Chereads / Undercover Wizard / Chapter 14 - Chapter 13: Greed

Chapter 14 - Chapter 13: Greed

The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows over the academy as students hurried to their evening activities or back to their dorms. But while the others were preparing for a calm night, Eltric Ravendale and his two cronies—Eon Wishlight and Will Dalvert—had other plans. The trio moved quickly and quietly through the academy's stone corridors, making their way toward the entrance of the dungeon.

Eltric led the group with his signature smug grin, his slicked-back blue hair shining even in the dim light of the corridor. His eyes, the same sharp blue as his hair, gleamed with the kind of arrogance that could only belong to someone born into privilege. His cloak was immaculate, marked with the crest of House Sylva, a symbol of his prestigious heritage. He walked with confidence, his head high as if the very stones beneath his feet owed him respect.

Behind him strode Eon Wishlight, an elf with frost-blue hair and eyes that seemed to shimmer with an icy glow. Tall and lean, Eon moved with the elegance of a predator, his every step calculated. His silver academy cloak draped over his shoulders, billowing slightly as he walked. Eon was a master of illusions, and it showed in his expression—a calm, collected demeanor that hinted at someone who enjoyed manipulating the world around him. His light blue eyes flickered with mischief as he glanced around the hallway, ensuring they weren't being followed.

To Eltric's right was Will Dalvert, a shorter, stockier boy with messy brown hair and a broad frame built for brute strength. Will had a perpetual scowl on his face, his dark eyes constantly shifting, always watching. He wore the same academy uniform as the others, though his was less pristine, with dirt smudges on his trousers and a small tear in his cloak. Will wasn't known for his magical prowess, but what he lacked in spellwork, he made up for with his fists and twin daggers. He carried himself with the confidence of someone who didn't need magic to be dangerous.

"This better work, Eltric," Will muttered, adjusting the twin daggers strapped to his belt. "That fire ogre's no joke. If we mess this up, we're toast—literally."

Eltric waved off the concern with a casual flick of his hand. "Relax, Will. Between the three of us, we've got this in the bag. The first level of the dungeon is ours. We clear it before anyone else gets there, and the others will have no choice but to move on to the next level."

Eon, walking a little further behind, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His cold, calculating mind was already considering the risks. "I still think it's risky," Eon finally said, his voice soft, almost melodic. "If the professors catch us going into the dungeon early, we could be suspended before the year even starts. And that fire ogre isn't something to take lightly. It's meant for groups of four or more."

Eltric shot Eon a sideways glance, his grin widening. "It's not like you to worry, Eon. Thought you liked a good challenge. We don't need a fourth. With my water magic to counter its fire, your illusions to keep it off-balance, and Will's daggers for the kill, it'll be down before anyone else even shows up."

Will grunted in agreement, clearly eager for the chance to fight. "Can't wait to take that thing down. I'll be the one to deliver the final blow, just wait."

Eon remained silent, his mind still calculating the odds. He knew Eltric's plan was reckless, but it also had a twisted brilliance to it. Completing the first level of the dungeon before anyone else would earn them significant points for their house, and it would force the other students to take on more dangerous levels without the usual preparation. It was a gamble, but one that could pay off—if they survived.

The trio reached the entrance to the dungeon, a massive iron door etched with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with magical energy. Eltric approached the door confidently, his wand already drawn. "Here we go, boys," he said with a grin, placing his hand on the cold metal surface.

The runes flared to life at his touch, the door groaning as it slowly swung open, revealing a set of winding stone stairs that descended into the darkness below. The air that wafted up from the dungeon was hot and thick with the scent of sulfur, as if the very ground beneath Ebonspire Academy held a furnace of molten rock.

Eltric, Eon, and Will crept through the narrow, twisting corridors beneath Ebonspire, the shadows of the dungeon swallowing them whole. The air was heavy with the scent of damp stone, mingled with the faint tang of something ancient and dark—like they were walking through the forgotten catacombs of some long-dead civilization. Their footsteps echoed faintly in the hollow silence, and each step seemed to draw them further from the safety of the academy above.

The dungeon was unsettlingly quiet, the walls lined with crumbling bricks and worn-down carvings that had faded from years of neglect. Small, twisted roots jutted out from between the stones, and the flickering light of enchanted torches cast long, twisted shadows that moved like living things. It felt as if the dungeon itself was alive, waiting, watching.

Eltric led the group, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "This is it, boys. We clear the first level, and no one else gets a shot. All the glory is ours."

Eon followed behind him, silent and calculating as always, his frost-blue eyes scanning the walls. He felt the weight of the dungeon's oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them but kept his face composed. Will brought up the rear, his broad shoulders hunched slightly, twin daggers gleaming in his hands. He muttered something about the smell as they descended deeper into the dungeon.

As they rounded a corner, the air shifted, becoming colder. In the dim light, a pack of small creatures scampered out from the shadows, their red and purple fur bristling. They looked like twisted, rabid versions of rabbits, but their long claws scraped the stone floor, and their sharp teeth glinted in the torchlight. The spikes running down their backs made them look even more vicious. These were Ribits, a low-tier dungeon creature but dangerous when in groups.

"They're just Ribits," Will said with a cocky grin, adjusting his grip on his daggers. "Easy pickings."

The creatures hissed, their beady eyes glowing red as they charged forward, their claws scraping against the stone with an eerie, high-pitched screech.

Eltric raised his wand and flicked it toward the creatures. "Aqua Slicer!" A thin, slicing arc of water shot from the tip of his wand, cutting through the Ribits like a blade. Two of the creatures collapsed instantly, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds, but the rest kept coming.

Eon raised a hand, summoning a wave of illusions that split the room into a haze of shadows. The Ribits hesitated, confused by the distorted images, giving Will the opening he needed. He lunged forward, his daggers flashing as he tore through the remaining Ribits, their fur slick with dark blood.

"Too easy," Will muttered, wiping his daggers on his cloak. The creatures lay still, their twisted bodies littering the floor in front of them.

"Let's keep moving," Eltric said, stepping over the remains of the creatures. "The real prize is still ahead."

The group continued deeper into the dungeon. The stone walls grew more jagged, and strange markings became more frequent—runes that glowed faintly in the dark, their meaning long lost to time. Every so often, they'd hear the faint buzz of wings echoing through the corridors, and a few minutes later, a swarm of Nightbugs flew toward them—giant fly-like creatures with bat-like wings, their large, grotesque eyes gleaming with a sickly green glow. They spat venom from their gaping mouths, the acidic liquid sizzling as it hit the stone.

"Gross," Eon said with a grimace, ducking under a spray of venom as the Nightbugs buzzed around him.

Eltric raised his wand, blasting the creatures with another water spell, which sizzled as it hit the Nightbugs, drenching their wings and sending them crashing to the floor. Will moved in quickly, his daggers flashing as he slashed at the grounded bugs, cutting them down with quick, precise strikes.

"We're wasting time," Eltric muttered, as the last of the Nightbugs fell. "The boss is what we're here for, not these pests."

Just as they were about to move on, Eon's sharp eyes caught something in the corner of the chamber. A chest, small but intricately designed, sat against the wall. It was covered in ornate carvings, and the words "Greed is Good" were etched into the front, glowing faintly in the dark.

The three of them stared at it for a long moment, the eerie message seeming to taunt them.

"Greed is good?" Will said, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like a trap to me."

Eltric's grin widened as he stepped toward the chest. "Or it could be a reward. We're the first ones here, remember? Whoever cleared this level before must've missed it."

Eon narrowed his eyes. "It's a dungeon, Eltric. Nothing comes for free."

Eltric hesitated for a brief moment, but his greed got the better of him. He knelt in front of the chest, his hand hovering over the latch. "Think about it. What if there's something inside that'll help us with the boss? It's worth the risk."

Will shrugged. "I say open it. If something bad happens, we can handle it."

Eon frowned but didn't say anything. He knew Eltric wasn't going to back down.

With a quick motion, Eltric flipped the latch and threw open the chest.

For a moment, nothing happened. The chest was empty, save for a faint glow that emanated from its interior. Then, a cold, disembodied voice echoed through the chamber, making the hair on the back of their necks stand on end.

"Congratulations, you have enchanted and empowered this level's boss. Please be prepared."

Eltric's smug grin vanished, his eyes widening in horror as the sound of crackling flames and grinding stone filled the chamber. A low, rumbling growl echoed from the depths of the dungeon, followed by the heavy thud of massive footsteps approaching.

The walls trembled slightly as the footsteps grew louder, each step reverberating through the floor. The air around them grew hotter, and the familiar smell of sulfur intensified. Flames crackled in the distance, and the flickering light of fire began to reflect off the stone walls ahead.

Eon clenched his fists, his frost-blue eyes narrowing. "You idiot," he hissed. "You've just made the boss even stronger."

Eltric stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. The echo of his own greed now threatened to be their undoing. "We... we can still take it. We'll just have to hit it hard and fast."

Will tightened his grip on his daggers, his face grim. "Let's hope you're right, Eltric. Because it sounds like that thing's coming straight for us."

The footsteps drew nearer, the heat intensifying with each passing second. Whatever awaited them, it was far more dangerous now, and there was no turning back.

The sun had fully set by the time Layla's group arrived at the entrance of the dungeon, the air cooler now and tinged with anticipation. Layla, dressed in her Lunaris cloak with the faint glow of moonlight on her features, walked with a bounce in her step, her pink hair catching the faint light of the enchanted torches that lined the academy grounds. She was accompanied by Siera, the silver-haired elf, and Thalon Frostveil, whose frost-blue hair and icy gaze made him look like he belonged in a winter storm rather than at Ebonspire. The three approached the dungeon entrance with growing excitement, eager for the challenge.

Just as they reached the old iron doors, Cyrus, Dale, and Teef appeared from the opposite corridor, walking with quiet confidence. The two groups met under the flickering torches that framed the dungeon's entrance.

"Look who's here," Layla called out, spotting Cyrus first. She grinned, her blue eyes twinkling mischievously. "You didn't think you'd go without us, did you?"

"Not at all," Dale replied, blushing faintly as his eyes darted to Layla. "But I thought we agreed you were going with your crew."

"Change of plans," Siera chimed in, her silver hair glinting in the light. She gave Cyrus a playful smirk. "Seems like we all had the same idea."

Thalon folded his arms and spoke in his cool, level tone. "A truce, then. We enter together, but whoever slays the boss takes the credit. Agreed?"

Cyrus, standing slightly apart from the others, nodded slowly. His mind was elsewhere. As soon as he'd reached the dungeon entrance, he'd felt something—a faint but unmistakable surge of powerful magic. His senses were attuned to it, sharper than most, a gift or curse he'd had since childhood. The magic that rippled through the dungeon felt warped, unnatural, as though something had tainted it. But Cyrus kept these thoughts to himself, his expression neutral. There was no reason to draw attention to himself.

"I agree," Cyrus said, his voice calm. "But stay sharp. Something feels… off."

Layla tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes, but before she could question him, the old iron doors of the dungeon groaned open, revealing the dark stairwell leading into its depths.

Without further hesitation, the two groups stepped inside.

The dungeon swallowed them in darkness at first, the only light coming from the faint glow of the torches mounted along the stone walls. The air was thick, damp, and carried a sense of foreboding, as if the walls themselves were whispering secrets long forgotten. The dungeon's layout was reminiscent of ancient catacombs, with narrow passageways, low ceilings, and walls that seemed to press in around them.

As they descended further, the flickering torchlight revealed signs of a previous battle. Bodies of strange creatures lay scattered across the stone floor—small, twisted animals with purple and red fur, their sharp claws and teeth glistening in the dim light. Spikes ran down their backs like twisted ridges of bone.

"Ribits," Layla murmured, kneeling next to one of the creatures. "Looks like someone's already been through here."

Dale eyed the bodies with a mix of confusion and caution. "Who the hell comes down here this early? I thought we were the first."

"Not anymore," Teef added, his voice quieter than usual. He nudged one of the Ribits with his foot. "These things were sliced up pretty bad."

As they moved deeper, they encountered more signs of struggle—cracked stone, scorch marks, and the occasional pile of ash. Further down the passage, they found the remains of Nightbugs—huge, grotesque fly-like creatures with bat wings, their bodies oozing venom where they had fallen. The acidic liquid had eaten away at the stone floor, leaving deep, hissing pits.

"Looks like someone's had some fun," Siera commented, though her tone was less playful now. There was a sharpness in her gaze as she scanned the destruction.

Cyrus remained silent, but his senses were on high alert. The surge of magic he'd felt earlier had grown stronger, more chaotic. He could sense something had gone terribly wrong deeper within the dungeon. The closer they got to the heart of the level, the more warped and twisted the magic became.

"Whoever came down here didn't just clear this level," Cyrus thought to himself. "They've done something to it."

Suddenly, the dungeon was filled with a loud, gut-wrenching roar. The sound echoed through the stone walls, followed by a chorus of screams—high-pitched, frantic, and unmistakably filled with fear.

"What the hell was that?" Dale asked, his hand instinctively moving to the wand at his side.

Layla frowned, her eyes darting around as the sounds echoed through the dungeon. "That sounded like… Eltric?"

Cyrus narrowed his eyes, trying to pinpoint the magical surge he felt—an aura, dark and volatile, radiating ahead of them.

"There's something powerful down there," Cyrus said, his voice low and tense. "We need to move. Now."

Without another word, both groups sprinted down the corridor, the sound of heavy footsteps and roaring flames guiding them. The air grew hotter the deeper they went, the smell of sulfur thickening with each step. The walls trembled slightly, as though the dungeon itself was reacting to whatever was happening deeper within.

As they rounded a corner, they burst into a large, cavernous chamber—and froze.

At the center of the room stood an enormous fire ogre, towering over the battlefield. It was a massive, muscular beast, its molten skin glowing with intense, fiery heat. Flames coursed over its body, rising in waves that shimmered and distorted the air around it. Two large tusks jutted up from its lower jaw, sharp and menacing, while its glowing green eyes burned with an unnatural fury.

The ogre was clad in enchanted armor—glowing green with intricate runes etched into the metal. Its helm covered most of its grotesque face, save for its molten eyes and tusks. The chest plate was adorned with swirling designs that pulsed with magic, while its gauntlets and knee guards glowed ominously with power, each movement sending waves of energy rippling through the air.

Eltric, Eon, and Will were already in the middle of the battle. Eltric stood near the back, casting water spells that fizzled uselessly against the ogre's armor. His blue hair clung to his face with sweat, and his expression was one of pure panic. Eon's illusions flickered around the ogre, but the creature's enchanted eyes saw through the tricks with ease. Meanwhile, Will darted in and out, trying to land a hit with his twin daggers, but each strike glanced off the ogre's armor with little effect.

"Who empowered that thing?" Thalon muttered, his icy gaze locked on the enchanted fire ogre. His usually calm demeanor was shaken, as though even he could sense the overwhelming magic that radiated from the creature.

Cyrus felt the full weight of the dark magic swirling around the boss. Whoever had opened the chest had made a grave mistake, and now the ogre's power was far beyond its normal limits.

"We need to help them!" Layla shouted, stepping forward, her wand already in hand.

"Stay sharp," Cyrus warned, his eyes narrowing as he studied the creature. "That thing's not just a normal boss anymore. It's been enchanted."

The ogre let out another thunderous roar, flames pouring from its mouth as it raised a massive, molten fist and slammed it into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave of heat and fire rippling through the chamber, scorching the stone floor and throwing Will to the side.

"There's no time to waste," Dale said, gritting his teeth as he prepared his wand. "Let's take this thing down before it burns us all alive."

Without hesitation, the two groups sprang into action, rushing to engage the monstrous fire ogre that now stood between them and survival.