Chapter 164: Spectral Siege "Is it just me, or does acquiring this seem too easy?" Rever commented.
"We’re only in the first part of the dungeon," Victor said. "Let’s move on to the next area."
A barred door guarded literary secrets beyond, but with the keys in Victor’s hand, they swiftly advanced to the next room.
They stepped into the Prime Minister’s bedroom, shrouded in power and secrecy. These walls had witnessed significant judgments of the realm and harbored political ambitions.
"It’s only us here," Yuzuro observed.
"The other groups are likely in another dimension, an exact copy of this area," Victor explained.
"So, in short . . ." Rever rubbed his hands together, "since we’re the only group in here, we might find treasures, right?"
Victor nodded. "That’s right, although I heard it’s entirely random."
"Alright, let’s leave no stone unturned!" Rever exclaimed with enthusiasm, clearly the lively spirit of the group.
They searched the area and found what they were looking for beside the bedside table: the Elfkind Lantern.
ǁ Elfkind Lantern ǁ
Wondrous Items, Common
This enchanted lantern possesses a unique affinity for the presence of elves. When an elf enters its 30-foot radius, the lantern ignites, emitting a soft, gentle glow that illuminates the surroundings.
As the elf draws nearer, the light intensifies, reaching its maximum brightness when within 10 feet of the lantern.
While the lantern is at its peak radiance, bathing the area in a comforting luminance, those within 10 feet of it experience a heightened awareness of their surroundings. Their passive perception is enhanced.
A carved quote on each blade reads: "It glows brightly when near elves."
ǁ E N D ǁ
"Is there an elf in here?" Rever asked, his eyes shifting towards Yuzuro.
"I’m a sprite," Yuzuro replied to Rever’s inquiring gaze.
Rever pretended to be aware. "I know that."
"This thing is useless unless there’s an elf in the group," Victor remarked. "And it doesn’t do much besides lighting your way."
"I guess so, considering it’s just sitting there on the bedside table," Rever lamented.
"It’s handy in dark places," Yuzuro muttered.
The Elfkind Lantern glowed softly, casting a gentle light across the room.
"Alright, let’s move on," Victor said. The group nodded in agreement, preparing to leave the room.
Just as they were about to depart, a sudden, deafening noise echoed through the chamber. The ceiling above them began to shift and transform, morphing into cold, unyielding metal.
"What’s happening?" Yuzuro cried out, her voice laced with panic.
Rever’s eyes widened. "The ceiling! It’s coming down on us!"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Xin summoned his golem, a massive stone creature. The golem strained under the immense weight of the descending ceiling, its muscles bulging as it struggled to hold back the metal onslaught.
"It won’t hold for long!" Xin said, face devoid of emotion, though his voice sounded urgent.
"Everybody out, quick!" Victor commanded.
The group didn’t think twice; panic gave them wings as they sprinted towards the exit, their hearts pounding in their chests.
It would surely be instant death if that massive metal descended upon them.
As they fled, the ceiling continued its relentless descent, crushing everything in its path. The golem roared in defiance, but its stony frame couldn’t withstand the weight for much longer.
"Run!" Yuzuro screamed, her voice drowned out by the cacophony of collapsing stone and metal.
The group made it to the next room just in time. They didn’t dare look back, knowing the room they had just left was being consumed by the collapsing ceiling.
With a deafening crash, the room caved in, swallowing the golem and everything else in its path.
Dust and debris filled the air, shrouding the destruction left in the wake of the collapsing chamber. The group stood in stunned silence, their breaths catching in their throats.
"That was close," Yuzuro gasped, her voice trembling.
Rever clicked his tongue and growled in frustration. "And all that risk for just a common item? It doesn’t seem right. Considering the danger, we should at least get something rare!"
Victor nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. We have to be incredibly careful. The chateau is clearly rigged with traps, and it’s entirely random. Let’s proceed cautiously."
With their senses heightened by the recent peril, they delved deeper into the chateau, the memory of the collapsing room a stark reminder of the perils they would face.
Within the labyrinthine corridors of the castle, they stumbled upon a concealed entrance. This secretive passage led Xin and the others to the Guards’ Resting Room, where duty and devotion intertwined.
The Guards’ Resting Room, typically a haven for the castle’s vigilant sentinels, now lay eerily silent. The exhausted guards, who usually found solace and rejuvenation in this humble abode, were reduced to mere phantoms, shadows of their former selves.
The Guards’ Resting Room, usually a sanctuary, was now marred by an eerie atmosphere. Ghostly apparitions, the remnants of the castle guards, glided silently through the room. Their eyes, once filled with alertness and duty, were now vacant, lost in a spectral haze.
Xin and the others prepared for battle.
The ghosts, sensing intruders, turned their ethereal gazes towards the group. Without warning, the apparitions attacked their translucent forms, slashing through the air.
However, the group quickly realized that conventional attacks had no effect on these spirits. Their strikes passed through the ghosts harmlessly, like mist through fingers.
. It became apparent that these specters were not your typical foes; they were immune to physical and even magical harm.
Thinking quickly, Rever assessed the situation. "We need an exorcism spell to deal with these ghosts, something like [Exorcise]. Do you have it Yuzuro?"
Unfortunately, Yuzuro doesn’t have it, and she shook her head in shame and tears in her eyes.
"Don’t worry, we have this," Victor said and snatched a transparent bottle from his inventory.
It was a [Holy Water] "It might not banish the spirits permanently, but it’ll ward them off long enough for us to escape," he continued.
Victor and Midnight Duchess retrieved the vials of [Holy Waters] from their inventory.
As they uncorked the vials, a divine aura filled the room. The moment the holy liquid touched the ghostly figures, they recoiled in agony.