Healer Book 4 -- Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Even though this was far from his first time experiencing the crazy speed at which he could move thanks to Thaden’s spell, Steven still couldn’t believe such a thing was possible.  The landscape practically flew by as he and the others of the Exploitation sub-Guild tore across the ground, their feet barely touching as they propelled themselves faster than a bullet train.  Nah, has to be faster than an airplane.  Though, not a jet, perhaps; I don’t think we’re breaking the sound barrier or anything that fast.

At least, not yet.

He just hoped that he’d have a chance to get to that point, because based on what they’d just learned from their ridiculously powerful Raid Leader, it wasn’t just their Guild that was in jeopardy, but the entire Region.  Maybe even the entire world.

“Do you think he was telling the truth about it all?” Adelpho asked from his side as they ran at full speed, his voice slightly breathless from the speed they were maintaining.

Steven wanted to punch the man in the face, but he refrained, knowing that not everyone in their group was as enlightened as himself.  Ever since all of his expectations had been turned on their head during that first Intermediate dungeon Raid that they had gone on with Thaden, a core of faith had taken root in his chest, and he was completely on their Raid Leader’s side in all things.  That didn’t mean he worshipped the man or anything, nor did he believe that Thaden could do no wrong, but he was convinced that their Raid Leader was something special – and he would follow him anywhere.

Some of it was selfish, as he wasn’t above taking advantage of an insanely good situation when he saw it, which had already been proven with how much his Level had advanced in just the few days since he’d been introduced to the man.  But it was also because he’d spoken with him on multiple occasions and could feel that Thaden was a genuinely good person with the best interests of his Raid Party always on his mind, and wouldn’t let anything happen to them if he could help it.  That kind of attitude, mixed with the natural confidence that came with the power he wielded, was the perfect combination of traits that Steven looked for in a leader.  Competence as a distant third, because even though being competent was probably the #1 priority that most people looked for in a leader, the Blade Stalker knew that the confidence to see them through even the toughest times was worth so much more.

It might not be the smartest way to look at things, but he wasn’t necessarily the smartest person – and he took particular pride in that fact.

  “Yes, I believe he was telling the truth,” he eventually responded once he got his anger under control.  “Though we’ll probably learn more once we get there.”

“But the Guild Leader and—”

“They’re still alive; that’s all that matters.  Do you not trust his word that he didn’t do anything to them after all he’s done for us?” he asked curtly, annoyed that anyone else would question their Raid Leader’s motives.

“O-Of course, I do.  But the timing of it all just seems so suspicious, especially after he completed his Evolution Assignment—”

“Enough!  He told us what happened, and unless we find something to refute his claims, you should be inclined to believe him just as I do.”

Steven heard Adelpho mumble something he chose to ignore as he moved slightly away from the Blade Stalker, running with the rest of the group.  His irritation over the conversation faded as they ran with all the energy in their bodies, as they wanted to get to the dungeon where the Raid Party disappeared as soon as possible.  For some of them, like Adelpho, their purpose was to confirm that Thaden was telling the truth; for the others, who thought like Steven, their purpose was to see if there was any sign that the Raid Party had escaped and if there was any visible way they might be able to help free them without going into danger.

Despite their speed, it still took them nearly an hour to arrive close to the dungeon’s location.  When they were approximately 2 miles away, they slowed down and changed to a light jog, as they took their Raid Leader’s warning to heart.

In the distance, past the relatively barren landscape they had entered, was a simple grouping of five tall hills, each of them reaching upwards to about 600 feet.  Their sides were almost entirely vertical until about 150 feet from the top, where they rapidly tilted to join together to a point, looking almost like odd conical teeth emerging from the ground.

“Where did he say it was again?” he asked himself softly, and he was answered by Georgia, who was jogging on his left side. 

“The northern peak supposedly had both the entrance and exit,” she said, pointing ahead of them.  While he couldn’t see it yet, he took her word for it that she was indicating the correct one.  “There’s supposedly a cut into the cliff wall that looks vaguely like a mineshaft, which should be the entrance; the exit is along the flat cliff slightly to the west.”

Ah, now I remember.  His memory wasn’t the best, and even with a relatively high Mentality for a Scout, the increase hadn’t helped all that much. 

“Shouldn’t we be feeling that Level Compression he mentioned?  If there is a Level 710 monster around here, even trapped inside a dungeon, don’t you think we would feel it from here?” Adelpho abruptly asked with more than a hint of disbelief and suspicion, and Steven had to restrain himself again from physically smacking some sense into the man.  Thankfully, Georgia – another of the enlightened who had full faith in their Raid Leader – answered for him.

“He said to be cautious, not stupid.  If we don’t feel anything at this distance, then it’s likely because it’ll be felt when we get closer.  Have faith, man.”

Exactly.  Have faith that I won’t pop you upside the head when you’re not looking for questioning Thaden.

Once they hit the one mile mark, and even further, they slowed to a fast walk, with each of them cautiously testing the area ahead of them for any indication of the Level Compression they were told they would find.  The closer they got, the more Steven could see of the entrance – or what he supposed was the entrance – and it was a small hole in the cliff face leading somewhere into the hill.  At about 1,000 feet, he could finally see what looked like chisel marks in the hole, creating a tunnel that led deeper inside. 

Even at 500 feet, where they began to take a large step every few seconds, wary of the danger, they didn’t feel a single thing.  The closer they got, the more murmuring could be heard from those that didn’t believe wholeheartedly in their Raid Leader, and Steven did his best to ignore them.

Though, he had to admit to himself that he was starting to have the teeniest, tiniest, miniscule bits of doubt when he couldn’t feel even a hint of Level Compression anywhere nearby. 

“This is bullshit!  There’s nothing here!” Adelpho shouted, once they had advanced to approximately 20 feet from the entrance tunnel.  “I don’t know how you can expect anyone to believe that a Level 700 monster suddenly appeared, took our Guild Leader and our best Guild members, and then let someone like Thaden simply leave.  I told you that this was suspicious from the beginning, and I was right!”

Steven was shaking his head before the man even finished.  “This doesn’t prove anything.  Remember how deep Thaden said the dungeon was?  It’s just as likely that the monster is down below than up near the entrance; if that’s the case, then we probably wouldn’t even feel it from here.”

“That’s just an excuse, and you know it,” Adelpho said as he pushed his dark bangs away from his face, snorting in annoyance.  “He did something to them, maybe not killed them, but who knows what he’s capable of?  The point is, Corinna and the others are inside, and we need to figure out a way to free them from whatever trap he laid for them.”

“Whoa, hold on!  Don’t you think that’s a bit dangerous based on what we were told?”

“Which is simply a fabrication, like I said!”

Before he could respond, Georgia cut in.  “Why are you so vehement about proving Thaden wrong, Adelpho?  I’m all for wanting to get our people our alive, but this is—ah.  You mentioned Corinna specifically… you have a thing for her, don’t you?”

Steven might not be the smartest man, but even he could see the slight blush that flowed over Adelpho’s cheeks as Georgia mentioned Corinna.  “N-No!  What are you talking about?  I’m concerned about all of them, not just the Lieutenant.  Plus, our Guild Leader is inside there, remember?”    

“Oh, I remember, all right.  I don’t think any of us forgot.  But now it all makes sense,” Georgia said, putting her hands on her hips as she stared at Adelpho.  “You’d have to be blind if you couldn’t see the way Corinna looks at Thaden, and you’re jealous because she doesn’t look at you—”

“Shut up!  None of that is true!  Just drop it!”

Steven chuckled at how transparent Adelpho was being, and he couldn’t help but revel in how the unenlightened was being taken down a peg or two.  He was about to add fuel to the fire by saying that he was sure Corinna and their Raid Leader were surely spending their nights together with how the Lieutenant couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off of him, but Adelpho took that option away when he turned toward the tunnel.

“I don’t care what you choose to do, but I’m going to see if I can find them!  There’s got to be a way to free them from whatever trap is holding them hostage,” he said as he sprinted for the entrance. 

“No!  Stop, you dumbass!” Steven shouted at the moron, but it was already too late.  With their Celerity still boosted up the wazoo, there was no catching him – though only a few actually moved to try to stop him.

“Well, that’s not good,” Georgia said as soon as Adelpho disappeared through the hazy curtain that indicated the entrance to the dungeon.  “What do we do now?  Go inside and drag his ass back out?”

“Hell, no,” Steven said.  “The moron wants to get himself killed, he’s more than welcome to do that.  Besides, even if he does find them, which isn’t a guarantee, he’ll probably exit in a few minutes once he realizes he can’t do anything by himself.”

“But what if its dangerous?  We can’t just leave him in th—”

An incredible pressure suddenly shoved Steven down into the dirt outside the dungeon entrance, the weight of it so great that it felt like his bones were about to be ground into dust.  He would’ve liked to say that he struggled to get up, but when the weight of a million elephants was sitting on him, he was having trouble even breathing.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see that Georgia was in the same state as he was, and he saw her frightened eyes rolling around in a panic even as blood started to trickle out of her nose and ears.  A wetness on his own face indicated that the same was likely happening to him, as well, but there was nothing he could do about it.

I’m going to die.  This is all Adelpho’s fault, that stupid, fucking idiot just had to go inside, didn’t he?

Just as it felt like his brains were going to squish out of his head and his bones would be crushed under the weight of an incredible Level Compression effect, his body started to shift.  It only took him a half-second of hope that he was able to move before realization set in:

He wasn’t moving; something was dragging him along the ground.

As if confirming that truth, his peripheral vision caught Georgia being dragged roughly along the ground ahead of him, before disappearing into the tunnel – and into the dungeon entrance.  Two others followed after her, blood from their rough treatment leaving red streaks along the ground, before he felt the skin on his face being ripped up as he was dragged as well.

His last thought, before he hit the hazy curtain defining the dungeon entrance, was a slight satisfaction that his faith in Thaden had been confirmed – and that Adelpho likely got a harsh taste of the truth as the powerful Adversarial monster inside gobbled him up like a midday snack.