The deeper we went, the stranger the dungeon became. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the metallic tang of something unnatural. Every step felt like a struggle, as if the labyrinth was resisting us, testing our resolve. The team pressed on, steady but tense—something was coming.
We entered a massive chamber, its ceiling stretching so high it disappeared into darkness. The walls glowed faintly green, casting eerie shadows that danced across the floor. The silence was oppressive, with no sound of water, wind, or even our own echoes.
"Stay alert," Sun-ho muttered, his voice cutting through the stillness.
Ji-hye began weaving spells, her fingers tracing invisible patterns in the air. She was calm, as always, the steady anchor of the team. Even when the dungeon's malice seemed to weigh on all of us, she held her ground.
Then, it happened.
A deep growl shattered the silence, echoing from the far end of the room. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and cloaked in tattered black robes that rippled with unnatural energy. Its hood hid its face, but its presence was suffocating, cold and calculating. Long, clawed hands scraped against the stone as it approached, each step reverberating through the chamber.
I instinctively stepped back, realizing too late there was nowhere to run. The room had no exits, no other paths. We were trapped.
"Is that…?" Ji-hye whispered, her voice barely audible.
"The Dungeon Guardian," Sun-ho replied grimly, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
The Guardian. A legend whispered by dungeon crawlers, said to be the keeper of the deepest, most dangerous labyrinths. I had always dismissed it as a story to scare rookies. But here it was, towering in front of us, its presence making the air itself feel alive with dread.
It spoke, its voice low and growling, vibrating through the chamber.
"Who dares disturb my domain?"
No one moved. Even Sun-ho, always the first to act, hesitated. His eyes were locked on the Guardian, calculating, searching for a plan.
"That's your department, Ji-hye," Sun-ho said, his tone sharp but uncertain. "Can you banish it?"
Ji-hye frowned, her focus on the creature. "I… don't know. This isn't just a monster—it's something ancient, beyond my magic."
Her spells, powerful as they were, seemed to dissolve against the Guardian's form. It wasn't just protected—it was immune.
Sun-ho unsheathed his sword. "Then we fight."
The Guardian lunged before the words were fully out, moving with terrifying speed. Its claws slashed through the air, a blur of motion.
"Move!" Sun-ho shouted, pulling us out of the way.
The impact of its strike shook the chamber, throwing me against the wall. My pack slammed into my chest, knocking the wind out of me. I struggled to stand, dazed, while the others regrouped, weapons drawn and focused on the Guardian.
Ji-hye raised her staff, trying another spell, but the creature was relentless. It wasn't just a guardian—it was the dungeon itself, a force of nature bound to this place.
I wasn't supposed to be part of this. My job was to carry supplies and stay out of the way. But as I watched them struggle against a creature they couldn't overcome, something inside me snapped.
I couldn't just stand there.
Without thinking, I ran to the side of the chamber, where debris was scattered. My heart pounded as I grabbed a broken stone and a rusted metal rod, gripping it like a weapon. I wasn't a fighter—I didn't even know if I could help—but I couldn't let them die.
The Guardian's next attack came fast, its claws slicing through the air. But I was already moving, faster than I'd ever moved before. I ducked under its strike and swung the metal rod at its legs.
The impact was solid, but the Guardian barely flinched. It turned to me, its hooded face empty and cold. I froze as its gaze locked onto mine, and a chill ran through my entire body. It felt like the creature could see through me, feeding on my fear.
But something shifted.
I didn't back down. I didn't run.
I stood my ground, staring into the void where its face should have been. A raw, unfamiliar power surged within me, like the dungeon itself was calling me to rise to the challenge.
For the first time, I wasn't just the baggage boy.
I was part of the fight.