The catacombs were engulfed in chaos as the explosives triggered a cataclysmic destruction that reverberated through the subterranean passages. The force of the blast was so immense that it triggered an earthquake, causing the entire catacomb complex to shake.
As Alan and the remaining survivors rushed towards the rear of the chamber, the ceiling above them began to fracture. Enormous rocks dislodged from their ancient resting places and hurtled downward, threatening to crush anything in their path.
"RUN!! KEEP RUNNING!" Alan's voice was strained with urgency as he desperately urged his companions to move faster. The frantic scramble to evade the falling rocks intensified the already chaotic scene.
After barely escape the rockfall, Alan's gamelink continued to chime with notifications of rewards earned for the destruction of the undead horde. However, in the midst of the dust and smoke that filled what was left of the chamber, Alan knew that his immediate concern had to be his own condition and that of his surviving NPC allies.
Amid the chaos and the lingering dust and smoke, Alan activated his [Enhance Sense] spell. His senses sharpened, allowing him to pierce through the haze and locate signs of life. He began a meticulous search for any of his NPC allies who had managed to survive the cataclysmic events.
"Merlin!" Alan called out desperately, his heart pounding with a mixture of relief and anxiety. The wizard appeared to be using his magic to move the fallen rocks, freeing Guinevere from the rubble and healing her injuries. Unfortunately, other than those two, there was no sign of any other survivors from the rockfall, not even Percival.
It became apparent that the explosion had been more powerful than Alan had anticipated. He had taken a substantial risk, and it seemed he was lucky to have survived. Alan noticed that he had gained 20,000 XP and 10,000 survival points from the blast, though it wasn't as much as he had hoped for. He could only assume that the reward was shared with Cachelos, the one who had set up the explosives.
Just as Alan began to resign himself to waiting out the rest of the night in the chamber, he noticed a faint glimmer of light filtering into the space. To his surprise, the explosion had been potent enough to create an opening above them.
"Ah, we have a chance to escape," Alan exclaimed, his voice filled with newfound hope. The revelation of an exit gave them a lifeline, a possibility to break free from the catacombs and the relentless undead threat.
With a newfound sense of excitement, Alan and the wizard began clearing away the rocks, one by one, until they had created a passable path through the rubble. The opening they had created allowed them to emerge on the hillside behind the catacombs entrance. Alan, who had studied the landscape beforehand, believed that there was a chance they could slip away unnoticed.
"Can you cast some kind of invisibility spell, perhaps?" Alan asked the wizard, hoping for a way to conceal their presence.
The wizard shook his head. "No, I don't have that spell."
"Hmm... what about flying or levitation spells?" Alan inquired once more, exploring any potential means of escape.
Once again, the wizard's response was negative. "I don't possess those spells either."
Emery let out a sigh, recognizing that stealth and caution would be their best allies in this situation.
"We'll need to be exceptionally careful, then."
With his mastery in the [sneak] skill, Emery decided to venture to the surface alone and scout the area. Although thousands of undead still lingered in the vicinity, most of them were concentrated in front of the destroyed entrance and the plains downhill. Alan's plan was to move uphill and make their escape from the cliffs, away from the immediate threat posed by the mass of undead below.
It took Alan only a few minutes to dispatch the several undead creatures that roamed the path. His sneak attack bonus allowed him to eliminate zombies and skeletons swiftly, preventing them from alerting their companions with their ghastly shrieks.
With the path now clear, all three of them ascended the hill and reached the cliff's edge. Guinevere, known for her agility, nimbly began descending the steep incline using both hands for support. In contrast, Merlin, the elderly wizard, had no way to safely navigate the descent on his own.
Alan, realizing the value of the wizard's abilities, hoisted him onto his back and activated his [levitate] spell to ease their descent.
As they made their way halfway down the cliff, Alan's attention was suddenly drawn to a group of bats flying out from the walls nearby, narrowly avoiding him.
"A bat cave!" Alan exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and intrigue. The discovery of a bat cave presented an unexpected twist in their escape plan.
The discovery of the cave filled Alan with excitement, and without hesitation, he guided the party of three inside. His intention was to find a path that might lead them back to the tomb, the key to completing his quest.
As they ventured deeper into the cave, swatting away and dispatching the bats that crossed their path, they eventually stumbled upon a door adorned with ancient markings.
"It's really another entrance!" Alan exclaimed, a surge of hope coursing through him.
The existence of hidden entrances or alternate exits was a common feature in quests involving dungeons. Alan had initially tried to locate this hidden entrance when they first arrived at the site, but his efforts had been in vain. It was only thanks to the presence of the bats, which only emerged at night, that they had discovered this small cave.
Now that they had found it, Alan felt a renewed sense of hope in his quest's completion. The critical challenge now was to open the door, as hidden entrances typically required special methods to access. Fortunately, he had the wizard with him, and he turned to Merlin with a hopeful expression.
"You do know a way or a spell to open the door, don't you?" Alan inquired.
The door they had discovered bore a striking resemblance to the one in the entrance chamber, complete with ancient text and a riddle. Merlin's expertise was put to the test as he worked to decipher the riddle and unlock the stone door. After a few minutes, the wizard succeeded, and the door creaked open, revealing a narrow tunnel beyond.
Having the legendary NPC, Merlin, by his side had undeniably made navigating the treacherous game world considerably more manageable. Alan expressed his gratitude to the skilled wizard and, with a renewed sense of purpose, took the lead as they ventured further into the unknown.
The tunnel stretched before them, its diameter measuring about three meters. However, the walls were riddled with holes, and within these openings lay lifeless corpses, dormant until their presence drew near.
These were the same Draugr creatures they had previously faced in the entrance chamber.
As they approached, the corpses stirred, slowly coming to life, their rotting forms lumbering to their feet. The Draugr, sluggish from their slumber, provided a small window of opportunity. Alan seized the moment, striking with precision to deliver critical blows to the undead foes. Meanwhile, Guinevere's arrows found their marks, further weakening the creatures. Their combined efforts proved effective, dispatching the Draugr before they could mount any significant resistance.
The narrow confines of the tunnel worked to their advantage, as Alan only had to contend with one or two Draugr at a time. This allowed him to proceed cautiously, ensuring their safety while steadily advancing through the passage.
As Alan continued along the winding tunnel, he couldn't help but wonder about the destination of this hidden path and how many undead generals the other party might have successfully vanquished in his absence.
Eventually, Alan encountered another stone door, its surface adorned with enigmatic markings. Alan's instincts warned him that danger likely lurked beyond this door, so he cautioned Guinevere and Merlin to be prepared for whatever might lie ahead.
"Alright, get ready," Alan said, his voice filled with determination.
With a deep breath, he pushed the stone door open, expecting to confront a formidable adversary on the other side.
However, when the door swung open, it revealed a chamber with an altar at its center. Alan cautiously surveyed the surroundings and soon noticed the presence of a figure standing before the altar. It was a strikingly beautiful woman with crimson hair and exceptionally pale skin.
Their gazes locked, and Alan's mind was immediately flooded with a notification.
[Morgana - Legendary]
[Type: Human]
[Rank: C+]
Instead of encountering a formidable boss, it seemed that the woman before him was not an adversary but rather an NPC, and one of legendary status at that. Alan was intrigued by this unexpected turn of events and realized that he had the opportunity to engage in a conversation.
The female witch look upon the NPC next to him and said "Is that you Merlin?"
