The Extra Can't be A Hero

As Amon led his strike team into the remote mountain cave, the Lich's lair defence system roared to life. Agva, engrossed in his experiments, was abruptly pulled from his work and hurried to check the surveillance crystal; his concentration shattered.

The first thing that the Lich saw was the march of eight confident intruders. They stepped into his lair, seemingly unaware of the dangers beneath it. Agva was rightfully confused.

How did they break the illusory spell he cast on the cave's entrance? Who were these intruders? Why were they here, especially at this crucial juncture?

They were all nagging questions to Agva, but first things first, he couldn't allow them to infiltrate any further. No matter who they were, if they uncovered the secrets of his research, the Demon Cult would be the first to execute him especially since there were two Apostles currently residing in his cave.

Agva needed to end the invasion as soon as possible… before the Apostles discovered it and wreaked havoc on his sanctuary.

"Malvour."

"Yes, my lord."

Agva summoned his closest assistant—a stitched-together flesh golem imbued with a smouldering inner fire that enhanced its monstrous form. Flames danced along the seams of its grotesque body, escaping through jagged cracks and uneven stitches. Its eyes glowed like embers, radiating an eerie, otherworldly intensity, while its maw occasionally released bursts of sparks and smoke. The air around it was thick with the acrid stench of burning flesh, its oppressive heat adding to the creature's aura of dread.

Just like its master, it possessed a thick aura of agonising death, showing the immense hatred from which it was created.

"Deal with the intruders."

"What are the parameters of my discretion?"

"Everything."

The Lich arrogantly gave all control over to the Flesh Golem without an ounce of fear.

"Use everything in the lair at your disposal. Eliminate the intruders, and do not let them step a foot into my laboratory."

"Your wish is my command."

Without bearing a hint of emotion, the Flesh Golem waved its arm and grabbed hold of a massive axe that was twice its body. It stomped out of Agva's inner sanctum and emerged into the labyrinth of a cave with complete confidence.

❖❖❖

The group, led by Horus and Amon, cautiously advanced into the gaping maw of a cave, each step more silent than the previous. The atmosphere was suffused with a chilling dread as if the darkness were alive and watching. Unlike the comforts of Alverton, the cave was eerily silent—some might say artificially so.

Horus naturally took the lead, his posture upright and poised, every movement signalling he was ready to draw his blade instantly. In contrast, Amon exuded a casual air, striding into the cave as if it were no more than his backyard, his nonchalance reflecting his confidence. Yue followed close behind Amon, her demeanour lighthearted despite the damp, oppressive atmosphere. She clung to his side like a loyal pup, her cheerfulness an oddly bright spot in the grim surroundings.

The others didn't emulate such ease.

Leon stuck close to Ellahan and Lydia, as he was ready to give his body at any moment for his lover and cousin. Vekka and Johann, on the other hand, made an oddly balanced pair. One was the meat shield, while the other was a mage who could fire spells from afar. It was a no-brainer that they were the ones protecting the rear.

As they delved deeper, the cave's eerie stillness gave way to a palpable sense of dread. The encroaching darkness seemed alive, cloaking a malevolence unmatched anywhere else in Alverton. The unsettling energy of the undead prickled against their skin, a chilling reminder of the danger ahead.

Then, abruptly, their progress stopped.

They had hit a wall—a literal one.

"The Lich must be hiding here."

Horus made his declaration. The passage might appear impassable, but he could almost smell the sickening stench of the Lich's decay from where they stood. He was confident that beyond this wall lay their ultimate objective.

"Shall I break it?"

Amon asked, unsheathing Nyx with a determined motion. The wall appeared solid, but with enough force, even the sturdiest barriers could be broken. Fortunately, before he could act, Yue persuaded him to reconsider.

"Don't! You'll just risk destroying evidence. Isn't that why we left Sir Carmen outside?"

"... you have a plan?"

"Well, it is a wall, but I believe it's been created and enforced with magic. What kind… I believe our Amaris prodigy would have some clue."

"..."

Yue's suggestive words caused everyone to turn their heads towards Johann. The piercing eyes made the young man sigh as he stepped forward begrudgingly.

"Princess, I didn't know you were so adept with our magic. You would instantly recognise our Amaris House's Sepulchral Curtain spell."

"I study a lot."

"Doesn't explain it."

Johann and Yue spoke cryptically, leaving the others puzzled by their conversation. However, they didn't intend to keep their partners in the dark for long. Johann then began to explain:

"Sepulchral Curtain is a spell used by the Amaris House to hide the graves of our ancestors. It's a Five-Circle spell that obscures a path and impairs anyone who strikes it. It can be quite a difficult spell to counter. Only mages with Five-Circles or members of the main bloodline are permitted to learn this spell in the Amaris House."

"So you mean…"

"Yes, I apologise, but this Lich is a former member of my family."

Johann spat his expression in near disgust. Although he didn't know who this Lich was, forsaking one's humanity in pursuing dark forces was the gravest sin a magician could commit. The thought that Amaris's spells—ones he wielded with such pride—had been corrupted by the skeletal touch of a Lich made his skin crawl.

"Give me a moment; I will dispel it now."

Johann advanced, raising his arcane staff with a surge of righteous fury. His violet eyes blazed with intensity, causing the four circles within him to whirl in a frenzied dance. Mana crackled in the air, and the atmosphere around him shifted. The once-impenetrable stone wall instantly dissolved into nothingness, vanishing as though it had never been there.

"Nicely done," Horus whistled in amazement. The Vice-Commander of the Golden Order rarely gave out praises, but whenever he did, it carried far more weight. Horus was genuinely impressed at Johann's ability, which seemed to be at a level under Amon and Yue's.

It reminded him that the new generation would always surpass the next.

"We can proceed now."

Johann wasn't bothered by Horus's praise, though. Anger was still bubbling as he thought of the wretched traitor to his prestigious House. However, no one protested his decision. The group delved deeper into the cavern and entered into the first chamber.

Jagged traps lined the floor, triggered by the slightest misstep. Spikes emerged randomly from the walls, and hidden pits gaped open, eager to swallow intruders. The cave seemed to hold its breath as if anticipating a threat. Stalactites above concealed deadly crossbows, their bolts enchanted to strike with unerring precision, and in the corners, skeletal sentinels stood motionless, awaiting their master's command. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

It was an eerie sight to say the least. And Amon knew that they had to be cautious with every step.

"Yue."

"Got it."

Amon addressed his partner-in-crime, and they understood each other's intentions even without saying much. Yue summoned five Spirit Guardians, each equipped with a shield and spear. They marched in unison over the traps, activating them like fireworks. Arrows and sharp rocks that acted like spears impaled the Spirit Guardians, causing their form to flicker. However, since they weren't corporeal, none took any damage and could continue triggering the traps.

Bit by bit, the Spirit Guardians eliminated all the traps in the first chamber and left nothing to chance. Seeing that the traps didn't work, the chamber activated its last line of defence. The skeletal sentinels began to move, dust falling off their weathered bones. They grabbed their nearest weapons, a sword, spear or flail, and charged right at the Spirit Guardians.

But oddly enough, the sentinels didn't stop there. They ran past the Spirit Guardians as if they didn't exist and advanced at Yue. She tilted her head in confusion, but there wasn't a shred of fear in her eyes. For she knew…

"Dawn."

Amon swung Nyx hard, and Solar Mana enveloped the entire chamber. The Sun rose even though the cave was pitch black. All the skeletal warriors dropped to the floor, burnt into ashes. The execution of the sentinels happened so quickly that the others could barely register what had happened. By the time they came to their senses, Amon had already cleaned up the first chamber.

"Let's continue," Amon nonchalantly remarked while sheathing Nyx.

"R-Right…"

Caught off guard, Johann could only watch as Amon walked past him and opened the stage to the next chamber. The stone doors were heavy but, fortunately, weren't enchanted by magic. Using a little brute force was all it took for the stone doors to budge.

But as Amon was about to take the first step.

Whoosh!!!

An axe descended rapidly from the ceiling. Amon arched his back, narrowly avoiding the deadly blade by the smallest margin. He quickly took two steps back, rejoining the group with a scowl. Looking up, he spotted two towering flesh golems, each armed with a silver axe, looming ominously above.

Behind them, more than a dozen wraiths hovered ominously in the air. Their faces were shrouded in white hoods, and their presence suffocated the air with a chilling, unnatural aura. The atmosphere grew thick and oppressive, as though the darkest depths of hell had risen to claim this once-humble cave as their domain.

Seeing this, Amon stifled a laugh. Thinking back on the character he'd read in [Bright], the young Knight scolded himself internally:

'I knew that he wouldn't make it easy…'