Level Up: Voidwalker

Chapter 120: Delilah Al-Munfiyah

[Siavash's POV]

Mayor Arman paid Siavash and his party to clear the Merrows from the coastline below Tajariyah City. Reports say the creatures have been attacking traveling while they travel south to the other towns and cities.

Siavash's party, known as the Mountain Goats, consisted of Morteza, his older brother, and the group's leader. Then there was Shirin, who was married to his brother and another attacker.

Then there was Niloofar, the defender, Morteza's second wife, and Taraneh, his third wife and the party's mage. Siavash couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at their close-knit family, especially given his single status.

Though he resented his situation, he held no ill will toward them; fate had dealt him a different hand. Following accepting the mission, they set off at sunrise and trekked down the mountain paths like experts.

By the time they reached the grassland below, Siavash saw a dozen Achaemenidians guarding the bottom. When the commander spotted the party, he approached with a relieved smile and asked, ''Are you guys the Mountain Goats?''

Morteza nodded, ''Yes, sir. Mayor Arman sent us her. Where would you like us?'' his brother answered the older man.

The commander turned to the east. ''Can you patrol the beach to Orhame Harbor? You can rest in the fortress along the way while you kill every monster you encounter,'' he said in a firm tone.

''We know Merrows here, but is there anything else?'' Niloofar questioned as she readied her shield.

''Yes, there are Tidebreakers, mountain trolls, and a few others that some squads of soldiers have reported over the last week,'' the older man said before saying his goodbyes and returning to his duties.

Morteza turned to the group and gave out the orders, ''Niloofar, you're on point, my love, and make sure to defend us,'' he said with a smile.

Siavash watched them plan their patrol before he readied his bow and started walking further ahead, as that was his job. Ten minutes later, he was crouched on a dune overlooking two dozen Tidebreakers eating man-sized fish.

'Giant crabs are annoying to kill but their meat tastes beautiful,' he thought as his stomach rumbled.

As Siavash continued his scouting mission, he pulled out some jerky and munched on it, using the time to refuel before pushing on. He navigated through the terrain, carefully avoiding the numerous monsters he encountered.

Moving east, he maintained a cautious distance from the creatures, ensuring he didn't draw their attention. Meanwhile, his companions followed his trail steadily, each step bringing them closer to their objective.

Siavash continued his solo patrol and snuck along the beach. The only noise he made was the soft crunch of the sand. He scanned the horizon with hawk-like eyes, the sound of the waves a constant backdrop to his thoughts.

He crouched behind a boulder, peering around it with his bow ready. Through the growing dusk, a commotion ahead caught his attention. Siavash's heart quickened. The Merrows emerged from the ocean's murky depths, their figures barely visible as they slid onto the sand with disturbing grace.

These creatures were the stuff of nightmares—evil mermaids with scales shimmering in deep green and black shades. Their red eyes glowed with evil intent, and their long, webbed fingers clutched wickedly sharp spears.

Siavash's eyes widened in shock as he thought, 'Sea devils! I knew I would see them but its still unsettling, I hope their lower ranked ones other it will be tough.'

Two dozen giant Tidebreakers and Saltfrogs were relaxing on the warm sand. The frogs had blue skin with poisonous patterns all over its body. It had beady black eyes as he looked in the air for the large flies on the beach.

That's when the Merrows pounced on the unaware monsters and speared them or used some unknown magic that cut the creatures in half. Siavash continued to watch this but backed off to warn the soldiers.

He raced along the beach to the Achaemenidian fortress, ten minutes down the road from where the group would be. While running, he spotted dozens of blue lights falling from the cliff above.

When the lights dropped into the fortress, an alarm began, but that's when explosions erupted, destroying it and reducing it to rubble. Siavash looked for cover as large stones started peppering the landscape.

After that, Siavash returned to the party, where they started clearing the monsters. This horrified him, as the creatures acted like they were being mind-controlled and moved with a purpose.

Thanks to their well-honed teamwork, they managed to put them down not before seeing a group of Achaemenidians getting brutalized by the Merrows, who ambushed them just down the beach.

Morteza deemed the mission too dangerous after the mysterious attackers targeted more waystations and fortresses as they returned to Tajariyah. Once back in the city, the mayor told them to rest in the Hosseini's Family Inn because he had booked rooms.

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Siavash stepped into the inn and immediately noticed the owner, Mitra, deep in conversation with a young boy. The boy had striking black hair and olive-toned skin, and their discussion seemed intense.

As Siavash observed the boy more closely, an unsettling sense of familiarity washed over him, as if he had seen the boy before but couldn't quite place where. He watched as Mitra brought him some breakfast and decided to ask him a question, ''Boy, are you from Aridonia? Your aura reminds me of a childhood friend.''

***

[Delilah Al-Munfiyah's POV]

[In the near future]

Delilah stood on a hill opposite the fortress guarding the road to Tajariyah, where their allies were being held captive. She waited for her warriors to return with the prisoners before setting off the blue shards.

'We've been attacking this road for a few days now and sent the guards in a panic causing them to spread out to find us,' she mused with a smile.

Ten of her soldiers entered the fortress to get the captives. While standing there, a man spoke behind her, ''Commander, why are we attacking Tajariyah City? It doesn't make sense.''

Delilah turned around, her brown eyes flashing with irritation. "I've already explained this," she said sharply. "A Level Two Dungeon was discovered at that location. But more importantly, the nearby cave contains an artifact crucial for fighting the demons when they arrive."

The man nodded, but her second in command, Parisa, spoke as she joined her on the hill, ''The scouts just arrived back from the city, and rumors speak of the Dahaka hiding in the city. Should we find the demon and kill it?''

When Delilah heard this, she thought, 'What is he doing here? The elders said he was in Astoria and wouldn't bother Aridonia for six years.'

She couldn't figure it out, so Delilah shook her head before speaking in a determined tone, ''We need this artifact, which is called Luxia's Holy Necklace, that can help us kill the Demon King.''

At her words, those around her shivered with apprehension. She instructed them to rest and prepare for the impending attack on Tajariyah. Turning to Parisa, she said, "Take your group and infiltrate the mountain city. Set your Blue Shards in position and wait for my signal."

Parisa nodded, her curiosity evident as she asked, "Where will you be stationed, Del?"

While readying her weapons and mask, Delilah revealed, ''I will set up the Blue Shards at the new dungeon tunnels before retrieving the artifact.''

Following that, the attacks across the road drew out most of the Tajariyah guards, allowing them to sneak in. The rebels split up and went to complete their objectives, which included robbing the city bank and mayor's vault.

Meanwhile, the rest of the rebels headed for the new dungeon. They easily crossed the city by using the buildings to travel and keep out of the way of the remaining guards, and the ones they did come across were easily dispatched to the next life.

As Delilah jumped across one building, she spotted a young boy in black armor running in the same direction while a group of strange-looking creatures chased him through the streets, 'What are those dreadful things! They give me the creeps.'

She watched the boy cast a strange azure magic that killed the monsters with one spell, but more appeared out of nowhere. Delilah was about to jump down, but the strange young man vanished from sight.

With a shrug, she continued her mission to reach the tunnel leading to the artifact she sought. The other warriors covered her while they set the charges. The scouts reported that the mayor's soldiers were on their way.

Delilah and the other rebels jumped across the rooftops until they entered the tunnel that led to the dungeon and hid. While doing that, they readied their escape talismans. She waited by the entrance for the perfect time to blow the Blue Shards and retrieve the artifact.

Just as Delilah was about to activate the explosives, the same boy from earlier reappeared, now struggling as the creatures attacked him. A surge of unease washed over her, prompting her to trigger the blue shards.

They exploded with a deafening roar, creating a massive gash in the tunnel floor. The explosion revealed a dark chasm below, and with no time to waste, Delilah leaped into the abyss.

As she descended, her eyes caught the boy, who was fiercely stabbing a creature that had clamped its jaws onto him. 'I can't focus on him now; the world needs this artifact,' Delilah thought as she plummeted through the darkness.

Spotting a ledge below, she hurled a hook, which snagged on a rocky outcrop. The sudden jolt nearly wrenched the hook from her grasp, but she managed to clutch the rope tightly, stabilizing herself as she dangled over the abyss.

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