The darkness swallowed them whole as soon as they stepped inside the dungeon. The air was heavy and thick with the smell of damp earth and something else—something old, musty, and decayed. The only light came from the faint glow of torches mounted on the walls.
The dungeon's walls were full of moisture, covered in patches of moss and strange fungi that pulsed with a faint blue glow. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, and wet, with the occasional puddle of water that reeked of rot. The sound of dripping water echoed throughout the caverns, creating a rhythmic, almost hypnotic sound.
Max felt like the dungeon was alive, aware of their presence, and eager to test them.
"This place gives me the creeps," Max whispered, looking around nervously.
"Good," Merlin—still disguised as Balric— replied. "It means you're alert. Don't let your guard down for a second. This dungeon is known for its tricks and traps, and the creatures that live here won't hesitate to use your weakness."
Garrick agreed with a nod, his large frame and his shield raised leading the way. "Stay close, and let me take everything head-on that comes our way."
Elara, the healer, walked in the middle of the group, her staff ready. Sylara, the archer, took up the rear, her bow drawn and an arrow nocked.
They moved deeper into the dungeon, the air growing colder and the darkness became larger with each step.
The first chamber they entered was huge. The floor was covered in a thin layer of mist that swirled around their boots as they moved. Strange, twisted roots reached out to grab them from the walls and ceiling. In the center of the chamber, a pool of dark water lay still.
As they approached the pool, the water began to ripple, small waves lapped at the edges of the stone floor. The ripples grew larger, and soon the water violently erupted and something enormous began to rise from the depths.
"Get ready!" Merlin shouted.
A massive, serpentine creature got out of the pool, its body covered in dark scales. Its eyes glowed with a red, rumbling glow that shook the chamber, scaring Max.
"Take it down!" Garrick roared, charging forward with his shield raised.
"Nope, nope, nope!" Max ran and hid behind a boulder.
Max peeked over, looking at the battle. Garrick slammed into the creature, his warhammer crashing down on its scales with a loud bang. The beast hissed in anger, lashing out its tail and snapping at Garrick with its jaws. But the tank held firm, absorbing the impact of the creature's attacks and keeping its attention focused on him.
Max, behind the boulder, raised his wad, casting Fireball. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the fireball toward the creature. The fireball looked as if it would miss the target, but in the end, before impact, it changed direction and hit the monster. Merlin looked at Max. Max couldn't see Merlin's face, but it was disapproving for sure.
The creature screeched in pain, its scales blackened and charred where the fire had struck.
Sylara moved fast, shooting arrows that always found their target in the creature's vulnerable spots. Each arrow pierced the beast's flesh with a satisfying sound, and she quickly followed up with another, then another, her hands moving amazingly fast as she drew and released her bow.
The creature roared as it fought to defend its lair. But the adventurers were relentless, each of them playing their part. Max slowed down a bit with the spells, he had to think of his mana, while others did their job perfectly. Garrick was a wall of steel, absorbing blow after blow. Sylara's arrows struck the target every time, weakening the beast with each hit. And Elara's healing magic kept them all in the fight. Merlin, surprisingly to Max, did a great job with a sword. He moved fast and hit hard, no one could even think of him being a mage and not a warrior.
With a final roar, the creature fell back. With a heavy crash, it collapsed into the pool, water splashing everywhere as it took its last breath.
"Good work," Merlin said. "But this was only the beginning."
The group nodded, taking a moment to catch their breath before continuing deeper into the dungeon.
The next part of the dungeon was even more treacherous. The smell of decay spread through the air, making them sick.
As they entered another large chamber, the sound of distant chanting reached their ears. The chamber was filled with a thick, swirling mist that made it difficult for them to see where they were stepping.
In the center of the room, a group of cultists were gathered around a large altar. They wore black robes, their faces hidden by hoods.
The cultists noticed the adventurers and turned toward them. Without a warning, they unleashed a barrage of dark magic, bolts of dark energy headed towards them.
"Take them down!" Merlin shouted, raising his sword as he charged at them.
Max quickly responded, raising his wand and casting Shield Spell to protect the group from the attack. A shimmering barrier of magical energy formed around them, absorbing the attack. Garrick and Sylara immediately followed up, the tank smashing through the cultists while the archer picked off targets with deadly accuracy.
Elara stayed at the back, her healing magic ready to heal any wounds they might receive.
The cultists fought, but they were no match. One by one they fell, disappearing into dust.
Merlin approached the ancient altar, his eyes focused on the strange runes carved into its surface, Max was standing right behind him.
"This is old magic," he traced the symbols with his fingers. "Dark magic, that corrupts everything it touches."
"Then why are you touching it!?" Max screamed at him.
"I'll be okay, don't yell at me."
"Are those the same cultists from back then?" Max asked, now silently.
"I think so, yes. But these were weak, lower ranks," Merlin responded.
"What does it mean?" Max stepped closer.
"It means we're getting closer to the heart of this place. The deeper we go, the more dangerous it will become."
Garrick heard that his grip tightened on his warhammer. "Let it come."
Sylara nodded. "I didn't come this far not to get paid."
"Then let's keep moving," Merlin said, leading the way out of the chamber into the darkness beyond.
After what felt like hours, moving through a cave labyrinth, they finally reached a massive door. The door was made of dark, ancient wood, its surface covered in runes and symbols.
"This is it," Merlin said. "The final chamber."
Max took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Are we ready?"
Garrick cracked his knuckles. "Ready as we'll ever be."
Merlin pushed the door, the ancient wood creaking as it swung open to reveal the chamber behind it.
The atmosphere changed the moment they entered the room. A weird sound, like a hum, echoed inside, vibrating through the walls and floor.
At the far end of the room stood a raised platform, on it the final boss of the dungeon—a tall creature, part-beast, part-machine, infused with dark magic. Its body was a weird fusion of flesh and metal.
The ground beneath them trembled as the creature let out a loud roar, shaking the dungeon itself. The battle began.
Merlin made the first move, his sword ready, he rushed at the monster.
Garrick moved right next to him, his shield raised high. With a war cry, the monster locked its eyes with Garrick, the tank slammed his shield into the ground, creating a shockwave that spread through the dungeon, challenging the monstrosity before them.
The creature jumped, its metal claws made a giant hole in the ground as it landed. Garrick looked in terror when the monster attacked him head-on, but his shield absorbed the blow, still, the force of the monster's attacks moved him back, his boots scraping against the stone floor.
Max, standing at the back of the group, thought of running away. His heart pounded in his chest. "No, I can't run again."
He began to cast a fireball, an orb made out of fire formed on the tip of his wand, growing hotter and more intense by the second. He sent the fireball flying at the creature, the flames looked alive while it was moving through the air before exploding against the monster's armored hide.
The impact staggered the beast, a section of its metal plating melting away to reveal the corrupted flesh beneath. The creature howled in pain, dark energy pouring from the wound like black smoke.
Sylara sent arrows flying from the other side of the dungeon, looking for a weak spot.
The beast howled once again, this time even louder than before, its eyes red as it unleashed a wave of dark energy that spread fast across the chamber. The energy struck the walls, causing them to crack, sending debris raining down on the adventurers.
Elara was quick to react, raising her staff high as she chanted a protective spell. The group was protected from the dark energy and the falling debris.
Merlin's sword glowed with holy light, the power of his spell infusing the blade with righteous fury. He swung with all his might, the blade cleaving through the creature's corrupted flesh, sending a spray of black blood across the stone floor.
"Close your eyes, everyone!" Max yelled, as he looked around making sure that they listened to him. Then, his wand glowed with an intense, blinding light. "Solar Flare!" The chamber was now bathed in light, brighter than the sun, blinding the creature and leaving it vulnerable.
Garrick opened his eyes and he saw the creature stagger. He let out a ferocious battle cry and charged once more. His warhammer, glowing with the light of Elara's enchantments, made contact with the creature's head, the force of the blow shattering the last of its armor.
The creature let out a final, anguished scream as its body turned into dark energy, spilling out in all directions. The chamber shook violently, the creature was finally defeated.
Merlin sheathed his sword. "It's over," he said. "Good job everyone."
Max looked around, everyone was smiling, it took him some time to notice that he was smiling as well.
Shadowfen Hollow was cleansed, and they were the heroes who had made it so.