The stone corridors of the dungeon stretched out before them, the air growing colder and more oppressive with each step. The ancient magic that had lingered in the previous chambers now hummed through the very walls, as if the deeper they went, the more alive the dungeon became. The remnants of their fight with the Ancient Guardian were behind them, but there was no doubt that further challenges awaited ahead.

Kalsei twirled the Shattering Blade in his hand, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the dungeon. "Okay, I know I said this place was cool, but it's starting to feel like one of those cursed tombs where the walls start closing in on you."

Steph, walking a few paces behind him, sighed softly. "Please don’t jinx us."

Seikan, as calm and composed as ever, led the way, his eyes scanning every crack in the walls, every slight shift in the floor beneath them. "The dungeon’s energy is stronger here. We need to be on guard."

The sound of grinding stone echoed again, faint but unmistakable. Kalsei glanced at Seikan with a raised eyebrow. "You think the dungeon’s... alive?"

Seikan’s lips tightened. "It’s possible. There are dungeons in Velcyne that have a consciousness, reacting to the presence of adventurers. This one feels like it’s watching us."

Kalsei blinked, then chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Great. First monsters, now the dungeon itself might want to kill us. Lovely."

Steph’s dark eyes narrowed as they entered a new chamber, her hand clutching the Shadow Fang Dagger at her side. "Look on the bright side," she said dryly. "At least it hasn’t done anything... yet."

The chamber they stepped into was vast, with towering pillars carved from dark stone that reached up to the ceiling, disappearing into the shadows above. Strange, glowing runes adorned the walls, pulsing with an eerie light that cast long, flickering shadows across the room. In the center of the chamber was a massive, circular platform with a strange, shimmering mist hanging in the air above it.

Kalsei stepped forward, peering at the mist with a grin. "Ooh, shiny. You think it’s a treasure vault?"

Steph eyed the mist warily. "Or it’s a trap. Take your pick."

Before Kalsei could respond, the mist began to ripple, and from within its swirling depths, a strange figure materialized. It was humanoid in shape, but its skin was translucent, revealing swirling clouds of dark energy beneath its surface. Its eyes were hollow voids, and as it moved, the mist seemed to follow it like a cloak.

The figure hovered above the platform for a moment before more figures began to emerge from the mist—each one different, but all sharing the same eerie, translucent form. They were like shadows made manifest, their bodies shifting and distorting as they glided silently across the chamber floor.

Kalsei’s grin widened, but this time there was an edge of caution in his voice. "Alright, this is new. Ghosts, or... something like it."

Seikan’s eyes narrowed. "Not ghosts. These are Wraith Constructs—beings made of pure mana, designed to guard ancient places like this. They’re bound to the dungeon’s magic."

Steph drew her dagger, her expression serious. "So... we’re fighting magic itself?"

Seikan nodded. "In a sense. They can’t be harmed by physical weapons alone. We’ll need to disrupt their mana cores to defeat them."

Kalsei rolled his shoulders, ready for a fight. "How do you know this stuff?"

Seikan didn't answer immediately. He couldn't tell Kalsei that the relic was whispering to him. Kalsei would think he was crazy. "Stay focused."

Enemy Encounter: Wraith Constructs Level: 7 Health: 1000 each

Abilities:

Phantom Slash (Lvl 3): A swift, ethereal strike that ignores physical armor and deals direct damage to the target’s life force.

Mana Drain (Lvl 2): Absorbs mana from enemies, reducing their ability to cast spells or use magic-based skills.

Spectral Shift (Lvl 4): Teleports through walls or floors, allowing the Wraith Constructs to reposition and strike from unexpected angles.

The first Wraith Construct lunged at Kalsei, its form rippling as it phased through one of the stone pillars and appeared right in front of him. Its arm, now a sharp blade of swirling mist, slashed toward him with lightning speed.

Kalsei’s agility kicked in, and he activated Void Step, his body briefly becoming intangible as the wraith’s strike passed harmlessly through him. "Close one!" he called out, reappearing behind the creature and slashing at it with the Shattering Blade.

The blade connected, but instead of a solid hit, the Wraith Construct’s form distorted, absorbing the blow like water. Kalsei cursed under his breath. "Right, Seikan said physical weapons won’t work. Any bright ideas?"

Seikan was already tracing runes in the air, his fingers glowing with dark energy. "Focus on disrupting their cores. They’re weak to magic-based attacks."

Steph raised her hand, casting Vital Surge on Kalsei, healing the small amount of life force he’d lost during the brief exchange. "You heard him. Let the magic users handle this."

"Noted," Kalsei said, though he wasn’t about to sit back and do nothing. He activated Reality Blink, distorting the space around him and using it to confuse the Wraith Constructs as they darted toward him. Their ethereal forms flickered and shifted, but Kalsei’s speed and agility kept him one step ahead.

Seikan, now fully immersed in his magic, activated 'Adaptive Shackles'. A glowing rune appeared beneath the nearest Wraith Construct, and dark chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around the creature and freezing it in place. The wraith struggled, its form rippling and distorting, but the magic held firm.

"Now!" Seikan called out.

Kalsei didn’t need to be told twice. He dashed forward and activated Void Blade, sending a blade of pure void energy slicing through the air. The attack struck the immobilized Wraith Construct directly in its mana core, and the creature let out a haunting wail as its form shattered into shards of light.

Wraith Construct defeated! 500 experience points earned

Steph, meanwhile, had her hands full with another Wraith Construct that had teleported to her side, its Phantom Slash cutting through the air with lethal precision. She dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, then thrust her dagger forward, aiming for the wraith’s core.

The Shadow Fang Dagger shimmered as she pointed it at the creature, the 'Shadow Fang' spell activating. The wraith let out a distorted screech, its form rippling violently as the spell hit its mana core, weakening it.

Seikan, quick to help the healer, cast Rune of Decay beneath the Wraith Construct, sapping its remaining strength and causing its form to wither. With a final, tortured wail, the wraith dissolved into mist, leaving nothing behind but a faint shimmer of mana.

Wraith Construct defeated! 500 experience points earned

Kalsei, still dodging and weaving through the room, taunted the last Wraith Construct with a grin. "You’re a tough one, huh? Let’s see how you handle this!" He activated Rift Strike, sending a shockwave of distorted energy toward the creature. The wraith shifted, trying to avoid the attack, but Kalsei anticipated its movement and followed up with another Void Blade.

The blade of void energy sliced through the air, striking the wraith’s core dead-on. The creature let out a final screech before shattering into nothingness, its mana dispersing into the air.

Wraith Construct defeated! 500 experience points earned

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As the last Wraith Construct dissolved, a system window appeared before them:

Wraith Constructs Defeated! 1500 experience points earned.

Kalsei let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and sheathed his sword with a satisfied grin. "Well, that was a workout. These wraiths are creepy, but we handled them like pros."

Steph, catching her breath, muttered dryly, "Yeah, sure. Let’s just hope there aren’t any more surprises waiting for us."

Seikan, his eyes still scanning the room, spoke up. "There’s more to this dungeon. The wraiths were guarding something. We need to keep moving."

Kalsei stretched and moved to Seikan's side. "Lead the way, Seikan. But I’m hoping there’s at least one treasure chest waiting for us down here."

They moved toward the far side of the chamber, where another set of stone doors waited. The runes on the door glowed faintly, but unlike the others they had encountered, these doors opened smoothly, revealing a narrow corridor that stretched deeper into the dungeon.

Kalsei, still brimming with energy from the fight, couldn’t resist cracking a joke. "Alright, dungeon. Show us your secrets! Preferably the shiny kind."

As they ventured further into the depths, the air grew colder, and the dense magic that filled the dungeon intensified, weighing heavily on their bodies and minds. The glow of the runes on the walls grew brighter, casting an eerie, flickering light on the stone floor beneath their feet.

Steph’s voice, quiet but firm, broke the silence. "Seikan... do you feel that?"

Seikan nodded, his eyes narrowing as he studied the walls. "Yes. The dungeon’s magic is stronger here. We’re getting closer to something... significant."

Kalsei glanced around, his usual grin still in place, but there was a tension in his movements. "Significant like... more treasure, or significant like something that wants to kill us?"

Seikan didn’t answer right away, his focus remaining on the shifting energy in the air. "It could be both."

Steph let out a small sigh, her dark eyes scanning the walls as well. "Of course, it’s both."

They continued down the narrow corridor, the glow of the runes reflecting off the slick stone walls, giving the entire passage an otherworldly feel. The air grew colder with each step, and a faint humming sound began to fill the space around them, growing louder and more intense the further they ventured.

Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a massive underground chamber, unlike anything they had seen in the dungeon so far. The walls were lined with strange, shifting symbols that seemed to pulse with life, and at the center of the room stood a massive stone obelisk, its surface covered in intricate carvings that glowed with an eerie, pulsing light. The ground beneath it shimmered with faint traces of mana, forming a circular pattern that seemed to flow directly into the obelisk.

Kalsei’s eyes widened as he approached the obelisk. "Now this looks interesting."

Seikan stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the obelisk. "This is the heart of the dungeon. It’s ancient... and powerful."

Steph raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And what? You’re going to touch it, aren’t you?"

Kalsei laughed, lightly tapping the obelisk with the flat of his blade. "Come on, Steph. What’s the worst that could happen?"

The moment his blade touched the stone, the entire chamber shook violently, and the symbols on the walls flared to life. The air around them crackled with energy, and the obelisk began to pulse, emitting a deep, rhythmic hum that echoed through the chamber.

Seikan stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he watched the obelisk react to Kalsei’s touch. "Be careful. This might be connected to something we don’t understand."

The runes on the walls shifted and twisted, as if coming alive, forming murals that depicted scenes from a long-forgotten age. Seikan’s eyes followed the symbols, his mind racing to decipher them. "This... this is a story," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "The story of this dungeon and its creators."

Kalsei squinted at the glowing symbols. "Great, so now we’re in a history lesson?"

"Not quite," Seikan replied, his gaze intense. "These runes tell the story of the dungeon’s origins—of a powerful sorcerer and a divine being who created this place to contain something... or someone."

Steph crossed her arms, watching the runes with a bored expression. "So, the usual ancient doom stuff. What’s it got to do with us?"

Seikan’s eyes darkened. "It could mean that whatever they were trying to contain is still here."

"Wonderful," Kalsei muttered. "I was really hoping for treasure, not a cursed entity."

As they continued to examine the obelisk, Kalsei noticed something unusual—a small section of the stone was different from the rest. "Hey, Seikan, check this out. This rune looks... out of place."

Seikan moved closer, his fingers tracing over the rune with precision. "You’re right. This rune... it’s hiding something." He pressed down on the rune, and the obelisk groaned, the stone shifting and crumbling away to reveal a long, elegant staff embedded within its core.

The staff was made of black and grey wood, twisted and charred like old, burnt ash, with intricate carvings spiraling up its length. At the top, a claw-like grip held a dark, shimmering stone that seemed to pulse with a void-like energy.

Seikan stepped back, motioning toward Steph. "This is for you."

Steph blinked, her usual disinterested expression faltering for a moment as she looked at the staff. "Me?"

Kalsei grinned, nudging her forward. "Go on, take it. It’s clearly meant for you."

With a sigh, Steph reached out and grasped the staff, her fingers curling around the handle. The moment she touched it, a rush of power surged through her, and the System window appeared before them.

Item Obtained: Void-Touched Staff Increases Wisdom by +5 and Intelligence by +3. Effect: The staff channels healing magic and can be used to amplify healing spells by 10%.

Steph stared at the window, her dark eyes widening just slightly. "Well... that’s... something."

Kalsei laughed, clapping her on the back. "See? I told you there was treasure! Just... not the kind we were expecting."

Steph sighed, though there was a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, fine. I guess this isn’t so bad."

Seikan, however, wasn’t smiling. His eyes remained fixed on the obelisk, and the faint symbols that still glowed on its surface. "This is only the beginning," he murmured, almost to himself. "Whatever lies deeper in this dungeon... it’s waiting for us."

Kalsei glanced at him, his grin fading slightly. "You think there’s something worse down there?"

Seikan’s gaze was distant, his mind already calculating. "I know there is."

With those ominous words hanging in the air, the three of them turned toward the deeper shadows of the dungeon, where the unknown awaited, and the weight of the dungeon’s ancient magic grew heavier with every step they took.

The tremor in the air persisted as Kalsei, Seikan, and Steph pressed on, the shadows lengthening as they ventured deeper into the heart of the dungeon. The faint glow of runes flickered along the walls, casting their faces in an eerie light, and the oppressive energy of the dungeon settled heavily on their shoulders.

"Well, this is fun," Kalsei muttered, his usual lighthearted demeanor still intact, but a sharp edge of seriousness creeping into his tone. "Anyone else feel like we're walking into the mouth of something that hasn’t eaten in a few centuries?"

Steph, gripping the Void-Touched Staff tightly in her hands, shot him a glance. "That’s the understatement of the century."

Seikan remained silent, his eyes scanning the darkened hall ahead. The further they walked, the more the feeling gnawed at him—a sense of something waiting, watching, just out of sight. The murals on the walls continued to shift and twist, forming cryptic scenes that seemed to tell the same repeating story of power, creation, and... imprisonment.

Suddenly, the narrow corridor opened into another vast chamber, but this one was different from the previous rooms they had explored. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, disappearing into the darkness, and the walls were lined with enormous, cracked statues of long-forgotten gods, their faces worn and eroded by time.

But it wasn’t the statues that caught their attention—it was the massive stone door at the far end of the chamber. It towered over them, covered in even more intricate runes and symbols, but these were different. Unlike the faded, weathered carvings they had seen before, these runes glowed with a malevolent energy, pulsing rhythmically like a beating heart.

Kalsei stopped in his tracks, his golden eyes narrowing as he surveyed the door. "That... does not look friendly."

Seikan approached the door cautiously, his fingers tracing the glowing symbols. "This is it," he whispered, almost reverently. "This door... it’s sealing something powerful. Something ancient."

Steph rolled her eyes. "Why is it always ‘ancient’ and ‘powerful’? Can’t we ever run into something that's just mildly dangerous?"

Kalsei snickered. "Right? How about a room full of adorable, treasure-hoarding kittens? That’d be nice for a change."

Seikan ignored them, his focus entirely on the door. "The magic here is layered," he murmured, half to himself. "It’s not just a seal—it’s a prison. Whatever’s behind this door was meant to stay locked away."

Kalsei’s smile faded, his tone turning serious for the first time. "And we’re about to open it, aren’t we?"

Seikan nodded slowly. "We may not have a choice. If the wraiths were guarding this door, then it’s likely whatever is inside is connected to the dungeon’s power. If we want to escape, we’ll need to deal with it."

Steph let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Of course. Fight the ancient, evil thing so we can get out alive. Sounds about right."

Kalsei stepped forward, his hand hovering over the glowing runes. "So, how do we open it? Another puzzle?"

Seikan studied the symbols for a moment before shaking his head. "No. This door isn’t meant to be opened by force or by solving a riddle. It requires a key... or a sacrifice."

"Please tell me you mean a metaphorical sacrifice," Kalsei muttered, his hand pulling back slightly from the door.

Seikan’s gaze darkened. "I don’t think it’s metaphorical."

For a long moment, the three of them stood in silence, the weight of the decision hanging heavily in the air. Then, without warning, the door began to shift. The runes on its surface flared to life, glowing brighter and brighter until the entire chamber was bathed in a blinding light. The ground beneath their feet trembled violently as the door slowly began to open, revealing a swirling vortex of black energy beyond.

Kalsei’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of his Shattering Blade. "Uh... I didn’t touch anything."

Steph stepped back, raising her Void-Touched Staff defensively. "Looks like the door has its own agenda."

Seikan’s eyes narrowed as the black energy began to pour into the chamber, thick and suffocating like a living shadow. "Get ready," he said quietly. "Whatever’s been locked away here... it’s waking up."

A low, rumbling growl echoed through the chamber, and from within the vortex, a figure began to emerge. It was massive, towering over them, its body made of pure, swirling darkness, with glowing red eyes that burned like embers in the void. As it stepped through the portal, the temperature in the room plummeted, and the very air seemed to crackle with malevolent energy.

The creature’s form was monstrous, a shifting amalgamation of shadow and fury, with jagged, claw-like hands and a mouth filled with rows of sharp, gleaming teeth. Its eyes locked onto the group, and the growl deepened into a roar that shook the entire chamber.

Enemy Encounter: Shadowborne Titan Level: 10 Health: 3000

Abilities:

Shadow Rend (Lvl 4): A powerful, sweeping strike that can tear through armor and drain the target’s life force.

Void Pulse (Lvl 5): Unleashes a wave of pure void energy, disorienting and damaging all nearby enemies.

Crushing Grasp (Lvl 3): Uses its massive, clawed hands to grab and crush its enemies, dealing devastating physical damage.

Kalsei’s eyes widened as the creature fully emerged from the portal. "That... is not a kitten."