A hush fell over the underground camp as Elijah Merrows methodically checked his conjured bow. Around him, the others prepared for the most significant fight yet. The tension was palpable—some softly whispered prayers or rechecked salvaged weapons, while a few stared blankly at the cavern walls, lost in their own thoughts.

During the last rest cycle, the plan had crystallized: they would lure out the mother lava drake from the steamy vent chamber and attempt to kill it in a space where they had traps laid. Elijah’s newly allocated stat points still pulsed like a faint warmth in his limbs, giving him a little more confidence. Yet the enormity of facing a full-grown drake made his stomach twist.

“All right, gather up,” Gideon Pierce called, leaning heavily on a spear as a makeshift cane. “We have to move soon if we don’t want to risk the System throwing another wave of random creatures at us first.”

Rising to his feet, Elijah joined the loose half-circle that formed around Gideon and Sandra. Nora Reyes, wind swirling gently at her ankles, took a spot near Elijah. Vince Anders leaned against a stalagmite, tiny arcs of electricity sparking in his palms. Misha, Patrice, and Thomas—some of their stronger fighters—stood close, weapons readied. Lauren hovered behind them, hands glowing softly with her Recovery Sigil.

“We have enough leftover tar from the other cavern,” Sandra said, nodding at a row of clay-like containers. Greg, the conjuration specialist, had carefully scooped the black, oily residue into these rough vessels. “We’ll coat sections of the chamber floor. Vince can ignite it when the drake crosses those lines.”

Vince folded his arms, sparks dancing over his knuckles. “I can’t promise a massive explosion, but it might give us the edge.”

Brittany, who would remain behind to safeguard the noncombatants, fidgeted with her cloak. “Just be careful.”

Nora gave her a small, reassuring smile. “We’ve planned as much as we can. We’ll bring back good news.”

Gideon exhaled. “Okay, let’s move out.”

They returned to the steamy region, though this time with a larger squad. Twenty or so volunteers, including the core combatants, crept through the winding tunnels. Lauren, Harold, and Brittany—arguably their greatest support classes—stayed just out of direct danger behind the last bend, ready to administer healing or join in if the fight spilled over.

Elijah’s heart thumped. The air grew thick and hot, steam drifting from vents. Pools of heated water dotted the ground, murky and faintly orange with mineral deposits. The faint, acrid tang scratched at his throat.

“All right,” Gideon murmured. “This wide stretch near the entrance is our battleground.” He tapped his spear on the floor. “We’ll spread out in a semicircle. Thomas, Patrice, and Misha—set the tar lines as we discussed. Vince, be ready to spark them. Sandra and I will anchor the frontline. Elijah, Nora—hit it from range or flank if it tries to rush us.”

Nora nodded, stepping quickly to help place containers of tar at intervals on the rocky floor. Others spread the residue in streaks, forming a crude barrier. Any normal creature might balk at stepping into flames, but a lava drake could be resistant. They banked on at least slowing or charring its underbelly.

Vince exhaled nervously as they finished. “Time to poke the bear… or lizard, I guess.”

Gideon half-grinned. “We need a volunteer to lure it out.” His gaze swept around. Several eyes landed on Elijah.

Elijah’s pulse quickened. He remembered the old adage—never volunteer for something insane. But he was agile, thanks to the Strider class, and newly leveled. If anyone could provoke the mother drake then retreat swiftly, it might be him.

“I’ll do it,” Elijah said, surprising even himself. “I can outrun it if I’m careful.”

Sandra’s expression flickered with concern. “Don’t over-commit. The second it chases you, lead it to this open area.”

Elijah nodded. “Understood.” A half dozen people gave him uneasy nods as well, praying silently he wouldn’t end up a charred husk.

Armed with his spectral bow and a handful of ploy arrows made from real gnoll shafts, Elijah ventured deeper toward the drake’s suspected lair. The air temperature ramped up again, every breath thick with sulfur. He passed the remnants of the hatchlings they’d slain the day before—charred lumps and scattered scales. A rancid odor clung to the place, mixing with the mineral tang.

Closer to the vent, the ground rumbled with faint tremors. Streams of superheated steam hissed from cracks. Elijah’s heart hammered as he peered over a rocky outcrop. Below, in a pocket of sweltering air, he glimpsed something large shifting in the haze.

A shape at least three times the size of the hatchlings uncoiled, revealing dark crimson scales. The drake’s ridged spine glowed with intermittent pulses of molten color. Its wings, broader than any human’s height, unfurled slightly as it roused. Elijah suppressed a shudder. Mother drake, all right.

He nocked a real arrow, the wooden shaft partially scrounged from a gnoll’s quiver. No sense in showing my spectral arrows until absolutely necessary. He steadied his breathing, drew, and let fly at the drake’s flank. The arrow cut through steam and struck with a dull thunk. The drake hissed, arching its massive head around to spot the intruder.

“Here we go,” Elijah muttered. He quickly nocked another arrow, taking aim at the beast’s snout. A second shot flew, grazing the scales. With an earsplitting roar, the mother drake lurched upward, eyes glowing with molten fury. She launched a gout of superheated breath that singed the rocks near Elijah’s cover.

Elijah scrambled back. “Come on,” he hissed, adrenaline surging. He darted toward the exit tunnel at a brisk pace, making sure to keep the drake’s attention. The monstrous reptile thundered after him, claws skittering on slick stone. Steam parted around its bulk.

It moved fast—faster than he’d hoped. Every powerful stride brought it dangerously close. Heat washed over Elijah’s back, forcing him to push his newly improved agility to the limit. He vaulted a small fissure, arrowed around a stalagmite, and saw the wide area near the entrance open up ahead.

He shouted, “Incoming!” to warn the waiting group.

Elijah burst into the trap zone, the mother drake crashing behind him. He dove sideways, rolling to put distance between himself and the roaring beast. At once, Gideon, Sandra, and the others rose from cover.

“Now!” Gideon barked.

Thomas and Misha lit the first stretch of tar with conjured sparks from Vince, creating a line of flame that cut across the drake’s path. The drake snarled, rearing back from the unexpected fire. Its tail lashed, smashing a stalagmite into rubble. Then it lunged around the flame line, wings flexing.

Sandra rushed in with a fearless slash, her sword biting into a foreleg. The drake roared, molten sparks dancing along its scales. Gideon drove his spear at its flank, but the drake whipped its tail around, forcing him back. The tension in Gideon’s face told Elijah the man’s leg was still not 100%.

Elijah quickly switched to his spectral bow, forming a glowing arrow. He aimed at a gap behind the drake’s shoulder. The arrow soared, striking with a flash of light. Scales cracked but didn’t fully break. Tough hide.

Next came Vince’s electricity. He hurled a swirling bolt that connected with the drake’s side, causing a cascade of sparks. Steam hissed, but the drake only staggered slightly, spitting embers in fury.

Behind them, the second line of tar ignited, encircling part of the battlefield in flickering flames. The temperature spiked yet again, a swirl of heat that made eyes water. The drake hissed, seemingly angered by the searing ring of fire.

Nora dashed in from the flank, wind-laced blade cutting at the drake’s hind leg. The beast snarled, half-turning to swat her with a wing. She dove aside, a shock of wind propelling her to safety. Patrice, using her Shadowslip, darted to plant a dagger in the drake’s underbelly.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Crimson scales parted enough for a spurt of thick, glowing blood. The drake bellowed, thrashing violently. A scorching breath erupted from its jaws, a wave of near-molten air that forced back Misha and Thomas. One stumbled, screaming as minor burns spread across exposed skin.

Lauren, waiting in the tunnel, rushed forward with Harold to pull the injured man out of range. Her Recovery Sigil flared, easing the burns, while Harold’s Purification Light neutralized any lingering toxins from the drake’s blood or superheated steam.

Senses reeling, Elijah circled the perimeter. He fired arrow after arrow into the drake’s sides, searching for a weakness. Each time the drake jerked or turned, it left a brief opening for the rest to strike.

But the mother drake was cunning. Realizing it was partly surrounded, it blasted a chunk of tar-coated floor with superheated breath, extinguishing some flames while sending molten droplets spraying toward the group. Gideon had to roll behind a rock formation, cursing under his breath.

Sandra and Nora tried a coordinated attack: a sword slash at the left flank, wind-laced strike at the right. The drake roared, rising onto its hind legs for a heartbeat, then smashed down with front claws that cracked the stone beneath. The shockwave toppled both women, though they rolled clear of lethal follow-ups.

Elijah grit his teeth, drawing a deep breath. We need a bigger opening. He glanced at Vince. “Give me your best shot on three!”

Vince nodded, electricity gathering in swirling arcs around his arms. They counted silently—one, two, three—then Vince unleashed a powerful surge, aiming at the drake’s head. Simultaneously, Elijah channeled every ounce of focus into a single conjured arrow. Archer’s Eye sharpened his vision, letting him see the minute shift of scales at the drake’s throat.

He loosed the arrow just as Vince’s lightning seared the drake’s eyes. The drake jerked back, exposing a slight gap near the underside of its jaw. Elijah’s arrow flew true, spearing through that vulnerable point.

A howl of anguish tore from the drake’s throat, its entire body seizing in pain. Molten blood oozed, sizzling on the rocky floor.

Sandra, seeing the chance, roared, “All in!” She lunged, delivering a vicious two-handed slash that tore into the partially exposed flesh near the drake’s chest. Nora and Patrice similarly struck from opposite angles. Gideon thrust the spear with every bit of strength he had, driving it into the same wounded flank.

The drake convulsed, swinging its tail in a last, desperate arc. It clipped Vince, sending him crashing against a boulder. He crumpled with a pained groan. Blood trickled from his temple, but his eyes flickered open—still conscious.

“Finish it!” Gideon yelled, adrenaline flooding his voice.

Elijah drew another spectral arrow, the bright shaft quivering with his trembling arms. The drake’s roar became a choking rasp as it sagged, battered from all sides. With a final, steady exhalation, Elijah let the arrow fly straight into the drake’s skull, just behind the left eye.

Time seemed to freeze. The monstrous creature slumped, limbs shaking, then crashed heavily onto the stone floor with a thunderous impact. Steam billowed as blood hissed against heated rock. The mother drake’s tail twitched once, then lay still.

A stunned silence lingered, broken only by labored breathing and the crackle of dying flames. Gideon leaned on his spear, chest heaving, while Sandra dropped to a knee, wiping sweat and grime from her brow. Nora stepped over to check Vince, who mumbled something about his head feeling like a kicked football.

Slowly, the rest of the party emerged from cover, expressions ranging from shell-shocked to euphoric relief. Lauren and Harold rushed in to tend to injuries. Misha carried a limp Patrice away from the drake’s flank, where she’d been clipped by a final tail swipe. Her leg looked badly bruised, but no bones seemed broken.

Elijah slumped against a half-melted rock formation, heart pounding. We did it. He stared at the dead drake, the scale of it leaving him breathless.

Somewhere on the edges of his vision, the System interface glimmered:

You have defeated a Lava Drake (Level 7).

Major EXP Gained

Loot Potential: Drake Scales, Drake Blood, ???

Elijah blinked, feeling a fresh surge of warmth through his body. He checked his status:

* Level 2 → 3

* 0% → ???

He watched the progress bar fill, surpassing the required 300 XP for Level 2 to 3. The share from this single kill was massive compared to the hatchlings. He marveled at the text: Level 7 creature. No wonder it felt so powerful.

Level Up!

Name: Elijah Merrows

Race: [Human – Level 3]

Class: Strider (Basic)

Free Attribute Points Gained: +5

Elijah let out a trembling laugh, part relief, part disbelief. Some of the others also wore looks of astonishment, likely receiving their own notifications. This mother drake’s defeat would catapult many of them forward in the System.

Sandra half-laughed, half-coughed. “Check if it unlocked… something.” She gestured feebly at the scorching chamber.

Right. Elijah blinked, recalling the half-buried runes. Mustering his energy, he staggered to his feet. “Nora, can you come with me?”

She wiped blood off her cheek—thankfully not hers. “Sure.”

They navigated around the drake’s corpse, stepping past steaming patches of tar. Through the haze, they found the same swirling runes on the cave wall that Elijah had seen before. The difference was striking now: the carvings glowed brightly, each line pulsing in slow rhythm, as though newly activated.

Nora exhaled in awe. “That definitely changed.”

Elijah hesitantly placed a hand on the runes. This time, the System’s text flared:

Hidden Sigil Node: Activated

Synchronization Essence & Overcoming a Great Foe: Verified

Sigils Available

Faint orbs of light shimmered into existence—four distinct colors reminiscent of the puzzle guardians in the coliseum. One orb glowed teal, another bronze, another an electric blue, the last a pale green. They hung there expectantly, like intangible rewards.

Behind Elijah, Sandra limped over, eyes widening at the glowing orbs. “Looks like the same phenomenon we saw with the coliseum puzzle Sigils.”

Nora touched the teal orb. It dissolved into her skin, and she let out a soft gasp. “Some kind of… upgrade? My wind Sigil feels stronger.”

Elijah gripped the pale green orb, feeling it pulse. In the coliseum, he’d acquired a Bow Sigil (Minor). This might be an enhanced version. The orb melted into his palm, flooding him with a tingling sensation.

Bow Sigil (Lesser → Common) Unlocked

Enhanced effect on ranged attacks

Allows synergy with other Common Sigils

A swirl of new understanding coursed through him. The synergy benefits from the Sigil felt more robust, as if it might let him combine attacks with allied Sigil-bearers to greater effect.

Sandra gingerly touched the bronze orb, her eyes fluttering. She’d never taken a Sigil from the puzzle, so this was her first. Meanwhile, Gideon, Vince, and the others—lured by the glow—approached. Each found an orb that matched their affinity or simply felt right.

The entire node pulsed, runes flickering in satisfaction. Then a final message blinked across Elijah’s vision:

You have claimed the Sigils.

Tutorial Path Updated.

He shot a look at Nora, who read the same text in her interface. Sandra exhaled, her face lined with exhaustion but a spark of hope in her eyes. “This has to help with that sealed door, right?”

Elijah nodded. “We should head back to the Path of Unification door and see if it’s unlocked.”

They regrouped, carefully hauling the injured. Vince, bruised but stable, managed to smile faintly at Elijah. “W-worth it, right?”

Elijah clasped his shoulder. “We’re alive. And hopefully we can move on now.”

Carving out the drake’s valuable scales or retrieving molten blood would come later—others began that process, guided by Harold’s purifying spells. The group didn’t want to linger in the scorching chamber any longer than necessary.

Two hours later, battered but triumphant, they reached the corridor leading to the Path of Unification door. Everyone paused, scanning for changes. The once-dormant runes on the massive stone portal glowed faintly, swirling with patterns reminiscent of the new Sigils.

Gideon motioned for Elijah to approach. Elijah stepped forward, placing his palm on the carved crest. A deep, resonant hum rumbled through the stone:

“Path of Unification: Requirements Met. Proceed?”

A wave of excitement rippled through the survivors. Elijah, heart pounding, answered silently, Yes.

With a heavy groan, the door began to slide open, revealing a dim passage beyond. Cool air caressed their sweat-soaked faces. More than a few let out relieved sighs or breathless laughter.

“We did it,” Nora murmured, leaning on her sword.

Sandra exchanged a look with Gideon, a quiet smile forming. The older man nodded, wearing an expression that blended exhaustion and pride. Behind them, Brittany, Lauren, and the rest peered into the newly opened route, faces brightening with hope.

Elijah took a step forward. This was only the next stage of the tutorial, but it felt like crossing a monumental threshold. The System’s path led deeper into unknown territories, yet the group had grown stronger, forging bonds in fire and blood.

He glanced back at the battered but resolute line of survivors. We’re all in this together, he thought. We’ve earned a small victory today.

Then, bow still in hand, Elijah stepped through the threshold, guiding the group into the next realm of the tutorial. Whatever awaited beyond, they would face it with renewed determination—and, at last, a sense of unity that might tip the scales in their favor.