New Mission: Survive

Krazthir's voice carried a tone of command as he addressed the gathered members of Fallenhoods and the other teams. "We are five levels from the next and previous safe zone," he began, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his weary comrades. "In our current state, pushing deeper is far too risky. We can't afford to lose more lives needlessly. Our priority is to regroup, recover, and reassess our strategy."

The determination in his eyes was unmistakable as he continued, "We will return to the second safe zone. There, we'll take the necessary time to rest, heal our wounds, and regain our strength. Once we've recuperated, we will resume our descent. I estimate we should be back at this level in four to five days."

His strategy was met with nods of agreement, though the air was thick with the unspoken worries of the daunting task ahead. "From how far they fell," Krazthir added, "Amukelo and Eliss have likely fallen to somewhere between levels forty-five and fifty. These levels are notoriously perilous, teeming with threats that even the best of us find formidable."

The gravity of the situation was clear in his serious tone. "It will take us more than a month to reach them, given the increased dangers and the meticulous pace we must maintain to ensure our survival. Let's just hope they can hold on until we get there."

Ida, though visibly frustrated with the timeline, understood the necessity of Krazthir's plan. The slow progress through the earlier levels had been a hard-learned lesson in the brutal reality of their quest. He clenched his fists, his resolve firming. "We have no choice but to be prudent," he murmured more to himself than anyone else.

As they retraced their steps to the safe zone, the wounded were tended to with the few resources they had left. The safe zone itself was a stark contrast to the chaos of the lower levels. It was a place of relative calm, where the dim, flickering light from the crystals embedded in the walls provided a somber ambiance.

During their stay, the air was filled with low conversations about strategy and recounting of the harrowing events they had just survived. Krazthir took it upon himself to explain to the other teams, who had been spared the worst of Leviathan's wrath, exactly what had transpired and the new mission at hand. Their reactions were a mixture of shock and a renewed sense of urgency, though no new volunteers stepped forward to join the perilous journey deeper into the dungeon. The reality was stark; the only ones capable of venturing to such deadly depths had been decimated by Leviathan's envy for those who were free all the time it was under seal.

After a few days of rest, during which they replenished their supplies and bolstered their spirits with tales of past victories and fallen friends, they were ready to set out again. The mood was one of grim determination as they donned their gear, checked their weapons, and prepared to face whatever horrors lay ahead.

With Krazthir leading the way, the group left the safety of the zone, their steps echoing in the vast, echoing tunnels. The journey back to the depths where Amukelo and Eliss were presumed to be was about to begin, each member steeling themselves for the challenges they knew they would inevitably face.

. . .

Amukelo and Eliss's pace toward the cave was painfully slow, each step a test of endurance against their battered bodies. Amukelo's ribs protested with every breath, sending sharp stabs of pain through his chest, while Eliss limped beside him, relying heavily on his support. Their progress was agonizingly gradual, not just due to their injuries but because every movement was laden with the weight of dread, anticipating the possible horrors that might still be lurking.

The haunting silence of the dungeon was suddenly shattered by a chilling, echoing roar, followed by a loud huck that froze them in their tracks. Amukelo's heart sank as he turned to see the monstrous silhouette of Leviathan emerging from the dust, its horrific form descending towards them with malevolent grace. The monster's laugh, deep and resonating, filled the cavernous space, mocking their frailty.

"I can't believe you survived this fall," Leviathan taunted, its voice a sinister rumble that vibrated through the ground. "I was right about the fact that you are the only danger to us." Its mockery was a sharp contrast to the deadly intent in its actions as it lunged forward, eager to finish what it had started.

But Amukelo, driven by a desperate surge of survival instinct, pulled Eliss closer and pushed forward with all the strength he could muster. Each step was agony, his body screaming in protest, but the fear of what would happen if he stopped was far greater. They entered the cave that was too small for Leviathan. As it prepared to finish them with his dark magic, Amukelo made a split-second decision.

With a ragged shout, he threw the handful of crystal shards he had been clutching, a desperate ploy. Channeling the last reserves of his mana, he sent a weak firebolt towards the shards. Initially, the flame was but a flicker, nearly lost in the overwhelming darkness of the cave. However, as the bolt connected with so many shards, a chain reaction began. The explosion that followed was colossal, an inferno that ignited the air and sent shockwaves rippling through the cave.

Leviathan, caught off guard by the ferocity of the blast, roared in frustration and rage. The explosion had not only injured the beast but also triggered a collapse of the cave entrance. Massive rocks dislodged from the ceiling, falling in a thunderous cascade that sealed the entrance with a thick barrier of stone.

Amukelo and Eliss were thrown backward by the force of the explosion, tumbling across the rough cave floor. The heat from the blast scorched their skin, adding new burns to their litany of wounds. They lay there momentarily stunned, their ears ringing and their vision blurred from the shock.

As they struggled to regain their senses, another set of ominous sounds penetrated the ringing in their ears—deep, guttural growls and the sound of claws clashing against the stones. It was coming from a cave entrance that was now blocked by stone.

With the pressure of Leviathan destroying their temporary line of defense, Amukelo and Eliss needed to move deeper into the cave, to find a safe place where they would escape Leviathan, or at least a brief moment to tend to their wounds. Eliss was unable to walk, so Amukelo grabbed Eliss with his working hand and he glided along the ground, pushing off the floor with both legs. 

Amukelo and Eliss, their breaths shallow and rapid from exertion and fear, scrambled into the small crevice in the cave wall. The space was cramped and barely concealed them from view. Eliss, unable to move under her own power due to her injuries, relied entirely on Amukelo, who, despite his own severe pain, managed to drag them both into the shallow refuge. Every movement was agony, echoing in his ribs and the broken arm, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins pushed him beyond his limits.

As they settled into the notch, the ominous sounds of the cave's structure being assaulted by Leviathan intensified. The ground vibrated with the force of the monster's fury, rocks tumbling and dust cascading down around them. They pressed as far back into the wall as they could, barely daring to breathe, eyes fixed on the barrier from the rocks they had so desperately erected.

Leviathan's presence loomed just beyond their makeshift barricade. They could hear the beast snarling and growling, the sound reverberating off the cave walls, a terrifying symphony of anger and frustration. Then, with a thunderous roar, Leviathan unleashed a blast of dark magic at the remaining rocks blocking its view. The explosion was deafening, rocks shattered into dust, but as the dust settled, Leviathan's glowing, malevolent eyes scanned the area and found nothing but empty shadows and debris.

"Don't you think that you escaped me," Leviathan's voice boomed through the cave, dripping with malice. "I will hunt you down anyway. There is no escape from this place." Its words echoed ominously, hanging heavy in the stale air of the cave. "You can now consider this dungeon as your grave. Hahaha..." With a final contemptuous laugh, the sound of Leviathan's massive form receding into the depths of the dungeon filled the tense silence.

Once the immediate threat of discovery passed, Amukelo and Eliss allowed themselves a moment to catch their breath, their hearts pounding against their chests. Amukelo, his back against the cold, damp wall, looked over at Eliss. Her face was pale, her eyes reflecting the flickering shadows cast by the dim, bioluminescent fungi dotting the cave walls.

He whispered, barely audible, "We're safe, for now." His voice was a mix of reassurance and weariness. Eliss managed a weak nod, her breaths still short and pained. As the immediate danger was over, Amukelo's eyes became heavy, and he lost consciousness.