Yome groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, his body aching from the fall. The darkness around him was oppressive, broken only by the faint glow of distant crystals embedded in the walls. As his senses returned, he became aware of something warm and soft pressing against his face. Blinking in confusion, he realized with a shock that Elara's chest was resting on him, her long blonde hair cascading over his shoulders.
His face flushed red in an instant. "W-What the—?!" Yome stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
Elara stirred at the sound, her eyelids fluttering open. As she registered their position, her eyes widened in horror, and she scrambled off him with a yelp. "I-I'm so sorry, Yome! I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine! Really, it's fine!" Yome quickly assured her, his own embarrassment just as evident. He sat up, trying to steady his racing heart. "It was just an accident. Let's not worry about it."
Elara, still blushing furiously, nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's… let's focus on our surroundings."
They both stood, taking a moment to assess where they had landed. The area was dimly lit by glowing crystals protruding from the walls, casting eerie shadows on the stone floor. The air was damp and cold, carrying the unmistakable scent of earth and decay.
"This looks like… a dungeon," Yome murmured, his voice tinged with unease.
Elara nodded, her eyes scanning the dark corridors that stretched out before them. "It seems so. But I can't tell what type of dungeon this is or how many monsters might be lurking within."
A faint, distant noise reached their ears—a low growl, followed by the sound of something dragging across the floor. Yome's stomach tightened in fear, and he gulped audibly. "Is there any way to get out of here without going deeper?" he asked, a note of desperation creeping into his voice.
Elara shook her head solemnly. "The only way out is through. We'll have to explore this dungeon and find an exit. But stay close to me, Yome. We don't know what dangers lie ahead."
Reluctantly, Yome nodded, gripping his newly acquired sword. "Okay… let's get moving."
They began their cautious descent into the dungeon, their footsteps echoing in the narrow corridors. The crystals lining the walls provided just enough light to reveal the path ahead, but the darkness beyond remained impenetrable.
As they ventured deeper, the faint glow of the crystals revealed more details of their surroundings. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, worn down by time, depicting scenes of battle and sacrifice. Yome's imagination ran wild, envisioning the horrors that might have taken place in these very halls.
Suddenly, they came across a small pack of goblins lurking in the shadows. The goblins were small, green-skinned creatures with sharp teeth and beady eyes. Most of them wielded crude weapons made of bone and stone. Yome tensed, his grip tightening on his sword.
"Goblins," Elara whispered, her voice steady. "They're low-level monsters. We can handle them."
Yome nodded, his confidence bolstered by her words. They moved forward, engaging the goblins in combat. Elara's sword blazed with fire as she cut through the creatures with ease, while Yome used his Wind Blade skill to slice through their ranks.
"Wind Blade!" Yome shouted, sending a gust of razor-sharp wind toward the goblins. The attack struck true, taking down two of the creatures in one swift motion. The remaining goblins snarled and charged, but they were no match for Elara's fire-based attacks.
As the last goblin fell, Yome noticed something unusual. One of the goblins, unlike the others, had used a wind-based attack during the fight. Goblins were typically associated with the earth element, so this anomaly caught his attention.
"That goblin… it was wind-type," Yome observed, intrigued.
Elara frowned. "That's unusual. Goblins are almost always earth-aligned. This one must have been mutated or exposed to some kind of magical influence."
Yome saw an opportunity. "Echo of the Fallen," he whispered, activating his unique skill. He focused on the fallen wind-type goblin, feeling the rush of mana as he attempted to absorb its knowledge.
A translucent screen appeared before him, revealing the new skill:
Name: Yome
New Skill: Wind Cutter (Wind Element) - A concentrated slash of wind that can cut through solid objects. (Mana Cost: 25)
"Got it," Yome said, a satisfied grin on his face. "Wind Cutter. This could come in handy."
They collected the loot from the defeated goblins, finding a few small items, including an ancient script. The parchment was old and worn, the text faded and written in an unknown language.
"This script… it's too old to decipher," Elara mused, examining the parchment closely. "But it could be important. We should hold onto it."
Yome nodded and placed the script into his inventory. "Maybe we'll find someone who can read it later."
They continued deeper into the dungeon, the air growing colder with each step. The dim light from the crystals flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. The sense of foreboding grew stronger, and Yome couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
As they rounded a corner, they entered a vast chamber. At the center of the room stood a towering statue of an ancient warrior, its features worn and weathered by time. The statue's most striking feature was the large red stone embedded in its chest, glowing faintly in the dim light.
The floor around the statue was littered with old weapons, armor, and various treasures. Yome's eyes widened at the sight, his heart racing with excitement. "Look at all this loot!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
Elara's expression turned serious. "Yome, be careful. This could be a trap."
But Yome's excitement got the better of him. Ignoring Elara's warning, he rushed toward the treasures, his hands reaching out to grab the nearest items. The moment his fingers brushed against the loot, the red stone in the statue's chest flared to life, glowing a brilliant crimson.
The ground beneath them rumbled, and before they could react, the treasures vanished, and the chamber's doors slammed shut with a thunderous crash.
"Oh no…" Yome muttered, realizing his mistake. "I should have listened."
Elara drew her sword, her eyes scanning the room for threats. "Get ready, Yome. Something's coming."
Their fears were confirmed as the ceiling above them opened, and dozens of headless warrior armors dropped into the room. The suits of armor clanked and rattled as they stood, their weapons raised in a menacing display. Though headless, they moved with an eerie precision, like zombified soldiers.
"There are so many of them…" Yome whispered, fear gripping his heart.
The headless warriors charged, their weapons swinging with deadly force. Yome and Elara fought back with all their might, using their skills, weapons, and potions to fend off the relentless assault.
"Wind Blade!" Yome shouted, cutting through a line of warriors with a powerful gust of wind. But for every warrior they defeated, more seemed to take their place.
"Flame Burst!" Elara called out, unleashing a wave of fire that incinerated several warriors at once. But the strain was beginning to show—her mana was running low, and her movements were becoming sluggish.
The battle raged on, the chamber filled with the sounds of clashing metal and the groans of the undead. Yome's arms ached from swinging his sword, and his mana reserves were nearly depleted. Despite their best efforts, the sheer number of warriors was overwhelming.
"We can't keep this up!" Yome shouted, desperation in his voice.
Elara knew they were reaching their limits. Gritting her teeth, she decided to use her most powerful skill. "Dragon's Wrath!" she cried, her voice echoing through the chamber.
A surge of fiery energy erupted from Elara, enveloping her in a blazing aura. The flames intensified, forming the shape of a massive dragon that roared with fury. The dragon's fiery breath swept across the chamber, incinerating every headless warrior in its path.
The heat was intense, and Yome had to shield his eyes from the blinding light. When the flames finally subsided, the chamber was eerily silent. The headless warriors lay in smoldering heaps on the ground, their once-animated bodies now lifeless.
Elara collapsed to her knees, her energy completely spent. "I… I did it…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Yome rushed to her side, supporting her as she struggled to stay upright. "You were amazing, Elara. But that was too much—are you okay?"
Elara gave him a weak smile. "I'll be fine… I just need to rest…"
Before they could catch their breath, they noticed the red stone in the statue's chest glowing even brighter. As they watched, the remaining headless warriors, which had not been caught in the initial blast, suddenly dropped to the ground, their weapons clattering as they fell.
"What's happening now?" Yome asked, his voice filled with apprehension.
"I don't know," Elara replied, her eyes fixed on the glowing stone. "But it feels like something's about to happen…"