-----V-----

„Why did the gate close itself?“ I asked Fiete.

„I don't know, Vincent. This stuff happens when you are on the hunt for artifacts.“

We have been walking in a corridor for some time now. It felt like it was endless. And it was super dark, but thankfully we had torches that we lit.

„We should hurry, Ethan and Ivona might be dead when we return,“ I said.

Though I didn't care if Ethan died, I still wanted him alive, because he has that powerful shield, it is a great help against the lizards and others. When we manage to get off the planet, I am thinking about trying to take the shield and ditch him again. I didn't really care if he actually dies without it. He is just a co-worker, not my friend.

„We shouldn't, traps lies all around here, you know?“

„We have been walking in a straight line and have not encountered a single trap or spider.“

„There will eventually be one in front of us. So I am not going to risk it.“

„Fine,“ I ended that conversation.

I have a good reaction, and I can easily identify a trap. But fine, whatever you say.

There has been one thing on my mind since first seeing one of those spiders, they looked familiar for some reason.

„Fiete, are these spiders from here?“ I asked.

„Probably only from this dungeon. There shouldn't be any around this world except here.“

That does not make sense.

„Why?“

„You should know this, right? All artifact hunters know that there are always different types of creatures in artifact dungeons.“

What?

Then it hit me.

I have seen these spiders from somewhere else. Not from this planet, but on a different one. I fought against these things when I was hunting down an artifact on a desert planet. I was alone at that time, Ethan likely doesn't know about them.

Someone is transferring alien creatures to this world? That must be the only explanation. But these humans must be from here, or they were transferred from our planet, but when?

„Look! There is light up ahead, though it looks far,“ Fiete said.

Then there is this guy, he is really suspicious. First of all, why would he easily give out the location of an artifact if they are valuable? Yes, we need the gold, but there is still something off about him. Second is the smile he always gives. When I see a smile like that, my warning signal in my brain goes off.

„Finally, hope your artifact and the treasure is there. If not then this was just a waste of time.“

„Don't worry, all the stuff should be at the end,“ he said cheerfully.

----------

After a long walk, we finally made it in a giant room. No spiders this time, but there was a giant hole with a single stone bridge in the middle leading to something glowing on the other side. That must be the artifact.

The bridge was wide enough for only one person. So one of us needed to be in front, and the other in the back.

I was not letting him be behind me.

„Well this looks dangerous.“

„No shit.“

He was about to take the lead, which was strange but I was thankful for that. But then I noticed something on the long bridge.

„Wait!“ I called out.

„Huh?“

„There is a pressure pad on the bridge. You idiot.“

„Oh.“

He stepped backward and thanked me.

You dumbass, you said yourself to watch out for traps.

„Well, what should we do?“ Fiete asked.

I inspected the bridge, the pressure pad was really long, the length of the entire bridge actually.

„I guess we have no choice but to see what it does,“ he said.

„Wait,“ I said again.

Next, I checked the walls around the bridge. I saw small holes in them. So arrows might spew out. But there were only holes to the right wall.

I wished Ethan was here with that shield.

„Arrows will come from those walls,“ I said and pointed towards them.

I still might be wrong, but I am really certain about it.

„Oh crap, I did not see those.“

Oh really? You just wanted to get the artifact without being careful.

I walked up towards the bridge and pressed my foot against the pad.

Arrows started flying, I immediately backed off and dodged one of them.

„What are you doing?“ Fiete asked.

„Testing, like you wanted.“

I wanted to see where the arrows would go. They went about the waist and up, so we could crawl under them. Whoever made this is not bright.

„We could crawl towards the end,“ I said.

„Are you sure? The arrows might change and go down at us.“

„We could use our backpacks as shields.“

Though they might still pierce them, it might slow them down.

„You're crazy.“

„Nah, it is just the best plan I have.“

We took off our backpacks and got down on the floor. I took the lead without thinking, there is no going back from that, I can't just ask him to be in front now, I would look suspicious.

I am just hoping this guy would not try and throw me off.

We held our packs to the right and slowly moved towards the artifact.

Arrows flew above and it was scary as hell. I wonder how many arrows there are in the holes, and if we could deplete them.

We were about halfway there when I felt all of a sudden for a thud to my right.

„Oh, shit,“ I quietly said to myself.

„What is it?“

„I think one of the arrows might have hit my pack.“

„. . . .“

This was not good. We were close, should we still move on? There were no more hitting me, so how did this one manage that?

But it did not pierce the pack, so we should be safe.

We continued on.

We now were a third of the way, when I saw in front of me that the bridge had a gap.

I stopped, and Fiete noticed.

„What's wrong now?“

„There is a gap, and we might have to jump it,“ I explained.

„Oh no. No no no,“ Fiete opposed to that idea.

The arrows still flew above us, we could stand up and shield ourselves with the backpacks and try to jump and run the rest of the way.

First of all, I needed to test something. I held the pack above me, and an arrow hit it but didn't pierce it. How bad are these? They can't cut fabric?

„Are you going to run?“ Fiete asked.

I didn't say a word, I stood up with the backpack shielding me. It was getting hit by many arrows. Then I ran and jumped over the gap easily, and kept on running towards the artifact.

I felt my blood rushing and a small amount of fear rising, but I kept it deep inside me.

I took the last leap and made it. I looked back and saw Fiete running as well. A few seconds later he made it, and the arrows stopped.

„Holy crap, I thought we were not going to make that,“ Fiete said, gasping for air.

I turned towards the artifact, it was on a pedestal, and it was glowing with orange energy. Next to it was a chest. Gold? And there also was a door, likely the exit.

„It's so beautiful.“ I heard him say, and he walked passed me and looked at the artifact with intent.

I gazed at it.

„Oh my god.“

The artifact was in fact, a blaster pistol, with a glove that had an elbow and shoulder pad strapped to it.

A blaster. What are they doing here? I thought the artifacts would only be old weaponry.

„Hey, have you seen one of those before?“

„Well, only a few times. They are extremely rare, you know?“

I stared at it with greed. That weapon would not suit him at all, I think it would work more on me. I want to hold a blaster again.

I am sure he would not let me have it though, but I could use force.

„What are you going to do with it?“ I asked.

„Connect to it, of course, I am going to be one of the few people who possess this type of weapon.“

I have killed others to take what I want. And I was thinking of doing it again. Besides, he would probably kill me when he gets a hold on that blaster and takes the treasure with him.

My gut never trusted him from the beginning.

Or I could also try and leave him here and run for it with the artifact. No, that's dumb.

„Like we agreed on, you and the others can have the treasure, while I take the artifact.“

„Yeah, of course,“ I lied.

I first wanted to check the chest, to see what was in it. I opened it up and. . .

Nothing. There was absolutely nothing there.

I quickly closed it up again.

„Something wrong?“

Well, if there is nothing in there, then this was a waste of time. But, it would not be a waste when taking the artifact. I do my job to get a reward, not just help some guy out.

„Oh, there was so much that I couldn't even believe it,“ I said with sarcasm.

He was starting to be suspicious. I saw he was slowly going for his ax.

If he is doing that, then he leaves me no choice.

I quickly drew out my sword and swung at him.

He managed to block it with his ax and walked backward.

„I guess we are not going to be buddies?“ Fiete said.

„Sorry, I want something out of this, and that is the artifact.“

„So there was nothing in there?“ he grinned.

I rushed at him.

He drew out his second ax and blocked my attack again, then he swung his own at me.

I quickly dodged and tried to swing at his legs.

Fiete jumped and grazed my shoulder with his weapon.

I moved away from him.

How am I going to defeat this guy? He is pretty good with those axes of his. Then an idea hit me.

I took off my backpack and threw it at him, then at the same time I rushed forwards.

He sliced at the pack and was about to swing at me. But I managed to collide with him with my shoulder and he was knocked down. One of his axes fell and slid down the edge.

I raised my sword up and sent it down towards him, but he intercepted it with his own hand and moved it. Then he kicked my knee and moved away from me, and stood up.

His right hand was now bleeding badly.

„That must have hurt.“ I taunted.

He looked angrier now and charged at me, roaring with rage.

I blocked his attack, but he still hit my left arm. It was not badly injured.

I looked at the artifact and an idea once again hit me.

I walked backwards to the pedestal.

He was about to run at me when I quickly took the blaster with my left hand and fired.

It happened so quickly that Fiete didn't have time to react. He stopped moving and looked down. His chest had a hole now. A hole from the blaster.

He looked back up at me.

„You. . . asshole. . .“

Those were his last words when he fell and collapsed.

Just as I remembered, I could shoot Ivona's crossbow, and just like now, it allowed me to use it.

„Sorry buddy, I didn't want nothing as a reward.“

I moved his body and ax towards the edge and threw him off. If I would have taken some of his stuff, then Ethan and Ivona would suspect something. It is best to just throw him off.

I looked back at the artifact with a grin. I bagged it and the glove.

Then I took a last glimpse towards the edge and walked to the door and exited the dungeon.