Ang held his breath and focused, stepping lightly into the dim cave. He raised the North Wind Steel Shield in his hand, its metal edge glinting coldly in the faint light. In his other hand, he held the Dragon Thorn Spear, its tip flashing with a sharp chill and murderous intent. He took every step with extreme caution. The cave was narrow and cramped, and the low rock walls forced him to hunch slightly as he moved forward. Occasionally, loose stones slid beneath his feet with soft sounds that echoed through the deep tunnel, making it all the more unsettling.
After walking for several minutes, the scene before him suddenly opened up. Inside the cave was a vast natural stone chamber, thick stalactites hanging from the walls. The occasional drip of water sounded like an invisible countdown. Ang stared intently and saw the Black Mage, Savap, lying miserably on a stone platform, reeking of an unmistakable stench of decay.
His waist was severely injured. The burns from the light arrow had corroded his flesh, and his skin had blackened and festered, faintly oozing nauseating black pus. He coughed violently while continuously spitting black blood. When it fell onto the stone platform, it even gave off wisps of pale smoke.
Ang's gaze sharpened as he slowly raised his shield and pressed forward step by step. His footsteps produced faint echoes against the ground, and the atmosphere in the stone chamber instantly became heavy and eerie. Savap struggled to raise his head, and a twisted smile appeared on his face, drenched in sweat and pain. His cloudy eyes fixed firmly on Ang as he rasped, "I didn't expect... you to catch up so quickly... It seems the organization... still underestimated you... You're actually skilled in both magic and martial arts." Every sentence