Chapter 149: Chapter No.149 Chain Ambush (1/3)
[Samael Ashwood's POV]
The distant, rhythmic thudding grew louder, reverberating through the dimly lit corridor. The walls themselves trembled with each impact, and an unsettling growl echoed from the darkness ahead.
We stopped, instinctively tightening our formation. Seraphina raised her hand, and a soft, shimmering illusion of mist and shadow spread outward, making it harder for anything lurking beyond to see us clearly. The team fell into a practised silence, each member shifting slightly into position.
"Everyone, ready up," I whispered. I could sense the tension building, each of us bracing for whatever awaited us in the depths of this dungeon. The weight of the earlier battle lingered, fatigue threatening to set in, but there was no room for hesitation.
The thudding stopped abruptly, and an eerie silence followed. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Something wasn't right.
CRACK!
The wall to our left split open with a deafening crack, sending stone shards flying everywhere. A massive, gnarled hand burst through the stone, followed by the rest of a towering figure—a gigantic troll with skin as tough as rock and eyes glowing with malice.
It let out a guttural roar that echoed through the narrow corridor, shaking dust from the ceiling as it stepped forward, blocking our path with its massive bulk. The creature towered over us, standing at least twice the height of any human, its arms as thick as tree trunks, and covered in jagged scars.
"We need to bring it down fast!" I shouted, already channelling my magic. "It's too big to fight in here—we'll be crushed if it collapses the corridor!"
Eveline gripped her spear, her face set with determination. "I've got the right spell for this."
"Wait!" Sionna interrupted, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "There might be more of them. Trolls don't usually travel alone. We can't afford to waste all our power on this one."
She was right. The sound of distant, muffled growls hinted at more creatures lurking beyond. This troll could be the first of many.
"Mmm...girls~ should I—"
"DON'T!! WE DECIDED THAT ONLY WHEN NECESSARY WILL YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE! SO JUST STAY BACK, FOR NOW!" Raven cut me off with a sharp hiss, her gaze locking onto mine with urgency. "We don't need your overpowered intervention just yet."
I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the tension. They had all insisted that I hold back unless absolutely necessary, partly for their own growth and partly because they didn't want to become reliant on me. It made sense, but the situation was escalating fast.
The massive troll's roar echoed through the corridor again, and it began charging toward us, its hulking form shaking the very ground beneath us.
"Spread out!" I commanded, my mind quickly analyzing the best course of action. "Raven, bind its legs with shadows. Eveline, support with water magic—try to weaken its footing. Sionna, stay on the lookout for more enemies."
"Got it!" Eveline replied, already weaving her magic.
Raven's eyes glinted with concentration as she extended her arms. "Dark Magic: Abyssal Shackles!"
Tendrils of dark energy shot out from the ground, wrapping tightly around the troll's massive legs, slowing its advance. The creature roared in frustration, swiping at the shadowy bindings with its thick arms.
"Water Magic: Tidal Wave!" Eveline shouted, summoning a torrent of water that slammed into the troll, soaking its legs and creating a slick surface beneath its feet. The combination of shadows and water made the troll stumble, losing its balance for a brief moment.
"Lily! Make an ice glacier right under its feet!" I yelled as the troll stumbled.
Lily responded immediately, her hands glowing with cold, crisp energy. "Ice Magic: Frost Glacier!"
A massive spike of ice erupted from the ground, forming beneath the troll's legs. The icy surface cracked and spread, freezing the water Eveline had summoned, locking the troll's feet in place. The troll let out a furious roar, struggling to free itself as the ice crept higher, slowing its movements.
"Liliana!" I called out again, urgency filling my voice as the troll thrashed against its bindings. The ice had taken hold, but it wouldn't hold for long if we didn't act fast.
"I'm ready!" she shouted back, her hands glowing with crimson energy. Her eyes were fierce, determination etched on her face as she focused on the creature.
With a swift motion, she conjured a long lance of blood magic, the vibrant crimson energy swirling around her as she took aim. "Blood Magic: Crimson Lance!"
The lance shot forward, piercing through the air with deadly precision. It struck the troll squarely in the shoulder, and the creature let out a deafening roar of pain as the lance embedded itself deep within its flesh. The blood that flowed from the wound shimmered, feeding into Liliana's magic and strengthening her resolve.
"Keep it coming!" I urged, watching as Liliana summoned another lance, this one larger and more menacing.
"Crimson Lance: Devastation!" she shouted, and the next strike exploded into the troll's shoulder, sending it staggering back against the corridor walls. The sound of crumbling stone echoed as the impact shook the very foundations of the dungeon.
"Nice shot!" Eveline cheered, pumping her fist in triumph.
But the troll wasn't finished yet. It roared again, its fury growing as it struggled against the ice and shadows binding it. The creature turned its gaze toward us, its eyes burning with rage.
"Everyone, be ready!" I commanded, sensing the tension building. "Raven, don't let it break free!"
"I'm on it!" Raven replied, her focus unwavering. "Dark Magic: Abyssal Chains!"
With a flick of her wrist, chains of darkness shot forth, wrapping tightly around the troll's arms and legs, further constraining its movements. The creature let out a frustrated bellow, but the chains held strong.
"Let's finish this!" I shouted, adrenaline coursing through my veins. "Sionna, now's your moment!"
Sionna stepped forward, the air around her shimmering with raw energy as she summoned her water magic. "Water Magic: Aqua Vortex!"
A swirling vortex of water formed in front of her, spiralling toward the immobilized troll. The vortex collided with the creature, encasing it in a cocoon of raging water.
"Let's combine forces!" Raven called, glancing at Eveline and Lily. "On three, we hit it with everything we've got!"
"One… two… three!" Raven shouted, and we unleashed their combined magic.
"Dark Magic: Abyssal Tempest!"
Raven's shadows intertwined with Sionna's swirling water, creating a vortex that seemed to grow in intensity, the pressure building until it was a maelstrom of darkness and liquid.
"Water Magic: Torrential Burst!" Eveline added her magic to the mix, causing the water to explode outward with an even greater force, pushing against the troll's form.
"Ice Magic: Frostbite!" Lily's icy tendrils snaked around the vortex, enhancing its power with a chilling cold that froze the water into sharp shards. They flew like deadly arrows, striking the troll's exposed skin.
"Blood Magic: Bloodstorm!" Liliana finished, her voice ringing with authority. A storm of crimson energy erupted from her, raining down on the immobilized troll, enhancing our magic even further.
The combination of their spells created a spectacular explosion of energy that lit up the corridor, a dazzling display of light and dark swirling together. The troll bellowed in agony, its form writhing against the bindings and magic that held it captive.
The pressure reached its zenith, and with a final, blinding flash, the troll was consumed by the magical onslaught. When the dust settled, it crumbled to the ground, its body collapsing under the weight of our combined efforts, lifeless and defeated.
"Did we get it?" Eveline asked, breathing heavily as the adrenaline began to ebb.
"Yeah, I think so." I stepped cautiously closer, scanning the corridor for any signs of additional threats. "But let's stay alert. There could still be more trolls nearby, or other creatures waiting to strike."
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
RAAAAAAAAAWW!!!
Multiple trolls answered the first creature's call, their guttural roars reverberating through the stone walls. It was a chilling reminder of how deep we were in the dungeon, and that we were far from safe.
The trolls emerged from the shadows, their hulking figures illuminated by the flickering torches lining the corridor. Each one bore the same menacing glare, drool dripping from their jagged teeth as they snarled and bared their claws. They were an imposing sight, but a rush of excitement coursed through me.
"You're all tired from that fight," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "Leave this to me."
Raven opened her mouth to protest, but I raised a hand to silence her. "Trust me, I'll make it quick. Don't blink~"
My right hand found its way to the scabbard of my sword while pushing the pommel just enough to see its sharp blade, while I took the quick draw stance leaning forward with my left hand settled on the hilt in loose grip.
"Lightning Magic: Thunderclap and Flash—Godspeed!"
In an instant, I felt the familiar surge of energy coursing through my veins, the world around me slowing as I focused on the trolls ahead. Time stretched, and in that split second, I visualized the path to my target. My sword felt weightless in my grip as I channeled the Lightning Magic, blending it with my own speed.
With a powerful thrust, I launched myself forward, a flash of blue and silver streaking down the corridor. The trolls barely had time to react, their eyes widening in confusion as I closed the distance.
The first troll, the closest to me, let out a roar just as I reached it, but before the sound could fully escape its throat, my sword sliced through the air with a crackling intensity.
SWISH!
The blade met its target with a satisfying thud, a clean cut that severed the troll's head from its massive body. I could feel the surge of energy from the lightning magic flowing through me, amplifying my movements as I danced past the falling giant, leaving a trail of crackling energy in my wake.
I pivoted on my heel, barely slowing down, my gaze fixed on the next troll, which had taken a step forward, jaws snapping in a frenzy.
"Another one bites the dust!" I taunted, dashing toward the next troll with renewed speed, my heart racing in rhythm with the power thrumming in my core.
As I approached, I flicked my wrist, channeling a surge of lightning directly into the ground beneath my feet. The energy pulsed upward, propelling me into the air, and I twisted in mid-flight, bringing my sword down in a sweeping arc toward the second troll.
THWACK!
The blade sliced through the troll's shoulder, deepening the gash as I landed behind it, ready for my next strike. The creature let out a bellow of pain, its massive arm swiping through the air, but I was already moving again, weaving past its flailing limbs with effortless grace.
With each movement, I felt the rhythm of the battle shift, the energy of the dungeon itself resonating with the thrill of combat.
One by one, I dispatched the trolls, my speed and magic melding into a beautiful dance of destruction. Their roars echoed in the corridor, but they fell silent as my blade found its mark, each strike precise and deadly.
When I finally stood among the fallen trolls, panting lightly but grinning from ear to ear, my team's awed expressions reflected the triumph of our combined efforts.
"See? Quick and efficient," I said, sheathing my sword and wiping the sweat from my brow.
Eveline's eyes widened. "You didn't even let them touch you! That was incredible!"
Liliana stepped forward, her face a mix of admiration and disbelief. "That was… amazing, Samael. You made it look so easy!"
Raven, still processing the speed of my movements, crossed her arms and huffed. "You could have let us help. We're not just here to watch you fight."
I chuckled, brushing off the comment. "I know, but it's important to test the waters, right? Besides, I was just having a little fun."
Sionna smiled, shaking her head. "Just be careful. If there are more trolls, we'll need to work together next time."
"Yeah," I nodded, my grin fading slightly. "We should stay alert. I doubt that was all of them."
"H-HOW...did...you?!" The only one in the group who looked gobsmacked was Seraphina the last member of our team.
Oh! Boy~
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[To Be Continued]
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Stone Me!, I can take it.
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