The dungeon, born from the silent miracles of nature, held within its depths rare minerals, ancient metals, strange plants, glittering stones, hidden beasts, forgotten treasures… and secrets that no living soul completely understood.
The East Point Dungeon
Inside
As the party stepped deeper inside, caution slowly faded into wonder.
The vast interior stretched forward like an endless crystal corridor. Soft blue crystals glowed along the walls, casting a calm, dreamlike light, while streaks of deep red crystal pulsed faintly like frozen flames trapped inside stone.
In the darker corners, peculiar grass like plants curled outward in twisting shapes, almost like the arms of an octopus, gently swaying despite the still air.
For a brief moment, no one spoke.
Even Eragon felt something unfamiliar rising inside his chest, a quiet confidence.
He walked forward with measured steps, trying to imitate the fearless posture of the other heroes. Then a sharp rustling sound broke the silence.
From the shadows, three goblins emerged.
One lifted a crude bow, its arrow already aimed. The other two drew rusted swords, their jagged teeth visible in crooked grins.
The General's voice rang out instantly.
"Prepare yourselves! Protect the heroes and the Mage!"
"Aye, General!" the Knights answered in unison.
Steel was about to clash but before anyone could move a streak of motion flashed through the darkness like lightning splitting the sky.
Silence followed...
The goblins collapsed to the ground.
Dead, Everyone froze, Standing ahead was Rey, green blood slowly dripping from his bare hands. He had killed them without even drawing a weapon. Shock spread across the faces of the Knights. The General's eyes widened in disbelief. Eragon stared, breath caught in his throat half terrified… half amazed.
He wanted that strength.
He wanted that certainty.
He wanted to stop feeling weak.
"Incredible…" the General murmured.
"What power they possess."
The Mage adjusted his robe calmly.
"Well done, Hero Rey. I expected nothing less."
Rey smirked.
"Ha! Just watch me grow stronger, old fellow."
Behind him, Max cracked his knuckles.
"Don't get too cocky. We're next."
Almost on cue, more goblins rushed from the side tunnels, shrieking wildly. Max charged first, his punches landing like falling hammers. Ben followed, spinning into powerful kicks that sent goblins flying deep into the glowing corridor. Snow seized one creature by the leg, tore it apart with brutal ease, then laughed softly almost joyfully as he picked up its fallen sword and moved forward in a swift, merciless dance of steel.
Within moments…,Silence returned.
The Mage, the General, and even the Knights stood stunned and impressed… yet slightly afraid of the heroes' overwhelming strength. Only Eragon remained still.
Fear slowly crept back into his chest.
He tried to run forward, hoping his newly awakened power would match the others but his body felt slow.
Heavy, Ordinary…!
The looks behind him said everything.
What is he doing?
Then the laughter began.
Mocking, Sharp, Familiar.
Their voices pierced deeper than any blade.
And suddenly a memory returned….
Flashback
The Classroom
Rain hammered against the school windows. Thunder roared across the sky like an angry beast. Inside the classroom, students laughed uncontrollably. Under a desk, a trembling boy hid in fear of the thunder forgetting everyone could see him.
That boy was Eragon. The teacher tried to calm the class, but no one listened.
The loudest laughter came from the very same people who now stood beside him in the dungeon. That day carved a wound into his heart a memory of helplessness he had never escaped.
Back to the Dungeon
"What's wrong with me…?" Eragon whispered.
"I don't want to be weak anymore…"
The Mage watched silently, concern forming in his eyes. Before he could step forward, the General gently placed a firm, reassuring hand on Eragon's shoulder.
"Do not worry, Hero Eragon," he said softly.
"This is your first battle. Have faith in yourself… because I believe in you."
Those words struck deeper than thunder ever had. No one had said something like that to him before. Tears blurred Eragon's vision.
"I… can do this," he whispered.
"Yes," the General replied.
"You can."
Eragon closed his eyes, and thought of his mother.
Her voice.
Her warmth.
Her belief in him.
He inhaled slowly…
deeply…
Then he ran, Wind burst through the crystal corridor. His footsteps vanished into silence. Even the other heroes failed to see him pass. For a single moment, Eragon felt free. But the speed carried him too far. Straight toward another group of goblins. He crossed his arms and forced his body between them and crashed headfirst into a stone wall.
Silence.
Then laughter echoed again. Eragon hung upside down, burning with embarrassment…Yet inside A small, fragile joy appeared. Because this time…He had moved forward, false Calm
The Mage examined the fallen monsters carefully.
"These were merely E-rank creatures," he said.
"Even a newly awakened hero could defeat them."
"So the real fight hasn't started yet?" Max asked.
The Mage's faint smile carried a quiet warning.
"Precisely."
Silence settled once more.
Drip…
Drip…
Then Step, The ground trembled slightly.
Step….
Breathing grew heavier.
Step...
A long shadow stretched across the glowing crystal floor. Two burning yellow eyes opened within the darkness.
From the void emerged a towering figure with muscles like twisted iron, skin rough as stone, armor made from bones, and a massive blackened blade resting in its hand.
The Mage's calm expression shattered.
"…Impossible."
"What is that?" the General asked, tension filling his voice.
The Mage swallowed slowly.
"A… Goblin General… C-Rank."
The air turned cold .For the first time since entering the dungeon The heroes were not smiling. The creature slowly raised its blade...and pointed directly at Eragon.
As if it had sensed the newborn power inside him.
Eragon's heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Not embarrassment…
Not memory…
Only Real fear…..
The Goblin General stepped forward.
Cracks spread through the surrounding crystals. The dungeon itself seemed to tremble. The Mage's voice became sharp with urgency.
"Heroes… prepare yourselves."
A long, heavy pause followed.
Then "…This battle may cost us our lives…."