The Silver Serpents pressed on, but the strain of the relentless dungeon was starting to show. Every muscle ached, and their nerves were frayed from the constant brushes with death. Yet, a spark of determination still burned in their eyes—an acknowledgment of the challenge and the unspoken agreement to conquer it.
As they entered Hammer Hall , they tried to assess the situation, but their attention scattered in every direction, wary of new surprises. The room’s ceiling loomed high above, dark and ominous, with the sound of creaking chains adding a sinister note to the ambiance. Suddenly, a large chain net, hidden among the shadows, dropped onto Korwin, entangling him in its heavy links.
"Gah!" Korwin yelled, struggling against the sudden weight as it dragged him deeper into the cart.
"Hang on!" Jax shouted. He leaned over, trying to free Korwin, but the thick metal links were too heavy to lift alone.
Rhogar and Thalia pushed forward, reaching out to grab the net. Together, they strained against it, their faces red with exertion. "Got you, Korwin!" Rhogar grunted, but before they could free him completely, Alya’s eyes widened as she spotted the real danger ahead.
"FIRE!" she screamed, her voice breaking through the chaos.
They all turned to see twin jets of orange flame burst forth from hidden nozzles along the sides of the room. The jets of fire spewed across the tracks, the heat so intense that it shimmered the air.
"Duck!" Korwin yelled from beneath the heavy net.
In unison, the team dropped inside their carts, pressing themselves as low as possible. The fire engulfed them, flames licking at the edges of their carts. The metal sides began to glow faintly, becoming searing hot to the touch.
"Keep moving!" Thalia urged, her voice muffled by the roar of the flames.
With the levers pushed forward to full throttle, the carts surged ahead. The wheels screeched against the tracks, sparks flying as they sped past the wall of fire. The heat was unbearable, and Jax winced as his arm brushed against the heated metal, leaving a faint burn mark on his skin.
“Almost there!” Alya shouted, though her voice was barely audible over the roaring flames.
Once they cleared the fiery jets, the rushing air finally cooled the carts, the intense heat quickly dissipating. The adventurers released the levers and straightened up, breathing heavily.
“That was insane,” Jax muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. “This dungeon is seriously trying to roast us.”
"Still better than the swarm of spiders back there," Thalia said, trying to inject a bit of humor despite the tension.
But the moment of relief was brief. Ahead, the unmistakable sounds of metal on metal echoed through the room, followed by a deep, rhythmic pounding that shook the very tracks beneath them.
Peering up, the Silver Serpents were met with a terrifying sight: massive hammers raised high, poised to smash down onto the steel-plated tracks. The grooves in the plates were designed to guide the carts through, but there was no doubt—the timing would be everything.
Korwin, still partially tangled in the chain net, shouted, "SLOW DOWN!"
The team yanked back hard on their levers, the wheels screeching as they attempted to slow their rapid pace. Sparks flew from the tracks, and the momentum from their fire-escape nearly carried them straight into the first hammer’s deadly swing. Korwin’s cart came to a jarring stop just a foot from the impact zone, the hammer slamming down with a thunderous CRASH , sending vibrations rippling through the room.
"Alright, let's be smart about this," Korwin instructed as Rhogar and Thalia managed to untangle the last of the net from around him. "We need to time it perfectly."
One by one, they watched the rhythm of the hammers—up, pause, down. The timing was consistent but tight, leaving little room for error.
"You first, Korwin," Alya encouraged, her voice steady.
Korwin nodded, his face set in determination. As soon as the nearest hammer began to lift, he pushed the lever forward, and his cart shot through the groove just as the hammer came crashing down behind him.
"Go, go!" Korwin shouted from the other side.
Thalia followed next, waiting for the moment the hammer started to rise before pushing her cart forward. She passed through cleanly, her cart jolting from the impact as the hammer slammed down behind her.
Rhogar grinned, showing his sharp Dragonborn teeth. "Easy enough." But as he pushed forward, his cart swerved slightly, catching the edge of the groove. He barely managed to steer back on course, the hammer’s shockwave sending a blast of air that nearly knocked him over.
Alya’s turn was next. As the hammer lifted, she nudged her cart forward, her eyes narrowed in concentration. She cleared it, but the close call left her breathless.
Jax, however, was not as lucky. He pushed forward, but his cart hesitated, snagging momentarily on a piece of loose metal. His eyes widened as the hammer began its descent. He yanked the lever desperately, and the cart shot forward, the hammer grazing the back end with a deafening clang .
“Too close!” Jax gasped, sweat trickling down his face.
With the hammers behind them, the adventurers barely had time to regroup when they felt a sudden, powerful tug toward the right side of the room. The magnetic wall had been activated.
A strong, humming sound filled the air as the magnetic force increased, pulling at every metal item the adventurers carried. Weapons, armor, and even metal fasteners on their boots were all affected.
"Not this again," Thalia groaned, fighting against the pull.
"Just push forward—don’t let it drag you in!" Korwin commanded, trying to keep his cart on track.
Rhogar, clad in heavy armor, struggled the most. "Damn this magnet! It’s pulling me sideways!" he bellowed, gripping the lever with all his might.
The adventurers leaned forward, putting all their strength into propelling their carts forward. The magnetic wall continued to tug at them, relentless and unyielding.
"Drop anything metal if you have to!" Alya suggested, already tossing a few daggers that were becoming too much of a liability.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Jax, lighter than the others, managed to keep a better pace. "Come on, Rhogar—don’t let it win!" he called back.
Thalia’s magical staff was glowing intensely, its metal core reacting strongly to the magnetic pull. She focused her magic, creating a temporary shield around the cart to lessen the effect, but it required all her concentration.
Korwin was the first to reach the end of the magnetic field, the pull finally releasing its grip. He exhaled deeply, relieved but wary of what lay ahead.
"Everyone alright?" he asked, looking back at his team.
“Barely,” Rhogar grunted, shaking off the lingering pull of the wall.
"We made it," Thalia confirmed, her voice shaky but resolute.
"Yeah, but how much more of this can we take?" Jax muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Enough to finish," Korwin declared, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We’ve come this far, and we’re not stopping now."
"But there's four more laps," Jax said, losing his determination.
"Yeah, but we know what we're in for. The first lap will definitely be the hardest," Korwin replied.
Jax had to admit he was right grudgingly.
"Besides, if we don't finish, we don't get the loot. And I bet there's some pretty awesome loot at the end of a dungeon like this," Korwim smiled broadly at Jax.
"I do like loot," the halfling said, a smile coming to his own face.
"That's the spirit!"
As the Silver Serpents exited Hammer Hall, a strange, low hum vibrated through the air. Ahead, a wide, open space stretched before them, dimly lit with an eerie green glow that pulsed rhythmically from the runes etched into the walls.
The adventurers looked at one another, their expressions tense. The tracks split into three paths—left, center, and right—each diverging sharply into different parts of the room. Above the dividing tracks, a rusty metal sign swung from a single chain, creaking ominously as it displayed the words:
Welcome to the Magnetic Mayhem Arena!
"Magnetic Mayhem? What does that even mean?" Jax asked, his voice strained with apprehension.
"It sounds like a headache," Alya muttered, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room.
Korwin gripped his lever tightly. "Stay sharp, everyone. We don’t know what we’re about to face, but let's keep calm and work our way through. Follow your instincts, use the switch plates when needed to avoid any traps."
They had no time to plan further as their carts lurched forward, each one being pulled onto a separate track with a sudden magnetic force that shook the adventurers to their cores. Korwin found himself on the far left track, Rhogar in the middle, and Alya, Jax, and Thalia forced together onto the right.
“Stay safe!” Thalia called out, her voice barely audible over the hum.
Korwin gritted his teeth as his cart sped up, the hum growing louder. Suddenly, the walls on either side erupted with glowing blue magnets, pulling at the metal of his armor. His cart jolted sharply to one side, throwing his weight against the edge.
"These magnets are going to be a real pain," he grumbled, trying to steady himself.
From the center track, Rhogar let out a battle cry as his cart was yanked wildly from side to side, the force nearly toppling him over. "Is this supposed to be a race or a carnival ride?!" he yelled, holding on for dear life as sparks flew from the cart’s contact with the tracks.
On the right, Alya’s cart suddenly tilted to the side as a massive magnetic pulse pulled her dangerously close to the wall. "Switch plate, now!" she shouted, spotting a glowing plate just ahead. She slammed the lever to slow her speed and struck the plate with the hilt of her dagger.
The track shifted beneath her cart, veering away from the approaching magnetic wall, but it sent Jax and Thalia spinning wildly in another direction.
“Whoa! A little warning next time, Alya!” Jax called out as he barely managed to keep his balance.
Thalia, clutching her staff, muttered a quick spell that sent a burst of energy outward, neutralizing some of the magnetic pull around her. It helped steady the cart but couldn’t eliminate the constant, erratic tugging.
Meanwhile, Korwin’s track had taken him through a gauntlet of floating metal debris. Pieces of scrap metal—old blades, gears, and rusted armor—hovered mid-air, drawn by the same magnetic forces that were controlling the room. They whipped toward him like makeshift projectiles.
Korwin ducked and raised his shield to deflect a few incoming blades. "A little help would be nice!" he shouted, even knowing his teammates couldn’t reach him.
The magnets seemed to react to Rhogar’s heavy metal armor with even greater intensity. His cart jerked violently as the magnets drew it closer. He swung his axe wildly at the magnetic pulse points, hoping to disrupt their pull. One swing connected with a large hanging magnet, sending it spiraling away and giving him a moment’s reprieve.
"These magnets are relentless!" Rhogar shouted, his voice filled with frustration. He spotted a switch plate ahead and slammed it with his axe, causing the tracks to shift beneath him. The cart tilted abruptly and then stabilized on a new path, this one slightly less magnetic, at least for the moment.
Jax and Thalia continued to struggle on their own path. As they weaved through the field of magnetic mayhem, they encountered Thundertreaders—small, agile constructs with electrified legs that scuttled along the tracks, delivering sharp jolts to anything metal.
"Great, as if magnets weren’t bad enough," Jax muttered, feeling a spark hit his armor and send a tingling shock through him. "Thalia, can’t you do something about these things?"
Thalia nodded, raising her staff again. She cast a quick lightning ward, forming a thin barrier around the cart that repelled the Thundertreaders’ electric attacks. The creatures scurried back, momentarily repelled, but regrouped quickly to resume their attacks.
Alya, finally spotting a potential path to reconnect with the others, hit another switch plate. Her track shifted again, aligning toward the central path where Rhogar was still battling magnetic pulls and incoming debris.
“About time!” Rhogar shouted as Alya’s cart drew closer. “Let’s move fast before these magnets get us stuck again.”
Korwin, seeing the reunion up ahead, focused on the next switch plate in his own path. He struck it just in time, realigning his track to converge with Rhogar’s. The carts bumped and rattled, finally bringing the team back together.
"Everyone okay?" Korwin asked, his voice barely masking his relief.
“Mostly,” Alya replied, rubbing her shoulder. "But I swear, if I get shocked one more time…"
With the team finally reunited, the adventurers pushed forward as one. The remaining track was still filled with erratic magnetic pulls and the occasional Thundertreader, but the combined efforts of the team made it easier to navigate.
“Almost there!” Korwin called, pointing to the exit that was now visible at the far end of the room.
The adventurers gritted their teeth, fighting through the last stretch of magnetic chaos. As the magnets lost their grip and the Thundertreaders scurried away, the Silver Serpents emerged from the Magnetic Mayhem Arena, breathing hard but victorious.
“That was… chaotic,” Jax said, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Just the way we like it,” Rhogar grinned, his eyes still gleaming with battle lust.
“Let’s not get too comfortable,” Korwin warned, his gaze fixed on the next door. "We still have to face whatever’s next."