The ground trembled beneath their feet as the undead surged forward, an unrelenting tide of decay and death. Noah's grip tightened on his sword; his eyes locked onto the Arch-Lich Necroxus, the embodiment of the darkness they faced.

"Emberfang, watch for openings!" Noah shouted, slicing through the nearest zombie with a swift, decisive strike.

Emberfang darted forward, his fangs glowing with fiery light as he tore into the undead, ripping them apart savagely. "Got it, Noah!"

Serenity's hands held firm, her light magic forming protective barriers and healing spells that enveloped the group. "Stay strong, everyone! We can do this!"

Blane's spear pierced through a zombie's skull, his movements precise and controlled. "They won't get past us!"

The Arch-Lich Necroxus watched them, its red eyes gleaming with malice. With a flick of its wrist, a dark mist seeped from the ground, coalescing into skeletal warriors armed with ancient, rusted weapons.

"Noah, watch out!" Serenity called, sending a burst of light magic to dispel the mist. “Purifying Light!”

Noah nodded, his focus unbroken. "We need to get closer! Take out the lich before it can summon more!” he exclaimed.

They fought their way through the horde, each step bringing them closer to Necroxus. The lich's sinister laugh echoed again, the chamber reverberating with its power. "You will fall like all the others before you!"

But Noah's determination burned brighter. "Not today!" With a battle cry, he charged forward, Emberfang and Blane flanking him, Serenity's magic bolstering their every move.

As they closed in, the Arch-Lich raised its staff high, dark energy crackling ominously. "Face your doom!" Necroxus roared, slamming the staff into the ground as a shock wave of dark energy exploded outward, knocking the party back.

Noah struggled to his feet, his vision blurry. "Serenity, we need healing!"

Serenity's hands glowed as she cast healing magic, restoring their strength. “Radiant Mend!”

"Hang in there, everyone!" Blane steadied himself, his spear at the ready. "We can't let up! Keep pushing!"

Necroxus conjured a vortex of shadow, tendrils of dark magic lashing out at the group.

Emberfang leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. "Noah, now's our chance!"

“Blade Strike!” Noah chanted as he surged forward, his sword blazing with energy. "Let's do this!" He swung his blade with all his might, and this time it struck true, piercing through the lich's jagged armor and deep into its chest.

Necroxus let out a bone-chilling roar, its form shuddering with the impact. But instead of falling, the lich's hand gripped Noah's sword, and a dark, sinister laugh echoed through the chamber.

"You think you can defeat me so easily?" Necroxus hissed.

-[ Dungeon Boss: Arch-Lich Necroxus ]- [ 450 / 450 ] HP

With a horrifying crackle of dark energy, Necroxus began to regenerate, the wound in its chest closing. The lich pulled Noah's sword free and flung him across the room with a powerful thrust.

Noah crashed into the wall, pain exploding through his body. "Noah!" Serenity screamed, her hands glowing with frantic energy as she ran to Noah, casting healing magic his way. “Radiant Mend!”

Emberfang snarled, his eyes blazing with fury.

"We won't give up!" Blane charged at the lich; his spear aimed at its chest as he activated a physical skill. “Piercing Thrust!”

But Necroxus, now on high alert, conjured a barrier of swirling shadows, deflecting Blane’s attack and sending him staggering backward.

The lich retaliated with a flurry of dark bolts, one of which struck Blane in the side, causing him to fall with a pained cry.

"Blane!" Noah roared, forcing himself to his feet. "Blane, hold on!"

The Arch-Lich loomed; its staff raised high. "You are nothing but insects before my power!

Noah’s eyes flared with determination. He knew he had to act fast. Scanning the lich’s form, he spotted a dark, glowing orb half embedded in its chest, pulsing with malevolent energy.

"That’s it! That orb on its chest must be the source of its power!" he shouted.

Her face etched with worry, Serenity called out, "I’ll cover you, Noah! Go for it!"

Noah gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy. "I need fire magic!" He extended his hands and summoned a blazing inferno, sending a torrent of fire straight at the orb. “Flame Burst!”

The flames crackled and roared, scorching the lich’s defenses as a fireball flew toward the lich.

Necroxus roared in fury, using its staff to deflect the fire with a dark energy barrier. "You dare attack me? I will not be defeated so easily!" It conjured a wall of shadow to protect the orb, but the intense heat began to crack the barrier.

As the battle with the Arch-Lich Necroxus reached its peak, Noah summoned his frost magic. “Winters Wrath!” he chanted as seven floating swords appeared, each chilled by subzero ice magic.

He began to hurl the magic blades at the lich one after another; their icy blades slowed the lich’s movements.

Blane, fiercely defending his comrades with his spear, was struck by a dark energy blast from the lich. The impact cracked his spear, but he fought on, determined to protect his team.

Noah saw an opportunity amid the chaos. He unleashed his fire magic, sending a surge of fire directly at the lich. “Flame Burst!”

The explosion cracked the dark orb embedded in the lich’s chest, and the lich itself was set ablaze. However, the lich quickly used its dark magic to extinguish the flames and regenerate the damage.

Despite the lich’s efforts, the orb remained cracked and weakened. Noah seized the chance to press the advantage. He combined his Frost spell with the lingering fire, creating a thick haze of steam that obscured the battlefield. The frost and fire mixed, making it harder for the lich to see and react.

In the cover of the haze, Noah moved stealthily. With Emberfang and Blane keeping the lich distracted, Noah approached the damaged orb, preparing for a finishing strike.

Noah’s heart pounded as he readied himself. The Arch-Lich Necroxus loomed before him, its dark energy crackling and roiling as it desperately tried to fend off their assault.

With fierce determination, Noah lunged forward, his sword raised high. The runes on the blade, imbued with powerful fire magic, flared to life, casting an intense glow across the chamber.

The orb, the source of the lich’s regeneration, was now cracked but still stubbornly intact. Noah gritted his teeth and thrust his sword towards it, activating his physical skill. “Blade Strike!”

But as he was about to land the blow, Necroxus turned just in time, deflecting his attack as it swung its staff, knocking Noah down as he slid backward from the force.

“Dammit! Its reaction time is too fast! I must think of a way to fool it or catch it off guard.” Noah remembered the two skills he’d learned before they entered the room. “That’s right! I have an idea. I hope this works.” he muttered as he spun around, gripping his sword.

Readying himself for a final all-out assault, he took a deep breath and exhaled as he launched forward, his eyes gleaming with determination as he held a lethal plan to finish the lich.

Approaching the lich, Noah let out a war cry. “You’re going down! Deflect this, you ugly bag of bones!”

The lich turned suddenly, annoyed by Noah’s sudden outburst and relentlessness. “It’s no use, you pitiful human. I suppose you’ll only understand when you die by my hand!” the lich bellowed.

Noah smiled as a sense of excitement sent a chilling spark jolting down his spine and then through his body, sharpening his senses. “It’s now or never. I’ve got this. I’m not losing any more comrades.” He muttered to himself as he sensed an attack coming from the lich.

Ducking under the lich’s staff as it swung “whooshing” past him, Noah lunged, activating his physical skill again. “Blade Strike!”

The lich, already prepared for a typical attack, began to cast a protective wall of dark magic as Noah chanted another magic skill.

-[ Dark Magic Skill: Void Step ]- Description: When cast, the user can teleport to any nearby area, undetectable in the cover of the shadows.

“Void Step!” he yelled, casting his new magic skill.

The lich summoned his wall only to be surprised by Noah’s sudden disappearance. “What! Where did he go!?” the lich exclaimed with confusion.

“I’m here, ugly!” Noah shouted as he reappeared behind the lich.

But even still, the lich caught the attack in a stroke of luck. As the attack began to lose its momentum, Noah Shouted, casting yet another magic Skill.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

-[ Dark Magic Skill: Dark Pulse ]- Description: When cast, the user unleashes a sudden burst of dark energy, disorienting their opponents. The overwhelming force can cause enemies to stumble or fall back, resulting in a brief stun that disrupts their actions.

“Dark Pulse!” A blast of dark energy disoriented the lich, stumbling it back as Noah's sword slipped through its grasp. “I won’t quit, I won’t let up, and I won’t lose this fight! You’re going down!” Noah declared in a rage of determination as he focused every ounce of his strength on his blade.

“What! No!” the lich yelled, unable to stop the assault.

“Blade Strike!” Noah shouted, reinforcing the attack. As the sword made contact, the runes ignited the orb further, causing it to heat up and fracture rapidly. The magical fire burned through the orb’s surface, making it glow red-hot, intensifying the damage.

Despite the intense heat and the strain on his arms, Noah continued to push his sword deeper into the orb. “Gah! More strength! I need to push harder!” he yelled, sweat dripping from his face. His teeth were gritted, every muscle tensed, veins bulging as he pushed in his relentless endeavor to vanquish the lich.

The orb’s surface began to crack more aggressively under the combined pressure of the enchanted blade and the relentless fire magic that was still burning strong.

Suddenly, the sword shattered with a blinding flash and a deafening crack. Noah leaped back instinctively, shards of the broken blade scattering through the air. The explosion from the orb’s destruction sent a shock wave through the chamber, and the lich’s form writhed in agony.

It screamed in defiance, its voice echoing with a chilling finality. “No! This cannot be!” it roared as its dark energy began to dissipate. The oppressive presence that had dominated the room slowly faded away as the dungeon core fell from the ashes rolling to Noah’s feet.

-[ Noah Blackwell ]- [ 145 / 210 ] HP [ 120 / 200 ] STA [ 100 / 250 ] MP

Once again, the interface materialized with a notification: “Boss Defeated! An unknown chest has been added to the drop menu. Level up! Congratulations!” It said as if faded.

Overwhelmed with battle fatigue, Noah fell to his knees as he exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead, a slight smirk playing on his face as he picked up the core. “We did it. We really defeated that thing,” he muttered, looking down at the broken hilt still gripped in his hand

Emberfang, Serenity, and Blaine’s eyes widened with worry as they ran to Noah.

“Are you alright!? Serenity shouted.

“Noah!” Emberfang and Blane shouted as they approached quickly.

Turning to his party with a smile, Noah met them with a reassuring reply. “Yes! I’m more than alright! We did it, guys!” he exclaimed with a big grin. “Although, I think I used too much magic…” he said as he drank his last magic potion restoring his magic power.

“Be more careful, you big dummy!” Serenity said as she lightly slapped Noah across the face, catching him off guard.

Emberfang smiled lightly as he understood the reason behind her sudden outburst.

“Serenity?” Noah muttered in shock as he caught a glimpse of her face, tears falling down her cheeks and onto the ground.

“I lost one friend; losing you as well would completely break me. You didn’t have to charge in by yourself…” she said as she sniffled, looking into Noah’s eyes sincerely worried.

Noah’s heart fluttered in a desperate attempt to soothe her pain. “I’m sorry, Serenity. I’ll be more careful from here on out. I promise.” Noah said as he met her gaze with reassuring eyes.

Blane lightly rested his hands on their shoulders. “I know it’s been one hell of a ride, but we pulled through. Seth would be proud of us. We fulfilled our promise to him as well. We defeated the lich and cleared the dungeon. Let’s rejoice and enjoy this small victory, even if we did lose a comrade. His memory lives on within us.” Blane said, trying to break the tension in the room.

Just then, a hidden chest emerged from the debris in the aftermath of the lich’s demise. Its intricate design and glowing runes hinted at its magical contents.

“Look, guys!?” Blane said as he mentioned the appearance of the chest.

Shaking off the tension, the party curiously approached the chest.

“You guys can split the loot. It’s all yours,” Noah said.

Serenity carefully opened the chest, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she selected a few magical scrolls and potions. “These should be useful for future battles,” she remarked with a satisfied smile.

Blaine, eyeing the contents, picked out a sturdy armor set and a magical spear. He grinned, clearly pleased with his finds. “These will definitely improve my defense,” he said.

Noah, still catching his breath and surveying the scene, felt a deep sense of relief and accomplishment. Now eerily quiet, the chamber was free from the dark magic that had once filled it. The party exchanged weary but triumphant looks, reflecting on their hard-fought victory.

Noah examined his broken sword. Its runes were extinguished, but its fiery impact on the shattered orb in the remnants of the lich’s demise was evident. It served as a stark reminder of the fierce battle they had endured.

“Look, guys over there.” Serenity said as she pointed towards a portal. In the middle of it was an image of the outside of the dungeon.

“Our way out,” Noah mentioned.

“Let’s go home, everyone,” Blane said.

The party walked to the entrance and took turns stepping through the portal, emerging into the sunlight outside the dungeon. They took a moment to bask in the warmth, feeling the weight of their victory and the loss of their comrade.

"Let's head back to the adventurer’s guild," Noah said. The others nodded as they began their journey back to the city.

“Emberfang, let's change you back to your smaller appearance,” Noah said.

“Okay, Noah,” Emberfang said as he suddenly morphed down to his small red puppy form.

“What!? You can change on your own now!?” Noah exclaimed.

“I guess so,” Emberfang said.

“So that’s how you hid him from the town’s folk. You used a magic skill?” Serenity asked.

“Yeah, if they found out, they might try and kill him. So, we can’t tell anyone,” Noah explained.

They nodded in agreement as they continued to Emberfall City.

As they approached the gates of Emberfall, the bustling city greeted them with its familiar sights and sounds. The two guards stationed at the entrance recognized the group immediately and waved them over with merry expressions.

"Hey there, Noah, Serenity, Blane! Good to see you all back in one piece," they said with a broad smile.

"We heard you were tackling that C-rank dungeon. Did you clear it?" they asked.

Noah stepped forward, the weight of their journey evident in his eyes. "Yes, we did," he replied, his voice steady but saddened.

The guard’s smile faltered as he noticed the absence of one familiar face. "Where's Seth? Wasn't he with you?"

A heavy silence fell over the group. Serenity took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. "Seth... Seth didn't make it. He was killed by a boss in the dungeon…”

The guard’s faces fell, their initial excitement replaced by sorrow. They bowed their heads, their voices hushed with respect. "I'm sorry to hear that. Seth was a brave man. His sacrifice won't be forgotten. Thank you for telling us."

Noah nodded, appreciating their condolences. "Thank you. We need to report to Aldric at the adventurers' guild."

"Of course," the guards said, stepping aside to let them pass. "Take care, all of you."

As they entered Emberfall City, the lively atmosphere seemed different, with the heaviness still dwelling in their hearts. The streets were filled with merchants advertising their wares, children playing, and townsfolk going about their daily routines. Yet, the party moved with a quiet mission, making their way to the adventurers' guild.

They were met with the usual noise and chatter inside the guild hall. Aldric, the guild master, stood at the center, his presence commanding respect from everyone around him. A look of curiosity crossed his face as he noticed Noah and his party, quickly replaced by concern when he noticed Seth was missing.

"Noah, Serenity, Blane," Aldric greeted them, his eyes scanning their faces. "I see you've returned. What news do you bring?"

Noah stepped forward, holding out Seth's guild ID. "Aldric, we cleared the C-rank dungeon," he began, his voice steady but filled with sadness. "But it came at a cost. Seth... Seth didn't make it."

The hall fell silent as Aldric took the guild ID from Noah, his expression hardening. He looked at the group, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and pride. "Seth was a brave adventurer. His sacrifice will not be forgotten," Aldric said solemnly. "You all have done well. Clearing that dungeon was no small feat."

Serenity wiped away a tear as Noah placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Blane nodded, feeling the weight of their loss and the responsibility to honor Seth's memory by continuing their mission.

“Here is the dungeon's core,” Noah said as he set it on the table.

“Ah yes, I’ll split your guy's payments as soon as I examine it,” Alexa, the guild’s receptionist, said as she walked up and took the core for testing.

“By the way, Aldric, when we explored a hidden library on the second floor of the dungeon, we found some interesting information,” Noah mentioned as he set the tapestry he had taken from the library on the table, spreading it out.

Aldric examined the image that was portrayed on the tapestry.

“What is this, I wonder?” Aldric questioned.

“We also took some scrolls and a stone tablet that holds some interesting information,” Serenity said as she set them on the table beside the tapestry.

“They mention a cataclysmic event that created our world and the explanation of why the dungeons appear here as well,” Noah explained.

Aldric examined the tablet and scrolls with an intrigued expression. “This is an amazing find, but how do we know it’s legit?” he asked, looking up to Serenity and Noah.

Blane shot them a curious expression. “You guys didn’t mention this find when we regrouped.”

“Sorry, I didn’t think to mention it,” Noah said.

“May I take this information for examination?” Aldric asked.

“Sure, keep them here at the guild. If this is true, then this information is vital to this world’s history and future,” Noah said.

“Thank you, guys, and good job. Take some time to rest and recover. You've earned it. When you're ready, we'll discuss this topic further," Aldric said.

The party nodded as they made their way to the guild counter.

“You each will receive one hundred and fifty crowns for the C-rank clearing,” Alexa said as she presented them with coin purses filled with their payments.

The party took their payments as they exited the Guild Hall.

“So, what’s the plan from here on out?” Noah asked.

“Actually, Noah, I wanted to ask you if I could join your party,” Serenity said, her face flustered as a pink hue played across it.

“Of course you can. Emberfang and I would love that.” He smiled as Emberfang gave a high-pitched bark, his eyes filled with excitement.

“What about you, Blane?” Noah asked.

“I will go off on my own. I believe I will retire from adventuring. I’m thinking about working on my brother's farm with him. I don’t believe I’m cut out for this adventure stuff,” he said.

“As long as it makes you happy, Blane. Seth would want you to do what makes you happy and brings you peace,” Serenity said.

“Thank you. Both of you, for everything you’ve done. I will be heading out of town tomorrow morning. I’ll also hand in my I.D. in the morning,” Blane said.

“At least have some farewell drinks with us tonight?” Noah asked.

“Yes! Please, Blane?” Serenity asked.

Blane chuckled. “Alright, alright. I’ll join you for drinks. One last hurrah, huh?”

As the sun began to set, they found themselves in the bustling Rusty Goblet Inn, toasting their adventures and reminiscing about their journey. Laughter filled the air, and the weight of their responsibilities lifted momentarily.

“To new beginnings,” Noah said, raising his mug.

“To new friendships,” Serenity added, clinking her mug against his.

“To finding our paths,” Blane finished, smiling warmly.

“To Seth!” they all said as they chugged their drinks.

The night carried on with stories, laughter, and camaraderie. As they finally parted ways, there was a sense of closure and hope for the future. Blane headed towards his quiet life while Noah, Serenity, and Emberfang looked ahead to their new adventures.

The next morning, as Blane turned in his adventurer's I.D. and bid his final farewells, Noah felt a sense of resolve. With Serenity and Emberfang by his side, he knew they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead of them.

After they saw Blane off on his way, Noah felt ready to plan their next adventure together.

“let’s go to the Guild Hall and check for new available quests. What do you think?” he asked.

“Let’s go then, slowpokes,” Serenity said as she ran past, turning to smile at Noah and Emberfang.

Noah felt a sense of happiness, followed by a strange feeling in his stomach.

Emberfang smiled as he sensed Noah’s sudden change in mood. Their bond deepened, and the dire wolf nuzzled Noah’s side, offering a reassuring presence.

“Noah, You’re in love?” Emberfang asked.

Noah’s face became flustered as a bright cherry-red hue played across it. “W-what Do you mean Emberfang…” Noah muttered as he looked away quickly in embarrassment.

“HA-HA-HA!” Emberfang laughed hysterically as he watched Noah panic, trying to find the words to counter his question.

“It’s okay, Noah, I’m only playing with you,” Emberfang said.

Noah shook off the feeling and focused on the task at hand. “Let’s catch up with Serenity before she gets too far ahead.”

The trio returned to the Guild Hall, where the bustle of adventurers was already in full swing. The air was filled with excitement and the clinking of coin purses. Inside, they approached the quest board, which was covered with colorful scrolls and requests from various townsfolk and guild members.

Suddenly, Aldric came out of the back room in an upset manner.

“Ah! Noah, Serenity! Please come into the back room. I have something urgent to talk to you about…”