Chapter 80: chapter 80 the after math
Raven's consciousness wavered.
The explosion had been too fast, too strong to fully dodge. The last thing he remembered was a blinding surge of violet energy, followed by the deafening sound of the cavern collapsing.
Then—darkness.
His body felt heavy. His limbs were pinned beneath layers of stone and debris. A dull, throbbing pain spread across his ribs, and his breathing was shallow. The toxic mist had thinned, but the air was still laced with the remnants of corrupt magic.
> System Notification:
You have survived the battle against the Corrupted Golem.
Status Effect: Severe Exhaustion (50% movement speed reduced)
Status Effect: Poison Residue (5 HP lost per minute until cleansed).
Raven gritted his teeth. "Not dead. Not yet."
With a slow, painful movement, he shifted the rubble pressing against his chest. His arms trembled as he pushed, but the weight refused to budge.
"Tch." Too much debris.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to assess the situation. The cavern had completely collapsed, but that didn't mean everyone was dead.
The others had been farther back when the explosion hit. They had a chance.
He needed to move.
Raven twisted slightly, ignoring the pain lancing through his body. His left leg was free, but his right was pinned under a slab of rock. If he forced it out the wrong way, he might end up with a broken bone.
Think.
He inhaled slowly. No sudden movements.
Using his free hand, he reached into his belt and retrieved a small vial—one of his weaker healing potions. The liquid inside glowed faintly, but its effects were severely weakened by the lingering poison.
> Item Used: Minor Healing Potion.
HP restored by 20%. Poison Residue reduces effect.
Better than nothing.
With a sharp breath, he planted both hands against the ground and pushed.
The rock didn't move.
He gritted his teeth. Pushed again.
Nothing.
Then, a voice—low, amused, and far too relaxed given the situation.
"You look like you could use a hand."
Raven's head snapped up.
Mist Low.
---
Mist Low's Escape – A Magician's Trick
Mist Low stood casually atop the rubble, completely unharmed.
Not a single scratch.
Raven glared. "You have got to be kidding me."
Mist Low smirked. "What, surprised? Unlike you, I plan my exits."
Raven wasn't amused. "Then stop talking and get me out."
Mist Low sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But you owe me for this."
He flicked his wrist.
A ghostly hand formed beside him—an ethereal copy of his own. With a lazy wave, the spectral limb sank into the rubble, its intangible fingers passing through the stone before solidifying.
With a single jerk, the rock trapping Raven's leg was lifted just enough.
"Move," Mist Low instructed.
Raven didn't hesitate. He yanked his leg free and rolled to the side, sucking in a sharp breath as pain flared through his muscles.
Mist Low let the ghostly hand vanish, letting the rock slam back down.
"See? No problem."
Raven sat up slowly, flexing his ankle to check for injuries. Bruised, but not broken.
"…Thanks," he muttered begrudgingly.
Mist Low grinned. "Of course. Now, let's find the others before they all suffocate."
---
Searching for Survivors – Ana Awakens
The cavern was unrecognizable.
What had once been an open battlefield was now a maze of broken stone, jagged pillars, and unstable wreckage. The poison mist had thinned, but a faint violet glow still lingered in the air, pulsing like dying embers.
The battle was over. But the real danger wasn't.
Raven pushed forward. His legs were unsteady, his body screaming in exhaustion, but he ignored it. They had to move.
Mist Low followed behind, unnaturally quiet. Even he knew that one wrong step could cause another cave-in.
Then—a noise.
A faint groan, coming from beneath a collapsed pillar.
Raven's heart lurched.
He rushed forward, Mist Low close behind. Half-buried under the rubble, Ana stirred, her breathing shallow but steady.
Liz knelt beside her, relief evident in her expression. "She's waking up."
Ana's eyes fluttered open, her face pale. She let out a weak cough, voice hoarse. "…Did we win?"
Raven let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Barely."
Mist Low crouched beside her, tapping her forehead lightly. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
Ana winced, shifting slightly. "Feels like I got hit by a boulder."
Raven smirked. "You did."
Ana tried to sit up, but Liz stopped her. "Don't move too much. You drained yourself keeping that barrier up."
Ana sighed. "Great. So now I'm useless?"
Raven shook his head. "No. You're alive. That's enough for now."
Mist Low stood suddenly. "Well, while you were all napping, I was busy."
He held up an object—gleaming faintly in the dim light.
A pristine crystal core, pulsing with dark energy.
Liz's eyes widened. "Is that—?"
Mist Low grinned. "Special Elite Golem loot. I grabbed it before the explosion hit."
Raven's gaze darkened. That core wasn't just rare—it was dangerous.
But before he could say anything—
Mist Low's expression shifted.
His sharp eyes locked onto something past the rubble.
"…And that's not all."
He pointed.
Beyond the collapsed battlefield, partially revealed by the explosion, a narrow passageway led into the depths of the cavern.
A passage that hadn't been there before.
Mist Low's grin widened. "Looks like we found something interesting."
Raven narrowed his eyes. Another hidden chamber?
They had barely survived the last one.
And yet—
He couldn't ignore the feeling in his gut.
Something valuable was waiting beyond that tunnel.
Mist Low clapped his hands. "So? Who's ready for round two?"
Raven sighed. This was going to be a long night.