On the second floor of the plague-ridden dungeon, another metal door stood in their way, its surface oozing with boiling green pus. The group had fought relentlessly through the level, their enemies shifting to creatures of rot and decay—zombies and worse. Hours had passed, and though they had resisted the worst effects of the plague-infested environment so far, fatigue was creeping in. They were now so close to the source.

Maris glanced back at the party, her face showing little sign of ailment. “I think this is the last room. Are we ready for this?”

The group, though weary, nodded with iron resolve. With determined hearts, they breached the next room—but everything went wrong almost instantly. The usual strategy fell apart as everyone, except Maris, froze in place. Tentacles snaked out, wrapping around her, hoisting her into the air.

Elron’s sword felt like lead in his hands. He couldn’t lift it, not even with both arms. His gaze locked onto one of the walls, composed of solid black, as if it were a void pulling him in. The oppressive darkness paralyzed him, until he heard maniacal laughter that broke his trance.

In the center of the room, standing amidst a sea of writhing green flesh, was a mage. His crazed laughter echoed as he lashed Maris through the air with summoned tendrils. Elron strained to look around—he couldn’t see Kael or Slyra. His neck barely moved, but he caught sight of Slyra, her dagger slowly lowering toward her thigh.

“What are you doing?!” Elron shouted, his voice filled with desperation. “We need to break free now!”

The mage cackled, “Oh, how wonderful! I’ve never had guests before. So, tell me, who ratted me out?”

From the back, Kael’s voice was barely an audible croak. “F-fuck…you…”

The plague mage ignored him, launching acidic bolts of mana at Maris, each hit splattering her with searing pain. The acid ate away at her flesh as he treated her like a puppet, jerking her through the air for his amusement. She screamed, her voice raw with agony.

Elron gritted his teeth at the sound of her cries. He tried to cast counterspell, but stopped short—realizing this wasn’t a spell that bound them. It was raw fear.

“It’s not magic! It’s fear! Just move, damn it!” Elron roared, his feet shifting ever so slightly in the acidic muck beneath him.

Kael began chanting behind him, his voice trembling but gaining strength. Elron recognized the spell but couldn’t warn him fast enough.

“You really think that’ll work?” the plague mage sneered, eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. “It’ll end horribly for you.”

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At that moment, Slyra drove her dagger into her thigh. The excruciating pain broke the paralyzing fear, and with a burst of speed, she charged the mage. She leaped across the room, dodging the harmful landscape, and appeared before him, poised to strike—only for Maris’ body to be flung into her path. The collision sent her crashing into a wall.

Slyra spat blood onto the floor, wiping her mouth. “Sick bastard, using her as a weapon.”

The tentacle swung back, still holding Maris, preparing to hurl her like a club once again. But just as the mage was about to laugh and fling her again, he suddenly doubled over, clutching his head in pain.

“You… You won’t win, you stupid elf!” the mage growled, his eyes locking onto Kael.

Kael’s face twisted in agony, his mental battle with the mage taking a visible toll. Slyra tried to press her advantage, striking at the mage, but every time she closed in, the tentacle swung Maris like a shield, forcing Slyra to pull back to avoid harming her.

“Fight me, you coward!” Elron bellowed, his voice trembling with rage as he stood locked into place.

The mage smirked, and Kael collapsed to the floor, screaming in agony as his mind began to crumble. Maris’ wails echoed throughout the room as the acid continued to eat away at her body. It was all too much. Elron’s rage boiled over, and with a sudden surge of power, his sword erupted into green flames. He launched himself at the mage.

His blade came down in a deadly arc, but the mage glided away at the last second. Elron followed, using mana step to keep pace, while swinging his sword with wild fury. The mage’s expression shifted as he was forced to defend himself, flinging spell after spell at Elron, who seemed unstoppable in his fury.

Amidst the chaos, Slyra managed to sever the base of the tentacle holding Maris, dragging her toward the door. Kael, blood dripping from his nose and ears, staggered to his feet, visibly pained.

“Take her and go,” he muttered, handing Slyra a scroll.

Slyra looked back at him, eyes filled with concern. “We’re not leaving you guys here to die!”

They both turned their attention to Elron, who was locked in a desperate battle with the mage. Though Elron pressed the attack over and over, his armor was melting, and his body was beginning to falter. He couldn’t keep this frantic level of fighting up much longer.

Maris, barely conscious, whispered, “Where… is my lord?”

The mage, floating above the room, sneered. “Alright, I’ve had enough fun,” he said, casting a spell that sent Elron crashing into the wall with a deafening boom.

Kael, slumping forward, met the mage’s gaze. “Let me be your new plaything.”

The mage laughed. “You? How pitiful—”

“Leave, creature,” echoed a deep, chilling voice that filled the room.

In an instant, the mage vanished, and the wall of black dissolved, revealing a towering death knight surrounded by floating crystals. The knight exuded an aura of death with every step, his presence commanding absolute dread. He approached Kael, lifting him effortlessly with his skeletal hand.

Kael powerless, whimpered, “Run… Save yourselves…”

The death knight tightened his grip, slowly crushing Kael. “Mhm…”

Without hesitation, Slyra unraveled the scroll. The scripture on the parchment glowed bright blue, and with a burst of magic, Slyra, Maris, and Elron vanished from the dungeon, leaving Kael behind. The trio reappeared in a pool of acid in the town square of Crest.