Novaris City
On the eastern outskirts of Novaris City. The dungeon that Noah and Damien had explored remained under strict quarantine.
No civilians were allowed anywhere near it. Large transport vehicles belonging to the Hero Association surrounded the area.
Researchers carrying various magical instruments moved busily between temporary laboratories and observation tents, documenting every abnormal fluctuation coming from the dungeon.
Around them, dozens of adventurers stood guard with weapons in hand. A temporary camp had been established nearly a hundred meters away from the dungeon entrance.
The distance wasn’t chosen at random.
If the danger emerged from the dungeon.
The personnel would have enough time to retreat while the emergency defenses were activated.
---
Deep Inside the Dungeon
Far deep the surface. Hidden below one of the chamber.
Lay a gigantic natural cavern. Unlike the man-made looking above.
This place had been formed by nature itself.
Its walls were uneven. Jagged stone pillars stretched from floor to ceiling.
The cavern extended so far into the darkness that its end couldn’t even be seen.
Yet the most horrifying sight wasn’t the cavern itself.
It was what covered it.
Everywhere. Across the rocky floor.
Lining the walls even hanging motionless from sections of the cavern were creatures.
Hundreds of them.
Perhaps even thousands.
Every single one possessed the same horrifying appearance. Pale white skin with an oily sheen. Long unnaturally thin limbs.
Black curved claws. Green veins crawling beneath translucent flesh.
Massive mouths overflowing with jagged teeth. Seven black horns crowning their heads.
The exact same creatures Noah and Damien had encountered before.
The same monster Noah had killed inside the dungeon.
The same creatures that had crawled from the corpse of the giant guardian.
Every single one remained perfectly still.
They were like corpses or sleeping predators.
Silence ruled the cavern.
Then one finger twitched. A pale hand slowly clenched. Its enormous crimson eyes snapped open.
A cold red light illuminated the darkness. The creature slowly lifted its head.
Its chest expanded.
ROOOOOOAAARRRRRRR!!!
Its deafening roar echoed throughout the underground cavern.
The sound awakened everything. Hundreds of crimson eyes opened simultaneously.
---
Outside the Dungeon
Near the sealed entrance. Five adventurers stood watch.
A middle-aged swordsman named Gareth rested his weapon across his shoulder.
"So..."
He yawned.
"Another quiet day."
Beside him, a young archer named Liana rolled her eyes.
"You’ve said that every day this week. And every day you’ve nearly fallen asleep."
A muscular man carrying a battle axe laughed.
"If monsters show up now, Gareth will probably die before drawing his sword."
"Oh, shut up, Rowan."
A female mage adjusted her glasses.
"I’d actually prefer another peaceful day. I’m tired of babysitting researchers."
The youngest among them, Theo, sighed.
"I heard the Hero Association plans to keep this dungeon sealed for months. I don’t even know why we’re still guarding an empty cave."
Before anyone could answer...
Tremble...
The ground shook beneath their feet. Everyone instantly fell silent.
Gareth’s relaxed expression disappeared.
His sword was already in his hand.
"...Did you feel that?"
Another tremor followed.
Tremble...
Liana slowly aimed her bow toward the cave entrance.
"...Something’s coming."
Rowan tightened his grip on his axe.
Theo’s face paled.
Gareth immediately shouted,
"Battle positions!"
All five adventurers instantly spread out into formation. Their eyes remained fixed upon the dark entrance.
The silence became suffocating.
A horrifying roar echoed from deep inside the dungeon.
ROOOOOAAARRRRR!!
Theo instinctively stepped backward.
"...Captain...That didn’t sound like any monster I’ve ever heard."
Gareth’s expression became grim.
"Forget identifying it."
He pointed toward the camp.
"Theo!"
"Warn the Hero Association staff immediately! Tell them we have a possible dungeon outbreak!"
Theo nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, sir!"
He immediately sprinted toward the research camp.
The remaining four tightened their formation.
Then something stepped out of the darkness.
A pale claw. A creature emerged. Its oily white skin reflected the sunlight unnaturally.
Its crimson eyes stared directly at them. Then another appeared.
Dozens came. Their horrifying roars echoed together.
ROOOOOAAARRRRRRR!!
Gareth’s face drained of color.
"...Shit. There are too many!"
The monsters didn’t stop.
They continued pouring from the dungeon entrance.
Hundreds of them. An endless tide of pale bodies.
Their mouths dripped saliva. Their crimson eyes burned with hunger.
Gareth immediately made his decision.
"Fall back! Retreat to the defensive perimeter! Activate the emergency barrier!"
The four adventurers immediately turned and ran.
Behind them the horde exploded forward. The creatures moved with terrifying speed. They closed the distance within seconds.
"...They’re catching us!"
Liana shouted.
A deafening scream suddenly echoed behind them.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
Theo who had been running toward the camp was the first to be caught.
One of the creatures leaped onto him. Its grotesque jaws opened impossibly wide.
CRUNCH!!
His head disappeared inside its mouth. Blood erupted across the ground.
His lifeless body collapsed without another sound.
"...Theo!!"
Rowan roared. His face twisted with rage. He suddenly stopped running.
Mana erupted around his body.
"I’ll hold them back!"
"Go!"
A massive crimson magic circle formed before him.
"Flame Burst!"
BOOOOOOM!!
An enormous explosion of fire engulfed the charging monsters.
Several were thrown backward.
Many burned. But it wasn’t enough. There were simply too many. The flames disappeared beneath the endless swarm.
"...No—!"
Within moments Rowan was overwhelmed. The creatures buried him beneath countless pale bodies.
His screams lasted only seconds. Gareth and Liana didn’t dare look back. They continued sprinting toward the Hero Association camp.
---
Inside the temporary camp.
Researchers immediately noticed the commotion.
Mike, the leader of the investigation team, looked toward the charging monsters.
His face instantly turned pale.
"...Damn it."
He immediately shouted,
"Emergency protocol! Everyone to your assigned positions! Activate the containment barrier immediately!"
"Move!"
The Hero Association staff sprang into action. Long before beginning their investigation.
They had anticipated the possibility of a dungeon breach.
Specialized mana devices had been buried around the dungeon entrance in a perfect circle.
Their sole purpose was to contain exactly this kind of disaster.
At Mike’s command the devices activated simultaneously. Brilliant streams of blue mana erupted into the sky.
One by one the beams connected together.
A gigantic dome-shaped barrier rapidly formed around the entire dungeon entrance.
Just before the barrier completely sealed...
Gareth, Liana and the injured mage, Selena.
Managed to dive through the opening. The translucent blue barrier closed behind them.
The first wave of horrifying creatures slammed into it with earth-shaking force.
BOOOOOOM!!
The entire dome trembled. Then another monster crashed into it.
Hundreds of pale creatures were clawing, biting, and roaring against the magical barrier.
The Hero Association members could only stare in horror.
Because every one of them realized the same terrifying truth.
If that barrier failed.
Novaris City would become the monsters’ next hunting ground.
"Sir Mike. I have contacted Novaris Academy. Fortunately Principle Adiran is present. He will come soon." Hearing one of the member’s words.
Mike sighed in relief. One of the strongest person in empire was present in city.
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