The inside of the dungeon was dark, but luckily one of the mages cast a fireball, illuminating the space. The dungeon was a massive cave, its jagged walls glistening faintly with moisture. The sound of dripping water echoed ominously.
After a few moments of silence, they heard growls from deeper within the cave. Creatures emerged—beast-like wolves with glowing eyes, but twisted, darker. Goblins rode atop them, clutching jagged weapons.
"Everyone, prepare for the fight!" Geon, the group's C-rank leader, shouted, drawing his sword.
The group leaped into action, fighting back the wave of monsters. Blades clashed, fireballs exploded, and arrows soared through the air. Despite their combined efforts, the creatures proved to be more cunning than expected, targeting the weaker hunters first.
Vanitas, an F-rank hunter, swung his rusted blade with all his might, barely managing to fend off a goblin. Sweat poured down his face as his arms grew heavy. "I hate this... I'm useless," he muttered under his breath, frustration boiling in his chest.
Geon noticed Vanitas struggling and yelled, "Stay in formation! Watch your back, Vanitas!"
The group pushed forward, killing the creatures one by one. Finally, after what felt like hours, they stood amidst the slain bodies of goblins and their mounts.
Geon wiped the blood off his blade. "Looks like this dungeon didn't have a boss," he remarked, his voice steady despite the exhaustion.
Some of the hunters felt relief, especially Vanitas, who sank to his knees, catching his breath. "Finally..." he whispered.
But as the group cleared the last monster, the air grew unsettlingly silent. The usual triumphant moment of an exit portal appearing didn't come. Instead, the dungeon remained unnaturally still.
"Where's the portal?" Alexis, one of the mages, asked, gripping her wand tightly. Her voice trembled with unease as she scanned the area.
Kai frowned, wiping sweat from his brow. "This isn't normal. The portal always shows up after the last creature is killed... doesn't it?"
Vanitas froze. A chilling sensation crawled up his spine. "Something's wrong," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Geon's face darkened. "Let's head back to the main entrance," he ordered. The group moved cautiously, their earlier relief replaced by growing tension.
When they reached the bluish entrance portal, everyone froze in shock.
The once-stable portal shifted violently, its color turning a sinister shade of violet. Dark, crackling electricity surrounded it, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls.
Geon stepped forward, his face pale. "No... it can't be..." he whispered, his eyes fixed on the portal. "It's turned into a UD."
"Unstable Dungeon?!" one of the D-rank hunters exclaimed, panic lacing their voice.
Geon turned to the group, his expression grim. "Listen to me! UDs are unpredictable. Panicking will only make things worse. We need to find another way out—or survive whatever comes next."
"Everyone, get ready!" Geon barked, drawing his weapon again. "This isn't over yet!"
As they searched for an alternative exit, Vanitas noticed a long, narrow tunnel. "Hey, over here!" he called out, pointing toward it.
The group hesitated but eventually followed him. At the end of the tunnel stood a door—an ordinary-looking wooden door. They opened it cautiously, revealing a massive chamber beyond.
The chamber was eerily dark, its vastness stretching beyond what their eyes could see. Suddenly, a single flame ignited in the center of the room, illuminating the space.
Everyone froze, their breath catching in their throats. Sitting on a throne carved from bone was a monstrous creature. Its form was unlike anything they'd seen before—its body pitch-black, like a living shadow. One massive, devilish horn adorned its head, and its blood-red eyes glowed like twin crimson moons.
The hunters stood paralyzed as the creature's gaze swept over them.
"What... what is that!?" one of the D-rank hunters stammered, his voice echoing in the chamber.
"Everyone, calm down!" Geon shouted, trying to rally the group.
But fear had taken hold. The hunters couldn't move, their instincts screaming at them to run.
The creature shifted, its glowing eyes narrowing. "Pathetic," it growled, its voice deep and guttural.
Before anyone could react, the creature vanished.
"Where is it?!" one of the hunters screamed, panic breaking the silence.
A bloodcurdling scream answered. The creature reappeared behind a D-rank hunter, its claws slicing clean through his neck. Blood sprayed across the chamber as the lifeless body collapsed.
Alexis screamed, her voice trembling with terror.
The creature moved with inhuman speed, picking off the D-rank hunters one by one. Despite their attempts to fight back, their attacks were futile.
Geon charged, raising his shield in an attempt to protect the others. "Focus your attacks!" he yelled.
But the creature was unstoppable. Its claws tore through Geon's shield as if it were paper, and within moments, the C-rank leader was impaled. Blood poured from his chest as he fell to the ground.
Vanitas watched in horror as the hunters were slaughtered. His heart raced, and his hands shook as he gripped his rusted blade. "I... I can't..."
"Vanitas, move!" Alexis screamed, but her voice was cut short. The creature appeared behind her, grabbing her by the neck and crushing her throat. Her lifeless body crumpled to the floor.
Kai, trembling, raised his sword in a desperate attempt to fight back. "I won't die like this!" he shouted.
The creature appeared in front of him, its claws slicing through his torso in one swift motion. Kai's body fell limp, his sword clattering to the ground.
Now only Vanitas remained. His legs felt like lead, his mind racing with fear and anger.
"You... you monster!" he roared, charging at the creature.
The creature's glowing eyes locked onto him. In a blur, it moved behind him, grabbing him by the head.
Vanitas felt sharp claws pierce his stomach. Pain unlike anything he'd ever experienced wracked his body. Blood poured from the wound as the creature tossed him aside like a broken doll.
Lying on the cold ground, Vanitas's vision blurred. Blood pooled beneath him as darkness crept in.
'I... I failed you, Mom,' he thought weakly. Tears streamed down his face as his strength faded.
In the silence of his fading consciousness, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Do you wish to live?"
Vanitas's eyes flickered open, his mind stirring. Without hesitation, he thought, 'Yes.'
"Then don't fail me."
Vanitas slowly closed his eyes, blood still pouring in his stomach.
End of Chapter.