The world shifted around him. One moment, Lucian was standing at the entrance, and the next, he was engulfed in pitch-black darkness. His senses sharpened, mana flowing through his body as he steadied his breathing.
His eyes adjusted quickly, revealing the twisted corridors of the dungeon. The walls were made of jagged stone, covered in strange, glowing runes. They pulsed rhythmically, illuminating the narrow path ahead.
An illusionary maze... Lucian realized, his fingers brushing against the cold stone. The walls are enchanted to confuse the senses. Clever.
A low growl echoed from the darkness, followed by the soft padding of footsteps. Lucian's grip tightened on his sword, his body tensing. Monsters already? They don't waste any time.
The shadows shifted, revealing creatures born from darkness itself—Shadow Beasts. Their bodies were formless, constantly shifting, their glowing red eyes fixed on him with a hunger that sent chills down his spine.
They lunged, their movements swift and fluid, their claws glinting with malevolent energy. Lucian's body moved instinctively, his sword slicing through the air.
"Too slow!" His blade met resistance, but the Shadow Beast's body merely dispersed, reforming behind him. Lucian's eyes widened. They're not physical... they're illusions!
The creatures attacked again, their bodies phasing in and out of reality. Lucian ducked, rolled to the side, and countered with a burst of mana, his sword slicing through the darkness. Yet, no matter how many times he cut them down, they reformed, their laughter echoing in the corridors.
"Tch... they're feeding off the dungeon's magic. They won't die unless I sever their connection to the runes," Lucian muttered, his eyes scanning the glowing symbols on the walls.
He dodged another attack, his body moving fluidly, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp claws. His mind raced. The runes... they're the source. If I destroy them...
A plan formed in his mind. He sheathed his sword, his hands glowing with crackling mana. "Let's see if this works...!"
With a burst of speed, he dashed towards the wall, his palm slamming into the glowing rune. Mana surged through his arm, shattering the symbol into pieces. The light flickered, then faded.
The Shadow Beasts howled, their bodies writhing before evaporating into black mist. Lucian exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "That did it... They were just projections sustained by the runes' magic."
He moved quickly, destroying each rune he passed, the maze shifting and contorting with every shattered symbol. The walls trembled, pathways opening and closing as the dungeon's illusion magic faltered.
But Lucian's sharp eyes tracked the flow of mana, his senses guiding him through the ever-changing labyrinth. After what felt like an eternity, he reached a massive chamber at the end of the maze.
In the center floated the crystal shard, its light pure and radiant, casting away the darkness. Lucian approached, his eyes locked on his prize.
He reached out, his fingers brushing against its cold surface. A surge of power rushed through him, the dungeon's magic fading as the shard's light enveloped him.
The darkness shattered, the world around him crumbling away.
---
Lucian stepped out of the dungeon, the crowd erupting into cheers as the sunlight bathed his face once more. He held the crystal shard high, its light shimmering in his hand.
But his victory felt hollow. His eyes scanned the arena, landing on Xeran, who stood at the entrance, his head tilted as if he could sense Lucian's gaze.
Xeran smiled, his voice barely audible. "I look forward to seeing how you'll handle the next challenge... Phantom."
Lucian's heart raced, his blood boiling with anticipation. This exam... is only just beginning.