Chapter 36: Battle at the Quarry (Part 1)

  Alex didn't give ie a sed thought. He knew she was more ihan he was, and the temple knights, including Malt, weren't very skilled in healing. In fact, their priest responsible for healing had died in a previous ambush, which was why Malt's group had struggled so much. If it weren't for Alex healing them ter, they probably wouldn't have recovered their bat strength by now.

  Despite the trouble with ie, Alex and Stone had mao plete half of their mission—they found the remaining temple knights. Normally, they could just take them bad be doh it. However, both Malt and Stone seemed unwilling to leave.

  Malt was aware of the lich's sinister pns, and Stohough unsure of the specifics, sensed something was amiss.

  When Stone arrived, he and ie, along with Miss M, had seen the undead creatures and withem capturing the temple knights and taking them into the quarry.

  To discover the undead's iions and to rescue their rades, Stone had chosen to iigate alone. He had intended for ie to rey a message to Miss M, but she ended up entering Alex, leading to the current situation.

  "We don't have much time. The lich must have noticed something is happening above."

  Stone spoke while gring at ie and Alex. ie lowered her head, remaining silent, while Alex shrugged, indig it wasn't his problem.

  Seeing their reas, Stone rolled his eyes in exasperation before looking back at Malt.

  "What do you think, Malt?"

  "..."

  Malt pondered for a moment, then raised his head to meet Stone's gaze.

  "Are you certain my rades are still alive?"

  "They were alive when they were taken inside. I 't guaraheir current status."

  "..."

  Malt fell silent for a longer period this time. Then, he looked around at the others and seemed to make a decision.

  "Stone, I need a favor from you."

  "Speak."

  "I want you to help distract the lich. We'll take the opportunity to go in and try to rescue our rades. If possible, we might also disrupt their dark ritual..."

  He g ie.

  "This girl is severely injured and won't be able to fight. Bringing her would be a burden. Leaving her here is better. If we don't return, please take her back to the temple."

  "You…"

  Stone was momentarily stunned, and even Alex widened his eyes, looking at Malt. He wasn't a fool and uood the implications of Malt's request.

  On the surface, it might seem insiderate, but it was actually quite manageable for Stone and Alex.

  They only o act as bait and draw the lich's attention, which wasn't particurly dangerous. In trast, Malt and his group would have to venture deep into the trap, likely o return.

  Alex frowned but remained silent, Stone. He respected Malt and didn't want to see him walk into certaih. However, it was clear that Malt had made up his mind, and Stone wasn't going to stop him. Therefore, Alex refrained from speaking.

  "...Alright."

  Finally, Sto out a long sigh.

  "Malt, e back alive. You still owe me a drink."

  "Don't worry, I won't die so easily."

  After saying this, Malt smiled and waved to Alex and Miss M, then turned a with his panions. Watg Malt's back, Alex eechless... Malt, your proverbial "death fg" is waving high above your head!

  How am I supposed to save you? And Stone, you sure are quick to seal his fate. Don't you know you should always leave a way out for your rades? With the fgs you've raised, if they don't die, it would be a miracle!

  "Alright, let's get moving."

  Stone, unaware of Alex's inner pints, watched Malt's figure disappear before turning back to Alex.

  "You know our task is to draw the lich's attention. Fortunately, yht with that girl was loud enough that the lich probably already noticed something's wrong. Now, we just o lure it out and keep it occupied."

  "Lure it out? How?"

  Alex uzzled by Stone's and. He had spent enough time with Stoo know that Stone was more of a front-line fighter, not one for eborate strategies. Hearing Stone's pn gave Alex a bad feeling.

  In respoo Alex's question, Stone ched his fists and fshed a bright smile.

  "Of course, we'll ght in and hit it!"

  "…"

  For the first time, Alex wondered if he should find a new mentor... Maybe Malt wouldn't be a bad choice?

  Meanwhile, deep in the dark, eerie quarry, another se unfolded.

  In a massive underground chamber, ghostly blue fmes flickered. In the ter of the chamber, a blood-painted magic circle glowed faintly.

  Floating above it, a lich, shrouded in a bck robe, raised its head. Its hollow eye sockets glowed with a sinister red light. The lich looked at the skeletal soldiers beside it and issued a low and.

  "You, go see what's happening outside."

  Obediently, the armored skeletons bowed and marched off. They had been brave warriors in life, but now, as undead sves, their souls found and were helplessly bound to the dark ahly power.

  Yes, darkness ah were the true essence of this world.

  With that thought, the red fmes in the lich's eyes fred briefly. It then issued another and.

  "Bring up the sacrifice."

  Soon, two t undead giants dragged a temple knight forward. The young knight was severely injured and looked weak. He gred fiercely at the lich, his eyes burning with fury.

  "You cursed undead creature, your schemes will fail. Justice will prevail!"

  "B."

  The lich scoffed, raising a hand and pointing at the young knight. A dark beam shot from its fiip, striking the knight in the chest.

  "Ah... Aaaah!"

  As the dark energy hit him, the knight's face turned pale, and he screamed in agony. His body vulsed violently, and blood began to pour from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. Overwhelmed by pairied to scream, but blood clogged his throat, sileng him.

  "Ugh... Ugh!"

  The young knight's eyes widened in horror as he clutched his throat, struggling to breathe. It was as if he were drowning, but the "water" suffog him came from within his own body.

  "---!!!"

  Finally, the knight's body went into spasms. He filed wildly, trying to gasp for air, but only mao spew blood mixed with bubbles. Eventually, his body went limp, and he died, drowned by his own blood.

  Despite the knight's death, the blood tio flow from his body. Slowly, his corpse shriveled like a defting balloon, turning into a mummified husk. Under some dark influehe blood formed a rge, crimson magic circle.

  As the circle pleted, a spectral figure emerged, desperately trying to escape. But like a dog on a leash, it was yanked bato the circle and disappeared.

  Suddenly, a stone coffin in the ter of the circle trembled before falling still again.

  "Still not enough..."

  The lieered at the magic circle before issuing another and.

  "."

  (End of Chapter)

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