All-in-One System: All I Need is Erotic Coins

257  Clues about the Dome

The underground city stretched out before Damian, a labyrinth packed with monsters of all shapes and sizes. He paused, keeping a safe distance as he analyzed the dire situation before him.

"This is getting out of hand, isn't it?" Damian whispered to himself.

Anticipating dangerous creatures, he had ventured into the depths, expecting to encounter foes with strength similar to his own. But what he found was far beyond his expectations—the sheer quantity of beasts filled him with fear. It seemed as though something in the city was attracting them, making the situation even more perilous.

Despite the desperation of the moment, Damian took a deep breath and focused on finding a way out of this predicament. His companions must have also entered the city. Perhaps they had faced the same perils and devised a plan to deal with the monsters.

He searched along the dimly lit streets, the once grand buildings now reduced to ruins. The city's lost glory haunted every corner, a testament to the passage of time and the ravages of unknown forces.

As Damian continued, he noticed the body of a slain beast lying in one of the nearby streets. His heart skipped a beat—it could be a sign left by the group of mercenaries who had betrayed him. Determined, he activated his invisibility cloak, blending into the shadows as he followed their tracks, determined to avoid detection.

"Don't make a sound," Damian warned Billy, the mushroom who accompanied him on this treacherous journey. Billy nodded, understanding the importance of silence.

Approaching the dead beast's body, Damian examined it closely. The creature had suffered a powerful attack, akin to a mighty punch. A spark of hope ignited within him; it was likely the work of the tall man who had foolishly challenged Damian, only to meet his downfall.

Driven by vengeance, Damian persisted, moving stealthily through the darkness. The city's numerous hiding spots combined with the power of his invisibility cloak rendered him virtually undetectable.

He became like a phantom, silently stalking his enemies, waiting for the perfect moment to exact his retribution.

"They poisoned me and thought they'd get away with it. Not a chance!" Damian vowed under his breath.

Time passed, and more lifeless beasts scattered the streets. Each one told a different tale of its demise. Damian's pursuit continued, his determination unwavering.

Suddenly, a distant light pierced through the darkness, like a beacon of hope in the depths of despair.

"Do you think we're getting close to finding something out?" the figure with the bandaged face asked Vance, his companion.

Even from a distance, Damian managed to hear the conversation clearly. Learning that the group hadn't discovered anything about that place only made the situation even more complicated.

"Do you see that building over there? It looks like a library or something of the sort. We might find information there for sure," Vance said, attempting to ease the tension among the group.

Everyone there longed for answers to soothe their nerves. After all, why were they risking their lives in that dangerous city, surrounded by monsters? If even this search for answers wouldn't lead them anywhere, then the entire journey would be purposeless, futile, and useless.

With cautious steps, the group made their way to the building that resembled a long-forgotten library. Pushing the door open and peering inside, they were met with numerous bookshelves covered in a thick layer of dust.

"It was to be expected. Beasts wouldn't bother keeping books clean, right?" Vance said with a smile. "I told you we'd find something. Now let's search for anything related to the dome."

The group split up, each member scouring specific books tirelessly in pursuit of information about the dome that had surrounded their desert home for a thousand years.

Damian, not originally from the region, had found himself entangled in this mess. Nevertheless, he too longed to escape and reunite with his friends.

"Should I reveal myself and attempt to read something in secret, or should I stay here in hiding?" Damian pondered, unable to find a definitive answer.

He had no clue how the group would react upon seeing him. Although they had betrayed him, they hadn't taken his life, which was something to be thankful for. But undoubtedly, they wouldn't welcome his presence here.

The figure with the bandaged face, the most enigmatic of them all, had a book open in its hands, rapidly scanning its pages for any clue about the dome.

Then, abruptly, the person with the bandaged face stopped all movements and locked eyes directly with where Damian stood. The intense gaze sent shivers down his spine, leaving him filled with both anticipation and trepidation.

"They found me?"

That was Damian's first thought, but after a few seconds, the person with the bandaged face returned to reading the book in search of answers.

Damian felt confused. It seemed like the person hadn't noticed his presence, yet it also seemed like they had and were merely pretending. How could he know the correct answer to that? Should he leave it to chance?

There was no reason for him to reveal his invisibility and show himself to them, so Damian remained hidden, staying alert for any danger around him, like a hidden attack from any of them. He was confident he could block any attack that came his way.

"Guys," the muscular man with the gauntlets said, "I found something."

Vance was the first to ask, "What did you find? Let me see."

Everyone gathered around the muscular man, trying to catch a glimpse of the information he had discovered. Damian had no idea what it was, but he could judge from their reactions that the situation wasn't good.

He floated slowly above them, getting as close as he could to read and hear clearly what they had found.

"It says here that this dome was an attempt by a Lich to trap everyone here and build an army of undead to dominate everything! But he was stopped and sealed within this city, yet the dome remains intact even after all these years."

Damian hadn't expected a sealed Lich, but he felt relieved. The Lich wasn't among them to cause harm, so as long as no one released it, everything would be fine.

Of course, if they needed to destroy the dome, and that meant killing the Lich, then that could be a bit problematic.