Markus was on his feet in an instant, his expression grim.
"Time's up," he said, his voice carrying a finality that left no room for argument. "Let's finish this."
The group dragged themselves upright, their bodies protesting with every movement.
Faces grim and bloodied, their breaths came shallow and shaky.
No one spoke; there was no need. What words could adequately prepare them for what lay ahead?
The faint flicker of dying torches reflected in their weary eyes,it was filled with dread.
As they trudged into the next corridor, the air seemed to solidify, heavy and suffocating.
The chill deepened, crawling into their bones, as if the dungeon itself sought to sap their strength before the final confrontation.
Elias tightened his grip on his blade, the cold steel a faint comfort against his clammy palms.
His heart pounded, each beat reverberating in his chest like a war drum.
He brought out the minor healing potion Lyra had given him and gulped it all at once.
Ding!
[Healing potion consumed.]
[Health points refilled.]
[Health points (HP): 20/20.]
Whatever lay ahead wasn't just another trial…..
it was the culmination of everything this dungeon had thrown at them.
The boss fight. And deep within him, a whisper lingered, a haunting echo of the night before:
"Help me… before it's too late."
They stepped into the core room, and the sight before them stole their breath.
The chamber was massive, its size dwarfing any room they had cleared so far.
The walls were lined with glowing runes, their pulsating light casting eerie shadows that seemed to twist and writhe.
The air crackled with energy, a low hum resonating through the stone like the heartbeat of the dungeon itself.
At the room's center stood the guardian.
The dungeon core Guardian was a monstrous fusion of stone and shadow, its hulking form exuding an almost palpable malevolence.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto the group as they entered, narrowing in predatory focus.
The air grew heavier, the room filled with a deep, guttural growl that vibrated in their chests.
[Core Guardian: Warden of the Depths.]
[Difficulty: Medium.]
Elias felt his stomach drop. "Medium" sounded manageable, but standing before this colossus, the word felt like a cruel joke...
A low level lesser wraithlings has almost killed them.
The Warden's every movement caused the ground to tremble, each step echoing like a death knell.
"Stick to the plan!" Markus roared, charging forward with his blade raised high.
The group sprang into action, moving as one.
Lyra darted left, her blade glinting in the dim light, while the others fanned out to encircle the beast.
Elias moved cautiously, his instincts screaming at him to stay on the defensive.
The Warden let out a deafening roar, raising one of its massive arms before slamming it into the ground.
The shockwave sent cracks spiraling through the stone floor, and Elias had to leap to the side to avoid being caught.
"Keep moving!" Lyra barked, slashing at the creature's leg.
Her blades struck true, but the Warden's rocky hide barely yielded, her attacks leaving only shallow grooves.
"Don't let it focus on you! Find the weak spot, everyone. Find the opening and strike."
Hearing her, Elias rushed forward, slashing at the beast's flank with all his strength.
The impact jarred his arms, sending a sharp pain shooting up to his shoulders, but his blade bit into the creature's shadowy flesh.
The Warden snarled, swinging its arm in a wide arc. Elias barely managed to activate Instinctive Dodge, rolling under the blow.
The maneuver saved his life, but the strain left his movements sluggish.
The skill wasn't limitless... each activation burned his reserves, leaving him vulnerable if he relied on it too much.
The system's voice chimed in, dripping with mockery:
[Running low on tricks already? Impressive.]
"Not now," Elias growled through gritted teeth, narrowly avoiding another swing.
The battle descended into chaos. Markus led the charge, his sword sparking against the creature's rocky hide as he shouted commands.
Lyra danced around the beast, her movements quick and precise, though the strain was visible in her eyes.
The scouts pelted the Warden with arrows, their attacks doing little more than annoy the beast.
Suddenly, the Warden's glowing runes flared to life, bathing the room in blinding light.
Shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground, snaring several players in their inky grasp.
Screams filled the chamber as the tendrils constricted, crushing one of the scouts with a sickening crunch.
"Elias!" Lyra's voice cut through the chaos, her blade slashing at the tendrils binding her legs.
Elias was struggling against the tendrils himself, his dagger hacking at the writhing shadows.
His muscles burned, exhaustion threatening to overtake him, but he refused to stop.
He finally freed himself, stumbling forward just as the Warden's glowing eyes locked onto him.
Time seemed to slow as the creature lunged, its massive fist hurtling toward him with deadly precision.
"Elias, move!" Lyra shouted, but the words barely registered.
In a last-ditch effort, Elias raised his blade, bracing for impact.
The Warden's fist slammed into him, the force of the blow sending him flying across the room. He hit the ground hard, the air leaving his lungs in a painful gasp.
[Health: 7/20.]
[Health has taken a critical hit.]
[Red alert.]
Pain radiated through his body, every breath a struggle.
His vision blurred, the edges darkening as unconsciousness threatened to claim him.
But through the haze, he saw Lyra leap onto the Warden's back, her blade plunging into the glowing runes on its shoulders.
The creature roared in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to dislodge her.
Markus seized the opportunity, driving his sword into the beast's exposed chest.
The Warden staggered, its movements growing sluggish, but it wasn't finished yet.
With a final, desperate roar, it raised both arms, preparing to crush the group in one devastating strike.
Elias forced himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest.
His eyes locked onto the glowing core embedded in the Warden's chest... a weak point. Summoning the last of his strength, he hurled his blade with everything he had.
The blade struck true, embedding itself in the core.
The Warden froze, its red eyes dimming as cracks spread across its body.
With a deafening explosion, the creature shattered, its remains crumbling into a pile of rubble and shadow.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then the system's voice echoed:
[Core Guardian defeated. Reward: Minor Card - "Blade's Edge." Minor Card - "Stony Armor." Experience Points Awarded: 55.]
Weakling, only in for the final blow, the voice came again.
Elias staggered, his vision swimming as exhaustion threatened to claim him.
Lyra was at his side in an instant, steadying him.
"You did it," she said, her voice a mixture of relief and admiration.
He glanced at the two glowing cards that had appeared before him.
The image of a gleaming blade was etched onto one, and an armor onto the other.
[Minor Card - "Blade's Edge" obtained. Equip to enhance critical strike chance by 10%.]
[Minor Card - "Stony Armor" obtained. Equip to enhance durability at the cost of speed.]
Before he could dwell on it, a strange sound filled the room... a faint echo, almost like a voice.
He turned, his heart pounding as he saw faint tendrils of light coiling toward him.
The dungeon wasn't done with him yet.
The voice from before returned, clearer now: "Help me…"
"What is that?" Lyra asked, her eyes wide.
"I think… it's the dungeon," Elias whispered, a chill running down his spine.
He could feel its pull, a dark allure that made his stomach churn.
Markus interrupted, his voice sharp: "We need to move. Now."
The group stumbled back to the safe zone, their bodies battered but alive.
The barrier flickered weakly, but it held. For now, they had survived.
But the fight had taken its toll.
Elias glanced at his stats. Despite the experience boost, he still hadn't leveled up.
[Experience points: 143/200.]
Around him, the others were tending to their wounds, their faces grim but determined.
Everyone had gained something…an item, a boost to their stats, a moment of clarity.
But the cost was high, and the dungeon's whispers left a lingering unease.