The last vestiges of the imp’s presence flickered and vanished with a faint pop, leaving only a lingering buzz in the air. Lorelai stood still, her pulse still quickening from the sharp sting in her wrist, where the imp had taken its blood sample. But the discomfort faded quickly, replaced by a strange, gnawing unease.
What was the imp truly after? What had it planned to do with her blood?
"Great," Lorelai muttered under her breath. "One favor down, and I’m already regretting it."
She flexed her hand, she didn’t like it. None of it, but there was no backing out now. The imp had gotten what it wanted, and she couldn’t change that. What worried her more, however, was what would come next.
Aeryn’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.
"Looks like you're in quite a predicament," the vampire remarked, her tone a mix of amusement and something else, something foreboding, "Deals with devils only ever work out in the devil's favor, just a warning for you."
Lorelai turned to face her. "I don’t trust that imp. I mean, who deals with creatures like that? I was forced by circumstance" She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the uneasy feeling swirling in her gut.
Aeryn stepped closer, inspecting Lorelai’s wrist, though there was no visible mark left from the imp’s touch. “You won’t be harmed for now, but there is no telling what he's going to use your blood for. The imp's games are always part of the contract, trust me when I say anything involving blood is always a tricky business. Devils tend to honor their word, but almost never in the way we interpret. She paused, her eyes narrowing. "What did it want?"
Lorelai hesitated, not sure how much to say, but then, she decided to tell Aeryn everything. The vampire was her companion in this, and if there was anyone who might understand, it would be her.
“It said they favor I owe is to help a Bone Devil named Demos, here at the academy. The imp didn’t say exactly with what, but it’s clear I’m not going to like it."
Aeryn’s eyes glinted with a sharp, predatory gleam. “Demos... Interesting. Bone Devils are rare, but they’re known to be crafty, more intelligent than most demons. Here at the academy, of all places.” She gave a slight, dark smile. “That’ll be something to watch, I'd be careful with that one if I were you.”
Lorelai frowned, feeling the weight of Aeryn's warning. “I’ll have to figure it out. There’s no going back now.”
The dungeon's dark corridors suddenly felt a little colder, more oppressive. But Lorelai forced herself to focus on the present. They were deep inside a C-ranked dungeon, and the goblins weren’t going to stop just because she'd made a deal with an imp.
Aeryn glanced back toward the path ahead, the flickering light of their torches casting long shadows on the stone walls. "It's a good thing they put us into pairs, especially when our teamwork is good. I expect though, since we have similar roles wont be able to pair up next time. We have goblins to deal with first. Let’s clear the rest of this floor and see what comes next."
Lorelai nodded, grateful for the focus Aeryn offered. The sooner they finished, the better. They still had to contend with what lay ahead and not just in the dungeon, but what awaits just outside.
The air grew heavier as they moved deeper into the dungeon. The stone beneath their boots was slick with moisture, and the occasional scrape of something moving just out of sight sent a prickle down Lorelai's spine. The sounds of their footsteps echoed, but the silence between them felt loaded with more than just the quiet of an empty dungeon.
A sudden rustle broke the silence ahead. Lorelai stiffened, raising her sword, ready for whatever came next. Aeryn's blood-red eyes flashed, her body already shifting into the predatory stance Lorelai had seen before, calm and deadly.
There was a sharp screech from further down the corridor, and then the sound of multiple footsteps in rapid succession.
“More goblins,” Aeryn said, voice low. “Keep your guard up. These ones might be different.”
Lorelai had darkvision and could see very well in the dark, but it was a poor imitation to a vampire's dark-sight. They thrived in the dark, and Aeryn's eyes could do more than provide simple darkvision, she had thermal vision. Sure enough, as they rounded a corner, Lorelai’s eyes locked onto a horde of goblins rushing toward them. But these weren’t the usual weakling goblins that had fallen so easily to her lightning-enhanced blows earlier. These goblins had better armor, more discipline. They carried crude spears and swords, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent turned into salacious intent the moment they saw two girls.
“Five this time,” Lorelai muttered under her breath. “I can handle that.”
“You’ll need to do keep up with me,” Aeryn said with savage smile, blood raising from the ground forming into a condensed sword. The blood sword floated off the ground, trailing a foot behind Aeryn. She pushed out her palm and the sword rocketed to the first goblin, one of the ones donned with heavy armor. The blood sword tore right through it, a gaping hole left in the goblin's chest.
Lorelai was awed by the display of power, Aeryn wasnt kidding when she mentioned being a rival. She didn’t have time to think if she didn't want to be left behind. The goblins were charging now, screeching their war cries as they closed the distance.
Lorelai immediately activated [Lightning Clad] again, feeling the familiar crackle of energy surge through her limbs. The electric storm inside her hummed in anticipation as she dashed forward, faster than the goblins could react. Her body blurred as she triggered [Dash], closing the distance in an instant.
She struck out with a series of lightning-charged punches, knocking it back slightly giving her enough room to land a vicious axe kick upon its head. Each strike landed with a thunderous crack, the crack was so loud with the axe kick that it muffled the sound of the goblins' skull indenting. Lorelai didn’t wait to see it fall. Another goblin lunged at her with a spear, its eyes wide with desperation.
Lorelai shifted her weight and used [Weight Manipulation], causing the goblin’s spear to become unnaturally heavy in mid-swing. The goblin losing its grip on the spear as it was thrown into the dungeon wall, and Lorelai’s sword flashed out like a viper. The sword cutting deep into the goblin's chest, it screamed, blood pouring from the wound, before crumpling to the ground.
The others weren’t far behind. Lorelai sidestepped another spear strike, and as she did, she used [Rapid Thrusts]. The goblin's torso was punctured in quick succession; three , four, five precise strikes powered by her raw strength. The goblin dropped, gasping for air as its life faded away.
Aeryn had already plunged into the fray, her rapier dancing through the goblins like a streak of blood-soaked blur. Her movements were graceful as they were lethal. The moment a goblin raised a crude sword against her, Aeryn sliced through its defenses with a swift slash of her rapier, blood spraying across the dungeon floor.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Lorelai didn’t take her eyes off the remaining goblins. There were only two left, and they seemed to hesitate as the battlefield around them grew quieter, their comrades falling one by one.
The remaining goblins seemed to hesitate, eyes darting between Lorelai and Aeryn, then to the growing pile of their fallen kin. Knowing that the hesitation would be her undoing if she didn’t act quickly, Lorelai triggered [Counterstrike] just as the last goblin swung its sword at her, its movements wild with panic. Lorelai’s parry was swift, deflecting the blow and sending the goblin off balance. With the precision of a hunter, she spun, her blade flashing to meet the goblin’s neck. It collapsed with a gurgling cry, the fight over in an instant.
Lorelai turned toward the final goblin, who had backed into a corner. It was visibly shaking, its eyes wide with fear as it clutched its weapon.
Lorelai wasn’t going to give it a chance to recover. She pointed two fingers its direction [Zakir] a large bolt of crimson lightning arcing through the air. The goblin fell to its knees, a smoldering hole the size of a basketball through the torso. It was over, the both of them taking a moment to catch their breath.
The dungeon floor fell eerily silent once more.
Breathing heavily, Lorelai wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to Aeryn. The vampire had already begun to wipe her blade clean, unfazed by the carnage.
“That was better than what I've seen you do before,” Aeryn remarked with a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "You’re Zakir spell is outrageous, so that's tier two lightning huh?."
Lorelai felt a moment of pride, but the gnawing unease from the imp's favor still lingered in the back of her mind. The storm inside her hadn't fully subsided. Her powers were improving fast, but would it be fast enough? The favor was now in motion, and Lorelai had a feeling it would only grow more complicated from here.
"Let’s move deeper,” Aeryn said, voice low but purposeful. “The goblins aren’t the only thing we’ll be facing here. And I’m sure the dungeon has much more in store.”
Lorelai nodded, forcing her thoughts away from the imp and Demos, the Bone Devil. She couldn’t afford distractions, not now. With her sword in hand and the storm of energy inside her still swirling, Lorelai stepped forward.
The dungeon air was thick with dampness, the scent of wet stone and decay curling in Lorelai’s nose as they pushed deeper into the labyrinthine corridors. Every step they took seemed to reverberate through the stone floor, the quiet hum of magic vibrating in the air. Goblins were notorious for being pests in this dungeon, easy enough to take down in small numbers, but now Lorelai and Aeryn were facing something more formidable—goblins that were organized, faster, and smarter. Their attacks came in quick bursts, and the air was alive with the crackling tension of their next move.
The goblins they had already fought had been nothing to write home about. Lorelai’s skills with [Lightning Clad] and [Weight Manipulation] had made quick work of the smaller foes, and Aeryn’s deadly rapier whose power was enhanced by blood magic, had cut through them like a knife through butter. There was something… unsettling about this floor. The deeper they went, the more tense the air became, as if the dungeon itself was alive, watching them, waiting for the right moment to spring its trap.
A sudden rustle echoed down the dark passage, followed by an almost deafening screech. Lorelai’s grip tightened around her sword as she felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle.
Aeryn was already moving ahead, her body a blur as she glided past Lorelai. Her blood-red eyes gleamed with anticipation, the air around her charged with a dangerous kind of stillness. “Something’s coming,” she murmured, voice calm but sharp. “Stay sharp, Lorelai.”
Lorelai nodded, her heart pounding. Since being down here, she had yet to go numb to the rush of battle, the surge of adrenaline pumped through her limbs, muscles tense. The deeper they went into the dungeon, the more she realized just how much she still had to learn, and that’s when they saw it.
A monstrous figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the torchlight. Its skin was a sickly green, stretched taut over rippling muscles. A long scar ran down its face, and its yellow eyes gleamed with a ferocity that chilled Lorelai’s blood. It was still a goblin, but it was no ordinary goblin. This one was different; far larger and far stronger.
It was the Goblin Champion, an elite variant to the fodder they had been plowing through. The creature stood over seven feet tall, its hulking body adorned with crude but powerful armor—metal pieces scavenged from past adventurers. A massive, jagged axe in one of its boulder-like fists. What made the Goblin Champion truly terrifying wasn’t just its size, but it also had a decent amount of intelligence as well. This goblin was a this floor's boss, and upon defeating it guaranteed a good item or skill drop.
“The previous goblins were not like this…” Lorelai muttered to herself, her sword raised, “this one is smart.”
“No,” Aeryn said, her voice barely a whisper, “You're right.” Her eyes never left the Goblin Champion. “This one is something else. Usually it takes a party of four to take down a boss monster. It must've left its area since we had slain so many of its subordinates.”
Lorelai's eyes narrowed, trying to focus on what she needed to do. The Goblin Champion raised its axe, eyeing them with malice, its lips curling into a grotesque grin. Lorelai missed it at first, but it carried a chain in its other hand. The champion gave a short but powerful tug on the chains and three woman, naked and covered in wounds, materialized from the darkness.
It was a clear sign of a challenge, their future should they lose. Aeryns crimsons eyes grew wide and an eerie aura emanated from her, so thick with bloodlust that Lorelai took a step sideways away from her.
The battle began.
The Goblin Champion roared, the sound vibrating through the ground. With terrifying speed, it closed the distance between them, swinging its enormous axe down with a deadly arc. Lorelai reacted instantly, triggering [Dash], the surge of speed allowing her to narrowly avoid the swing. The axe struck the ground where she’d been standing, sending a shockwave through the air that rattled ruffled her hair.
"Focus, Lorelai!" Aeryn’s voice cut through the chaos, and Lorelai snapped her gaze to the vampire. Aeryn was already on the move, her rapier flashing in the dim light as she darted in and out of the Goblin Champion's range, striking at its legs and side. But the champion was fast, too fast for a goblin of its size, and it swiped at Aeryn, forcing her to jump back with a graceful twist.
Lorelai didn’t wait, she activated [Lightning Clad], feeling the crackling power surge through her limbs. Every muscle hummed with energy, and the air around her seemed to vibrate with the storm. Without hesitation, she dashed forward, her body a blur of speed as she closed the gap between herself and the towering goblin.
The Goblin Champion roared again, its axe raised to strike, but Lorelai was faster. She used [Weight Manipulation] as she closed in, manipulating the goblin’s weight mid-swing. The massive axe slowed, its momentum halting just enough for Lorelai to duck under it. She leapt, using her enhanced strength to deliver a crushing blow to the goblin’s side. Her fist connected with a thunderous crack, and the Goblin Champion staggered back, momentarily stunned.
The elite goblin was quick to recover, with a deafening bellow it swung its axe down again, this time aiming for Lorelai’s head.
Lorelai didn’t wait to see if she could dodge it. She triggered [Counterstrike], her instincts flaring. She caught the shaft of the axe with her sword, but the goblin's strength was too great and broke through her skill, her sword flying into darkness. The Goblin Champion grunted, its eyes narrowing in fury and in triumph as it swung again.
[Dash], clouds of dust rose into the air as the axe hit the dungeon floor. Aeryn took the front and began a series of combination sword strikes that drew little blood here and a little blood there, but no significant damage.
She spun out of range, avoiding the follow-up strike. Aeryn was now circling around the champion, her rapier darting in for quick strikes, but the goblin was too tough, its thick armor resisting most of her blows. The Goblin Champion seemed to be growing angrier by the second, its strikes coming faster and more wildly.
Lorelai’s body hummed with energy, but she knew she couldn’t rely on just her lightning for this. The Goblin Champion was too powerful. Too durable.
Then, she got an idea; what if she combined everything she had? Albeit, she'd have to improvise a little, but the principle should be the same. Utilizing her [Lightning Clad] ability, she pushed the magic onto her weapon after pulling her spear from her spatial storage. It took some serious concentration, but with Aeryn holding the boss' attention she managed to make it stable. She then used [weight manipulation] on the spear making it as light as possible. Her left arm reared back and launched the spear as hard as she could to the goblin, using [weight manipulation] as quickly as she could to increase its weight as much as possible in its flight.
"AERYN!" She shouted, Aeryn got the message. She dodged out of the way as the spear, which was nearly six times its normal weight, hurled towards the goblin. The spear received extra piercing power from the lightning as it punched a whole completely through the goblin.
Using so much magic had left Lorelai dizzy, Aeryn was able to catch her before hitting the floor. The last thing Lorelai could remember was multiple sounds of her leveling up before she lost consciousness.