Chapter 9: Dungeon Raid II – Inferno Trap
Mira's whip lashed out, snapping forward like a serpent and coiling around the stone golem's limbs. The creature struggled, bound tight, unable to raise its arms to attack or defend.
"Now!" she shouted.
Jin released an arrow that struck the golem square in the head, staggering it. Without hesitation, Izuki and Jinxia surged forward, blades flashing through the heat haze, slicing it cleanly in half.
The golem crumbled into stone fragments.
We killed it in the blink of an eye. I didn't even get a chance to do anything, I thought, watching them high-five in triumph.
"Easy peasy! That tag was amazing!" Jay beamed.
"Mira, how'd you do that?" he asked.
Mira flicked her hair back proudly. "Too easy for me."
They stood tall, basking in the victory. But something felt... off.
Before I could dwell on it, my boot slipped on loose stone—I stumbled forward.
Right into Mira.
A sharp whoosh cut through the air. A dagger flew past us, inches from impact.
My hand landed on Mira's cheek. Her eyes widened.
"What was that?!" Jake shouted.
Everyone froze. Tension thickened the air like smoke.
I quickly stepped back and reached out to help her. But Jay shoved past me, grabbing her hand first.
Mira stood, face streaked with mud, her glare locking onto me.
I bit back a laugh.
Izuki pointed past us. "Look!"
A dagger was buried in the ground where we'd just stood.
"See?" I said, brushing dirt from my sleeve. "I was trying to save you. No need for applause."
"Wow," Izuki muttered. "How'd you even sense that?"
"Sharpshooters have a sixth sense," I replied coolly.
In truth, my luck had skyrocketed since the Stigma awakening. But I needed to be sure.
Activating World Knowledge, I focused on the dagger.
> [Cursed Dagger – Embedded with a phantom's malice.]
I picked it up and slipped it into my bag while the others were distracted.
"Enough chitchat," Mira said, biting her lip. "Let's keep moving."
The corridor ahead curved into a sweltering tunnel streaked with molten lava. The heat was immediate—crushing.
"So hot..." Jay groaned. "Anyone got a water-type gadget or spell?"
Silence.
Jay peeled off his outer jacket. The rest of us followed suit—except Mira, who scoffed, despite the sweat glistening on her brow.
"You guys can't handle a little heat?" she muttered.
"Did the advance team clear everything out?" Jake asked.
"I don't think anything's alive here," Jay added, glancing warily at the lava flows.
---
Elsewhere…
Lila sprinted through a jagged corridor alongside Robert, their team trailing behind. The air shimmered with volcanic heat.
Suddenly, a flame-scaled lizard lunged from a crevice, sinking its fangs into Robert's leg.
He collapsed, paralyzed.
"Just leave me… go," Robert gasped.
"Sorry, I can't do that," Lila muttered, slinging his arm over her shoulder.
"We need another team," Bob said. "There's a Flame Golem up ahead."
Lila gritted her teeth. She wanted to defeat Saul today—to prove herself. But now...
Robert groaned and clutched his chest.
His vision blurred. A radiant figure appeared before him, cloaked in divine light.
> "Child, come to me, and I shall grant you power."
"I want it," Robert whispered. "I want to grow stronger… for my friends… for my country…"
The figure embraced him.
---
Back with Paul…
We advanced through the tunnel, blades and arrows carving through golems and flame lizards. I raised my gun to help—
"What are you gonna do with that?" Jay mocked.
I sighed and lowered it. Again, they didn't even give me a chance.
"Are we done here?" Jay said, brushing ash from his shoulder.
"It's just golems and lizards—easy," Oh added.
Suddenly, a flame lizard burst from a crack in the wall, launching a fireball.
Everyone froze, caught off guard.
I spun around. My Stigma pulsed. Magic surged through my veins.
A shimmering water shield formed in front of us, absorbing the fireball before reflecting it straight back.
The lizard screeched as it was hurled into the lava.
"Paul, that was close!" someone gasped.
Jay stormed toward me, face twisted with rage. "You have a water attribute?! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
I scoffed. "Do I look like your personal gear mule?"
His fist clenched. He was about to swing.
"Enough!" Mira stepped between us.
Jay growled. "Then explain that."
"Sharpshooters are trained to carry extra gadgets," I said.
I couldn't tell them I used Stigma magic.
I drifted to the back of the group, avoiding eye contact.
Mira's gaze followed me.
He's not rich. He can't afford gear like that. So how did he…?
Has Lila been right all along? Is Paul... a Phantom?
"We're here," I said, snapping her from her thoughts.
The boss room entrance loomed ahead, its stone archway pulsing faintly with runes.
"Let's go," Mira said.
We sprinted forward.
---
Elsewhere…
Lila and her team caught their breath in a narrow cavern. Robert suddenly screamed, clutching his chest.
A monstrous roar erupted.
The Flame Golem exploded from the lava, its body crackling with molten fury.
Lila's eyes widened. "Run!" she shouted, lifting Robert again as the golem's molten fist slammed into the stone floor where they'd stood seconds earlier.
To be continued