Adam's brow rose slightly.
He didn't answer right away, instead letting the silence stretch as he considered the offer.
"Can they be taken out to the next floor?"
Xel'Shaar shook his head slowly, the glowing red-violet lights of his eyes dimming slightly with the motion.
"No. They are bound to this floor's authority. Their power will fade beyond it."
Adam clicked his tongue quietly.
He suddenly fell into deep thought as he thought of sothing.
"Is there an artifact that can temporarily alter one's luck… or grant a blessing of fortune?"
The question hung in the air like smoke.
Xel'Shaar paused, the faint glow within his hollow eyes flickering.
He considered for a mont as he tried to recall of one...
"Yes, there is one... near exit of the catacombs..."
When he suddenly felt a small tug at his sleeve.
He looked down.
It was Leila.
Her hand trembled faintly, but her grip held.
Her face was pale, lips pressed into a thin, uncertain line. For a mont, she didn't speak.
Adam remained still, waiting.
Then, she leaned in close and whispered sothing in a tone too soft for anyone else to hear.
He didn't react outwardly.
His expression remained unreadable and calm.
But after a pause, his eyes shifted toward Xel'Shaar again, cold composure returning to his voice.
"…Before that, help find one of our teammates first."
...
In one of the areas of the catacombs, Kristoff a few other stream hunters fought hard to fight against Bone Golems that were roaming around their area.
Kristoff braced his body as another hulking Bone Golem charged forward, its heavy arms slamming against his raised shield.
The impact rattled through his bones, but his shield held in place due to his strength.
Sacred flas charged out from the engraved edges, wrapping around the golem's fra in brilliant arcs of light.
Though the holy fire wasn't strong enough to destroy it outright, it was enough.
The Bone Golem's movents slowed.
That was all the opportunity they needed.
A nearby stream hunter, wielding a massive golden axe, charged with a roar and cleaved through the creature's weakened core.
Boom!
Shards of bone and ash scattered across the chamber like dry leaves in the wind.
The echo of the explosion faded, leaving only the sound of shallow breathing and shifting gravel.
Kristoff lowered his shield, panting.
His eyes swept across the scattered corpses of the defeated golems, then turned to the other stream hunters standing nearby...
Three in total, armored and breathing just as hard as he was.
He gave a tired but sincere nod.
"Thanks for helping out…"
One of the hunters stepped forward.
He was tall, gaunt-faced, and holding a bloodstained spear.
There was no smile, no nod of understanding.
Only a cold voice.
"Helping? What are you talking about?"
He leveled the spear directly at Kristoff's chest.
"Take off your gear. Strip off Everything."
Kristoff blinked, stunned.
"What—?"
"I said strip."
The words hit like a slap.
Kristoff's fingers twitched at his shield.
His jaw tightened as suspicion turned into realization.
'Rustfang Dogs... fucking knew it.'
The na rang in his head...
An infamous bandit group known for masquerading as allies in the Tower of Yxthar, only to rob and kill their own.
He gritted his teeth.
'They really are dogs...'
Kristoff took a half-step back, body tensing for a possible retaliation...
But the one with the golden axe, the sa man who helped him seconds ago, now stepped closer.
His expression was unreadable, but his weapon wasn't lowered.
"Fuck, fuck—okay, chill man!"
Kristoff shouted, trying to stall.
"You don't have to go full psycho on !"
His eyes flicked between them.
There were too many.... and he was worn out.
Fighting them would be suicide!
But the sha of it clawed at him harder than fear.
'Man… even dying to the floor boss would've been better than getting mugged naked by these bastards…'
He swallowed his pride and clenched his fists, fury burning behind his eyes.
The humiliation boiled in his chest.
Just as Kristoff began unlatching the first strap of his armor, a sudden chi echoed in the air.
[Warning! You are about to trigger a Boss Fight.]
The system notification hovered in front of all of them.
Kristoff blinked.
'Shit I was just kidding!'
The other stream hunters froze.
Panic swept across their faces.
"W-What the hell?!"
One of them stamred, lowering his weapon.
"Boss fight? Now?!"
They were too underleveled to face off Xel'Shaar!
How had they been marked?
Didn't Xel'Shaar only attack those who lingered too long within the third floor!
"We didn't even get close to the center!"
[The Tombkeeper, Xel'Shaar, has arrived.]
[Floor 3 Authority has been distributed.]
[May the battle…]
[BEGIN!]
They didn't wait.
The would-be robbers turned victims bolted, sprinting toward the only corridor that wasn't caved in.
Dust and desperation kicked up under their boots.
Kristoff followed instinctively, shield up and legs moving!
But then—
They stopped.
A shadow stood at the tunnel's mouth.
It moved not with rage, but with purpose.
Its fra was humanoid, tall and nacing. T
he sleek, obsidian-black armor shimred with crimson threads that pulsed like living veins.
The very presence of it exuded pressure, weight, dominance.
Xel'Shaar...
"T-That's him…"
One of the stream hunters whispered in horror, stumbling backward.
Kristoff's mouth went dry.
For a second, he even forgot about the attempted thievery...
His instincts kicked in as he raised his shield, stance lowered.
But then—
Through the shifting dust, he saw another figure stepping through the shadows behind the Warden.
A man.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dark hair. Lightweight armor of black leather etched with faded red glyphs.
His face was calm... but there was sothing deadly in the stillness of his posture.
"…Adam?"
Kristoff muttered, heart leaping in disbelief.
Behind Adam, a smaller figure erged... Leila.
She was dragging soone who was wrapped around in chains.
Kristoff narrowed his eyes.
"Cael…?"
Cael was bound in glowing chains, unconscious or half-dazed, his head lolling with each step.
Kristoff's brain spun as the situation shifted faster than he could process.
A mont ago, he was about to be stripped by fake allies.
Now, a Floor Boss had arrived… and Adam, of all people, was walking with it.
User Comments
0 comments from readers