Chereads / Awakened: Dungeon Chronicles / Chapter 2 - The First Trial

Chapter 2 - The First Trial

Kyungho's heart thudded in his chest as the heavy dungeon door slammed shut behind him. He turned, but there was no sign of the entrance anymore. The walls around him were dark, lined with ancient stone that pulsed faintly with blue light.

The air was thick, suffocating almost, as if the dungeon itself was alive and watching them. He swallowed, gripping his hands into fists, feeling the magic in his veins surge once more. He wasn't sure how much of this world he understood, but one thing was for certain—he couldn't turn back now.

"Alright, rookie," Seokjin's voice broke the tension. "Stay close. Don't wander off. First rule of dungeons: stick with the group unless you want to get eaten."

Kyungho nodded but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was too quiet. Normally, dungeons were filled with the sounds of monsters—growls, roars, the scuttling of beasts. But here? Nothing.

The deeper they walked, the more the silence gnawed at him. There were no sounds of monsters, no footsteps echoing through the corridors, nothing.

"Maybe it's a trap," Kyungho murmured, more to himself than Seokjin.

"A trap?" Seokjin chuckled, clapping him on the back. "Everything's a trap, kid. The trick is making sure it's your trap, not theirs."

Kyungho wanted to respond, but his words got stuck in his throat as the air around them began to tremble. The faintest shift in the atmosphere, like something was moving in the walls. He instinctively drew his hand back, ready to unleash a Firebolt, but Seokjin raised his hand.

"Hold it. This might be a... welcome committee," Seokjin said, his grin widening.

Before Kyungho could ask what he meant, the walls erupted with movement. Shadows seemed to stretch across the stone, forming into creatures that crawled out from cracks and crevices, their forms shifting and writhing in unnatural ways.

Kyungho's breath caught in his throat.

The first of them was like a giant spider, but its legs were segmented like a scorpion's, each one longer than Kyungho's arm. Its eyes were a sickly yellow, and its fangs dripped with venom.

"Great," Kyungho muttered. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Before he could react, Seokjin was already charging forward, his massive sword gleaming in the dim light. The first spider monster lunged at him, but with a single swing, Seokjin cut it down like it was nothing.

"Keep your head, Kyungho!" Seokjin shouted, spinning around to face the others.

Kyungho took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. He wasn't sure how powerful he was, but this was his first real test. Firebolt. Firebolt. He repeated the spell in his mind, trying to focus. His hand flickered with light, and he thrust it toward the nearest monster—a smaller, faster version of the spider, darting toward him.

A burst of flame shot from his palm, hitting the creature square in the face. It screeched and staggered back, smoke rising from its charred body.

"Not bad for a beginner," Seokjin said with a grunt as he cleaved through another monster. "But don't get cocky. This is just the start."

Kyungho's hands shook, but the fire was still there, pulsing just beneath the surface. He could feel it, the surge of energy that was both frightening and exhilarating. He was tapping into something that could change everything.

The monsters were relentless, but with Seokjin at his side, Kyungho began to find his rhythm. Each blast of fire, each shield that protected him, felt more natural. The more he used his abilities, the clearer it became—he wasn't just some regular guy anymore. He was part of this new world.

Minutes passed, or maybe hours—time seemed irrelevant in the dungeon. Every moment was a life-or-death struggle as the monsters kept coming, each one more grotesque than the last. But Kyungho was learning. He was adapting.

As they pushed deeper into the dungeon, the monsters started changing. They were getting stronger, faster, more coordinated. The walls of the dungeon seemed to close in, the path narrowing, and the air thickening with an unnatural presence.

"Something's coming," Seokjin said, his expression serious for the first time. "Brace yourself."

Before Kyungho could react, the ground beneath them cracked open, and a massive creature emerged from the depths. It was like a combination of a giant serpent and a dragon, its scales black and shimmering with an ominous glow. Its eyes locked onto them, burning with a hatred that sent a chill through Kyungho's spine.

"Now we see what you're made of," Seokjin muttered, stepping forward, ready to engage.

But Kyungho didn't wait. He was ready. He raised his hand, summoning every bit of power he could muster.

"Firebolt!" he yelled, the spell crackling in his hand.

The serpent-like monster hissed as the fire hit its side, but it barely flinched. Kyungho's heart dropped. This was no ordinary monster.

"I can't do this alone," he whispered, panic rising in his chest.

Seokjin shot him a quick look, then threw himself into battle with a roar. "No one said you had to."

Kyungho nodded, then summoned Arcane Shield, the translucent barrier appearing just in time to block a wave of poisonous gas the monster released. He could feel the strain on his mana as the shield held, but it wouldn't last long.

"Just stay alive, kid," Seokjin shouted over his shoulder as he charged toward the monster. "I'll handle this."

Kyungho's mind raced. He had no idea what would happen next, but one thing was certain—this dungeon wasn't going to let him leave without a fight.