Chapter 11: Dungeon IV
Author: NI**ERS GIVE ME POWER STONES!!!!! IF U DONT HAVE THEM THEN REVIEW'S. MAKE YOUR DADDY PROUD!!!
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After nearly an hour of continuous combat on the second floor, the accumulation of excelia reached a critical point.
Cael had just finished a brutal skirmish with a particularly aggressive pack of Kobolds, his arm throbbing from a glancing blow.
As the last one dissolved, the familiar searing pain erupted in his chest, far more intense than before.
Crimson Rebirth Activated.
He staggered, collapsing to his knees, biting down hard on his lip until he tasted blood.
His entire body convulsed violently, his vision flashing red and black.
It felt like his very skeleton was being ground down and reshaped by an unseen, malicious force. Every nerve screamed.
Sweat poured from him, drenching his leather armor.
He pressed his face against the cold, damp stone, trying to muffle the raw, animalistic groans that threatened to escape.
The agony lasted longer this time, stretching for what felt like an eternity, tearing at the edges of his sanity.
Then, abruptly, it ceased.
Cael lay there, sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath, his chest heaving, muscles trembling uncontrollably.
The silence that followed was a physical entity, heavy and profound.
He slowly pushed himself up, his limbs stiff, but undeniably stronger.
A deep, resonant power thrummed beneath his skin, a weighty stillness that spoke of newfound might.
His senses felt sharper, his movements more fluid, his grip on his sword incredibly firm, imbued with a latent power.
He felt the phantom memory of his bones reforming, his tendons tightening.
It was a terrifying, exhilarating transformation.
"Damn it," he whispered, wiping a shaky hand across his face, his voice hoarse. "That… was something."
He gathered the scattered magic stones, his movements still a little stiff from the recent ordeal.
The passageway ahead opened into a wider, more open area, hinting at the next stratum.
He walked toward it, his steps steady once more.
He noticed a faint golden glow radiating from further down, signaling the entrance to the third floor.
He stepped onto the third floor.
The atmosphere here was subtly different.
The pale blue crystals glowed with an even deeper, almost violet hue.
The air hummed with a stronger, more pervasive energy, a palpable pressure that hinted at greater dangers.
The passages were wider, more labyrinthine, filled with jagged rock formations and deeper shadows.
The monsters were larger, more aggressive.
He saw groups of Kobold Warriors, their hides tougher, their weapons crude but effective.
And more Dungeon Lizards, lurking in the higher crevices, ready to spring.
Cael moved with purpose, his senses heightened.
He encountered a patrol of Kobold Warriors — three of them, armed with rusty short swords and crude shields.
They snarled, moving in a coordinated attack.
Cael met them head-on.
He parried the first warrior's overhead chop with a clang of steel, the impact jarring his arm, activating his Bladebond.
His counter was swift, a low sweep that took out its legs.
As it stumbled, Cael drove his sword upward into its exposed neck.
It dissolved.
The remaining two pressed him, one slashing low, the other aiming for his head.
He dodged the low blow, the blade scraping his armored thigh, a minor but useful injury.
He spun under the overhead strike, bringing his elbow back into the second warrior's jaw, staggering it.
His blade flashed, a precise thrust to its heart.
He was fighting with a cold, almost detached efficiency.
Every move was calculated, every counter fluid, honed by the constant pain and the demands of his cursed abilities.
The more he fought, the more his body screamed, and the more powerful he became.
He was caught in a brutal cycle of agony and growth.
He was injured again, a deep scratch across his arm from a Dungeon Lizard that had ambushed him from a shadowy alcove.
The pain was sharp, but the activation of Bladebond was immediate and gratifying.
His subsequent strikes were terrifyingly accurate, dispatching the lizard with two quick, brutal cuts.
He was still walking when he heard the shouts.
A small party of three adventurers, two women and a burly man, were struggling against a group of Kobold Warriors.
One of the women, a slender archer with braided red hair, had her leg pinned under a fallen rock, while the other, a warrior with a large shield, desperately tried to fend off two Kobolds.
The burly man was already down, clutching his stomach.
Cael did not hesitate.
He moved. His steps were silent, a blur in the dim light.
He came up behind one of the Kobolds engaging the shield-wielding woman.
Before it could react, Cael's sword sliced through its back with brutal force.
The creature dissolved.
He spun, intercepting the other Kobold mid-swing, redirecting its crude axe away from the woman's head.
His counter was a lightning-fast thrust to its throat.
It dissolved into mist.
The shield-wielding woman, a dark-skinned warrior with intricate tribal tattoos, stared at him, wide-eyed.
"You… you saved us." Her voice was breathless, a mixture of shock and awe.
Her companion, the red-haired archer, now free from the pinned rock, looked at him with an intense gaze, her eyes shining with admiration.
"That was… incredible."
Cael merely nodded, his expression unreadable, already moving towards the burly man.
He knelt briefly, assessing the injury.
He could use Martyr's Halo, but the pain would be immense, and he was already recovering from a major Crimson Rebirth.
Not yet. Focus on clearing.
He turned, glancing deeper into the chamber.
More Dungeon Lizards were emerging from the walls.
He gave the two women a brief, decisive look.
"Fall back. I'll handle these."
He was already moving before they could reply.
His sword sang, a blur of polished iron and swift strikes, each imbued with the cursed precision of Bladebond.
He was a phantom of motion, weaving between the leaping lizards, his body enduring the nicks and scrapes that only served to sharpen his resolve and his blade.
He moved through the monsters like a storm, a silent, deadly force.
The women watched, mesmerized, as Cael systematically cut down the creatures, his stoic face betraying no emotion, only relentless efficiency.
He fought for nearly fifteen minutes, a whirlwind of strikes and evasions, his body pushing past its natural limits.
He took more hits, small cuts and bruises that activated Bladebond again and again, each injury making his movements crisper, his blade feel more alive.
He ended the last Dungeon Lizard with a powerful overhead slash that cleaved it through its thick hide.
He stood amidst the fading mists, chest heaving, his body aching from the constant strain, but his mind sharp, focused.
He turned back to the grateful adventurers, who were now helping their injured companion to his feet.
The dark-skinned warrior approached him, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity.
"Thank you, truly. You… you're very strong. Who are you?"
Cael offered a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
"Cael. Hestia Familia."
He did not linger.
He collected the magic stones, his muscles already beginning to twitch.
He could feel it coming again, the deep, internal surge of excelia.
Another Crimson Rebirth was brewing.
He needed a place to endure it, away from prying eyes.
"We should go," he said, his voice a low rumble. "More will come."
He began walking away, deeper into the floor, not waiting for a reply.
The two women exchanged glances, a profound curiosity in their eyes.
"Cael…" the red-haired archer murmured, watching his retreating back. "He's… something else."
Cael found a small, narrow alcove, tucked away from the main path.
He stepped inside just as the familiar, agonizing internal fire began to erupt.
Crimson Rebirth Activated.
He dropped, his body seizing up, a low groan escaping his clenched teeth.
The transformation was relentless, tearing through his entire being.
His vision swam.
Every fiber of his being screamed in protest.
This was the price.
The painful, unending price of his growth.
He endured it in silence, a solitary figure consumed by an unseen torment, his body forging itself anew in the crucible of agony.
It felt like hours, but in reality, it was only minutes.
When it finally subsided, he lay still, utterly exhausted, drenched in his own sweat.
But the profound stillness that settled upon him was undeniable.
He was stronger again.
He picked himself up, his muscles still trembling, but imbued with fresh power.
He continued his trek through the third floor.
The monsters here were tougher, faster.
He faced more Kobold Warriors, their attacks more coordinated.
He battled against larger, more agile Dungeon Lizards, their leaps unpredictable and their scales tougher.
He was constantly moving, constantly fighting, constantly adapting.
The pain from his Bladebond activations became a steady thrum, a constant companion that sharpened his every strike.
His movements were a blur, his sword cutting down monster after monster with brutal efficiency.
He encountered more adventurers, some solo, some in small parties.
He rarely spoke, offering only a brief nod or a quiet acknowledgment when addressed.
Yet, his presence rarely went unnoticed.
A party of female adventurers, clad in bright, mismatched armor, paused their conversation as Cael passed them, his leather armor scarred, his black hair falling over his stoic face.
"Did you see that guy?" one whispered, nudging her friend. "He just cleared that entire pack of Dungeon Lizards by himself."
Another, a dark-haired mage, watched his back with intense curiosity. "He has a strange aura. So calm, but… so much power."
A third sighed dreamily. "He's so mysterious… and hot."
Cael caught snippets of their hushed comments, his stoic face unwavering, but a small, almost imperceptible ripple of amusement passed through him.
He simply kept walking, deeper into the third floor, his gaze fixed on his next challenge.
He fought relentlessly, his body a well-oiled machine of pain and precision.
The third floor stretched out, seemingly endless, a gauntlet of monster encounters.
He cleared several chambers, his progress marked by the dissolving mists of his vanquished foes.
He felt the familiar building pressure of excelia once more.
Another Crimson Rebirth was imminent.
He needed to find a safe spot, but the third floor was less forgiving.
He pushed through, his senses on high alert, his movements quickening as the internal pressure intensified.
He spotted a slightly wider cavern ahead, perhaps an opportune place.
Just as he reached its entrance, a new type of monster emerged from the depths – a Giant Bee, its striped body massive, its stinger gleaming with venom.
It buzzed aggressively, its compound eyes fixing on Cael.
It was not alone.
Two smaller Killer Ants scurried from behind it, their mandibles clicking menacingly.
A tougher fight.
Cael grinned grimly.
Perfect.
This was just the type of challenge he needed.