Chapter 142Dungeons(4/4)
The hunter group advanced rapidly, gradually killing goblins along the way. With each step forward, they gained experience, allowing them to fend off goblins more effectively than before.
When they reached the 18th floor, the exhausted group stopped to rest. Emilla pulled out her bandages to treat wounds and wrapped one around Rodri's arm.
"Rodri, why don't you take better care of yourself?" Emilla scolded him with dissatisfaction. Rodri blushed upon seeing Emilla's face so close to his and replied with a teasing smile, "This is nothing, Emilla. Thanks for your concern."
Emilla frowned, saddened by Rodri's words. "Look, I don't want you to end up like Wesley."
"Wesley's fate was truly tragic. I wish he hadn't died like that," Rodri said bitterly. At that moment, Benjamin approached them. "Hey, can I have a word with you two?"
"With us?" Emilla asked in surprise. Benjamin nodded and glanced toward Owen, who was counting his loot in the distance. His smile faded.
"Speaking of Wesley, there's something I need to tell you," Benjamin said seriously. Rodri and Emilla looked at him curiously as he continued. "I don't think Wesley died because he fell behind."
"What are you implying?" Rodri narrowed his eyes. Benjamin cautiously looked around, ensuring no one else was paying attention, and then leaned in closer. "I think Owen was the one who caused Wesley's death."
"What?" Emilla exclaimed in shock. Benjamin quickly elaborated, "Owen was the closest to Wesley. Wesley had a chance to make it through the dungeon, but he fell. Doesn't that seem suspicious to you?"
"You're… actually making sense," Rodri said cautiously. "Wesley wasn't a slow man despite his weakness. If Owen really caused his death, that's a big problem."
"You're right," Benjamin said with a sly smile. "Owen is a threat to all of us. I'm afraid if we don't act, he might kill us all to claim all the loot and glory."
"But why are you so sure Owen did this?" Emilla asked skeptically. Benjamin turned to her. "It's simple: the fewer people who leave the dungeon alive, the more attention Owen will get. Just think—if even Owen ends up dead while we survive, it'll make us look even more heroic."
Emilla and Rodri cast cautious glances toward Owen, who stood near Jessica and Ryan. Oliver and Alex appeared to be chatting as if they were good friends.
"But how can we kill Owen? He's stronger than us," Rodri said, frowning as he recalled what Owen had done to Oliver. Benjamin nodded knowingly and began explaining his plan.
"There must be a boss on the final floor of the dungeon. If we ensure the boss kills Owen, we can get rid of him easily," Benjamin said with a cunning grin. The plan seemed tempting to Rodri.
Unlike Rodri, Emilla hesitated. "Owen might be a bad person, but that doesn't mean I want him dead."
Benjamin frowned. "If you don't want to join the plan, you don't have to. The choice is yours. Alex, Oliver, Kyle, and I have already made up our minds."
"You've already planned this?" Rodri asked, intrigued. When Benjamin nodded in confirmation, Rodri smirked. "Count me in."
"Rodri, since when did you become so ruthless?" Emilla asked with reproach. Rodri looked at her with a regretful expression. "Even so, I can't trust Owen, Emilla."
Looking at Owen, Rodri continued with determination. "Owen threatened us. We should strike before he stabs us in the back."
Hearing this, Benjamin smiled. "It's good to have someone reasonable in the group. When we reach the 20th floor, we'll kill Owen. I promise all the loot will be shared equally."
"What about Ryan and Jessica?"
"They'll join us the moment Owen is dead," Benjamin said confidently. Emilla scowled. "Don't count me in. I won't be part of this cruelty."
Benjamin merely smiled. "That's your choice. Just don't betray us."
Emilla remained silent, neither agreeing nor objecting. Benjamin then turned to Rodri with a grin. "I'll let you know when the plan begins."
"Got it," Rodri replied with a nod. After Benjamin left, Emilla looked at Rodri with disappointment. "You shouldn't have agreed. We're not murderers."
Rodri sighed, unable to find the words to comfort her. In any case, there was no time to say anything as Owen stood up and called out to the group. "Let's move, kids. The dungeon boss is waiting for us."
He grinned, and the group resumed their journey. After half an hour of intense battle, they progressed from the 18th to the 19th floor. Despite the seemingly good situation, Hagi was injured, and Emilla used up the last of their medicine.
Now, any further injuries would be untreated. The situation was dire, but they still had the strength to move forward.
When they reached the 19th floor, instead of goblins, they encountered a new kind of creature—zombies. These creatures were eerie and scattered everywhere, feasting on the corpses of goblins.
Their red eyes glowed, and they looked ravenously hungry. The group advanced cautiously, but as soon as the zombies noticed them, they attacked.
As the zombies fell one by one, the hunters, led by Owen, nervously pushed forward. However, when Hagi suddenly collapsed due to the worsening pain in his leg, the group panicked for a moment.
"Idiot! Stay back and walk!" Jessica scolded him. Hagi grimaced but managed to get back up. "My legs are giving out. I—"
"Hagi, watch out!"
Alex swiftly drove his sword through the stomach of a zombie lunging at Hagi. Unlike the goblins, the zombie was tougher and managed to bite Alex on the neck, putting him in a dire situation.
Just then, a crossbow bolt pierced the zombie's head, allowing Alex to breathe a sigh of relief. "Thanks!"
"Don't mention it!"
As the group fought their way through, they finally cleared the 19th floor. Exhausted, Alex was quickly tended to by Emilla.
"Bitten again?"
"What can I say? I must be popular," Alex joked dryly but winced in pain as Emilla pressed on his wound. She shot him a stern look. "I can barely treat you. We're out of medicine."
Everyone seemed to be avoiding Alex for some reason, which didn't escape Emilla's notice. She frowned, displeased by the group's behavior.
"Can you still fight?"
"Yes, I can still fight."
After answering Owen's question, Alex struggled to his feet. It was finally time to face the dungeon boss. After a brief rest, the group moved forward.
When the dungeon doors opened, the boss revealed itself. A towering Goblin King growled and raised his massive sword. "Servants of Lucifer… It's impressive that you've made it this far."
"Y-you can talk?" Jessica exclaimed in shock. The Goblin King turned to her and said lewdly, "Yes, beautiful human. I can talk—and I can also mate well. Once I'm done with your friends, I'll make sure to use you to create new offspring."
"Eww!" Jessica cried out in disgust and hid behind Owen. Owen chuckled and raised his sword. "Well then, come and fight me."
The Goblin King's hideous face twisted into a mocking grin before charging at the hunters. His massive sword targeted Owen, but a crossbow bolt struck his chest, making him stagger.
The hunters spread out as Owen dodged the attack. Jessica screamed and hid, while Rodri landed a powerful punch on the Goblin King's leg.
"Tch, defeating me with such a simple power is impossible." The goblin casually flung Rodri aside with a mere wave of his hand. Hagi moved swiftly and slashed his sword at the goblin's chest. Yet the goblin blocked it effortlessly, as if it was nothing.
As the Goblin King was about to kill Hagi, Owen suddenly sliced his sword across the goblin's leg, disrupting his balance. Simultaneously, Kyle's hammer struck the goblin's kneecap, forcing the Goblin King to kneel.
"Rodri, now!"
Rodri dashed forward, using Owen's back as leverage to leap toward the Goblin King. With all his might, he punched the Goblin King square in the face.
The Goblin King staggered but quickly recovered, grabbing Rodri and intimidating him.
"No, no! Rodri!"
Emilla screamed in worry for Rodri, but it was too late. The Goblin King wrapped his arms around Rodri and crushed him with a loud snap of his bones.
Oliver immediately lunged forward, stabbing the Goblin King in the back. At the same time, Owen, Kyle, and Ryan began stabbing the Goblin King repeatedly from all sides.
"The plan is complete," Benjamin declared with a smug grin. He then initiated his plan, triggering powerful explosives he had secretly planted on Kyle and Alex. A massive explosion followed.
"Boom!"
As the Goblin King died, Oliver's half-conscious body was flung backward. Meanwhile, Benjamin rushed into the dungeon's treasure room, leaving Emilla frozen in shock, her eyes wide with fear.
"N-no way!"
Smoke filled the entire dungeon as Emilla frantically searched for survivors. Those closest to the Goblin King during the explosion had perished. Oliver, however, survived, thanks to his sturdy and expensive armor, though it barely held up.
At last, Emilla understood Benjamin's plan. His goal wasn't to kill Owen but to eliminate all hunters stronger than himself.
Grinding her teeth, Emilla cursed in anger. While Jessica fled in terror, Emilla quickly grabbed Oliver and tried to head toward the portal leading back to the surface.
Meanwhile, Benjamin, carrying a small fortune of gold and enchanted jewels, approached the portal. Jessica, trembling, rushed toward him.
"Take me with you!"
"Fool," Benjamin scolded. "You're worthless."
"What?"
Benjamin pulled out his weapon and shot Jessica in the head. He had come prepared, and his plan was unfolding perfectly. He would claim all the treasure and all the glory.
Grinning at the thought, Benjamin turned to see Emilla slowly approaching him with Oliver. Smirking arrogantly, he said, "You're smart, but ultimately a failure. Unfortunately, I can't let you live."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"You b-bastard," Oliver muttered weakly. Benjamin merely sneered and aimed his weapon at them. But suddenly, something slammed into him, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The figure that struck Benjamin was Alex, his face burned, clothes gone, and body severely injured. Benjamin, filled with fear and rage, tried to kill Alex.
"How... how are you still alive?"
"Grrr..." Alex only growled, eyes wild with fury, and began attacking Benjamin viciously. Meanwhile, Emilla and Oliver had reached the portal.
"But Alex is still inside!" Emilla said worriedly. Oliver sighed and gave her a serious look. "He's already infected, Emilla. If we stay, he'll kill us too. We have to leave this cursed place."
"But—"
"Look, I understand how you feel, but Alex's sacrifice will be meaningless if we stay here." Oliver spoke sadly. Emilla cried, tears streaming down her face for the last time.
Resolute, she looked at Oliver and nodded. "You're right. Let's go."
As Oliver and Emilla fled, the dungeon began to repair itself, restoring its former state as if nothing had ever happened.