novelraw Chapter 247 247: Regrouping
Chapter 247 247: Regrouping
With the incarnation fleeing to who knows where a silence settled over the adventures, the last of the spatial creatures had been dealt with swiftly by Masins party members when they emerged out from the dungeon behind him.
This silence did not last long however, soon enough a clipped cheer rose up from the adventures who had escaped disaster. Some simply fell to the floor in exhaustion, others stood on shaky legs taking deep breaths, others gazed at the mutilated corpses of their fallen friends and companions.
They may have escaped disaster, but the cost was steep. Nearly 10 adventures had fallen in that battle, coupled with the losses endured within the dungeon itself and this expedition had truly turned into a cursed endeavour.
Odrin, after ensuring that Violet was stable approached Masin. "Thank the gods you made it in time, don't know if we'd have been able to hold out much longer. Did you encounter any troubles in the dungeon?"
"Some yes, my party managed to make it to the 4th floor but we didn't have a chance to delve deeper as we noticed the battle when in the rewards room. As for troubles, well that is now the 3rd time we have fought that incarnation, it appeared as the 4th floor boss but at level 130 I'm guessing that this one was at full strength at 140?"
Odrin nodded at that. "That is strange, don't often encounter the same boss multiple times, let alone then get attacked by said entity outside of the dungeon. Something strange is going on here, we need to head back to the city and report this, I want a sovereign with me if we return here."
"Aye, I think having a sovereign investigate would be wise. The dungeon was much more challenging than an early tower 4 dungeon has any right to be. Plus it's strong spatial affinity is unusual."
The two powerful Lords continued to discuss the events that had transpired, Odrin filling Masin in on the events that transpired outside whilst Masin in turn informed him of what they encountered within the dungeon itself.
As they discussed that Luna, Susan, Rhyana and Olivia made their way over to Violet who was resting whilst leant against the cavern wall.
Seeing her friends come together Violet offered a weak smile in greeting. "Good work everyone, that was a tough fight."
Rhyana snorted as she replied. "Coming from you, what was that spell at the end? You took out so many of them all at once! It was awesome!"
Luna too looked impressed, yet concern was also evident as she laid a hand on Violet's shoulder and willed her ice to heal some of the superficial wounds that she had. "Are you alright? Looks like that final attack took it out of you."
"I'm alright yeah, and it was something I just kind of came up with. If been thinking of how to deal with those annoying spatial portals that redirect attacks. I didn't think I would be able to overwhelm any created by the incarnation so decided to try use the void to do some portal shenanigans myself, I think it worked out pretty well!"
A soft chuckles came from Luna that caused Violet's heart to flutter momentarily, Violet shook her head to clear the strange thoughts she had at that moment and instead focused on the system messaged that were waiting to display themselves.
[Your group has defeated Apostles of Space x174 lvl 83~98 exp rewarded]
[You have leveled up]
[You have leveled up]
That battle had brought Violet up to level 97, only 3 levels away from entering the middle stages of Lordship. She understood that their was some kind of boost to her strength that she would experience when entering that stage, yet she hadn't heard any details on what exactly that boost would be. Still she was eager to find out what, if anything she would get.
She was already looking forward to the new skill upgrade token that she would receive, so anything else that she got would only be a bonus.
It seems that she was not the only one that had checked their gains from the battle as everyone seemed to have a excited look on their face as they all gazed into screens that only they could see.
"Level 97 now, we are getting so close to 100." Luna muttered under her breath, excitement clear in her voice.
"Not long indeed." Violet agreed with her companion. "But fancy giving me a hand up? My legs still feel a bit wobbly." She asked as she extended her hand and smiled up at Luna.
Luna smiled down at Violet as she extended her own hand and helped pull Violet back up to her feet. Yet she was surprised when Violet leant in and kissed Luna's cheek before pulling back and smiling at her once again. "I'm glad your alright." Was all Violet said as she backed away.
That momentarily stunned Luna, yet she couldn't prevent the goofy smile that adorned her face. "Same to you." She eventually managed to get out, yet she still felt herself enraptured by Violet's gaze as the two companions stared at one another.
They were soon broken out of their respective states by a cough coming from Susan. "Ahem, we have company." As she nodded her head to one side at the approaching form of Masin and Odrin.
Shortly the 5 girls were joined by the two powerful Lords, Odrin was the first to speak up. "I didn't get the chance to properly thank you all for your timely arrival and assistance in the battle, particularly you Violet, that final attack of yours saved a lot of lives."
The girls nodded at his words, aware that more was likely to come. "I also will have to ask that your team remains here, at least until the rest of the adventures emerge from the dungeon. Once that happens we will be promptly returning to the city, I fear that it is too dangerous for us to stay here any longer with that Incarnation still at large."
"So we won't be going back into the dungeon?" Asked Luna.
It was Masin that answered. "No, no one will be reentering the dungeon. We will appeal for a sovereign party to enter and fully explore the dungeon before it opens fully to everyone else. We will also ask them to seek out and eliminate the incarnation, I don't think any of us will be able to track it down with its ability to form portals at will."
Violet felt a bit disappointed that they wouldn't be able to return to the dungeon, yet understood where the two came from. Her party was one of the stronger teams present and they would be needed if another attack was incoming.
She let out a sigh of disappointment. "Well looks like our dungeon experience is ended early. Oh well we got some good levels from it at least." She said to her friends. "Was there anything else you needed from us?" She asked of the two men.
Masin glanced at Odrin briefly, who in turn nodded and began to make his exit. "Nope that's all from me, just want to thank you once again for your help."
Masin however, stayed behind and waited a moment before he began to speak. "I would ask what your intentions are going forward? I was hoping that I could pursuade you to join me and my team on our return journey back to Syan?"
Violet took a moment to think, glancing at her friends before she spoke up. "I think we were already planning to travel east after this, so I don't see any reason for us not to go with you. But could you give us some time to discuss before I get back to you?"
"Oh course, I'll be over with my team." He quickly replied, a slight smile on his face as Masin made his way back towards his own party.
Then Violet turned towards Olivia with a wide smile adorning her face. "Hey so, do you want to journey with us? It was nice spending time both being with you and fighting with you!"
Olivia seemed to jump slightly at her question, her face flushing and she tried to hold back a smile. "I-I would really l-like that yes, if you'll have me."
As soon as she said those words Violet smiled even wider as she pulled the warrior into a big hug, soon joined by the rest of the girls. "Glad to have you with us!"
Yet their revelry was once more interrupted by the all too familiar feeling of someone emerging from the dungeon portal. Yet when they turned their heads to see who had emerged their mouths opened wide in both shock and horror.
For whilst it was yet another of the strongest people of the entire expedition, it was the state of them that truly shocked them.
It was the rotund mousekin warrior that emerged, yet he emerged alone, not a single one of his party members besides him. Furthermore the state he emerged in was a truly wretched one.
He limped out using a spear as a clutch as he was missing his entire left leg up to just above the knee. Half of his face seemed to have been cut off, exposing parts of his skull under the thick layer of blood, and the opposite arm to the one holding the spear was missing half of its fingers along with a good chuck of the arm behind that.
Gasps escaped from those adventures that witnessed that sight, horror gripping them. Then without any fanfare the man collapsed to the ground in a bloody heap.