"Maintain your positions!" Jamie called out, his voice unyieldingly authoritative. Don't let anyone pass."

"I'm going in," he declared, taking a step into the house's entrance. He pressed the mask firmly against his face, feeling the rough fabric mold to his features. With his other hand, he drew a slender dagger from its sheath at his waist.

"Understood," Thomas and Camille responded in unison. They remained near the doorway, weapons at the ready, eyes scanning for any sign of movement from within.

Jamie wasted no time. He descended into the depths of the building, the staircase before him plunging steeply into the underground. It appeared to have been carved directly into the sand and stone foundation. The walls were uneven, and the steps were worn. Dust and loose pebbles skittered beneath his boots.

The passageway was narrow, the rough-hewn walls closing in around him. Flickering light from torches affixed haphazardly to the walls cast long, uncertain shadows. Jamie moved swiftly but cautiously, mindful of the potential for traps or ambushes. The muffled sound of his breathing echoed within the confines of his mask.

Fortunately, the gas they had released was not flammable; the open flames of the torches posed no threat of ignition. Suffocation, however, remained a pressing concern.

At the base of the staircase, he emerged into a small antechamber. The room was sparsely furnished, with damp stone walls adorned with simplistic carvings, perhaps marks left by the Dusters during their excavation. Three distinct passageways branched off from this point, each leading in a different direction into the tunnels ahead.

'Which way to go?' Jamie pondered, his eyes darting between the options. The left passage sloped downward, disappearing into darkness. The right seemed to lead to a series of smaller chambers. The center path, however, caught his attention; several bodies lay crumpled on the ground within, some motionless, others twitching feebly.

Beside him, Jay materialized, the spectral cat hovering at eye level. His translucent form shimmered softly, eyes gleaming with that familiar curiosity. 'Didn't think to wear any special attire?' Jamie thought wryly, casting a sidelong glance at his companion.

"Too serious a moment," Jay replied, his voice echoing subtly within Jamie's mind. Yet, with a graceful tilt of his head, a small mask materialized over his feline face; an exact replica of the one Jamie wore. His whiskers twitched as he adjusted to the new accessory. "Better?"

Jamie allowed himself a brief, amused huff. 'Much.'

His focus returned to the task at hand. The sight of the fallen Dusters provided a clear indication of where he needed to go. 'They must be this way,' he concluded.

Walking with measured calm, Jamie approached the place where two soldiers lay suffocated on the cold ground. Their bodies were still, no longer showing signs of resistance or life. The silent aftermath of the gas permeated the subterranean corridors, its invisible tendrils having claimed those who had opposed him.

Under different circumstances, Jamie might have rifled through their belongings, searching for anything of value: coins, documents, perhaps a trinket or two. He would have scoured the rooms he passed, eyes sharp for hidden treasures or information that could prove advantageous. But the gas he had employed was corrosive; not only did it steal the breath from lungs, but it also ate away at paper, destroying any valuable documents, and pitted metal, rendering weapons and artifacts useless. There would be nothing worth salvaging here.

'A very effective tool,' Jamie thought ruefully as he stepped over the bodies of his adversaries. 'Pity it also destroys any chance of looting something worthwhile.'

As he moved deeper into the stronghold, he glanced at the fallen. The skin of the corpses was swollen and covered in blisters, angry welts where the gas had made contact, tissues inflamed as though burned by ice rather than flame.

'I need to hurry before it corrodes my armor,' Jamie reminded himself, quickening his pace. Even his protective gear was not immune to the gas's corrosive effects, and time was of the essence.

At the end of the corridor, he turned right. Ahead of him stretched rows of collapsed figures, dozens of men and dwarves strewn across the stone floor. Some writhed in agony, their bodies convulsing as they struggled against the inevitable. Others attempted to crawl, their strength waning with each passing moment. But what drew Jamie's attention most was the large chamber at the corridor's end. It was a grand hall filled with tables, resembling a feasting or meeting place.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

'The main hall?' Jamie wondered, his footsteps echoing softly as he approached the entrance.

The vast room bore the signs of sudden catastrophe. The fallen littered the space between overturned benches and scattered tankards. Another corridor extended from the far side of the hall, leading into deeper recesses of the underground complex.

'A secondary exit?' Jamie mused, considering the possibility. But there was no need to pursue it since the one he sought was right there.

Near the stone throne that dominated the far end of the hall stood Thorgrimm, the dwarven leader of the Dusters. He clung to the wall for support, each step a laborious effort as he attempted to escape. In one hand, he gripped a warhammer. The other hand dragged along the wall, fingers scraping against the rough stone as he fought to steady himself. The effects of the gas were evident; his movements were sluggish, his breaths ragged.

Without ceremony, Jamie closed the distance between them. With a swift and forceful motion, he kicked Thorgrimm squarely in the back. The impact sent the dwarf sprawling forward, his already weakened body unable to withstand the blow. Thorgrimm stumbled, the warhammer slipping from his grasp and clattering loudly upon the floor. He fell hard onto the cold stone, the thud echoing throughout the silent hall.

As Jamie stood over the fallen dwarf, he pressed the tip of his boot firmly against Thorgrimm's chest, pinning him to the floor.

Thorgrimm's once-proud beard, now matted and soiled with vomit and spittle, clung to his face in tangled knots. His eyes, wide and bloodshot, darted frantically as he struggled to comprehend the turn of events.

"Wh-who...?" the dwarf gasped, each syllable a labored effort as he fought to draw breath through the corrosive air. His voice was hoarse, scarcely more than a whisper. He clawed feebly at the ground, trying in vain to crawl away from his adversary.

"The amateur," Jamie replied coldly, his voice echoing icily in the cavernous space. His gaze was steely, devoid of pity as he looked down upon Thorgrimm.

"You... you bastard! Coward!" Thorgrimm spat, his face contorting with a mixture of fury and desperation. His body trembled with rage, but the strength that might have made him a formidable foe was ebbing away, stolen by the insidious gas.

"Perhaps," Jamie conceded with a slight tilt of his head. "But I still have my group. Yours... won't last much longer." His words were measured, each one delivered with the weight of conviction.

"H-how?! We are immune to poisons," Thorgrimm stammered, confusion and disbelief etched into his features. His mind reeled, unable to reconcile his perceived invincibility with the grim reality unfolding.

"Chlorine gas," Jamie explained, a faint, mirthless smile ghosting across his lips. "You may be immune to ordinary poisons, but this gas inflicts wounds that accumulate, burning the lungs, searing the flesh from within." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "I crafted it especially for you. In my other world, I wouldn't have had the opportunity."

Nearby, Jay shuddered subtly, his luminous eyes reflecting the apprehension and unease at the coldness in Jamie's voice.

[The God of Alchemy is surprised by the gas's effects.]

[The God of Mischief is uncharacteristically silent.]

[The God of War doesn't know what to feel.]

"You should learn more about your enemies before you decide to attack them," Jamie continued, his tone almost admonishing.

"A-all this... over th-those worthless fools?" Thorgrimm gasped, his voice barely audible as he choked on the toxic air.

"Not just for them," Jamie replied calmly. "When you attacked them, you attacked me. And I don't let my enemies walk away unscathed."

"Damn you," Thorgrimm muttered, his gaze faltering as his strength waned. The defiance in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a flicker of resignation.

Jamie regarded him for a moment. "I could leave you here to suffer a while longer," he said softly. "But I need to be certain you won't come after me again."

In one swift, fluid motion, Jamie knelt beside Thorgrimm, his dagger glinting dully in the fading light. He pressed the blade gently against the dwarf's throat. "You know how it is," he whispered. "You just lost the game."

With a decisive motion, he drew the dagger across Thorgrimm's neck. The dwarf's eyes widened momentarily, a final gasp escaping his lips as a crimson line blossomed against his skin. Blood welled forth, dark and viscous, pooling beneath him and spreading across the floor.

Thorgrimm's body went slack, the tensions of life releasing as he surrendered to the void.

"Time to get out of here," Jamie thought, wiping the dagger clean on a scrap of cloth. He noticed the subtle signs of corrosion beginning to etch into the metal of the blade and the fabric of his clothing.

Sheathing the dagger, he rose to his feet and cast a final glance around the chamber. The once formidable lair of the Dusters lay in ruin, its corridors filled with the remnants of a defeated force. Here and there, bodies lay strewn, some still, others stirring weakly as life clung tenuously.

Retracing his steps, Jamie moved swiftly but cautiously through the maze-like tunnels. The path back was more straightforward now, his earlier reconnaissance serving him well. The air grew clearer as he ascended, the noxious fumes thinning as he approached the surface.

Emerging from the subterranean depths, he was greeted by the cool embrace of the morning air.

Jamie took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air as it filled his lungs. Yet, he knew his work was not yet complete. "I need to seal this cave."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.