The relentless battle had pushed them beyond their limits. They fought tirelessly, their muscles aching, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Every swing of their weapons felt heavier, every movement slower, but they had no choice but to press on. The trolls came in endless waves, their brute force unrelenting. Survival was the only option.

The sheer number of enemies bore down on them like an unstoppable tide. No matter how many they cut down, more replaced them, their guttural growls filling the cavern. Every parry, every dodge, every desperate counterattack drained more of their strength. Their bodies screamed for respite, but the trolls gave them none. There was no rhythm to the battle—only pure, unrelenting chaos.

Dominic wiped the sweat from his brow, staggering slightly as he barely dodged a massive club that shattered the stone floor beside him. His flames flickered unsteadily; his magic pushed to its limits. He had never felt this drained in a fight before. "Leigh, tell me we’re almost done here!"

Leigh, equally drained, parried a strike before slashing through a troll’s exposed flank. Her arms burned from the weight of her sword, and her vision blurred at the edges. Each strike demanded more effort than the last, each movement a battle against exhaustion itself. "If you see an end to this, let me know!" she shot back, barely able to keep her stance steady. The weight of her exhaustion threatened to buckle her knees, but she forced herself to move.

As a wave of mixed Trolls and Chieftains surged toward them, Leigh and Dominic braced themselves for what felt like their final stand. Their bodies ached, their breaths shallow, yet they stood firm, preparing to face the inevitable.

Then, without warning, a sudden explosion erupted within the advancing horde, sending trolls flying in all directions. Before they could even process what had happened, another blast followed—then another. The cavern shook with each detonation, and through the chaos, their eyes locked onto Arden.

He moved through the battlefield like a force of nature, a grin stretched across his face, his every movement effortless and precise. He weaved through the chaos, dodging strikes with an almost playful ease, his blade cutting through trolls as if they were mere training dummies. To him, this wasn’t just a battle—it was exhilarating, an untamed dance of destruction where he could finally let loose without restraint.

Arden’s movements blurred as he cut down another troll with a single sweeping motion, his body flowing like water through the battlefield. But he didn’t just rely on his sword—his hands moved instinctively, weaving through the air as he struck with the precision of Pangamot, seamlessly blending it with his swordsmanship.

A troll swung its club toward him, but with a swift parry, he redirected the force, stepping into its guard. His free hand shot forward, fingers expertly targeting pressure points along its thick arm, forcing the weapon loose. In the same motion, he spun his sword in a reverse grip, slashing upward in a single fluid arc that sent the disarmed creature sprawling.

Another troll lunged from behind, but Arden sensed it before it even reached him. He pivoted, using his shoulder to deflect its charge before sweeping its legs out from under it. As it crashed to the ground, he followed through—his sword flashing downward in a precise finishing strike. Before its body could fully settle, he had already moved on, his movements relentless, his strikes an effortless blend of deadly efficiency and martial mastery.

The relentless trolls, which had been a nightmare for Leigh and Dominic, were nothing more than playthings in his hands. This was no desperate struggle for survival—this was mastery in motion.

Dominic, still struggling to catch his breath, gawked at the spectacle. "Does he ever get tired?"

Leigh, leaning on her sword for support, let out a half-laugh, half-groan. "I don’t think he even knows what that word means."

Another troll lunged at Arden, swinging its massive club, but he sidestepped it with a smirk, countering with a devastating slash that sent the beast crumbling to the ground. For him, this wasn’t survival—it was entertainment.

The battlefield, once filled with overwhelming despair, now seemed completely under his control.

The thrill of adventure coursed through them as they stood amidst the remnants of battle, victorious yet drained. The barracks, once teeming with enemies, now lay in eerie silence, the spoils of their struggle scattered at their feet.

Arden adjusted his grip on his sword, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This place never ceases to surprise me."

Dominic stretched, rolling his shoulders with a tired grin. "I have to admit, it's been one hell of a dungeon crawl—if we even make it out in one piece."

Leigh smirked, sliding Venya back into its scabbard. "And we're not even at the best part yet. Something tells me the real challenge is still ahead."

Arden said, his voice steady with resolve, "This is exactly why we train inside Laoyon—to surpass our limits. This is what we came here for."

Leigh and Dominic exchanged determined glances before nodding, their resolve reignited.

Their eyes swept over the aftermath of the fierce battle, curiosity sparking between them. Four sturdy beds, each accompanied by an empty chest, lined the walls, their frames worn but intact. A wooden table with two matching chairs stood at the center, its surface scratched from years of use. Beside one of the chairs, a large wine cask rested, its wooden surface slightly damp. Arden knocked on it. "What do you think? Still drinkable?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Dominic turned the spigot, only to be met with a thick, black sludge. "Why is it always me?"

Leigh recoiled. "That is definitely not aged to perfection."

With a laugh, Arden clapped Dominic on the back. "You just have a gift for finding trouble."

As they explored further, they found an iron oven, a trough of water, and signs of a long-abandoned settlement. Leigh ran a hand over the table. "This could be a good place for us to stay while we train in Laoyon."

Just as they continued their search, Dominic stumbled over a pile of rocks near the cavern’s north end, just adjacent to an unlit oil lamp. Brushing off the dust with a sheepish grin, he clapped his hands together. "Well, I guess that answers your question."

Slowly, something stirred within the darkness beyond where Dominic’s light orb failed to reach. A deep, guttural growl reverberated through the cavern as a monstrous form slithered into view.

A Dirt Maw emerged from the shadows, its grotesque form moving with unnatural speed as it rushed toward them. Arden reacted first, bringing his sword down in a fierce strike—only for the blade to shatter upon impact, fragments scattering across the cavern floor without leaving so much as a mark on the creature’s thick, stone-like hide. Dominic launched a fireball at it, but the flames dispersed uselessly against its impenetrable skin, as if the creature itself absorbed the heat.

Leigh took a cautious step back, gripping Venya tightly. "This… isn’t good."

Arden exhaled, clenching his fist tighter, his eyes narrowing as the beast coiled, its hulking form exuding an ominous presence, ready to strike again.

And for the first time since entering the cave, the trio found themselves at a loss.

The trio threw everything they had at the creature. The Magician conjured ice, earth, and wind magic, but none had any effect. Leigh analyzed its movements, seeking a weakness, but her calculations yielded nothing.

Arden, narrowing his eyes, shifted his stance and launched into Pangamot. His strikes connected differently—while they didn’t pierce the creature’s hide, they disrupted its movement. The Dirt Maw recoiled slightly, its massive form shuddering.

A voice echoed in Leigh’s mind. It was Venya. "Let’s try striking it with Divine Power."

Leigh’s eyes flashed with determination. She raised her sword, calling upon Venya’s essence. In a brilliant shimmer, the blade transformed, its glow illuminating the cavern. She struck the creature with divine energy, causing it to screech in pain.

"As I thought," Venya confirmed.

Dominic, seeing Venya manifest, called forth Arcane Magnus. The sentient weapon materialized with a chuckle. "Well, this is classic. The great Magician struggling against a Maw."

Dominic scowled. "You could’ve said something sooner."

Arden delivered a precise spiritual punch, sending the creature skidding back across the cavern floor. Leigh seized the moment. "Dom, now!"

Arcane Magnus pulsed with power, unleashing a devastating lightning strike. The bolt arced through the air, illuminating the cavern before crashing into the Dirt Maw. The creature let out a final, agonized shriek before collapsing, its charred form smoldering. The sheer power of the strike left the trio momentarily speechless.

Arden, breaking the silence, gave Arcane Magnus a thumbs-up. "That was cool."

Arcane Magnus let out a smug hum. "That? That was merely a glimpse of the Great Magician's true power. If only you could remember..." Magnus pulsed with energy before returning to Dominic's staff wand, as if amused by his wielder's struggle.

Dominic pouted. "You could've warned me earlier," he muttered to Arcane Magnus, who only hummed in amusement.

They looted 17× gold coins, a lump of dirt, a mace, and a handful of worms as the creature’s body crumbled into dust. Arden picked up the mace, his curiosity piqued. He adjusted his grip and gave it a few experimental swings, feeling its weight and balance with an appreciative nod. "Weapons really are everywhere in this place," he mused, a grin forming on his lips.

Leigh sighed, with an amused glint in her eyes. "At this rate, Arden, we might need to build you a personal armory. Or better yet, a museum for all the weapons you collect."

Venya shimmered before returning to Leigh’s sword, its glow fading as it settled. As the battle's tension finally lifted, Dominic exhaled sharply, stretching his arms. "Now, where to next?"

Arden rolled his shoulders, glancing at the two paths ahead. "Two ways north... The left one looks like it circles back to where we came from."

Leigh studied the path carefully. "Yes, It probably loops back to where we descended."

Dominic sighed. "So, the right path it is. Let's just hope it leads somewhere less... violent."

Upon reaching the next cavern, they were met with an unexpected sight. Crates stacked haphazardly filled the space, brimming with fruits, meats, spices, and an assortment of cooking tools and knives. The scent of preserved food still lingered in the air, mingling with the damp cavern atmosphere.

Leigh ran a hand over the nearest crate, inspecting its contents with keen interest. "This looks like their kitchen," she murmured. A determined glint flashed in her eyes. "We definitely make this cavern our base."

At the left side of the kitchen, they saw a long table with eight wooden chairs. "This should be their dining area," Leigh remarked as she stepped closer to inspect a lit candelabrum above the table. Just as she reached for it, a sudden burst of fire streaked toward her.

Reacting instantly, Dominic cast a protective shield, deflecting the fireball before it could reach Leigh. Almost simultaneously, Arden's keen senses caught a glint of metal—a steel bolt flying toward them. With lightning reflexes, he swatted it aside using his newfound mace weapon, the deflected projectile embedding itself into the stone wall behind them.

A Wizard and a Bowman stood in the cavern, their figures now fully revealed as Dominic intensified the light orb, casting its glow across the chamber. Their eyes gleamed menacingly in the dim light, the Wizard clutching a staff adorned with a black orb, while the Bowman had already drawn an arrow, its tip glinting with a strange energy.

"A Minotaur Wizard and Bowman?" Dominic confused as he saw a minotaur in purple robe holding a staff wand with a black orb above it. At its side is another minotaur with a bow.

The cavern fell into an eerie silence, the air thick with tension as the two Minotaur sized them up. The Sorcerer’s staff pulsed with dark energy, while the Bowman slowly pulled back his bowstring, the arrow tip radiating an ominous glow.

Arden tightened his grip on his mace, his eyes narrowing. Dominic exhaled, magic crackling at his fingertips. Leigh’s stance shifted slightly, prepared for anything.

Then, without a word, the Wizard raised his staff.

A chilling wind howled through the cavern as the battle erupted.