The gates of the dungeon loomed before us, an ancient maw of coral-coated stone carved into a craggy reef wall. Salt mist billowed out from its depths, curling at our feet like ghostly fingers. Above the entrance hung a rusted iron sign swaying gently in the sea breeze, its edges worn by centuries.
"Only those who fear nothing may enter," an eerie voice whispered to our ears.
Fifty players stood at the dungeon gates. Swords were drawn, staves glowed, bows were ready. Some wore cocky grins, others looked like they were already regretting their choices. Most were level eight to thirteen, a few stronger ones pushing level twenty-five, and I was only level eleven.
Lars stood beside me, tightening the grip on his staff.
A tall mage in a deep violet robe stepped forward, wooden staff embedded with emerald gem glowed faintly in his hand.
"Listen up, everyone," he said, his voice steady and clear. "I'm Wex Holger, the tenth raid leader of this dungeon. I'm here to inform you that this dungeon has four chambers, and each one holds a key. We need to work together as a team to collect all four keys with no casualties to open the boss room."
"I hope," he paused, scanning the crowd. "I hope that we'll be the last group to clear this dungeon. Now, let's move forward, everyone! And remember to protect one another!"
The other players' voices echoed like a war cry, raising their clenched fists.
"WE'RE GONNA CLEAR THIS DUNGEON!"
"LET'S GOOOOOO!"
"YEAHH!!!"
Lars turned to me, trying to smile, though I could see the nervous twitch at the corner of his mouth. "No turning back now, huh?"
I adjusted my cracked shoulder plate that I had just looted from a goblin a while ago. "Not unless we wanna die out here instead of in there."
He chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck.
I looked at Lars. "Make sure not to die on me, alright?"
Lars huffed a small laugh, patting down his robe pockets to check his MP potions. "Of course! You better not die on me either."
I smirked, giving his shoulder a light punch. "Definitely."
We shared a look, part fear, part determination. Neither of us said it, but we both knew this could be the last time we talked like this.
"Let's do this, partner!" we shouted in unison.
My eyes widened as a tall, slim female archer suddenly appeared beside me. She had golden hair, crimson-red eyes framed by long underlashes, and a fair complexion. Her presence radiated precision and quiet power. She wore golden armor, and a red cape flickered in the torchlight like a living flame.
In my mind, I called her: the Archer in Gold.
I glanced at her face for just a second.
"S-SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!" I thought, my face turning red as I quickly looked down.
Lars elbowed me with a smirk. "What's wrong with your face? Are you sick right now?"
I took a deep breath, straightened my back like I was about to pose for a portrait, and forced my face into the most serious expression imaginable. "No. Not at all," I said in my most serious tone. "I'm absolutely healthy right now."
"Uh-huh..." Lars said, frowning and squinting at me like I'd just told him the sky was green.
Then, we stepped inside the dungeon.
Inside was a chamber that looked like something out of a drowned nightmare. The corridors twisted like coral intestines, the walls pulsing faintly as if the place was still alive. Bioluminescent barnacles clung to every surface, and the water that pooled at our ankles glowed an eerie green. At the far end, half-sunken into the wall, stood an old, rusty door. Barnacles and seaweed covered its corroded surface, and deep cracks ran across the metal, as if it hadn't been opened in centuries.
The players started to mutter words.
"This place gives me the chills, man..."
"I've got a bad feeling about this..."
"I don't like this… something feels off."
After walking forward for about seven minutes, we reached the end of the chamber. Beyond the door, a narrow passageway disappeared into complete darkness.
"Everyone, let's head toward that door," Wex said. "It's the entrance for the first chamber."
Then we moved forward.
Every few seconds, Pirate laughter echoed around us, mixed with the distant clink of chains.
Lars hid behind my back. "T-This place sure is creepy…"
I glanced over my shoulder at him. "Didn't know you were a scaredy cat, Lars," I said with a teasing grin.
Lars instantly straightened, stepping in front of me. "Me? A scaredy cat? That's nothing but pure fallacy," he said, puffing out his chest like a knight.
"Now that's a gallant mage!" I said, trying not to laugh.
Wex turned, clearly annoyed. "Can you two please be serious? Monsters could attack us at any time, and you're acting like kids."
Lars and I lowered our heads. "W-We're sorry…" we said in unison.
A tall, muscular warrior in shining silver armor walked up behind us, his longsword gleaming on his back. "If you guys get in trouble, call me," he whispered with a grin. "I'm level twenty-five. I'll save ya."
Lars raised a thumbs-up. "Alrighty! We'll count on ya, Mr. High-Level Warrior!"
"You heard him," I said in a sarcastic tone, pointing at Lars. "I hope you keep us safe, Mr. High-Level Warrior."
"YOU BET! NOW, LET'S MOVE FORWARD!" the warrior shouted, marching ahead like a proud soldier.
Now, we had arrived at the first chamber. It was an old, empty room, silent except for the faint sound of dripping water. Glowing jellyfish floated near the ceiling, their soft blue light pulsing like slow heartbeats, casting ripples of light across the damp stone walls.
Then came a sharp, cracking sound from the floor.
"W-What was that?" a male mage in blue robes stammered, his staff trembling in his grip. "I-I think I heard something..."
"Quiet," Wex whispered, eyes narrowing as he observed the ground.
The wooden floor suddenly split open with a wet, echoing crack. From the glowing water below, ghostly figures began to rise: six Ghostly Sailors, their half-rotted bodies draped in chains, dragging rusted anchors that scraped against the stone. Behind them came a dozen Wailing Mariners, their pale faces twisted in agony as they let out a sharp scream.
A system window appeared above their heads:
[GHOST SAILOR] – (LVL 15)
[WAILING MARINER] – (LVL 15)
"They looked terrifying back in the game," I thought, swallowing hard. "But now that they're in front of my eyes… THEY'RE A HUNDRED TIMES SCARIER!"
"My goddamn ears!" Lars whispered, covering his ears.
"Prepare yourselves!" Wex shouted. "Here comes the first wave!"
The battle began.
Bolts of magic exploded across the chamber. Warriors clashed with the Ghostly Sailors, their blades striking against corroded cutlasses, sending sparks and seawater flying. Arrows whistled through the air as archers provided cover from a distance. Assassins moved in swiftly, finishing off the weakened monsters. Healers rushed between fighters, casting spells to keep the injured alive.
A male healer screamed as a Wailing Mariner threw an anchor that wrapped around his leg, pulling him under a hole filled with water. Bubbles rose. He didn't.
The high-level warrior charged toward three Wailing Mariners, raising his sword high. "HERE COMES THE HERO!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber as he swung with full force.
"I gotta do something!" I thought. I gritted my teeth and lunged forward, ducking under a weakened Wailing Mariner's swinging hook. My dagger plunged deep into its chest. The creature let out a hollow shriek before bursting into mist.
Lars activated a skill: Arc Lightning. A jagged bolt of electricity leapt from his hands, chaining between the two weakened Ghost Sailors. The water around them sizzled and sparked, and the sailors let out shrill cries as they were fried in the electric surge.
Then, the last enemy fell, vanishing in a puff of sea-mist.
"I-Is it over?" an injured assassin muttered, breathing hard. "It should be over… r-right?"
A pedestal rose from the floor with the blue key resting at the center of the room.
A system window popped into visibility above it.
[You have acquired: Blue Key]
The coral doors ahead shimmered, then dissolved.
"Let's proceed to the next chamber." Wex said. "We have no time to lose."
The next section was a maze of twisting chambers, each one worse than the last. The walls pulsed faintly like it was alive.
A dozen level fifteen Merfolk suddenly burst out from the flooded corners, their barbed spears glinting under the faint light of glowing algae. Their eyes gleamed yellow, and their slick scales shimmered as they lunged at the nearest players.
"Watch out!" Wex shouted, raising his staff, activating a skill: Lightning Bolt. Bolts of lightning cracked through the air, striking two Merfolks.
More Merfolks came.
A Merfolk's spear flew past my head, embedding into the wall behind me. I sprinted forward, ducking another spear, rolling under its claws as they sliced through the air. I came up low, slashed across its midsection, then drove my dagger straight into its neck.
A female warrior dressed in steel armor charged forward, swinging her sword in a wide arc. "Stay behind me!" she yelled—but before she could finish, a whirlpool burst open under her. She screamed in panic as she was dragged downward, her sword slipping from her hand. Her scream was swallowed by the water.
"Shit! They're pulling us in!" Lars shouted, thrusting his wooden staff forward, activating a skill: Arc Lightning, the surge splitting across the water and electrocuting three weakened Merfolk at once.
I stabbed a weakened Merfolk through the chest, twisting the dagger before pulling it out.
When the last Merfolk fell, we were left panting in silence. We looked pale and shaken.
"Let's move forward," Wex said. "Let us mourn our comrades' deaths later. We don't have much time left."
By the time we made our way out of the maze, only twenty-four players had survived, and some were barely alive.
Then, we moved forward.