon as he heard the problem.

"Shhhh! Lower your voice Jake! We can't afford to be caught by those group inside a dungeon." Aziel shushed Jake immediately.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away. Anyways, what are we going to do right now? Can we take them all with just the three of us? I mean, there are monsters ahead of us, and a group is chasing from behind." Jake asked worriedly, his confidence earlier had vanished into the thin air.

One of the reasons why Jake enrolled in the Academy as a blacksmith is that he has confidence in making weapons but not in using it.

"We have to plan before going through this, as we might have to fight with them later on. However, I chose this passage way because it has a very strong beasts in it." Aziel was about to explain his action when Jake practically yelled to Aziel.

"Are you crazy!?" Jake couldn't figure what Aziel was thinking.

"Hey! Lower your voice, will you? That was on purpose. You see, because this path has a lot of strong beasts in it, we can benefit from this information by letting them fight with those who are following us behind. When both parties starts to fight, let's grab the opportunity to run outside. Is that clear?" Aziel explained his actions before Jake can cause further commotion that could give away their position.

"Oh, I see. Why didn't you tell us sooner." Jake replied playfully lowering his voice.

"But…" Rocky couldn't say a word because of how scared he was at the moment. So he just point at his bracelet that was now blinking in its red gem.

"What? Is that? Wait, are they tracking us?" Jake asked, shocked to see the bracelet blinking.

"Looks like it." Aziel responded, turning his face into serious mode.

Aziel used his earth magic to scan where the beasts are. When Aziel sensed where these beasts were, he attacked the beasts by pushing it towards the chamber where they hid themselves.

A little while later they heard people running towards their direction, and they could see shadows.

The group that was chasing them arrived in the area first, bringing torch to light their path.

"Look for them! They were just here! Don't let them leave or we'll be the ones to face her wrath! That possessive bitch!" Khurnak, one of the pursuant students ordered the group.

He has a very serious look on his face, and he looks old for his age.

A few seconds later, the ground shook. Aziel didn't need to use his earth magic anymore as the monsters attracted by the light run towards it.

"What is going on? Is it an earthquake?" Khurnak asked the group, making sure it wasn't only him who felt the ground shook.

"I think, it's coming from that direction." One of the pursuant answered, pointing towards the direction going farther into the cave.

When the horde of beasts got out from the tunnel, everyone including Aziel's group had froze in fear.

The beasts were standing five meters tall, they all had a full skinless body of a horse including its head, and a skinless upper body of a human holding a sword was attached onto their back. It's like looking into a horde of fused horses and humans. 

However, everyone was afraid not just from the appearance of the beasts but also because of the auras they emit.

"Those are Nuckelavee, a very strong beast. They were known for their merciless way to end the lives of their victim, and their speed. Not to mention they had great number. How can we scape from those menacing beasts?" Rocky said, biting his fingernails in terror. 

The group that was chasing Aziel and his friends decided to run for it, choosing their lives over someone else's orders.

"If you still value your lives, run and don't ever look back!" Khurnak yelled as he run towards outside the cave using all his energy, and his group followed him immediately.

As they run away due to fear, the beasts also followed them, growling and roaring from behind that sends shivers down their spines.

A few moments later, Aziel's group heard a dying screams from the group who just left.

"I think it is better to go farther into this cave than following those beasts. Maybe can find another exit if we continue to walk into it." Aziel proposed however Jake immediately opposed the idea.

"What do you mean by that!? We can't possibly go any farther inside, what if we encounter the same beasts, huh!?" Jake argued his case towards Aziel.

"We'll fight them!" Aziel responded, ready to go into a battle.

-End of Chapter-