Chapter 648 – Third Ring Stronghold.

“Is everyone all right?”

Varek asked as the barriers shimmered and faded. The mist had settled into a pool of sludge around them, but everyone had managed to survive.

“I think everyone is fine, but that man has escaped into the third ring.”

Harphon commented, his expression tight with anger. The gnome seemed certain that the assassin was after him, and Roland had no reason to doubt it. Most of the people present did not appear particularly important or powerful. He had already scanned them, noting that their levels and classes were average for platinum-grade adventurers. They had most likely come to the deeper dungeon level simply to train and gain experience, nothing more.

“Are you sure there aren’t any hidden passages along that path?”

Roland was not convinced that the tunnel ahead led in only one direction. He had often discovered hidden passages and secrets while wandering through places like this. An old assassination group such as the Red Quills might have known of paths that were no longer common knowledge.

“There are no hidden passages. That path was charted a long time ago.”

Harphon answered confidently, but Roland still intended to scan the area himself. First, however, he needed to try to follow the trail of the assassin, which seemed nonexistent. Normally, something would be left behind, but even after activating all of his runic sensors, there was nothing. No mana signature and no scent that Agni could detect.

‘Assassins have many ways to hide their presence and their trail. It will not be easy to find him again, and he might not even be there when I arrive.’

Although this was the only known path into the third ring, there were likely other ways out. One was the route he had used to enter, and an old group like these assassins might know of others. For now, the best option was to place sensors at the entrance and monitor them. If the assassin returned, Roland would at least be aware of it.

While the adventurers let out sighs of relief, Roland could not help thinking about the connection this group might have to the ones he had encountered in the city. They clearly used the same methods to dispose of their failures. It was possible that there was a deeper link and that they were working with certain nobles within the city of Isgard. Many suspicions were swirling in his mind, but a far more urgent problem remained. Everyone knew that an escaped assassin was a serious threat.

“Mister Siegfried… I must thank you for what you did, but could I perhaps ask you for more help…”

The gnome was well aware that there was a chance more enemies could appear and that Roland might be one of the few people he could trust to go to the adventurer stronghold. This only complicated matters further. He had been trying to establish an identity for himself in order to gain experience in the dungeon more easily, and now he might have even more assassins trying to kill him.

“That stuff looks deadly…”

His thoughts were interrupted by Varek, who pointed at the sludge floating around them. It was pooling as it melted through the solid rock beneath their feet. Somewhere within it lay the remains of his golems, along with the hooded figures whose master had abandoned them.

“Ah, leave that to me. I know a few basic earth spells.”

Harphon spoke as he began chanting. Roland could have done the same, but it was better to keep his other options hidden. The additional armor sets he carried, or the modifications he could make to his current one, would allow him to cast far more than gravity magic and simple barriers. Those were trump cards best saved for later.

After a few seconds, the ground began to shift. Rocky steps rose from the floor as the sludge was pushed aside, forming a path that led straight toward the tunnel marking the entrance to the third ring.

The newly formed stone steps rose gently, avoiding the worst of the corrosive sludge. Steam hissed where droplets touched the fresh rock, but it did not melt through. Harphon wiped sweat from his brow as the chanting ended, his small frame visibly sagging.

“That should hold for a while. The stone will resist the corrosion long enough for everyone to cross, but it will not last forever, so do not linger.”

“No one will.”

Varek replied. He cast one last glance toward the empty tunnel where the assassin had vanished, then raised his voice.

“Move out. Keep the formation tight.”

The group advanced carefully along the improvised path. Boots scraped against stone as they passed the draconic statue, its eyes seeming to follow them. Roland stayed near the rear as the porters and noncombatants were sent last, while the adventurers took the lead. Even after everything that had happened, the arrangement never changed. They were still treated as an afterthought.

“Siegfried, are you coming?”

Varek called out to him as the other adventurers had already passed toward the entrance of the tunnel. No one dared to step through it, likely afraid that the assassin might be waiting inside. Even now, it seemed they were relying on him and were unwilling to move forward without him acting as the vanguard.

“I’ll be there in a moment.”

Roland nodded as he followed after the craftsmen, who appeared visibly distressed. Ermes, whom he was meant to watch over, was mumbling to himself and was clearly on edge.

“Almost there… almost there… I’m almost there…”

“Are you alright?”

Ermes was standing in front of the bridge as the last to cross, with Roland just behind him. Only after Roland placed a hand on his shoulder did the blacksmith react.

“Ah… I… I’m fine…”

“Don’t worry. It isn’t far from here.”

Roland’s voice was rather soft, gentle, and confident. It gave the man some relief as he found himself naturally believing those words.

“I… thank you.”

Ermes nodded, his tone filled with gratitude. Soon, all of them made their way across, and almost on cue, the rocky steps began to sink into the sludge below, which did not seem to have cleared yet.

Finally, once everyone was ready, they waited for Roland to take the lead with Agni, and the journey continued. The tunnel sloped downward, its walls scorched as if they had been carved away by a dragon’s breath. Roland moved slowly, carefully scanning for any anomalies.

“Just as I expected. He fled, but…”

Although the man called Eleven was no longer here, he had left a few presents behind. Roland’s display detected a hastily assembled trap, triggered by a thin string stretched along the ground. It was not the kind of trap normally found in this section of the dungeon. Roland halted mid-step and raised a clenched fist. Agni froze instantly, and so did the others.

“Stop.”

The adventurers at the front tensed, some nearly bumping into one another as the command rippled backward through the formation. Varek turned just enough to meet Roland’s gaze.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“What is it?”

“A trap. Probably left behind by that hooded assassin.”

Varek nodded and turned to the party’s trap expert. Even though their group was small, they still had others capable of handling the task. Soon, the string was cut, and they moved forward, only to discover many more hidden obstacles, all of which they disabled.

“This assassin really wants us dead…”

Varek complained. This route was supposed to be the easiest path through the dungeon, yet they found themselves stopping every few minutes to deal with another concealed trap. While no one was injured, the constant delays doubled the time it took to pass through the tunnel. Eventually, they arrived at Drachnid Valley.

The oppressive stone ceiling gave way to a wide forest path, where large ancient trees towered overhead, their roots thicker than a human’s torso. From afar, sounds of lesser dragons resounded, and in the distance, the group could even see some wyverns flying around.

“Finally, we are here!”

One of the adventurers said it and nearly sprinted forward, but before he could take more than a step, Roland grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.

“Stop.”

“What? You mean…”

“Yes. More traps.”

Varek shook his head in disappointment and looked toward the group’s tracker and trap expert. Neither of them had been able to sense anything. It was clear to him now that if Roland had not been with them, all of them would already be dead.

“Everyone, once we reach the Stronghold, half of the reward goes to Siegfried here.”

“Huh?”