Chapter 34 The Caves Dark Secrets （3）
The sound of steel clashing and explosions echoed through the cave, each impact shaking dust loose from the ceiling. Flames burst against stone, shards of ice scattered across the floor, and the air trembled from raw mana.
I parried a blade aimed at my neck, twisting my body and driving my knee into the cloaked attacker’s stomach. He staggered, but before he could recover, Sir Gallagher’s sword flashed past me and cut him down.
“Two left!” I shouted.
Gallagher grunted in acknowledgment, raising his shield as another fireball crashed against it. The blast sent a shockwave rolling across the clearing, but he pushed through it with sheer brute force.
I darted forward, channels of mana surging through my legs as I used Wind Walk. The world blurred for a moment, and I reappeared behind one of the cloaked subordinates. My sword sliced cleanly through his back before he even noticed I’d moved.
Another one lunged at me with twin daggers, movements sharp and deadly. I blocked the first strike, barely dodged the second, then conjured a small burst of wind magic—just enough to throw his balance off. Gallagher seized the moment, driving his blade through the attacker’s chest.
The last subordinate fell to the ground, cloak stained red.
Only one enemy remained.
The demonoid.
He stood at the far end of the cavern, dust swirling around him as the smoke cleared. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, filled with anger yet… calculation.
“Tch.” He clicked his tongue in annoyance. “You took out all of them already?”
I stepped forward, raising my sword. “Yeah. And you’re next.”
Gallagher lifted his shield. “You won’t escape this time, demonoid!”
The demonoid let out a low laugh, backing away as dark mana gathered around him. Not for an attack—this was different. Faster. Lighter.
A spell for retreat.
“Oh, I will escape,” he said, smirking. “I don’t feel like dying today.”
Before either of us could close the distance, he slammed his hand to the ground. A burst of black light exploded outward, forcing me and Gallagher to shield our faces.
When the glare faded—
The demonoid was already sprinting toward a crack in the cavern wall.
“Damn it—he’s running again!” I shouted.
His figure vanished into the shadows, escaping once more.
As I took a step forward, ready to sprint after the fleeing demonoid, Sir Gallagher’s voice cut sharply through the dust-filled air.
“Raito! Stop.”
I turned to him, frustration already boiling up. “But he—”
“There’s no point going after him,” Gallagher said firmly. “He’s already gotten away. Chasing him now would only waste time.”
I clenched my teeth, gripping my sword tighter… but I knew he was right.
He continued, voice heavy with urgency, “We need to find the others first—and make sure they’re all safe.”
“…Alright,” I exhaled. “Understood. Let’s go.”
Before we could take another step, a massive explosion thundered through the cave. The ground shook violently, pebbles rained from above, and a shockwave of hot air blasted through the tunnel.
Gallagher steadied himself. “What was that!?”
“I don’t know,” I said, scanning the tunnel ahead. “But I have a bad feeling something just happened.”
I met Gallagher’s eyes. “Let’s move, Sir.”
He nodded sharply. “Right!”
We sprinted back through the dim, twisting passageways, our boots echoing against the stone floor. My heartbeat thundered in my ears—not from exhaustion, but from dread. Every second we wasted was another moment something terrible could be happening to our allies.
As we arrive back at the three-way split again, I look at Gallagher.
“Sir Gallagher—you go after your soldiers. I’ll head to the heroes. We need to check on everyone before more enemies show up.”
“Understood.” He dashed toward the leftmost passage, armor clattering.
I turned toward the tunnel where Daito and the other heroes had gone, the one on the right. A faint orange glow flickered deep inside—too bright, too wild to be torchlight.
As I sprinted through the tunnel, the explosions grew louder—shaking the walls, kicking dust into the air, and drowning out even the sound of my own footsteps. The moment I reached the end of the passageway, a blinding burst of fire lit up the cavern ahead.
A massive, open chamber stretched before me… and at its center, Daito and the others were locked in a brutal fight.
Dozens of hooded figures—more than I expected—swarmed around them like a pack of starving wolves.
Daito stood at the front, swinging his longsword with desperate precision. “Damn it—there’s too many!” he shouted, pushing back an attacker with a heavy slash.
Yanie fought beside him, her blade flashing as she parried two hooded figures at once. Sweat dripped from her chin, her breathing ragged.
Kairo roared, his axe carving through an enemy’s chest—only to be struck in the back by another hooded figure’s spell. He staggered but stayed standing, refusing to fall.
Ayame stood behind a pillar of stone with her bow drawn, arrows firing one after another. Her shots were fast, accurate, but her quiver was nearly empty. “Cover the left! They’re pushing in!”
Hiro stood further back, mana flaring wildly around his hands. “Wind burst!” he yelled, blasting away three attackers—but the recoil dragged him to his knees. “Damn… I’m running low…”
Zachi held the front line with his shield raised high, blocking incoming fireballs and blades alike. His arm shook violently from the force. “I can’t hold them much longer!”
Yuchikimo flashed across the battlefield in a burst of speed, his twin blades dancing. He cut down two figures—but another caught him in the ribs with a knife. He bit down a scream, blood staining his clothes.
Before I could intervene, a hooded mage lifted both hands.
A massive red magic circle expanded above the battlefield.
“Everyone—MOVE!” Daito screamed.
They tried.
The explosion hit before anyone could fully dodge.
BOOOOM!
A fiery blast tore through the cavern—hurling Ayame against a stone wall, sending Zachi skidding across the floor, and knocking Hiro flat onto his back. Dust and smoke engulfed the area.
When the shockwave died down, I could finally see them.
All seven heroes were still alive… but barely.
Daito’s sword was cracked, and he clutched his bleeding side.
Yanie was on one knee, coughing violently.
Hiro could barely speak, his mana completely drained.
Kairo’s axe was chipped, and his armor dented.
Ayame tried to stand, only to collapse again, her bow snapped in half.
Yuchikimo’s clothes were soaked in blood, his breathing shallow.
Zachi’s shield was broken, and she falls unconscious.
They were surrounded… wounded… exhausted… and moments from collapse.
And the hooded figures were closing in for the kill.
One of the hooded figures stepped toward Zachi, grabbed her by the collar, and lifted her off the ground with one hand. She let out a weak gasp, too injured to fight back. With the other hand, the figure drew a dagger—its blade glinting in the dim light of the cavern.
Daito saw it first. His eyes widened with horror.
“STOP! Don’t do it!”
But the figure didn’t hesitate. The dagger rose… ready to strike.
I exhaled slowly.
In an instant, I switched the Jian sword for my Glacier Sword.
I drove the blade into the ground.
“Arctic Prison.”
A deep rumble shook the cavern.
A burst of frozen mana erupted from my sword, exploding outward like a tidal wave of winter. A blizzard surged across the battlefield—snow, frost, and razor-sharp ice spiraling wildly, swallowing everything in seconds.
I leaped down into the storm, landing on the now-frozen ground with a thunderous crack. As the dense haze of frost slowly cleared, the world around me transformed.
The battlefield was completely frozen.
The cavern walls were coated in thick ice.
Shards of frost hung from the ceiling like crystal spears.
And every single hooded figure was trapped in solid ice—frozen from head to toe in mid-motion, like statues caught in their final breath.
Behind me, Daito’s voice trembled.
“Wh… what just happened…?”
I turned and saw him struggling to get up, his clothes covered in frost shards. His breath misted in the icy air. He lifted his head and finally spotted me standing in the center of the frozen battlefield.
“Sir Raito…” he whispered.
Before he could say anything more, I shook my head.
“That’s enough. You can rest now.”
Daito gave a tired smile and lowered himself back down, relief washing over his face.
My eyes shifted toward the hooded figure holding Zachi. Frozen solid, arm still raised, dagger suspended in ice. I had made sure the spell never touched Zachi or the others—but the enemy was locked in place.
I walked toward it, boots crunching across the frosted ground.
Standing beside the figure, I didn’t hesitate.
With a swift slice, I cut off its frozen arm—shattering it into glittering fragments.
Zachi began to fall, the spell no longer holding her.
I caught her gently before she hit the ice.
“Easy,” I murmured, carrying her toward Daito. I placed her carefully in front of him, and he immediately reached out, checking her condition despite barely being able to move himself.
Then I turned back to the frozen executioner.
Switching my Glacier Sword for the Flare Sword, I lifted it to my side.
Mana surged through the blade—heat building, swelling, blazing brighter and brighter.
“Burning Impact.”
Flames roared upward.
The sword’s blade extended, becoming a massive burning arc of molten light. The heat was so intense that the ice around my feet instantly melted into steam.
I swung.
BOOOOOOM—!!
The impact shattered every frozen hooded figure in the chamber.
The ground cracked.
A wave of scorching heat surged outward, melting entire pillars of ice and turning frost into swirling clouds of steam.
The cavern glowed red from the heat, steam rising around me like smoke after a volcanic blast.
And just like that…
The battlefield was silent.
Only the sound of melting ice dripping echoed through the vast chamber.
I slid my Flare Sword back into my Item Box and turned toward Daito and the others.
Yuchikimo was staggering toward us, Yanie slung over his back. Her arm dangled limply, and her breathing was shallow, but her eyes were still faintly open.
To my right, Hiro and Kairo were struggling forward, supporting Ayame between them. She could barely stand—her clothes torn, blood running down her arm—but she still clenched her bow tightly as if refusing to let it go.
They were all badly injured… yet still moving, still helping each other.
Yuchikimo gently lowered Yanie beside Daito, then wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He stared at the frozen, melted battlefield behind me and let out a shaky laugh.
“What the hell was that?” he said breathlessly. “That spell was fucking insane!”
Hiro nodded, eyes wide behind cracked glasses.
“He’s right. Raito… how did you even do that?”
I gave them a small smile.
“Just keep training. Maybe you’ll manage it someday.”
Yuchikimo snorted.
“Yeah right. No way in hell we’re pulling off something like that.”
Before he could rant more, Daito weakly pushed himself up on one knee.
“Yuchikimo… focus on recovering first,” he said, voice tight with pain. “We can ask him later.”
Yuchikimo grumbled but nodded, finally sitting down beside Yanie.
Suddenly a voice echoed from above.
“Hey! Is everyone alright down there?!”
We looked up and saw one of the kingdom guards peering over the broken ledge of the tunnel entrance, torchlight shining behind him.
Daito cupped his hands around his mouth.
“Everyone’s alive—but badly injured!”
“Understood!” the guard called back.
“Stay right where you are! Sir Gallagher and the others are on their way!”
As his voice faded, I turned back to the others.
Relief washed over their faces all at once—tension melting away now that help was finally coming.
Hiro slumped down, exhausted. Ayame let out a shaky breath, shoulders trembling.
Yanie closed her eyes and lays down, Daito let out a deep breath.
Even Yuchikimo allowed himself to lean back against a rock, panting.
Seeing them safe—even in this rough shape—made the weight in my chest finally ease.
I let out a slow, quiet smile.
“Good… you’re all safe now.”