The dungeon's air hung heavy with the stench of seeping death and decay, the Monitoring Orb floating around, still capturing our young adventurer's dungeon journey. Five months had passed since the B-ranked adventurers were last seen, and now, Tobe, Miri, Jun, Yuka, and Cal stood at the massive stone door that separated them from the lair of the Dungeon Boss that kept those B-ranked adventurers stuck there. Behind them, Elma tended to the injured, ensuring they would live to tell the tale of this dungeon. But they all knew—this was the final battle, and none of them could afford to fail.
Cal, whose eyes were hard and sharp like his blade, was grim. His comrades had fallen to this creature, and today, vengeance and justice would be delivered. His katana hummed in anticipation, a reflection of the tension that built in the room.
"Ready?" Tobe asked, his voice unusually serious. His normally carefree attitude had dimmed, but the glint of determination in his eyes remained. "We're doing this."
Miri stepped forward, her sword and shield gleaming faintly. "We hit hard and fast. No mistakes." She glanced at Cal and nodded. "Cal and I take the front. Tobe, you handle support. Jun, you keep it busy when needed. Yuka, be ready to summon everything you've got."
Yuka swallowed, her voice soft but steady. "Understood." Blubby, her green slime companion, jiggled in readiness. Both of them ready to face what was about to
Jun didn't bother speaking. His eyes were already scanning the darkness, his senses sharp. His race ability, Danger Sense, pulsed like a quiet warning in his mind. He used Silent Step, then disappeared into the shadows, ready to strike at the right moments.
Cal, standing silently by the door, took a deep breath and pushed it open with a heavy groan. The chamber ahead was vast, the oppressive air even thicker inside. The Grand Orc sat upon a crude throne made of bones, its monstrous form illuminated by the faint glow of torches. It was enormous, easily twice their height, with armor made of scavenged iron plates and a jagged cleaver that looked capable of cutting through mountains. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with malice as it rose to its feet, snarling.
The beast's roar shook the ground as it stood, the entire dungeon trembling under its power. Bones crunched beneath its feet as it advanced, cleaver in hand.
Miri didn't wait. "Charge!" she yelled, surging forward with her shield raised high.
The battle began with a deafening clash. The Grand Orc swung its cleaver with terrifying speed, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the chamber. Miri met the strike head-on, "Defense Up!" her shield catching the blow just in time. The impact reverberated through her body, her knees buckling slightly as she gritted her teeth.
"Shield Block!" she shouted, holding her ground. Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal, and the ground beneath her cracked from the sheer force.
"Mana String!" Tobe's voice rang out from behind Miri, zooming past her, striking the Grand Orc in the side "Explosion Impact!". The explosion sent pieces of its armor flying, but the beast merely staggered, letting out a guttural growl.
"Keep going!" Miri yelled, bracing herself for the next attack.
"Fall Lightning!" Tobe brought down his hand, summoning a bolt of lightning from the sky. The brilliant arc of electricity struck the Grand Orc's head with a crackling explosion, and for a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand. The beast convulsed under the electric surge, but with a snarl, it regained its balance, fury burning brighter in its eyes.
The cleaver swung down again, faster this time, aimed directly at Tobe.
"Move!" Miri shouted, but Tobe wasn't fast enough.
Just as the blade was about to connect, Yuka called out, "Balboa!" The ground beneath Tobe trembled as her stone golem rose up, raising its massive arm to intercept the cleaver's blow. The cleaver slammed into Balboa's stone fist, and the ground quaked beneath their feet. The golem held firm, but cracks appeared along its stony surface. Balboa intercepted the cleaver's blade then punched the Grand Orc in the face, knocking it back a bit.
"Ground Break!" Yuka ordered.
Balboa then slammed both fists into the ground, sending shockwaves forward. The force knocked the Grand Orc off balance for a brief moment, she then commanded Blubby to shoot Slime Shots directly at the body of the Grand Orc, giving Cal the opening he needed.
"Go!" Miri yelled.
Cal moved like lightning, his katana flashing in the dim light as he sprinted forward. He ducked under one of the Grand Orc's wild swings and leaped into the air, his blade carving through the beast's thick hide with a sickening slice. While Miri activated Agility Up and Strength Up and charged at the Grand Orc, barely dodging it's cleaver swings, leaped up and slashed down on its shoulder. The Grand Orc bellowed in pain, clutching its side as dark blood poured from the inflicted wounds.
But it wasn't finished.
The Grand Orc roared with renewed fury, swinging its cleaver in a wide arc, forcing the party to scatter. Jun's Danger Sense flared, as he barely avoided the blade as it cleaved through the stone where he had just been standing.
"Got the loot!" Jun called out, emerging from the shadows with a pouch full of the fallen adventurer's prized possessions. His task was complete, but the battle was far from over.
The Grand Orc, sensing the loss of its treasure, turned its wrath upon the group, the Grand Orc's cleaver was eminating with some kind of dark green energy, raising its cleaver for a final, devastating strike that could possibly end the entire party if not stopped. The blade came down with unimaginable speed and force.
"Miri, now!" Tobe shouted, eyes wide with urgency.
Miri's eyes narrowed as she focused. "Halo Flash!" Her halo flared to life, glowing with an intense, blinding light. The entire chamber was bathed in brilliant white as the Grand Orc howled in agony, clutching its eyes as it stumbled back, momentarily blinded.
"Now's the chance!" Tobe yelled, his hands glowing with power. "Aqua Control..." Water surged from the ground beneath him, swirling into a pressurized spear of liquid. "SPEAR!" With a flick of his wrist, Tobe sent the spear hurling at great speeds toward the beast, the water piercing through its armor and embedding deep into its chest.
The Grand Orc let out a final, anguished roar as blood spurted from the wound. It staggered, its massive form swaying as it tried to stay on its feet. But it was too late, Yuka had already Half-Summoned Scale directly in front of it's face, it then used a charged Wind Cannon, blasting the Grand Orc deep into the wall, thus the damage was done.
With one final, thunderous crash, the Grand Orc was embedded deep into the wall, its cleaver slipping from its grasp, it's breath falling silent, it's eyes no longer showing any sign of life.
For a moment, no one moved. The only sound was the heavy breathing of the adventurers, exhausted but victorious.
"We did it…" Tobe whispered, his voice filled with awe and disbelief. His lips broke into a grin. "We actually did it!"
Miri lowered her shield, her arms trembling from the strain of the fight. "It's finally over."
Yuka, still kneeling while resting beside her golem, gently patted Balboa's arm. "You did great. All of you did."
Cal stood over the Grand Orc's lifeless body, his katana still dripping with the creature's blood. He sheathed his blade, his eyes filled with sorrow and relief. "My comrades… they can finally rest."
Jun reappeared from the shadows, holding the pouch of treasures. "I've got everything we need for the tribute as well."
They gathered the keepsakes of the fallen adventurers with reverence, placing them into the satchel. Each one represented a life lost to the Grand Orc's cruelty. Now, they would be honored in death.
A Chest appeared in the middle of the room, and they obtained 50 silver coins and 5 gold coins for completing the dungeon. They shared the loot then had a minor celebration.
Then a glowing blue light appeared behind the chest, Tobe then asked what it was, Cal explained that 'that' was a gate light, that after you have defeated a Dungeon Boss you can use the Gate Light to teleport yourself out of the cleared dungeon.
Before they left, they went back to pick up Elma, Melida and the 3 injured and inform them that they have defeated the dungeon boss and that they can now leave the dungeon.
As they left the dungeon, The Monitoring Orb finally ran out of mana and turned off therefore ending the live broadcast, Melida used her float magic to safely transport the 3 injured back to the village doctor of Seturia. And Cal and Elma temporarily came with them, heading back to Seturia's Guild to report and retrieve their promised rewards.
Once the 6 of them arrived and entered the guild, again surprising the receptionist, he hurriedly greeted them and escorted them to Chief Dornias' Room.
Once they all entered, Chief Dornias joyfully and excitingly greeted them with glee
Chief Dornias joyfully exclaimed "YOU YOUNG BRAVE ADVENTURERS ACTUALLY MANAGED TO CLEAR THE DUNGEON IN UNDER 1 DAY AND A HALF! COLOR ME IMPRESSED- ACTUALLY NO, COLOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WATCHING THE LIVE BROADCAST FROM THE MONITORING ORB IMPRESSED, HAHAHA!"
Tobe then replied "We also brought one of the B-ranked adventurers along with us, ma'am."
Cal then greeted Chief Dornias "Hello again Ms. Dornias, these young adventurers you sent to help us out, they're actually quite... impressive"
Dornias then scornfully remarked "Yeah, real impressive! I mean, these literal young adventurers cleared the dungeon that you guys couldn't 5 months ago"
Dornias' scornful remark made Cal quite depressed and faint hearted and ended up him being in disbelief, curling into a ball. While Yuka and Blubby just comedically comfort him.
Dornias then remembered "Oh right! You young adventurers and Elma deserve your fair share of rewards!" Chief Dornias then handed them 5 huge sacks for each of them, filled to the brink of their rewards. They all accepted it with kindness.
Before they left the room, Cal thanked them gratefully with respect, Cal then stayed to talk with Chief Dornias about his experience in that dungeon, while our young heroes left the guild with smiles on their faces.
After they exited the guild, Elma thanked them, and said that she had fun, and said that she won't ever forget about them, she then left to head back to Tifryk's Healers Guild, not without waving goodbye to them.
Tobe then shouted while waving goodbye "Hope we'll see you again soon, buddy!"
Miri also shouted while waving goodbye "See you soon, Elma!"
After going through the dungeon and clearing it in one day and a half, they decided to celebrate by eating in the tavern. They ate a small banquet, ultimately making them full, after eating dinner, they went to take a good long deaerved nap.
Then the next day dawned upon them. Tobe woke up walking out of the Tavern and Inn feeling a bit refreshed. They all met up in front of the tavern and inn, and decided to brandish, refine and strengthen their equipment back at the blacksmith. After they went and did that, Miri then suggested that they should explore more of this world than just staying in Seturia. Tobe and Yuka were also interested, but Jun then said that if they want to leave and explore more of the world, they can, but he won't leave Seturia just yet, his reason is that he wanted to learn more about crafting, collecting more materials, learning on how to craft his own weapons and refine them, and essentially do research more about this world, fully preparing himself for what would be to come.
They all respected his wishes and after 2 more days of staying at Seturia, helping out with the village, going on some quests to gain exp and level up a bit, they finally decided that they will take a carriage ride heading to the Capital of Munth, which was known for creating the very first train entirely powered by Magic. The trip would essentially take 3 days to reach Munth.
Chief Dornias, Cal, Elma, Melida with the 3 recovered B-ranked adventurers, Jun, and many other villagers who knew them, collectively sent them off with wide smiles across their faces.
"Remember that you are always welcome back anytime to Seturia!" Chief Dornias remarked.
"Thank you for saving us!" Cal, Melida and the 3 other B-ranked adventurers exclaimed.
"Thank you for the fun time! Hope we'll see each other again soon!" Elma shouted.
"I'll see you 3 again in the future! I promise! Stay safe!" Jun exclaimed
Tobe then remarked mockingly and jokingly "Look at you! From shy guy to "I can handle this" huh? We better see each other again!"
Jun then exclaimed jokingly at the distancing Tobe "You too! Shortstack!"
Tobe then shouted back at Jun comedically with a bit of frustrated anger, while his voice simultaneously leaving in the distance"I AM YOUR DAMN SENIOOOOOOOOR!"
Then... Now, our three young adventurers decided to set off to the Capital of Munth... Awaiting new adventures and exprencing new sights, while of course, facing many new dangers along the way.
End of Chapter Stats of our Young Adventurers:
Tobe Lvl 42 - (Spells: Mana String, Explosion Impact, Fall Lighting, Space Space, Aqua Control, Reconstruct)
Miri Lvl 39 - (Skills: Strength Up, Defense Up, Agility Up, Slash, Pierce, Block, Bash, Rush)
Yuka Lvl 28 - (Skills: Contract, Summon, Half-Summon, Encouragement. Summons: Blubby Lvl 30, Scale Lvl 35, Balboa Lvl 43)
Jun Lvl 34 - (Skills: Disguise, Silent Step, Smoke Bomb Drop, Snatch, Stab, Slice, Pull, Needles)