The Beginning After The End (New Heights Book 2)

by TurtleMe

  “Don’t get near the holes. They’re geysers that shoot extremely hot streams of gas up. It should be fine as long as you’re not in direct proximity of the blast.” Brald announced, looking around for any signs of mana beasts.

  *RUMBLE*

  As if on cue, the cave trembles and from the ground pops up something that oddly resembles a worm, except it was a glowing red and about a couple meters thick and unfathomably long, countless rows of teeth circling the hole on the head.

  “Was that here last time Brald?” Kriol looks at our leader.

  “N-no…I don’t get what’s happening. It doesn’t make sense for new mana beast species to enter a dungeon like this.” The handsome knight has a wavering look, losing his confidence.

  “Cheh. It’s not a big deal as long as I’m here.” Lucas just flips his blonde hair.

  However, the gigantic red worm doesn’t attack us but burrows down, creating another hole.

  “It doesn’t seem to be after us.” Muttered Elijah while his sharp, bespectacled eyes studied the giant worm.

  The red worm-beast is now burrowing itself into the walls of the cave, creating more holes from all different angles, never confronting us.

  “Are we just going to stand around watching the worm dig or are we going to go?” Oliver, our lanky Emitter, just pushes past Brald and me, confidently striding towards the other end of the cave.

  He wanted to show is confidence in front of Samantha is what I assumed.

  “Get back here! We need to assess what’s happening before we go across!” Brald gets more and more frustrated at the arrogance displayed by the Conjurers as he steps forward to go after him.

  Suddenly, the whole cave shakes and we hear a light fizzing sound.

  “LUCAS! HEAT WAVE BARRIER! NOW!” I scream at the confused blonde noble.

  “FWWOOOOOOOOM!”

  The holes. The holes existent in the beginning and the holes on the ground, roof, and walls made by the giant worm all trembled and released a fiery blast of gas.

  The giant worm was making the holes in order to kill us and we just let it happen.

  I managed to pull Brald who was just in arms length of me before he had the chance to run after Oliver.

  The shield was erected in time to shield us from the gas but Oliver faded out of sight.

  The eruption of gas lasted for a couple of minutes until it sizzled down.

  Lucas released the weakened barrier and we stood in silence at the scene in front of us.

  The only thing left of Oliver was the gem on top of his staff.

  “FUCK!” Brald shouts, grinding his teeth at the loss.

  Oliver didn’t mean much to us as a person but he was our healer. That idiot ran off, not even casting a barrier spell on himself.

  Samantha’s face looked sickly as she covered her mouth with her hands.

  Before we had the chance to step out, Lucas pushes past and picks up the gem that was a few meters in front of us.

  “Tch… his gem isn’t even good.” He just tosses it back towards us and Brald picks it up who then hands it to Samantha, who studies it and replaces the gem on her wand with the one that Oliver had; her hands trembling the whole time.

  “We need to move before another eruption occurs. That giant worm beast is making more holes. I don’t think Lucas’ Barrier will hold for another wave.” Our leader states as he moves forward.

  I look back at Jasmine and she just solemnly nods at me. We were all frustrated by the turn of events.

  We were half way through the cave when Elijah, who was right next to me asks, “How did you know Lucas’ Heat Wave Barrier would be so effective against the steam?” I could see Lucas and Samantha turn their eyes towards me, waiting for an answer.

  “I’ve been through a similar experience before and a heat barrier seemed to negate a gas attack the best.” I just shrug.

  Around us, the giant worm that was creating more holes when it suddenly stopped in front of us.

  Without warning, it whipped its head and smashed at the ground we were at before.

  Kriol, who was at the back, stepped forward and with Samantha, created a water barrier the cushioned the blow while Elijah erected a flat shield of earth to stop the weakened attack of the worm before crumbling.

  “Impact Blast!” Reginald’s giant hammer glowed a bright yellow as he swung at the worm beast.

  “BOOM!”

  The worm’s whole body shook as Reginald’s skill sent ripples of mana into its body.

  I followed up, drawing my short sword and willing flames to surround the blade while activating mana rotation.

  “Flame Blade.”

  I tore through the underside of the worm, welding the wound as my blade burned through the flesh.

  The worm let out a shrill screech before it collapsed next us, part of its body still underground.

  “The oversized worm wasn’t even strong.” Lucas just shakes his head, disappointed, when all of a sudden we hear another rumble.

  The worm wasn’t trying to kill us; it was trying to delay us in time for another eruption from the holes.

  “FWOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!”

  Lucas couldn’t erect his barrier in time as his eyes widen in surprise.

  “Phoenix’s Cape.” A surge of fire surrounds my body protecting me against the gas. I look back in relief to see that Jasmine has erected a swirling aura of wind around her that dissipated the steam.

  “GAAH!” “UGGH!”

  The gas dispels to reveal an injured Brald. Kriold managed to protect Lucas and Elijah under his gigantic shield augmented with water but Brald’s sword arm was obliterated from the elbow down while he tried to shield Samantha. It seemed like Brald only augmented his shield in flames instead of his whole body to protect Samantha. Reginald had a few burns over his body but he was okay. He probably was barely in time to surround himself with earth attribute mana.

  Our leader’s sword was on the ground, as his stump of an arm was burned black at the end.

  Gritting his teeth, he drops his shield and picks up his sword with his left arm. “MOVE IT!”

  We arrive at the front of the next hall, which was a lot wider this time.

  Taking a moments rest, the group all sat down while Samantha used part of her robe to create a makeshift bandage for what was left of Brald’s right arm.

  Even AA class Adventurers that had their body augmented couldn’t completely handle the abrupt gas attacks from the holes.

  Looking around, everyone had discouraged looks on their faces. This wasn’t even half way through the dungeon but we were already in a poor state, our leader critically injured.

  “This is why I said to stay alert Lucas! If you had stayed focused and reacted in time to set up a barrier, I wouldn’t be in this state!” Brald’s handsome face was nowhere to be seen as he lashed out at the noble boy. His career as an Adventurer was probably gone after this. He’ll probably be demoted from his class once the Guild finds out of his crippling injury.

  “Don’t blame me! It was your fault you couldn’t protect yourself in time!” He argued back.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? Kriol had to save your ass! You didn’t do shit and you’re saying it’s my fault?” Brald yells as he prepares to swing his sword at the boy.

  “ENOUGH!” I roar. The whole party turns silent at the power of my voice.

  “There are a couple of choices we need to make. Reginald’s body is a bit burnt but I don’t think it’s that bad but Brald, you need to make the choice of whether you want to continue or not. We’re only a bit more than an hour from the surface so you can probably make it back up by yourself.” I state, staring at our leader through the slits of my mask.

  “I’ll keep going. This will probably be my last dungeon raid so I might as well make it last.” He just turns his body and sits a couple feet away, cradling his right stump.

  I turn my gaze to the noble boy who had a face that says he did nothing wrong. “Lucas. You need to get your act together. I
t doesn’t matter whether you’re a light yellow core or God himself. Right now, the only thing you are is a liability. If you continue acting out on your own, you might as well just go on by yourself.”

  He glares back at me but bites his lip, not knowing how to refute.

  “Samantha and Elijah. We need you guys to stay focused to set up a barrier at moment’s notice.”

  “Let’s get a couple hours of rest before we continue on.” I sit down next to Jasmine and take out a sack of water from my bag.

  The group remained in silence before I go up to Brald. As minutes dragged into hours, his arm missing was getting to him. The confident, charismatic face was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a crazed look. “I think either Jasmine or I should take charge of this party. You’re in no condition.”

  Brald’s eyes, dull and weary, study me before he starts eying everyone else in the group, who just looked away.

  “Tch. Okay.” I didn’t like the mental state he was in. It wasn’t stable.

  After a couple hours, we got up with our mana replenished and continued marching down. This hall wasn’t as long as the previous ones but at the end of the hall was a big, double door with chains locking them shut.

  “I-I don’t get it. Even this part is different. The door this time wasn’t locked and it definitely wasn’t this big.” Brald shakes his head.

  “The only thing that was the same was the first cave, where the Batrunners were.” He continues, studying the lock. He tries to touch it but with his dominant hand gone, he just swung his stub in the air. After realizing, he just grumbles and goes to the back.

  “Well, no use complaining about it now.” Reginald lifts his hammer and slams it against the door.

  “BOOM!”

  I could see Reginald visibly shocked by the sturdiness of the door.

  “Impact Blast!” The door shudders but stays firm.

  “Impact Blast!” The blow this time was harder and the lock crumbles. Stepping forward, he pulls the handles of the door and opens it.

  “What the…”

  Chapter 32: Dire Tombs II

  Through the other side of the door was a field of grass that reminded me of a masterfully painted piece of art. It was a couple of hundred meters wide and I couldn’t even see the other end of the cave.

  “Let me guess, this field wasn’t here last time either?” Reginald mutters, his eyes never leaving the scene in front of him.

  “N-no…” Brald takes a deep breath, astounded as well.

  Reginald just mumbles something under his breath and takes a step through the door, where we all followed in after.

  This didn’t resemble a cave at all, where even the brightness within was enough to make our eyes squint. The rows of stalactites high up on the ceiling of the cave were the only things that reaffirmed our doubts that this was actually an underground cavern.

  “Wow! It’s so pretty!” Samantha couldn’t help be in awe at the serene meadow.

  There were tall trees and plants dotted across the field. Even I couldn’t help want to just lay down and relax here but ever since we walked through the door, the hairs on my body have been standing on its end, as if my body wants me to stay wary.

  Everyone’s guards were down but I noticed that Jasmine and even Elijah kept darting their eyes around, looking out for anything suspicious.

  “Something’s off. Keep your guards up guys.” I stay vigilant with my shortsword out and my left hand on the grip of Dawn’s Ballad that was still sheathed to my waist.

  “Are you sure? I don’t even hear anything, let alone see much besides the grass and trees.” Kriol is a bit doubtful but raises his shield and wills water affinity mana into it.

  I study my surroundings to see what was making me feel so tense. The light seemed to come from the stalactites that glowed much brighter than the ones from the previous caves. There was a slight haze all over the field that seemed insignificant, but that was it. There was literally nothing else besides the plants and this mist.

  What am I missing?

  I notice the mist around us gradually get thicker, so I could only make out the shapes of everyone around me.

  *Thump*

  “Clara? Is that you? H-how are you alive?”

  I spin my head to the direction of the voice. I see that Kriol dropped his gigantic shield. He’s holding his arms out looking at something in the distance.

  “I knew you couldn’t be dead Clara! Stay there! I’m coming to get you!” Kriol bolts off, leaving his shield behind him.

  “Stop! It’s dangerous!” I yell after him, but it’s too late as his figure fades out of sight.

  Jasmine grabs my arm and sticks close. “I think the mist is an illusion.”

  “I suspected that as well.” I nod in agreement. “Everyone! Stick together! This mist is playing tricks on our senses. Samantha, barrier!”

  Huddling together, we face each other to discuss a plan inside the ball of water protecting us from the mist.

  “Who’s Clara?” Samantha asks.

  Reginald shakes his head. “I-it’s Kriol’s fiancée. But it’s impossible that she’s alive. I-I saw her get killed in a dungeon with my own two eyes. We buried her together!”

  I could tell Reginald and Brald were both shaken up. The three have partied before a couple of times so the name Clara wasn’t news to them and hearing Kriol go after his dead fiancée wasn’t good news.

  “What the hell is going on…” Lucas just mutters and I could tell by how hard he was gripping his staff that he was holding in the urge to blow this whole place up.

  “Jasmine. Can you create a wind big enough to clear this mist around us?” I look towards my partner, hoping she could give me some good news. We didn’t have any wind attribute Conjurers here.

  She looks down and answers. “Not big enough to clear it all away, but I can blow away a path.”

  We give her a bit of space inside the ball of water as she starts emitting a green aura. The wind picks up as it swirls and gathers to form a small whirlwind around her arms. Her straight black hair lashes chaotically around her, as the mini tornadoes gathering in her arms get bigger and tears apart the water barrier.

  While Augmenters’ biggest disadvantage compared to Conjurers are the usage of long ranged spells, after a certain level, Augmenters will be able to store and exert enough mana to use ranged techniques. Of course, however, the power and efficiency would be vastly inferior to a Conjurer of the same level.

  The mist around us was getting thicker, limiting our field of vision to about a meter away from us. The once peaceful field of grass now has an ominous feel, almost as if this mist wants to swallow us whole.

  “Storm’s Gale.”

  The condensed whirlwinds swirling around Jasmine’s arms collide as she claps her hands together in front of her. The impact of the two tornadoes expands and bursts forward, shredding the mist into a clear path in front of us.

  The once excited looks on everyone’s faces turn dim at the sight before us. The tornado revealed a path, but also uncovered something else.

  There were tentacles of vines and branches that were making their way towards us.

  “Enough of this!” Lucas points his tall staff towards the incoming wave of vines and mutters a spell.

  “Crescent Ember!” Swinging his staff, the fire glowing on the tip of the staff shoots a large blade fire.

  “BOOOM!”

  The slithering vines and branches flinch back from the flame but other than a dark mark where the spell hit, they were unfazed.

  “Shit! What kind of trees isn’t afraid of fire?” Brald grits his teeth as he ignites his broadsword in a fiery tornado and charges into the wave of vines that were crawling our way.

  “Samantha! Elijah! Lucas! Support us!” I command, willing mana into my body and sword as well.

  Jasmine rushes next to me, both daggers unsheathed. The spell she just used obviously drained a lot of her mana, but it didn’t do much as the mist already refilled the path t
he tornado spell created.

  Reginald stayed behind to protect our Conjurers as they’re casting spells.

  “RAAAAAHHH!” Brald is hacking away at the endless wave of vines that seem to come out of nowhere.

  The vines seem to be regenerating faster than Brald is cutting them though, as I see him getting buried deeper and deeper inside.

  That idiot. Is he really an AA class Adventurer? He’s lost his cool and his ability to pay attention to what’s happening around him is nonexistent.