novelraw Chapter 58: The Lost Island (4)
Chapter 58: The Lost Island (4)
Both of the Primitive Golems stomped forward, their heavy footsteps vibrating through the damp stone floor of the cove.
As they moved fifty feet ahead of the group, the ancient runes etched across their rocky body glowing with a sun-like yellow light.
The bright yellow light was able to cut through the oppressive darkness of the cove as it lit up the stone walls of the narrow passage.
"That’s pretty useful." Moon remarked, his voice echoing off the ceiling.
He walked at the front of the main group, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his massive greatsword. Despite his relaxed posture, he had already summoned his red eyed bat from earlier as the creature hovered silently above him.
Verso walked behind, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow because of anxiety, this place was not the Realm Menu, if he died here by getting caught off guard he will not be able to come back.
The deeper the group went, the more the air around them seemed to thicken with a salty dampness as it started sticking to their skin.
"This place feels a little weird." Verso muttered.
"You’re right." Lua followed up, her voice tight with caution. She carefully adjusted the grip on her crimson rapier, pointing the blade forward.
"There should at least be the sound of water flowing or waves crashing deeper in, but there is literally nothing. It is a little too quiet."
To test the darkness, Lua flicked her blade. A surge of mana suddenly flowed into her rapier as a sphere of intense fire engulfed the bloody blade.
With a sharp thrust, she sent a fireball hurtling into the darkness ahead in an attempt to light the path further than the golems could reach.
The flame roared for a fraction of a second, illuminating a twisting tunnel, but then it suddenly winked out as if an invisible hand had snuffed it out.
"That shouldn’t have happened-" Lua’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
Before she could finish her sentence, a soft ethereal humming melody began to echo through the cove. It was a beautiful, haunting sound that seemed to vibrate in their bones.
The group tensed up instantly, their formation tightening as the melodic notes flowed into their ears like a forbidden gospel.
Moon dropped into a low combat stance, his eyes fixed on the yellow glow provided by the golems.
"This must be the Siren. But where is it-"
A violent, ear shattering crashing sound interrupted him, originating from deeper within the cave. The ground shook slightly as a gust of foul smelling wind blew past them.
’It must have sensed us.’ Verso understood the situation immediately.
He wasn’t sure whether the monster was making its first move or trying to reposition itself for an ambush but it was not like they could afford to let it dictate the pace.
’I’m not going to let this happen!’
Verso focused his intent on his two stone giants.
’Energized Rush!’
The yellow sun-like runes on the golems’ bodies flared brighter as the two seven foot tall stone golems suddenly accelerated, sprinting at full speed deeper into the cove.
"So we’re rushing in!" Moon said with a wild dangerous grin spreading across his face. He didn’t wait for Han’s command as he bolted after the light.
"Follow him!" Han shouted, and the rest of the group broke into a sprint.
They covered a few hundred meters in seconds, the sound of their heavy breathing and rapid footsteps being the only audible thing in the all so sudden silent cove.
Suddenly, Verso felt a sharp, stabbing ache in the center of his chest. It was the distinct, sickening sensation that he had got used to in the Realm world.
[Summon ’Minor Stone Golem’ Dead.]
[Summon ’Minor Stone Golem’ Dead.]
Both golems had just died simultaneously.
Despite this, Verso did not break his stride. He had already seen the Elite Sea Serpent kill a peak Mutant summon in a single strike so he knew his primitive golems never stood a chance against an Elite Rank Siren.
"It killed both of my golems!" Verso shouted to the group. "It must be right ahead!"
They rounded a final bend and found themselves in a massive cavern. In the center of the space laid a dark lake, its surface as still as black glass.
On the rocky shore near the entrance they saw two piles of shattered, lifeless rubble which were the remains of Verso’s stone scouts.
"Where is it?" Moon asked, his excitement visible as he swung his greatsword and got into a ready position.
"My friends, it is time to bring out our summoned beasts!" Han declared.
He flicked his hand, and a golden tear opened behind him as two massive lions with fur as white as snow stepped out, their low growls vibrating in the cavern.
Lua followed his lead, as a red rift opened up behind her from which a wingless, bat like creature with long claws and a distorted face emerged.
Xavier did not stay behind. With a sharp motion, he summoned two Umbra Panthers as the sleek, shadowy predators appeared and blended into the darkness of the cave walls.
’He got another one?’ Verso thought, noting Xavier’s increased power since their duel.
’I guess I can’t hold back either.’
Verso flicked his hand.
Unlike the bright or red rifts of his teammates, a tear of absolute darkness engulfed the space around him.
From the black void, a massive ominous skeleton stepped out. It stood significantly taller than a man, draped in tattered, dark cloth that billowed as if caught in a phantom wind.
In its bony hands, it gripped a pitch black scythe that seemed to absorb the light from the room.
"Little Bone, make sure not to go in too deep," Verso commanded his Mutant summon. "Just keep kiting and draw its attention."
The skeleton gave a slow, silent nod of its skull, the flames in its eye sockets flickering.
Verso turned back to his team, expecting them to be ready for the lake, but he found them all frozen.
Han, Lua, and even the aggressive Moon were staring at the massive, deathly summon with wide eyes.
"This... this is Little Bone?" Han said, his eye twitching as he looked at the ominous figure that looked more like a boss monster than some cute little skeleton.