With another fierce swing of her sword, Lyra sliced through the last of the salamanders. The creatures had been relentless, their numbers seemingly inexhaustible. She wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling the weariness in her bones. The portal’s sun was merciless, its heat sapping away at their energy with each passing minute. They had been at it for over three hours now, and the waves of salamanders showed no sign of abating.
The rhythm of battle had become a monotonous drone. Salamanders would surge forth, they would fight them off, and then brace themselves for the next wave. The initial thrill of combat had long dissipated, replaced by a mechanical response to the threat that seemed to spawn endlessly from the dry, cracked earth.
Lyra sighed, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of change, but the barren landscape offered no respite, no hint of what lay ahead. She couldn't help but feel the dungeon was mocking them, whittling their spirits down with each wave.
She glanced towards Rayne, who was chanting softly, her "Refresh" spell soothing their aching muscles and alleviating the weariness that threatened to engulf them. Lyra smiled at her, mouthing a silent “Haha, you’re our MVP!” Lyra said so, giving a thumbs up. Rayne returned the gesture with a tired smile.
Just then, Kyler's voice cut through the silence, "I'm not so sure about that.” His words were directed towards Lyra, but his eyes were on Tian. Following his gaze, Lyra watched as Tian made quick work of eight or nine salamanders, his movements fluid and efficient.
"I can easily do that as well!" Lyra teased, though they both knew it was far from the truth. Tian's prowess was unmistakable. He was a natural, his combat skills refined to a point where every strike, every dodge was executed with lethal precision.
Lyra couldn’t help but sigh. She had recognized Tian's potential early on. His skills were undoubtedly beyond their group, probably even a D or a C rank. She found herself wishing he could be a permanent member of their group. His calm demeanor, though distant, brought a sense of assurance. But Lyra knew better. The world of rankers was transient, alliances formed and dissolved with the changing tide of circumstances.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden lull in the battle. The salamanders had retreated, at least for the moment. Seizing the opportunity, Lyra called for a short break. They needed to regroup, to tend to their wounds and regain their composure for whatever lay ahead.
As they huddled together, Lyra noticed Rayne's complexion was paler, her spells were taking a toll on her. The priestess had been conserving her mana, casting spells sparingly, but the relentless assault had drained much of her energy.
They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the quiet only broken by the occasional gust of hot wind that sent tendrils of dust swirling around them. The rest was short-lived but necessary. Lyra looked at her group, their faces showing signs of fatigue, but their eyes sparkled with the unyielding resolve that had carried them thus far.
As Lyra gazed upon the barren landscape once more, a new surge of determination filled her. They were not going to be defeated, not by a relentless sun or an endless horde of salamanders. With a determined nod, she rallied her group, "Alright, let’s move. We'll get through this.”
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The rhythm of the fight had become predictable, almost meditative for Tian. His body moved fluidly from one opponent to the next, his blade slicing through the salamander scales with ease. He could sense the fatigue in Lyra’s group, the heat and the relentless combat wearing them down. However, for Tian, the heat was a familiar companion, his past training had conditioned his body to endure much worse.
He noticed Rayne casting her Refresh spell over the group again, soothing the oppressive heat and restoring their stamina. Each time the spell washed over him, he felt an edge of awkwardness. It was a kind gesture but unnecessary for him. Yet, he chose to accept her goodwill with a quiet smile, not wanting to create any awkwardness by refusing.
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His attire was minimal due to the intense heat, a stark contrast to the heavy fur gear he usually donned, which now rested securely in his inventory. The idea of wearing it in this scorching environment was unbearable.
As the waves of salamanders diminished momentarily, he took the opportunity to check his inventory. The creatures had dropped a scattering of E-F rank scales, but one item stood out among the rest - the Salamander Heart. It was a rare C-rank item, something he hadn’t seen before despite his numerous portal ventures. The group had offered it to him, insisting adamantly even after his refusal. He had finally accepted it, appreciating their camaraderie.
Item Status:
Name: Salamander Heart
Rank: C
Description: A rare and potent core harvested from a salamander. Known for its fiery essence, it’s a coveted item in alchemy and spell crafting, capable of amplifying fire-based concoctions and spells.
Tian was surprised. He had cleared many similar portals yet had never come across such an item. But he was aware that the portals were whimsical, often revealing their treasures selectively.
He hadn’t summoned his golems in this portal, a conscious decision to keep his abilities concealed. The rumors of a lone ranker clearing portals may have already started swirling among the guilds, and he had no intention of becoming the center of such attention. Besides, the D-rank portal posed no significant threat to necessitate the use of his golems.
As they trudged along the barren landscape, Tian circulated his mana internally to cool himself, a simple but effective trick. It allowed him to maintain his composure in the relentless heat. As the cooling mana flowed through him, he felt another pang of guilt for not informing Rayne. Her mana could have been conserved for more dire situations.
Following the rhythm of their strides, Tian and his newfound allies continued their journey across the barren, sun-scorched landscape. The relentless waves of salamanders seemed to never end, their numbers undeterred by the bodies of their fallen brethren littering the ground. The hours seemed to stretch into an endless loop of combat and marching under the ever-blazing sun.
As they moved further into the desert, the monotony was briefly interrupted by a distant structure that appeared on the horizon. It was an imposing edifice that stood alone amidst the barrenness, a stark contrast to the desolate surroundings. The structure seemed to promise an end to their current ordeal, possibly housing the boss of this portal.
“It’s a structure! The boss is probably inside! Everyone start preparing!” Lyra said. She was clearly overjoyed at having an end in sight.
However, Tian knew better. He turned to Lyra and her group, cautioning them about the mirage. “That's not real. It's an illusion crafted by the boss of this dungeon.” His words were met with skeptical glances from the group.
“What are you talking about? It’s not even hot enough for us to hallucinate. And besides, we all see it,” retorted Kyler, his voice carrying a hint of irritation. The endless combat and oppressive heat had begun fraying the nerves of even the most composed among them.
Tian shook his head, trying to explain. “It’s not a heat-induced hallucination. It’s a deceit by the dungeon boss. We're being led into a trap.”
Their discussions grew heated, the collective stress channeling into the disagreement at hand. But before anyone could further contest Tian’s claim, he sensed a shift in the mana around them. The salamanders that had been relentless in their pursuit now hesitated, their actions mirroring uncertainty. It was a subtle change, but enough for Tian to realize they had already stepped into the boss’s room.
“We are already in the boss's domain,” Tian voiced out calmly amidst the bickering, drawing their attention. Before he could explain further, Lyra questioned, “What do you mean by that?”
But before Tian could answer, the ground beneath them trembled violently. Jax’s voice cut through the rising panic, “BELOW!” His warning came just in time as a colossal sand wyrm erupted from the ground, its gaping maw aimed at Ira. The sudden assault knocked her off her feet, and before anyone could react, the creature disappeared back into the sands, its speed leaving them with nothing but a cloud of dust.
The reality of Tian’s words hit them hard. The boss had revealed itself, and the real battle was about to commence. The illusion of the structure vanished, leaving them amidst the same desolate landscape, only now, the ground beneath was a lurking threat waiting to strike again.
Quickly regaining their composure, Lyra and the rest positioned themselves protectively around Ira, who was slowly picking herself up, her face pale but determined. Tian could feel the tension in the air thickening as they prepared for the unpredictable onslaught that awaited them.