The tunnel was wide and quickly went downward into the hill. The party of three were presented with an almost immediate T-junction, but it was clear which route they needed to take. There was a low humming sound coming from the left.

“That’s not humming,” Olanna said. “That’s chanting.”

“Never a good sign if you start hearing chanting when underground,” Dargan whispered, earning an amused snort from Olanna at his side.

Olanna had an arrow at the ready and sighted down the tunnel over the dwarf’s head. Connor was relegated to the back of the group, clutching his stolen war mace in one hand and his hand ax in the other. He was still in a state of shock that his old friend had followed him into the game. Perhaps he was even more shocked when he realized that she was still annoyed with him and was now appearing to form a strong bond with the dwarf while ignoring him!

“Just my luck,” Connor groaned. Here he was, a world-class game hacker, relegated to the back of the party. He might as well just become the damned Healer of the group.

“Wait!” Dargan hissed.

The tunnel ended in an abrupt right-hand opening out of which spilled a flickering light. The chanting was louder now, but Connor didn’t think that it was coming from the room next to them. The group waited anxiously as Dargan crouched at the tunnel opening and cautiously looked inside nodded to Olanna, as if they had already planned this move in advance.

Wait, they’re choreographing now?! he thought jealously as Olanna smoothly stepped into the opening and released her bow.

“Three!” his friend hissed. Both she and Dargan charged forward with Connor following a close third.

The chamber here was circular and had block walls with another opening at the far side. Twin metal sconces on the walls flickered, casting a baleful ruddy light into the room around them. The candlelight illuminated the suddenly snarling three Skeleton Warriors turning toward them. Guards, Connor thought immediately. Set here to protect whatever foul horror was happening deeper inside.

Thock! A second of Olanna’s arrows lodged into the ribcage of one of the Skeletons as Dargan closed with the second. Connor skidded around the corner and set his eyes on the third, forcing his stride to lengthen as the creature was about to bring down its rusted blade on Dargan’s head.

Skeleton Warrior attacks Dargan with Scimitar. Attack blocked by Connor; no damage done.

Clang! There was a spark and a sudden chip of the Skeleton’s blade flinging away as Connor caught the blow and brought down his war mace at the same time.

Connor attacks Skeleton Warrior with Mace. Attack blocked; no damage done.

Connor thought it should have been an easy blow. But somehow, the effort of pushing back with the ax pushed the Skeleton’s scimitar directly into the path of his hammer, making another clang but not doing any damage.

At Novice Level, you are not proficient in the use of two weapons. Your attack damage is reduced by 50%.

“Dammit!” he hissed as the Skeleton clacked its jaws and swiped at him.

Skeleton Warrior attacks Connor with Scimitar. Attack dodged; no damage done.

“Use the mace—forget the ax!” Dargan roared, barreling into his own Skeleton and literally shoving it backward across the floor.

“I’m good with my ax!” Connor managed to gasp. The Skeleton he was facing took another slice—and this time, he had to throw himself to one side to avoid getting sliced by the rusty blade.

There was a yelp from across the room, and Connor saw out of the corner of his eye that Olanna was getting pushed back by her own Skeleton. The undead warrior had three arrows sticking out of it, but apparently, they weren’t doing much damage.

“No!” With a snarl of fear and anger for his closest friend, Connor abandoned the ax, deciding in a snap judgment to throw it straight at his own Skeleton.

Connor attacks Skeleton Warrior with Hand Ax for 8 Health points damage. Damage reduced by 50% from throwing. Total damage: 4 Health points.

His hand ax spun through the air once before smashing into the ribcage of the Skeleton before him and getting stuck. The Skeleton flailed for a second . . .

Connor dove forward, switching the mace to his right hand as he spun and brought the new weapon down on the struggling Skeleton.

Connor attacks Skeleton Warrior with Mace for 9 Health points damage. Blunt-edge weapon increases damage by 100% against Skeleton. Total damage: 18 Health points.

Connor was suddenly free as the Skeleton before him tumbled to the floor in a pile of moldering bones.

Skeleton Warrior has been killed.

You have been awarded 200 Experience Points for slaying Skeleton Warrior.

He turned instantly toward where Olanna was backed against the wall, using her short bow to parry the skeleton’s savage blows . . .

“Sckkr!”

He was already halfway across the room toward her when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Another Skeleton was entering the room and heading straight for him, its sword held high overhead, ready to strike.

Connor tried to spin as he ran, but he was too slow, and the Skeleton’s blade sliced into his upper shoulder as he was about to pass it.

Skeleton Warrior attacks Connor with Shortsword for 9 Health points damage.

The half-elf growled in pain, finally bringing up his mace to bat aside the second swipe from the slashing undead monster.

“Connor!” he heard Olanna scream as the skeleton tried another sweep at him. This time, he dodged much more easily.

Acting with desperation, he struck out in a backhanded blow with the war mace.

Connor attacks Skeleton Warrior with Mace for 8 Health points damage. Blunt-edge weapon increases damage by 100% against Skeleton. Mace scores critical hit on head increasing damage by 200%. Total damage: 32 Health points.

Connor’s backhanded blow had been much more powerful than he could have anticipated, hammering into the side of the Skeleton’s head and lifting it clean from its boney neck. The half-elf completed his strike and continued to spin toward the next Skeleton.

Skeleton Warrior has been killed.

You have been awarded 200 Experience Points for slaying Skeleton Warrior.

The half-elf turned toward Olanna and her Skeleton just as Dargan finished it off, after already having destroyed his own.

“Two down!” he called.

“Same!” Connor grinned.

“Alright boys,” Olanna said to them. “Save some for me next time!”

Neither Connor nor Dargan were in much of a mood to continue their humor, but Connor knew that they needed the banter anyway, if only to lessen the tremors in their stomachs about what they might have to face next.

Their presence hadn’t been noticed so far, but the chanting was only getting louder, forming a constant drone that made Connor’s teeth ache.

“No wait, that’s magic,” he grimaced, explaining the electric feeling he’d experienced the last time he was around magic. Olanna and Dargan nodded, but the half-elf wasn’t sure if it was in agreement or understanding.

Moving as one, they hurried down the final passageway and skidded to a sudden stop, appalled at what they saw.

Past the archway was a wide tunnel, still sloping downward before opening into a vast, pillared room. The captured caravanners were there, huddled in a mass on the floor with three Skeleton guards watching them.

And there, at the back of the chamber, was Boudazz, apparently praying to a large stone sarcophagus.