The dungeon sprawled before them like an underground abyss, a vast cavern of blackened stone lined with jagged crystalline formations that pulsed with a faint luminescence. Stalactites loomed overhead, dripping with condensation that shimmered under the eerie glow of mana-rich crystals embedded in the walls. The air was thick with moisture and carried a distant scent of sulfur, a telltale sign of the beast lurking within.
Varek, standing at the forefront, let out a low whistle as he scanned the seemingly endless expanse of the cave. "Man, this place is huge. I wonder if all dungeons are like this," he mused, rolling his shoulders. The crimson leather armor he wore clung tightly to his toned form, designed for mobility while providing decent protection. A whip, its barbed edges gleaming wickedly in the faint light, rested at his side, coiled and ready.
"They say the size of a dungeon reflects the size of the beast inside," Vahn responded, smirking as he adjusted the blue cape around his neck. His gloves, lined with thin metal strips, caught the glow of the crystals, their reinforced design meant for high-speed casting. "So if that's true, spotting this wyvern should be a piece of cake."
Behind them, Sen walked silently, the flickering light from the crystals reflecting off the gleaming white-silver axe strapped to his back. His black robe, patterned with deep crimson etchings, draped over his frame, the hem slightly brushing against the ground. His stance was relaxed, yet every step carried a sense of coiled tension—like a predator stalking its prey.
Varek grinned, wrapping an arm around Sen's shoulder. "Hey, what do you think? Think we'll wrap this up in time for lunch?"
Sen sighed, easily slipping out of the hold with a subtle shift of his weight. "We should be focusing. Wyverns, drakes, and dragons are hypersensitive to sound." His sharp crimson gaze flickered toward the depths of the cavern. "If we keep talking, we're basically announcing our arrival."
Before any of them could respond, a deep, guttural roar rumbled through the cave, shaking the very foundations of the dungeon. The raw force of the sound sent vibrations rippling through the air, causing loose stones and dust to tumble from the ceiling. The mana in the surroundings trembled as if resonating with the beast's presence.
Vahn smirked. "Looks like we don't have to wait that long."
Varek's grin widened as he reached for his whip. With a flick of his wrist, the single length of barbed leather split into two, both whips crackling as he poured his essence into them. The moment his blue aura surged, the whips ignited, turning red-hot, their searing heat distorting the air around them.
"I guess we're skipping the warm-up," Vahn chuckled, raising his arms as the moisture in the air responded to his will. Water molecules gathered rapidly, forming eight points in a shifting, fluid formation behind him—his defensive array taking shape.
Sen, standing a few feet ahead, inhaled deeply. Then, in a single motion, he shrugged off his robe, letting it fall in a heap to the cavern floor, revealing his bare upper body—his frame lean yet built with dense muscle. The moment he grasped his axe, the surrounding mana fluctuated wildly. His azure blue aura erupted, raw and untamed, crackling with arcs of lightning that slithered around him like living serpents.
A powerful gust of wind blasted through the cave as it emerged.
From the shadows of the cavern's depths, the wyvern revealed itself—a towering twelve-foot monstrosity with obsidian-black scales, each one gleaming like polished armor. Its predatory eyes, slitted and glowing like molten gold, locked onto them with chilling intelligence. As it unfurled its massive wings, jagged spikes protruded from the edges, sharp as spears.
Then, with a single, devastating flap of its wings, those spikes were unleashed.
The air whistled as dozens of razor-sharp projectiles rocketed toward them at terrifying speed.
Vahn reacted instantly. His hands twirled in a precise motion, his essence surging as the water around him thickened and expanded outward. In a fraction of a second, a translucent dome materialized, encasing them in a barrier that absorbed the brunt of the attack. The spikes slammed into the water shield, some dissipating into harmless ripples, while others embedded themselves within the dense liquid before falling to the ground.
"Nice save," Varek called out, already moving. With a flick of his wrist, his whips snapped forward, their heated edges slicing through the air. The moment they met the falling spikes, the barbed leather cut through them effortlessly, the shards of stone disintegrating from the sheer heat.
He dashed forward, weaving through the remaining spikes with fluid precision, his footwork light and practiced. He was a blur of movement, his whips lashing out in controlled arcs, striking and deflecting debris mid-air. One particularly large spike came barreling toward him—he reacted instantly, pivoting and delivering a devastating punch, shattering the projectile into a cloud of dust.
Sen watched this unfold with an amused smirk before glancing at Vahn. "Can't let him have all the fun, right?"
Then he vanished.
The next instant, a thunderous boom tore through the cave. The sheer force of Sen's sudden movement cracked the ground beneath him, a sonic shockwave blasting outward as he reappeared beneath the wyvern. His speed was staggering—almost imperceptible.
Without hesitation, he swung his axe.
BOOM!
The blunt side of the weapon collided with the wyvern's lower jaw with bone-crushing force. The sheer impact sent a deafening crack through the cavern, the beast's head snapping backward violently. A gust of wind exploded outward from the point of contact, sending loose stones and dust flying. The wyvern, momentarily stunned, staggered back, its wings flaring in an attempt to regain balance.
Sen smirked. "You've got some tough scales, I'll give you that. But let's see how you handle blunt force trauma."
Varek whistled, watching as the wyvern struggled to recover. "Damn, Sen. You trying to give this thing a concussion?"
"Here I thought we were just probing its strength" Vahn said shaking his head.
"Less talking, more fighting," Sen replied, his axe crackling with renewed energy. The blue lightning around him intensified, the arcs snapping violently through the air.
Vahn, standing within his protective dome, let out a low chuckle as he adjusted his stance. "You guys are way too reckless. Guess I better keep up."
He clapped his hands together, and the water around him surged, spiraling into the shape of twin serpents. The liquid coiled around his arms before extending outward, forming two massive, blade-like constructs made entirely of compressed water.
"Alright," he said, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's take this thing down."
The wyvern, now furious, let out a piercing screech, the sheer volume causing their eardrums to throb. Its wings tensed, its body shifting into an aggressive stance. The mana in the cavern surged in response, the beast preparing its next move.
And just like that, the battle had truly begun.