Vol.1 Ch.33 You’re Still Alive!
<span style="font-weight:400">As the group traversed the 12th floor of the dungeon, they found themselves in front of arge door that seemed to be made of white obsidian.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Whistling!* "That''s a lot of white obsidian. I kinda wish we brought a bag of holding," Percy said as he readied his bow and arrow.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Be serious," Sir George barked as he readied his sword and shield.
<span style="font-weight:400">The group entered the room with the doors made of white obsidian and was shocked to find an enormous and ornate throne at the other end of the room. It was also built of obsidian, and its top was set with intricate carvings of a ck goblin with a crown. Or was it a hobgoblin?
<span style="font-weight:400">"Sir George, look at this ce! It''s amazing!" Percy eximed as he looked around the abnormal throne room in awe.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You can do your sightseeingter, boy! Only after we dealt with the threats first. So, keep your guard up," Sir George replied while moving carefully ahead of everyone.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Why is this ce abandoned?" Rya asked curiously as she entered the throne room following Sir George and Quinus.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That''s a good question. Maybe the horde is out on the surface right now?" Quinus said as he looked at the room.
<span style="font-weight:400">"With our luck, I''m sure they are running around the dungeon for some reason," Sir George spat out bitterly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rya looked down at the floor and noticed a crude circle drawn on the ground. The circle was drawn in a dark red substance.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh? Hey, I think I know wha~" Rya stopped talking when she heard footstepsing from the hall behind them. Dalia heard the footsteps as well. She turned around and readied her ws.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Huh? Rya?" Quinus asked as he saw Rya looking behind them, back in the dark hallway.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Someone''sing... Sounds like the feet of humans running towards us," Dalia answered as she nced at Quinus.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, the traitorous dog hase to see us... I''ll make sure to take his head this time, my Lord!" Sir George said as he took the lead position next to Dalia.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Crap, there''s no good ce to hide in here!" Rya yelled out as she took a defensive stance behind Quinus.
<span style="font-weight:400">"We have no reason to hide from them, My Lady," Sir George shouted as he held his sword up. So he could go on the offensive at a moment''s notice.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Stay close together! Sir George, take a position at the front line with me! Percy, ready your bow and back up Rya. Dalia, I''ll need you to nk them! Do a hit-and-run strategy," Quinus ordered as he readied his sword, Sun''s Fury.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Can do, Beta!" Dalia said as she ran and hid in the corner as best as she could.
<span style="font-weight:400">"It''s time to finish this fool," Sir George muttered as the sound of footsteps came closer from the dark hallway. This made everyone get into a defensive position.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Step! Step! Step! Step! Step!*
<span style="font-weight:400">All of a sudden, Marcus and a single ck Rose Merc bust through the open door to the throne room. They didn''t notice Quinus or his party standing there as they mmed the big doors shut and tried to bar them as fast as possible.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Fuck! What the hell is chasing them?'' Rya thought to herself as she readied her sword.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, the traitor hase! You''re going to pay for what you have done, Marcus!" Sir George said as he charged at Marcus.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Y-You bastards are alive!?" Marcus yelled as he charged at the old Knight. But despite Marcus'' best effort, he wasn''t ready for a close encounterbat as he was having trouble using his air magic when the Knight closed in on him, in a hurry.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swing! ng!*
<span style="font-weight:400">*Thud!*
<span style="font-weight:400">Marcus'' Merc came in to save him as he swung his massive war hammer at Sir George who parried it with his shield and then shed at Marcus, just barely missing him.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Ack! You’re going to pay for that, George! I’m not the one who''s going to die here!!!" Marcus screamed as he was forced to retreat. He quickly shot a wind bullet at Sir George only for it to be blocked by the knight''s shield. George knew he couldn''t let Marcus get any distance from them or else the situation would be much more dire. So, the knight maneuvered around the Merc to maintain his pursuit of Marcus. Regardless of what happened to him.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Get him, George!" Quinus said as he moved up behind Sir George. So, he could assist the Knight in his pursuit of Marcus.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rya couldn''t believe how fast the battle progressed but she had to admit how impressive Sir George''s skill was. For how old he was, George was able to dodge or block everything that was thrown at him. She also noticed Marcus was in worse shape now than the first time she saw him. His clothes seemed to be in disrepair from battling something beforeing here. Quinus started fighting the ck Rose Merc and was pushing him back. So, Sir George could pursue Marcus without worry.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swing!*
<span style="font-weight:400">*Cling!*
<span style="font-weight:400">*Dong!*
<span style="font-weight:400">"Arh!" Screamed the Merc as Quinus struck his left arm with his de. Fortunately, his armor protected him from losing his arm.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quinus then performed an overhead strike on his hammer.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Fuck!" The Merc screamed as he fell to the ground and his weapon was knocked away. Quinus aimed the tip of his sword at the Merc''s neck.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, was it worth the money, Merc?" Quinus asked as he waved his sword over the Merc.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Tch! He offered us the liquid ether. But if I die here I guess not," The Merc cursed as he tried to get up. So he could keep fighting, but Quinus stopped him by cing his de on the skin of his neck.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quinus then looked down at the Merc''s chest and saw some blood pouring out. It was a wound that wasn''t caused by the prince''s attack.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">***
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Marcus was trying to do anything in his power to get some distance between himself and Sir George as he was getting closer to the edge of the throne room.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Growl!"
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swing! Swing!*
<span style="font-weight:400">*St!*
<span style="font-weight:400">"AH! My legs!?" Marcus screamed as he lost his bnce.
<span style="font-weight:400">While George was chasing Marcus, Dalia came out of hiding and wed his achilles in both legs which caused him to fall to his knees.
<span style="font-weight:400">"AAAhhh! SO, YOU NEED A MUTT TO DO YOUR DIRTY WORK!" Marcus yelled as he tried to shake off the pain and fire off another wind spell towards Dalia that she dodged.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swing!*
<span style="font-weight:400">*St!*
<span style="font-weight:400">Sir George came into severe Marcus’ left hand which was aimed at Dalia.
<span style="font-weight:400">"There’s nowhere to run now, Marcus!" George said as he pointed his sword at Marcus.
<span style="font-weight:400">Marcus was holding his severed arm with his other hand. He was in a panic as his adrenaline was pumping, and he was bleeding out fast. "I-I swear I didn''t mean to abandon you, Quinus! I''m SORRY! PLEASE CALL OFF YOUR KNIGHT!" Marcus cried as tears began streaming down his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sir George nced at Quinus to await his orders.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Just do it, Quin. He''s going to backstab you again if you let him live.'' Rya thought while witnessing the fight that unfolded in front of her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quinus has an uneasy look to him but with a stern face, he nodded to Sir George to do the deed.
<span style="font-weight:400">"NO! Quinus! PLEAS-"
<span style="font-weight:400">*Swing!*
<span style="font-weight:400">*Thump!*
<span style="font-weight:400">Marcus'' head was no longer attached to his body as he fell over dead.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Ew! I''m not sure how long it will take for me to get used to so much death.'' Rya thought as she followed the path of the severed head as it rolled across the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">After witnessing the fight that unfolded in front of her, Rya couldn''t help but feel like a spectator in a y, watching two actors performing their roles.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Well, I felt useless in this fight. But I''m d I didn''t have to do anything. That was... a little too much.'' Rya thought to herself as she looked at the sword in her hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">*Boom. Boom! BOOM!*
<span style="font-weight:400">The sounds of a drum started to roll loudly in the distance. Echoing off of the walls and shaking the doors of the throne room.
<span style="font-weight:400">''Gah! Of course, the goblins areing back! I had to jinx myself!'' Rya thought with frustration.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, Merc! What did you and my cousin run into in the dungeon?" Quinus asked while pushing the tip of his de against his neck.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I''ll tell you if you let me live," The Merc replied with a pained expression on his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I''ll give you this one chance. NOW SPEAK!" Quinus demanded as he was getting irritated.
<span style="font-weight:400">"We ran into the Hobgoblin King," The Merc said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, The ck Roses couldn''t handle some Hobgoblins? It seems that your reputation is overrated, Merc!" Sir George sniped.
<span style="font-weight:400">"It seems—" The Merc was interrupted by a loud boom from behind the doors.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What was that?" Percy asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can hear its footsteps? It sounds big... and heavy!” Dalia eximed as the hairs on the back of her neck went on end. While she was on edge, her ears were pinned back and her tail was still. They all noticed something approaching the barred doors to the Throne Room.
<span style="font-weight:400">"We ran into a cave troll," The Merc said with a grim look.
<span style="font-weight:400">"A-A CAVE TROLL!?" Percy eximed.
<span style="font-weight:400">"EVERYONE FORM UP!" Quinus ordered as he stepped back from the Merc.
<span style="font-weight:400">Everyone hurried away from the door. "Well Merc, if you survive this and help us, then I''ll pardon you for your transgressions," Quinus said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rya looked at Quinus and gave him a nod.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Your Highness, if we fail here today. I''ll have to make an example of you in the afterlife. So you better live," Sir George said, trying to lighten the mood.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quinus nods back to Sir George while the Merc grabs his War Hammer from the ground by the door. Then, there was a loud crashing noiseing from the other side of the door.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Rya! You and I are going to focus on the troll! Everyone else! Take on the Hobgoblins! Got it!" Quinus yelled out as everyone looked at the doors.