Chapter 33: I will not die !!
Going through the portal gave the same sensation when I entered the dungeon with darkness all around . With the clearance of vision I found myself in a long dimly lit hallway with torches all around .I looked behind and saw Letoile looking around . This concluded that at least we weren't shuffled again . I was not so worried about Finral as he could escape danger with his spatial magic .
When we decided to move ahead the torches lit up one by one with an eerie blue light . I don't know why but this place gave me a bad vibe . And it came to be true as on the way we save various skulls of animals and humans with broken armor and weapons . I had a feeling that I was being constantly watched but I could sense no trace of any living being .
There were various drawings on the walls but most of them were destroyed , some were clear like two winged figure fighting ,one pure black and one pure white . Another figure I could infer was a lot of people bowing to a floating figure who had the head of the figured fighting previously near his legs . There were symbols I felt like I had seen before but couldn't remember properly . I always had interest in the history of the world so seeing these inscriptions were fascinating . Unfortunately I don't have a cheat like photo graphic memory to memorize them for studying latter one .
Letoile stepped onto a block on the floor which exploded but my shield activated almost instantly saving her . Similar things happened more as we travelled . There were arrows , explosives , pits with poison spears , illusions etc were throne at us . Based on her reaction she was not doing too good as her this trail was harder than the first one . She threw up once when we were under a trap that shook us mentally . I waited for her to balance herself and chug a tube of elixir she brought . I was surprised that it didn't get broken till now .
After walking for a while for a while the path opened to a large chamber . But the area was even more darker than the path we came form , like previous instances the path behind us got closed . I noticed that there were two other groups were already waiting . I focused on the left and saw Finral and David with seemingly no injuries ? not even a scratch! Did they even go through a trail ?.
" Finral " I called out . " ahhh Julian , you are safe . I was so scared I thought I would die " , Finral said with tears in his eyes .
" We received a trial to survive an hour in onslaught of all sorts of arrows , this guy saved me by creating a portal around us to let the arrows pass through" Said David by pointing towards Finral .
That made sense , spatial magic can be used as an ultimate defense in case of emergencies . At least Finral didn't try to run because he was too scared .
" what about the second trial ? " I asked
" What second trial , wasn't this the second trial ? " said Finral
Wait a minute ! they didn't go though the second trial ?
I asked about their journey and he told that they both teleported here after the their trial was over , they didn't go through any passage or hallway .
Strange …..the only conclusion I could come up with is that the number of trials were based on the total team after shuffling . The calculation should have been done based on the performance of the first trial .
I focused on the other three members with tattered cloths with some injuries . " Tsk, the savages are alive and I thought the share would be less " said one of them successfully pissing me off , as long as they don't interfere in my way I wouldn't do anything .
When all of us gathered in one place the torches lit up around a structure not far from us making visible a tall pyramid like structure on top of which floated a black orb with the entire pyramid filled with gold and gems . The floor around the pyramid had small statues made of animals made of different type of gem stones .
But they area still remained dimly lit except the structure . I looked back and saw the entrances were gone . I felt my body reacting to the object as if indicating to grab that as soon as possible especially my mana core .It took every bit of my will power to control my urges and introspect the situation .
Even if that's reward but where is other trials then , this shouldn't be so quickly .This was an inheritance trial then where is the room guardian , whose bones were those …why it feels like we are being watched.. all sorts of questions lit up in my mind only to reach the conclusion that the rewards were trap . So I warned the others to wait for some time before rushing.
But greed took over the members of Purple orca finding so much gold in open and they ran towards the pyramid to take the tressure before anyone else . " There is something wrong with this area ,don't rush ahead, the floor guardian hasn't appeared yet . That may be a trap !! " . I warned loudly .
They ignored me and started picking up the jewelries . " See you black bulls are just scared cats , and golden dawn are nothing without your captains , taking words from a black bulls , shame on you. We are not sharing anything as we got here first . " .
Soon a chill went through my spine but it was too late as the member didn't get to finish before being squashed like a tomato by something .
" MOVE BACK !!! " shouted . The other purple orca member was too petrified to do anything at that point before half of his body was gone . The last member was a spatial mage who nearly avoided death by teleporting to one corner .
As soon as blood reached the pyramid , all the lights in the area lit up making everything visible . But the thing we saw made everyone's face pale .
Bones and disfigured bodies filled the area along with that thing that killed two members taking his head out behind the pyramid . That thing was a giant wingless dragon , based on its features it is one of the extinct species in the top of the food chain , one of the strongest ancient dragons Zinogre .
It was about six time about my size . Hard scales running from head to toe with two horns on its head with fur around its body. Large fangs coming from his mouth and a spiky mace on the end of its tail . Two slanted eyes that could look to your soul standing on four limbs with big blood filled claws with purple lightning cracking all over its body .That thing was the treasure guardian .It opened its mouth and did the thing I feared the most .
It released its mana pressure .
The pressure travelled like an impulse covering the entire area halting everyone's movement . The sheer amount of pressure it was releasing induced primal fear and made Letoile ,David and the purple orca member faint on spot clutching their head . Finral and I were on our knees while Finral was almost unable to breath . Based on the intent behind the mana pressure , it wants to kill every single one of us .
For the first time in this new life ,I saw death and my entire life flashed in front of my eyes . Sense of powerlessness , crisis , frustration filled my entire body . I did everything in power to stay awake from the pressure . Only its mana pressure is enough to petrify my movements and if it attacks we will be killed without retaliation .
Damn it !! What is the use of all the training if I am unable to do anything in the right time .
I didn't want to die because of weakness , I got a second chance in life I won't let it go to waste .
I have to move ,I have to attack ,I have to kill it . I will do everything to survive .
With this determination filled my eyes , I deployed my complete will power to move .
I will not bow to you !
I wouldn't die here !
A mere monster would not stop me !
The determination to live and will power combined to fit the final puzzle piece and completed my mana pressure to take form .
A dark red mana pressure spread out around me and countered its pressure forming a figure of a dark phoenix behind me releasing a cry .
The pressure released from my gave Finral chance to breathe . I looked at the monster in front of me as I prepared the hardest battle of my life so far .
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone