Dungeon Raider System

Chapter 75 : Iconoclast

Running across the dark passage, Uriel felt as if he was drowning in the ever thicker mist that now barely allowed him to see what was right in front of him. He needed to breathe, he clasped his throat with both hands struggling for air then extended them in front of him trying to reach for something, anything, that could give him hope.

Despite his lungs being full of air he was still getting asphyxiated, he needed to get to the surface, but then a bone piercing shriek echoed paralyzing him on the spot.

The clattering of bones gave place to a myriad of sounds, it was just like a distant battlefield and even though Uriel couldn't see through the mist he knew that Flanagan had been attacked by the unnatural guardians of the ossuary.

If only that was enough to kill Flanagan Uriel would have been relieved even if he died right then and there, but he was aware that whatever the creature that just emitted that nasty scream was, it would protect the bearer of the nameless bracelet.

Fear was starting to overwhelm him as he was already on his knees and the enemy drawing near with each passing second. Uriel's situation was so dire and the atmosphere surrounding him so dark he couldn't think of a way out but then he realized something. Ever since he crushed the last orb the cold that Nika had been experiencing since the fog appeared had started to affect him too.

He didn't understand the reason, but he was clearly under the influence the same mysterious power that previously affected Nika. When he realized this, it was as if the spell from the loud shriek was broken and he was finally able to move his legs again.

As the walls around him started to collapse, Uriel took a glance back and muttered. "I'd love to see his face when he realizes his new pets won't fit." He was just about to crawl across the small tunnel that connected the underground passage with the ossuary when an idea struck him and a smile grew wider on Uriel's face.

When the noise died down the tall figure of a man surrounded by a cloud of mist and bone dust was revealed in the distance.

"Why do you have to make things difficult for me?" Flanagan's voice resounded at the rythm of his footsteps that resembled an ironic slow clap. "You made me chase you down all the way here but there's no running away and you know it."

Uriel stood up just like an accused before a trial but his sentence had been already passed. No matter what happened, he was dead set on not giving in to Flanagan's demands.

"I'm not going to help you, so just kill me already."

"Kill you? why would I kill you? I even left my nameless guardians behind so we could talk properly." A wide grin formed on Flanagan's face. "Don't you want to know what the fountain of youth truly looks like? don't you want to be the one credited for its discovery? If you help me now I'll share the sacred waters with you, we'll both become immortal.

I don't give a rat's ass about the credit for a discovery such as this, all I want is to be young again and to have enough money to enjoy my youth properly." Flanagan's silver tongue weaved lies effortlessly.

"Yeah, I'm not buying it... I bet those things are still behind you."

"They won't hurt you unless you try to attack me... as long as I have the bracelet I'm untouchable." He laughed, confident in his victory.

"Fine, I'll help you... but only if you hand me the bracelet. I'll even cut you the same deal you offered me. Heck, I'll even give you my share of the money." Uriel said with a sly smirk.

Realizing that Uriel wasn't the naive boy he thought he was, Flanagan clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"You leave me no choice then... be grateful that I need you alive." An arch of electricity ran in between his hands, the blue brightness highlighting Flanagan's maddened eyes as he launched forward with the intention to stun Uriel with his trait, but the young archaeologist wasn't willing to let Flanagan get away with his.

"You said you're untouchable as long as you had the bracelet..." Uriel muttered as he produced his magnum revolver which, thanks to allocating his new stat point in flux, managed to recharge a single bullet. "Then all I have to do is get rid of it."

Flanagan hesitated for a brief second, but then continued his onslaught.

"I thought you'd be smarter, orichalcum is unbreakable, you know."

"Orichalcum, yes... but what about the jewel." He said, waiting for the perfect timing to make a point blank shot at the green jewel on the bracelet. Despite his status as an evolved and his enhanced stats after crushing ten flux orbs, he didn't have much practice with firearms and his aim was terrible, but that didn't matter as long as his target was close enough.

The explosive sound of a gunshot resounded in the underground passage and the bullet bounced off.

Flanagan stopped in his tracks, cold sweat trickling down his forehead but when he realized the bullet had bounced off he regained his confidence. Still he passed his hand over the bracelet, softly caressing it in a gesture that had already become natural for him, only to realize that the jewel was cracked.

[System notice] Title acquired: Iconoclast.

Uriel greeted the new system message that branded him the most despicable title he could have ever imagined with a bitter smile. It was a sin so grave for an archaeologist he was now at the same level as Schlieman but, as much as he wanted to rebuke, he couldn't deny it was well deserved as he knew he had just broken a priceless artifact.

"You little shit!" Screamed the old bodyguard angrily, but his words were muffled by the shrieking sound produced by the nameless horrors behind him. No longer protected by the bracelet, the cryptids drew near closer to the now petrified Flanagan.

The ominous, unsightly horrors undeserving of names, outcast creatures from ancient times advanced slowly, as if performing a ritual. The only sound was that of their wet footsteps and the jagged breathing of a helpless Flanagan. They grabbed each a limb from the treacherous bodyguard, effectively tearing him to pieces in front of Uriel's eyes.

The creatures were so vicious they made sure to save his internal organs for last as they devoured him alive, prolonging his suffering amidst pained, unintelligible screams. Only when there wasn't a single drop of blood to consume, not a single chunk of meat left, the imposing cryptids turned their attention towards the direction Uriel had fled.

"Sorry guys, but I won't go down that easy." He panted as he desperately climbed the spiraling ramp that led to the ossuary. After the success of his last minute plan and confirming Flanagan's demise, he didn't stay to be slaughtered like cattle.

A feeling completely new to Uriel, a powerful burst of energy brimming on his heart, accompanied him as he emerged victorious from the building.

"I'm alive!" He pridefully roared with all his might on top of the ossuary.

He cheated, he knew it in his heart. He stood no chance against a veteran like Flanagan. His weapons were limited, his strength was no match for him and even he had to admit his aim was truly as 'shitty' as stated by Nika on several occasions, but he was alive. No matter if he had to cheat, crawl through mud, lie or betray.

If pride was for the living, for however long he lived he would live by those words