Nightmare Magic

Chapter 6: Reconnaissance.

Allen POV

With the new rift in the seal gate, there are sure to be a lot of Strike teams visiting that dungeon. Ulic's death ground and grave.

I was still wondering who was foolish enough to enter the rift. He or she must be very powerful to be able break through the seal at the Twin gates and releasing Ulic. What was his or her motive. The peace has been broken because of that reckless fool.

"If I am correct it took 1 entire month to resist Ulic. Nearly an entire year with a lot of lives and experienced mages to seal him and then after a while he died. After his release and with an even strong vessel, imagine what would happen to the world." It was my colleague Hanthra talking.

"Don't forget that magic has evolved over time. We now have more diverse ways" Another colleague tried to counter, obviously to try giving us courage. It was Dia

" Yeah, and don't forget that a medium level essence mage of those times had more techniques than both Our master and the Stone Jabs master together. They where able to level villages and became main villains if left unchecked." Yet another colleague, Zero said. Dia bowed her head after sometime trying to come up with a comeback, but nothing was coming up.

She let it slide. And decided to focus on sharpening her sword and adjusting her plasma laser rifle.

I completely agree with what the others had said against Dia's argument. They where stronger, probably also understood themselves properly, but they didn't have technology like we had. It's still an advantage we have and also the fact that we have new moves. Two teams were already camped around the bookstore expecting something. There was only one exit from the sealed realm and it was the bookstore. They didn't know if they should confront Ulic and his vessel in the sealed realm or wait for him to come out. Obviously within the two days that road has been cut off and blocked. Buildings around evacuated and and valuables taken out. They were preparing for the worst.

Ulic was strong, but it would be most surprising if Ulic was a pawn of the evil men of the old world and not even their trump card. Well those were speculations because after Ulic's sealing the mages involved and the top officials were hunted like common animals and killed. They tried fleeing but Ulic's cult mates were too strong. They all ended up dead and at the end Ulic's cult mates retired sealing away the high officials. Peace and order returned and they equally left Ulic in his exile imprisonment because he had not been able to defend himself and because he had recklessly killed innocents with his power.

There were other more destructive and more powerful than Ulic but their names never went into history because they were defeated easily. Ulic on the other hand was a master planer. He had 8 generals who carried out task for him. They were also really powerful and still had their own powerful minions. He also had a powerful backer.

I shook my head at the thought of being an opposing mage against Ulic and his soldiers. "You've been quiet Allen, more than you usually are" Hashtag stated. I raised my head to see that He alongside everyone in the room was looking at me. We were 9 in the room. "I've just been thinking about this mission" I didn't want to dampen anyone's morale. "We will win, but not without a few casualties, surely, but I have faith in us. It's gonna be safe for now since we are only scouting not fighting. We only engage when we are in danger or when attacked by hostiles. So it's a fairly good strategy. We just play quiet, useless, and any other thing, just try enduring this trying period". I finished talking and almost immediately our battalion commander burst into the room. "Time to move!"

Ryo Pov

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(few days before)

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Landing on the stone floor, the portal closed behind me. For about a few seconds there was a pull on my skin by the surrounding area. It stopped. I stood upright facing the steps. I began to step forward allowing my orb lighting artifact float In front of me and bringing a glow to the surrounding area. Usually every dungeon had a sword for the Striker too use, but when I tried conjuring a sword nothing materialized. The dungeon didn't seem scary so I decided to explore a bit.

After walking a while, I thought I heard a voice. Infact I was sure I heard a voice.

"that's creepy" I muttered to myself "who's there?" I asked my voice intending to sound furious and intimidating, but came out as a little scared squeak. I decided to leave the dungeon after walking about a while, but when I arrived at where the entrance was supposed to be, there was no stairway and the no doorway. Now I was really creeped out.

I tried enhancing my fist with essence so I could punch where the bookshelf doorway has once been but I felt nothing. It was then it clicked. I couldn't get out. The realization made my insides squeeze and my cause a kind of fear lock hold of my heart. I thought I would pass out, but I decided to steel myself for whatever dangers in the surrounding. I explored the dungeon and mapped my way around. Then I stumbled upon a room. It had a table in the middle. Quite dusty it had like a 3d representation of the dungeon. I traced from the door and saw where I was. It was like the center of the dungeon. I stepped into the room with caution. Even though I hadn't seen any traps didn't mean there would be any. There were no traps. The model was created out of technology, way too advanced for a dungeon as old as this.

It used holographic images. "I wonder where this place gets it's power from".

I rotated the image.

The holographic image had labels to each part. I was in a place called the control center. Obviously. Because this place has a lot of cool stuff. Control center stuff. Then I saw a place called holding cell. "Yup, that part creeps me out a lot".

The reason was because, whenever I passed there a strong aura was present and a voice kept telling me to release it. Only a dumb fool would release a voice in a dungeon. There's a reason why the spirit is locked. Weapon room? That would be a nice place. There was monster or scary stuff in this place. The last time I had entered a dungeon and released a spirit that I thought was a man. the spirit haunted and hunted me, but after a mutual understanding, I and the spirit became new room mates. This one however has a really oppressive aura, much more than the one I had an agreement with. I needed weapons bad but the only problem was that it was beyond the vault of the 'dead' oppressive spirit. I wasn't scared. "There's a library close by" I said this to myself. Then intentionally passing the dungeon door I said. "I'm going to learn about you". I chuckled to myself as my attempt to taunt the spirit worked. It gave a low chuckle. Hmm? Humorous spirits, now that's a first. On reaching the library, I looked around. The place was good looking. Nice. No books. I checked out the entire library and saw just one book

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THE CURSED MAGE: ULIC...

I read the book. It wasn't funny. I was able to read to the end because the book was a summary, or memory. Immediately it was opened it gave you memory of what was in the book. "it seems Ulic has repented" The book seemed to know the current condition of the person it kept tabs on.Then it hit me. I have a brilliant idea.

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"Why don't you take me on this Ulic?"