The golden firework continued to shimmer in the sky above the dungeon's mouth, a beacon of achievement for all who saw it. Inside the labyrinth, groups of hunters paused mid-action, their gazes snapping upward as the light filtered through cracks and gaps in the walls.
"Did you see that?" one hunter whispered, a mixture of awe and confusion in his tone.
A grizzled warrior hefted his axe onto his shoulder. "Yeah, I saw it. The heart's been destroyed."
"That's impossible!" A younger mage exclaimed, his staff still glowing faintly from a recent spell. "No one's cleared this dungeon in years! Even the big guilds couldn't do it."
"Well, someone just did," a rogue murmured, her voice tight with disbelief. "But who? Do you think it's the sword saint and their team?"
"Are you blind?" A female hunter replied. "Can you see the sword saint and her team over there? I think she only brought the newbies to train this time since they didn't go deeper into the dungeon."
Another hunter snorted. "It doesn't matter who. This place is coming down. We've got less than three hours to get out of here. Grab what you can and move!"
The rogue hesitated, her keen eyes narrowing. "Whoever took down the heart—they're not registered. I checked the guild boards before we came in. There was no high-tier team marked for entry today."
"You're saying... rogue hunters?"
"Or someone with enough skill to sneak in and do what even the top guilds couldn't," she replied, her voice laced with a mix of admiration and suspicion. "Either way, they'll need to come out eventually."
The group exchanged glances.
"We wait for them at the exit?" the mage suggested.
"Too risky," the warrior replied, shaking his head. "If they're powerful enough to clear the heart, they'll crush us if we try to stop them. We've got what we came for. Let's not get greedy."
Eagan pressed himself against the cool stone wall of a narrow passage, his breaths shallow as the echoes of distant voices faded. He turned to Lyra, who was crouched beside him, her sword drawn and ready.
"They know someone cleared the heart," he whispered.
Lyra nodded, her expression grim. "Of course they do. That firework wasn't exactly subtle. It's a signal that the dungeon heart has been crushed and the dungeon will be closed."
"They're talking about waiting at the exit," he added, glancing down the passage. "We'll have to find another way out."
"Or sneak past them," Lyra muttered, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "We still have the seventh module; did you forget?"
Eagan blinked, realisation dawning. "You still have that thing? I thought it was a one-time use thing."
Lyra grinned, reaching into her pouch to pull out a small, round device etched with faint runes. It hummed softly, the intricate carvings glowing faintly blue. "You underestimate my ability to plan ahead."
"You mean your obsession with hoarding gear."
"Same thing," she said with a shrug. "This stealth module's the only reason we're getting out of here alive. It'll mask our movements and signatures for about five minutes. Think you can move fast enough?"
Eagan smirked, pulling out his daggers. "Fast is my middle name. Let's do it."
Lyra pressed the activation button, and the module emitted a soft pulse before surrounding them with a shimmering veil of distortion. It wasn't perfect invisibility, but it blurred their forms enough to pass unnoticed at a distance.
They crept toward the main exit, the voices of the gathered hunters growing louder as they approached. Lyra took the lead, her footsteps careful and deliberate, while Eagan moved like a shadow behind her.
"Keep close," she whispered.
They slipped through the edge of the clearing, staying just out of the hunters' direct line of sight.
The rogue hunter perched on a rock near the shimmering portal, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. "I don't like this. Whoever cleared the heart should've been here by now."
"Maybe they're still inside, grabbing more loot," the mage suggested, gripping his staff tightly.
"Or maybe they've already snuck past us," the rogue replied, her tone sharp.
The gruff warrior scowled. "No one's that good. If they were, we'd have heard about them by now."
"Unless they're new," the rogue countered. "And if they're new, that makes them even more dangerous. No reputation means no pattern to track, no weaknesses to exploit."
The sword saint herself, standing with a group of young hunters on the far side of the clearing, turned her head slightly at the rogue's comment but said nothing. Her presence alone made the gathered hunters hesitant to push further.
The stealth module's hum grew faint as its energy began to wane.
"Not much time left," Lyra whispered, glancing over her shoulder at Eagan.
"Then let's make it count," he replied, nodding toward a cluster of rocks near the portal.
They moved quickly, darting from shadow to shadow. A small pile of loose stones shifted beneath Eagan's boot, sending a faint clatter through the air.
The rogue's head snapped toward the sound. "Did you hear that?"
"Probably just the dungeon shifting," the mage said dismissively.
"No," she insisted, standing and drawing her daggers. "It came from over there."
The stealth module gave a final sputter before the shimmering veil dissolved entirely.
"Move!" Lyra hissed, and the two of them sprinted for the portal.
"There!" the rogue shouted, pointing as Eagan and Lyra broke into the open. "They're heading for the exit!"
The hunters nearest the portal scrambled to block their path, weapons drawn. Lyra didn't hesitate, lunging forward with her sword in a swift, controlled arc. Her blade met the axe of one hunter, the clash of steel echoing in the clearing.
Eagan ducked low, slipping beneath the swing of another's spear and driving his dagger into the gap between their armour plates. The hunter staggered back with a curse, and Eagan darted past.
"Don't let them escape!" the rogue yelled, already closing the distance.
Lyra threw a glance over her shoulder. "They're faster than I thought!"
"We're faster," Eagan countered, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the portal.
The rogue leapt at them, her daggers flashing, but Lyra spun mid-stride, deflecting the attack with a skilful parry.
"Too slow," Lyra taunted, shoving the rogue back just enough to create an opening.
Together, she and Eagan dove through the portal, the golden light swallowing them whole just as the dungeon began to seal.
Outside the Dungeon
They tumbled out onto the grass, the golden firework fading in the sky above as the dungeon entrance shimmered one final time and sealed shut.
Behind them, the muffled cries of the hunters still inside faded into silence.
Eagan sat up, his chest shaking. "Well, that was... eventful."
Lyra smirked, holding up the fragment of the heart they'd risked everything for. "Worth it."
He gave her a sidelong glance. "Let's just hope it sells for enough to cover the bounty that'll be on our heads after this."
She laughed, tucking the fragment into her pouch. "If they can catch us, sure."
Meanwhile, Lisa narrowed her eyes knowingly as she noticed the backs of the two who had just escaped. She let out a sigh and ordered her team to continue gathering loot before the dungeon finally closed.