Dungeon Raider System-Chapter 988: You can’t simply walk into the Shadowlands

"This is insane, Winnie, come with me!" Walter begged for the umpteenth time, but she didn’t even reply anymore and just kept packing her bag. If it was for her, she would dive into the sea and swim her way to Uriel, but Nika insisted it was better to prepare than be regretful later.

Her first instinct was to grab as many gadgets as she could, but most of those worked on some form or energy and it was better to prioritize quality over quantity. It wasn’t a matter of if their batteries would run out, but rather when it would happen since recharging them or getting new ones was completely impossible in the Shadowlands.

"This is our chance to reunite, to finally be together. Going there is suicidal, you really are going to die," Walter’s raspy voice begged once more as sweat trickled down his face. "very few people have ventured inside the shadowlands and most of them never came back. Even holy rank hunters can’t do anything in there."

"I’ve been there before." Nika nonchalantly said as she threw her bag in the ground. Sam did the same, then added.

"I’ve lived there before." It may have sounded like Sam wanted to one up Nika’s achievement, but it showed in his voice that he didn’t want to go.

"You seem to have some common sense, can’t you convince them?"

"It’s just not possible." Sam sighed followed by the sound of Luna’s bag dropping by the other’s.

"I can..." Luna was about to say that her trait allowed her to shine, but decided against it since she found her trait embarrassing. Compared to Medusa’s petrifying glare whose mysterious power could cause effects ranging from scaring someone to literally turn them into stone or Nika’s trait that not only had many different uses that boosted her attack, defense, moving speed and even gave her utility. On top of that, Nika’s trait was perfectly suited for the job as she was as adept at surviving in the Shadowlands as the natural inhabitants of that place thanks to the nature of her trait. Lastly, Sam’s trait was incredibly useful since the shadows could not affect his Lightbringer trait. Darkness could not hinder his ability to see in the slightest which gave him an edge no one else in the world had. Adding to that, during his stay in the Shadowlands Sam had hunted all sorts of cryptids and his experience could be a determining factor for the mission.

Compared to all that Luna couldn’t help but feel inferior which albeit a rare occurrence, was vexing to say the least. From the very foundation of their company, Luna had always been the most useful in terms of knowledge. Sure, Uriel could read the ancient glyphs and he led them into many adventures into places she could have only ever dreamed about, but she was well aware that all that was only possible thanks to her knowledge and understanding about cryptids. However, that was of no use in a place where she would be blind most of the time.

"The shadowlands are the most dangerous place in this planet and that says a lot. For starters, you won’t be able to see where you’re going or whatever creature is hunting you. I don’t even know if it’s possible to fight them, but even if you do there’s no assurance that you won’t fall even to the weakest of cryptids. I know you think you can survive because Nika is going with you, but I know her well and I’m sure she will betray you."

"Not a chance." Was said in unison, making Nika blush at the trust bestowed upon her.

"I admit I may be wrong about that," Walter said even though he didn’t believe his own words. "but you also don’t even know where to start looking."

"Wrong." Nika shook her head.

"You do? I thought we were just going to wander around until Sam saw him." Medusa’s shocked expression confirmed Walter’s suspicions that Medusa wouldn’t be coming back.

"Winnie, please don’t do this, you will all die if you go while if you return inside the dungeon you can become the leaders of the new era for humanity."

"Walter," Nika said in all seriousness. "I’ll answer you for the last time just because I’m thankful to you for all you’ve done for me and because I respect you. But here’s the thing, we’re not planning on dying because that would mean failing the mission. We are hunters, we’re used to getting ourselves into tough spots and crawling out on our own. It’s not like we don’t know there’s a possibility one of us may not come back, putting our lives on the line is just part of the job."

"Father, I know you won’t understand, but he’s my family too. Even if I know he won’t die, even if he could fight the titan on his own and win, there is a chance he won’t ever be the same. We need to be there even if there’s nothing we can do, even if only to cheer him up." Medusa’s wry smile was all Walter Works got as a goodbye since hunters were superstitious. Saying the word ’goodbye’ was considered raising a flag which meant that person would never return.

Needless to say, Miss Dragonfang was proof that superstition wasn’t always wrong. She was of a kind and dutiful nature, very strong in combat and quite competent when she wasn’t joking around, yet she always found herself in extremely rare and dangerous situations where everything that could go wrong would go wrong. People started rumors of her being cursed which was eventually confirmed by Bella, the company’s witch who was also very powerful but had a bad personality.

"Now what the heck are you two doing?" Nika asked in a shrill voice when both Miss Dragonfang and Bella showed up with packed bags ready to follow.

"We’re going." Both said with determined expressions on their faces.

"You’re bad luck and you’re useless. You have five seconds to convince me to take you or you’re staying."

"It’s Uriel, he needs me there. I’ve known for the longest time that he has a crush on me, but never acted on it." Lizzy said.

"I’m not useless! You can even use me as a meat shield, I don’t care. If Uriel dies, then my hopes die with him." Bella’s voice sounded desperate, but there was also a hint of madness in her eyes.

"Yeah, you’re not coming. If only you paid any attention to the lessons of your family and actually learned something about witchcraft you could have been useful, but with your limited knowledge about your own family’s heritage you’re just a hindrance. I’d take Phlox over you any day, but she’s too smart to want to join us."

"Phew! Now you all can’t say I didn’t try!" Lizzy Dragonfang said out loud the words that should have remained just as thoughts. Not that it was rare for her as she rarely thought before speaking.

The party took off swimming, even Sam whose earrings allowed him to fly by spending an insignificant amount if flux went into the waters since it was the only way to keep up with the speed of the group that looked like torpedoes leaving behind a trace of bubbles on their way.

It was the first part of their journey and it wasn’t without its perils. While the are around the cryptid island was completely safe and cryptid free, due to their powerful energy combined they were bound to attract the attention of many powerful cryptids. The strongest cryptids in the sea would find Sam’s energy signature particularly delicious on its own, but accompanied with the others it was a well seasoned delicacy.

Because of that, Bella decided to follow them for a while and provide air support. She went as far as she could without losing sight of the island knowing that the moment she did, she could be stranded. Wind blades cut the sea to the sides of the party for a while, keeping them safe from the weaker sea cryptids that swarmed around the hunters for a few minutes then Bella had to return.

She had almost reached the cryptid island, when something flew past her and directly towards the party. It was a speed she couldn’t fathom to achieve and she was left confused since to her knowledge, she was supposed to be the fastest flying hunter in the world, but the problem was that whoever it was moved so fast she couldn’t even see who it was.

The ’rescue’ party kept on swimming without knowing about the mysterious hunter that tailed them, though even if they knew about it they would still be unconcerned. With a single objective in mind, they swam ignoring incoming threats sometimes passing through cryptids that blocked their way leaving behind sizzling meat chunks that would fade in time and flux orbs that would sink into the bottom of the ocean to become forgotten treasures.

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