The crystals embedded in the ceiling cast an eerie glow over the mixed group of hunters from Terra Guild and Arrow Guild. Frustration simmered as they marched forward, searching for their separated comrades.
"I'm fed up with this," Douglas, a two-star A rank Terra Guild hunter, muttered. "Hours of walking, no monsters in sight. What's going on with this dungeon? Was coming here a mistake?"
Giles, a two-star A rank Arrow Guild hunter, turned to him, voice low and cautionary. "Keep your voice down. You'll attract unwanted attention."
Douglas bristled, face reddening. "Huh? You think you can lecture me? Know your place, hunter-wannabe from Arrow Guild."
Giles stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "Watch your words. You might regret it later."
Douglas sneered, hand resting on his sword's hilt. "Or what? You'll take me on? I'd love to see you try."
The air crackled with tension as both guilds readied for confrontation. Douglas and Giles stood face-to-face, their mana auras bursting forth in a display of raw energy.
Suddenly, Douglas's and Giles's eyes widened in unison as they sensed an impending threat. "Something's coming," Giles whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Everyone, take position!" Douglas and Giles commanded in tandem, their voices echoing through the dungeon.
The hunters swiftly responded, Terra and Arrow Guilds falling into formation. Shield-bearers stepped forward, shields at the ready. Archers nocked arrows, taking cover behind boulders. Healers positioned themselves safely behind the archers, prepared to provide support.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the darkness, growing louder with each passing moment. The hunters' tension mounted, their focus fixed on the approaching threat.
Just as the unknown danger seemed imminent, a hunter stumbled out of the darkness, panting heavily. "I'm saved..." he gasped, relief etched on his face.
The hunters exchanged wary glances, their guard dropping momentarily as a collective sigh of relief swept through the group. Douglas and Giles, however, remained vigilant, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, a sharp pointy thing pierced through his chest, lifting him up. The hunter's eyes went to the lifting body, blood pumping out as he started vomiting blood. As the monster emerged from the dark, a collective gasp echoed through the group.
"It's a Toxikor!" one of the hunters screamed.
The massive scorpion's body shone from its hard exoskeleton. Its tail, still impaled in the hunter's chest, twitched with deadly precision.
"Oh, Goddess Elyria, hear our plea!" the healers chanted in unison, raising their hands,Shield us from harm's dark might,
Protect us from the poison's grasp tonight,Grant us strength to withstand its sway,Aegis of Life, surround us now, we pray."
Their voices blended together, forming a powerful and soothing melody that countered the paralysis gas's effects. A soft blue glow enveloped the hunters, granting them resistance to the toxin.
Archers drew their arrows, mana infusing the tips as they loaded and released. "Hunters, charge!" Douglas screamed.
The hunters erupted into battle, unsheathing swords and spears. They charged forward, eager for combat.
Arrows flew toward Toxikor, but its exoskeleton deflected most of the shots. The scorpion's tail whipped through the air, sending arrows flying back at the hunters.
Toxikor's growl shook the dungeon, its claws snapping wildly. Giles's eyes widened as he realized something was amiss.
"Wait, something's wrong," he whispered, urgency lacing his voice.
Toxikor's claws swiped through the hunters, sending some flying into the walls with crushing force. Others were snatched up in its crab-like pincers, split in half with a sickening crunch.
Blood splattered everywhere, spraying the walls. The hunters' cries filled the air, mingling with the scent of blood and death.
"Fall back!" Giles screamed, but it was too late.
Douglas froze, motionless, as he witnessed the carnage. His mind struggled to process the horror unfolding before him. The monster growled, and Douglas's rage took over. He began enveloping his body with mana, charging towards the beast.
Unsheathing his sword from his back, Douglas moved swiftly, jumping into the air. His sword sliced downward, aiming for Toxikor's head. However, the scorpion raised its claw, defending itself. Sparks flew as the sword clashed with the claw, releasing a shockwave that sent Douglas flying backward.
Douglas activated his skill, "Precision Fury." With lightning speed, he struck Toxikor multiple times, leaving afterimages that blurred his movements. The irregular lines of his attack converged on the scorpion, but only managed to create tiny cracks on its body.
Toxikor retaliated with its pointed tail, catching Douglas off guard. The deadly strike aimed straight for his chest.
Giles intervened, raising his metal shield to block the attack. The shield shattered under the force, sending Giles flying across the dungeon floor.
Douglas glared at Giles, his expression cold. "I didn't ask for your help."
He turned back to Toxikor, his eyes burning with determination. Undeterred, Douglas leaped into the air, positioning himself above Toxikor. "Precision Slash!" he exclaimed, channeling all his mana into the attack.
The slash gleamed with intense energy as it descended upon Toxikor. The blow shattered the scorpion's exoskeleton, unleashing a gush of green blood. Douglas fell to the ground, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
Toxikor screamed in agony, its body convulsing in pain. But Douglas's celebration was short-lived.
Steam began billowing from Toxikor's wounds, as its self-healing abilities kicked in. The scorpion's exoskeleton began to repair itself, its broken pieces reassembling.
Toxikor growled, its eyes fixed on Douglas.
"Archers, fire!" Douglas screamed.
The archers unleashed a barrage of arrows, imbued with mana, flying swiftly towards Toxikor. As the arrows closed in, Toxikor countered with a massive gust generated by its tail.
The gust slammed into the arrows, threatening to overpower them. But for a fleeting moment, the arrows resisted the gust's force, suspended mid-air.
The pause was brief, the arrows straining against the gust's intensity. Then, slowly, they began to fall, their trajectory altered by Toxikor's counterattack.
"It was my finishing blow..." an Archer Hunter muttered, despair etched on his face, "and it still didn't go down."
Douglas's Precision Slash, their strongest attack, hadn't finished Toxikor. Defeat settled in as the archers' bows slipped from their grasp.
Toxikor charged towards Douglas, its claw gleaming with malevolent intent. His comrades leaped to block the attack, but the scorpion's claw tore through their bodies, spraying blood everywhere.
Douglas, still on the ground, felt warm droplets splash across his face. His mind reeled, "Why?"
One of the hunters, mortally wounded, grasped Douglas's arm. "Douglas, run! This isn't an A-rank monster!" he gasped, his voice laced with pain.
Douglas's thoughts raced, "Yes...that's right. This is an S-rank monster."
Toxikor's claw hovered above Douglas, poised for the killing blow. The hunter's words echoed in his mind, "We're no match for this beast..."
The wall behind Toxikor exploded, showering debris everywhere. Cain emerged from the dust, his piercing gaze scanning the carnage.
"What's with all this commotion?" Cain asked, his deep voice calm, yet commanding.
Toxikor's claw, still poised to strike Douglas, halted. Its gaze shifted to Cain, sensing a new threat.