The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 62: Connected (Part 1)

Chapter 62: Connected

Somewhere someplace close to the end:

Ardent stood over the dead demon, it's face morphed into a chilling smile even in death. He coughed and felt the pain in his chest swell, forced to kneel and focus on breathing. Around him was destruction. The dungeon they had called home erupted and destroyed the majority of the demons that had come to kill them. As the Dungeon's Master his life was tied to the Dungeon Core and it was only due to the dungeon's compassion to save them that he had lived.

The vast structures of rooms that had existed in the dungeon had exploded to the real world, leaving a forest open and destroyed. The memories they had made in the past few years were scattered in ruins. Ardent however breathed relieved that their plan had worked. The people had been able to escape and the demonic forces reduced.

"I knew you'd still be alive," Vanter appeared over a broken concrete mass. He was bleeding from a gash on his forehead, a broken bow in his hands but smirking.

"Same to you," Ardent groaned and stood back up. "Thank you Vanter, if it was just me, I would have never been able to hold them back."

"That was the point," Vanter approached his friend and slapped him on the shoulder. "We share the burden. Still, we couldn't have pulled them all. I didn't see Kah'Seer, did you?"

"No," Ardent shook his head. "The communications tower should still work. We'll salvage what we can and check on everyone's teams."

The two moved through the ruins of the dungeon and to a small rocky outcrop that was mostly unscathed. They peeled away the rock to reveal a machine within. A bright red light was flashing on the screen, an emergency message.

"Well looks like we'll have to act now," Vanter manipulated the screen.

A voice played, "This is Ana, we've been exposed." The sound of something crashing scattered through the playback. "Shit, they're getting close. We're still on route but need immediate assistance. We're going to try losing them in the path but-." A sudden explosion resounded, and the message was cut.

Ardent paled, his expression clenched and tense, "Was that the only message?"

"Seems so," Vanter replied, equally tense.

"Then we're going now, can you move fast?"

"I'll have to," he nodded.

The two immediate began to run through the forest that surrounded their dungeon, quickly making their way to where Ana and Greg's team would be. Ardent could feel his heart beating in his chest, hoping and praying that they were fine. As the minutes passed, they soon saw signs of the fight. Dead demons, alongside not just the guards of the dungeon but the non-combatants as well. It was the beginnings of a massacre.

The bodies continued, spread sporadically and then came the entrance to the mountain path which had been broken to pieces. The already overgrown road was impossible to see. A sudden boom spurred the two to quicken their already fast pace as they charged into the pass.

"Ardent they're alive!" Vanter yelled, seeing further than his friend. "But they're in trouble."

"Don't stop!" Ardent pushed his already weakened body, leaping off the ground at speeds he hadn't reached before.

The group came into view. Less than a hundred remained. Greg stood at the forefront of the people, his large body acting like a shield against the demons that barked in mad laughter, trying to push past him. The few who could fight had taken up arms, doing what they could now they were cornered by the blood crazed demons. In the back the people huddled, Ria being held close by a shaking woman.