The ground trembled beneath Clay's feet as the walls of the chamber shifted, revealing a series of hidden doors and passageways. What had seemed like a simple training ground now felt like a death trap.
Alaric's once-friendly smile had vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "You should've known better than to trust me," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
Clay's instincts screamed at him to act, but before he could move, the chamber erupted with a burst of movement. From the cracks in the walls, grotesque creatures began to pour into the room—twisted, hunched figures with sharp claws, glowing eyes, and jagged teeth. Their growls echoed off the stone walls, sending a chill down Clay's spine.
"Survive this, and I might just consider you useful," Alaric taunted, his figure retreating to the edge of the chamber as the monsters advanced.
Rian and Nash sprang into action, weapons drawn and ready. "Clay, get back!" Rian shouted, his sword slicing through the air as he engaged the nearest creature.
Clay's heart pounded. The reality of the situation hit him all at once. He was being used as bait. Alaric hadn't brought him here to train—he'd brought him here to die.
The creatures were closing in, and Clay's body froze for a moment as his mind scrambled for a solution. He couldn't afford to hesitate, not if he wanted to survive.
"Domination!" Clay shouted, focusing every ounce of willpower he had. The energy within him surged, but this time it felt different. The creatures didn't stop. They seemed to be immune to his power, as if something was blocking it.
What the hell's going on? Clay thought in desperation.
"Fool," Alaric's voice came again, distant but clear. "You thought you could control them with that weak skill of yours? It only works on lesser beings, like the Shadow Beast. These monsters are on another level."
Clay's eyes widened as he realized the truth. He was outmatched, outclassed, and completely unprepared.
But there was no time to dwell on that now.
Without thinking, Clay grabbed a shard of rock from the ground and hurled it at one of the creatures. It barely made a dent, but it gave him an idea. If brute force wouldn't work, maybe he could use the environment to his advantage.
He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the swipe of a creature's claw, and used the distraction to climb to higher ground. From his vantage point, he could see more clearly. There were three major exits from the chamber, all guarded by the creatures.
Think, think!
Then it hit him. The glowing crystals on the walls. If they were anything like mana-infused stones, they might be able to disrupt the monsters' strength. He didn't have much time to test his theory, but it was a shot.
Clay focused on the closest crystal and, drawing from the power inside him, sent a surge of energy into it. The crystal flared with brilliant light, then exploded in a burst of magic.
The creatures around the explosion staggered back, their screeches filling the chamber. It worked—at least partially.
With the monsters distracted, Clay didn't waste any time. He grabbed another shard of rock and hurled it at the crystal closest to him, focusing his energy once again.
The second explosion rocked the room, sending another wave of creatures into disarray.
"Rian! Nash!" Clay shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency. "We need to destroy the crystals!"
Rian, bloodied but relentless, nodded. "On it!" He called out to Nash, who was already moving toward the far wall, his eyes scanning for the next crystal.
Clay's heart raced as he scrambled down from his perch, using the chaos to his advantage. He joined the fight, his body moving instinctively as he focused on using his Domination skill again. This time, however, he didn't aim at the monsters. Instead, he tried to focus on the nearest crystal, trying to manipulate the energy within it, willing it to explode with the same intensity as the others.
A loud crack filled the chamber, followed by another explosion. The monsters reeled, their howls of pain filling the air.
But then Clay saw it. Through the smoke and debris, a shadowy figure appeared, gliding effortlessly through the chaos. It was Alaric, watching from a distance, his face unreadable.
"I told you," Alaric called out, his voice tinged with amusement. "You're not the first to fall for this trap. And you won't be the last."
Clay's blood ran cold as he realized that Alaric wasn't just a traitor—he was orchestrating this entire thing. The dungeon, the monsters, the ambush—everything had been planned from the start.
"Get out of here, now!" Rian shouted, slashing through another creature. "We're not done yet, but you're not dying in here."
Clay nodded, his mind racing as he scanned the room for a way out. He couldn't stay and fight Alaric now—not with the monsters still closing in.
He turned to Nash. "We need to leave—now!"
Nash's eyes were narrowed, calculating. "The exit's to the north. But it's going to be a hell of a fight to get through."
Clay's heart raced as he followed Rian and Nash toward the exit, his mind already planning his next move. The dungeon wasn't just a training ground—it was a deadly trap. And Alaric was the one pulling the strings.