Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Clayton, surrounded by a group of enemies, didn’t move right away. It wasn’t fear that held him back—it was caution. He remained alert, wary of potential attacks from those nearby. Rightly so. The group soon unleashed a barrage of spells at him. Reacting swiftly, Clayton activated his Water Dome spell. Boom! Bang! For a while, he managed to withstand the onslaught. Fortunately, the spell was strengthened by his personal entry bonus, allowing him to hold out a little longer. Both enemy groups were surprised by Clayton’s resilience. They quickly increased the intensity of their attacks. Now under heavier pressure, Clayton found himself cornered. He clenched his teeth, struggling to endure the deadly assault. "I need to find a way out of this... If I don’t, it’ll end in disaster!" Desperately, he searched for a solution amid the chaos. But even after some thought, nothing viable came to mind. His concentration began to slip. Cracks were starting to show. Though the Water Dome still held, his body was forcefully pushed backward. Bang! He staggered as his back slammed into something solid. Frustrated, Clayton cursed inwardly. If it weren’t for that transparent dome, he wouldn’t be trapped here in the first place. For a moment, he even considered destroying the dome just to vent his anger. But then, a spark of hope ignited in his mind. "Wait... Could the opening in that transparent dome be linked to that spell?" He remembered when he had previously cast the Vibration Harmony Chant. At the time, he wasn’t sure if it had caused the dome to open. But if it had—there was a good chance he could escape again. The thought reignited his determination. Thanks to rewards from a prior trial, Clayton had grown adept at multitasking. He immediately cast the invisible spell toward the dome. Clayton watched with hope—but nothing happened at first. A chill ran down his spine. Then, a faint ripple appeared on the dome’s surface. He stared in disbelief. This time, the dome didn’t collapse like before—just a soft shimmer, fragile and fleeting. Before he could react further, the attackers intensified their assault again. Clayton snapped back to reality. "Ugh!" The ripple was close to him, partially obscured by his body and the visual chaos of the bombardment. Sensing a vulnerability in the dome, Clayton made a snap decision. He bolted toward it, maintaining his Water Dome shield to protect himself as he charged through the barrage. His attackers hesitated, confused by his sudden movement. But when they saw him leap through and vanish on the other side, they were stunned. In disbelief, they peered closer. A faint ripple on the dome’s surface slowly faded out of sight. Some rushed after him, cheering when they too managed to pass through. Up until now, despite fighting over the dome, no one had actually figured out how to enter it. Such is human nature—greedy, and often irrational. Seeing others succeed, more attempted to follow. Some made it through and rejoiced. But those who hesitated too long were left outside. The ripple had vanished completely. An uproar followed, but there was nothing they could do. Watching the chaos unfold from within, Clayton didn’t wait. He turned and ran deeper into the dome. Unfortunately, a few had seen where he went—and gave chase. They suspected Clayton had discovered the secret behind the dome and wanted answers. Ideally, they hoped to capture and control him. As they pursued him, they launched attacks from every direction. Cornered again, Clayton couldn’t hide his irritation. Thankfully, this group was smaller than before, giving him a bit more room to breathe. Still, the nonstop attacks made it hard to focus. He wasted precious time dodging, and his injuries were beginning to pile up. Nearing exhaustion, with pain searing through his body, Clayton finally summoned his mini skeletons. They sprang into action, attacking his pursuers and buying him time. Staggering, Clayton pressed forward, clearly hoping the skeletons would slow them down. Some of the chasers realized his plan and sped up their pursuit. But the mini skeletons, now in berserk mode and armored like seasoned warriors, refused to let anyone pass easily. Thanks to them, Clayton managed to lose his pursuers. He slipped into a narrow corridor, searching for a safe place to hide. Without realizing it, he found himself in a long tunnel. Just as he considered turning back, he stumbled upon another large, transparent dome. Curious, Clayton stepped closer. As he neared it, a soothing coolness washed over him. The sound of flowing water added to the serene atmosphere. When he looked around, his eyes widened in awe—a pristine underground river surrounded by lush, thriving vegetation. For a moment, Clayton felt truly at peace. He gazed into the dome, where a warm, radiant light glowed from within. Intrigued, he resisted the urge to enter and instead tended to his wounds first. In a world of swords and sorcery, there were many ways to heal quickly. But just like in his previous life, medicine could be poison when overused. So he only relied on it when absolutely necessary. Once he felt sufficiently recovered, he prepared to explore. Standing in front of the dome, Clayton observed it carefully. But he found nothing that gave any clues. Finally, he recited the Vibration Harmony Chant. Just like before, a gentle ripple spread across the dome. Clayton’s eyes lit up with joy. "Hahaha! This is incredible! So this spell really is the key to unlocking dungeon treasures!" He regretted ever underestimating it. Without wasting another moment, he stepped inside the dome. The instant he entered, a profound sense of comfort washed over him. Not from the scenery or the light-but from the dense concentration of water-element mana in the air. As a water-element mage, Clayton felt completely at home. After soaking in the peaceful atmosphere, he ventured deeper. Along the way, he saw vibrant plant life, both underwater and clinging to the cave walls. Still, he didn’t touch anything. He was far too drawn to the beautiful light he had glimpsed earlier. When he finally reached the source, Clayton froze. In the center of a crystal-clear pond bloomed a sacred white lotus—so pure, it looked as if it had descended from heaven itself, radiating a divine aura. Clayton felt as though he were standing before an angel. After taking in the breathtaking sight, he began searching the area, hoping to find other treasures. But aside from the lotus, there was nothing else. Determined, he decided to take the lotus with him. Since there was no path to the center of the pond other than through the water, he had no choice but to swim. But just as he prepared to dive in, a stone in the corner of the room suddenly flickered—whether from the light or something else—it almost looked as if it blinked. Clayton, completely unaware of what was about to happen, continued moving toward the center of the lake to retrieve the precious treasure. Just as he was about to reach the lotus flower, his hand mere inches away from touching it, a sudden and violent tremor—like an earthquake—shook the area without warning. Clayton, who carried deep trauma from past earthquakes, immediately panicked and struggled to regain his balance. Once he managed to calm himself, he quickly scanned his surroundings, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. Strangely, despite searching thoroughly, he found nothing suspicious. As he prepared to resume his search, a strange rock embedded in the wall suddenly launched toward him at incredible speed. Already on high alert, Clayton reacted instinctively and dodged just in time. Boom! A thunderous impact echoed through the chamber, followed by a violent splash that sent massive waves surging in all directions. Still in the water, Clayton was thrown back by the sheer force of the blast. However, since the space wasn’t too large and the water volume was relatively shallow, he didn’t end up submerged. Once he stabilized himself, Clayton turned toward the source of the disturbance, eager to see what had attacked him. The only thing he had glimpsed before the impact was a long, stone-like object with a rough texture and natural camouflage, hurtling toward him at high speed. He scanned the area again, but the attacker remained unseen. Baffled, he narrowed his eyes—just as the reflection on the water before him suddenly darkened. A split second later, a massive, terrifying pair of jaws lunged straight at him. Startled, Clayton quickly activated his water dome. Fortunately, the abundance of water in the area allowed him to create a large, sturdy shield—strong enough to withstand the predator’s brutal assault. Thinking fast, Clayton formed "anchors" from the surrounding water to hold himself in place, preventing the monster’s force from knocking him back or lifting him off the ground. He shaped the water into grips that clamped tightly onto nearby rocks. In essence, Clayton used the environment itself to support his defense. For a tense moment, both Clayton and the creature were locked in a standoff, neither able to move freely. At last, Clayton got a clear look at the beast attacking him. It was a massive snake—immense in both length and size. Its body bore natural patterns that closely resembled the surrounding rocks, making it nearly invisible in its environment. Its jaws and fangs were terrifying, pressing forcefully against the water dome Clayton had conjured. Just as he was trying to think of a way to counter the monstrous serpent, its fangs began to secrete a dark, greenish-black liquid. The moment the venom touched the dome, the once-solid water barrier began to dissolve—as though corroded by some potent chemical. As Clayton watched the dome weaken, a cold numbness spread across his scalp.