Chapter 111: Team Raid

The eruption hit so suddenly that Mark instinctively shifted his weight and stumbled clear of the nearest spikes.

A sharp series of cracking impacts rang out as the crystal formations tore violently up through the ground. Mud and shattered stone scattered in every direction at once, while the impaled creatures convulsed briefly before finally going still, blood running thick down the glittering crystal shafts.

Mark stared at the scene, genuinely stunned.

The attack had landed with remarkable precision and efficiency. Rather than letting the raptors close in and overwhelm him through sheer numbers, whoever had triggered those crystal spikes had struck the entire pack simultaneously, wiping out several genuine threats in one decisive move before they could ever mount a coordinated counterattack.

The nature of the attack immediately pulled at something in his memory.

Those crystalline formations reminded him instantly of a particular ability, and the realization gradually clicked fully into place.

Someone else was here with him.

"Mark, you’re actually here!"

A familiar voice reached him from somewhere beyond the field of crystal spikes.

Mark turned sharply toward it.

A green haired young man was making his way carefully through the ravine, one hand raised in an eager wave as he picked his way across the uneven ground. His expression carried an obvious mix of relief and genuine excitement, and the moment he spotted Mark clearly, he quickened his pace considerably.

It was Derek, his roommate.

The sight of him brought an unexpected wave of relief crashing over Mark. Up until that exact moment, he’d genuinely had no idea whether Derek had even gotten caught up in this dungeon at all. He’d quietly entertained the possibility that the dungeon had swallowed their entire dormitory, the thought of his roommate trapped somewhere in this hostile environment sitting uncomfortably in the back of his mind the whole time.

Now, at least, he finally had confirmation.

Derek was alive, and the two of them had actually found each other.

Mark watched as his roommate carefully navigated the remaining terrain, approaching from a clearer stretch of ground. Derek’s bright green hair stood out sharply against the muted, earthy tones of the ravine, his familiar features offering real, grounding reassurance amid these strange, hostile surroundings.

Despite everything, Derek looked alert, apparently free of any serious injuries. His posture suggested he’d already handled his fair share of threats on his own, and the field of crystal spikes scattered across the ground offered pretty solid evidence of exactly how he’d managed to keep the raptors at bay until now.

Mark let out a quiet breath he hadn’t even fully registered holding.

Having another person at his side changed things considerably. They’d still have to contend with whatever dangers the dungeon threw at them, sure, but at least he no longer had to weigh every single decision purely from the narrow perspective of a lone survivor.

More importantly, Derek carried abilities that could genuinely complement his own.

If the two of them coordinated properly, avoiding unnecessary waste of their combined resources, they’d likely stand a far better chance of actually surviving this dungeon and finding a legitimate way back out.

"So, got any idea what we’re actually dealing with in here?" Mark asked, glancing around the ravine before redirecting his full attention back to Derek.

Derek shrugged.

"Yeah, it’s definitely a Lost Dungeon, alright. Must have swallowed up some section of the dormitory rooms nearby. Haven’t spotted anyone else around so far, so I’m guessing it might just be the two of us caught in here."

He paused, expression shifting more serious as he glanced toward the surrounding cliffs.

"Honestly surprised, and relieved, nobody else seems to have fallen into this nasty trap hiding inside the dorm. School clearly hasn’t noticed anything’s wrong yet either, which probably explains why nobody’s come looking for us."

Mark listened closely, weighing the explanation carefully.

It seemed plausible the dungeon had only swallowed a limited section of the dormitory, leaving the rest of the school completely untouched. Still, neither of them could say for certain exactly how far its boundaries actually stretched, and the absence of other people didn’t necessarily rule out the possibility that someone else had gotten caught too.

For now, they had only their own direct observations to go on.

Derek turned toward him, expression settling into something steady.

"This being a Lost Dungeon probably means we’re not getting out of here without actually clearing it, beating whatever boss is waiting at the end. Otherwise, we lose, and this whole dormitory, maybe the entire school, ends up dealing with a brand new age of rampaging museum exhibits come to life."

His tone carried a genuinely grim edge, though the strange, almost absurd comparison suggested he was deliberately trying to keep himself from getting too tense about it.

Mark understood the underlying point well enough.

If whatever lived inside this dungeon ever broke loose into the ordinary world, the consequences could turn genuinely catastrophic. A school building packed with students and staff would make an especially vulnerable target for a sudden outbreak of hostile monsters. Even assuming the dungeon stayed fully contained for now, neither of them could safely assume the whole situation would simply resolve itself without someone actually intervening.

"I know this is going to be tough, but we’ve genuinely got to push through it," Derek continued.

"Completely agree with that. Honestly, that was already exactly what I had in mind myself," Mark replied with a firm nod.

The two of them exchanged a solid handshake, expressions reflecting the same shared determination to actually survive this ordeal together. Both fully understood the risks involved, but neither felt much interest in wasting precious time arguing over what clearly needed doing next.

For now, their best move was simply pressing forward, gathering as much information as possible about the dungeon itself, and finding a real path toward taking down its boss.

Derek returned the nod with a faint, genuinely reassuring smile.

"Already cleared a decent stretch of the path back there, so that should help us move through a bit faster without burning too much extra time."

Mark glanced toward the passage Derek had emerged from, though before he could press for further details, another set of heavy footfalls suddenly caught both their attention.

They turned together, instantly alert.

Something considerably larger was closing in from the far end of the ravine.

The first creature emerged from behind a jagged rocky outcrop, its massive silhouette immediately setting it apart from the smaller Velociraptors they’d already dealt with. It stood roughly ten feet tall, its heavily built frame supported on powerful hind legs. Thick, jagged plates of scale covered most of its hide, forming a natural layer of armor that looked considerably more formidable than the sleeker coverings carried by its smaller kin.

A second creature stepped into view right behind it.

Mark’s eyes narrowed sharply as he studied the pair closely.

These weren’t ordinary Velociraptors at all. Their bodies ran broader, considerably heavier, limbs noticeably thicker, every movement carrying enough sheer weight to make the ground itself seem to tremble faintly beneath their feet. The rocky plating covering their bodies gave them a rugged, heavily armored look, while their massive heads and powerful jaws hinted strongly at physical strength well beyond anything the smaller raptors could match.

These were Rockraptors, and their sheer, imposing presence alone made it immediately clear they represented an entirely different class of threat altogether.

Unlike the smaller predators that had thrown themselves recklessly at Mark earlier, these two held back, advancing instead with slow, deliberate, unmistakably predatory movements, their eyes fixed on the two humans standing in their territory.

One of them raised its head.

A harsh, linear rattling roar erupted from its throat, booming across the surrounding ravine and echoing between the towering rock walls. The sound carried an unmistakable warning, as though the creature were announcing the presence of a dangerous threat to every predator within earshot.

The second Rockraptor responded with a low growl.

Both creatures continued forward, their heavy claws scraping against the rocky ground. Their attention never strayed from Mark and Derek, and their slow approach made their intentions increasingly obvious.

They were not frightened by the sight of two humans.

If anything, they appeared interested.

Their heads remained raised as they studied their potential prey, and the predatory confidence in their movements suggested that they had little reason to fear anything within this territory.

Mark glanced at Derek.

Derek returned the look.

Neither needed to say much. They had both recognized that these creatures would not be as easy to handle as the smaller raptors. Their heavier builds and natural armor meant that ordinary attacks might not be sufficient, and their combined strength could become a serious problem if either human made a mistake.

The two Rockraptors continued approaching, seemingly dividing their attention between their targets. One shifted slightly toward Mark while the other angled its body toward Derek, creating the impression that each had chosen an opponent.

Mark settled into a ready stance.

Beside him, Derek raised his arms.

A green glimmer spread across the length of Derek’s forearms, followed by a beautiful transformation that resembled the formation of elaborate crystal jewelry. The shimmering material expanded over his arms, forming layers of hardened crystalline armor that caught the faint glow of the surrounding moss.

The transformation was unmistakable.

Derek had activated the Echo of his own summon.

The crystal armor covered his arms with a brilliant green sheen, its surface reflecting the dim light in sharp, sparkling fragments. Despite its decorative appearance, the material possessed formidable defensive qualities. It was capable of enhancing his durability and toughness, allowing him to withstand impacts that would otherwise cause serious injuries.

Its strength surpassed that of many ordinary metals and stones, making it a valuable asset in a battle against creatures whose physical power could not be underestimated.

Derek flexed his fingers, testing the movement of the newly formed armor. The crystal plating shifted with his arms without appearing to hinder his range of motion, allowing him to prepare for combat while retaining the flexibility needed to defend himself or strike back.

Mark glanced briefly at his roommate’s reinforced arms before returning his attention to the Rockraptors.

His own bracers were already in place, ready to absorb or deflect attacks where possible. With Derek’s crystalline armor providing another layer of defensive strength, they would have a better chance of enduring the creatures’ initial assault while looking for opportunities to counterattack.

Still, Mark knew that durability alone would not guarantee victory.

They needed to coordinate their movements, prevent the Rockraptors from separating them, and avoid allowing the larger predators to dictate the pace of the encounter. A poorly timed attack could leave one of them vulnerable, especially if the creatures used their greater weight to overpower them.

The two Rockraptors lowered their heads slightly.

Their claws scraped against the ground as they prepared to charge.

Mark tightened his fists, feeling the familiar surge of mana coursing through his body. Derek stood firmly beside him, his green crystal armor glowing faintly in the dim light.

For the first time since awakening in the Fossil Reach, Mark was no longer facing the dungeon’s dangers entirely on his own.

They had a common objective, complementary abilities, and a reason to trust each other’s strength.

Against the prehistoric predators waiting before them, those advantages might prove decisive.

Mark exchanged one final glance with Derek.

Then both of them turned toward the approaching Rockraptors, their bodies poised and their attention fixed on the enormous creatures.

The next battle would not be a simple contest of individual strength.

It would be a team raid.