Chapter 10: Dungeon Raid Part 3
Blurb:
The heat of battle rises. A cliff stands in the way, a golem threatens Lila's life, and Paul makes a decision that could shift their fate. Bonds are tested. Sparks kindle between rivals. But something darker stirs beneath the surface...
---
Flames erupted behind Lila as the golem's massive hand swatted Robert away like a ragdoll. The others scrambled, scattering into defensive formations. But Lila stayed crouched over Robert, trying to wake him.
"Robert! Get up! Please!" she shouted.
He didn't stir.
The golem raised both arms. Its chest core burned red hot. A surge of flames shot forward, blocking Lila's retreat.
Her knees gave out. Her weapon lay out of reach.
She was cornered.
TANG!
The golem flinched. Something struck it.
TANG!
Again.
It bent forward, growling — and locked eyes with a figure aiming a sleek black rifle.
Me.
---
Just moments earlier...
We stood at the base of a cliff made of jagged lava rock, nearly eleven meters tall. It wasn't on the map.
"I told you we shouldn't have followed him!" Jay shouted.
"It's a dead end!" Jin added. "How are we gonna climb this?!"
"Let's just go back," Mira said, shielding her eyes from the heat.
I activated Miles Eyes. My vision zoomed past the cliff, catching glimpses of Lila and the golem. Time was running out.
"I'll climb it," I said.
Jay snorted. "With those twig arms? How?"
I didn't answer. I grabbed a rugged handhold and started climbing. My body moved on instinct. Legs balanced. Arms reached. Stigma-powered reflexes did the rest.
I reached the top in seconds.
"What the hell..." Jay muttered in disbelief.
A roar shook the earth.
"You guys, come up!" I shouted. "I marked safe footholds with my stigma. Just follow them!"
Mira blinked. "You... marked them already? How?!"
"Gadgets. Don't underestimate prep," I replied, running toward the sound.
---
The golem's flames engulfed Lila's escape path.
I slid to a halt, pulled out the Iron Maw, and opened fire. The enhanced bullet struck the golem dead-center. It staggered.
Lila turned, wide-eyed. Robert still wasn't moving.
"Snap out of it!" I shouted. "You want to die here?!"
She flinched and nodded, setting Robert down.
"Like this?" she asked.
"Exactly. Now move!"
The golem tried to reform.
"Hurry!" Lila shouted.
Her team regrouped. A spear struck the golem's leg.
I joined the fray.
"Nice timing," I yelled.
Lila ignored me. "Buy me time!" she shouted, retrieving her bow.
She gathered an immense surge of MP, her eyes glowing. A new skill, no doubt.
The arrow formed. Pure magic.
The golem charged.
One swing sent her teammates flying.
I raised my gun again — but a sword flew in from the side, cutting the golem's strike short.
Robert.
He stood shakily, eyes clear. "Sorry I'm late. I'll finish it."
Lila fired.
The magic arrow pierced the golem's first core, but it had two.
Lila collapsed.
Robert rushed in, his sword shimmering. He sliced through the second core before it could regenerate.
The golem turned to dust.
---
Robert sheathed his sword and walked over, offering me a handshake.
"Thanks for helping us."
I hesitated, then took it. Deep inside, I was uneasy. He'd made a contract with a Phantom. He just hadn't gone berserk—yet.
Lila approached.
"You took your sweet time," she said.
I sat on a rock, eyes skyward.
Moments later, she sat beside me — close, but not too close.
"Thank you... for what you did," she muttered.
I looked at her, surprised.
"Didn't expect that from you," I said.
She looked away.
"You're stronger than you pretend to be. Why don't you fight back at school?"
"No point."
She frowned. "That power... You used your skill to enhance the high-grade gun, right?"
I smiled. "Only for emergencies."
"You'll get in trouble."
"Are you worried about me?"
"W-Who's worried about you?!" she snapped, blushing.
I laughed.
"You're not going to say it, are you?" she asked.
"Say what?"
I stood up.
We should keep our distance. She's dealing with enough already.
She watched me walk away.
---
[System Message: All cadets, please evacuate the dungeon.]
I spotted Mira crossing the cliff, stunned.
The raid was over. But something didn't sit right.
Rumors flew.
"Did you hear? A golem showed up!"
"Lila and Robert took it down!"
Instructors checked everyone. Injuries were minimal.
I saw Mira and Lila chatting.
"You okay?" Mira asked.
"Perfectly fine," Lila said, stretching.
Mira smiled. "Do you remember Paul Wayne?"
"Yeah."
"You said he might be a Phantom."
"That was a misunderstanding. He's... not a bad guy."
Mira blinked. "You hated him."
"I was wrong."
"LILA!" Saul waved her over. She rushed to him.
Mira stood alone, puzzled.
She glanced at me.
Why is he looking at Lila?
Does he... like her?
Mira looked down, then sighed.
"What do they see in her? Even Louis too..."
She walked away.
---
Author's Note:
One spark can light a fire—but it can also burn.
Tension brews. Rivalries deepen. Bonds form under fire.
What awaits Paul after this dungeon raid? What path will Mira take now?
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