The air grew colder as they descended, the light from the entrance fading behind them. Torches flickered along the stone walls, their flames barely piercing the gloom. The ground beneath was uneven, littered with bones and debris from adventurers who never made it out.
Lucian's senses were on high alert, his mana swirling within him, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, a deep growl reverberating through the tunnels. The walls shuddered, dust and pebbles raining down.
"Form up!" Yara shouted, her spear held high. The group closed ranks, their eyes darting around. Shadows danced along the walls, twisting into monstrous shapes.
"Here they come!" the archer yelled, his bowstring taut, an arrow glowing with magic aimed at the darkness.
The shadows moved, peeling away from the walls, their forms solidifying into grotesque beasts. Their bodies were made of smoke and darkness, eyes burning with red fury.
"Shadow Hounds," one of the mages whispered, his voice trembling. "They hunt in packs."
Lucian grinned beneath his mask, his sword gleaming with mana. Let's see what they've got.
The beasts lunged, their claws slicing through the air, jaws snapping with supernatural strength. The group scattered, weapons flashing as they fought back.
Yara moved with precision, her spear striking swiftly, its tip glowing with holy light that dispersed the shadows upon contact. The archer fired arrows imbued with wind magic, piercing the beasts with deadly accuracy.
Lucian moved fluidly, his blade dancing through the air as he cut down the creatures with ease. But no matter how many they defeated, more appeared, crawling out of the darkness.
"They're endless!" the healer shouted, his staff glowing as he cast a barrier around the group, deflecting a Shadow Hound's attack. "We'll be overwhelmed at this rate!"
"They're respawning from the darkness," Xeran's calm voice cut through the chaos. "We have to destroy the source."
Lucian's eyes narrowed. The source...? His gaze followed Xeran's finger, pointing towards a cluster of glowing runes etched into the walls, pulsating with dark energy.
"That's it..." Lucian's lips curled into a grin. An anchor point for the dungeon's magic. Destroying it will cut off their spawn.
"Cover me!" he shouted, his body surging forward. Yara moved instinctively, her spear intercepting an attacking beast, buying him time.
Lucian's blade hummed with power, his mana flaring as he slashed through the glowing runes. The wall shattered, the magic dissipating. The beasts howled, their bodies unraveling into mist before vanishing completely.
The dungeon fell silent once more.
Lucian exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "Too easy."
"Impressive," Xeran's voice came from behind, his tone even. "You caught on quickly."
Lucian turned, meeting his serene smile. "You already knew, didn't you?"
Xeran's smile didn't waver. "I was curious if you'd figure it out."
This guy... Lucian's eyes narrowed. He's not just strong. He's smart... dangerous.
Yara approached, her eyes fierce. "Good work, Phantom. But save the games for later. We've still got a ring core to retrieve."
Lucian chuckled, his gaze lingering on Xeran. Yeah... this is far from over.