Chapter 26 : Trap?


    Amidst the stunned silence, items materialized on the ground where Onyxium''s avatar had stood. Noah''s gaze shifted to the loot, and without hesitation, he moved quickly to claim the drops.


    Among the loot were weapons, armor, and various other items that Onyxium had carried. Noah examined each item with a discerning eye in a second, looking like evaluating their worth and picking the useful ones. The silence was broken by the soft chime of notifications as the loot was added to Noah''s inventory. His actions were so swift that the players surrounding him didn’t even have the chance to see what was going on in the first seconds.


    And as the realization of their situation settled in, the Wreaking Havoc members'' anger flared. They couldn''t believe that Noah had audaciously claimed the loot right before their eyes. Fueled by a mix of frustration and desperation, they gathered themselves and formed another circle around the spearman.


    "Who does this guy think he is!?"


    "He just waltzes in, kills our Commander, and takes the loot like it''s his own?"


    "Don’t let him get away with this!"


    "Get his ***!"


    The members of Wreaking Havoc truly were incensed by Noah''s audacity once more. It was clear that they were not about to let Noah escape without a fight.


    Noah, encircled by the growing number of Wreaking Havoc members, spun his spear staff sideways. His eyes remained locked on his adversaries. It was as if he had stirred a hornet''s nest, and now he would have to face the swarm.


    “Go!”


    “Ohhhh!”


    With battle cries that echoed their spirit, the Wreaking Havoc members lunged at Noah. Their weapons gleamed, and their movements were fueled by an unbridled thirst for revenge. Seemingly at all cost.


    Dasshh


    As they went forward in Aron’s direction, a sudden twist unfolded that caught everyone off guard. Noah, the spearman who had wreaked havoc and slain their Commander Onyxium, abruptly changed course. He swiftly headed toward a rocky hill nearby, a very much unexpected and puzzling move.


    The onlookers from the Wreaking Havoc guild exchanged baffled glances, confusion mirrored in their expressions. This wasn''t what they had anticipated. Their ranks momentarily faltered, uncertain of how to respond to this unforeseen shift in the battlefield dynamics.


    Before long, realization dawned on them.


    This guy must be fleeing!


    Without hesitation, they started to follow the spearman quickly. After all, it made sense.


    That guy must be running out of mana and energy…


    Fast!


    Catch him before he starts to recover!


    It was a maneuver that ignited a flurry of activity among the Wreaking Havoc members. Some hesitated, but then swiftly followed in pursuit, fearing the repercussions of losing sight of him.


    The rocky hill, once a peripheral backdrop to their skirmish, now took center stage as the battleground''s focus changed. The guild members scrambled to ascend the hill, their footsteps echoing against the rocks as they navigated the uneven terrain.


    The hill''s ascent was not without its hindrances. Loose stones and steep inclines posed obstacles, forcing the guild members to adapt their movements as they pressed onward. Their steps came in ragged bursts, to the urgency of their pursuit.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Few of them cast quick glances over their shoulders, apprehension etched across their faces as they pondered what awaited them atop the hill. Noah''s motives remained a puzzle they were eager to uncover.


    His abrupt departure from the main battle and subsequent retreat to this hill suggested a strategy, they thought. Speculations buzzed among them as they forged ahead, their collective focus on this new confrontation.


    Nonetheless, they really couldn’t bear to take their eyes off the spearman. This was the only clue that they could get for now, if they lose this chance, it would be harder for them to get him another time.


    As they neared the hill''s summit, the surroundings seemed to grow quieter. The guild members braced themselves, their weapons at the ready, nerves taut as they prepared to face Noah once more if they were able to catch up to him.


    And in the midst of uncertainty and heightened emotions, the gaze of the Wreaking Havoc guild members fixated on Noah, who veered toward a small rocky hole on the hill''s surface.


    “Damn it! He went that way!”


    “Faster jackass, why walk so slow?!”


    “Aren’t you afraid of traps?”


    “Wuss, get down if you don’t want to join…”


    Talks of opposing opinions were discussed as they were walking toward their destination. Such a dilemma was truly unavoidable, one thing to get away and be safe with the price of losing the culprit’s shadow, while the other was to pursue the spearman with the risk of falling into a trap.


    The reason why most of them were still insisting on going after Aron was because it was very unlikely for traps to appear, after all they had surveyed this area before, when they were battling against the Valiant Wave guild before. With that knowledge in mind, they were in ease of going forward like this.


    “Go…!”


    The rocky hole was unassuming, nestled amidst the rough terrain. Its presence had gone unnoticed until Noah''s movement towards it drew their attention. Aron then entered without waiting for a second as the members of Wreaking Havoc followed suit.


    Navigating the rocky hill''s uneven surface, they clustered around the small opening. Their eyes locked on the mysterious spearman who now disappeared on the threshold, the very one that they wanted to teach a lesson to be remembered.


    And soon they arrived in front of the rocky hole, a portal into the unknown. Noah''s presence had somehow casted a shadow over its entrance, like an unspoken invitation for them to step into the dark looking territory. With a glance between them, they could see slight hesitation on their faces.


    Noah''s form had disappeared into the rocky hole, and a decision had to be made. Whether to heed his call or retreat.


    “See? Even you yourself are scared now right…?”


    “Shut up bastard, look at me going first…”


    With a mixture of skepticism and hurry, they followed Noah''s lead, stepping one by one into the hole..


    The rocky hole''s interior welcomed them, its darkness concealing the answers they sought. Each step forward somewhat intensified their sense of vulnerability, uncertainty becoming their steadfast companion. And their collective footfalls resonated in the confined space.


    The passage was narrow, forcing them to move a single line. They descended deeper into the earth, the rocky walls and uneven ground revealing glimpses of its tumultuous moment.


    The deeper they went, the rocky walls closed in, as if to test their resolve. The passageway twisted and turned left and right.


    Baaanggg…


    Amidst this atmosphere of contemplation, an explosion shattered the quiet equilibrium. A deafening rumble reverberated through the chamber, the ground beneath them quaking as if protesting the intrusion. A collective breath of air escaped their lips, with their eyes wide in alarm.


    "What''s going on!?"


    "Like I thought, this is a trap!"


    Shouts of alarm merged with the thundering sound of crumbling masonry. Every falling stone struck with an impactful sound, each one a reminder of the chamber''s imminent collapse. The group, gripped by fear, began to scramble in all directions, desperately seeking escape


    Baaaaaammm


    Before they could react more, chaos descended upon them. The chamber convulsed violently yet again. The ancient stone walls, once looking stoic and enduring, shuddered as if gripped by some unseen force. Fragments of rock dislodged with brutal suddenness, cascading from the ceiling above.


    The very walls of the chamber seemed to tremble, fragments of stone dislodging and crashing to the ground. Dust and debris filled the air, shrouding their surroundings in a haze. Panic rippled through their ranks like wildfire.


    But as they turned to retrace their steps and flee through the rocky passage, the ground beneath their feet quaked anew. Without warning, a fresh, violent quake surged up from the depths once more. The floor convulsed with such ferocity that their feet lost their balance, sending several stumbling and colliding with one another.


    The trembling ground looked intent on swallowing them wholly that left no room for escape.


    Whaaammm…