Ch 38

  Matt felt off as he walked down the wind path that led to another flight of stairs. The moment they stepped into the enclosed stairwell, the previous floor was sealed off from them, leaving him to wonder if they had descended the very same stairs four times or if each flight was truly unique. Adding to his confusion were the odd sensations from five darkened patches on his body; the one on his hand seemed to merge seamlessly across both sides, while the other four merely penetrated his skin for a few inches before returning to normal flesh—though, admittedly, he had never really considered how his internal organs should feel.

  He set these peculiar thoughts aside as the group reached the bottom of the stairs, only to be met by the most extreme scene yet. Before them lay two paths, each about four feet wide, separated by a two-foot-wide stream of boiling water that hissed and sent plumes of steam soaring into the air. Beyond the bubbling torrent, harsh winds laden with ash and an acrid scent blocked the sides, creating a claustrophobic, almost apocalyptic barrier. This bizarre and oppressive mix made Matt groan internally; he knew the thick steam would reduce visibility to nearly nothing, and he was certain there was another unexpected twist waiting just ahead.

  “This is going to be a real challenge—I’m willing to bet there will be moments when we have no choice but to cross that steaming barrier,” he declared.

  “Why would you say that?” Eleanor asked, arching an inquisitive eyebrow.

  “Because crossing that boiling, churning stream is the last thing I want to do. Unless you want us to split up—with me taking one side and the rest of you the other—”

  “Not allowed,” Emily interjected sharply. “Though, splitting into two groups—Greg, Eleanor, and you on one side, and the rest of us on the other—might make sense.”

  “Are you suggesting you want to take charge of the other group?” Greg asked, his tone laced with exasperation. “I know my advice can be annoying, but—”

  “Do you want this staff shoved where the sun doesn’t shine?” Emily retorted venomously.

  “Since when did you get so violent?” Matt asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at Emily.

  “Everything about this situation is stressing me out,” she snapped. “And I wouldn’t mind a break from listening to Greg’s constant commentary for a while.”

  “Dude, never split the party,” Greg stated firmly. “It’s fantasy game rule number one.”

  “Is that what we are?” Rose asked with a frown. “Because I feel like we’re just a bunch of hangers-on that Matt is dragging along. Although, I did think you, Emily, and Yumiko worked pretty well together when the rest of us were on the front lines.”

  “I’d like to think we’ve progressed beyond being mere hangers-on,” Yumiko replied coolly. “If that’s how you see yourself, then by all means, cling to Matt for dear life while the rest of us focus on standing on our own—”

  “You’re an archer,” Rose cut in. “By definition, you need someone to hold back the threat while you take your shot from range.”

  “Don’t underestimate what archers can do,” Greg countered. “If I hadn’t had the option of embracing magic then I would have picked archery too.”

  “That would be funny to see,” Emily remarked, stifling her laugh. “I don’t think you’d be quiet enough to use a bow to its full potential.”

  “Let’s stay focused,” Matt interjected. “We need to decide how we’re going to tackle this path.”

  “Simple: choose a side and deal with whatever comes,” Greg declared firmly. “We aren’t splitting up the party, and you’re not venturing off on your own. Also, no more shouldering the entire world by yourself this time. There are four others here who have reached rank G, so there’s no reason for you to feel we’re helpless.”

  “Fine, then how about you pick the path?”

  With that, Greg nodded, slipped past Matt, and examined both options carefully before heading left. The rest of the group followed him. Once the path behind them sealed shut, Matt took point again, and they continued forward. This time, they didn’t have to wait long for trouble; the steam suddenly intensified, and Greg called out for everyone to close their eyes and cover their mouths. They barely had time to react before the scorching steam bathed their bodies. Thankfully, the blast of heat was quickly washed away by cooling moisture as Greg announced the all clear.

  “All right, we need to be ready to do that every time we hear or see the steam intensifying. The last thing we need is for any of our eyes to be burned to the point where we can’t see.”

  “What if it’s like a frog being boiled?” Emily asked, a note of apprehension in her voice. “What if we fail to notice that the steam is steadily getting hotter until we suddenly go blind?”

  “We have no means to counter that,” Zara replied grimly. “So, all we can do is hope it doesn’t happen.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Sadly, she’s right,” admitted Greg. “I considered making thin blindfolds to protect our eyes, but they wouldn’t work because of limited effectiveness and the inevitable buildup of water on them. The best we can do is press forward and hope for the best.”

  “Everyone should tie some cordage to their wrists,” Matt instructed. “If things get really bad, I’ll help all of you grab onto each other’s cords while I lead, switching eyes as needed in the hope that my regeneration can keep up with the damage.”

  Matt could tell that Greg was itching to argue about him taking on too much responsibility again, but he also knew Matt was right. With a little more conversation, everyone pulled out a bit of the cordage they had gathered since arriving—except for Greg, who borrowed some from Matt. Once each of them had about a six-inch piece dangling from their left wrist, they resumed their trek forward, bracing themselves for the occasional burst of intensifying steam and the fatigue brought on by the relentless heat.

  The hardest hit were Greg, Rose, and Eleanor as Matt discovered that each of them currently had a durability rating under ten, which was the common factor. At least, that was what they recalled, as without the ability to check their stats, none of them could be completely certain. Still, the whole group was teetering on the brink of heat exhaustion when suddenly the last of the water evaporated in one final, violent burst of steam. Matt could feel his skin burning, gritting his teeth as the others let out moans of pain while struggling to keep their mouths shut to protect from the searing hot moisture surrounding them.

  Sensing that something was amiss, Matt opened one eye to see that the water had disappeared, replaced by a glowing stream of lava. However, he had little time to ponder this transformation as, defying all logic, the wind surrounding them shifted, seeming to dive into the lava and darken its surface as it cooled. From this newly solidified lava, lumps began to rise, and Matt swallowed hard as these lumps took on the shape of human skulls. He quickly called out to the others, urgency in his voice, "Get ready for battle!"

  Fortunately, the wind had also pushed away the steam, as it appeared to suck all the heat from the area, leaving Matt with a new concern. They were all drenched in water droplets, and if these droplets froze, it would create a serious problem for several reasons. Already, Matt felt a chill creeping in, while the rest of the group let out sighs of relief at the sudden drop in temperature. Unfortunately, Matt was unable to attack as the skeletons slowly emerged from the cooling lava without risking getting caught in the wind. He was certain that stepping into it would freeze him to the core, leaving him vulnerable and incapacitated.

  The first 22 skeletons emerged from the molten lava, each encrusted in a thick layer of rock and entirely unarmed. Moments later, the skeletons closest to them lunged forward only to be swept aside by a sudden gust of wind; colliding with one another in a chaotic tangle. A small smile played on Matt’s lips as he observed Greg’s spell taking hold—just before all 22 skeletons suddenly detonated, scattering their rocky coverings in every direction. The flying debris struck Zara, Rose, and Yumiko especially hard, their cries of pain mingling with the rising clamor as another group of 22 skeletons began to emerge.

  “How many more times can you cast your spell now?” Matt shouted over the roar of chaos.

  “I have no idea—maybe one more—but I'll let you know when I'm near the end of my stamina,” Greg replied, his voice strained yet determined.

  “Cool, this time send them the other way, and I’ll turn to take the blast on my back,” Matt instructed without hesitation.

  “You’re doing it again,” Greg muttered, his tone half-annoyed but understanding.

  “Argue with me about it when we have a reliable way to heal everyone’s injuries,” Matt shot back.

  Greg frowned momentarily, then without delay, as the next group of rock-encrusted skeletons emerged from the swirling wind, he followed Matt’s command. Everyone took cover behind him as a fresh series of explosions rocked the battlefield. As the flying fragments made contact, Greg noted with a grimace that they burned everything in their path. Sure enough, when he looked over at the three women who had taken the brunt of the blast, he saw that they bore fresh burns and clinging shards of obsidian from the initial explosion.

  Even as a third wave of 22 skeletons stepped out of the wind, Matt caught Greg’s eye. With a resolute nod, Greg repeated the spell, successfully repelling the fourth wave as well. But after that, a shake of Greg’s head told Matt that the remaining skeletons would have to be confronted directly.

  Gritting his teeth, Matt spun around and grabbed the nearest skeleton as it manifested from the gust, shoving it forcefully into the one beside it. In an instant, both skeletons exploded into a burst of partially molten rock and dust. Matt pivoted swiftly to confront another skeleton emerging in the opposite direction, and he was not alone—Eleanor, Rose, Zara, and Emily charged in tandem, joining the fray. Although the fifth wave was dispatched quickly, Matt couldn’t shake the feeling that they were slowly being overwhelmed. Their injuries from the continuous burns compounded with each encounter, and as a sixth wave surged forth and just as swiftly fell, another, the seventh wave, began its relentless advance.

  By the time that wave was dealt with, Matt was relieved to see the wind dying down once more as the other side of the pathway was revealed again. Standing there was what Matt hoped was the final challenge of the dungeon, as he observed the 14 figures. Each figure wore full plate armor that appeared to be crafted from pure obsidian glass, and they wielded an assortment of melee weapons. These ranged from the basic sword and shield to large maces and deadly flails with three spiked balls at the end of their chains. There were even a few intimidating halberds positioned at the ends of the formation, which Matt was not eager to confront.

  As if battling these 14 opponents wasn’t a difficult enough challenge, everyone except Greg was in absolutely terrible condition. Burns covered their bodies, with modesty only preserved by the obsidian that stuck and cooled where it landed on their flesh. Matt was especially worse for wear, feeling like more of his body was encased in obsidian than free from it. All of them had singed hair, melted eyebrows, and some even had an eye sealed shut, making them look utterly miserable. Greg, however, was in better shape, having only a few minor burns since he had stayed at the back, directing the combat once his spells had depleted.

  “No chance you could blow them over the edge for us?” Matt asked Greg, a hint of pleading in his eyes.

  “I can try. I think I have recovered enough to cast one last spell, but it will leave me completely drained afterward,” Greg replied.

  “Just do it,” Emily interjected. “We’ll keep you alive if we can.”

  Greg smiled foolishly and sighed as he raised his wand once more to cast his spell. Matt prepared to charge the moment the spell ended and the last of the wind died down. Either way he considered it, this final battle would require him to put everything on the line once more. Even if it meant that whatever the sea of darkness was would swallow him whole this time.