[ Probing The Dungeon ]

"So, that's what happened," the elf remarked, rising from her task of tending to Adlina's injuries.

"Aria is going with you?" Adlina inquired, her curiosity piqued. The elf nodded in affirmation.

A hint of concern tugged at Vanessa, and she implored, "Wait, let me come with you too."

Seraphina turned to Vanessa, her gaze firm. "There's no need."

Vanessa began to protest, but Seraphina cut her off with a gentle but stern tone.

"Don't misunderstand. I simply don't want to add another burden to my shoulders. Just stay here, and besides, your mana has reached its limit. Over-exploiting it will harm your body." Her words held a note of caution.

"Just stay here, archer girl. Our job is done now," the man advised.

Vanessa straightened herself, determination in her eyes. "My name is Vanessa, and my job here isn't done yet."

The man nodded in acknowledgment. "Ah, and my name is Jude."

The elf intervened, addressing Vanessa, "Your ascendant name is Raul, right? Leave him to me."

Adlina placed a reassuring hand on Vanessa's shoulder, signaling her to let the elf go.

With a begrudging sigh, Vanessa relented. "Fine. But is it okay to bring the girl with you?" She gestured toward Aria.

Seraphina continued walking with Aria, making her way toward the dungeon gate.

"Don't worry. She is more capable than you think." Her confidence in Aria's abilities echoed in her voice.

As they stood before the dungeon gate, Seraphina turned to Aria. "Now, then, Aria. Tell me what you see," she implored, her eyes fixed on the silver-haired girl.

Aria closed her eyes, and her expression shifted to one of visible concern, a hint of paleness washing over her features.

"None of them... survived. Their bodies—" she began, her voice trembling slightly. But before she could delve further into the gruesome details, Seraphina interjected.

"Including the boy?" Seraphina asked, a sense of dread lurking behind her question.

Aria hesitated for a moment, then replied, "That boy... he wasn't in there. No, I can't see any trace of his body. More like I can't feel the presence of his future..."

Her words hung in the air, leaving Seraphina slightly taken aback by this unexpected revelation.

She maintained her composure, though her raised eyebrows betrayed her shock at what she had just heard.

"Wait, they're still alive—Ergh!" Aria's words were abruptly interrupted as her legs faltered, but Seraphina reacted swiftly, catching her before she could fall.

Concern etched across her face, Seraphina inquired, "What happened?"

"The same thing," Aria replied, her voice strained, but she managed to regain her footing.

"Multiple visions at once?" Seraphina surmised, to which Aria nodded in confirmation.

Without wasting another moment, Seraphina cradled Aria in her arms and moved swiftly, traversing deeper into the dungeon at high speed.

"Then, there's a possibility that they're still alive,"

…

The passage stretched on, its ceiling towering at an imposing five meters in height. The walls and ceiling, in this subterranean cave, bore a coarse, damp texture, the perpetual moisture clung to them.

Bathed in an eerie blue hue, this dimly illuminated corridor owed its eerie luminescence to the mana-powered lights embedded in the walls, casting shadows that seemed to writhe and dance with a malevolent life of their own.

Amidst the cobalt glow, the scattered bones appeared as remnants of past explorers and other beasts.

With an unsettling slowness, an orc head, severed from its body, rolled and came to a rest against the corner of the damp, rough-hewn wall.

"The deeper I went, the stronger the orc presence became, their numbers steadily increasing too."

'Can you still continue?' Garen asked.

"Of course."

With a heavy sigh, I sheath my sword, the metallic rasp echoing eerily in the cold, dank air. Beads of sweat dotted my forehead, and I wiped them away with my sleeve.

Since I first set foot in this ominous dungeon, I had already crossed paths with five formidable orcs. Dispatching three of them proved to be a manageable task, but the remaining two were a different breed altogether—swift, aggressive, and more challenging to contend with.

However, thanks to the boost of my vitality and agility, I found myself capable of matching their monstrous pace.

Guided by my unwavering determination, I pressed forward, utilizing my wind manipulation to scout the depths of this cave. My exploration had been tireless, methodical, and rife with the tension of perilous uncertainty.

And then, like a flicker of hope in the abyss, I stumbled upon it—just what I had been desperately seeking amidst this deadly expedition.

'That's…' Garen spoke halfway.

A nod of confirmation escaped my lips as I scrutinized the walls and ceilings, my senses heightened.

The telltale signs of battle were there—Sharp Ice and scorched remnants etched into the rock, reminiscent of the same dreadful scene where we had last encountered the gravely injured Adlina.

From afar, deeper into the cave I could also hear a loud deafening sound.

'Raul, I think I found them,' Garen's voice cut through the heavy silence, injecting a renewed urgency into the air.

"Really!? Where?" I pressed, my heart raced with anticipation and dread in equal measure.

'But…' Garen's single, hesitant word struck like a blow, causing my heart to momentarily stop.

'They were encircled and trapped by numerous orcs,' Garen continued, his voice weighed down by the gravity of the situation.

'However, they are still alive, Raul. They've created a protective barrier of ice and earth that blocks the path, preventing the orcs from advancing any further.'

A sigh of relief escaped my lips, relief that they were still alive, still fighting for survival within this treacherous labyrinth.

'Are all of them there?' I inquired, my concern palpable.

Garen's response carried a note of worry. 'Yes, but one of them is gravely injured. And I don't think the barrier will hold much longer.'

I wasted no time. I dashed forward, following the sound and the guidance of the wind, desperate to reach them before the encroaching danger overwhelmed their fragile sanctuary.

As I advanced into the gloom, a surprising sight greeted me—an abrupt burst of brighter light illuminating a cavernous room that dwarfed any previous passage I had traversed.

The sheer vastness of this chamber was awe-inspiring, its expanse seemingly endless, an eerie contrast to the claustrophobic tunnels I had navigated.

The chamber was a maze of interconnected pathways, branching off in all directions like a twisted web spun by a malevolent architect.

The cracked floor beneath my feet bore the scars of faint and huge damages, its surface uneven and treacherous.

"Shit."

Amidst this labyrinthine expanse, my attention was riveted by a single, imposing sight—the path that stood out, a path blocked by a makeshift barrier of ice and earth.

A gathering of orcs, diverse in size and grotesque appearance, encircled this makeshift fortress, their menacing presence palpable.

The orcs were varied in size, each one a distinct breed of ferocity. Some were hulking giants, while others were lean and agile.

'There were about 19 of them. No, probably about—' Garen's count hung in the air.

"23." I firmly stated. I couldn't help but correct it. My eyes then shifted to the barrier.

The barrier of ice and earth groaned under the relentless assault of the orc horde, cracks spider-webbing across its surface.

Each impact reverberated through the chamber, a cacophony of violence that echoed ominously. It was on the brink of collapse.

Garen's voice conveyed a troubling discovery. 'They're trapped in both directions,' he explained, his words laden with concern.

'There are even a few orcs on the other side of the path. They're effectively holding up two barriers, one on each side.'

Garen's revelation added another layer of grim complexity to the situation. "So, they're trapped from both sides," I murmured, absorbing the dire predicament.

With deliberate slowness, I extended my right hand, aligning it toward the menacing horde of orcs.

'What's your plan?' Garen's voice trembled with concern, his urgency palpable.

"Just be ready to lend a hand when I ask," I replied calmly, my eyes locked onto my intended target.

In an instant, I unleashed a deafening tempest, a wind attack that roared through the chamber. But the distance was great, and the attack's area of effect meant its impact was less than anticipated, barely scratching the orc horde.

The orcs, however, were not fooled. They turned in unison to face me, their collective anger and aggression now directed squarely at my position.

"I thought there was no one home. So, I came knocking. Will I receive the guest treatment now?" I mused, a sardonic smile on my lips as the chorus of enraged orcs reverberated through the cavern.

"Damn, that was too loud!" I hastily covered my ears. But when I lowered my hands and met their bloodshot eyes, they were already hurtling toward me at full throttle, an unstoppable wave of fury and vengeance.

"Get ready," I instructed my companion.

'Are we going to fight all of them?' Garen questioned, his apprehension evident.

"No," I replied, quickly assessing the overwhelming number of orcs closing in on me.

"We're going to run!" With that declaration, I pivoted on my heels and sprinted in the opposite direction, retracing my path to escape the relentless pursuit of the enraged horde.