Solo in Dungeon

Chapter 5 - The Final Test

The other hunters turned to Jarred, their faces masks of fear and confusion.

"The s-statue! Look at the statue!" one of them stammered, pointing with a trembling hand.

The statue had changed. Its once serene face now bore a mischievous smile, as if it was overjoyed to be worshipped.

Jarred slowly rose, his gaze locked on the statue. To his relief, the statue did not emit a beam of light, a sign they had been fearing.

"Was it a success?" someone whispered, the hope in their voice palpable.

"I think so," Jarred replied cautiously.

"YEESS!!" The hunters erupted in shouts of joy, their relief palpable as they began to stand one by one.

"We did it," one of them said, grinning broadly.

Jarred exhaled a long sigh of relief. His instincts had been correct—this test had rules. If they followed them without making any mistakes, they could survive.

'This is just the beginning,' Jarred thought, a sense of foreboding gnawing at him. The test was far from over; they had only passed the first commandment.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to rumble.

The hunters' joy evaporated as the statue started to move, standing up from its throne.

'As I suspected,' Jarred thought grimly, his heart sinking.

"What the hell, wasn't it over yet?" one hunter cried out in disbelief.

"No way! It can't be!" another hunter shouted, their earlier tears of joy turning to expressions of pure terror as they froze in place, like statues themselves.

The statue of the demon king stood tall, casting a long, ominous shadow over the group.

"What should we do, Mr. Jarred?" a hunter asked, his voice quivering with fear.

THUD!

The statue took a step forward, the sound echoing through the chamber like a death knell.

"Huh?" another hunter gasped, wide-eyed.

They watched in horror as the statue moved closer, its steps slow but deliberate.

THUD!

The statue drew nearer, its gaze fixed on them.

THUD!

It was almost upon them now, and panic began to set in.

Mike, who had been cursing and questioning moments before, now looked to Jarred, his face pale with fear. "What should we do next, Mr. Jarred?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

The other hunters shared the same look of despair, their hope hanging by a thread. All eyes were on Jarred, their only hope in that terrifying moment.

Jarred took a deep breath, trying to think clearly despite the rising panic. "Praise the King!" he commanded suddenly.

The other hunters fell silent, staring at him in confusion.

Jarred, deep in thought, was trying to predict what the next step might be. He recalled the statues they had seen earlier.

Quickly, he turned to face the statues lined along the walls. "Some of the statues are holding instruments," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

The hunters' attention snapped to the statues.

Mike, still skeptical, asked, "How is the statue holding an instrument of any matter?"