As Darian ventured deeper into the dungeon cavern, the air grew heavier, thick with an unnatural energy that seeped into his very bones. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of beast lay within this foreboding lair.
---
[Quest: Slay all the beasts, kill the dungeon boss, and complete the raid]
[Duration Remaining: 10 hours, 30 minutes, 25 seconds]
Time was slipping away, but Darian didn't feel rushed. An inexplicable surge of confidence coursed through him, a strange certainty that he could overcome anything the dungeon threw at him. The deeper he delved, the more he realized the dungeon wasn't just testing his strength. It was amplifying his emotions, feeding his resolve and power in equal measure.
As he walked further into the cavern, the faint glow of bioluminescent fungi illuminated the rocky walls, casting eerie shadows that danced in the flickering light. His steps faltered when he sensed an overwhelming aura ahead, a darkness so suffocating it seemed to seep out of the very stone.
Darian stopped, his instincts screaming at him to survey his surroundings carefully.
An A-rank dungeon wasn't home to just one beast. That much was certain. The decapitated heads and torn limbs scattered across the ground were grim evidence that others had ventured here—and failed. Their blood stained the stones, still fresh enough to glisten in the dim light.
"This place is a graveyard," he muttered, tightening his grip on his blade.
He swallowed his anxiety, determination sharpening his focus. Though the urge to rush toward the boss tugged at him, he knew better than to be reckless. A dungeon like this held dangers even for someone as capable as him.
It didn't take long before the shadows stirred, heralding his second obstacle.
"Shadowraiths?" Darian whispered under his breath, his voice laced with disbelief. These beings were the stuff of nightmares, usually found only in S-rank dungeons and above.
They were demonic entities formed from pure darkness, avatars of death that left a trail of destruction wherever they went. Their horrifying ability to possess their victims and devour them from within, leaving nothing but a husk, was the reason they were feared even by the bravest warriors.
But something was wrong. These Shadowraiths… they felt weaker.
The oppressive aura that usually accompanied them—the kind that could crush a lesser man under its weight—was noticeably absent.
"What's going on here?" Darian wondered aloud. Despite their diminished power, he knew better than to let his guard down. Shadowraiths, weak or not, were still deadly.
---
The snarls of the wraiths echoed through the cavern, the sound reverberating like the cries of the damned. Darian readied his sword, his mind racing.
"They're more ghost than beast," he muttered, watching as the shadowy forms began to coalesce around him.
Suddenly, one of them emerged from the darkness behind him, its ghastly claws reaching out. Darian barely dodged in time, the sharp chill of its attack grazing his armor. His heart pounded in his chest as he remembered their most dangerous trait—the ability to travel through shadows.
"I need light," he thought. In the dark, they had every advantage.
Darian pushed forward, forcing the wraiths to follow him deeper into the cavern. Their speed was astonishing, keeping pace with him as he maneuvered through the labyrinthine tunnels. At last, he reached a section of the cavern where the walls glimmered with radiant crystals, bathing the area in a soft, golden light.
The wraiths hesitated, their movements faltering.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Darian smirked, his confidence surging. He raised his blade, channeling his energy into a single, devastating strike. The arc of light that burst forth cleaved through the nearest wraith, its shadowy form disintegrating into nothingness.
But the victory was short-lived.
In a blur, another wraith darted behind him, its claws slamming into his back with bone-crushing force. The impact sent him hurtling into the ground, creating a massive crater that shook the cavern.
Darian groaned, his vision swimming as he staggered to his feet.
[Skill: Regeneration – In Action]
If not for his innate ability to heal, that blow would've killed him.
"Alright," he muttered, his voice tinged with both pain and excitement. "Seems like I underestimated you."
He straightened, his eyes narrowing as a familiar transformation began. His sclera darkened, turning an inky black, while his pupils shifted into slitted, reptilian shapes.
"Let's get serious."
The wraiths charged, undeterred by his change. They were fear incarnate, after all. But Darian was faster. He moved like a shadow himself, weaving through their ranks with blinding speed. His blade glowed with an otherworldly light as he struck, each slash dissipating a wraith in a burst of dark mist.
The battle raged on, the cavern echoing with the clash of steel and the unearthly howls of his enemies. Though the wraiths fought back ferociously, Darian's enhanced strength and agility gave him the upper hand. With every strike, he felt the dungeon's energy shifting, as if the source of its power was weakening.
Finally, the last wraith fell. Darian stood amidst the remains of his foes, his chest heaving. His mana reserves were dangerously low, but he had emerged victorious.
Just as he began to catch his breath, the atmosphere changed.
The cavern rumbled, loose rocks tumbling from the ceiling. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, glowing faintly with an ominous light.
"What now?" he muttered, bracing himself.
The earth beneath him gave way, forming a massive hole that radiated a palpable, dark energy. Darian leaped back, his instincts screaming at him to prepare for the worst.
A shadowy figure began to rise from the pit, its immense aura filling the cavern. The oppressive force brought lesser men to their knees, but Darian stood firm, his eyes locked on the emerging beast.
The creature was massive, its thirty-foot-tall frame towering over him. Its scales shimmered like liquid void, and its eyes burned with malevolent intelligence.
[Arise! Dungeon Boss Identified]
[Voidweaver Wyvern]
[Threat Level: Imminent Danger – 98%]
Darian's grip on his sword tightened. His exhaustion was undeniable, but so was his resolve.
"This is it," he whispered, a fierce grin spreading across his face.
Remembering he had an ace up his sleeve, his grin widened.
"Come forth, Vaelistra"