Chapter 9

"We will set camp here, everyone make sure to check you're equipments before we enter!", Team leader Rethusa shouted in a loud voice.

Following her the group of twenty or so adventurers started moving in a hurry.

Having been together for years, their cooperation with each other was pretty descent.

It didn't take long before they were prepared.

"Goddess.", Rethusa faced Artemis.

"Let us enter."

Goddess Artemis gave a short reply.

Then under Rethusa's lead the group opened the stone door and entered the cave like Labrinth.

*Screech*

Not long after going inside a group of monsters which looked like giant scorpion rushed at them.

*Hyah*

The team leader Lanter took the lead and easily managed to kill a monster in a single stroke.

"Attack the gaps in their shell!"

"Yes captain!"

William stood at the very back of the group, right behind Goddess Artemis, carefully looking over the one's at front and using the bow and arrow he borrowed from the to provide cover whenever necessary.

Although he wasn't able to do much with just the strength of an average human being.

Still it was better than doing nothing.

"Orion I think it will be better for you to stay outside and wait....", Goddess Artemis said in a small while turning her head towards William.

William stopped and looked at the arrow he just shot, it did little to no damage even though it manage to hit the part which didn't have shell.

The results spoke for themselves, he wasn't much better than Gambit who was also brought along since they didn't have manpower to spare and look after him.

So they brought Gambit along with his hands tied with a rope.

"I will retreat as soon as the situation turns bad.", William replied in a small voice.

The main reason he wanted to enter the dungeon was because it was the only other dungeon he saw after the Great Labrinth in the dungeon City.

And the second reason was that Artemis familia's strength was actually not bad.

"I see....", Goddess Artemis said in a slightly sad voice.

In no time the Artemis familia got the situation under control, the scorpion monsters were easily dealt with once they got a hand of it.

Their group quickly advanced through the cave without much resistance.

As they moved forward, they arrived before another massive stone gate with an ancient looking monster crafted on it.

"Here it is...", Goddess Artemis muttered in a small voice while her expression hardened.

"Let us enter."

Taking the lead Lante wrapped a small shield around her right arm and pushed at the massive door.

Surprisingly the massive stone door opened without much resistance.

With vigilant steps the group entered one by one.

What greeted them was a massive open area with filled with purple like crystals emitting faint light.

But for some reason the entire place was...empty?

"Don't let your guard down!", team leader Rethusa shouted while the group took an airtight formation.

But even after waiting for some time nothing happened.

"Start searching around for clues.", team leader Rethusa finally said after seeing that nothing was happening.

The group quickly started searching the area, in the first place their goal was to find the cause of the recent unknown development in the great forest.

William also started looking around, he walked upto a nearby purple crystal and started examining it.

While he was trying to break a piece, it happened.

*tremor*

A very light, almost undetectable movement.

But whether luckily or unlikely William managed to detect it.

And as soon as he did, his expression which didn't change even in the face of death turned extremely ugly.

"It's coming from below!"

Then without waiting for their response he quickly started running towards the gate.

His sudden shout and action startled everyone.

"What are you-------"

Before team leader Rethusa could continue the entire cave started trembling.

*Tremble*

"Everyone quickly move!", Rethusa shouted in a hurry.

Unfortunately it was a bit too slow.

*Crack*

The middle of the giant arena cracked opened, revealing a massive scorpion like monster.

*Screech*

A terrible aura descended upon the place.

"Antares!", Goddess Artemis said in an almost shouting voice while her eyes shook in fear.

Many huge black coloured pillar like things grew from Antares's his back and quickly dug themselves on the ceiling and ground of the arena.

While everyone was stuck in place due to fear, William managed to reach the huge stone gate.

And unsurprisingly the gate was slowly closing.

Looking at the slowly closing gate, William stopped and turned his head back to look at the boss monster Antares.

To take a step forward and leave.....

Or to stay.

It was time for him to make a grave decision.