We were currently on our way to the forest exit, where even seeing was difficult due to thick fog. Mages cast light magic to lit the wet, grassy path.
Along the way, we did not encounter anything unusual except wild animals running past us and moving in the bushes. However, everyone was feeling nervous in this foggy forest where a slight misstep could get us lost.
"Hey, did you feel that just now?"
"What? I did not feel anything"
Something moved between dense bushes with the cracking sound of twigs on the ground.
I don't know what you are talking about, bastard. Don't scare me.
Merchant guards kept arguing to take their minds off the fear.
I breathed out and checked our surroundings just to be sure.
"It could really be wild animal"
We continued walking, but soon noticed that everyone was disappearing one by one.
"Hey, Captain."
I ran after them, but did not find anyone. Instead, I found myself surrounded by thick fog.
I kept walking towards the path we decided on, as that was the only way to regroup with others.
Phewww...
"Why does this have to happen to me?
Soon after, I noticed fog getting cleared, but what I came across was not the merchant group but the dungeon that I was trying to avoid.
This dungeon was an old experimental facility where dark mages used to experiment. After unexpected destruction at the hands of the eastern kingdom's forces, it became the Lich King's hideout.
"I guess there is no turning back now that I am here"
I started descending into the pitch-black dungeon.
Blue flames lit the path on both sides.
My boots kept thumping the floor again as I moved forward. The place was filled with many traps that could easily kill any D-rank adventurer so I was careful not to activate any trap.
Click.
It seems I am just unlucky
An arrow burst from the wall.
I jerked my head aside.
Whoosh!
The projectile grazed my cheek before embedding itself in the stone behind me.
A thin line of blood trickled down my face.
Phew!
"That was close."
However, suddenly skeletons with swords and clubs attacked me.
I drew my sword and engaged in combat.
A rusted sword came swinging toward my neck.
Clang!
I raised my blade just in time.
The impact sent a jolt through my arms.
Before the skeleton could recover, I stepped forward and drove my boot upward.
Crack!
The skeleton's skull flew from its shoulders and rolled across the floor.
I ducked beneath the club.
Before I could rise, an arrow flashed toward my chest.
"Shit!"
Sparks exploded as my sword knocked it aside.
Using the opening, I sprinted toward the archer before it could nock another arrow and killed the archer.
The final skeleton staggered toward me with one arm hanging loose.
I swung with everything I had.
Crunch!
The blade split through its spine.
Vertebrae burst apart as the skeleton collapsed into a pile of rattling bones.
Silence returned to the corridor.
"That was dangerous, I can still feel my heart beating fast"
After collecting all the weapons that I could sell for some gold coins, I walked further inside the dungeon and soon came across a completely dark room.
As soon as I went slightly further, a thud sound came from behind me, and the room got lit with blue flames.
The door shut behind me, and I saw a giant skeleton with only its upper body lying on the ground in the middle. There were archers on the balcony on all sides, who seemed ready to attack.
KRRRKKK...
The giant skeleton's fingers dug into the stone floor.
The entire hall trembled as the enormous corpse dragged itself forward.
Blue flames ignited within its eye sockets.
The pressure alone made my breathing stop for a moment.
FWOOOOOSH
It swinged it's left arm, torn away previously using its other arm.
Feeling the coming wind, I knew that if it hit me, I would die instantly. I quickly jumped back to avoid the incoming attack and brought out my bow and arrow to shoot down archers from the balcony.
Just at that moment,
A rain of burning arrows descended from the balconies.
Trails of orange fire cut through the darkness.
Instinct screamed at me.
I threw myself sideways as the arrows exploded against the floor where I had been standing moments before.
Just at that moment, the giant skeleton raised its arm.
Cracks spread across the stone beneath its fingers.
A shadow swallowed me.
My instincts screamed.
I jumped away just as the massive limb crashed down.
"Damn! bastards playing foul"
I burned archers to a crisp with the fireball spell.
I turned my eyes and saw a bloody head opening his mouth and shooting ice shards my way. I hide behind a pillar to dodge it.
"I have to somehow get to the left side of his skull"
I ran around to avoid ice shards.
"There, found it"
Players had to attack the pterion of the skull to kill it. I shot fire arrows, but they just dropped down after colliding.
"How do I hit it hard to break his skull"
Its skull was big and thick so I needed something that could deal massive damage at once.
I rolled to avoid his hand swing and ran to its back.
However, suddenly it launched itself into the air.
"This damn halfling really wants to crush me"
I had no choice, I took out the tortoise badge to place a protective shield around me.
Thud! Boom!
Its massive body landed on ground forming big crater and spreading dust everywhere.
The impact sent me crashing into the wall.
aaaaaaaa!
"Shit, what an impact"
I would have died if not for this artifact.
"I guess no option left now"
I created a football-sized mana bomb that swirled on my hand, releasing a suction force.
"This is my only chance"
I pulled my arm to the back and threw the mana bomb right at the pterion.
The mana bomb struck the side of its skull.
BOOOOM!
The entire chamber shook.
Dust poured from the ceiling while fragments of bone blasted across the room.
Its skull blew up, and its right hand dropped to the ground with a thud.
Phew!
"That did some insane damage"
Dust cleared after a while, with half a skull lying on the floor.
Mana particles started gathering before the skull and slowly formed into a blue bead.
I walked up to the bead and grabbed it.
"Man, all this for just this"
Even though this blue bead can give 20 years of mana supply, it is just a one-time use item.
"I don't think risking life for this is worth it"
I sat down on the floor, took out health and mana potions to recover.
"Thanks to the tortoise badge artifact I only sustained surface injuries, and no internal organs were harmed"
I rested for some time to recover and collected items that could be sold for gold.
Finally, after going through everything, I walked to the massive black door ahead. I placed ruin on the missing spot on the door.
Red magic patterns lit on the door, and slowly it opened up. However, I could not describe what I saw inside.
The whole room was filled with human skeletons. Some had a hand missing, and others head missing.
"Where is that half-dead"
I did not find the Lich King anywhere.
I roamed the room in circle but did not find even trace of him.
"where could he be"
Suddenly, a drop of red started falling in the center of the room, and slowly it formed a puddle.
"Not good"
"Come out, you fuck"
A hand shot from red puddle and slowly I saw massive skeleton with dark robe being formed there.
Whoosh
"Now we are playing"