Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 195: Dark...

Adrian and his troops entered the temple ruin, the ancient stone walls and arched ceilings casting eerie shadows in the dim light. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and centuries-old dust. They moved silently through the hall, the only sounds being the soft footsteps of their march and the distant echo of water dripping from unseen sources.

The hall was silent and dark, but the faint glow from Adrian's summoned creatures provided just enough light to see. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The Nightstalkers, with their keen senses and agility, efficiently dealt with the few traps they encountered, disarming pressure plates and bypassing hidden spikes with ease.

They continued their advance, the tension mounting with every step. Suddenly, a chilling scream echoed from the back of their formation. Before anyone could react, a few of the monster followers had vanished, leaving only shadows and silence in their wake.

Adrian's eyes narrowed as he turned to assess the situation. "Stay alert," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. "Two Shadow Guardians and two Shadow Wraiths at the rear. I want to know immediately if anything happens."

The designated guardians and wraiths took their positions, their presence a comforting reminder of their vigilance. The group resumed their advance, moving cautiously through the darkened hall. For a minute, nothing happened. The air remained still, the shadows undisturbed.

Then, another minute passed, and the silence was broken by the sound of rushing air. They emerged into a vast chamber, the path before them ending abruptly at the edge of a large, deep hole. The other side of the chamber seemed impossibly far, with no apparent means of crossing the gap.

Adrian studied the hole, his mind racing through possible solutions. He glanced at one of his Nightstalkers. "Check the depth," he instructed.

The Nightstalker obeyed, leaping into the hole with effortless grace. For a moment, Adrian could still sense its presence, but as it descended further, the connection abruptly severed. He frowned, sensing a hidden danger within the darkness below.

'Is there some kind of powerful monster below? But if the nightstalker died immediately, how can we safely fight it in this environment... Should I give up then?'

'No... There must be a way.'

Adrian's mind raced as he looked at the deep, dark hole. 'Let's try this...' He turned to one of his Umbra Golems, its massive form towering over the other summoned creatures. "Golem, check the hole," he commanded.

The Umbra Golem lumbered forward, its heavy footsteps echoing in the chamber. It approached the edge of the hole and, with a powerful leap, descended into the darkness. For a moment, Adrian maintained the connection, feeling the Golem's presence as it fell. But then, just like with the Nightstalker, the connection was abruptly severed.

Frustration gnawed at him as he assessed the situation. 'Even the Golem disappeared... Or, is there some kind of teleportation portal or thing here... Could be possible. But if there is such a thing, where it will lead to?''

"Can any of you check the hole or find a way to cross to the other side?" Adrian asked, his gaze sweeping over his assembled forces. The chiefs and their minions exchanged glances, uncertain.

"So, you can't, huh," Adrian muttered and focused on the hole again, deep in thought.

Just as he was contemplating his next move, loud voices echoed from the back of the formation. Before he could fully process what was happening, the connection with two of his Shadow Wraiths abruptly severed. His heart sank as he whirled around, his eyes widening in alarm.

Flames erupted from the rear of their formation, swallowing the Shadow Wraiths in a torrent of fire. Adrian squinted through the blaze, his gaze locking onto the figures moving within the inferno. Fire monsters and summoned creatures, their forms wreathed in flame, advanced with terrifying speed and power.

"Dammit!" Adrian cursed, realizing the implications. "We're being attacked by the fire warlord!"

His mind raced as he assessed the situation. The rear of their formation was in chaos, his troops struggling to fend off the sudden onslaught. The flames grew closer, threatening to engulf them all.

'But, how? I asked Eldrin to guard the entrance-! Wait... That damn tree!' Adrian knew Eldrin probably betrayed him. 'Haha, you really made me angry Eldrin.'

Adrian's heart pounded as the realization of their dire situation sank in. Flames roared at the rear of their formation, casting eerie, dancing shadows on the stone walls. The fire monsters advanced with relentless speed, their fiery forms a stark contrast to the darkness of the temple. His troops were in disarray, struggling to hold back the onslaught.

"We can't fight here," Adrian muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. The narrow hallways and confined spaces of the temple ruins were a death trap. The fire warlord's forces would have the advantage, their flames consuming everything in their path. He needed to find a way out, and fast.

He glanced at the dark hole before them, the unknown depths now seeming like a possible escape rather than a threat. "Everyone, jump into the hole!" Adrian commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos.

The chiefs and their minions hesitated, uncertainty flashing in their eyes. Adrian knew they were afraid, and he couldn't blame them. But there was no time for hesitation. If they stayed, they would be burned alive.

"I'll go first," Adrian said, steeling himself. He took a deep breath and leaped into the darkness. The sensation of falling was immediate, the air rushing past him as he descended into the unknown.

"Catch the... Master...." He heard a girl's voice but soon the voice died down. Though, he got to know who the attacker was.

For a moment, he felt the familiar connection to his summoned creatures, a reassuring presence even in the pitch-black void. But as he continued to fall, the connection began to wane, and the darkness seemed to close in around him.

Then...

Everything went dark.