Ch 28 – This ain’t no fucking cave!

Sonar was a strategic magic developed by Gahan's father to locate enemies during the Western War over two decades ago. The demi-humans were masters in disguise and ambushes, Sonar was a technique able to generate a spatial-like perception of the environment around one even in darkness and accurately locate things and people. Anything that moved was picked up by the soundwaves generated. Creating not only an accurate real-time map of the surroundings, but also a moving frame of every single living entity around it. Anything in a hundred-meter radius.

'What the actual fuck'

Sonar was the greatest and most powerful short distance magic known by the Wizard Association of the Sacred Capital. And also, the only real thing Gahan had inherited from his deceased father.

'Why!? Why the hell is it not working!'

Yet for the first time in his entire life, Sonar was betraying his expectations.

Sonar was returning him... Nothing.

Actually, that's inaccurate. It was actually the opposite of that.

Sonar was saying everything was moving.

There was no environment, there was no map...

Just beings.

Moving beings. The entire cave was slightly moving.

The cave was not a cave...

'What the fuck... Is this...'

Gahan jumped up, scaring his men.

"We gotta group back and join the rest before following her."

"What!? But didn't you just locate her with Sonar? Can't you only use it once a day?"

"Doesn't matter.... This ain't no fucking cave! We're in a motherfucking dungeon!"

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Where from?

<< That skill... Remember I told you I help people who get revived in this world? That skill is from one of my former protegees, Jergad... >>

What does it do?

<< It's supposed to be like your world's Sonar system... If I recall correctly, it makes some sort of map using a something like a bat's sonar and marks living beings and moving targets. >>

Ah... So, it's just a wannabe version of my map?

<< You could say that... It is still very powerful though. Jergad could pin-point enemies almost a mile away with it. >>

Fuck... Then he'll know where she went!?

<< I'm afraid so... >>

Shit... We need to-

Huh?!

What?! What's with that reaction? How did he know?! Gloria?! What the heck is happening? Why's he behaving like that?

<< Ah... Thank goodness... Oh-! Yes, Ah! How do I put it...? The whole dungeon is a living being. >>

What the actual fuck!?

<< Oh, Sorry, let me rephrase it... Imagine the whole dungeon as being... An extension of the Dungeon-Core. It's not like it's breathing or anything... But dungeons have some residual movement from when you expand or create rooms and corridors and it regenerates itself so... It probably reacted to the magic he used showing up as a living entity rather than a natural cave... >>

And how the fuck is that a good thing!

<< Huh? But he stopped chasing her right? >>

Yeah... But now he knows this is a dungeon! He will regroup with all the others and march straight to the core before even searching for her! Aren't dungeons supposed to be a dangerous thing?!

<< Oh... Right... I completely forgot that... >>

Fuck... You are so cute yet so dumb at times... What the fuck do I do? I need to stop him from getting back... I don't wanna use any monsters just yet since I have no idea how strong they are... Fuck.

I'd gone so far without having a single monster to avoid giving away the fact this is a dungeon only for him to find it out just now...

<< I mean you could- >>

Shut up for a second if you have nothing useful to say! Else, next time you'll see me die for real. I need to think!

In her room, Gloria was almost crying... But she knew he had a clear point... The best she could do now was wait to see how things panned out.

'But why?! Why does he have to be this mean...? I was just trying to help...'

She knew she was being selfish, and rather annoying... but that was just how she was, she couldn't change that on a whim. She was honestly trying her best to be useful for me...

I knew that, it pained me to see her face cramp and her smile wanning away... But it was necessary. She needed to understand from the get-go that she had to be useful and effective. Empty words, even when paired with great effort, are nothing but empty words. I'd much rather have her stand by my side silent than whisper vain crap in my ears that'd only lead me downhill.

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"ARE YOU READY!?"

A loud yell echoed amid the camp. Most mercenaries were already up and ready, but some stragglers were still gathering their stuff or putting on their armor.

"Hey, hey!? Why the hell are they back? Did something happen?"

Gossip quickly spread throughout the whole camp.

Why were they there? Why did they return?

Questions popped out left and right.

"Shut the fuck up you whiny brats. Let's go in! NOW!"

The second Option stood up for the first one. Marcus hated being the one everyone feared... But over the years, this task became natural for him.

'Why can they just get ready already...'

He thought to himself as he saw the remaining mercenaries assemble near the cave entrance...

"This cave is weird. That's what boss said." Spoke Lancer...

Before anyone says it, yeah, he was very self-conscious over the fact that despite his name being Lancer he was not a lancer... In fact, he was a double-swordsman with some affinity to magic. As he liked gesturing quite a bit, he'd just stored both of his Katars on the order-made sheathing attached to his belt.

"Our job is to explore it completely, find whatever is in there and, from what we assumed from Gabe's report, find the dungeon entrance or wherever it starts. That's a long shot though. Report anything you find."

""YES!""

Lancer opened his mouth to further emphasize his orders, but before he could say anything a huge rumbling sound made him turn to the cave.

The men covered their noses as a small cloud of dust puffed out from the cave, slowly dispersing around them.

"Lancer!"

"Yes, we gotta go!"

The thirty-eight mercenaries, including the two Optiones, marched into the dark cave despite the dust. Some of them wielding Lighting Rods.