Chapter 47: Not The Same (1/2)

Exile stared at the cave's entrance with a frown. So far, this place had no resemblance to Allevia's tomb. Clay was staring at him with an expectant expression. But Exile had nothing to say. How could he, when they had not even confirmed if they would face similar enemies yet?

”Right, lets have a look, shall we?” Clay rubbed his hands together before drawing his broadsword. ”Un, you go first.”

Old Un nodded in response before creeping forward. He gripped his bow tightly as he took the lead. Exile waited outside with the others for a few minutes before they followed him inside.

Exile could hear water dripping as his boots scuffed across the ground. The sounds echoed off the walls, making it appear as if the cave went on forever. Exile was paying close attention to the rocky walls packed with dirt. His experience at Allevia's tomb made him wary of an ambush.

The group pushed further into the cave, but nothing happened. They had still not caught sight of Un yet, which was a good sign, according to Clay. As the darkness of the cave stole their sight from them, Exile picked up on a soft indigo glow further ahead.

'Seems like we're about to reach the true start.' Exile did not feel the need to say anything just yet. It was better not to confirm that he already had experience with this sort of thing, even if the others already believed that he did.

”There's Un. Why's he just standing there?” Clay raised an eyebrow as he spotted his comrade crouched against the wall of the cave, while looking around a bend.

When Un heard them approaching, he raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for them to be quiet. Exile gripped his shield and tightly as his right hand hovered over the shaft of his sheathed axe. The entire party lowered into crouches of their own as they shuffled up next to Un.

”What is that?” Clay's voice was hard to hear as they all studied the sight before them.

Exile's eyes went wide as he recognised the sea of mobs. They were definitely Lost Souls! However, there was a difference. Each one of them was wearing armour and wielded a weapon. They stood in organised ranks before a giant indigo door.

”They're Lost Souls.” Exile decided it was time to share something. ”Their attacks base their damage on Authority. Or at least, they did.”

”What do you mean?” Clay's eyes narrowed as he looked to Exile.

”I've come across them before. But they had no equipment. So I can't say for sure they're still Authority based mobs.” Exile shrugged his shoulders to show that he had nothing else to offer.

”Boss, if they're authority based neither me nor Desa will last long if they attack us.” Burri glanced at the mobs dubiously.