The air was thick with dread as Lord Lugard and his team stood before the monstrous Udons.
The dim glow of torches flickered against the ancient dungeon walls, casting long, jagged shadows that seemed to dance with malice.
A suffocating silence hung over the group, until Lord Lugard's firm, commanding voice broke through it.
"We can't stop here," he said, his tone sharp with resolve. "We've come too far to turn back. Clearing this dungeon will be our only goal and we'll do it in one piece."
Despite the fear gnawing at their chests, his words rekindled their spirit. Keshawn stepped forward, his face set with conviction.
"My Lord, if you wish to fight, then I am with you. If we don't end this now, others will face the same terror that grips our spines tonight."
Colt gave a short laugh, firelight reflecting in his eyes. "Quite the speech, Keshawn… but who said we're backing out?"
He extended his arm, summoning a swirling mass of blazing fireballs. The infernal spheres roared through the air, slamming into the Udons with devastating force.
The team surged forward, moving in perfect formation shoulder to shoulder, magic weaving between them like an unbreakable barrier.
Keshawn's flames flickered wildly before erupting into a chain of explosions that illuminated the cavern in a burst of orange and gold.
The shockwave tore through the enemy ranks, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
A thunderous crack split the air. From above, a jagged bolt of lightning descended toward Lord Lugard.
With swift precision, he conjured a massive fire shield, absorbing the strike with a blinding flash. The impact reverberated through his arm, but he stood firm.
Through the smoke, the Udons charged, swift, vicious, and unrelenting. Lugard's lips curled into a fearless grin. "So, they're coming to us? Very well then… challenge accepted."
Colt raised both hands, summoning a fiery vortex that spun violently before him. The air rippled with heat as the inferno expanded, dragging the Udons into its merciless spiral. Their shrieks were drowned beneath the roar of burning flame.
Chris followed with a powerful incantation, slamming his staff into the ground. A river of molten lava surged forward in a straight, unbroken line, consuming everything in its path. The battlefield became an ocean of flame and ash.
Then Ace, filled with determination and youthful pride, sprinted ahead.
"Ace," Xavier called, his grin playful even amid chaos, "let's make it interesting. Whoever gets the most kills wins."
Ace smirked, his confidence unwavering. "You're on, Xavier. Even without magic, I won't lose."
But before their contest could begin, the ground trembled. A low growl echoed through the dungeon a sound that seemed to vibrate in their bones.
From the depths of the smoke emerged a massive creature, its form reminiscent of a dragon yet cloaked in shadow.
The beast's scales shimmered with veins of lightning, and fire pulsed from its core.
The team unleashed their might in unison, but the creature absorbed every attack, its aura swelling with each strike.
With a deafening roar, it descended from above, gathering a sphere of fire interlaced with streaks of lightning.
The explosion shattered their defenses. Barriers cracked, light shields crumbled, and one by one they were flung across the cavern like leaves in a storm. The air filled with the scent of scorched stone and blood.
When the dust settled, they lay scattered, drained of mana and strength. All but Ace. His body trembled, his left arm mangled and charred, but his eyes still burned with defiance.
The dragon-like beast landed before him, its massive shadow swallowing him whole. Yet, instead of finishing him, it released a soft surge of energy.
The radiant mana seeped into Ace's wounds, mending his arm. Confusion and awe warred within him as the creature leaned closer.
Then a voice, calm and resonant, filled his mind.
"Do not be afraid… I will never harm you."
Ace froze. "Wh–who's there?"
"Only you can hear me," the voice replied. "You are the one I have chosen."
Before his astonished eyes, the beast began to change. Its monstrous form shrank, reshaping itself into a small wolf with cream-orange fur and eyes that gleamed like red moons.
The creature's presence was no longer terrifying, it radiated warmth, a strange comfort amidst the chaos.
"So," Ace whispered, "why me? Why make me this 'Master' you speak of?"
The wolf its voice now softer answered, "That will be revealed when the time comes. I am Hex, your companion from here on. Together, we will face what lies ahead."
Ace managed a faint smile. "Then Hex it is. But… what about my dad? And the others?"
"They will awaken soon," Hex assured him. "The path ahead leads to the dungeon's final chamber. But before that, you must know the truth."
Ace frowned. "What truth?"
Hex's gaze deepened, glowing faintly. "You will learn soon enough."
And before Ace could reply, the little wolf released a soft pulse of magic. Sleep overcame him, and his body fell gently to the ground as Hex faded into thin air.
---
Moments later, Lord Lugard stirred, coughing weakly as dust and smoke cleared from the battlefield. His body ached, but he was alive.
Around him, his companions began to recover, slowly regaining consciousness and mana.
He scanned the scorched cavern, charred rock, smoldering embers, and the bodies of countless Udons. Despite their injuries, they had survived.
"We move forward," Lord Lugard said hoarsely but firmly. "The boss room must be close. Be ready for anything."
The group exchanged weary nods, their faces pale but resolute. Their journey had nearly broken them, but their spirit remained unshaken. Ahead lay the heart of the dungeon and perhaps, their greatest trial yet.
---
Darkness surrounded Ace once more. He floated in the silence of unconsciousness, yet a faint warmth pressed against his chest, the remnant of Hex's mana still lingering inside him.
The air felt still, yet alive, as if the dungeon itself was breathing around him.
Then, through the dim void of his slumber, a familiar voice echoed softly.
"Ace…"
The boy stirred, his brows tightening as the voice grew clearer.
"Ace, awaken. There is still something you must see."
Ace's eyes flickered open, not to the cavern, but to a strange space where light drifted like mist. In front of him stood Hex once again, the small wolf's crimson eyes glowing brighter than before.
"Hex?" Ace muttered, sitting up. "I thought you said to rest…"
The wolf tilted its head slightly, its tone now calm but grave. "There is little time left. You must understand what comes next,the power you will willed"
Ace frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The creature that awaits beyond this chamber," Hex said, its fur bristling faintly, "is no ordinary foe. It is the master of deception ,but is merely a Trickster in the Abyss.
It weaves illusions that twist the heart and break the mind. Even now, it prepares for your father and his team."
Hex shook its head slowly. "Calm yourself, Ace. Panic clouds judgment. According to my examination of their mana and the enemy's strength… they will not survive on their own."
The boy's breath caught, his heart pounding in his chest. "What are you saying? You can't just make judgement like—"
"Listen," Hex interrupted, its voice echoing gently but firmly through Ace's thoughts. "Fate has already begun to move. You were chosen for this moment, not to fight in your father's place, but to change the course of the battle itself."
Ace stared, confusion and fear warring within him. "Then what do I do?"
"For now, you will remain here," Hex said, stepping closer. "You will not interfere directly. Watch, and learn. I will show you the true scale of my might and through it, you will understand the bond we share,through a mere deception."
The space around them rippled like water disturbed by a drop of rain. Hex's small form began to glow, threads of mana spiraling from its body in waves of orange and gold
The light spread outward, bending the very air until it resembled the heart of a burning sun.
"The chamber you see before you…" Hex's voice deepened, taking on an otherworldly resonance, "…is where the Trickster lies in wait.
Watch closely, Ace. What unfolds next will mark the beginning of your path as my Master."
Ace's surroundings shifted instantly, Hex reveals it's true form in the chamber revealing itself before his eyes as if he were watching from another realm.
Towering stone pillars rose high, their surfaces etched with glowing runes. The air pulsed with chaotic energy, distorting light and sound.
There, at the center of it all, the Dungeon Boss emerged ,a slender figure cloaked in black mist, its face hidden behind a jagged porcelain mask.
The Beast laughter slithered through the room like a whispering wind.
Ace's fists clenched. "Father… everyone…"
But Hex's presence wrapped around his mind like a gentle hand. "Do not fear. You will have your moment soon. Watch as I reveal what power truly is."
Blazing wings of mana unfolded behind it, each beat sending ripples through the dungeon.
As Hex descended into the chamber, the entire dungeon trembled,walls shaking, flames bending toward its aura.
The Beastial foe begins to flee, its mask cracking slightly under the pressure of Hex's divine energy.
From his vision, Ace could only watch in awe, his heart pounding as the two entities faced each other, one born of deception, the other of ancient power.
"Now, Ace," Hex's voice whispered faintly through the roaring energy, "this is just a mere simulation to what I can do,but bear witness… and remember. This is the power that will one day be yours to command."