Elegy from Another World

Like the Grim Reaper in the night, I approached each target silently. First, I used a swift and silent water prison spell to envelop their heads and limbs, rendering them helpless through suffocation. Then, with a swift and precise stroke, I beheaded them. There was no pity, no hesitation, only the cold, resolute determination of blood for blood. The once bustling first floor was quickly enveloped in deathly silence and the heavy stench of blood.

On a bandit leader who appeared to be a minor leader, I found several oddly shaped keys strung together, which I presumably were the keys to the prison and the magic-suppressing chains.

I returned to the cell block and easily unlocked the girl's cage and chains with the key. Then, I discovered other prisoners deeper in the cave, thirteen in total, most of them emaciated and with blank stares. I opened all the cell doors and told them, "Most of the bandits have been dealt with. You're free! Run! Head towards Valencia!"

However, fear had taken deep root in their hearts. No one dared to move; they were afraid there were still ambushes outside, afraid of being caught and subjected to even crueler retribution.

I understood their fear, but time was of the essence. There were still bandits on the second floor; they had to be cleared out to ensure safety. After weighing my options, I decided to clear the second floor first, to eliminate any future threats.

"You guys stay here and wait for me to come back! I'll take care of the rest!" I said, then turned and walked towards the simple staircase leading to the second floor.

The second floor was even more complex, resembling a modified natural cave complex. My detection magic came in handy, accurately locating the bandits scattered throughout. Just like on the first floor, I used shadow and water magic combined with my short blade to silently eliminate six targets.

Just as I approached the seventh bandit, a man dozing off next to a supply crate, something unexpected happened! He seemed very alert, waking up the instant my water prison was about to take shape. In desperation, he pulled a dark sphere covered in rough runes from his pocket and slammed it to the ground with his last bit of strength!

"BOOM!!!"

A deafening roar erupted, accompanied by scorching flames and a shockwave! Although I managed to shield myself with a water shield in time, I was still thrown back by the blast wave and crashed into the rock wall, my blood churning violently.

The deafening explosion echoed through the cave, enough to awaken even the deepest slumbering creatures.

I coughed up a mouthful of spittle tinged with smoke, steadied myself, and stared sharply in the direction from which the explosion had come, and into the darkness deeper within, which must have been disturbed by now.

This is troublesome. The commotion has undoubtedly alerted the last, and perhaps most troublesome, enemy on the second floor. A tough battle seems unavoidable.