The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 107: Ch : Found Out- Part 1

Selene and Ethan crept through the dense foliage, their steps light as they neared the gate of the dungeon.

The entrance loomed ahead, a swirling vortex of mist and shadows that seemed to hum with energy. Selene glanced over at Ethan, her expression serious.

"I don’t know what’s waiting for us in there. Stay sharp and be careful."

She whispered in a calm voice.

Ethan chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes.

"You’re the real trouble magnet here, Selene. Maybe you should take your own advice."

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips.

"Just stay close."

Together, they stepped through the gate.

The world shifted around them. What greeted them on the other side was nothing short of breathtaking—and terrifying.

Towering trees with twisted trunks and leaves the size of blankets formed a canopy over their heads.

The air was thick with humidity, and strange calls echoed from the shadows. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

But it was the creatures that stole their breath.

Massive, dinosaur-like monsters lumbered through the dense underbrush.

Their scales glimmered under shafts of dappled sunlight, and their claws left deep grooves in the earth.

Ethan’s hands were already on his weapons, his muscles tensing as he prepared to charge.

But before he could move, Selene grabbed his arm, yanking him back into the cover of a broad, leafy fern.

"What the hell, Selene? We can take them"

He hissed.

"Shh! Look."

She pressed a finger to her lips, then pointed through the foliage.

Ethan followed her gaze, his irritation fading into focus.

In a clearing ahead, a lone figure danced through the battlefield with deadly grace.

The woman moved like lightning—literally.

Arcs of electricity crackled around her, leaping from her fingertips as she struck at the hulking beasts.

The monsters reared back, their tough hides smoking where the lightning seared them.

The woman’s golden curls bounced with every movement, her expression a mix of concentration and calm.

She was beautiful, but there was a lethal edge to her, an aura that warned anyone not to get too close.

Selene’s brow furrowed as she activated her Insight. Information flooded her mind, and her suspicions were confirmed.

"Isabelle Thorne. The tenth-ranked player"

She murmured.

Ethan’s eyebrows shot up.

"Seriously? What’s she doing here?"

Selene narrowed her eyes.

"This dungeon is supposed to be undisclosed. If she’s here, it’s not by accident."

He nodded.

"She’s monopolizing it as a training ground. Smart, if not completely illegal."

Selene’s lips pressed into a thin line.

"Illegal, but who’s going to stop her? She’s in the top ten. People like us get crushed if we try to fight that kind of power."

A mischievous smirk spread across Ethan’s face.

"Well, not necessarily. Want me to take care of it for you? We could make this dungeon yours."

For a moment, Selene considered it.

Having a private dungeon would mean endless resources and safe training grounds. She could strengthen herself and her team without outside interference.

But she shook her head.

"No. It’s not worth it. We’re here for a reason. Let’s just get what we came for and get out."

Ethan sighed, but his respect for Selene’s discipline shone through.

"All right. Let me know once you change your mind."

Selene nodded.

"Agreed."

______

Selene led Ethan through the dungeon’s dense, prehistoric wilderness, her Insight guiding them through the tangled forest and the murky swamp.

Ethan followed close behind, his weapons ready. He didn’t ask questions, trusting Selene’s instincts as they wound through twisting roots and sloshed through muddy waters.

"We’re close."

Selene whispered, her eyes scanning the shadows.

She led him into a cave nestled between jagged rocks.

The interior was dark, save for the faint glow of crystals embedded in the stone walls.

These crystals pulsed with a dim, iridescent light, and Selene’s Insight immediately recognized their unique energy signature.

"This is it! These are the nullifiers... or at least, they should be."

She said, kneeling down to inspect a cluster of crystals.

Ethan crouched beside her.

"Should be?"

Selene frowned. In her previous life, she had only ever seen the finished product—the processed nullifiers that could block abilities for a short time.

She hadn’t expected them to be in raw crystal form, and the realization made her stomach twist.

"They need to be processed. I didn’t know that. I thought they’d be ready to use. Shit! This is a mistake on my part."

She muttered.

Ethan examined the crystals, his fingers brushing against the cool surface.

"Can we still take them? Maybe someone back home knows how to refine them."

Selene nodded.

"That’s the plan. Let’s take as many as we can carry."

Ethan got to work, using his strength to break the crystals free from the rock.

Some shattered under his hands, the delicate structures crumbling to dust, but many remained intact.

Selene collected each crystal, slipping them into her inventory with practiced ease.

The cave filled with the quiet sounds of cracking stone and rustling fabric as they gathered their haul.

The light from the crystals cast eerie shadows on the walls, and Selene couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Her Insight buzzed, a prickling sensation at the back of her mind.

She paused, narrowing her eyes as she focused on the energy signatures around them. Her breath hitched when she realized that Isabelle Thorne was nearby.

"Ethan-!"

She began, but before she could finish, he moved.

His arm wrapped around her waist, and he yanked her to the ground.

The motion sent a rush of air past her ears, and then the cave filled with a blinding flash of light.

A bolt of lightning crashed against the cave wall, the force of it shattering stone and sending debris flying.

Selene’s ears rang, her vision swimming as she tried to make sense of what just happened.

Ethan’s body covered hers, his breathing harsh against her ear.

"You okay?"

She nodded, her heart pounding.

"Yeah... Thanks."

They scrambled to their feet, and Selene turned toward the cave entrance. Her eyes narrowed as a figure moved through the dust and smoke, quick and deadly.

"Stay alert! We’ve been found."

She whispered.

The silhouette solidified into Isabelle Thorne.

Her golden curls framed a face twisted in annoyance, and arcs of electricity danced around her fingers.

Her blue eyes shone with a dangerous light, the crackle of her power humming in the air.

"Look at the sneaky rats. Did you really think you could steal from me and get away with it?"

Isabelle sneered.