The atmosphere within the dungeon was thick with tension. Shadows flickered along the walls as Ryan led Seraphina and Scarlet deeper into the labyrinth. His mind was focused—not only on the dangers around them but also on the secret knowledge he alone possessed. In the game's plot, the protagonist would have been the one leading this journey, finding the cheat item in the dungeon that unlocked incredible power. But this time, Ryan was going to seize that opportunity for himself.
"We should have found the others by now," Seraphina muttered, her grip tightening on her sword.
Ryan nodded but remained silent. He had led the group in circles for some time, trying to locate the missing knights, but it was clear now—they were on their own. "We'll keep looking for a bit longer," Ryan said calmly, though he already knew what had to be done. "If we don't find them, we'll have to focus on the real goal."
Scarlet glanced at Ryan, sensing something more in his words. "The place with the most mana fluctuations ?"
Ryan gave her a sharp nod, though he didn't elaborate. The others didn't know about the the game's plot—they couldn't. For Ryan, following the game's script wasn't his concern. All that mattered was getting stronger, and if that meant taking the protagonist's cheat, so be it.
As they moved deeper into the dungeon, the darkness seemed to thicken, and the temperature dropped. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing from unseen cracks. Suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the air.
"Be careful," Ryan whispered, holding out a hand to signal the group to stop.
From the shadows, hulking figures emerged. Trolls and orcs lumbered into view, their massive forms silhouetted against the dim light. The trolls carried heavy clubs, while the orcs' sharp teeth gleamed as they snarled at their prey.
"They're coming," Seraphina muttered, her hand already gripping her sword tightly.
Ryan gritted his teeth, his focus sharpening. "Let's take them down."
He was the first to move, summoning his magic with a quick gesture. "Earth Spear!" The ground rumbled beneath him as sharp spears of stone shot upward, striking one of the trolls in the chest. The beast howled in pain, staggering backward as the earth tore into its flesh.
At the same time, Scarlet raised her hands, flames swirling at her fingertips. "Fireball!" she shouted, launching a blazing sphere of fire at an orc. The explosion sent the creature reeling, its body scorched by the intense heat.
Seraphina darted forward with her usual grace, her sword glowing with the power of the wind. "Wind Blade!" she cried, slicing through the air. A blade of wind cleaved through a troll's legs, toppling the massive creature with a heavy crash.
Ryan, positioned at the center, acted as both attacker and shield for the group. His Earth Clone absorbed the heavy blows from the trolls while he focused on directing their attacks. Using Primary Gravity Manipulation, he darted between enemies, landing precise strikes with his sword.
"They're strong," Ryan grunted, deflecting a club strike from a troll. "But we're stronger."
With each attack, they pushed the monsters back, their teamwork growing more coordinated. Scarlet's flames weakened the enemies, making them vulnerable to Seraphina's swift strikes, while Ryan anchored the battle, absorbing hits and dealing powerful blows.
As the last troll fell to the ground with a resounding thud, Ryan let out a breath. "Nice work, everyone."
Seraphina wiped her brow. "They were tough, but we handled them."
"Yeah," Scarlet added, catching her breath. "What's next?"
Ryan retrieved the storage bag from his side, kneeling by the fallen monsters to collect the magic crystals left behind. The crystals glowed faintly in the dim light, each filled with residual mana. "We store these," he said, placing them in the enchanted bag. "And we keep moving."
As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, Ryan's thoughts drifted back to the game. This dungeon held many dangers, but it also held that key item—the cheat that had made the protagonist so powerful. He knew where it was, and nothing was going to stop him from getting it.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them, and a loud roar echoed through the cavern.
"What now?" Scarlet asked, her voice tense.
Before Ryan could respond, a massive figure stepped into the dim light. A Minotaur—twice their height, with sharp horns and fiery red eyes—blocked their path. Its muscular body radiated power as it slammed a massive axe into the ground, cracking the stone beneath it.
"A Minotaur," Ryan muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. "This one's going to be tough."
Without warning, the Minotaur charged forward, its hooves pounding the ground as it swung its axe toward them.
"Get ready!" Ryan shouted, stepping forward to meet the beast head-on. He activated Amplification Magic, increasing his speed and strength just in time to block the Minotaur's powerful strike. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through the ground, but Ryan held firm, his feet planted solidly on the stone.
"Scarlet, now!" he called out.
Scarlet's eyes blazed with fire as she summoned her magic. "Phoenix Fire Art!" A torrent of flames surged from her hands, engulfing the Minotaur's side in a fiery blaze. The beast roared, swinging its axe wildly as the flames seared its skin.
Seraphina, quick as ever, darted in from the side. "Wings of Wind!" she shouted, propelling herself through the air with a gust of wind. Her sword struck the Minotaur's exposed flank, cutting deep into its flesh.
The Minotaur stumbled, its roars growing weaker as it struggled to stay on its feet. Ryan saw his opening. Using Gravity Manipulation, he surged forward, his sword glowing as he delivered a powerful strike directly to the creature's chest. The force of the blow sent the Minotaur crashing to the ground, defeated.
Ryan let out a breath, his muscles aching from the effort. "That was close."
Seraphina and Scarlet joined him, both of them looking equally exhausted.
"We did it," Seraphina said with a small smile.
Scarlet nodded. "But I have a feeling there's more to come."
Ryan glanced ahead, his eyes narrowing at the darkened corridors beyond. "We're getting closer to our goal. Let's keep moving."