~Present~
The gang leader stood up, his boots echoing on the concrete floor as he approached the basement door. "Make sure he regrets ever crossing us," he said to someone just outside, their features obscured by shadow. "Break him, but don't kill him. Not yet. I want the pleasure of ending his pathetic existence myself."
"Yes, sir," a gruff voice replied.
A figure entered the basement, and a flicker of disbelief almost turned into laughter on Hazel's lips. His tormentor was incredibly short, barely reaching Hazel's waist – a grotesque, heavily muscled dwarf.
"Oh, you think this is funny, do you?" the dwarf snarled, his voice surprisingly deep. In a horrifying display, his body began to contort and grow, his muscles bulging, and one of his hands became encased in jagged, obsidian-like stones. "Not so funny now, is it?" he sneered, relishing the shock on Hazel's face.
Just as the stony fist hurtled towards Hazel's face, Hazel unleashed his upgraded power. "Necromancy!" he roared, his voice filled with desperate energy. The cold metal floor beneath the dwarf's feet rippled and transformed into a churning vortex of loose, black sand.
The unexpected transformation caused the dwarf to stumble, his powerful attack faltering. He roared in fury as his boots sank into the shifting sand.
"What pathetic trick is this? You think sand can stop me?" he bellowed, his arrogance momentarily shaken but not extinguished.
But before he could regain his footing, skeletal hands erupted from the sand, grasping his legs with surprising strength. More and more decaying figures clawed their way to the surface, their bony fingers digging into his flesh, dragging him down into the sandy abyss.
Despite his immense strength, the sheer number of undead overwhelmed him. He thrashed and roared, his stony hand flailing wildly, but the relentless pull of the zombies was inexorable. In mere moments, the powerful dwarf was completely submerged, buried alive beneath the animated sand. A muffled scream was his final testament.
[You have killed an Elite. You have gained 300 exp]
[You have leveled up]
"Well, leveling up is a small mercy," Hazel grunted, straining futilely against the chains. "But brute force alone isn't going to break these."
The sandy floor solidified, returning to its original cold metal.
"System, release the illusion," Hazel commanded mentally, the words a silent plea.
The invisible barrier around the school shimmered and vanished, unknowingly freeing Blossom and Oscar from their self-imposed prison. They remained oblivious to the change, still trapped within their fear and confusion.
"Shadow, come," Hazel commanded through their mental link, relief flooding him. "Bring Blossom and Oscar."
Without hesitation, Shadow materialized beside Hazel, his teeth gently clamping onto Blossom and Oscar's clothes. With a silent ripple, he plunged back into Hazel's shadow, transporting them instantly to the dimly lit basement.
"Hey guys," Hazel said, a weak but relieved smile gracing his lips as they appeared. "Could use a little help here."
"Hazel!" Blossom cried, her voice a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming relief. She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso in a tight embrace.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Hazel winced, the pressure on his chained wrists sending jolts of pain through him. "Careful, Blossom!"
"Blossom, please, let me cut the chains," Oscar said urgently, stepping forward and focusing his energy. His sword ignited in a brilliant, controlled flame. "Flaming Sword!" The heat radiating from the blade was intense, promising swift destruction of the metal restraints.
Blossom quickly released Hazel, and Oscar expertly sliced through the heavy chains.
"Finally, I'm free," Hazel sighed, rubbing his raw wrists.
"How in the world were you captured without us even realizing?" Oscar asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Blossom, her relief now giving way to curiosity, leaned forward, eager for an explanation.
"It's a long story," Hazel said, a weary look crossing his face. "Let's get back to the quarter first, and I'll explain everything." He hopped onto Shadow's back, still feeling the ache in his limbs.
"Okay," Oscar replied, and Shadow carefully picked him up by the back of his shirt with his teeth.
Hazel and Blossom settled onto Shadow's back, and Shadow turned towards the nearest patch of shadow on the floor, intending to slip through to their safe haven. But with a jarring thud, they slammed into the solid ground. Shadow whined, confusion evident in his movements as he tried again and again to meld with the darkness, but the shadows remained stubbornly impenetrable.
They all slid off Shadow's back, exchanging bewildered glances. Shadow continued his attempts, pawing at the shadows, but they offered no passage.
"Shadow, stop," Hazel commanded, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach.
He looked at the unyielding shadows, a grim realization dawning. "It seems," he said, his voice flat with annoyance, "we'll have to go through the front door."