Chapter 42 – Escape.

“Get back!”

Once again the adventurer leader shouted, pushing Eugene and Alanna away from the spreading dark fog. The mysterious substance oozing from the armor’s metallic body was like nothing they had ever seen, and its effects were horrifying. The leader himself staggered back, clutching his arm where the fog had made contact. His skin was turning black, the corruption spreading rapidly.

“What is that stuff? Is it poison… no it looks different, the color is off… could it be?”

Alanna shouted while pulling Eugene up to the floor, the young man fearful. The adventurer leader had seemed to be able to contend with the strange suit of armor. It

“What is it?”

“I think it’s dark magic.”

“D-dark magic? But isn’t that only something high-ranking demons use?”

Eugene replied to Alanna while trying to move to the side and towards the path leading out. The Dark Magic she mentioned was something people knew and feared. It was one of the reasons that all other races dreaded demonic beings. The way the adventurer leader’s veins turned darker was a clear sign. Its properties of corruption were well known, and the presence of it here could easily shift the tides of battle.

“It should be… and most demons have been gone since…”

“Stop talking, that doesn’t matter, we need to get out of here!”

The monster approached, its body and blade covered in a dark mist that was slowly spreading in all directions. There seemed to be some kind of area of effect around this being, as the smoke was evaporating instantly after passing a certain threshold. The adventurer leader noticed this but wasn’t sure what to do about it. His stamina was being drained, and he didn’t need to look at his status window to know it. If this continued for too long, he would probably pass out, and the monster would massacre them all.

“Party Leader, hold on!”

There was finally some good news as an arrow flew from the side and connected with the armored creature. The steel tip hit the monster’s pauldron but, unfortunately, it bounced off its armored frame, leaving only a scratch. However, the reinforcements were there but what could they achieve if they could not approach the monster?

“Don’t come close, if you touch the black mist, you’ll be drained of your vitality.”

The newcomers were the three adventurers who had been keeping the horde of monsters busy. As previously planned, they were to quickly follow after and meet Alanna and Eugene at the staircase. However, the bronze monster was now blocking their way and seemed unwilling to let them pass. For some reason, it kept its gaze fixed on the two non-combatants who were in a state of panic.

“Take those two up the staircase, I’ll do something about this thing and meet you back up.”

“But leader, wouldn’t it be better to fight it together?”

“No, we don’t have enough time.”

Monster groans and the clattering of bones started echoing from the distance. A large portion of the monster horde had not been defeated and was still gaining on them. If they let the bronze monster block their path forward, they would be overrun. Once the mist surrounded all of them, even the weaker monsters would be able to dispatch their entire party, and this was not something the party leader wanted.

“But…”

“I’ll be fine, I won’t die to one monster that easily, now go.”

The well-armored man shouted at his party, possibly giving his last order. He was responsible for their survival but was not planning to die here alone. He lowered his center of gravity while shielding his body, an aura surrounded his body which resembled a bull as he activated a skill. Then, he launched himself at the armored being, aiming to push it into one of the walls or even into the hidden side tunnel. The mist it was generating had a limit, so if he managed this, his allies would be able to run through.

His plan was desperate but necessary. With a burst of strength, he charged at the bronze armor monster, hoping to push him away from the corridor and clear a path for his companions. The bull-like aura enveloped him, granting him the force needed for such a maneuver. The creature seemed to anticipate the attack and braced itself but was caught off guard by the sheer power of the charge.

“Get out of our way!”

The leader roared, colliding with Rusty and driving him backward. The impact sent a reverberating clang through the tunnel as Rusty struggled to maintain his footing. His dark mist swirled around them, but the leader’s protective aura kept him from succumbing to its draining effects immediately. For a moment, it seemed the leader might succeed in pushing the monster into a side tunnel.

“Now! Go, everyone!”

The leader’s voice echoed as the rest of the party seized the opportunity. They helped Eugene and Alanna to their feet, urging them towards the staircase. Alanna, clutching the cage with the Gleaming Ant inside, followed closely behind, her heart pounding. Eugene, still shaking with fear, stumbled but was pulled along by one of the adventurers.

“We’re almost there! Just a little further, don’t look back.”

One of the adventurers called out, guiding the group towards the staircase. Behind them, the leader continued to grapple with the monstrous armor. While he had started off strong and nearly rammed the monster into the side tunnel. However, something went terribly wrong. The bronze being’s weight began to increase, and soon its metallic feet were cracking the ground beneath them. The dark mist was still there, and the man’s plan was backfiring. He had intended to throw the monster into the tunnel and quickly escape, but now he was getting swallowed up by the mist without being able to move the monster an inch further.

His knees started to buckle and his vision blurred. The effect of the dark fog was starting to affect his senses and he could not keep himself steady. His grip on the shield he was using to push the monster away was slipping away, and the monster seized the moment. With a powerful shove, he pushed the leader back, sending him sprawling to the ground. The creature stood tall, his bronze frame glinting ominously in the dim light of the tunnel, the dark mist swirling around him like a shroud.

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The adventurer leader tried to get back on his feet, but his body felt heavy, his strength sapped by the dark magic. He looked up at his opponent and focused on the longsword it was holding in its right hand. The people he was hired to protect had probably reached the stairs and were safe. He could only laugh at his bad luck as the monster approached. His life flashed before his eyes as he closed them but to his surprise, nothing happened, instead of getting impaled on the blade the monster just charged forward.

“Huh?”

It was quite an anomaly, and he didn’t know what this thing wanted. However, even though he was momentarily safe from the fury of the monster and the darkness that surrounded it vanished along with it, he was still not safe. The large group of lesser monsters was still there, crawling in his direction, and they clearly wanted to end his life.

“I won’t die here…”