That evening, Aiden, Ethan, Mina, and Kai met in their common room, still euphoric from their day rich in emotions and progress. The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and lightheartedness, everyone reliving the highlights of the combat class.
"I still can't believe you beat Nate!" Ethan exclaimed, giving Aiden a friendly bump. "You totally rocked it!"
Aiden smiled, feigning modesty.
"I was just lucky, that's all. Nate remains a formidable opponent."
Mina rolled her eyes, amused, with a small seductive smile on the corner of her lips.
"Luck, my eye! That was pure skill. You've worked hard to get where you are."
Kai chimed in, a mischievous grin on his face:
"It's true that with powers, you never know what to expect, but a win is a win!"
Aiden laughed, skillfully concealing his unease.
"Just training and determination, I assure you," he replied. "Speaking of training, how about we return to the dungeon tonight? I want to see what the second level is worth."
The effect was immediate. Excitement replaced teasing, everyone sitting up, suddenly animated by a new energy.
"I'm in!" Kai exclaimed. "After the day we've had, I feel ready to take on anything!"
Mina, more measured but just as enthusiastic, agreed:
"That's a good idea. We can put into practice what we learned today."
Ethan, already on his feet, was putting on his jacket.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go on an adventure!"
A few minutes later, they were sneaking out of their dormitory, heading towards the secret entrance of the dungeon. The night air was cool and invigorating, charged with an electricity that echoed their own excitement.
Arriving in front of the founder's statue, they activated the mechanism, revealing the staircase descending into the depths. Aiden felt his heart race, a mixture of fear and exhilaration. He knew that the challenges that awaited him below would be equal to his new abilities.
They descended in silence, each focused on the task ahead. The bluish light of the crystals guided them, creating moving shadows on the stone walls.
When they reached the crystal room, they paused, gathering around the pulsating artifact. With a determined gesture, Aiden placed his hand on it, selecting the second level.
Immediately, the crystal's energy enveloped them, transporting them to their destination. The next instant, they found themselves in a new corridor, wider and taller than the previous one. Torches with ethereal green flames lit their way, revealing walls covered with strange and disturbing engravings.
"Stay on your guard," Aiden whispered, all his senses on alert. "We don't know what awaits us here."
They proceeded cautiously, each step measured, each breath controlled. The atmosphere was heavy, charged with an underlying menace.
Suddenly, around a corner, they stumbled upon a group of hideous creatures. They were squat humanoids, with gray skin as rough as stone. Their eyes glowed with an evil light, and their hands ended in sharp claws.
"Stone goblins!" Kai breathed, both fascinated and frightened. "They're known for their resilience and ferocity."
The creatures had spotted them. With a guttural growl, they charged, their claws slicing the air.
Aiden reacted instinctively. He leapt forward, his supernatural speed propelling him to meet the enemy. With a devastating kick, he caught the first goblin in the chest, sending it flying against the wall.
But the creature got up almost immediately, barely shaken. Its stone skin had absorbed the shock, protecting it from the impact force.
Aiden gritted his teeth, realizing that brute force alone would not suffice. He would have to use strategy.
Meanwhile, his companions had joined the fray. Ethan used his gravitational power to destabilize the goblins, making them vulnerable to attacks. Mina summoned spectral creatures, harassing the enemies and creating a diversion. Kai unleashed lightning storms, targeting the goblins' weak points, but apart from their eyes, these attacks didn't seem very effective.
Aiden, inspired by his friends' example, changed his approach. Instead of striking the body, he aimed for the joints, the junction points between the stone plates. His blows, surgical and precise, thanks to his combined strength and agility, began to bear fruit. The goblins, despite their resilience, were showing signs of weakness.
The fight was long and arduous, each goblin requiring an adapted strategy. But little by little, thanks to their teamwork and determination, Aiden and his friends gained the upper hand.
When the last goblin collapsed, reduced to dust, they were panting, covered in sweat and scrapes. But in their eyes shone the pride of accomplishment, the satisfaction of having overcome this first challenge.
"That was intense!" Ethan exclaimed, a wide smile on his lips despite his fatigue. "But we nailed it!"
Mina nodded, tending to a gash on her arm.
"We're starting to coordinate well. But let's not let our guard down, this was just the beginning."
Aiden agreed, already focused on what lay ahead. He could feel his new power pulsing in his veins, eager for new challenges. And somewhere deep within him, lurking in the shadows, the thirst for blood was awakening, stoked by the excitement of battle.
With a determined gesture, he took the lead, delving deeper into the bowels of the dungeon.