As they took a moment to regroup, another portal materialized before them, the shimmering doorway that would lead them back to the surface. Their guide, however, studied them for a moment, his eyes narrowing with consideration.

"With the way you've handled yourselves," he said, his voice both impressed and serious, "I’d advise you to continue. You've only scratched the surface of this dungeon. There's more to face, and it should push you even further."

They exchanged glances, the weight of his words sinking in. But without hesitation, the group decided to press on, venturing deeper into the heart of the dungeon.

Taking the portal to go deeper, the atmosphere shifted almost immediately, the architecture now blended the ancient stonework of a long-forgotten civilization with the raw, untamed growth of nature. Subterranean waterways weaved through the stone halls, the once-clear waters now murky, with only faint ripples marking their passage. The dungeon’s lower reaches had shifted from grand chambers and corridors into a labyrinth of flooded tunnels and cisterns, with occasional pockets of dry land..

As they advanced, the sound of water sloshing against stone grew louder, accompanied by the faintest whispers of movement beneath the surface. Avince could feel the hairs on his neck prickle. Something was down there, and it wasn’t just the water.

"Stay alert," Avince warned, his voice low, the tension evident. "We don’t know what kind of creature is lurking down here."

The air smelled of damp stone and algae, and the light from the torches cast eerie shadows on the waterlogged walls. Avince took in a deep breath, feeling the weight of the atmosphere. It was unlike any dungeon he’d faced before. The ever-present threat of the water made every step feel precarious, every corner hiding something unknown.

“Let’s stay close,” Camille spoke up, her voice steady. "We don’t know how deep the water is in some parts, and I don’t trust it."

They pressed forward, carefully navigating the slippery stone floor, the water now reaching their knees. Avince felt it slowing him down, the current pushing against his legs, making every step feel harder. His mind was focused, analyzing the situation. The lower level of the dungeon was a far cry from the dry, crumbling ruins they’d just left behind.

Suddenly, the sound of something stirring beneath the water broke through his thoughts.

A shape rose from the depths—a massive eel, its body coiling and undulating in the murky water. Its eyes glowed with a predatory hunger as it lunged toward them, jaws snapping open. The water rippled violently as more eels surfaced, their long bodies slithering in a coordinated attack.

"Here they come!" Rick shouted, his voice tense.

These eels were no ordinary creatures—they were massive, their length easily exceeding ten feet, with thick, armored scales that glinted under the dim light. Avince recognized them as being at the lower D-rank, a level manageable if they worked together. Still, the fight would not be easy with the number of eels present.

The team sprang into action. Josh, towering over the rest, stepped forward, his body rippling with the surge of enhanced strength as his earth manipulation abilities activated. His warhammer, too slow for the nearing eel, was left behind for a moment. Instead, he balled his fists, crackling with power, and swung at the first eel that lunged toward him. The creature was fast, but Josh’s punch was faster, smashing through the eel’s thick scales with bone-crushing force.

Greene, her body pulsing with the magic of nature, quickly extended vines from her arms to lash at the remaining eels. The thick, sturdy tendrils wrapped around the creatures, restraining them for just long enough to prevent them from overwhelming the group. Camille, ever calm in the heat of battle, stood nearby, her barrier magic at the ready. A transparent shield shimmered into existence around the group, protecting them from the eels' snapping jaws.

Avince, however, couldn’t risk using his lightning. The idea of a stray bolt zapping through the water and hitting one of his teammates made him hesitant, so he focused on his other elemental magic, manipulating the water around him and freezing them. With a wave of his hand, the currents of the water shifted, pushing the attacking eels back and making it harder for them to close the distance. Still, the pressure of the battle was mounting. The water was rising, and each eel that was struck down seemed to be replaced by another.

Finally, with a coordinated strike, the last of the giant eels was subdued. The team, dripping with water, took a moment to regroup, catching their breath.

"Is everyone alright?" Avince asked, his voice breathless but steady.

“I’m good,” Camille responded, her voice calm but tight with the effort. “That was intense.”

Greene nodded, wiping water from her face. “A little wet, but fine.”

Rick gave a thumbs-up, his shadow magic flickering as the water around him blended into his surroundings. "Could’ve been worse."

Avince looked to Josh, who was breathing heavily but still standing strong. "You alright?"

“Barely harder than those exams last week," Josh said with a grin, though his voice was strained from the exertion.

They were about to catch their breath when another disturbance caught Avince's attention. The water around them seemed to ripple unnaturally, and then—emerging from the depths—came the next threat: water elementals.

These creatures were not like the eels. They were ethereal beings, formed entirely from water, swirling with energy and power. Their forms were constantly shifting, flickering in and out of solid form, their limbs like tendrils of liquid that stretched out to strike. The air grew heavy with moisture as the elementals began to form into a solid mass, their bodies crackling with water magic.

Avince’s heart raced. These creatures were at the middle D-rank, significantly more powerful than the eels. The group had to be more strategic. Unlike the eels, they didn’t need to fear simple physical attacks. The elementals could manipulate water, bend it to their will, and create devastating waves with a mere flick of their watery limbs. They were like living storms, dangerous and unpredictable.

"Water elementals," Avince muttered under his breath. "Stay on your toes."

Josh immediately formed a defensive stance, his earth abilities shifting the ground beneath him into a defensive wall. Greene moved next to him, her vines ready to strike. Camille’s shield magic flared to life once again, a translucent dome of energy enveloping the team as the elementals moved in.

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The first water elemental lunged toward Josh, its body twisting into a spear-like shape. Josh raised his hand, pulling earth from the ground to meet the attack. A thick wall of stone rose between them just in time, deflecting the elemental's assault. The creature’s watery form splashed against the stone before it reformed, its tendrils reaching out to lash at Josh. He grunted, pushing back with earth manipulation, his muscles straining as the elemental’s body pressed against his stone defense.

Greene’s vines lashed out, trying to ensnare the elemental, but the water was too fluid, slipping through the gaps in the vine’s grasp. Rick, using his shadows to blend into the environment, darted around the battle, distracting the elementals as much as possible.

Avince, meanwhile, hesitated. He still couldn’t use his lightning in the water—doing so would risk potentially injuring his team and fire wouldn't be as effective here. Although he was still able to manipulate the water itself. With a deep breath, he focused, pulling the liquid around the elementals into a whirlpool and then used a chunk of his mana to freeze a portion of them, trapping them momentarily. The creatures struggled against the ice, their liquid bodies slowly becoming frozen.

“I’m keeping them contained!” Avince called out. “We need to take them down quickly!”

Josh took the cue, charging forward, his earth manipulation bursting through the whirlpool, creating rock spikes that shot out from the ground, aiming directly for the elemental. The creature’s watery form recoiled, but it wasn’t enough to escape the spikes. One hit it squarely in the chest, the stone protruding from its body like a spear.

Camille reinforced the attack, raising a shield around Josh as he delivered a crushing blow, smashing through the elemental’s form with a heavy punch. The creature dissolved into a flood of water, but it wasn’t the end—two more elementals appeared, drawn to the battle by the disturbance.

The second wave was harder, the elementals more aggressive, bending water and creating whirlpools that threatened to sweep them all off their feet. Avince's heart raced as he used his control over water and ice to try and counterbalance the creatures' attacks and freeze them, but it was difficult with the weight of the water around him.

Greene, seeing an opening, swung her vines toward the elemental’s core, entangling it in a thick, constricting coil. “I’ve got this one!” she yelled. With a flick of her wrist, the vine tightened, crushing the watery body into itself, and the elemental burst apart into droplets.

Rick, darting out from his camouflage, quickly targeted another elemental, quickly stabbing it in its core before it could retreat. “This is too close,” he muttered as he strengthened his grip.

With one last concerted effort, the remaining water elemental was overwhelmed. The team took a collective sigh of relief as the creature was reduced to mere splashes, dissolving into nothingness.

Exhausted but victorious, the group regrouped. The water still sloshed around them, the oppressive humidity making every breath feel heavy, but they had survived. They had fought not only the giant eels but now these group of water elementals—creatures of middle D-rank strength.

"Is everyone alright?" Avince asked again, his voice steady but clearly reflecting the fatigue they all felt.

“I’m good,” Camille said, brushing water from her face and giving a tired nod. “That was harder than it looked.”

Rick, panting slightly, gave a thumbs-up. “We make a good team.”

Josh, wiping sweat from his brow, cracked a grin. “Barely breaking a sweat.”

Avince couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. This dungeon rum was going exceptionally well. It had only been a short time since they’d entered this dungeon, and already, he realized that his magic had grown immensely stronger. He thought back to his recent training—just a few months ago, he had been struggling with how he would even begin to improve. But now, it was clear that he had made significant progress. He was probably somewhere in the lower C-rank range, maybe even higher, and the raw power at his fingertips felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

However, with this newfound strength came a challenge: his control had dropped immensely. The more power he wielded, the harder it became to maintain and control it. He could still feel the strain, the constant need to rein himself in. But perhaps that was the key. Instead of pushing his limits too quickly, he could simply learn to manage his output, reducing it gradually and fine-tuning his focus. It wouldn’t be fast, but it would be a sustainable way to grow stronger without burning out.

He then glanced at the others, now more attuned to their capabilities after the fight. Josh, should be at the peak within D-rank, and a force of nature in his own right, his raw power and tenacity making him an invaluable frontliner capable of holding his own against tough opponents. Camille, Greene, and Rick, should all be in the middle of D-rank. Camille’s strategic thinking and quick reflexes made her an excellent support, using her barriers and enhancements to keep the group safe. Rick, ever the stealthy operative, was quick on his feet and had a sharp eye for vulnerable spots, his speed and agility allowing him to strike precisely when the time was right. Greene, with her calm and calculated approach, controlled the battlefield with her plant magic. Avince also hardly noticed it before but flowers would sprout in his leather jacket when fighting, probably the girl providing some sort of buff to the team.

‘We’re holding it together because of how well we’re using our abilities,’ Avince thought to himself. ‘Josh and I are doing some heavy lifting, but the rest of the team is pulling their weight, too.’

As they moved deeper into the dungeon, the next challenge lay ahead—the entrance to the boss chamber. A set of submerged corridors stretched before them, the dark waters glimmering as if holding secrets within. A lever shimmering deep under the water would open the chamber, but reaching it would not be easy.

“This is it,” Avince said, his voice steady. “The boss room is just beyond that entrance. We’ll need someone to go underwater and activate the lever to open the doors.”

There was a pause as the team exchanged glances. Avince felt the weight of the decision. While the others could hold the line, he knew he was the most capable of handling the underwater.

“I’ll do it,” Avince said without hesitation.

Josh frowned. “You sure? We can figure something else out.”

“I’m sure,” Avince replied. "I’ve got this."

He stepped forward, quickly gathering his thoughts. This wasn’t going to be easy—he needed to be quick and precise to avoid any unnecessary risks.

Using a combination of his air and water magic, Avince created an air pocket around his head, allowing him to breathe underwater. It wasn’t perfect—he couldn’t use it on his teammates like the S-rank mage from Silver Melody—but it would be enough. He also made a shield barrier with his mana, reinforced by Camille, that would protect him as he dove into the depths to reach the lever.

"Stay safe," Camille said softly, her usual calm demeanor hiding the concern in her eyes.

Avince gave her a small nod and dove into the water, the cold shock hitting him instantly. He swam down, the water closing over him. His movements were slow at first, as the weight of the water around him made it harder to swim, but his focus remained clear. The lever was within reach, and he could feel the pressure mounting as he approached.

Suddenly, the water shifted around him, and he felt the unmistakable tug of something moving beneath the surface. A group of eels had ambushed him, their sleek, slippery bodies weaving around him, jaws snapping just inches from his face. Avince’s heart raced, but he remained calm, his air pocket barely holding as he continued to swim forward.

He didn’t hesitate, ignoring the eels completely. His goal was simple—to reach the lever. The creatures attacked his shield, but it held firm, Camille’s barrier magic protecting him as he swam deeper. The eels weren’t a threat now; they were only an obstacle.

With a swift motion, Avince reached the lever, pulling it down. The door beyond the water began to open with a heavy groan, and as the water flowed away from the entrance, he felt the vine tug on his leg. Greene had yanked him back to the surface with her vines.

“You good?” Josh asked, his voice full of concern.

“I’m fine,” Avince replied, his breath heavy but his mind clear. The next challenge awaited them—another dungeon boss.