The being began to conjure a spell, the gem on its staff glowing brighter than ever before. The sinister green light spread through the Dungeon, casting eerie shadows that seemed to writhe on the walls. Travis’s instincts screamed at him—he couldn’t afford to let it finish whatever it was preparing.
Without hesitation, he sprang forward, cutting through the air with incredible speed.
The monster unleashed its attack just as he closed the distance. A massive wave of black flames roared toward him, the heat prickling against his skin even from a distance. The spell was enormous, spanning the entire width of the hallway. There was no room to dodge left or right—it was like a wall of mana crashing down on him.
'Too big to sidestep,' he thought quickly, his eyes scanning the approaching attack.
At the last moment, he dropped low, sliding on the smooth stone floor beneath the torrent of flames. The searing heat passed just inches above him, scorching the air. He could feel his heart pounding, but he didn’t stop. As soon as he cleared the flames, Travis sprang to his feet, his sword already in motion.
In one fluid motion, he closed the gap and slashed his blade through the monster’s chest. The sharp steel struck true, shattering the glowing gem embedded within its body. A sickening crack echoed through the Dungeon as the creature froze, its dark form trembling before crumbling into dust.
Travis turned back, watching as the last remnants of the monster scattered into the air, leaving no trace behind. He let out a small breath of relief and smirked.
'Well, good thing I moved first. That thing was nasty. Makes sense now—this dead-end was a trap, designed to force you into a fight. That was close,' he thought, brushing off his sleeves.
He sheathed his sword and started to head back when a bright light flared behind him. Squinting, he turned to see the unmistakable glow of an exit portal forming where the monster had been moments before.
“Guess that’s my cue,” Travis muttered, stepping into the light with a grin.
The light faded, and he found himself outside the Dungeon’s first floor. The cool night air greeted him, and the silence was almost unnerving. He glanced around, expecting to see adventurers camped outside or preparing their gear. But there was no one.
The area was eerily deserted, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves and the distant call of nocturnal creatures.
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'Weird. Did everyone go inside already?' he thought, assuming it was normal.
What Travis didn’t realize was that everyone had left. It was late at night, and no adventurer with any sense would dive into a Dungeon at this hour. There was an unwritten rule every experienced adventurer followed—never go Dungeon diving at night. The dangers multiplied in the dark, and most monsters became far more aggressive and unpredictable.
Oblivious to the risk, Travis pressed on toward the entrance to the second floor.
The gateway loomed before him, pulsing faintly as it prepared to draw him inside. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
'Wonder what it has in store for me,' he thought, feeling the pull of the Dungeon’s magic.
In an instant, the world shifted around him, and Travis vanished into the second floor.
......
Outside the Dungeon, in the bustling town of Eldermoor, the tension was palpable. At the center of the town stood the governor’s estate, a grand building of stone and polished wood, its tall windows glowing faintly in the dim evening light. Inside, the mood was far from serene.
Governor Anthony Kole, a middle-aged man with sharp features, black hair streaked with gray, and piercing brown eyes, sat at the head of a long oak table. Around him, his executives and several key figures of the town had gathered. The room, lined with shelves of books and maps of the region, felt stiflingly silent as they waited for someone to speak.
Anthony leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished surface of the table, and sighed heavily. His normally steady demeanor was strained, his expression grim.
“Are you certain about what you’re saying?” he asked, his voice steady but laced with unease.
The messenger, a wiry man in dirt-streaked traveling clothes, nodded vigorously, his face pale. “Yes, sir. When I was outside the town, I saw them. A whole horde marching toward this area. While it doesn’t look like they’re aiming for Eldermoor directly, they’ll pass close enough. And we all know what that means.”
The room erupted into murmurs, some of the council exchanging worried glances, while others sat frozen. Anthony raised a hand, silencing them.
He exhaled deeply and leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as his mind raced. “A threat, indeed,” he muttered before slamming his fist onto the table, the sound echoing sharply. “A Bloody Ogre Horde!”
The words hung in the air like a curse. Everyone in the room knew the gravity of the situation. Ogres were bad enough individually, but an entire horde? They were known to leave destruction in their wake, razing villages and towns to the ground without mercy.
Jason Moore, the guildmaster of Eldermoor’s Adventurer’s Guild, rose from his seat, his imposing figure adding weight to his words. “Governor Kole, we need to act quickly. If they’re already near Danyl Town, they’ll reach us by tomorrow night at the latest. We can muster a group of adventurers to prepare for their arrival.”
Anthony rubbed his temples. “And how do you plan to handle a horde with just adventurers? Even with our best, they’ll be outnumbered and outmatched.”
Jason’s tone didn’t waver. “We’ll gather all B-Rank and higher adventurers in the town. It’s the best we can do with the time we have. Meanwhile, I suggest you send an urgent request to the Adventurer’s Guild headquarters for reinforcements—preferably someone at S-Rank.”
Another council member, a rotund merchant with a nervous tic, spoke up. “But will they even get here in time? The headquarters is far—days away!”
Anthony held up a hand to stop the man’s panicked rambling. “We don’t have the luxury of debating this. Jason, start gathering the adventurers immediately. I’ll write to the guild and offer whatever resources they need to get an S-Rank here as fast as possible. If we fail to act now, Eldermoor could be reduced to ashes.”
Jason nodded sharply, his expression resolute. “I’ll see to it at once.”
As Jason left the room to rally the town’s adventurers, Anthony remained seated, his gaze fixed on the map sprawled across the table. His mind churned with strategy and worry. Eldermoor wasn’t just a town to him—it was home to thousands of lives, each one depending on him to make the right decision.
He clenched his fists. 'We’ve faced threats before, but nothing like this. If we’re not careful, we might not survive'
TO BE CONTINUED