Chapter 16 | The Underground

That morning, Steven woke up outside of Rey's house, still in the grass. The sun was rising, and the birds were chirping from the forest. He rubbed his eyes and got up. He heard someone walking up behind him. He turned around to see Jel walking towards him.

"Ah, perfect timing," Jel said. "We're about to head out right now."

"Oh, okay," Steven said. "Let's get going."

And so, they did. Rey carried a bow with a pocket of arrows on his belt. Hiroshi had his Samurai armor on while carrying his Axe. Bryan was holding a map guiding them towards the base. Finally, Jel and Steven were holding their swords on guard.

Bryan led them to a tunnel on the side of a creek. It seemed pretty hidden under a lot of rubble and the tunnel itself was pretty big so that you wouldn't have to crouch to travel through. Steven insisted that he would go first and so he did. The tunnel was very dark but luckily some flashlights were brought. Inside was very moist, and its main structure was made from old stone bricks.

They continued walking for thirty minutes, and everyone was starting to get tired. But then Bryan came to a halt.

"Stop," Bryan said. "The main tunnel is here." He then pushed a random brick into the wall, and the tunnel began to rumble. Finally, a wall of the tunnel started opening like two doors separating each other.

"Past here, there will be defenses of demons," Bryan stated. "But past them all, will be the main base."

Bryan then began to walk through the new tunnel, and the rest followed. Finally, after five minutes they heard movement up ahead.

"We got company," Bryan said. "Two Demons."

"I can handle this," Jel said walking up ahead. "This tunnel is pretty moist so I can manipulate the liquids to create an attack."

The demons noticed the voices from the opposite end of the tunnel and began to approach Jel with the intent of violence.

"TSUNAMI PRESSURE!" Jel yelled. The liquid in the tunnel surrounding the demons from the bottom to their sides began to move, wrapping itself around the demons, cutting them in halves. The demons fell to the floor, defeated.

"Wow..." Steven said. He did feel very envious of Jel, he was new to the whole swordsman system and seemed already stronger than Steven. Even though Jel was only a beginner and Steven had more experience. Steven felt guilty and a bit more useless. But in the end, it was their victory, and he was proud of Jel.

They continued ahead, fighting off demons in their way, finally coming to a stop at an intersection. Bryan walked up ahead and turned around.

"This is where we divide, up ahead is the main entrance," Bryan stated. "And both of these tunnels on the left and right-side entrances which are less defended."

"I propose that Steven and Jel go together to the right," Hiroshi said. "I'm sure I could handle left alone."

"So, you're saying that I and Rey should go ahead?" Bryan said. "We'll serve as a distraction if that's the case."

"Yes," Hiroshi answered. "Okay, let's not waste time."

Hiroshi ran off into the left tunnel immediately, leaving the rest behind. Rey walked up ahead as Bryan stayed to give Steven and Jel some information before leaving.

"Steven, once you're in, get past a guarded corridor and walk up a set of spiral stairs," Bryan stated. "Then you'll see a tall door, you'll know it's the right room when you see it, then, you'll find Markus."

"Good luck, don't die," Bryan laughed. Steven nodded his head and Bryan continued up ahead. Jel and Steven then proceeded to go up the left tunnel. Which was guarded by a wave of Demons up ahead.

"Well, Jel!" Steven said smirking. "It's my time to shine!"

"Huh?" Jel said with a confused expression.

"PUNISHING TORNADO!" Steven yelled pointing his sword in the direction of demons. A spiral of intense wind launched from the sword towards the demons, shaking them and slamming them around the tunnel, completely knocking them out. Jel and Steven continued down the tunnel as they both took turns taking out defenses. Finally, they made it to an entrance. The entrance was a grand door that seemed to lead to the base. They both tore in with their swords and stepped in.

A wave of demon goons was awaiting them. Blocking their passage.

"Yah ready Jel?" Steven smirked.

"Yeah, let's do this." Jel smiled.

Hiroshi continued through his path, burning groups of demons with his flames, it seemed like the tunnel was starting to collapse from the damage he was inflicting. He finally made it towards the same grand door leading inside the base. He burned the door down and stood Infront of a wave of demons inside the base.

"I won't hold back," Hiroshi said. "This base is going down into flames."

Rey and Bryan sprinted forwards into the tunnel. The main tunnel was way more guarded than the other two. But Bryan's strength with the support of Rey was enough to overwhelm the demons. And they finally made it to the main entrance. The entrance leading inside the base was much more grand and taller than the other two. Bryan drove a spike of Crystals through the door using his sword. Creating a hole inside the door to go in.

They both stepped in facing a big horde of goons and demons waiting. Rey clenched onto his bow and Bryan smirked with murderous intent.

"This is going to be easy as hell," Bryan said. "I can't wait to slaughter you all."