The deeper we ventured, the more the atmosphere shifted.

The air was thicker, damp and heavy with the scent of rot.

The faint torchlight flickered against the rough stone walls, casting shadows that seemed to move on their own.

No one spoke.

The tension was palpable, every step carefully placed as we descended further into the heart of the dungeon.

The next chamber we entered was vast, the ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness.

The walls were covered in the same jagged markings we’d seen before, but here they were larger, more intricate.

It felt as though the very walls were alive, pulsating faintly with a malevolent energy.

Tobias raised his hand, signaling for us to stop.

“Stay close. This feels different.”

He wasn’t wrong.

The silence here wasn’t just an absence of sound, it was oppressive, pressing down on us like a physical weight.

Even my breathing felt loud in the stillness.

Evelyn’s staff glowed softly, casting a faint silver light.

“The Mana here is... distorted,” she murmured, her brows furrowed in concentration. “It’s like it’s being corrupted.”

Lily nocked an arrow, her bowstring taut.

“Whatever’s ahead, it’s not friendly.”

Marcus smirked, his daggers glinting in the dim light.

“Good. I was starting to get bored.”

Damn idiot.

I stayed quiet, my grip on my dagger tightening.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn back and run, but the thought of retreating was more unbearable than the fear.

As we moved further into the chamber, a low growl echoed through the air.

It wasn’t loud, but it was deep and guttural, vibrating through the ground beneath our feet.

“Formation,” Tobias said, his voice calm but firm.

We moved automatically, falling into the positions we’d practiced.

Tobias took the front, his claymore at the ready.

Lily and Marcus flanked him, their weapons poised. Evelyn and I stayed at the back, her staff glowing brighter now, my Mana crackling faintly around my fingertips.

The growl came again, louder this time, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.

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From the shadows at the far end of the chamber, they emerged.

Four hulking beasts, each standing at least seven feet tall.

Their bodies were grotesque, twisted masses of muscle and sinew.

Their skin was mottled and dark, covered in jagged scars.

Each one carried a massive weapon, crude but deadly.

“Minotaurs,” Tobias muttered, his jaw tightening. “Stay sharp. These aren’t like the goblins.”

The lead minotaur let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the chamber like a shockwave.

And then they charged.

Tobias met them head-on, his claymore clashing with the lead minotaur’s massive axe.

The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, the sheer force of the collision staggering.

Lily’s arrows flew, each one finding its mark, but the minotaurs barely flinched, their thick hides absorbing most of the damage.

Marcus darted to the side, his daggers flashing as he aimed for the gaps in their armor.

He managed to draw blood, but it only seemed to enrage them further.

“Allen!” Tobias shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Focus on the one in the back!”

I nodded, raising my hand as I summoned lighting.

The lighting crackled, a surge of lighting coursing through me.

I could not expand it well because I my mind wasn't stable at the moment.

I unleashed a bolt of lightning at the minotaur Tobias had pointed out.

The lightning struck its target, the beast letting out a pained roar as it staggered.

But it didn’t fall.

Instead, it turned its gaze toward me, its eyes burning with rage.

It charged.

I barely had time to react, diving to the side as its massive axe slammed into the ground where I’d been standing.

The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, knocking me off balance.

“Allen!” Evelyn’s voice was sharp with worry.

“I’m fine!” I shouted back, scrambling to my feet.

The minotaur turned to face me again, its movements slow but deliberate.

I could see the scorch marks on its chest where my lightning had hit, but it was still very much alive.

“Again,” I muttered, summoning another bolt.

The second strike was stronger, more focused.

The energy crackled and danced along the minotaur’s body, the smell of burning flesh filling the air.

This time, it dropped to one knee, its breathing labored.

Tobias was still locked in a brutal battle with the lead minotaur, their weapons clashing in a deadly dance.

Marcus and Lily were working together to take down another, their movements precise and coordinated.

Evelyn was casting a barrier spell, her silver light enveloping Tobias just in time to deflect a deadly blow.

The minotaur in front of me wasn’t done yet.

With a guttural growl, it swung its axe, the blade carving through the air with terrifying speed.

They have low lighting resistance.

I ducked, the wind from the swing ruffling my hair.

If they are lighting resistant, then I just have to hit them harder.

If it won't die with one strike, then I will strike five times, if five won't do, then ten will do.

I retaliated with a third lightning strike.

This time, the energy was too much.

The minotaur let out one final roar before collapsing, its massive body hitting the ground with a resounding thud.

It looks like three strikes did the job. Or rather yet, one.

But it was stronger than the first and second strike.

It is resistant to lighting, so my previous strike didn't do any harm to it. Only a scratch.

How did I get stronger soo quick?

But I didn’t have time to celebrate.

The last minotaur, the one Marcus and Lily had been fighting, let out a deafening roar as it charged toward Evelyn.

“Evelyn, move!” I shouted, my voice raw.

She turned just in time, her staff glowing as she cast a shield spell.

The barrier held, but the force of the impact sent her sprawling.

Tobias roared, his claymore slicing through the lead minotaur with a final, powerful swing.

He turned, his face a mask of fury, and charged at the remaining beast.

We brought it down.

The chamber fell silent, the only sound our ragged breathing.

Evelyn sat up, her face pale but determined. “Is everyone okay?”

“Define okay,” Marcus said, his voice shaky but laced with humor.

“We’re alive,” Tobias said, his tone grim. “That’s all that matters.”

I leaned against the wall, my body trembling from the adrenaline.

It was a small comfort in the wake of what we’d just faced.

Tobias looked around the chamber, his expression unreadable.

“This isn’t normal,” he said quietly. “Minotaurs this deep? Something’s wrong.”

No one argued.

As we regrouped and prepared to move on, the unease in my chest grew.

Whatever was waiting for us deeper in the dungeon, it was far worse than anything we’d faced so far.