Chapter 258: An Uncontrollable Radiance
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The five-member party, under Tsutomu’s leadership, advanced steadily across the desolate expanse of the eighty-first layer. The ground beneath them was scorched black, and above, the red sky loomed, bathing the world in an eerie, unnatural glow. Rows of ominous statues lined their path.
The monsters inhabiting this layer were as merciless as the environment. Demi-Liches, once rare encounters in the Wasteland layers, now appeared regularly. They were joined by Gargoyles and Dark Sculptures, creatures that disguised themselves as ordinary stone statues, blending near-seamlessly into the landscape.
Any statue could conceal a lurking threat, and to move forward without caution was to invite disaster. A misstep could lead to an ambush, where the statues would suddenly spring to life, surrounding the Explorers — these ambushes were the layer’s most common traps. Yet, caution alone was not enough, for some traps were triggered by the very act of checking the statues. Reckless attacks and use of skills could activate these traps, turning all nearby statues into monsters.
“There — I see some Gargoyles,” Diniel, the team’s scout, announced. She had activated her <<Eagle Eye>> skill, enhancing her vision to pinpoint the faintest of movements. Among the rows of statues, she spotted some that blinked — one of the tells of a monster in disguise that she had learned from Tsutomu beforehand.
“Got it. <<Haste>>, <<Protect>>.”
Each arrow struck the Gargoyles with a series of sharp, resonant cracks. The stone shells encasing the creatures shattered, and like butterflies emerging from chrysalises, their true forms were revealed. Their malevolent auras intensified as they brandished their weapons — tridents and hammers that gleamed ominously in the crimson light.
The once-still statues had come to life, their stone-dusted wings beating furiously as they launched themselves toward Diniel.
“<<Combat Cry>>!” Daryl’s voice rang out as he unleashed a focused blast of blue energy at the Gargoyles, drawing their aggro.