The dimly lit corridors of the dungeon's first floor echoed with the steady rhythm of footsteps. Fynn, a young swordsman with a lean, athletic frame, moved with fluid precision. His messy white hair caught faint glints of the magic light, and his light purple eyes darted around, sharp and cautious, but carrying a hint of fatigue. His blade sliced cleanly through the rotting figure of an undead, the sound of steel meeting decayed flesh breaking the silence. The creature crumpled to the ground in a heap.
"Ugh, I'll never get used to the stench of these things." he muttered, wrinkling his nose in disgust. Sheathing his sword, he pressed a hand over his face and nudged the lifeless corpse with the toe of his boot, as if hoping it would somehow vanish.
Walking beside him, Aisha, a striking priestess clad in flowing white robes reinforced with gleaming chainmail, stifled a chuckle. Her long black ponytail swayed lightly as she moved, framing her sharp, elegant features. Her yellow eyes glimmered with amusement as she glanced at her grumbling companion. "Really, Fynn? We're only on the first floor, and you're already whining?"
Fynn grunted, rolling his shoulders as they continued forward. "It's not about the fight. It's the smell. I know the lower floors will have worse monsters, but do they all have to reek so bad? Or atleast these undeads.."
Aisha smirked, her voice teasing but light. "Maybe I'll bring some incense next time. You know, for your delicate senses." She adjusted her grip on her glowing staff, its soft light pushing back the shadows that loomed ever closer.
A sudden idea flashed in Fynn's mind as he glanced over at Aisha. "Hey, Aisha, do you have any spell that could, you know, freshen up the air? Maybe clear out the smell?"
Aisha's face contorted into a look of mild annoyance as she sighed dramatically. She shot him a pointed glance. "If I had access to the Nature element, sure. But I'm blessed with the Light element, you know that, right?"
Fynn's brows furrowed in thought. "But there are people who can use two elements, right?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Aisha eyed him skeptically. "Well... yeah, they're called dual-casters, but they're incredibly rare and are considered a special case."
As they continued their quiet exchange, the air around them seemed to grow heavier. Fynn's instincts kicked in. He froze, his senses heightened. There was something off. A faint rumble of footsteps echoed through the stone corridors, growing louder, heavier, and closer.
As they get closer, they come across a wide room, still made with mossy stone bricks. Fynn's eyes widened as the shadow of something large loomed ahead. Aisha's light from her staff captured the massive figure—an orc, towering and broad, its pink skin mottled with scars. It gripped a giant hatchet, its edges glinting menacingly in the dim light. Before either of them could react, the orc charged forward, its footsteps shaking the very ground beneath them.
Fynn's heart pounded as he quickly shoved Aisha aside, his body moving instinctively. He drew his sword just in time to brace for the orc's brutal strike. The massive blade swung down with terrifying force, and Fynn grunted as the shockwave from the impact rattled the room. His arms strained under the sheer weight of the blow, and his knees buckled slightly from the pressure.
"Aisha! A little help here?!" he gritted out, his voice strained and desperate as he struggled to hold his ground. His sword trembled in his hands, the force of the orc's assault threatening to push him back.
"Oh... uh... yeah," Aisha stammered, flustered. She gripped her wooden staff tightly with both hands, holding it in front of her. A magic circle appeared, and a yellow light began to emanate from the pink crystal at its tip.
"By the light that pierces the darkness, I summon the spear of brilliance! Illuminate my path with your radiant fury, Lance of pure light!" 「Radiant Lance」
As she finished her incantation, a thin beam of yellow light shot from her staff, striking the orc and sending it flying across the room. The creature slammed into the wall, a cloud of smoke erupting from the impact and obscuring the area. Aisha quickly ran over to Fynn and helped him to his feet. "Are you alright?"
Fynn groaned as he rose, his gaze locked on the smoke-filled area where the orc had landed. "Yeah... I'm fine," he said, still on edge.
Closing her eyes, Aisha began casting another spell, her staff glowing with a yellow light once again. She chanted:
"By the burning light of the sun, awaken the power within! Grant strength, fierce and untamed, to the soul in need! When the time draws near, let fury take hold and burn without restraint!" 「Rage Boost」
The spell's magic flowed into Fynn, enhancing his strength temporarily. "This should help," Aisha said, her voice steady as she focused on her magic.
Fynn felt the surge of power coursing through his body. "Thanks, Aisha. Let's finish this," he said, his confidence renewed.
As the smoke cleared, the orc emerged, its glowing red eyes filled with rage. It grabbed its hatchet and charged at Fynn. Empowered by Aisha's spell, Fynn steadied himself and met the orc's attack head-on.
The clash of steel echoed through the dungeon as Fynn's sword collided with the orc's hatchet. This time, his enhanced strength allowed him to hold his ground. A yellow light enveloped his body, a visible effect of Aisha's magic. With a strong push, he forced the orc back, creating an opening. In one swift motion, he slashed at the creature's side, drawing a deep wound and eliciting a roar of pain. Meanwhile, Aisha prepared another spell, determined not to remain idle. She raised her staff high, summoning a larger magic circle as a brighter light began to gather at its tip. "Fynn, get ready!" she called out with determination.
Understanding her intention, Fynn nodded and kept the orc occupied, parrying its heavy strikes and dodging swiftly. Glancing back briefly, he saw the intense glow of her magic circle, signaling her spell was nearly complete. He rolled to the side, giving her a clear shot.
Aisha unleashed a powerful blast of yellow light. 「Light Cannon」 The attack struck the orc squarely in the chest, sending it stumbling backward into the dungeon wall with a deafening crash.
The orc, now severely weakened, struggled to rise. Fynn seized the opportunity, letting out a fierce battle cry as he charged forward. He leaped into the air and brought his sword down with all the strength Aisha's magic had granted him. The blade pierced through the orc's chest, silencing its final roar as it collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Fynn pulled his sword free and wiped the sweat from his brow. He turned to Aisha, who was lowering her staff as its glow faded. "Good work," he said with a grateful nod.
Aisha smiled, though she appeared exhausted. "You too, Fynn."
He walked over to her. "Are you okay? Did you use too much mana?"
She nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'm fine. I still have a few mana potions left."
After taking a moment to catch their breath, they pressed onward, deeper into the dungeon. The air grew colder, and the flickering light from Aisha's staff cast eerie shadows along the walls.
As they rounded a corner, they found themselves face-to-face with a horde of skeletons wielding bows, their hollow eyes glowing red. The skeletons raised their weapons in unison, preparing to unleash a deadly volley of arrows.
"Get ready!" Fynn shouted, drawing his sword.
"Yeah!" Aisha replied, starting a new spell.
"Sanctified brilliance, shield the righteous! Let your unwavering glow stand against all harm! Erect the unyielding barrier of sacred light!" 「Holy Barrier」
As the skeletons released their arrows, Aisha's barrier flared to life just in time, deflecting the deadly projectiles in all directions. Once the first volley ended, she lowered the barrier, and Fynn charged straight into the fray. The residual effects of Aisha's earlier magic still empowered him.
With each strike of his sword, Fynn shattered the brittle bones of the skeletons, their remains crumbling to the floor. The remaining skeletons fired at close range, but Fynn dodged their attacks with ease and cleaved his way through the horde.
As the last of the skeletons fell, Fynn sheathed his sword and caught his breath.
"Well done." Aisha said, her voice tinged with fatigue as the glow around Fynn began to fade. He nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, but your barrier spell really saved us."
Aisha smiled weakly. "I'm glad it worked. Let's keep moving". The pair ventured deeper into the dungeon, their footsteps echoing off the damp stone walls. The air grew colder until they came upon a spiral staircase descending into the darkness.
"We made it. This must be the entrance to the second floor." Aisha said. Fynn allowed himself a small smile. "We actually made it." He kneeled down on his one knee to inspect the staircase, it seemed to be made with a mysterious metal and the darkness below was like a fog. He looked back at Aisha behind him, "Can you use your light spell? It's pitch black down there."
Fynn allowed himself a small smile. "We actually made it." He knelt on one knee to inspect the staircase. The steps appeared to be crafted from some kind of mysterious metal, their surface smooth and cold to the touch. The darkness below was dense and impenetrable, like an ominous fog shrouding whatever lay beneath.