Eagan tightened his grip on his daggers as Lyra's words lingered in his mind. Purple-flamed lion.
The name alone sent a shiver down his spine. The experience he'd had about flame-wielding dungeon beasts were few, but they all ended the same: death, destruction, and silence.
"Great," he muttered. "Just what I wanted—an incinerating lion."
Lyra shot him a sharp look as she folded the map and tucked it into her belt. "Don't get cocky, Eagan. This isn't one of those little skirmishes you've been through. That thing could melt us in seconds if we're not careful."
He didn't reply, his jaw tightening. Lyra wasn't wrong.
This was no ordinary dungeon beast. The lion's flames weren't just fire—they carried a kind of magic that defied the natural order, consuming not just flesh but the very essence of a person.
He'd seen something like it once in his past life, and the memory still haunted him.
They crept deeper into the forest-like cavern, the air growing thicker with each step. The faint glow of the dungeon's bioluminescent fungi cast eerie shadows on the jagged walls, giving the space an otherworldly feel. Every sound—every creak of leather, every crunch of dirt beneath their boots—felt amplified, as if the dungeon itself was listening.
Lyra held up a hand, signaling for Eagan to stop. She crouched low, her sharp eyes scanning the dim surroundings. "We're close," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Do you hear that?"
Eagan strained his ears. At first, all he could hear was the faint drip of water from the stalactites above. But then, a low rumble reached him. It wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that sent vibrations through the ground—a deep, resonant growl.
"That's it, isn't it?" he murmured.
Lyra nodded, her expression grim. "Yeah. Stay behind me and keep quiet."
The pair moved cautiously, weaving between the thick trunks of the stone-like trees that littered the cavern. The glow of the fungi began to dim, replaced by an ominous violet light flickering in the distance. The atmosphere around them grew warmer, the heat pressing against Eagan's skin like an invisible hand.
Then they saw it.
The Purple-Flamed Lion lay sprawled in a clearing, its massive body coiled with a lazy yet deadly grace. Its fur was a deep onyx, shimmering faintly in the dim light, but it was the flames that drew Eagan's attention.
Purple fire danced along its mane, licking at the air with an almost hypnotic beauty. Its eyes, twin orbs of molten gold, glowed with a predatory intensity as it stared into the shadows.
Eagan's breath caught in his throat. "That thing's huge," he whispered, barely able to keep his voice steady.
Lyra didn't respond. She was too focused, her gaze locked on the beast as she carefully assessed their options. Finally, she spoke, her tone clipped and precise. "We can't fight it head-on. The lion's too powerful, even for a team of hunters. We need to lure it away."
"And how exactly do we do that?" Eagan asked, his voice low. "Wave a snack in front of its face and hope it follows?"
Lyra smirked, though her eyes remained sharp. "Not quite. We'll create a distraction—something loud enough to draw it away from the cavern entrance. Once it's gone, we make our move and get to the deeper levels. If we're lucky, it won't notice us."
Eagan frowned. "And if it does?"
Lyra's smirk faded. "Then we run. Fast."
She reached into her pack and pulled out a small device—a sound grenade. Eagan recognized it immediately. When triggered, the grenade would emit a high-pitched shriek loud enough to disorient most creatures. It was a clever plan, but it came with risks. If the lion was faster than they expected, they'd be cornered before they could escape.
"Ready?" Lyra asked, her eyes meeting his.
Eagan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Let's do it."
Lyra activated the grenade and hurled it into the far side of the clearing. It landed with a soft thud, and for a moment, everything was still. Then, with a sharp crack, the device activated, releasing an ear-piercing wail that echoed through the cavern.
The lion's ears twitched, and its eyes snapped toward the source of the noise. It rose to its feet, its massive frame rippling with muscle, and let out a deep, rumbling growl. The purple flames along its mane flared brighter, casting the clearing in an ominous light. With a low snarl, the beast prowled toward the sound, its movements slow and deliberate.
"Move!" Lyra hissed, grabbing Eagan's arm and pulling him toward the cavern entrance.
They darted through the shadows, staying low to the ground as the lion stalked away. Eagan's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. He forced himself to focus, his eyes scanning the path ahead for any sign of danger.
As they reached the entrance to the deeper levels, Lyra glanced back. The lion was still moving toward the grenade, its attention fully captured by the shrill noise.
"We made it," she whispered, a hint of relief in her voice.
Eagan exhaled slowly, his grip on his daggers loosening slightly. "That went better than I expected."
Lyra grinned. "Told you I had experience."
But before they could celebrate, the lion suddenly stopped. Its ears flattened, and it turned its head sharply, its golden eyes locking onto their position. The grenade's sound had faded, and now the beast's focus was entirely on them.
"Run!" Lyra shouted.
The lion let out a deafening roar, the purple flames along its body surging like an inferno. It bound toward them with terrifying speed, its massive paws shaking the ground with each step.
Eagan didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted after Lyra, his breath coming in sharp gasps as they raced into the deeper levels. The path ahead was narrow and winding, the walls closing in around them. The heat from the lion's flames grew more intense, licking at their heels as it closed the distance.
"We can't outrun it!" Eagan yelled.
"Then we'll have to outsmart it!" Lyra shot back. "Just keep moving!"
As the lion's roar echoed through the cavern, Eagan could only hope Lyra had a plan.
The winding path ahead opened into another chamber, smaller and darker than the clearing they'd left behind. Shadows danced on the jagged walls, the faint light of glowing crystals the only illumination. Lyra skidded to a stop, her boots kicking up dust as she scanned the room for an advantage.
"Over here!" she called, pointing to a narrow crevice between two massive boulders.
Eagan hesitated for half a second, glancing back at the lion barreling toward them. The purple flames around its body illuminated its feral snarl, and the heat of its breath reached him even from a distance.
"No time to think, move!" Lyra snapped, shoving him toward the crevice.
Eagan ducked and squeezed into the gap, feeling the rough edges of the rocks scrape against his shoulders. Lyra followed close behind, her smaller frame allowing her to slip through more easily. The space was tight and claustrophobic, but it was enough to shield them from the lion—at least for the moment.
The beast skidded to a halt just outside the crevice, its fiery mane casting ominous shadows into the narrow passage. It let out a frustrated roar, its claws raking against the boulders with a sound like nails on glass. Sparks flew, and for a terrifying moment, Eagan thought the lion might simply burn its way through.
"Is it stuck?" Eagan whispered, his voice barely audible over his pounding heart.
"For now," Lyra muttered, her eyes fixed on the beast. "But it won't stay that way. We need a plan."
The lion's golden eyes glared into the crevice, its breath coming in heavy, fiery bursts. The heat was almost unbearable, and Eagan could feel sweat trickling down his back. He glanced at Lyra, who was already rummaging through her pack with practiced urgency.
"What are you looking for?" he asked.
"Anything that can slow it down," she replied. "Or distract it long enough for us to make a break for it."
Eagan's mind raced as he tried to think of a solution. His daggers were useless against something like this—getting close enough to strike would mean certain death. His eyes flicked to the glowing crystals embedded in the walls. They pulsed faintly, their energy sending ripples through the air. An idea began to form.
"Those crystals," he said, pointing. "They're mana-infused, right? If we break one—"
Lyra's eyes lit up with understanding. "It could cause a localized explosion."
"Exactly. Enough to buy us some time, maybe even injure it."
"Risky," Lyra said, already pulling a small hammer from her belt. "But I like risky."