The early morning light filtered through the curtains of the inn, casting a soft glow over the room where Kalsei, Steph, and Seikan had spent the night. The storm outside had finally subsided, though the air still felt damp and heavy with the lingering moisture. It was quiet inside the inn, the usual bustle of adventurers not yet in full swing, and for the first time in what felt like days, the trio enjoyed a peaceful moment of rest.

Kalsei stirred from his sleep, his golden eyes blinking open as a grin slowly spread across his face. He stretched his arms overhead and rolled out of bed, his movements as light and energetic as ever. "Alright! Another day, another adventure! What’s on the menu today?" he asked, his voice cutting through the stillness of the room.

Steph, lying in the bed next to his, groaned and pulled her blanket up over her head. "Why are you always so loud in the morning? Can’t we have one day where you wake up quietly?" Her voice was muffled but still filled with her usual dry sarcasm.

Seikan, who had already been awake and sitting by the window, turned his gaze away from the streets outside. "It’s part of his nature," he replied calmly, standing and gathering his belongings. "We’ll need to head to the market before we leave for the dungeon. If the storm returns, we can’t risk camping without better shelter."

Steph, still half-hidden beneath her blanket, let out another sigh. "Great. More shopping. My favorite thing in the world."

Kalsei shot her a playful wink. "You just need to find the fun in it, Steph. It’s like a treasure hunt! Plus, we get to spend some of our hard-earned gold. What’s not to love?"

Steph pulled the blanket down just enough to glare at him. "What’s not to love? Being around you 24/7, for starters."

Kalsei laughed, clearly unfazed. "Aw, don’t be like that. You know you love our little trio."

"Let’s go before the inn kicks us out," Seikan interrupted, his tone flat but carrying the weight of finality.

With a few more groans from Steph, the group gathered their belongings and made their way downstairs. The innkeeper gave them a polite nod as they passed, though he didn’t say much beyond the usual pleasantries. Once outside, they were greeted by the sight of the city slowly waking up. The streets were still slick from the rain, but the air felt fresher now, with a cool breeze cutting through the lingering humidity.

Kalsei bounded ahead of the group, excitedly taking in all the sights of the morning activities. "Alright, first stop: the market. We need a tent, and probably a few other supplies. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck in that dungeon."

Steph trudged along behind him, her hood pulled up to shield her from the damp air. "I’m not looking forward to sleeping on the ground again, even with a tent. But I guess it’s better than getting soaked."

Seikan staying focused, followed Kalsei toward the bustling market district. "We’ll need more than just a tent. Food, water, and basic supplies for at least a few days. We don’t know how long the dungeon will take."

The market was alive with activity, vendors calling out to advertise their wares while adventurers and townsfolk alike haggled over prices. The trio made their way through the maze of stalls, eventually finding a vendor selling camping gear. Kalsei wasted no time inspecting the various tents on display, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"This one’s perfect!" Kalsei declared, pointing to a sturdy, waterproof tent that looked large enough to comfortably fit all three of them. "It’s got a built-in canopy and everything. We’ll be camping in style!"

Steph rolled her eyes. "As long as it keeps us dry, I don’t care if it has a canopy or not."

Seikan nodded in agreement, handing over the gold to the vendor. "We’ll take it."

After purchasing the tent and a few other essentials—food, water, and extra bedding—the group made their way back toward the guild to accept their next contract. The sun was now fully up, casting long shadows across the streets as the city came alive with the hustle and bustle of daily life.

When they arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild, the familiar sight of adventurers crowded around the contract board greeted them. Kalsei pushed his way through the crowd, scanning the various contracts with eager eyes.

"Alright, let’s see... dungeon, dungeon... Ah, here we go!" Kalsei’s eyes lit up as he pulled a parchment from the board. "This is the one I saw yesterday: Dungeon exploration, Copper rank. Sounds like it’s right up our alley."

Seikan took the contract from Kalsei, his sharp eyes scanning the details. "The dungeon is located in the eastern part of the forest, near the old ruins. It’s said to contain rare materials and magical artifacts, but it’s also home to dangerous creatures. We’ll need to be prepared."

Steph groaned softly, already feeling the weight of the upcoming adventure. "Of course. Another dungeon. I swear, if there’s another cursed relic, I’m quitting."

Kalsei laughed, patting her on the back. "Aw, come on, Steph! Where’s your sense of adventure? This is what we signed up for!"

Seikan ignored the banter and focused on the contract’s finer details. "It seems straightforward enough, but we’ll need to remain cautious. Dungeons are unpredictable, especially in this world."

A system window appeared before them, confirming the details of the contract:

New Quest Accepted: Dungeon - Forgotten Ruins (Copper Rank) Details: A recently discovered dungeon near the southern ruins has been reported to contain rare materials and magical artifacts. Explore the dungeon and retrieve any valuable items. Beware of dangerous creatures that inhabit the area. Rewards:

2500 XP

Rare Materials (Random)

1200 Gold

Kalsei’s grin widened as the system window closed. "Alright, let’s do this! Dungeon time!"

Steph gave him a withering look. "You’re way too excited for this."

The trio left the guild, making their way toward the eastern gate of the capital. As they walked, Kalsei’s usual energy remained high, his playful sarcasm keeping the mood light despite the looming dungeon ahead.

"So, Steph," Kalsei began, glancing over his shoulder at her, "what’s your game plan once we’re in there? Gonna stay in the back and heal us like usual, or are you finally gonna show off that new dagger of yours?"

Steph rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the faint smirk on her lips. "I’ll do whatever keeps you alive, Kalsei. Though if you keep getting into trouble, I might just ‘forget’ to heal you."

Kalsei laughed, clearly unfazed. "I knew you liked me too much to let me die."

Seikan cut in, his voice calm but firm. "Stay focused. We don’t know what we’ll face in this dungeon, and overconfidence will get us killed."

Kalsei flashed Seikan a cheeky grin. "Hey, I’m always focused. Just... in my own way."

The journey to the dungeon took most of the morning, with the sky remaining overcast and the threat of rain still hanging in the air. By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the wind had picked up again, rustling the leaves in the trees above.

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The entrance to the dungeon was hidden behind a cluster of overgrown vines, the stone doorway weathered and cracked from centuries of neglect. A faint, eerie glow emanated from within, casting long shadows across the ground.

"Well, this is inviting," Steph muttered, her dark eyes scanning the entrance with disinterest. "Nothing like walking into an ancient ruin filled with who knows what."

Kalsei stayed optomistical and drew his sword with a flourish. "Come on, where’s your sense of adventure? It’s gonna be fun!"

Seikan stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the entrance. "Stay sharp. We don’t know what’s waiting for us inside."

The trio descended into the dungeon, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls as they ventured deeper into the darkness. The air grew colder the further they went, and the faint glow from the entrance soon disappeared, leaving them in near-total darkness.

A system window appeared before them, casting a faint light in the gloom:

Entering Dungeon: Forgotten Ruins Level: 4-6

A warning window popped up shortly after:

WARNING!

Beware of traps and dangerous creatures.

Proceed with caution.

Kalsei’s grin widened as the window closed. "Here we go! Let’s see what this place has in store for us."

As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the stone walls around them became more structured, with ancient symbols carved into the surface. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and mildew, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the corridors.

"Anyone else getting bad vibes from this place?" Steph asked, her voice low and cautious.

Kalsei laughed softly. "Come on, Steph. It’s just a dungeon. What’s the worst that could happen?"

At that moment, the floor beneath them gave way, and the trio fell through the collapsing ground into a lower chamber. They landed in a heap, the air knocked out of them by the sudden drop.

"Ouch!" Kalsei groaned, rubbing his head as he sat up. "Okay, maybe that was the worst that could happen."

Seikan was already on his feet, his eyes scanning their new surroundings. "We need to be more careful," Seikan said, his tone calm but stern as he surveyed the chamber they had fallen into. The room was dimly lit by faintly glowing crystals embedded in the walls, casting eerie shadows across the ancient stonework. "We were warned of traps upon entering this dungeon. Perhaps we should heed the warnings."

Kalsei, still rubbing his head, gave a lopsided grin. "Hey, It’s not like I knew the floor would give way." He quickly regained his usual playful demeanor, bouncing back to his feet. "But no harm done. We’re all still in one piece."

Steph, her dark hair slightly tousled from the fall, shot him a deadpan look. "Speak for yourself. I’m pretty sure I landed on a rock."

Kalsei chuckled, brushing off her comment as he scanned the chamber. "Well, at least we’re in one of the lower levels now. Maybe this is where all the good stuff is."

Seikan strategically traced a rune in the air, the glow of his magic illuminating the darkened space. "Stay alert. There’s no telling what kind of creatures inhabit this part of the dungeon."

As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the chamber, and the trio immediately tensed. Emerging from the shadows were creatures unlike anything they had seen before—resembling wolves, but their bodies were twisted, with multiple glowing eyes and tendrils of shadow snaking from their forms.

A system window appeared before them, flashing in warning:

Enemy Encounter: Shadow Wargs Level: 6-7 Health: 900 each

Abilities:

Shadow Blink (Lvl 4): Teleports between shadows to strike from unexpected angles.

Corrupting Bite (Lvl 5): Inflicts corruption damage over time, draining health and weakening defenses.

Dark Howl (Lvl 3): Releases a disorienting howl, reducing accuracy and evasion of nearby enemies.

Kalsei’s grin widened, his excitement only growing as he drew the Shattering Blade. "Now this is more like it! Time for round two!"

Seikan remained composed, his fingers already tracing runes in the air as he prepared for combat. "Don’t underestimate them. These creatures are more dangerous than the night beasts."

Steph, standing a few paces behind, sighed but raised her staff, her dark eyes focused on the approaching wargs. "Let’s just get this over with."

The first warg lunged at Kalsei with terrifying speed, its tendrils of shadow flickering in and out of existence as it moved. Kalsei, relying on his agility, dodged to the side just in time, delivering a swift slash with the Shattering Blade. The sword hummed as it connected with the warg’s side, sending a ripple of distorted energy through its form.

But the creature wasn’t down. With a snarl, it vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Kalsei in an instant. Before it could strike, Seikan activated Adaptive Shackles, dark chains erupting from the ground and wrapping around the warg’s legs, immobilizing it.

"Nice save!" Kalsei called out as he spun around, delivering a powerful strike to the bound creature. The Shattering Blade cut through the warg’s form with ease, causing it to let out a pained howl before collapsing into a heap of shadows.

Steph, meanwhile, kept her distance, casting Revitalizing Aura to ensure her companions stayed healed during the battle. Her eyes flicked between the remaining wargs, watching their movements carefully.

One of the wargs lunged at Seikan, its glowing eyes locked onto him as it prepared to strike. But Seikan was ready. With a flick of his wrist, he activated Rune of Decay, causing dark energy to spread across the ground beneath the warg. The creature let out a pained howl as its strength was drained, its movements becoming sluggish.

Kalsei took advantage of the opening, activating Blink Strike and teleporting behind the warg. His blade came down hard, cleaving through the creature with a swift motion. The warg let out one final growl before collapsing into the shadows.

The last remaining warg snarled, its eyes glowing with fury as it circled Steph. Steph stood her ground, her staff raised and glowing with dark energy. Before the warg could lunge, she cast Void Shield, creating a shimmering barrier that absorbed the impact of the warg’s attack.

"Not today," Steph muttered under her breath as she raised her hand, clutching the Shadow Fang dagger, jamming it into the ribs of the beast. The warg stumbled back screeching.

Kalsei, seeing the opening, dashed forward and delivered the finishing blow, his blade slicing cleanly through the creature’s form. The warg let out a final whimper before dissolving into mist.

A system window appeared before them, confirming their victory:

Shadow Wargs defeated! 2700 experience points earned

Item Drop: Warg Fangs (Monster Material)

Item Drop: Shadow Essence (Material for Crafting)

Kalsei sheathed his sword with a satisfied grin, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Well, that wasn’t too bad. These dungeons are starting to feel like home."

Steph rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, though there was a faint smile on her lips. "Speak for yourself. I’d rather be anywhere but here."

Seikan remained focused, inspecting the items they had collected. "These materials might be useful later. We’ll take them back to the capital when we’re done here."

The trio continued deeper into the dungeon, the air growing colder and the glow from the crystals dimming as they descended further. The stone walls around them became more intricate, with strange symbols and carvings etched into the surface.

Kalsei, walking ahead of the group, glanced over his shoulder at Steph. "So, Steph, you’ve been with us for a bit now. How are you feeling about this whole adventuring thing? Regretting joining us yet?"

Steph shrugged, her expression unreadable. "It’s... different. You two are a lot more interesting than my last party, I’ll give you that."

Kalsei grinned, his golden eyes sparkling with mischief. "See? You’re having fun. You just don’t want to admit it."

Steph rolled her eyes, though her faint smile remained. "I wouldn’t go that far."

Seikan followed behind with his usual calm demeanor and interrupted the banter. "We’re approaching the end of the dungeon. Stay focused."

As they entered the final chamber, the air became thick with magical energy. In the center of the room stood a massive stone pedestal, atop which rested a glowing, ancient artifact. The relic radiated power, its light casting long shadows across the walls.

Kalsei’s grin widened as he approached the pedestal. "Well, well, well. Looks like we found another relic." He flashed Seikan a cheeky grin. "No getting obsessed with this one, Seikan. I call dibs."

But before he could reach for the relic, a low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the ground beneath them shook. The walls around them cracked, and from the shadows emerged a massive figure—an ancient guardian, its stone body towering over them, its eyes glowing with a fierce light.

A system window flashed before them:

Boss Encounter: Ancient Guardian Level: 8 Health: 3000

Abilities:

Stone Slam (Lvl 5): A powerful slam attack that deals heavy damage to all nearby enemies.

Earthquake (Lvl 4): Causes the ground to shake violently, dealing damage over time and stunning enemies.

Stone Skin (Lvl 3): Reduces incoming damage by 50% for a short duration.

Kalsei’s grin faltered slightly, though he tried to maintain his composure in front of the others, as he drew the Shattering Blade. "Now this is what I’m talking about! Let’s take this thing down!"

Seikan and Steph quickly fell into position, their eyes locked on the massive guardian as it lumbered toward them.