Chapter 5: Tangled Shadows

Within the confines of the Great Kingdom of Eden, Allen and Lilith's path took a new turn, one that led them into the clutches of their oppressors—the guards. Bound by fate, they were recruited alongside other slaves to serve as luggage carriers in a perilous dungeon quest, where danger lurked at every corner.

It might have been a day according to the people inside the dungeon, since the perception of time was a bit tricky for all of them because the dungeon was devoid of any natural light, the only thing somewhat gave a vision to all the guards and slaves inside it were the Mana crystals that had been powered up.

The guards had already given their big luggage's to the slaves. The luggage's suggested that the guards had planned to be in the dungeon for at least a week.

Allen and Lilith, seasoned by the cruelties they had endured, harbored a cautious skepticism toward their captors' motives. They had witnessed the guards' sadistic tendencies firsthand, their willingness to sacrifice the lives of the enslaved for their own survival.

In only just a day they had witnessed three slaves to be pushed in front of monsters as bait and being ripped apart by the same. Even though they communicated less Lilith and Allen understood that they would be a part of the same. Luckily the day was over and both Lilith and Allen were forced to sleep outside the tent. Which meant that if any monster attacked them Lilith and Allen would be the first to be ripped apart.

"Hey are you still awake?"

Lilith whispered in Allen's direction.

Allen's eyes were shut closed which mad it seem as if he was asleep. When Allen didn't give any reply to Lilith she herself thought that Allen was fast asleep.

"I know what you are planning."

Allen in deep voice whispered.

"If you already know it then are you going to help me?"

Lilith Asked.

"I have my own plans, so one thing is for sure"

He looked in Lilith's direction and said

"I wont interfere with yours"

Allen's words didn't give much support to Lilith but luckily it wasn't against her either which meant that he won't speak or sneak against her. As an Archdemon she understood when someone was either lying to her, which is why she was so sure, but she wondered what was Allen's plan.

In reality this wasn't the first time Allen had been inside the dungeon. The reason why he was recruited this time as well was because of his prior knowledge of the dungeon, in some way he was already preparing to escape the slave sector through the dungeon.

Lilith was unaware of as to what he was about to do. Even though Allen's eyes were completely shut in reality he was imagining the path of the dungeon time and time again. This helped him to imagine the time in which he had to reach his goal. He also realised one thing which was when the authority of the obedience spell was given to an individual it only worked in a range unlike the at the slave sector where the Authority was Amplified by a big Mana Orb. But there was one place where the laws of the obedience spell could be bent. It was near the "Unknown's pit".

Near it no magic spell would work properly some spells would completely be nullified or weakened for a small period of time. Mostly no guard would go near that damn thing because there were many horror stories related to it such as evil spirits lurking inside it. Normally it would be seen as a symbol of death among the citizens of Eden but for Allen it was a symbol of hope, if he was able to jump inside it then maybe just maybe he could escape.

The very next day the guards were on their feet again, while everything might have felt normal but in reality both Allen and Lilith were planning to escape. Allen wanted to help Lilith to escape because he knew that Lilith wasn't well aware of the paths in the dungeon.

On the 8th level of the dungeon the pit was present and since Allen and Lilith were walking ahead of the guards.

"Lilith, be ready,"

Allen whispered urgently, his voice barely above a breath.

"When I signal, make your move."

Lilith though confused in the beginning understood that Allen was about to make his move and he wanted Lilith to come with him.

Lilith, her eyes gleaming with a fierce resolve, nodded in acknowledgment, her body tense and ready for action. She understood the gravity of the situation, the necessity of Allen's daring leap into the abyss.

Just as they were communicating two orcs spawned behind the guards.

"Aaaaaaargh!!!"

The Orcs roared

"What the hell?!"

The guards panicked, it wasn't unusual for monsters to be spawned in the dungeon but almost no one even the most experienced adventurers and soldiers weren't able to get used to it.

When Allen saw the Orcs he understood

"This is our chance."

He looked at Lilith and shouted

"LET'S GO!!!!"

They ran as fast as they could, the guards while they were fighting tried to command Lilith and Allen to stop but it was of no use because they were near the Unknown's pit which meant that their commands effects were being weakened but Lilith and Allen for sure felt something was punching them back since the effects of the Obedience spell was only weakened not nullified.

This didn't stop Lilith and Allen, they persevered through the pain of resisting the spell by holding each other's hands. They reached right in front of the big pit and with no hesitation took a leap of faith. Just as they were getting a sense of freedom a rope wrapped around Lilith's waist and she was pulled away from Allen.

"NOOOOOO!!!!!"

He shouted.

Allen came to an abrupt stop as he was descending, even though he had fallen to about one of the deepest part of the dungeon where mostly all the dangerous monsters lived it was of no concern to Allen. Because of the drop he had broken his left arm but the pain was overshadowed by the joy of being free and the pain of losing Lilith.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

He shouted in frustration

"She was right here!! How did this happen?! How?! I need to get back up! I need to! But what will I do?! It's not like I can save her. What can I do?! This weakness this fucking WEAKNESSS!! I don't want to lose her as well. I DONT!!!"

He cried

"A Broken body, a destroyed magic pathway but a strong heart, what a flawed combination"

A body less voice said

Allen looked around but no one was to be seen. He thought that the pain was making him hallucinate.

"I will take it!"

Just as these words were said purple lightning started to be released from Allen's body as he shouted in pain.

"What the hell is going on?! Aaaahhh!!!"

To be continued…