Multiverse: Dimension Hopping Mage

Chapter 36: Battle at the Quarry (Part 1)

Alex didn't give Connie a second thought. He knew she was more injured than he was, and the temple knights, including Malt, weren't very skilled in healing. In fact, their priest responsible for healing had died in a previous ambush, which was why Malt's group had struggled so much. If it weren't for Alex healing them later, they probably wouldn't have recovered their combat strength by now.

Despite the trouble with Connie, Alex and Stone had managed to complete half of their mission—they found the remaining temple knights. Normally, they could just take them back and be done with it. However, both Malt and Stone seemed unwilling to leave.

Malt was aware of the lich's sinister plans, and Stone, though unsure of the specifics, sensed something was amiss.

When Stone arrived, he and Connie, along with Miss M, had seen the undead creatures and witnessed them capturing the temple knights and taking them into the quarry.

To discover the undead's intentions and to rescue their comrades, Stone had chosen to investigate alone. He had intended for Connie to relay a message to Miss M, but she ended up encountering Alex, leading to the current situation.

"We don't have much time. The lich must have noticed something is happening above."

Stone spoke while glaring at Connie and Alex. Connie lowered her head, remaining silent, while Alex shrugged, indicating it wasn't his problem.

Seeing their reactions, Stone rolled his eyes in exasperation before looking back at Malt.

"What do you think, Malt?"

"..."

Malt pondered for a moment, then raised his head to meet Stone's gaze.

"Are you certain my comrades are still alive?"

"They were alive when they were taken inside. I can't guarantee their current status."

"..."

Malt fell silent for a longer period this time. Then, he looked around at the others and seemed to make a decision.

"Stone, I need a favor from you."

"Speak."

"I want you to help distract the lich. We'll take the opportunity to go in and try to rescue our comrades. If possible, we might also disrupt their dark ritual..."

He glanced at Connie.

"This girl is severely injured and won't be able to fight. Bringing her would be a burden. Leaving her here is better. If we don't return, please take her back to the temple."

"You…"

Stone was momentarily stunned, and even Alex widened his eyes, looking at Malt. He wasn't a fool and understood the implications of Malt's request.

On the surface, it might seem inconsiderate, but it was actually quite manageable for Stone and Alex.

They only needed to act as bait and draw the lich's attention, which wasn't particularly dangerous. In contrast, Malt and his group would have to venture deep into the trap, likely never to return.

Alex frowned but remained silent, observing Stone. He respected Malt and didn't want to see him walk into certain death. However, it was clear that Malt had made up his mind, and Stone wasn't going to stop him. Therefore, Alex refrained from speaking.

"...Alright."

Finally, Stone let out a long sigh.

"Malt, come back alive. You still owe me a drink."

"Don't worry, I won't die so easily."

After saying this, Malt smiled and waved to Alex and Miss M, then turned and left with his companions. Watching Malt's back, Alex was speechless... Malt, your proverbial "death flag" is waving high above your head!

How am I supposed to save you? And Stone, you sure are quick to seal his fate. Don't you know you should always leave a way out for your comrades? With the flags you've raised, if they don't die, it would be a miracle!

"Alright, let's get moving."

Stone, unaware of Alex's inner complaints, watched Malt's figure disappear before turning back to Alex.

"You know our task is to draw the lich's attention. Fortunately, your fight with that girl was loud enough that the lich probably already noticed something's wrong. Now, we just need to lure it out and keep it occupied."

"Lure it out? How?"

Alex was puzzled by Stone's command. He had spent enough time with Stone to know that Stone was more of a front-line fighter, not one for elaborate strategies. Hearing Stone's plan gave Alex a bad feeling.

In response to Alex's question, Stone clenched his fists and flashed a bright smile.

"Of course, we'll go straight in and hit it!"

"…"

For the first time, Alex wondered if he should find a new mentor... Maybe Malt wouldn't be a bad choice?

Meanwhile, deep in the dark, eerie quarry, another scene unfolded.

In a massive underground chamber, ghostly blue flames flickered. In the center of the chamber, a blood-painted magic circle glowed faintly.

Floating above it, a lich, shrouded in a black robe, raised its head. Its hollow eye sockets glowed with a sinister red light. The lich looked at the skeletal soldiers beside it and issued a low command.

"You, go see what's happening outside."

Obediently, the armored skeletons bowed and marched off. They had been brave warriors in life, but now, as undead slaves, their souls found no rest and were helplessly bound to the dark and deathly power.

Yes, darkness and death were the true essence of this world.

With that thought, the red flames in the lich's eyes flared briefly. It then issued another command.

"Bring up the sacrifice."

Soon, two towering undead giants dragged a temple knight forward. The young knight was severely injured and looked weak. He glared fiercely at the lich, his eyes burning with fury.

"You cursed undead creature, your schemes will fail. Justice will prevail!"

"Boring."

The lich scoffed, raising a hand and pointing at the young knight. A dark beam shot from its fingertip, striking the knight in the chest.

"Ah... Aaaah!"

As the dark energy hit him, the knight's face turned pale, and he screamed in agony. His body convulsed violently, and blood began to pour from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. Overwhelmed by pain, he tried to scream, but blood clogged his throat, silencing him.

"Ugh... Ugh!"

The young knight's eyes widened in horror as he clutched his throat, struggling to breathe. It was as if he were drowning, but the "water" suffocating him came from within his own body.

"---!!!"

Finally, the knight's body went into spasms. He flailed wildly, trying to gasp for air, but only managed to spew blood mixed with bubbles. Eventually, his body went limp, and he died, drowned by his own blood.

Despite the knight's death, the blood continued to flow from his body. Slowly, his corpse shriveled like a deflating balloon, turning into a mummified husk. Under some dark influence, the blood formed a large, crimson magic circle.

As the circle completed, a spectral figure emerged, desperately trying to escape. But like a dog on a leash, it was yanked back into the circle and disappeared.

Suddenly, a stone coffin in the center of the circle trembled before falling still again.

"Still not enough..."

The lich sneered at the magic circle before issuing another command.

"Next."

(End of Chapter)

🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟

Hello, beloved readers and supporters!

I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:

📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!

💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.

👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!

Patreon.com/anish_44