The entrance to the dungeon loomed before them, its stone archway covered in moss and strange markings. A faint chill emanated from within, and the air smelled damp and stale.
"This doesn't look too bad," Tai said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't let your guard down," Ono replied, her sharp eyes scanning the entrance. "Dungeons have a way of deceiving you."
Sen held up a small orb of fire in her palm to light the way as they stepped inside. The dim corridor stretched ahead, its walls uneven and crumbling in places. Yuuki walked behind, her steps cautious but deliberate.
The first chamber they entered was eerily quiet. Broken stones and bones were scattered across the floor. Suddenly, a faint sound echoed from deeper within.
"Did you hear that?" Yuuki asked, gripping her staff tightly.
"Probably just the wind," Tai replied, though his hand hovered near his sword.
As they moved forward, they encountered their first monsters. Small, weak creatures—goblins and slimes—emerged from the shadows.
"These are easy," Tai said, charging at a goblin. With a quick swing of his sword, the creature fell.
Ono stepped forward, conjuring a layer of air to deflect an attack from a slime. "Don't get cocky. Weak monsters can still overwhelm you if you're not careful."
The group worked together to dispatch the creatures. Sen used her fire magic to incinerate slimes, while Yuuki trapped goblins in sealing circles, immobilizing them long enough for Tai and Ono to finish them off.
Once the room was clear, the group paused to catch their breath.
"That wasn't too bad," Sen said, wiping her forehead.
"Too easy," Yuuki added, her eyes narrowing. "Something feels off."
As they ventured further, they encountered a series of traps. The first was a floor covered in tiles glowing faintly with different colors.
"Elemental magic traps," Ono said, examining the tiles. "We need to step on the ones that match our elements."
Tai, who could control all elements, stepped forward confidently. He pressed down on a tile glowing blue, and the path ahead opened slightly.
"Looks like water," he said. "Sen, try the red ones."
Sen stepped carefully onto a red tile, and it glowed brightly. The pathway extended further.
Yuuki hesitated, unsure which tile to choose. "What about me?"
"Try air," Ono suggested.
Yuuki stepped on a tile glowing white. It worked, and the path fully opened, allowing them to proceed.
"That wasn't so bad," Tai said.
But the traps grew more complex. In one room, they had to channel their magic into crystals to unlock a door. Another room was filled with arrows made of magical energy that shot out randomly, forcing the group to dodge and deflect them.
"Who designed this place?" Sen muttered as she narrowly avoided an arrow.
"Someone with a lot of time on their hands," Ono replied, conjuring a shield of air to block the projectiles.
After what felt like hours of navigating traps and battling weak monsters, they finally reached a large chamber. It was empty, save for a single pedestal in the center holding a glowing orb.
"What is this?" Yuuki asked, approaching the pedestal cautiously.
"It's probably a key," Tai guessed. "Let's take it and get out of here."
As soon as he touched the orb, the ground shook, and the walls began to glow with runes.
"This can't be good," Ono said, readying her magic.
The group braced themselves, unsure of what was coming next.