The dragon, now the undisputed master of the battlefield, turned to Simon, its fiery gaze seemingly seeing right through him. The necromancer could feel the creature's hunger for more, but he knew this power was too much for him to control. He had to dismiss it before it turned on them.
With the last of his mana, he whispered the ancient words that would release the dragon back to the abyss. The creature's fiery eyes dimmed, and it vanished in a cloud of dust and bone shards. The battlefield grew still, the only sounds the distant cries of the wounded and the crackling of the last of the ice spikes.
The three hunters stood panting, their clothes torn and weapons chipped. But they had survived, and they had proven themselves in the face of danger. Lily looked at Simon, her expression unreadable. "Your necromancy is...impressive," she said, her voice devoid of the sarcasm that often accompanied her words.
Alex clapped Simon on the back, a grin spreading across his bruised face. "You did it, man!"
Simon couldn't help but smile, a mix of exhaustion and pride. They had done it together, and maybe, just maybe, Lily had seen that he wasn't just an average necromancer. Maybe she saw potential in him that others didn't.
The school's emergency response team arrived, and the students and teachers began the grim task of cleaning up the battleground. Mr. Castellanos approached the trio, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "You three did well," he said, his voice gruff. "But remember, this is just the beginning. The dungeons are getting stronger, and we need hunters like you to keep our city safe."
Simon nodded, his thoughts racing. He knew that this was only the start of a much larger adventure. As they made their way back to the school, the weight of his actions and the power he wielded settled heavily upon him. But he also felt a spark of excitement, a sense of purpose that had been missing from his life before.
The days that followed were a whirlwind of training and preparation. Lily had agreed to form a party with Simon and Alex, and they worked tirelessly to hone their skills. Each victory brought them closer together, their friendship forged in the fires of battle.
And through it all, Simon couldn't help but think of the girl who had once seemed so untouchable. He had proven himself to her, and now, as they ventured into the dungeons together, he dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, she might see him as something more than just an average student with an unusual class choice.
The world had changed, and they had changed with it. They were no longer just children playing games. They were hunters, the protectors of the living, and they would face whatever the dungeons threw at them, side by side.
The party of three grew stronger together. Simon's necromantic spells became more precise and powerful, Lily's ice spells more versatile and devastating, and Alex's swordsmanship grew sharper, each strike a promise of swift death to their foes. They became known as the "Dungeon Divers," a name that echoed through the school halls and the town, inspiring awe and a little fear.
One evening, as they sat in the school's library, pouring over ancient tomes and strategy guides, Lily looked up from her book and met Simon's gaze. "Why did you choose to become a necromancer?" she asked, curiosity finally getting the better of her.
Simon paused, his eyes flickering to the skull necklace that lay against his chest. "My family," he said, his voice soft. "I'm a fifth-generation hunter. My ancestors were all necromancers, and they taught me the art. It's...part of who I am."
Lily nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Your family must be proud," she said.
"They would be," he replied with a small smile, "if they were still here."
The room grew quiet, the weight of his words hanging in the air. It was the first time Simon had spoken of his past, and Lily knew not to press further. But she felt a shift in their dynamic, a bond forming that went beyond their shared battles and spells.
As the night grew later and the candles flickered, the three friends continued their research. They studied the patterns of the dungeons, the behavior of the monsters within, and the types of materials they could expect to find. Each discovery brought them closer to their goal: to become the strongest hunters in the land, to conquer the dungeons, and perhaps, to uncover the truth behind their sudden appearance.
But with every victory came new challenges. The monsters grew stronger, the dungeons deeper, and the stakes higher. And with each challenge, Simon found himself relying more and more on his necromantic powers. The whispers grew louder in his mind, the seductive call of the grave promising him power beyond his wildest dreams.
Yet he resisted. For Lily, for Alex, and for the world they swore to protect. They were all he had, and he knew that together, they could face anything.
And so, as the shadows grew long and the moon rose high, they made their pact. To stand against the darkness, to fight for the light, and to never let their powers consume them. The Dungeon Divers would rise, and the world would know their names.