"You're done," Darian said coldly.
The beast let out one final, agonized roar before collapsing. Its massive body disintegrated into ash, leaving nothing but a suffocating silence in the cavern. Darian stood amidst the carnage, his breath heavy but his grin intact, his eyes glinting with a dangerous hunger.
But it still wasn't enough. A primal lust for blood and power gnawed at the edges of his sanity, whispering for more.
He exhaled sharply, suppressing the urge, and descended to where his teammates lay scattered. The scene that greeted him made his heart sink. "I'm sorry… I couldn't save him," a soft voice spoke from the shadows.
Maria. She was the only one still conscious, though barely. Her body trembled as she knelt by Ray's lifeless form. The sight was a gut-wrenching blow to Darian. Ray wasn't just a friend; he was family.
Darian froze, staring at Ray's unmoving body. The hollow ache in his chest deepened. Grief, guilt, and anger swirled inside him, warring for dominance. He clenched his fists, his claws digging into his palms. "Damn it…" he muttered under his breath.
This was the cost of their ambition. This was the law of this unforgiving world—the strong survived, and the weak perished. He had known that truth for years, but this loss felt different. Ray's absence left a void that could never be filled.
His gaze shifted to his beast, Shadowfang, whose lifeless body lay a few feet away. The wolf had fought valiantly, protecting him until its last breath. The bond they'd forged in just a few days felt stronger than any he'd experienced before. Losing Shadowfang hurt in ways he hadn't expected, its sacrifice weighing heavily on his soul.
Darian swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus. There was no time to grieve—not here, not now. He walked over to Maria, who flinched at his approach. Kneeling beside her, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," he said softly, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "You did your best."
Maria looked up at him, her eyes brimming with guilt. "But I couldn't—"
"No," he interrupted gently but firmly. "Focus on the living. We need to get out of here."
She nodded hesitantly, though self-loathing still etched her face. Darian glanced around. Aurora and Aric were alive but unconscious, their bodies battered and bloody. Half their team lay dead, their dreams of glory snuffed out in an instant.
Suddenly, the cavern began to quake. Rocks tumbled from above, crashing onto the ground with deafening force. The dungeon was collapsing.
"It's coming down," Darian said, a rare flicker of worry crossing his features. "We need to move. Now."
Maria staggered to her feet, but fear gripped her. Her knees buckled as she stared at the chaos unfolding around them. Darian noticed her panic and stepped closer, gently patting her head. "Don't worry," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Before she could respond, everything went black. Darian had knocked her out. "Forgive me, Maria," he murmured as he carefully lifted her onto his shoulder.
With a grunt, he hefted Aurora and Aric over his other shoulder. The weight of three bodies was staggering, yet he felt a strange surge of strength coursing through him. It was almost unnatural, but he didn't have time to question it.
Wings erupted from his back, their dark feathers shimmering with an otherworldly glow. With a powerful beat, he took to the air, dodging the falling debris as the dungeon crumbled around him.
---
Outside the Dungeon
"This isn't good," said a man dressed in a sharp black suit and dark sunglasses. He stood tall and composed, his presence commanding respect, excluding an air of authority and confidence.
Beside him, a woman in a similar suit crossed her arms. Her demeanor was both welcoming and deadly, a dangerous balance. "Should we inform the Guild?" she asked, her tone curious.
"The Guild can't do anything about this now," the man replied. "Our only option is to wait for whoever's in there to come out."
"And if they don't survive?" she pressed.
He sighed, his expression unreadable. "Then it's a loss on both sides."
The woman raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. They both turned their attention back to the portal, its crimson surface distorting violently.
---
Back in the Dungeon
[Warning!: Host has exceeded transformation limit]
[Host will return to normal form in 30 seconds]
"Damn it!" Darian hissed, pushing his body to its limit. His wings strained against the weight, and his claws and scales began to retract. The portal was in sight, but his strength was waning.
[Warning!: Host has exceeded transformation limit]
[Host will return to normal form in 5 seconds]
With a final burst of energy, Darian soared through the portal just as the dungeon collapsed behind him. The red vortex closed with a shudder, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.
He landed heavily on the ground, collapsing as the last of his strength drained away. The three bodies he carried rolled onto the grass beside him, their breathing shallow but steady.
The man and woman in suits stared at the scene, momentarily stunned.
"Please… help them," Darian managed to whisper before succumbing to unconsciousness. The aftereffect of the power he wielded was now taking it's toll on him.
---
The woman, Bianca, crouched beside the injured group, her sharp eyes scanning their wounds. "How did they survive that?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
The man, Drake, adjusted his sunglasses and knelt beside Darian, studying him closely. "They're barely alive," he said. "But it's impressive they made it out at all."
Bianca glanced at him, skeptical. "You think he's the reason they survived?" Her eyes gesturing towards Darian.
Drake didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on Darian, noting the faint traces of scales on his arms. "We'll have to ask when they wake up. For now, call for an ambulance."
Bianca nodded, leaping into the air with inhuman agility. As she disappeared into the distance, Drake remained by Darian's side, his expression unreadable.
"You're a mystery, kid" he muttered. "And mysteries are dangerous"