Chapter 57
It took some convincing. I tried to be patient, reminding myself that the others had never experienced a dungeon. In the end, everyone agreed to leave the more obvious door alone.
But that still left us with two options. One set of holes corresponding with the arms, one with the feet.
Four arms to fight, feed, and rend.
Four legs to skitter.
I frowned. So, if Im reading this correctly, the passage corresponding with the arms will probably involve something with combat. While the passage with the legs will require movement.
Movement? Sae asked.
Running. Jumping. Something that requires more than a little agility.
Talia growled. The arm passage reeks of death. Though the same scent is far stronger from the back passage.
Nick raised his hand. Hate to be the one to put us in harms way and whatnot, but my Agility is not very high.
Ours isnt great either, Sae said, including Jinny in the statement. I knew that wasnt exactly true. Jinny and I would probably fare well in an Agility trial, but I had no intention of watching Nick do the Indiana Jones boulder run in heavy armor.
That only leaves us with one option. Jinny turned towards the gaping holes in the wall, looking mildly nauseous.
Ill go first, Nick volunteered immediately.
It really shouldnt be you, I said to open air, as he continued striding confidently towards the wall. Youre our primary source of defense and direct damage.
Its not the first time Ive been shoulderer. Never mind. Anyway, you cant lead from the back, Matt. He winked at me. I felt my stomach tighten. hadnt triggered when Id revealed the openings, so it should be fine. But it felt uncomfortable, not being the one taking the risks. I wondered if that was my controlling side or something else.
He is truly your friend?" Talia asked, the mental suggestion tagged with bewilderment.
Is that so hard to believe?"
Honesty. Charisma. The bravery to take things head on. He would make a fine wolf. It almost sounded like she was gushing.
I couldnt help but feel annoyed. Pretty sure youre not his type.
Whelp. It is just curious. He is your opposite. The light to your darkness.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m
Jinny was either impervious because of her title, or her stats were high enough that she could easily shake the effect off. She was talking to Nick in a low voice, and while he sounded raspy, he was listening.
Sae, on the other hand, was giving me a look that I could only interpret one way. Like she wanted payback.
I ducked under a brutal haymaker. She wasnt even bothering with the Wing Chun anymore.
I reached out to her with
Stop. Think about what were doing, why were here.
You made me look like an idiot. She seethed, swinging her arm in a vicious backhand that narrowly missed my face.
And I promise you a rematch I stopped mid-sentence to shift out of the way as a foot lashed out at my head. When were safe, and away from here. I didnt care that she would likely win, so long as it squashed this idiotic beef between us.
Jinny caught her arm and hauled her back. Enough. Sae struggled against her.
And then an animalistic growl froze us all in place. It had all happened so fast I hadnt even had time to take in our surroundings. Talia stood a few feet into the chamber, her hackles raised. Green torches came to life, illuminating the area in pairs as they toggled on like stadium lights.
Before us was a black bridge, made of the same material as the previous room. There was no liquid accumulated on the floor in this chamber, and it was easy to see why. At the unguarded edges of the bridge was an endless void. Beyond the bridge was a circular platform, maybe fifty meters across with a large hole in the center, rotating slowly like a gothic carousel.
Only instead of horses, there were blurry humanoid figures holding weapons.
Do we stay or go? Jinny asked, her voice panicked.
I waited, tense. The bridge was a bottleneck. If we stayed here, our mages could fire at the figures as they crossed. But only if they played by the same rules. I stared at their feet. They were walking against the movement of the carousel and heading towards us, but something about it seemed off. As if they werent really touching the ground.
I watched one at the far edge as it moved closer. They were heading in a direct line, not heeding the bridge at all. It reached the edge of the circular arena, took one step off.
And levitated.
Matt, Nick said, still panting.
I see it. No choice. Push. Now.
Nick charged forward, his shield arm held high, everyone else following him into the breach. I reached to the nearest blurry figure with attempting to impart hesitation and terror.
A thousand minds screeched back.
