Chapter 347: Death March [Part 3]
"Wait, something doesn't feel right," Prince Garen said as he raised his hand.
"What doesn't feel right, Your Highness?" one of the members of his team asked.
"My gut instinct is telling me we should get out of here," Prince Garen answered.
Lady Celestria frowned after hearing her cousin's words. They had been together for many years, and she'd learnt to take his gut instinct seriously.
For a warrior, the Prince's sixth sense was better than most, allowing him to evade danger several times in the past.
"So, should we fall back?" Lady Celestria inquired.
Prince Garen didn't reply right away. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at his surroundings, perhaps searching for the reason for his unease.
"Your Highness, the Headmaster just informed me that Demon Worshippers have reportedly appeared outside the dungeon. We must evacuate soon," reported one of the Professors assigned to the Solara Kingdom.
"I've received the same report from the Headmaster just now as well," Theo, Prince Garen's older brother, said as he adjusted his glasses. "It's best if we get out of here while we still can."
Everyone's gaze landed on Prince Garen, who seemed to be deep in thought.
"I don't mind leaving," Prince Garen replied after some time. "But let's regroup with the Faelarun Academy first. The Demon Worshipers might be targeting us and the Elves in order to ruin the diplomatic relations between the Kingdoms.
"We need to confirm that the Elves are safe. Regrouping with them will be our top priority. Also, we will inform all the students that we will meet on the way of this development. If Demon Worshipers have indeed infiltrated the Dungeon, they will be in danger as well."
Everyone was impressed with Prince Garen's decision, thinking it was something only a true member of the Royal Family would say.
"Understood." Lady Celestria nodded. "I'll use my spell to find the team from Faelarun right now."
As Lady Celestria chanted, a silver butterfly emerged from the tip of her staff.
"Find them, now!" Lady Celestria ordered.
The butterfly flew away as if it had locked onto something, prompting everyone to follow its lead.
Along the way, they happened to come across Renard, who was being mobbed by over a dozen Zombie Monkeys.
The monsters' eyes were blood red as if they had entered a Berserk state.
Renard was strong, but even he had trouble fending off the monkeys, who were fighting him tooth and nail.
The young man's arms were bloodied. He had also already received several scratch marks from the rampaging monkeys.
These monkeys were Mid-Rank 2 Monsters, but in their current state, their fighting prowess was nearly Rank 3.
As such, even though Renard could still beat them, it wouldn't be an easy fight at all.
"Help him!" Lady Celestria commanded.
The students from the Solara Academy moved and joined the battle as a single unit.
Prince Garen had already joined the battle before Lady Celestria had given the order.
Just as Theo and the Professor thought that things were under control, more Zombie Monkeys emerged from the forest, and all of them had also entered the Berserk state.
Since it was an emergency, Theo no longer held back and joined the battle.
He was a Rank 4 Solar Knight. The moment he drew his sword, blazing flames immediately covered its blade.
"Fire Wall!" Theo waved his hand, and a wall of flames appeared on the path of the crazed monkeys, who were charging toward the students.
He thought it would be enough to intimidate the monkeys since Undead Monsters were generally weak against fire.
To his shock, the monkeys passed through his Fire Wall and continued running, not caring even though parts of their bodies were now burning.
"Argh!" one of the students screamed as four monkeys took advantage of his surprise and ganged up on him, covering him in deep, bloody cuts.
"Crouch down!" Prince Garen shouted.
The student didn't hesitate to obey his leader, crouching down just in time to evade a blazing sword that slashed across the bodies of the Zombie Monkeys, cutting them in half.
Their bodies turned into black mists, leaving behind their Monster Cores.
It was at this moment that the students heard the clopping of numerous horses, prompting them to turn to their right.
There, countless Skeleton War Hounds—supposedly dwelling on the Third Floor of the Dungeon—were charging straight at them.
Nearly everyone froze, overwhelmed by the sight.
"Break your teleportation crystals now!" Theo shouted, bringing everyone out of their daze. "The Headmaster has interrogated the Demon Worshipers. It seems that a Dungeon Outbreak is underway!"
A Dungeon Outbreak was one of the things no Adventurer wanted to experience, especially when they were diving deep inside a dungeon.
No matter how strong someone was, staying inside the dungeon while all the monsters from the lower floors were rushing to the surface was suicide.
"Renard, get out of here!" Lady Celestria yelled. "A Dungeon Outbreak is happening!"
Renard glanced at her. He forcibly broke the teleportation crystal of a Solara student who had been seriously injured by the monkeys after trying to help him.
"Understood, but I'll only leave after you guys have left!" Renard shouted.
The other members of the party also urged the Prince and Lady Celestria to leave first. They were unwilling to leave before ensuring the safety of their Prince and Saintess.
Understanding they wouldn't go no matter what, Lady Celestria gritted her teeth and broke her teleportation crystal first.
A flash of light covered her body, then she was gone without a trace.
Prince Garen also broke his own teleportation crystal, not to save himself but to save the students who would not escape until he was safe and sound.
Only then did the other Solara students break their teleportation crystals.
After the last student disappeared in a flash of light, Theo was ready to leave, too. He was about to activate his teleportation crystal when he saw Renard running toward the exit that would take him back to the First Floor.
Torn between following Renard and escaping the dungeon, Theo clenched his fists, cursed colorfully in his heart, and ran after the prickly First Year.
As the Student Council President, his duty was to ensure the safety of the students. Even if it meant risking his safety, he would not leave until he personally saw Renard leave the dungeon first.
Meanwhile, Prince Kaelen and Lapiz also found themselves surrounded on all sides by the Undead residents of the dungeon.
After hearing that Demon Worshipers had suddenly appeared at the entrance of the dungeon, the Elven Prince concluded that whatever was happening right now was a ploy by the underground organization.
"Everyone, break your teleportation crystal!" Prince Kaelen shouted.
"Brother, break yours first," Lapiz said in a tone that indicated she could not be persuaded otherwise. "I'll leave right after you."
The Prince didn't plan on endangering his sister, so he immediately broke his teleportation crystal.
After he disappeared in front of her, Lapiz followed suit. The rest of the elves followed afterward.
All the students on the Second Floor had teleported outside the dungeon. Right now, the only students in the Dungeon were the members of Endless Horizon on the First Floor.
Cassandra and Professor Arabelle had been informed of the developments inside and outside of the dungeon, and they quickly passed the news to Alex and his club members.
Alex laughed internally, having thought of a wonderful idea.
'It will be best to push the blame to the Demon Worshipers,' Alex thought. 'That way, Charles won't be under suspicion for triggering this Dungeon Outbreak.'
No matter how he looked, this was the perfect plan.
Since the Demon Worshipers were an evil organization anyway, no one would bat an eye if they were accused of something terrible.
Although the Demon Worshipers could deny being involved, they also had no way of defending themselves. Who would believe that they just "happened" to be waiting in the dungeon to ambush the students when the Outbreak started?
They had no idea that they would soon become the scapegoat of an unassuming First Year student called Charles Lambert!
Alex wanted to keep gloating, but he was also worried about Endless Horizon's black sheep. Would Renard realize that the club seemed to have prepared for this exact scenario for weeks and hence make his way back up to regroup with them?