Chapter 7: The Dungeon Beckons
Draven and Selene left the village under the cover of darkness, the tension from the earlier confrontation still hanging in the air. The paladin's warning echoed in Draven's mind, but he dismissed it with a shake of his head. He had bigger problems to deal with, and Selene seemed intent on pushing him toward them.
The forest stretched before them, quiet but ominous, the faint glow of moonlight illuminating the path. Selene led the way, her movements graceful and purposeful.
"You mentioned dungeons," Draven said, breaking the silence. "What do you know about them?"
Selene glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "They're more than just places filled with monsters and treasure. They're tied to the systems, to the forces controlling this world. Each dungeon is like a test—a way for the system to gauge our strength and determination."
Draven frowned. "And if we fail?"
"You die," Selene said bluntly.
"Comforting," Draven muttered.
Selene smirked. "That's the reality of this world. But if you succeed, the rewards are worth it—artifacts, power, sometimes even fragments of the truth."
Draven stopped walking, crossing his arms. "And why exactly are we heading toward one now?"
Selene turned to face him fully. "Because you're not strong enough yet. If you want to survive what's coming, you need more power. And there's a dungeon nearby that hasn't been cleared yet."
Draven raised an eyebrow. "Convenient."
Selene's smirk widened. "Isn't it?"
---
After hours of walking, they reached the entrance to the dungeon. It was a massive, jagged cave mouth carved into the side of a cliff, the darkness inside impenetrable even to Draven's sharp vision. Strange symbols glowed faintly around the entrance, their meaning lost to him.
The system's voice rang in his mind:
[Dungeon Detected: Shadow Crypt (Tier 1)]
[Recommended Level: 5-10. Current Level: 4.]
[Warning: Proceed with caution. Death is permanent.]
Draven's jaw tightened. "Permanent, huh? Good to know the stakes."
Selene stepped beside him, her violet eyes scanning the entrance. "Shadow Crypt. Fitting, considering your… affinity. Should give you an edge."
"Should?" Draven asked, narrowing his eyes.
Selene chuckled. "No promises."
Without waiting for a response, she stepped forward, her hand brushing against one of the glowing symbols. The air around them grew colder, and a low rumble echoed from within the cave.
"Well," Selene said, glancing back at him. "Are you coming?"
Draven sighed, summoning his shadow wolf, which materialized at his side with a low growl. "Let's get this over with."
---
The interior of the dungeon was a labyrinth of twisting corridors and looming shadows. The walls were lined with skeletal remains, their hollow eyes seeming to follow the intruders. A faint, otherworldly glow illuminated the space, casting eerie patterns on the stone floor.
The system's voice chimed again:
[Objective: Clear the Shadow Crypt. Defeat the dungeon boss. Rewards: Shadow Relic, Experience Points, ???.]
Selene drew a sleek, black blade from her cloak, the weapon humming with dark energy. "Stick close and watch your back. Dungeons like this are designed to exploit your weaknesses."
Draven scoffed. "Good thing I don't have any."
As if in response, the shadows around them shifted, coalescing into humanoid figures with glowing red eyes and wicked claws.
[Shadow Wraiths Detected: Tier 1 Minions.]
Draven grinned, his claws extending. "Looks like they've come to welcome us."
Selene didn't respond. She was already moving, her blade slicing through the nearest wraith with effortless precision. The creature dissolved into black mist, but more took its place, their movements quick and erratic.
Draven lunged at another wraith, his claws tearing through its form. The shadows recoiled but reformed almost instantly, the wraith hissing as it struck back. He dodged, countering with a Shadow Spike that impaled the creature, dissipating it completely.
"Nice trick," Selene called out, slashing through another group of wraiths.
"Not bad yourself," Draven replied, summoning shadow tendrils to bind a cluster of enemies. The tendrils tightened, crushing the wraiths into mist.
The system chimed:
[Shadow Wraiths Defeated: 10. Progress: 10%.]
"Only 10 percent?" Draven muttered. "This place better be worth it."
Selene smirked. "Patience, vampire. The real challenge is still ahead."
---
After clearing several more chambers filled with traps and wraiths, they reached a massive, ornate door at the heart of the dungeon. Symbols similar to those at the entrance glowed on its surface, pulsating with a dark energy.
"Boss room," Selene said, her tone serious.
The system's voice confirmed it:
[Boss Detected: Shadow Revenant (Tier 2). Recommended Level: 7-10.]
Draven frowned. "Level 7? I'm barely at 5."
"You'll manage," Selene said, placing her hand on the door. "Besides, you've got me."
Draven rolled his eyes. "Comforting."
The door groaned as it opened, revealing a massive chamber bathed in a dark, oppressive aura. At its center stood the boss—a towering figure clad in shadowy armor, its eyes burning like twin suns. The Shadow Revenant raised a massive sword, its voice echoing like thunder.
"Intruders… Your shadows are mine to command!"
Draven smirked, stepping forward. "We'll see about that."