The faint glow ahead pulsed like a heartbeat, casting an ominous light across the stone walls. Lucas couldn't tear his eyes away as he followed Garrick deeper into the dungeon.
"Stay back!" Garrick ordered, raising his hand. "Boss rooms are unpredictable, especially when they're glowing like this."
"What does it mean?" Kai asked nervously, his voice trembling.
Garrick grunted, gripping his axe tighter. "It means we're dealing with something unusual. Something dangerous."
The other hunters hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. Lucas felt the weight of their fear settling in his chest, but he swallowed it down.
"Unusual or not," Lucas said quietly, "we can't just turn back, right?"
Garrick glanced at him, a flicker of approval in his weathered eyes. "You've got guts, kid. Let's hope they don't get you killed."
The group stepped cautiously into the glowing chamber. The air was heavy with magic, each breath sending a tingling sensation through Lucas's body.
At the center of the room stood a towering figure, its body shrouded in black mist. Two glowing red eyes pierced the darkness, locking onto the hunters.
"A Wraith Commander," Garrick muttered, his jaw tightening. "This shouldn't be in an E-rank dungeon."
The Wraith let out a bone-chilling screech, raising its spectral blade. The sound reverberated through the chamber, sending chills down Lucas's spine.
"Form up!" Garrick roared. "Defensive positions! Stick together, and don't let it single you out!"
The Wraith moved with unnatural speed, slashing through the air with its glowing blade. Lucas barely had time to react as the creature targeted him, its red eyes burning with malice.
"Lucas!" Kai shouted, pushing him aside. The Wraith's blade grazed Kai's arm, leaving a blackened wound.
"Kai!" Lucas scrambled to his feet, panic gripping him.
"I'm fine!" Kai winced, clutching his arm. "Just focus on surviving!"
Garrick and the other hunters unleashed a barrage of attacks, but the Wraith dodged effortlessly, countering with devastating strikes.
"This thing's too fast!" one hunter cried before being knocked back by a spectral swipe.
Lucas's heart raced as he scanned the room, searching for a weakness. His crimson eyes locked onto the glowing core within the Wraith's chest.
"The core!" Lucas yelled. "Aim for its core!"
Garrick nodded, his axe already in motion. "Good eyes, kid! Let's see if you're right!"
The hunters focused their attacks on the core, forcing the Wraith to retreat slightly. Lucas saw his chance and charged, his dagger glowing faintly in the magical light.
"Lucas, wait!" Kai shouted, but it was too late.
The Wraith turned, its blade descending toward Lucas with deadly precision. Time seemed to slow as Lucas raised his dagger, his crimson eyes blazing with determination.
The blade stopped inches from his face, a barrier of red energy erupting around him. The Wraith recoiled, screeching in fury.
"What the—" Lucas whispered, staring at the glowing sigil that had appeared on the back of his hand.
"It's reacting to him!" Garrick shouted. "Keep attacking!"
Seizing the moment, Lucas lunged forward, his dagger piercing the Wraith's core. The creature let out a deafening shriek as cracks of red light spread across its body before it exploded into a burst of energy.
The chamber fell silent, the glow fading into darkness. Lucas collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
"Kid…" Garrick approached, his expression unreadable. "That was reckless, but damn effective."
Lucas looked down at his hand, where the glowing sigil had disappeared. "What… just happened?"
Garrick frowned. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it saved your life. And it's going to attract a lot of attention."
Kai helped Lucas to his feet, a grin breaking through his exhaustion. "You did it, man! You actually killed a boss!"
Lucas managed a small smile, but his mind was racing. The sigil, the energy—what did it all mean?
"We'll figure it out later," Garrick said, clapping Lucas on the shoulder. "For now, let's get out of here. You've earned some rest."
As the group made their way out of the dungeon, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that his journey was only beginning.
To Be Continued...