The dungeon loomed ahead of us, a dark maw carved into the earth.

Its entrance was surrounded by jagged rocks, almost like teeth, and a cold breeze wafted out, carrying the faint, musty scent of decay.

Tobias raised a hand, signaling us to stop. “All right, team. Before we go in, let’s do a gear check and go over the plan one last time.”

The group formed a small circle, and everyone began inspecting their equipment.

I didn't have an amour and they didn't seem to care about that, because we where raiding a low dungeon.

I unsheathed my newly purchased dagger, its worn blade glinting faintly in the dim light.

It wasn’t flashy, but it felt solid in my hand.

A far cry from the polished weapons some of the others carried, but it would have to do.

“Got enough potions, newbie?” Marcus asked, tossing a dagger in the air and catching it effortlessly.

I nodded.

“Two healing potions and a stamina one.”

“Not bad,” he said with a smirk. “Just make sure you don’t fumble them when things get rough.”

Lily was adjusting the tension of her bowstring, her movements precise and practiced.

“Goblins might seem like small fry, but they’re smarter than they look. Don’t underestimate them.”

“Especially their ambush tactics,” Tobias added, sliding his massive claymore into its scabbard. “They’ll attack in waves, and they’ll go for the weakest link first.”

His eyes flicked to me briefly, but he didn’t say anything more.

“Allen,” Evelyn said softly, stepping closer. “Stay near me if you get injured. I’ll keep you patched up, but I can’t heal you if you’re too far away.”

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“Got it,” I said, appreciating her calm demeanor.

Tobias unfolded the map again, pointing to a section near the entrance.

“We’ll move in formation, Lily and I at the front, Marcus scouting ahead, Evelyn in the middle, and Allen covering her flank. Our goal is to clear out the goblin den marked here.”

He traced a path through the winding tunnels.

“The first chamber will be a small skirmish. Goblin scouts, maybe a few warriors. Nothing we can’t handle. But once we get deeper, they’ll start setting traps and calling reinforcements.”

“Fun,” Marcus said, grinning.

“Stay focused,” Tobias warned. “One mistake, and it’s game over.”

The weight of his words settled over me.

This wasn’t a training exercise.

There were no do-overs here.

Lily finished her preparations and slung her bow over her shoulder.

“Let’s get this over with. I’ve got a date with a hot meal and a good night’s sleep after this.”

Marcus laughed.

“You’re assuming we make it out alive.”

“We will,” Tobias said firmly. “As long as everyone does their part.”

The tension in the air was palpable as we approached the dungeon’s entrance.

My heartbeat quickened, the reality of what I was about to face sinking in.

This was why I was here, to grow stronger, no matter the cost.

Tobias turned to the group one last time.

“All right. Final check. Everyone ready?”

A chorus of nods followed.

“Then let’s move out.”

With that, we stepped into the darkness.

The dungeon seemed to suck us in like we entered a portal.

The air inside the dungeon was damp and heavy, the walls slick with moisture.

Faint scratches and claw marks marred the stone, a testament to the creatures that called this place home.

Marcus took the lead, his movements silent as a shadow.

He gestured for us to follow, his sharp eyes scanning for traps.

Behind him, Tobias and Lily moved in sync, their weapons at the ready.

Evelyn stayed close to me, her grip on her staff firm but not tense.

The tunnel widened into a small chamber, and Marcus held up a hand, signaling us to stop.

“Scouts,” he whispered, pointing to two goblins crouched near a pile of bones.

Tobias nodded and turned to me.

“Allen, this is your first fight. Stay close and watch how we handle it. If things get messy, use your lightning to cover us.”

I nodded, my grip tightening on the dagger.

Lily nocked an arrow, her movements fluid.

With a faint twang, the arrow flew, striking one of the goblins in the throat.

It fell with a guttural gurgle, alerting its companion.

Tobias charged forward before the second goblin could react, his claymore slicing through the air in a brutal arc.

The creature didn’t stand a chance.

The fight was over in seconds, but my pulse was racing.

“First blood,” Marcus said with a grin. “Not bad.”

“This was just the beginning,” Tobias said, his voice grim. “Stay sharp. It will only get harder from here.”

As we moved deeper into the dungeon, the air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to press closer.

I could feel the weight of every step, every breath.

This was real.

But I wasn’t going to back down.