"Stay close," Kel said, his voice low. "The light will draw attention."
Herta smirked, her hands crackling with faint sparks of fire magic. "Let them come. I've been itching for a fight."
Killa grunted, hefting his sword and shield. "Just don't get us killed, hothead."
Asher held the luminous stone higher, its glow revealing more of the cavern. The third level was vast, its ceiling lost in shadow. The group stood in a chamber with several cave openings branching off in different directions. The air felt heavier here, the miasma thicker, and the silence more oppressive. Even Themis seemed on edge, its wings beating faster as it hovered near Asher.
"This place gives me the creeps," Herta muttered, her bravado faltering momentarily.
"Stay alert," Kel said, his tone firm. "We're not alone."
He wasn't lying. The sound of skittering echoed through the cavern, faint but unmistakable. It came from multiple directions, bouncing off the walls until it was impossible to tell where it originated. Themis darted toward one of the tunnels, its glowing feathers illuminating the path briefly before it returned to Asher's side.
Asher's grip tightened on the luminous stone. "Which way do we go?"
Kel's eyes narrowed as he scanned the openings. "We'll need to choose carefully. One wrong step, and we'll be surrounded."
The skittering faded, disappearing into the darkness, but the silence that followed was no less unnerving. Kel pointed to one of the openings, his voice steady. "That one. There are less monsters this way."
Asher nodded, pulling more luminous stones from his inventory. He handed one to each member of the group, their soft glow casting flickering shadows on the cavern walls. He held the stone up to the entrance of the cave. It didn't look special or any different from the others.
"Keep them close. If we separate, the light will help us find each other." Kel affirmed
Herta held her stone aloft, the glow reflecting in her sharp eyes. "Great. Now we're walking glowsticks for whatever's out there."
Killa grunted, tucking his stone into a pouch on his belt. "Better than stumbling around in the dark. Let's hope the bugs don't like light."
Themis flitted ahead, its emerald wings stirring the heavy air. The familiar's violet tail feathers left a faint, glowing trail, illuminating the path briefly before the darkness swallowed it again. Asher watched it closely, his hand resting on the grip of his water bow.
The telepathic connection told Asher that Themis was confused and frustrated. The tiny bird was not suited to the darkness and struggled to move around in the darkness. Light wrapped the little bird as it was pulled back into Asher's familiar space.
Kel took the lead, his luminous stone casting a faint glow as he stepped into the chosen tunnel. The walls here were narrower, the ceiling so low that Killa had to duck slightly. The air grew colder, the miasma thicker, and the faint hum of the luminous stones seemed almost swallowed by the oppressive silence.
Asher's scan ability flickered to life, feeding him data about the environment.
[Scan Complete]
Environmental Analysis:
Miasma Density: Extreme
Ether Concentration: Critical
Flora/Fauna: Unknown entities detected. Proceed with caution.
Asher felt a lump form in his throat. This place was vastly different from the first two levels. The cavern was smaller than the first level and far darker than the second. Every so often, movement echoed through the tunnels—a faint skittering or a distant scrape—making him jump. The noises were impossible to place, seeming to come from all directions simultaneously.
Herta's hand crackled with faint sparks of fire magic, her sharp eyes darting to every shadow. Killa adjusted his grip on his sword and shield, his knuckles whitening as he scanned the darkness. No one spoke as if the very sound of their voices might awaken something lurking in the depths.
The tunnel twisted and turned, the walls closing in and opening up without warning.
Suddenly, Asher's foot caught on something, and he stumbled forward, his water bow clattering to the ground.
Herta spun around, her voice low but urgent. "Veras, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just tripped," Asher muttered, brushing himself off. "I think it was on a root." He picked up the luminous stone and lifted it to see what had caused his fall. His heart stopped.
A shriveled corpse lay tangled in roots, its hollow eyes staring blankly into the darkness. The roots seemed to pulse faintly, as if feeding on whatever remained of the body. The air grew heavier, the faint hum of the luminous stone the only sound in the suffocating silence.
Asher's voice caught in his throat. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. The sight of the corpse had caught him completely off guard. His heart pounded as he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm the rising panic in his chest.
Herta crouched beside him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. "Hey, Veras. Breathe. It's okay." Her voice was softer than usual, lacking its usual edge. "This… this happens. Dungeons aren't kind to those who aren't prepared. Or even to those who are."
Asher swallowed hard, his eyes still fixed on the corpse. "I… I didn't expect—"
"No one does," Kel interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. "But you've got to keep it together. Panic gets people killed down here." He gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Besides, you've got us. We'll make sure you don't end up like that."
Killa grunted from behind them, his voice low. "She's right. Dungeons don't care about your feelings. You either toughen up or you don't come back."
Asher nodded, though his hands still trembled slightly. He took another deep breath, forcing himself to look away from the corpse. "Thanks. I'll… I'll be fine."
Herta smirked, her usual bravado returning. "Good. Let's keep moving before something decides we're its next meal."
It was the first time the reality of where he was truly set in. Until now, Asher had been focused on learning about dungeons—their ecosystems, flora, and strange adaptations. But the sight of the corpse had shattered that academic detachment. He had forgotten the most straightforward truth: dungeons were deadly. A wrong step, a moment of hesitation, or a single misjudgment could be enough to end his life. Asher had no intention of dying a second time anytime soon.
He retrieved his water bow from where it had fallen, his grip tightening on the familiar weapon. The group continued deeper into the murky black, the faint glow of their luminous stones barely piercing the oppressive darkness. As they walked, the skittering noises grew louder, echoing off the walls until it seemed to come from all directions at once.
Soon, the tunnel opened up into a vast cavern. The ground beneath them gave way to a ledge, barely wide enough for the group to stand. Below, a deep pit stretched into the shadows, its bottom lost to the darkness. The skittering sounds were unmistakable now—sharp, rapid, and unnervingly close. They came from the pit, a chorus of chitinous legs scraping against stone.
Asher activated his scan ability, and immediate data flooded his mind.
[Scan Complete]
Environmental Analysis:
Miasma Density: Extreme
Ether Concentration: Critical
Fauna Detected: Swarm of unidentified arthropods. Proceed with extreme caution.
Asher's heart raced. "There's something down there. A lot of somethings."
Kel tossed his luminous stone into the pit. The glow expanded as it fell, casting light across the darkened space. As it landed, the stone revealed the swarming mass of centipedes at the base of the pit. The creatures crawled over each other in such dense clusters that it looked like the ground was alive, writhing, and shifting.
"There are so many," Herta whispered, her voice thick with shock.
Killa narrowed his eyes. "It must be a nest. Is it breeding season?"
The centipedes scuttled, their segmented bodies moving in eerie unison. As the glowing stone settled, the creatures hesitated. Then, sensing no threat, they closed the gap around the stone, quickly engulfing its light, their black bodies swallowing it whole.
[Scan Complete]
Monster: Midnight Centipede
Quality: Advanced
Elements: Darkness/Poison
HP: 50/50
MP: 150/150
Description: This creature of shadow hunts primarily in groups, using its venomous fangs to ambush prey with ruthless coordination. Its segmented body releases energy, providing an aura that can swallow light. Alchemists prize its venom, exoskeleton, and shadow glands for crafting powerful toxins and invisibility potions.
Asher's throat tightened as he read the description. His pulse quickened. These weren't just dangerous creatures—they were relentless and cunning predators capable of vanishing into the shadows before striking. While ambush predators weren't typically strong on their own, their sheer number was enough to pose a deadly threat to anything.
"What are the odds we can wipe them out?" Kel asked, his voice low and careful.
"With that many, Herta and I would have to use wide-range spells," Melos explained flatly. "We'd risk running out of mana, and the moment we started, the centipedes would swarm us. The rest of you don't have enough long-range attacks to keep them at bay, so we'd be overrun in no time."
Kel nodded, his gaze flicking toward the other path. "Looks like we're going the other way."
Asher scratched his chin, still fixated on the dark pit. The centipedes were hidden from sight, but their presence pressed on him, suffocating the air. "Or we could take them all out."
"Didn't you hear? Melos and Herta won't be able to clear them and keep them at bay," Killa barked.
"I know," Asher replied flatly, a twisted smile creeping across his face.
"Veras, your face is creeping me out," Herta said, her voice tight. She took a quick step back, ducking behind Ura, who stood silently, his expression unreadable.
Asher cleared his throat, his eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and something darker. "I've got an idea. I prepared something before we came." He pulled out a vial filled with orange-red liquid, holding it up for the group to see. "This is Liquid Heat."
"Liquid Heat?" Melos frowned, his brow furrowing. "Isn't that a potion for cold weather? How's that going to help us?"
Asher's smile widened, sharp and knowing. "If you know about Liquid Heat, you know how volatile it is. One little tap is all it takes for it to explode."
The others exchanged looks, their eyes widening as they pieced together his plan.
Killa scoffed, crossing his arms. "One vial won't do anything."
"Correct," Asher said, his grin deepening. "That's why I'm going to use thirty." His voice was steady, but his eyes burned with dark resolve. He didn't want to waste all his potions, but this might be the only way.
The group fell silent, the weight of Asher's words sinking in. Thirty vials. It was a dangerous gamble, one that could either save them or make things infinitely worse.
"You're sure about this?" Melos asked, his voice low and cautious. "That's a hell of a risk to take."
Asher's mind raced, calculating the odds. The explosion that had hit him before had dealt 17 HP of damage. Using that as a base, killing a single centipede would take at least four vials. But it didn't need to be a direct hit. If he could spread the blast, he might be able to take out the entire swarm in one go.
He turned to his inventory, sifting through the equipment El had prepared. There had to be something that could help. Then it clicked. He summoned several jars of alcohol from the medical kit, holding them up for the group to see. "I can make it work, but I need to use the disinfecting alcohol. It's flammable. The explosion will be massive if I spread it over the centipedes and ignite it."
Kel's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "That seems… extreme."
"It's reckless," Asher admitted, his voice firm. "But it's also effective. And right now, we don't have many other options."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of the situation settling over them. Finally, Kel nodded. "Do it. But be careful. I don't want to join them."
Asher took a deep breath, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "Here it comes," he said, his voice low but firm. He summoned twenty vials of Liquid Heat, sending them hurtling into the center of the pit. Ten more followed, scattered strategically to ensure the explosion would spread faster. The vials disappeared into the darkness, and there was only silence for a moment.
The group gripped their weapons, their eyes fixed on the pit below. If this didn't work, they all knew a fight would ensue—one they might not survive.
Then it happened.
An earth-shattering explosion tore through the cavern, the force of it rattling the ledge beneath their feet. The pit erupted in a blaze of fire, the flames licking the walls as the centipedes screeched and thrashed in agony. Asher's vision was flooded with notifications, one after another, scrolling too quickly to read in full.
[You have dealt the Midnight Centipede 17 damage.]
[You have dealt the Midnight Centipede 15 damage.]
[You have defeated the Midnight Centipede. You have gained 20 EXP.]
[You have killed a monster for the first time. You have gained 10 EXP.]
[You have dealt the Midnight Centipede 12 damage.]
[You have dealt the Midnight Centipede 18 damage.]
[You have defeated the Midnight Centipede. You have gained 20 EXP.]
The notifications brought a fleeting triumph as Asher watched his EXP rise rapidly. But his joy was short-lived. The surviving centipedes, their bodies scorched and smoking, had spotted the group. With a chorus of angry hisses, they began scaling the cavern walls, their countless legs clawing at the stone as they surged upward, intent on revenge.