I knew how to work within a team. Teamwork in games is easy: everyone has their roles when it comes to beating the content. A single tank, two DPS (damage per second), and a healer—that’s the standard formula. Age of Eternity, however, didn’t stick to that format. If ten DPS players wanted to dive into a dungeon together, that was fine. There were no class restrictions on raids or dungeons in general.

This party, however, didn’t just adapt to my skills—we thrived together.

Ravok was simply unkillable, thanks to his dual class of Knight/Juggernaut. His main passive, Ultra Regeneration, was borderline broken. Each attack that landed on him regenerated a set amount of HP, and after combat, he gained a massive 75% regeneration buff. Combine that with his staggering defense and aggro-pulling abilities, and he was an immovable wall.

Mira’s build had been optimized to perfection. Her MP regeneration during and after battle was through the roof, her cooldowns were nearly nonexistent, and her healing spells were amplified by an incredible 75% thanks to her synergized gear and passives. Her signature ability, Automatic Smite, triggered whenever any hostile creature or player came within 90 meters of us, dealing half of her total Smite score—boosted by a 225% synergy from her build. On top of that, it halved their healing and damage output, a nasty debuff courtesy of her Holy Priest passive. Her god, Bringer of Light, further enhanced her holy skills, adding a flat 25% boost to everything she did, including healing. She wasn’t just support—she was a fortress of divine power.

Apollo was pure chaos wrapped in brilliance. His Mage/Berserker class was more like a battle-mage monk. At level 90, his ultimate ability, Pure Elemental Force, was insane. He could channel raw elemental magic into devastating attacks or imbue himself with elemental energy to become a living force of destruction. With his Berserker rage mechanics, he healed for a portion of his HP with each rage stack, making him tough to take down. His damage output was obscene, but he still relied on Mira’s healing to keep him from overextending.

And then there was Selene. Her ability to adapt on the fly made her invaluable. She was our Ranger, specializing in rapid-firing arrows and fluid combat tactics. Her primary passive, Chameleon, allowed her to remain unseen until she attacked, making her the perfect infiltrator. But when the fight started, she unleashed a storm. One of her hallmark skills, Rain of Retribution, unleashed 500 arrows in rapid succession, each one enhanced by her gear’s crit and elemental bonuses. She wasn’t just an evader; she was a sniper and a whirlwind combined.

Together, we formed a team that was greater than the sum of its parts. Each of us had our strengths, and each of us had the experience to maximize those strengths while covering each other’s weaknesses. No challenge felt insurmountable.

But Age of Eternity wasn’t going to make it easy.

As we pressed deeper into the dungeon, the walls began to pulsate with an eerie, otherworldly glow. The oppressive air buzzed with latent magic, a sure sign that something dangerous lurked nearby.

Our first major challenge wasn’t just dangerous—it was an abomination of nightmares. Emerging from the shadows, the Hexbound Wyrm slithered into view. It was a monstrous, serpentine creature with a body of chitinous black scales etched with glowing crimson runes. Its head split into a nightmarish maw that opened like a blooming flower, revealing rows of jagged teeth. The Wyrm’s eyes glowed with malice, and its runes pulsed in rhythm with the corrupted mana that filled the air.

“Hexbound…” Ravok muttered, gripping his shield tightly. “That’s gonna be fun.”

The Wyrm let out a guttural roar, shaking the ground beneath us. It was more than just noise—waves of disruptive magic radiated from the sound, sending ripples through the air. My mana reserves dipped slightly. A siphoning ability. Great.

“It’s draining us!” Mira shouted, her staff already glowing as she began weaving a counter-spell.

“Keep it busy!” I barked, stepping back to strategize.

Ravok took the lead, as always, raising his shield and charging forward. The Wyrm lashed out with its tail, the crimson runes flaring as it struck with crushing force. Ravok absorbed the hit, his Ultra Regeneration kicking in immediately to mend the damage. “Is that all you’ve got?” he taunted, slamming his shield into the creature to draw its attention.

The Wyrm hissed and lunged, its massive jaws snapping inches from Ravok’s face.

Apollo wasted no time, summoning a storm of elemental fury. Fireballs, bolts of lightning, and shards of ice rained down on the Wyrm. Each attack struck true, but the runes absorbed a portion of the damage, glowing brighter with every hit.

“It’s reflecting!” Apollo called out, as one of his firebolts rebounded, nearly catching him in the shoulder.

Selene darted around the battlefield, her Ranger agility keeping her out of harm’s way. She fired arrow after arrow, targeting the Wyrm’s exposed joints and vulnerable underbelly. “The runes are protecting its core!” she shouted.

“We have to disable them!” Mira yelled, channeling holy light into a protective barrier around Ravok. “Keep its attention while I purge those runes!”

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The Wyrm roared again, this time unleashing a stream of corrosive black mist from its maw. It swept across the battlefield, eating away at the terrain and forcing us to scatter.

“Stay on it!” I called, stepping forward. My Fighter/Warlock hybrid class excelled in moments like this. I summoned spectral chains to lash the Wyrm, binding its movements temporarily.

The creature writhed, its runes flaring as it struggled against my magic. “Now, Mira!”

Mira planted her staff into the ground, unleashing a radiant wave of holy energy. The light slammed into the Wyrm, dimming the crimson glow of its runes.

“Keep hitting it!” Ravok shouted, slamming his shield into the creature’s flank.

Apollo grinned. “Gladly.” He raised both hands, channeling his signature ability: Pure Elemental Force. His body crackled with energy as he transformed into a living storm. With a roar, he charged the Wyrm, unleashing a devastating barrage of elemental strikes that bypassed the creature’s weakened runes.

The Wyrm shrieked, its defenses collapsing under the relentless assault.

This was the moment I’d been waiting for. Drawing on my mana reserves, I unleashed Arcanic Blast. My gear and passives amplified the spell’s power, and the blast struck the Wyrm’s exposed core with pinpoint precision.

The explosion lit up the dungeon, and when the light faded, the Hexbound Wyrm lay motionless, its crimson runes shattered.

Ravok laughed, slamming his shield into the ground. “Now that’s what I call teamwork!”

Apollo smirked, his elemental form dissipating. “Nice shot, Astraeus.”

Selene nodded. “Efficient, as always.”

Mira stepped forward, wiping sweat from her brow. “Well done, everyone. That was no ordinary beast.”

I allowed myself a small grin as I surveyed the fallen monster. This was the kind of battle I lived for—a test of skill, strategy, and teamwork. But deep down, I knew this was only the beginning. Even after all our effort, we had only gathered half of the materials I needed. The elusive Verdant Crystals were still deeper in, and Apollo, ever the problem solver, claimed he knew a shortcut. Without hesitation, we followed his lead, jumping into what looked like a massive, gaping chasm.

Only this wasn’t a typical descent.

As we fell, gravity shifted, pulling us upward instead of down. A disorienting sensation gripped me as the black void gave way to light, and we slammed into what felt like a solid roof—only to emerge in a sprawling, forest-like area. Massive, ancient trees loomed overhead, their twisted roots crawling over moss-covered rocks. But it wasn’t the scenery that caught my attention. It was the movement.

Ahead, towering figures—giants, easily the size of small buildings—roamed through the dense undergrowth. Their heavy footsteps shook the earth beneath us, their forms radiating a primal, almost oppressive energy. The air itself seemed thicker here, tinged with the faint scent of ozone and decay.

“This is Floor 50,” Apollo announced, dusting off his armor. “Told you it was a shortcut.”

Mira quickly took stock of our inventory, murmuring a count of our remaining potions. Thankfully, we were still well-supplied. I glanced at my interface and noted with satisfaction that I had leveled up twice during our previous battles. Level 89. I was getting closer to the cap—though with the new expansion raising the level cap to 100, the road ahead would be even steeper.

Apollo turned to address the group, his tone commanding but calm. “From here, teamwork and adaptation are what will get us through. Astraeus,” he said, turning to me, “you’re moving up front with Ravok and me. Mira and Selene will stick to the middle and back as usual.”

“Up front?” I raised an eyebrow, though I wasn’t surprised.

He nodded, tapping the hilt of his axe for emphasis. “We’re going to need your chains and curses to lock these things down. Plus, your attacks pack a punch. These monsters are immune to elemental magic, so I’ll be at a disadvantage. But I’ve still got this.” He hefted his massive axe with a grin. “It’ll do the job.”

I nodded, accepting my role. Mira raised her staff, her holy energy radiating outward as she infused us with her divine buffs. Warm, golden light settled over the party like a protective shield—only to stop short when it reached me.

The familiar chill of rejection crept over my skin as the holy energy dissipated. Above my head, a dark sigil appeared, the mark of my Dark Pacts. My abilities were incompatible with her holy buffs; they relied entirely on the corrupting power I wielded.

Mira sighed, clearly displeased, though she quickly adjusted. “Fine. Just don’t blame me when you get flattened,” she muttered, though her usual edge was softened by a hint of worry.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, gripping my weapon tightly as dark energy crackled along its edge. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll do what I do best.”

With our roles set, we moved forward into the forest. The giants were massive, but their movements were slow and deliberate, almost deceptively so. Each step felt like a minor earthquake, and their groans echoed through the thick canopy above.

“Eyes sharp,” Ravok said, his shield raised, “and stick to the formation.”

I grinned, already feeling the rush of the coming battle. This wasn’t just about survival or gathering materials anymore—it was about proving we could overcome whatever the game threw at us. Floor 50 was only the beginning, and we were ready.

Just as we started making our way through the huge forest The ground trembled violently as the giants broke into a run, their massive forms crashing through the forest like battering rams. The oppressive air around us thickened, and an unnatural chill prickled my skin.

Then, without warning, the entire forest plunged into darkness.

The faint glow of Mira’s holy staff and the flickering embers of Apollo’s axe were swallowed by the void, leaving only the oppressive sound of the giants’ thundering steps. My HUD flickered, glitching for a moment before a massive HP bar slowly crept across the top of the display.

‘Queen of Shadows.’

Her name appeared in jagged, blood-red text, and the weight of her presence pressed down on us like an iron vice.

“She’s here,” Apollo muttered, his tone grim but steady.

A low, guttural laugh echoed through the darkness, reverberating like the growl of some ancient predator. It came from everywhere and nowhere at once, sending a shiver down my spine.

Ravok slammed his shield into the ground, his aura flaring to life. “Form up! We’ve dealt with worse!”

“Speak for yourself,” Mira snapped, her voice shaking just enough to betray her nerves. She raised her staff, light sputtering at its tip as she fought to pierce the gloom.

The shadows around us began to move, writhing like living things. Tendrils of blackness curled and reached for us, and the silhouettes of the giants became distorted, their features twisting into grotesque shapes.

“She thinks we’re her next victims,” I said, gripping my weapon tightly as dark energy pulsed through it. A grin spread across my face, sharp and defiant. “She’s wrong.”

The laugh echoed again, louder this time, as if the Queen of Shadows herself found my words amusing.

But I didn’t care.