The laboratory was silent, except for the soft ticking of the old clock. Princess Raimi entered in a hurry, her footsteps echoing on the stone floor, and asked the messenger guarding the door:
"Is Master Zenk here?"
The messenger hesitated, exchanging a glance with a colleague before answering:
"Milady… Master Zenk has left. A new dungeon has appeared near the kingdom, and he went to investigate."
Raimi furrowed her brow, surprised by the sudden urgency:
"But why?"
"Recently, we discovered that the dungeon is of Noble class," the messenger replied in a low, almost fearful voice. "And Your Highness Kuto and his companions have entered it."
Upon hearing this, the princess's eyes widened. Without thinking twice, she ran to the stables, mounted her horse, and sped through the kingdom's gates. The wind whipped across her face, the forest approached rapidly, and every gallop quickened her heart. She needed to see Zenk, needed to know if they were safe.
Arriving at the dungeon, she found Zenk standing before the gate, watching the massive doors through which they had entered. Raimi dismounted and ran to him:
"Zenk! Will they make it through this dungeon?"
Zenk turned slowly, his face serious and grim:
"Based on their abilities, considering what I saw in the fight against the bear… the probability is minimal."
Desperation gripped Raimi:
"Then get them out of there!"
Zenk shook his head, full of regret:
"I can't anymore, Raimi. The doors are closed. The magic that sustains dungeons—and everything inside them—is still a mystery, even to me. Now, all we can do is pray that everyone comes out alive."
Raimi looked at the portal, her eyes filled with fear, her whole body trembling.
---
Inside the dungeon, the group advanced through shadowy corridors, illuminated only by the flickering flames of torches. The air was cold and damp, and each step echoed with a sound that seemed to awaken something long dormant.
They reached a large chamber. Countless coffins rose from floor to ceiling, lined up like silent soldiers. Dimitri raised his head, eyes wide:
"Wow… all these coffins…"
Suddenly, Selina pinched him.
"Haamm!" Romeu shouted, startled. "What was that?!"
Selina burst into laughter. "Is that how you plan to win the game?"
Romeu rolled his eyes.
"Not funny."
Before they could continue, a thunderous rumble shook the chamber. The red torches now burned with a cold blue flame. The coffins began to move. Silence was replaced by a metallic, menacing sound.
"Stay alert!" Jack shouted instinctively.
Suddenly, undead began emerging from the coffins, rising like a black tide. Dimitri looked up, eyes wide:
"This isn't good…"
"Team, quickly!" Jack shouted. "Sensi, protective barrier!"
Sensi, standing near the group, raised her arms and cast an invisible shield, forming a protective barrier over everyone as the corpses crashed down with crushing force. The impact shook the floor, but no one was injured thanks to her shield.
"Forward!" Célia shouted. "Look!"
Countless undead advanced, their empty eyes fixed on the adventurers. Jack didn't hesitate:
"Dimitri, now!"
The elemental mage unleashed a colossal fireball, exploding against the undead, reducing dozens to glowing ashes.
"To the left!" Jack shouted to Selina.
Selina raised her staff and unleashed a dark-blue arcane sphere, obliterating the remaining foes advancing toward them.
"My turn!" said Sónia, her eyes shining with determination. She raised her arms, conjuring the Flames of Hell with her staff, releasing a wave of black fire that engulfed the remaining enemies. The air filled with the smell of sulfur and smoke, burning the skeletons to smoldering ashes.
"Kuto, Haru, let's go!" Jack pointed.
Haru, the rogue, disappeared into the shadows, invisible to the undead. His daggers danced among the enemies, silently decapitating each one.
Kuto took a deep breath, feeling adrenaline surge through his veins. He began alternating between his skills:
Rogue: Moving with extreme agility, he dodged the skeletal hands of the undead, sliding across the floor and leaping over debris. With two daggers, he sliced through an enemy's neck in a motion so fast it seemed invisible, the blades leaving a trail of blue energy in the air. Each strike was silent, lethal, and a choreographed dance of death.
Warrior: Then Kuto wielded his heavy sword, feeling the familiar weight of the metal in his hands. A sweeping spin, turning his body like a wheel, struck three undead at once, hurling them against the stone wall. The impact echoed through the room, kicking up dust and shattering bones. He advanced down the corridor, alternating direct strikes with firm blocks, using brute strength to carve a path, like a true wall of destruction.
Elemental: Feeling energy flow from his hands, Kuto channeled his magic. A wave of cutting wind burst forth, tossing lighter undead against the walls. Then he unleashed small blue flames licking the ground and the monsters' shadowy tendrils, burning them without spreading beyond the intended range. Every burst of energy was precise, calculated to maximize damage without endangering the group.
Jack and Kuto moved like coordinated storms, blocking, attacking, and protecting each other.
Sensi, still maintaining her barrier, shouted:
"I won't hold this for long!"
Jack responded quickly:
"Can you create a force field just for yourself?"
"I can, but only for a short time!"
"Then wait for my signal!"
He then commanded the team to run and hide inside coffins along the walls, and everyone obeyed, diving into the coffins. Jack looked around.
"Everyone, get inside the coffins! NOW!"
One by one, they obeyed. The sound of falling corpses grew louder, the weight pressing on Sensi threatening to crush her.
"NOW!" Jack shouted.
Sensi dissolved the upper barrier and cast a personal shield, protecting herself as hundreds of corpses crashed down.
When a new wave approached, Gunja raised his sword and activated Judgment of Light. A blinding light spread, annihilating all enemies advancing toward him. Romeu, the archer, fired elemental arrows, keeping any remaining foes at bay.
Sensi, floating in the air, concentrated to create a protective barrier around her body. Undead fell upon it, but none could break through.
"Dimitri, Selina, Sónia, NOW!" Jack commanded.
Then the group attacked in unison: Dimitri with his colossal fireball, Selina with arcane energy, Sónia with black flames, Kuto and Haru in precise and lethal strikes. The impact created an explosion of light, fire, and shadows, reducing most of the undead to ashes. All the undead in that chamber were eradicated.
"Is everyone okay?" Jack shouted, breathing heavily.
"Yes!" they replied, still panting.
Célia then cast Blessing of Light, healing everyone and restoring their magical energy. Each adventurer drank potions to recover stamina, preparing for the next challenge.
Jack looked at the portal ahead. Everyone felt a threatening aura emanating from the next room. Dimitri stammered:
"That aura… it's from the dungeon boss."
The ten exchanged glances, tension rising. Their hearts pounded like war drums. They hadn't faced the true danger yet, but together, they were ready to move forward