In a distant land, there exist towers taller than the heavens and dungeons deeper than hell. No one knows why or when they were made or if they had always existed since the beginning. But what is known is that those who climb the towers and plunge into the depths are rewarded with powers beyond their wildest dreams. These people are called adventurers, one such group sits at the last floor of a deep dungeon, half of their team dead and only the mage and warrior limp their way to the exit. 

“Hey, just a couple more steps and we will be out” A dwarf yelled at his limping friend behind him, he knew that the mage had taken extensive damage, enough to assure his retirement after they found the exit. . 

“Willow, I can't-” The mages voice trailed off as he fell, the dwarf having barely caught him in time.

“Hey Jake, please” He grunted in pain as he pushed the other man to lean against the wall “Guess we aren't going to pay back that bar tab huh” He laughed and spoke to his friend, but the growing pool of blood told him of his friend's state. 

‘They had conquered the dungeon but at what cost’ he thought to himself and pulled out a crystal from his bag. It was their reward for defeating the disgusting thing, its golden glow spoke to the level of challenge it was to acquire it, he had never seen this color before even after all these years. The dwarf had opened two in his thirty years of adventuring, a rare <>, and common <>. Both important as his team's warrior, but he knew that it all meant little in the face of that thing they had been forced to face. Something that shouldn't have existed, even remembering it caused him to nearly faint. Their priest had burst into flames when trying to use Holy Dominance on it. 

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But they did defeat it, but the cost was too great to bear solely on his own. He knew once he left the dungeon, he wouldn't be strong enough to stop anyone else from killing him and taking the crystal while he recovered. 

“Willow leave me” The mage's words cause the dwarf to stiffen in place. He would abandon his childhood friend but this would just lead to both their deaths.

“Never Jake, Lily is waiting for you.” He grumbled and they looked at each other “Here, you were always more lucky” He pressed it to his chest, he would rather the chance to save his friend than any pile of money.

It was quiet for a moment, then the mage said “I will need a hand”. The mage was trying to break the crystal but the blood loss and gouge in his right side made it impossible to muster strength. 

“Okay” The dwarf put his hand around the mages and squeezed, this was a common method done to help elderly or injured and could only be done with both parties consent. 

The crystal started cracking, the area around them shaking as the enormous power demanded to be released. The sound of laughter and crying filled the halls, for the many beings watching saw the crystal given to a man destined to die. Once more a crunching sound echoed and the dwarf was wrapped in light, so bright that his mind recoiled in pain and the dwarf fell to the floor unconscious.

The dwarf would only awaken after his mind thought the threat was gone, yet upon opening his eyes the dingy dungeons' tunnels were replaced with the bright sky. His sat up in a adrenaline filled panic, but his wounds still persisted, wrapped in bandages but still painful enough to forced him to yelp in pain. 

He was out of the dungeon, back at where they had made camp on the edge of a sheep farm. But it was only him, his bag and a notebook left on top. He quickly grabbed it and stared, it was definitely his friend's writing book but only one page remained legible.

“The power had a cost Willow, tell Lily I love her and I hope we meet again soon.”