Kairos approached the ancient door, his heart pounding in his chest. The oppressive weight of the dungeon seemed to press down on him, and the sinister carvings on the door stared back at him, their hollow eyes mocking his resolve.
Taking a deep breath, Kairos placed his hands on the cold stone, feeling the rough texture beneath his fingertips. He pushed with all his might, straining his muscles as he channeled every ounce of strength into moving the door.
But it wouldn't budge.
Gritting his teeth, Kairos tried again, this time bracing his shoulder against the door as he pushed. The stone groaned under the pressure, but it remained firmly in place, as if it were an immovable object.
Kairos felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple, his frustration mounting. He had faced formidable foes, conquered difficult trials, but this door—this simple, yet monstrous door—seemed determined to halt their progress.
Just as he was about to step back in defeat, Caelum's voice cut through the tension. "Let me help."
Kairos turned to see his cousin step forward, his dragon arm flexing as if it had a will of its own. The arm's scales shimmered in the dim torchlight, a testament to the raw power contained within.
Without a word, Caelum placed his dragon arm against the door, his expression resolute. Kairos joined him, their combined strength focused on the task at hand.
Together, they pushed.
The dungeon seemed to vibrate with the force of their effort. The ancient door resisted for a moment longer, groaning in protest, but then, with a loud, thunderous creak, it began to move. Inch by inch, the door shifted, the grotesque faces carved into it appearing to scream in silent agony as they were forced aside.
With a final, powerful shove, the door gave way, swinging open to reveal the darkness beyond.
The room ahead was vast, the walls lined with ancient stone pillars that stretched up into the shadows, their tops disappearing into the gloom. But what drew their attention wasn't the architecture—it was the figure standing in the center of the chamber.
A tall, spectral being loomed before them, its form shrouded in a dark, ethereal mist. Its face was obscured by a hood, the features beneath barely visible, save for the faint, glowing orbs where its eyes should have been. It wore tattered robes that fluttered in an unseen breeze, and in its skeletal hands, it clutched a massive, twisted staff.
The temperature in the room plummeted further, the cold seeping into their bones. The figure exuded an aura of death, its presence a stark reminder of the dungeon's malevolent nature.
Kairos' heart skipped a beat as he activated his Identification skill, focusing on the undead entity. His vision flickered, and a status plate materialized in front of him, the details revealing the true horror of what they were up against.
Hoar Shade
Level: 95
Type: Undead Specter
HP: 12,500
MP: 15,000
Strength: 10,500
Defense: 9,800
Magic Attack: 14,000
Magic Defense: 11,000
Agility: 8,000
Skills:
Necrotic Touch: Drains life energy from living beings upon contact.
Spectral Aura: Reduces the effectiveness of physical attacks and repels magical energy.
Soul Reaver: A powerful, dark magic attack that targets the soul directly, bypassing most defenses.
Phantom Step: Allows the Hoar Shade to move through solid objects and appear anywhere within a short distance.
Death Whisper: A spell that induces fear and confusion, weakening the mental resolve of its opponents.
Eclipse spoke about the figure informing to Kairos that A Hoar Shade is a malevolent entity born from the hatred and sorrow of those who perished in this dungeon long ago. The Hoar Shade is a formidable foe, wielding powerful dark magic and capable of draining the life force from its enemies. It is driven by an insatiable hunger for the souls of the living, its very presence a blight upon the world.
Kairos' eyes widened as he read the stats, his pulse quickening. "This thing… it's incredibly powerful," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Caelum, sensing the gravity of the situation, tightened his grip on his sword, his dragon arm tensing as if it were preparing for the battle ahead. "What do we do?"
Kairos took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "We fight, but we need to be careful. This isn't just about brute strength. That thing is as much a test of our minds as it is of our bodies. Stay close, don't let it separate us, and be ready to counter its magic."
Aella stepped forward, her own weapon drawn, her eyes steely with determination. "We've faced worse, and we've come out on top. We'll do it again."
Kairos nodded, rallying his resolve. "Then let's make sure we do. We take this thing down together."
The Hoar Shade's glowing eyes fixed on them, a low, eerie whisper emanating from the darkness around it, promising death and despair. The air crackled with tension as the cousins prepared for the battle of their lives, the true test of the Star Dragon Trial having just begun.
The chamber seemed to close in around them, the oppressive darkness thickening with each passing second. Kairos could feel the weight of the Hoar Shade's malevolent aura pressing down on him, a suffocating presence that threatened to crush his spirit. His breath came in shallow, controlled bursts as he tried to steady his nerves, knowing that even the slightest hesitation could mean their downfall.
"Stay focused," Kairos murmured, his voice barely audible over the Hoar Shade's ominous whispers. "Remember what we're up against."
The spectral figure began to glide toward them, its movements slow but deliberate, as if savoring the fear it had instilled. With every step it took, the temperature in the chamber dropped further, frost beginning to form on the stone floor beneath their feet.
Caelum's dragon arm tensed, the scales shimmering as if alive with anticipation. "I'll take the lead," he said, his voice gruff with determination. "That thing's magic won't affect me as much."