The Beginning After The End (New Heights Book 2) (12 page)

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.
 
It 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.