The very air within felt thin, vibrating with latent energy. Stone underfoot, fractured from prior impacts, radiated a dry heat, its edges shimmering faintly where the destructive force had passed. An unnatural presence held sway; not even motes of dust disturbed the charged silence left in the wake of the final strike.
Kin stepped forward into the cleared space, boots scuffing softly. His voice, sharp, finally pierced the tense void.
"What was that?!"
Tiren turned, a slow, deliberate movement that betrayed the effort involved. His armor, usually gleaming, was marred by scorch marks, soot clinging to the intricate metalwork. A visible tremor ran through his limbs, yet he summoned a smirk, forcing it onto his pale face. The faint gleam returning to his eye wasn't just pride—it was the profound satisfaction of survival against the odds.
"My trump card," he replied, his voice raspy, tight in his throat, yet managing a flicker of its usual playfulness. "I call it... Atomic Smash."
Kin didn't hesitate, his focus absolute. "Atomic... Smash?"
"It's a last-resort skill," Tiren explained, leaning subtly against the pommel of his grounded weapon as he fought to steady his breathing. "I can only activate it when I'm near collapse. It channels a quantum punch into my opponents body."
The Master approached, his footsteps, crunching methodically against the loose rubble scattered across the dungeons floor. He paused, his gaze whipped over the area where their foe had stood – an area now disturbingly grim with the sight of blood splattered across the surface and two gigantic worms laying flat ripped into shreds. He surveyed the faint heat signatures, the lack of physical evidence, and raised a single, thoughtful brow.
"No remains of the Lizard General" he muttered, his voice low and analytical. "... Astounding."
Reaching deep within the heavy folds of his coat, he produced a crystalline vial. Inside, an emerald fluid swirled, emitting a soft, internal glow like captured bioluminescence. He tossed it underhand towards Tiren.
"Drink this."
Tiren caught the vial with slightly clumsy fingers, his coordination still hampered. He uncorked it swiftly and downed the contents in one smooth, practiced motion, tilting his head back. A brief, violent shudder wracked his frame as the potion took effect, the faint emerald glow momentarily seeming to illuminate the veins beneath his skin before vanishing completely. He let out a long, slow breath, color returning to his face, his bruises fade. the trembling easing entirely.
"Each atom in the target's body," he continued, his voice gaining strength, the hoarseness lessening as he straightened slightly, "experiences a direct impact."
Kin's eyes widened, tracking from the empty space back to Tiren.
"So the lizard General… basically got hit a billion times at once?"
Tiren grinned, a more genuine expression this time, fueled by the potion's restoration and Kin's understanding. Without warning, he pushed off from his weapon support, slung a heavy arm around Kin's shoulder – a familiar, grounding weight – and dragged him momentarily closer, ruffling his hair with the casual ease of an older brother.
"That's some sharp observation, kid. Keep your eyes like that, and you'll be dangerous real soon."
Kin chuckled, attempting to shrug off the affectionate gesture while clearly not minding it. But the brief moment of camaraderie was instantly severed.
Senen's voice, cool and precise, cut through the relative ease like a shard of ice.
"We're not done. Many beasts far stronger that the Lizard General will appear on deeper floors."
Just like that, the tension clicked back into place. Tiren's arm dropped, his posture shifting back to readiness, his fatigue gone. Kin's amusement vanished, replaced by focused vigilance. The group collectively turned, gazes fixed on the way forward.
They pressed deeper into the dungeon, the oppressive air growing colder, seeming to press in on them. Soon, the rough-hewn passage transitioned into a tunnel distinct from the others – narrower, its walls carved with an unsettling, almost smooth to the touch.
The Master reached it first, placing a gloved hand flat against the cool, polished stone, feeling for vibrations or energies.
"No hesitation," he said, his decision firm. "This way."
Kin glanced from the tunnel's dark maw up at the Master's impassive profile. "But what if we miss the dragon going this way?
The Master offered only that thin, enigmatic smile as he turned and stepped decisively into the darkness.
"Unlikely. These tunnels were made from those worm creatures... And I have a feeling these tunnels will take us straight to it."
The others followed without argument, their trust in his judgment absolute. The silence that fell this time wasn't one of shock, but of shared purpose, each footstep echoing faintly in the confined space.
Eventually, the narrow path opened dramatically, revealing a vast, natural stone platform suspended over an immense, dizzying emptiness. A chilling wind howled upward from the abyss below, carrying unfamiliar scents. Faint, distant lights shimmered in the darkness beneath them, like stars scattered in a subterranean sky.
A massive vertical shaft yawned before them, its sheer scale awe-inspiring, leading down into the unknown depths.
The Master stood at the very edge, looking down into the chasm.
"We're close to the 25th," he announced. "Sky City."
He turned back to the team, his expression serious.
"We'll pause there. I'll upgrade your weapons once we arrive—except you, Senen."
He gave a faint, acknowledging nod, his expression unreadable.Tiren tilted his head, curiosity momentarily overriding his mood. "Why not him?"
The Master didn't stop walking, already moving towards a path leading downwards along the platform's edge as he replied, his voice echoing slightly.
"Because when Senen decides to fight… he wont need one."
No one questioned it further. The implication hung heavy in the air.
Their steps echoed softly on the stone as they began their
way towards the city suspended in the void—toward Sky City, and the dragon they knew waited just beyond it.
Reaching the hill's crest, it was sloped like a ramp carved by pressure,not hands. Below, five crystal fixtures jutted inot the dungeons walls surrounding the entrance, pulsing with pale light that spilled upward across the inclining hill. It wasn't warm or golden—just clean, illumination that brightened the dark. One by one, the team slid down, boots scraping softly, controlled and swift.
Then they reached the bottom—and the dungeon unfolded.
Before them stood Sky City.
It unfolded like a vision: a hidden civilization blooming beneath the earth, its size dwarfing even the grand capital on the tenth floor. Towering skyscrapers rose in clusters, their windows alive with the soft pulse of yellow and blue light. Around them, three titanic pillars pierced the base, supporting a second tier—smaller buildings, winding alleys, houses and cafes all suspended in a layer of architectural wonder.At the tier's edge, a flawless lake wrapped like a halo, along the rim, its mirrored surface shimmered with light from below. Water spilled gracefully from its basin, feeding into the riverbanks of the first floor far beneath—an endless cycle of light into water, water into light.
Kin stood frozen.Awe rooted him in place, every breath slowed by the sight before him.
For a moment, Kin stood motionless, lost in the sheer scale and beauty. His breath caught, feet frozen, while the others drifted past.
"Kin," Sye's voice called out gently.
He blinked."Coming!" And with a final glance skyward, he hurried after them into the glowing heart of Sky City.