The party made their way to the outskirts of Timberstead, the cool morning breeze ruffling their clothes as they walked along the dirt road.
Zayn, as always, couldn't help but crack a joke or two, this time directing them at Kara, the earth mage. "So, Kara, if you trip, does the earth trip with you?" he quipped, smirking as he dodged the inevitable swat aimed at his head.
Kara rolled her eyes but grinned. "Keep talking, and I might just let the ground swallow you whole."
Tobias, their leader and the so-called Hero of Knowledge, adjusted his glasses and sighed. "Can you two focus? We're about to enter our first dungeon, and I'd rather not lose any of you before we even step inside."
As they reached their destination, the dungeon gate loomed before them — a swirling white vortex suspended between two jagged stone pillars.
It pulsed with an eerie glow, and Zayn could feel the raw magic thrumming in the air.
"A white gate, huh?" Zayn muttered, crossing his arms. "That means it's a low-tier dungeon, right?"
He shot a look at Tobias for confirmation.
Tobias nodded. "Correct. White gates usually indicate beginner-level dungeons. We shouldn't encounter anything too dangerous, but that doesn't mean we can let our guard down. Stay sharp."
He then turned to the group and gave clear instructions. "Once we step inside, be on high alert. Watch each other's backs, don't stray too far, and most importantly, listen to my commands. We don't know what's inside, and I'd rather not be surprised."
Zayn placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, feeling the worn leather grip against his palm.
Despite his previous life as a lazy bum, he had to admit that wielding a sword felt strangely natural to him.
The group exchanged nods, and with that, Tobias stepped forward and entered the gate first. One by one, the others followed, and finally, Zayn took a deep breath and stepped through.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he felt a strange sensation — like being pulled through water without getting wet.
His vision blurred, and then, in an instant, he was somewhere else.
The inside of the dungeon was dimly lit, with stone walls covered in moss and strange glowing fungi that provided an eerie green light.
The air smelled damp, like old books and wet earth. The corridor stretched ahead, leading deeper into the unknown.
"Alright," Tobias said, glancing around. "Formation. Zayn, you take point. Kara, stay behind him. I'll be in the center, and our healer and axe-user will bring up the rear."
Zayn drew his sword and moved forward cautiously. "Alright, let's do this. Just promise me one thing."
Tobias raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"If I die, make sure you tell my nonexistent wife that I was ridiculously handsome and died heroically."
Kara groaned. "Just shut up and walk."
And with that, the party ventured deeper into the dungeon, ready for whatever awaited them.
The dungeon was eerily silent, save for the distant dripping of water echoing off the damp stone walls.
The group moved cautiously, each step deliberate as they listened for any sign of movement. The air smelled of moss and something metallic — blood, perhaps.
Zayn tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor ahead.
The only sounds breaking the tension were the steady breathing of his party members and the familiar, resounding click of Tobias adjusting his glasses.
That small, mundane habit made Zayn chuckle under his breath. Even in a life-or-death scenario, Tobias had his priorities straight.
Then, without warning, the Hero of Knowledge extended his hand forward, his fingers crackling with energy.
A small ball of fire materialized in his palm, growing brighter as he concentrated.
In the faint glow of the fireball, they could finally see it — a grotesque creature skittering toward them, its multiple limbs tapping against the stone floor. Its eyes gleamed with an unnatural hunger.
Without hesitation, Tobias released the fireball.
It shot through the air like a comet, colliding with the creature and erupting in a burst of flames. The monster screeched, its charred body collapsing to the ground in a heap of smoldering flesh.
The air was thick with tension. The silence didn't last.
A guttural growl reverberated from the darkness, followed by the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against stone. Then another. And another.
More monsters emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. They were lanky, with twisted limbs and elongated fingers tipped with razor-sharp claws.
Their jaws unhinged unnaturally, rows of jagged teeth ready to tear into flesh.
"Here we go," Zayn muttered, rolling his shoulders.
He pivoted on his heel, positioning himself for battle. "Alright, everyone! You heard the man — stick together, don't die, and if you do die, at least do it in a way that makes me look good."
"Zayn!" Tobias snapped, irritation clear in his voice. "Focus!"
"I am focused! Just adding some morale."
Kara huffed as she stomped her foot against the ground.
A low rumble followed, and the earth beneath them responded to her magic.
Jagged spikes erupted from the floor, impaling two of the creatures mid-charge. "Less talking, more fighting!"
The battle erupted in full force.
Tobias conjured another spell, his hands moving fluidly as arcane energy sparked at his fingertips. A bolt of lightning shot from his palm, arcing toward a lunging creature.
The moment it connected, the monster convulsed violently before collapsing into a twitching heap.
Zayn ducked as a claw swiped past his face, missing by mere inches. He countered with a clean upward slash, his sword slicing through the creature's arm.
Black ichor splattered across the ground as the monster recoiled, screeching in pain.
"Gross," he muttered, before pivoting and delivering a decisive thrust to its chest. The creature let out a final gurgle before collapsing.
At the rear, their healer, the busty nun, chanted a quick incantation, her staff glowing with soft golden light. Wounds sealed, bruises faded, and fatigue seemed to lift off their bodies.
The axe-wielding warrior swung his weapon with a ferocity that sent creatures flying, his strikes powerful and unrelenting.
"Keep pushing forward!" he bellowed.
Zayn grinned as he dodged another swipe and kicked a monster square in the face. "Man, if this is a low-tier dungeon, I'd hate to see what the higher-tier ones look like."
"Then train harder!" Tobias shot back, throwing another fireball.
The last creature fell, its charred remains crumbling to the ground. Silence returned to the dungeon, save for the panting of the exhausted adventurers.
Zayn leaned on his sword, catching his breath.
"Well," he said, flashing a cocky grin. "That was fun. Who's up for round two?"
Kara smacked his arm. "Shut up before the dungeon actually listens to you."
Tobias adjusted his glasses again. "Let's keep moving. We need to reach the boss room."