Chapter 102: Wail
Drosk didn’t waste time after seeing their situation.
He held the first lure loosely, then tossed it across the cavern floor. This first lure wasn’t too far from the Skitterfang, as they might fail to notice.
The small crystal, or the lure, cracked open on impact.
Immediately, it released a faint green mist that spread outward, giving off a sweet yet strangely rancid scent.
The closest Skitterfangs twitched their antennae... Soon, several of them started peeling away from the adventurers and moved toward the source.
But only a handful turned. The rest continued snapping at the injured group, as they pressed forward to have a taste of them...
"Tch. Not enough." Drosk scowled. He immediately hurled the second lure to the far side of the cavern.
That was already 160 silver coins spent...
Nonetheless, another mist rose... Together with the first one, the scent was stronger this time, drawing a few more of the creatures.
Still, more than half the swarm remained locked on the adventurers.
"Use all four!" Victor said...
Without hesitation, Drosk flung the last two lures in opposite directions. A sudden wave of that sickly-sweet scent blanketed the cavern, curling into every corner.
At last, the Skitterfangs twitched violently as they sensed the lure... Their bodies turned, as they found the four lures that were attracting all of them.
The swarm scattered toward the lures, abandoning their victims.
The injured adventurers dropped with relief, gasping for breath.
One of them, a young man with blood running down his leg, raised a trembling hand toward Drosk in thanks.
But Drosk only gestured sharply with two fingers, pointing at the Skitterfangs. His meaning was clear...
Not over yet. Work together.
The wounded party quickly understood. They tightened their grips on their weapons despite their injuries, reforming their line as best they could.
"Go!" Victor roared, charging first.
His wrapped sword cleaved down, smashing through the carapace of a distracted Skitterfang before it could gnaw at the lure.
Emma also darted past him, her blade targeted the joints or weaker parts of the Skitterfang while their attention wasn’t on her...
Thankfully, because of the ’warm up’ with the previous beasts, her accuracy was now better. One of the creatures was hit at the joint of its legs, making it stumble. She then drove her dagger into its underbelly.
Hale followed with her short sword, stabbing between the armor plates.
Just like that, the cavern became chaotic as the Skitterfangs shrieked... Their needle-like mandibles were dripping venom, but there was nothing they could do as they were torn between fighting the adventurers and finding the lure.
Of course, Drosk and the others were still slow and needed help.
The rescued adventurers threw themselves into the battle. They were already weakened but fighting together with Drosk’s team gave them hope and some strength to fight and live longer. One of them let out a cry, stabbing his spear straight through an eye of the Skitterfang!
He had never been this accurate before. Then, the creature spasmed before collapsing to the ground.
Everything was going well.
Rayven also stood near the rear, carefully watching the tide of battle. He clenched his hand and used his Spell after seeing that one of them was about to get jumped on by a skitterfang that was clinging to the ceiling!
"Mana Flick..."
[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]
[ Current Balance: 233 Gold Coins ]
This weak-looking spell may not look so strong, but it still sent Skitterfang flying because of how accurate he was.
Bang!
It struck a Skitterfang on its thorax. The impact didn’t crack the shell, but it knocked the creature sideways.
The distraction gave Drosk the opening to bring his heavy blade down, splitting the thing clean in half.
"Nice one!" Drosk said as he saw Rayven’s precise spellcasting.
He knew very well that Josen, their original Mage member, wouldn’t be this accurate in the middle of a fight.
Another Skitterfang leapt from the side, aiming straight for Emma. Rayven reacted instantly, spending another coin.
"Mana Flick..."
[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]
[ Current Balance: 232 Gold Coins ]
This one shot straight into the beast’s open mandibles.
The mana burst didn’t shatter its mouthparts, but it was definitely injured.
Emma didn’t hesitate as soon as she saw what had happened.
She plunged her dagger through its neck, killing it instantly.
"Thanks, Rayven!" she shouted breathlessly.
Meanwhile, Victor and the two sturdier adventurers were pushing the front line. Victor’s sword didn’t stop and he was starting to feel a little tired from all the smashing...
Still, the number of Skitterfangs was dwindling...
Two more creatures ran up the cavern wall and leapt down at the rear line, targeting Hale and one of the wounded adventurers. However, Rayven saw it immediately...
"Behind!" He shouted.
He didn’t use a Spell this time since Hale was also very fast.
She just rolled aside just in time with her blade, stabbing upward to meet the falling body.
She pierced deep into the underbelly, as the creature shrieked and thrashed before collapsing.
"They’re not as hard as I thought... These are young ones I suppose." Hale muttered as she knew that the older ones should have tougher underbelly...
However, the other adventurer wasn’t so lucky. A Skitterfang pinned one of the injured, and its mandibles were already biting into his shoulder.
His scream echoed painfully across the cavern, and it caught everyone’s attention...
Drosk turned and he charged in, slamming his shoulder into the Skitterfang to push it out of the man... Then, with another swing, he cut the beast in two and shoved the injured adventurer toward the back line.
"Hold the wall!" Victor shouted.
The surviving Skitterfangs hissed, but only six of them were left!
With the lures keeping them scattered, the coordinated attacks of both groups began to break the swarm apart.
Emma and Hale fought side by side, cutting down another. Victor crushed another underfoot, and Drosk swung his sword like a hammer, ending another Skitterfang.
Finally, the last few tried to retreat, but the adventurers gave them no chance.
In just five minutes or so... All the Skitterfangs were killed!
However, as Rayven and the others thought that they could finally relax, a screeching wail resounded throughout the whole dungeon!