The deeper I delved into the dungeon, the more alive it felt. it looks like the dungeon has some sort of self sentience. I heard some theories about it, these separate corrupted pocket dimensions imagine how powerfull it would if these were actual opponents to battle. It can get very scary I'd say.
I had just cleared the first floor, defeating the guardian and claiming its rewards. The mana core I collected from it pulsed with immense energy, far more potent than the ones from the Thunderwolves. It was likely worth a fortune back in the market, but I had other plans for it.
"Maybe I'll use this to craft a weapon or enhance my gear," I mused, storing the core in my spatial ring. I mostly purchased a common Mana Sword powered by a 7th gen common mana core. Its covered with a few simple enchantments, It vibrates which helps with slicing and dicing, it can also coat itself in energy/mana makes cutting hard stuff easier and finally it has an autorepair function that activates when its not being used. I mean for 5000 Credits It's not bad at all.
The path to the second floor was marked by a massive stone gate, inscribed with intricate runes that glowed faintly. As I approached, the runes reacted to my presence, and the gate slowly creaked open. Beyond it was a staircase, spiraling downward into darkness.
"Well, here goes nothing," I said, stepping into the unknown.
---
The second floor was a stark contrast to the first. Instead of a sprawling forest, I found myself in what looked like the ruins of an ancient city. Crumbling buildings, overgrown with vines and moss, lined the narrow streets. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the faint metallic tang of blood.
I activated my mana scanner, but the display flickered erratically.
"Great, interference," I muttered, pocketing the device.
Dungeons were known to have areas where technology or even magic could malfunction. It added another layer of unpredictability to an already dangerous environment.
I kept my senses sharp as I navigated the ruins, my mana blade ready in case of an ambush. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the empty streets, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone.
---
I was right.
From the shadows emerged a group of humanoid figures. At first glance, they looked like people, but their twisted features and glowing eyes revealed their true nature. They were dungeon wraiths, remnants of adventurers who had fallen here and been corrupted by the dungeon's mana.
"Poor souls," I said, gripping my blade tightly.
The wraiths let out guttural growls before charging at me, their movements jerky but unnervingly fast. I sidestepped the first one, slashing it across the chest. It disintegrated into black mist with a shriek.
The others surrounded me, their claws swiping at me from all sides.
"Barrier."
A translucent shield of mana formed around me, blocking their attacks. I countered with a wave of fire, incinerating two more wraiths.
The last one hesitated, its glowing eyes flickering as if it was regaining a sliver of its humanity. But it was too far gone. I ended its suffering with a swift strike.
---
The ruins were eerily silent again. I took a moment to catch my breath, then continued deeper into the city.
As I explored, I came across what looked like a marketplace. Stalls and carts, long abandoned, were scattered around. Among the debris, I found a few useful items: a pouch of gold coins, a mana-infused dagger, and a vial of some kind of elixir.
"This might come in handy," I said, pocketing the loot.
The elixir, in particular, intrigued me. Its liquid shimmered with a rainbow hue, suggesting it was a high-grade potion. I decided to save it for emergencies.
---
The further I went, the more intense the mana in the air became. It was almost suffocating, pressing down on me like an invisible weight.
"That's not normal," I muttered, my instincts on high alert.
I soon found the source of the disturbance: a massive cathedral, its spires reaching toward the dungeon's ceiling. The building radiated power, and I could feel a presence inside—something far stronger than anything I had encountered so far.
"Well, no turning back now," I said, steeling myself.
---
The cathedral's interior was breathtaking and terrifying. Stained glass windows depicted scenes of battles and rituals, casting eerie, multicolored light across the hall. At the center of the room was a massive altar, and standing before it was the source of the mana: a dungeon knight.
The knight was an imposing figure, clad in jet-black armor that pulsed with dark energy. Its sword was nearly as tall as I was, and its glowing red eyes locked onto me the moment I entered.
"An elite guardian," I said, my heart racing.
This wasn't just a regular boss—it was a true test of my abilities.
The knight didn't waste any time. It raised its sword and charged at me, moving with surprising speed for its size. I barely had time to react, dodging to the side as the blade struck the ground, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying.
I countered with a blast of fire, but the knight raised a shield, blocking the attack effortlessly.
"Great, it's not just brute strength," I muttered, summoning my mana blade. Well and here inwas hoping for a good opponent wish fullfilled i guess.
---
The battle was relentless. The knight's attacks were powerful and precise, forcing me to stay on the defensive. Every swing of its sword left deep gouges in the floor, and its shield deflected most of my spells.
But I wasn't just playing defense.
I used Lightning Step to teleport behind it, landing a strike on its back. The knight staggered but quickly recovered, spinning around and slamming its shield into me. I was sent flying, crashing into one of the cathedral's pillars.
"Okay, that hurt," I said, shrugging as I got back on my feet. It Didn't hurt since my body defense was too high but my feelings sure were.
I needed a new strategy. The knight's armor and shield were too tough to penetrate with direct attacks.
"Time to get creative," I said, summoning a sphere of condensed mana.
---
I activated Mana Bind, weaving threads of energy around the knight. It struggled against the binds, but they held long enough for me to prepare my next move.
"Frost Nova!"
A pure vortex of ice and frost errupted, engulfing it in a icy whirlwind. This time, the frost managed to bypass its shield, freezing its armor and other joints.
The knight let out a guttural roar, its movements becoming more slow and erratic. I pressed the advantage, teleporting behind it and striking its exposed joints.
Finally, with a well-placed strike to its core, the knight let out one final roar before collapsing. Its body disintegrated into light, leaving behind a pile of loot.
---
I took a large breath, it was intense but my body and senses were far too superior. Honestly my omni vision is a damn cheat it always allows me to locate weak points very easily.
Next my fav part the loot. It looked like there was some lying in the ground.
Among the loot was a pristine sword, its blade glowing with a faint blue light.
"A mana blade," I realized, inspecting the weapon. It was far superior to the one I had been using, and I decided to keep it.
There was also a small, ornate key.
"What's this for?" I wondered, pocketing it.
The key was likely important, perhaps for accessing the next floor or unlocking a hidden treasure. Either way, I would find out soon enough.
---
As I exited the cathedral, the oppressive mana began to fade, replaced by a sense of calm.
The second floor was kinda a bit difficult in ways I hadn't expected, but I had come out stronger. It was a solid 6/10 I'd say.
"On to the next challenge," I said, heading toward the staircase that led to the third floor.
Time for the next floor.
---