Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Chapter 79 Freya's First Dungeon

"Have you found it yet?" the cloaked figure, previously seen during the incident with Marcella, demanded. His voice echoed through the dimly lit, abandoned underground labyrinth they were navigating.

The maze of crumbling stone walls and flickering torches gave the place an eerie, desolate feeling. Dust hung in the air, and the distant drip of water added to the labyrinth's ominous atmosphere.

The people around him, clearly his subordinates, appeared tired and frustrated. Their dark, worn clothing and downcast expressions spoke of the relentless search that had yielded no results.

"Apologies, sir, but it's just taking more time than it should," one of the subordinates responded, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Well, hurry up," the figure snapped, his impatience evident. "I can't imagine that old man doesn't know about us yet, but he's still keeping quiet. I want to end this before he changes his mind." As he spoke, he flipped a pendant in his hand, opening and closing it with an anxious rhythm.

"Perhaps we could enlist some students to our cause, by force if we have to. That way, we can utilize them to search openly for us," a voice suggested from the shadows.

The cloaked figure shook his head firmly. "We can't do that. The main reason the old man still hasn't paid attention to us is probably because we haven't done anything to the students. If we involve them, we're all goners."

"I, Vin, forbid you from bringing the students into this," the figure declared with authority, addressing his subordinates. 'For now, anyways,' he thought, knowing that doing otherwise could jeopardize their plans.

"For now, we'll just have to increase our efforts in finding the Dream Hound," Vin said with an urgent tone, his mind racing with anticipation. 'It won't be long now.'

*****

"You ready?" Jett asked as he watched Freya step onto the teleportation platform. His gaze was fixed on the device, not giving away his own mixed feelings about bringing her along.

In an instant, they were transported to a location just outside the academy. The teleportation platform's bright flash gave way to a stark, quiet landscape. The area was deserted, with overgrown grass and cracked pathways stretching out in every direction. There were no signs of life, no distant chatter: just an unsettling calm.

As they began their trek, an awkward silence settled between them. The emptiness of the surroundings seemed to amplify the tension.

The landscape they traversed was bleak and abandoned, with dilapidated structures and overgrown foliage hinting at a past that was long forgotten.

Freya, feeling the weight of the silence, decided to break it. "You still haven't told me where we're going," she said, her voice carrying a note of frustration.

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Jett's response was curt. "You'll know when we get there." He kept his eyes fixed ahead, avoiding any direct gaze with her.

Freya's frustration grew. "That's very reassuring," she said, sarcastically. She continued walking beside him, her mind racing with unanswered questions and growing unease.

"You really don't have to be like that," Jett sighed, clearly irritated by her attitude.

"I'm just saying," Freya pressed, her tone firm. "You ask a girl to follow you to some special place, and now she's walking with you in the middle of nowhere with no idea about where we're going—no name, no explanation. It's a bit much."

Jett shot her a look of annoyance, his patience wearing thin. "We can always turn back now. It's not like I don't have anything better to do."

Freya's irritation flared. 'Rude... after bringing me all the way here?' she thought, feeling slighted. "Then why bother taking me in the first place?" she asked, her voice sharp with a mix of confusion and hurt.

Jett's silence was all the answer she needed. The path ahead was still empty and silent.

"You really want to know?" Jett asked, his tone a mix of challenge and amusement.

Jett moved with a confident stride, seemingly unaffected by the oppressive gloom. He glanced back at Freya. "Ready?" he asked.

Freya took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Yeah, let's go. I'm ready."

With that, they ventured deeper into the dungeon, with the shadows closing in around them.

"So now what?" Freya asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she followed Jett deeper into the dungeon.

"What next? Right, you'll be hunting some monsters today," Jett replied casually.

Freya's steps faltered, and she came to a halt, her expression one of disbelief. "That's an awfully bad joke, Jett. Stop fooling around."

"Think what you want, just don't fall behind," Jett said with a shrug, continuing forward and leaving Freya momentarily behind.

Feeling a surge of anxiety at the thought of being alone in the dark, intimidating dungeon, Freya quickly caught up with him. "So you want me to help you hunt monsters or what?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

"You'll be hunting today, not me," Jett smirked with a light and teasing tone.

Freya's mind raced, 'He's bluffing. He has to be.' Despite her doubts, she walked right next to him.

"I can assure you this is not a bluff," Jett said, noticing her apprehension. "I won't be doing anything in here, so don't let your thoughts get the better of you."

Freya leaned in closer, whispering, "Keep it down. So, you can even read minds?"

"Of course not," Jett replied, not bothering to lower his voice. "Your thoughts were just that obvious to predict. I don't have any offensive skills and can't even use spells, so what good would I be in a fight? That's what you're thinking right now."

As they ventured deeper, the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon seemed to thicken. The air grew cooler and the silence more pronounced, save for the faint echoes of their footsteps.

Both Jett and Freya could sense a growing presence around them: subtle rustlings and shifts in the darkness that hinted at the approach of lurking monsters.

The faint hum of mana stones provided minimal illumination, their flickering light casting long, shifting shadows that seemed to close in on them with each step.

Freya's senses were on high alert her breathing grew shallow. The anticipation of an imminent encounter with the unknown made her pulse quicken.

She could almost feel the eyes of unseen creatures watching them from the darkness, and every small sound seemed amplified in the tense silence.

Jett, sensing her mounting unease, glanced at her with a smirk that masked his own vigilance. "Stay sharp," he advised, his tone more serious now. "We're getting close."

With the sound of their footsteps echoing through the dungeon's cavernous passages, Freya steeled herself, preparing for whatever might emerge from the shadows.

The monsters drew closer, the dungeon seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the confrontation to begin.

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But she can't use attack skill...?