After his interaction with Valen, Qasim was now trying to stay as far away from his past self as possible. He knew the monsters were still behind him. Even though he couldn’t see them, he was aware that they could emerge from the walls at any moment to reach him.
"All thanks to this thing..."
He looked angrily at the parasite, which was now completely fused with the left side of his body.
After another chamber, it finally happened.
The monsters began making their way through the walls.
Qasim immediately sped up, determined to get away as quickly as possible.
"One more chamber! Only one more, and this will be over!"
It was as if the monsters also understood that this was their last chance to catch the boy.
They became more aggressive, faster, and more desperate.
Qasim ran as fast as he could, but even then, some of the monsters managed to catch up to him.
Their nasty purple roots shot toward him and pierced his legs, attempting to paralyze him.
Qasim burned his own legs without hesitation.
The pain was unbearable, and he immediately regretted doing it, but it bought him more time.
He covered himself with defensive wind and water spells as he continued running.
In the next moment, Qasim’s eyes widened.
The monsters were throwing each other at him.
He managed to dodge some of them, but others slammed into him and slashed through his skin.
In no time, he was surrounded from all directions.
There was no way out.
It was the end for him.
At least, that was what the monsters thought as they closed in on the helpless boy.
But even through the pain and horror, Qasim still had one solution for situations like this.
"Just like that night..."
He looked at the small gap between the monsters ahead of him.
Qasim took a deep breath.
And just before the monsters could tear him apart, he whispered something.
His body suddenly shone with a blue light.
In the next second, he used Light Dash and escaped through the gap, rushing toward the next chamber.
He made it.
Qasim had reached the very first chamber where his team had started.
The dead monsters were still there, which meant he had arrived after his past self had already moved forward.
Qasim immediately collapsed onto the ground, exhausted and barely able to breathe.
He quickly analyzed his condition.
Several of his bones were broken.
His body was covered in wounds, and several purple roots had wrapped themselves around his chest, dangerously close to his heart.
He cast a freezing spell on himself to numb the pain slightly.
Then he didn’t wait any longer.
Qasim summoned the spirit and ordered it to slowly release everyone.
After several minutes, the chamber was filled with familiar faces.
All of them were much older than when they had entered the dungeon.
Broxi could barely speak, but he managed to assure everyone that they would gradually return to normal. After all, they had remained inside the spirit and hadn’t experienced what happened inside the cave.
And he was right.
After some time, everyone returned to the age they had been when they first entered the dungeon.
"Good job, kid... You saved us all."
Doran smiled slightly. He was feeling much better after being under the care of the healing spirit.
"That’s my student!"
Levia smiled.
"Mm. Good job."
Yasmin nodded.
"Well, that’s not bad for a weak hum—"
Selena was about to say something, but Valen interrupted her.
He suddenly rushed toward Qasim and hugged him.
"YES! THAT’S MY BOY, EVERYONE! HAHA! HE IS MY PRECIOUS BOY!"
"How dare you push an elf like me, you idiot!"
Selena immediately ran after Valen.
The rest of the elves, along with Aluna and Zyra, also thanked Qasim.
But then Qasim turned his head.
His expression changed.
Broxi was lying on the ground.
And he didn’t look well.
"A-Are you okay?"
Qasim tried to reach for him, but Broxi immediately pushed his hand away.
"Don’t touch me!"
"Please... You need to do something. I..."
Broxi’s voice trembled.
"I feel myself fading..."
His breathing became heavier.
"It’s... It’s coming back."
His eyes trembled.
"The madness is coming back with the pain... Please."
Broxi looked at them, tears running down his face.
His head was getting shorter, and his body was slowly becoming younger.
"Please..."
He looked at Qasim.
"Kill me."
"I am afraid... I’m scared of the voices in my head. I don’t want to hear them anymore."
Broxi grabbed Qasim’s hand while crying.
His face was a mixture of fear, sadness, and madness.
Qasim’s eyes widened.
He didn’t know what to do.
He tried to speak, but no words came out.
"Right!"
Qasim suddenly looked toward Valen.
"Valen, can’t you do something to help him?"
There was hope in his eyes.
But Valen could only shake his head helplessly.
"No, my boy..."
He lowered his gaze.
"I am capable of many things, but even Maker isn’t an omnipotent power."
"T-Then Aluna?"
Qasim looked toward the elf leader.
But she remained silent and slowly shook her head.
Qasim stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do.
Then he felt a sudden pain in his hand.
He looked down.
Broxi was scratching it.
"Please..."
Broxi’s voice was barely audible.
"Just..."
By now, Broxi looked more like a man in his thirties. He was barely holding himself together.
"Let me do it, Qasim."
Zyra stepped forward and gently pushed Qasim aside.
She then looked toward Yasmin.
"Give me the longest dagger you have."
Although Yasmin could have done it herself, Zyra believed that something like this was the responsibility of an adult.
Yasmin handed her the dagger.
Zyra looked down at the trembling man on the ground.
"Thank you for your help..."
She tightened her grip on the dagger.
"I hope you find peace in the afterlife."
With one swift swing, the man’s head flew across the room before landing on the ground.
There was no scream.
No pain.
It was quick and painless.
Silence ruled the chamber.
Nobody wanted to speak.
They simply sat there in silence, honoring the man who had helped them.
After some time, they continued walking.
The barrier that had blocked their path before was now gone.
The group didn’t lower their guard as they walked past it and toward the entrance of the dungeon.
Then they smelled it.
Fresh air.
The sunlight gently touched their skin.
They were out.
The nightmare was over.
But they weren’t relieved.
They weren’t happy.
Instead, they found a group of goblins blocking their way, weapons in hand and supernatural powers surrounding them.
Zyra stepped forward.
"I am Zyra, leader of the 44th Expedition, which officially started on the first of September."
"What are you doing here? And who is your commander?"
Nobody from their side spoke.
It was clear that the goblins knew Zyra and wanted to speak with her, but they had their own orders to follow.
Zyra narrowed her eyes.
Something felt wrong.
Then someone stepped forward.
A strong male goblin with unique tattoos covering his body.
"Oh, Zyra."
He smiled.
"It’s good to see you..."
His smile widened.
"Alive."
"I personally didn’t think you would make it out."
His eyes moved toward the group behind her.
"Not only that, but you have the enemy with you too."
He chuckled.
"Truly, good job, Zyra."
Zyra replied in a cold voice.
"Korman..."
She tightened her fist.
"Can’t say I’m happy to see you, but..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean by... enemy?"
Korman looked surprised for a moment.
Then he smiled wickedly.
"Oh, right..."
He tilted his head.
"You don’t know."
His smile disappeared.
"Zyra, it’s been nineteen days since you first entered."
He looked at the humans and elves behind her.
"And we, alongside the Beastkin Kingdom, have declared war against the filthy humans and their allies."
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