Nobilitas Lapsorum: Servant of the Abyss

"We need a strategy," Arkhiel said. "I'll go first. I need to observe the creature up close. In the meantime, prepare a provisional plan."

"Alone? What if it catches you?" Celica asked, a trace of concern in her voice.

"It won't. I don't plan to fight, just observe and return."

Celica didn't respond right away. She studied him with a serious gaze.

"You're forbidden from dying like an idiot. Corpses are hard to carry," Celica said dryly, masking concern with sarcasm.

She knew the darkness was Arkhiel's domain, his playground. But the thought of him confronting an unknown and powerful creature alone still unsettled her. Even so, she understood it was the most tactical option.

"I'm going with you!" Lina stepped forward.

"No," Arkhiel replied immediately. "Stay here. If you come with me, Celica might… I don't know, trip over her ego or worse, and who's going to heal her then?"

"Hey!" Celica protested, clearly offended. "My ego isn't that big."

"Selene, he meant Selene," Lina interrupted quickly, offering a nervous smile.

It took Arkhiel a second to realize his mistake. He had said Celica's real name out loud. But she didn't seem to care.

Fortunately, no one seemed to notice. Or at least, no one mentioned it.

"Yeah, you're right," Lina said, picking up the thread of the conversation to smooth over the slip. "I have to keep Selene safe; she's so clumsy," she added in a playful tone.

Celica shot her with a pointed glare full of reproach.

Without another word, Arkhiel disappeared into the darkness of the dungeon.

Will your companion be alright?" Eldrick asked, still visibly unsettled.

No matter how one looked at it, Arkhiel's decision seemed recklessly bold.

"He's more than capable, or at the very least, not easy to kill," Celica replied without taking her eyes off the hallway.

As the darkness swallowed him, Arkhiel felt his heartbeat slow, his vision sharpened, and his breath fell silent. He felt his strength increase. It was the passive skill of the Shade Walkers, Grace of the Eternal Night.

His pupils shimmered with a dark, ominous glow. Swiftly, he moved through the halls, heading toward the widest fork of the dungeon. The few spiders he encountered were dispatched effortlessly, using a conjured dagger.

After several minutes, he detected faint breathing. He approached cautiously, and there it was.

The creature moved slowly.

It was exactly as Eldrick had described.

Arkhiel picked up a stone and threw it forcefully.

The reaction was immediate.

The creature turned with terrifying agility, gliding across the ground as if its feet barely touched it. It reached the point of impact, sniffed quickly, and emitted a high-pitched screech.

Then Arkhiel noticed something else, an exposed gland at the base of its neck.

That must be its sonic organ, he thought. It's not just attacking; it's mapping the environment like a bat. A living radar. If I step into its range carelessly, it'll detect me even in complete silence.

Each time it screeched, it emitted cone-shaped sound waves.

Arkhiel studied the creature from a safe distance, gathering every piece of relevant information before silently making his way back.

When he returned, his footsteps made barely a whisper on the damp stone.

"I found it," he said bluntly.

The group turned toward him immediately. Celica crossed her arms.

"Well?"

"It's exactly as described. No visible eyes, white skin, six legs, and emits piercing screeches. It moves with unsettling speed and locates its prey using sound and echolocation."

Did you fight it?" asked Darien.

"No," Arkhiel replied calmly. "I just observed from the shadows. It's photosensitive. I avoided using light magic to keep from alerting it."

"How did you find it so quickly?" Mirell asked.

Celica cut in, sharp and to the point.

"Does it matter? He found it, and he's unharmed. That's more than anyone else here managed."

"I know the situation isn't ideal," Arkhiel continued. "You're exhausted, and forced to fight alongside us. But if you want to survive, we need to act as one unit. If you already discussed a provisional strategy, let me hear it."

Celica nodded and summarized the formation they had agreed upon before he arrived: Eldrick at the front, Darien for close support, Erina and Mirell covering the rear. Lina would handle healing and buffs from a safe position.

"And you and I strike from the flanks," Celica added, detailing the positioning.

Arkhiel nodded slowly.

"Not bad. But we need to exploit its weaknesses. It's sensitive to light, and mobility is its biggest advantage. If we can limit that, we'll gain time. Aim for its sonic organ, it is located beneath the neck. That's also its primary sensory gland."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Eldrick asked skeptically.

"Erina, your fire magic is the most effective, but it's dangerous to overuse it. Only cast when the creature is immobilized."

He turned to Mirell

"You'll target its sensory gland."

Mirell gave him a serious look.

"Are you sure my shots will work?"

"You'll need to channel all your mana into a single shot."

"And the rest of us?" Darien asked.

"Maintain your formation. Protect Mirell and Erina."

Arkhiel paused, meeting each of their eyes.

"I'll conjure a sphere of light to blind it briefly. After that, I'll strike first. I'll freeze the ground beneath it to hold it in place. Once it's immobilized, Erina will cast her fire spell."

"What if it doesn't get immobilized?" Mirell asked.

"Then you don't shoot," Arkhiel answered plainly. "Only fire if you're certain. A wasted shot could cost us everything."

A tense silence followed.

"And if your ice spell fails?" Darien asked.

"Then my party will improvise. We're the fastest. We'll keep the creature at bay long enough for the rest of you to regroup."

"Listen carefully. This won't be a clean fight. This thing won't roar and charge like a typical beast. It's fast, silent, and every one of its screeches is a weapon and a way to see us. If you feel a ringing in your ears or become dizzy, get out of range. Don't freeze up."

He looked at each of them. Some still showed fear, others uncertainty, but they all knew there was no turning back.

"If we do this right," he said, his voice softer, "we have a real chance to bring it down."

"Don't die before I can yell at you for this," Mirell told Eldrick.

Without another word, Erina lit the carbide lamp, and the group began to move.