The Failed Heist and the Dragon's Trap
If lives were singular, they wouldn't charge like this.
"Entering."
"Entering!"
"Shut up!"
"Spread out, grab what you can quickly, and escape. No greed."
"Got it~"
Husk and his band of about twenty users slipped into the treasure vault entrance. The advance team that had entered the nest first was drawing Lea's attention, so they had to loot fast and get out. If they didn't, she might return any moment and wipe them all out.
Husk recalled the layout of the treasure vault from a post by the user Mountain Spirit, the first to raid it.
'The treasure vault is divided into three main zones.'
The first was the gold and jewels zone. Piles of coins and gems—nothing special, but looting just this would make anyone filthy rich. Mountain Spirit had wandered the first zone before getting caught and killed. One party member had even reached the edge of the second zone, but they hadn't grabbed anything worthwhile.
The second was the equipment zone. Legendary-grade weapons, accessories, and armor stacked high. Snagging even one could upend the game's power balance. They had to hit the second zone. No amount of gold could buy a legendary item these days.
'The third... unknown. Focus on the second for now.'
Husk shook his head firmly. The zones got deeper the further in you went. Push too far and a failed escape meant losing everything stolen. That was his worst nightmare.
'I have an ace up my sleeve, though.'
"Alright! Everyone, spread out and loot as mu—"
Thud!Ruuuumble...!
"Huh?"
A massive something crashed down right in front of the users as they prepared to loot. A gray golem over 3 meters tall. A mystical crystal orb gleamed in its head like eyes, and a high-purity mana stone was embedded in its chest.
The users buzzed at the sight of the golem blocking their path.
"A golem?"
"What the hell? Wasn't it outside?"
"Did the intel guy lie?"
"How'd it get here so fast?"
They were rattled by the unexpected golem, but no one panicked. These were elites who'd tackled the 10-meter ogre lord raid. No newbie training dummy like this would scare them. The guild's so-called rankers even seemed eager, drawing their unique weapons.
"Sweet! We'll handle this tin can. Guild master and the rest, loot up!"
"Grab plenty for us too!"
"Wait. Assess before attacking..."
"We're in a rush, right? Kill it quick and go."
"Yeah. Looks like it only punches anyway."
Hummm...
"Catching this thing makes us dragon disciples too?"
"Ooh, nice! If we snag it, we say that."
Kuhahaha!
The three leading guild members charged in laughing, brimming with confidence. And...
Ruuuuumble!!
They didn't know.
"...! Dodge!"
That the golem was holding back for hero training.
Husk hastily cast a shield spell, but the golem's eye magic was faster. 4th-circle spell, Reverse Lightning. Bolts erupted from the ground, swallowing them.
*Zzztzzzt...*
"Crazy, the golem uses magic?!"
Husk poured a high-grade potion on his half-charred arm as he ran. A golem that supposedly only punched—using magic. Even the intel guy who "lived" half in the nest hadn't known.
"Idiots. I said assess first."
Husk clicked his tongue at his guild's incompetence, running faster. Underestimating the golem had killed half his crew right after entering. Guys who'd shone in the ogre lord raid, wiped by one spell.
It pissed him off, but he got it. They got cocky, and even to a mage like him, it was high-tier magic. No shield and a direct hit? Dead obvious.
What was done was done. Time to salvage. The remaining ten scattered, but the golem and Lea could chase anytime.
'No telling when they'll come. Loot fast and bail.'
Husk gulped at the piles of gold and jewels but didn't slow. He wanted legendary gear, not pocket change. Get the weapon, and the money would follow.
"Kaaack!!"
"Mercy! Ah, seriously!"
"I'm out! I'm leaving, okay?!"
Screams of guildies getting nabbed echoed. No escaping a rat in a trap. Just a matter of time, but Husk didn't stop.
'Just reach it... just reach it...!'
There was a way!
Screeech...!
"Here!"
The second zone—mountains of legendary gear! Husk swept weapons into his subspace like a madman. No time to sort good from bad. Grab now, sell or use later. Give some to the idiots who bought time, bolster forces maybe.
"Yes!"
Husk felt deep satisfaction gazing at his full subspace. Good enough. Just escape no—
"For real."
"...Huh?"
"It's really that guy from before, right?"
Atop the gear mountain. The nest's owner, the treasure hoard lord, the supreme flame dragon.
Lea sat there, staring down at Husk.
Husk swallowed hard, yanking his staff from subspace. A yellow one shaped like a finger. He didn't know its specs. Just that it was legendary with some active skill. That was it.
Plip. Plip.
Lea's legs tapped the treasure pile. Husk sweated bullets. Same pose as in the NyaNya fight, but chills anyway.
'My body...'
His body wouldn't move.
"You made the golem one-armed again."
"......"
"It doesn't use magic 'cause it'd break, but it actually broke."
"......"
"Huh? Super annoying to reattach. You'll take responsibility, right?"
"...Reattach it."
"Reattach? How?"
"Figure it... out yourself!"
Hummm!!
Husk's staff glowed. The eerie yellow light nullified the dragon fear binding him. Regaining freedom, Husk backed up to secure range for his ace.
"Oho?"
Interest flickered in Lea's eyes.
"Heroes really are heroes, huh? Not many use the sixth finger y'know."
"Lucky this has no cooldown."
"Yeah. But more you use, more lifespan it eats."
"!"
"Well, getting picked by the old hag extends it a bit, so not huge penalty, but still..."
Husk hurriedly stowed the staff, drawing a new one. This with six purple mana stones.
"...Boring."
Lea's eyes chilled again.
"Life's not precious, but lifespan is?"
"Obviously?"
"Nah. Not obvious."
"......"
"Even chosen heroes shouldn't be this fearless."
"......"
"If lives were singular, they wouldn't charge like this."
Plip.
Lea froze.
"I've mulled it over, and you confirmed it."
A hero surviving Frost's End unscathed. Even more pristine than caster NyaNya. No chill from him at all. Meant one thing.
"You don't die. Right?"
"......"
"More like, you resurrect fine even if you do. That's why you throw lives away easy."
"......"
"Did the old hag give that power? But how's that work?"
If it existed, why not give it sooner? Why after demon king... Lea muttered, chin in hand. Husk inched back.
'Dangerous.'
This convo was risky. High NPC realizing the truth? Unpredictable reaction. Trust at rock bottom, caught stealing? Permanent kill-on-sight order wouldn't shock.
Husk decided on his ace.
"Think what you want. Later."
"?"
'Designated Return.'
Whoosh...!
One of Husk's hidden abilities activated. Once per 24 hours. Teleport to a designated spot. As a hidden piece—not mere spell or skill—it worked anywhere with space.
Husk dropped in a northern field far from Red Mountain. Sweating, he clutched the legendary staff in his hand. Luxurious feel. Success.
"...Hahaha!!!"
Done! Who cares if immortals exposed? Dragon kill-on-sight forever?
"Just never go near Red Mountain again!"
Husk vowed off the mountain for good.
"I'm the strongest no—"
Whoosh...!
Until the red magic circle underfoot pulled him back.
"...Huh?"
Husk's eyes opened in the exact same spot.
"Neat teleport style. That's how it's done now?"
"What the—"
"Anti-teleport. Mixed with reverse summon runes."
Clack. Clack.
Lea circled him, amused.
"Yep, you resurrect fine."
So then...
Heh.
"What if I trap you without killing?"