Chapter 809: Taking Over The Troll Mountain (2)
"He’s probably helping wipe them out," Aisa continued, her voice steady. "And he wouldn’t ignore the trolls either. They’re a threat, same as the orcs. Findir might act like he’s indifferent sometimes, but he’s not going to just let this play out while there’s a chance to tip the scales. He’s out there doing what he does best."
Bella frowned, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. "You’re sure he’s okay? I mean, even for Findir, a war’s no joke."
Aisa gave a small, almost amused smile. "He’s not going to die that easily. You don’t have to worry about him. Findir’s survived worse than this."
Her confidence reassured the group, but a lingering tension remained in the air. The thought of Findir out there, possibly locked in a bloody battle, weighed on them. Still, Aisa’s certainty gave them some comfort. If anyone could handle the chaos of war, it was Findir.
As they continued searching the fortress, their conversation drifted back to thoughts of their missing companion, but the fear of his demise no longer loomed as heavily. Aisa’s words had settled their nerves. Whatever Findir was doing, they knew he would return.
The group scouted every corner of the vast cavern, their steps echoing off the high stone walls as they meticulously checked behind every rock and crevice, searching for anything that resembled a treasure room. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional crack of shifting stone or the faint shuffle of their movements. They pressed on, determined.
After hours of searching, they reached the lowest level of the cavern, the very base of the mountain itself. The ceiling above stretched impossibly high, disappearing into darkness, almost mirroring the height of the mountain they’d descended. It was a strange, quiet space, seemingly untouched.
Orion, ever observant, bent down and kicked the ground a few times, his brow furrowed. "It’s hollow," he muttered, as if the very earth beneath them was hiding something. The others watched as he gathered strength, clenching his fist and taking a deep breath.
With a sharp exhale, Orion slammed his fist into the ground, the impact so powerful that the stone cracked and splintered beneath him. The ground trembled for a moment before the entire floor began to crumble, chunks of stone collapsing inward as the hollow space gave way.
With a collective gasp, the group fell, tumbling down a cascading avalanche of stone and rubble—only to land in something far more precious. As they caught themselves mid-fall, they realized what they were sliding on an impossibly large pile of gold.
The entire cavern below the fake floor was filled to the brim with golden coins, glistening jewelry, and sparkling gems. The pile stretched out as far as they could see, a river of gleaming wealth that caught the dim light of their torches and reflected it in a dazzling display. Among the riches, ancient books, scrolls, and enchanted weapons gleamed, catching the eye of each member of the group as they finally landed.
They tumbled down the mountain of treasure, their hands reaching out to catch anything they could grip onto as they slid down the golden slope. Coins clinked and shifted beneath their weight, rolling off the pile and scattering across the cavern floor.
As they regrouped at the bottom, brushing off handfuls of gold and picking up stray jewels that had tumbled into their clothes, they stood there, momentarily stunned by the sheer scale of what they had discovered. It was an overwhelming sight—so much gold, so many riches that it felt unreal, like something out of legend.
"This... this is incredible," Bella murmured, her eyes wide as she picked up an ornate necklace, its ruby pendant glinting like blood.
Cy let out a low whistle, his hand running through a mound of coins. "We could retire a thousand times over with this."
Orion, usually composed, smiled in awe, his gaze scanning the vast treasure hoard before them. "We hit the jackpot."
Aisa, ever the practical one, held a scroll in her hand, its ancient writing still legible after all these years. "Looks like there’s more than just wealth here. Knowledge too... magic."
The group stood there, surrounded by centuries of accumulated treasure, the weight of their discovery sinking in. For a moment, the trials of their journey seemed distant, replaced by the giddy thrill of uncovering something extraordinary. The treasure was more than they had ever imagined, a mountain of gold that stretched farther than they could see, shimmering and alive with untold secrets.
And for the first time in a long while, they allowed themselves a moment of pure, unfiltered awe.
As they sifted through the massive pile of gold, the group began collecting all the items that appeared to have some practical use. Their hands moved quickly, sorting through coins and jewelry to uncover ancient weapons, enchanted artifacts, and relics of a time long gone. At the center of the golden hoard, they gathered everything that caught their attention, laying it out to assess its value.
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[Item - Weapon: Celestial Greatsword]
[Description: A massive greatsword, forged from an unknown shimmering metal that glows faintly with a silver hue. Intricate celestial engravings line its blade, resembling stars and constellations.]
[Buffs: Increases physical strength by 20% when wielded. Enhances agility, making the wielder’s movements lighter despite its massive size. Provides minor protection against magical attacks.]
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[Item - Weapon: Windbreaker Dagger]
[Description: A sleek, double-edged dagger with a hilt that appears to be made of glass but is as sturdy as iron. The blade seems to hum softly with the sound of rushing wind.]
[Buffs: Increases the wielder’s speed by 30% and grants a sharp burst of wind magic with each strike, capable of knocking back enemies or creating shockwaves.]
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[Item - Weapon: Infernal Bow of Emberstone]
[Description: A longbow made of dark, charred wood, with veins of molten ember running through it. The string glows faintly red as if perpetually heated, and each arrow shot seems to ignite in mid-air.]
[Buffs: Grants fire-based attacks with every arrow, igniting targets on impact. Increases accuracy by 25%. Can summon fire arrows without the need for physical ammunition.]
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[Item - Weapon: Serpent’s Fang Spear]
[Description: A long spear with a blade shaped like the curved fang of a serpent, made of polished obsidian. The shaft is wrapped in supple, dark leather, providing a firm grip.]
[Buffs: Grants poison with each strike, weakening the target’s stamina over time. Enhances the wielder’s reflexes and provides resistance against toxins.]
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[Item - Weapon: Frostbite Axe]
[Description: A large, battle-worn axe with blades forged from pure ice that never melts. The edges shimmer with a cold blue aura, and frost trails behind every swing.]
[Buffs: Inflicts freezing damage with each hit, slowing down enemies. Increases cold resistance by 40% and enhances the wielder’s strength in cold environments.]
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[Item - Weapon: Lightning Chain Whip]
[Description: A long, metallic whip that crackles with electrical energy. Its links are forged from conductive metal, and the tip sparks with dangerous intensity.]
[Buffs: Deals electrical damage with each strike, capable of stunning or paralyzing enemies. Increases agility by 15%. Can extend and contract in length with the wielder’s will.]
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[Item - Weapon: Void Edge Blade]
[Description: A slim, black sword with a blade so dark it seems to absorb light around it. The edge flickers with an ominous, shadowy aura, hinting at its otherworldly origin.]
[Buffs: Increases critical hit chance by 40%. Has a chance to phase through physical matter, bypassing armor and shields. Provides the wielder with minor shadow manipulation abilities.]
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[Item - Weapon: Phoenix Feather Staff]
[Description: A long, ornately carved staff topped with a glowing phoenix feather. The shaft is engraved with fiery symbols, and the feather occasionally flares with brief, brilliant bursts of light.]
[Buffs: Enhances fire magic potency by 50%. Allows the wielder to regenerate small amounts of health when channeling magic. Can summon a temporary phoenix familiar to aid in battle.]
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As the group gathered around the pile of weapons, they began inspecting each one carefully. The weapons gleamed with power and ancient craftsmanship, but it didn’t take long for them to realize that most of them were ill-suited for their needs.
The Celestial Greatsword was undeniably powerful, but its sheer size and weight made it impractical for anyone in the group. Its celestial engravings were impressive, but no one here fought with a weapon so large and cumbersome.
Next, the Infernal Bow of Emberstone caught their attention. Its dark, ember-streaked wood and fiery aura were intimidating, but none of them were archers. They could appreciate the bow’s craftsmanship, but it was clear that it would remain useless in their hands.
The Serpent’s Fang Spear seemed promising at first with its sleek, poison-infused design. However, the only spear wielder, Orion, had something much better. The lethal beauty of its obsidian blade did little to sway their practical judgment.
The Frostbite Axe and Phoenix Feather Staff suffered the same fate. Although the axe’s icy aura and the staff’s fiery brilliance were impressive, these were weapons meant for warriors and mages with specific elemental affinities—affinities none of them possessed.
The Lightning Chain Whip intrigued them briefly with its crackling energy, but its unpredictable nature and specialized handling made it more of a liability than a boon.
Finally, the Void Edge Blade left them with mixed feelings. Its shadowy, almost malevolent aura hinted at great potential, but its abilities were too dangerous and unstable for any of them to wield with confidence.
After going through each item, their attention fell on the Windbreaker Dagger. Findir’s eyes lingered on it. Of all the weapons they had found, this one felt right. Its light, sleek design, coupled with its speed-boosting magic, made it a perfect fit for someone of his skill set. He could already imagine the way it would flow with his movements in battle.
The rest of the weapons, despite their potential, were deemed useless for their purposes. With a collective sigh, they left most of the treasure behind, realizing that in their search for useful items, only one truly matched their needs.
