"Behind you!" Kaiden yelled, his voice cracking as he sprinted toward the others. The horde of monsters thundered behind him, their snarls and the scrape of claws reverberating in his ears. He glanced up and felt a small surge of relief; the drake was still hovering above, surveying the battlefield rather than engaging. Safe, for now.
As Kaiden reached the group, he skidded to a halt and turned back, raising his shields instinctively. To his shock, the monsters didn’t immediately attack. Instead, they slowed as they emerged from the tunnel, clustering together in a menacing formation. The wyrms slithered forward, their fanged maws gaping. Salamanders followed, their fiery breath steaming the air. Wyverns beat their wings, hovering just behind the others. It was as if they were awaiting instructions.
"I’ll take care of this," Zinnia said confidently, her staff already crackling with energy. Lightning danced along its length, illuminating her determined expression.
Kaiden barely noticed Boork shooting him a disappointed glare, no doubt annoyed that he wasn’t trampled by the monsters. Ashkar barked out, "Head to another tunnel!"
Kaiden nodded furiously. "Okay!" he managed, spotting the other tunnels and realizing that no monsters seemed to be pouring from them. He spun on his heel and fled, desperate to put some distance between himself and the fight.
As he ran, the sounds of Zinnia’s lightning strikes scorched the air behind him, followed by the growls and roars of the monsters. He didn’t look back. Shields still raised and his head swiveling constantly, Kaiden left the chaos behind, each step pounding as he neared his destination.
When he finally reached a tunnel, he slowed his pace, approaching cautiously. He peered inside, his breath catching. Empty.
"Thank Oros," Kaiden muttered, lowering his shields slightly as he stepped inside.
Curiously, Kaiden activated Arcane Vision, and his jaw dropped in surprise when a section of the empty wall lit up with glowing runes. "Was there another chest here?" he whispered, barely daring to hope.
Kaiden placed his hand on the runes and funneled mana into them. Slowly, they filled and vanished, one by one, until the section of the wall they covered dissolved, revealing a hidden space. His heart leapt as he saw it—another chest, just like in the first tunnel.
Why is this here? He stepped forward, barely able to believe his luck, and opened the chest. Inside lay a sleek, silvery orb, about the size of a coconut. Its flawless metallic surface shimmered under the torchlight, polished to a mirror-like perfection.
“What in the world?” Kaiden muttered, reaching out to touch it. As his fingers brushed the strange object, a notification blinked into view in his vision:
Bloodforged Fangclaw
An artifact forged for blood and battle. Shape-shifting weaponry that adjusts to its wielder’s will, capable of transforming into swords, spears, polearms, or any bladed weapon. Grants:
Bloodbound Empowerment (Passive): Absorbs the blood of enemies to strengthen its wielder.
Summonable at will.
Warning: Soulbound upon activation. Once bound, it cannot be separated, removed or transferred to another.
Do you wish to bind this artifact?
Kaiden stared at the notice, his breath catching. A weapon artifact. A shapeshifting weapon artifact! He glanced back at the object in his hand, its shiny surface almost daring him to make a decision.
Kaiden gulped as the boss battle raged outside. It sounded like the drake had joined the melee as well, but the sounds grew distant as Kaiden focused on the orb in his hands. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple as he checked the tunnel again, ensuring no monsters were making their way toward him. His thoughts churned, the decision weighing heavily on his mind. Was binding this artifact to himself too reckless? Too greedy?
Scenarios flooded his mind. Someone else had cleared this tunnel, and it was obviously the Striker tunnel—this artifact was probably meant for Ashkar. The swordsman might actually decide to kill him if he took it. But then again… how would Ashkar even know? The chest was here because obviously there was no fight. So, if there was no mini-boss battle here, then that meant everything was technically up for grabs, right? If Ashkar missed it, that was on him, right?
Kaiden found himself justifying his greed, trying to silence the nagging doubts in his head. The item was incredible—a Striker's dream. Sure, it didn’t grant straightforward stat boosts like the Heart of Nyssalith, but its versatility and passive ability seemed incredibly strong. The whole "absorbing blood" aspect was a little unsettling, but Kaiden figured it had to mean some kind of temporary stat boost mid-fight.
"Fuck it," Kaiden muttered and selected yes.
Instantly, the metallic orb leapt out of Kaiden's hand, shifting and warping like clay being molded by invisible hands. Then, to his astonishment, it split into two. One piece shot toward Kaiden’s head, too fast and unexpected for him to react. His eyes widened in panic, but the impact never came.
Instead, a strange awareness bloomed in his mind, as if unlocking a door that had always been there. The connection was to the orb—no, to his weapon, his partner. Instinctively he knew he could now control it. With a thought, the remaining piece shifted, stretching and solidifying into a short sword of unparalleled craftsmanship. Its design was elegant yet deadly, a blade that seemed like it belonged in the hands of a king. It kept its distinctive slate color from blade to handle.
Kaiden gasped as he reached for the sword. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a sense of completeness surged through him, as though a missing piece of himself had finally been restored. His partner had returned home.
With another thought, the weapon morphed into a spear—a magnificent, balanced work of art that practically sang in his hand. He grinned in spite of himself, marveling at its perfection. Then, with a simple mental command, the weapon winked out of existence, vanishing entirely. Yet Kaiden knew it wasn’t gone. He could feel its presence, ready to return at a moment’s notice.
Before he could summon it again to admire another form, a familiar rumbling caught his attention—close this time. Too close. His stomach dropped.
Shit!
Kaiden kept cursing under his breath as he turned toward the exit. He didn’t need to see it to know what was coming. Another horde of monsters. Of course.
He bolted without another thought, adrenaline surging, and the chaotic sounds of battle grew louder. The drake was still airborne, its terrifying roars cutting through the noise, but Kaiden's immediate focus was survival.
“Incoming!” he yelled, sprinting toward another tunnel. The rumbling behind him grew deafening, and he risked a glance over his shoulder. Sure enough, another flood of monsters spilled into the cavern. His shields came up instinctively as he darted for safety.
“You’re really making me work today,” Zinnia said.
Kaiden didn’t waste time looking her way or responding. He just needed to keep running and leave the monsters to her. If he could just make it to the next tunnel…
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
And then he grinned. There are two more chests left.
Kaiden’s panic twisted into determination. Screw it. If he survived this, he’d take them both. All’s fair in dungeons and loot, he thought, gritting his teeth as he pushed forward.
At least the dungeon had been kind enough to wait for him to get the chest. One thing was clear: the dungeon didn’t want you hiding in the tunnel during the boss fight. It would force you out—or was that just a coincidence? I’ll find out soon enough, Kaiden thought as he entered another tunnel safely.
No monsters in the new tunnel, and none followed him in either. He activated Arcane Vision, and sure enough, another section of the wall lit up. The familiar glow of runes faded as the wall shifted, revealing another hidden treasure. He reached for the chest with trepidation, the sounds of the chaotic battle outside barely muffled by the tunnel walls. With shaking hands, he lifted the lid. A notification immediately flared to life in his vision:
Immovable Tenfold Shield:
A legendary Defender artifact, forged to embody unyielding protection. This shield is a marvel of craftsmanship, capable of absorbing incoming damage and reflecting a portion back at attackers. Additionally, the Aegis can grow in power in size with its wielder.
Bonus Attributes:
+20 Constitution and +10% Constitution
Retributive Aegis (Passive): A portion of absorbed damage (10%) is reflected back to attackers. The remainder grows its power.
Tenfold Bastion (Active): Split your shield into 10 or keep them as one and become immovable. Splitting the shield divides the strength among all.
Summonable at will.
Warning: Soulbound upon activation. Once bound, it cannot be separated, removed or transferred to another.
Do you wish to bind this artifact?
Kaiden’s jaw dropped as he stared at the shield resting inside the chest. It was small, like a miniature version of a shield, rounded and tapering to a point at the bottom, almost teardrop-shaped. Its charcoal-gray surface was smooth and unblemished, looking well-made despite its minute size.
“This... this is tiny, but incredible,” Kaiden muttered, running his fingers over the smooth, cool surface of the Aegis. Then he realized—while it was small for a Defender, it was perfect for him as a forearm shield. He could attach it to a wristguard and use it seamlessly. Excitement bubbled up as he imagined wielding it in battle.
His heart pounded. This artifact would make any Defender a powerhouse if they could overlook its size. It did have the potential to grow and increase in size, so there was that. He didn’t have a Defender in his party—Boork wasn’t actually a Defender—so there should be no complaints about him taking the shield. Of course, it wasn’t like he’d be advertising that he had it. Most importantly, this artifact was summonable, just like the Striker artifact, meaning he could keep it hidden. He had no idea if this was a trait of all artifacts or if he’d simply gotten lucky. It made sense, though, that these were soulbound—clearly, there was one artifact per person per role, and if one was soulbound, then the others logically should be as well.
Maybe I could be a Defender, Kaiden thought, his excitement unwavering in the slightest. Another rumble shook the cavern, snapping his thoughts back to reality. He didn’t have time to dwell on it. He’d already made up his mind. A greedy grin spread across his lips as he stared at the notification hovering in his vision.
Yes!
As soon as the shield bound to him, that same feeling washed over Kaiden—another piece coming home. He made it disappear with a thought and rushed out of the tunnel, heading for the last one—the Bracer tunnel, the one actually meant for him. He yelled out “Incoming!” again, to let the rest of the party know more monsters were headed their way.
Ashkar barked out from the battlefield, “Don’t go in there! You keep bringing more of these monsters. Just stay by the entrance!”
Kaiden cursed internally. No! I’m so close! But he couldn’t disobey Ashkar. The man was probably right. Kaiden had been bringing more monsters with him every time he entered a new tunnel, and sneaking in wasn’t an option either. Even if he somehow avoided being seen, another horde of monsters joining the fight would be an obvious giveaway. He couldn’t afford to push his luck—Ashkar might actually decide to kill him for that.
Kaiden had already realized that his usefulness had effectively expired the moment he lit the last torch. Now that they were at the final boss fight, they didn’t need him anymore. Ashkar didn’t seem like the kind of person who’d cut someone down for such a reason, but Kaiden wasn’t so sure the man would go out of his way to protect him from the monsters either. He didn’t want to test either of those theories anyhow.
Reluctantly, Kaiden obliged Ashkar’s demand and posted himself just outside the Bracer tunnel. He raised his shields and scanned the cavern, ready for any incoming attack. I’ll just go in once the boss is dead, he thought. Once it’s gone, it shouldn’t trigger any more mobs… I hope.
He watched as the trio continued their battle. The drake stayed in the air, occasionally breathing down fireballs or swooping in at Boork while trying to avoid Ashkar’s blade. The scene was a chaotic blur of lightning, fire, and steel.
Zinnia’s staff crackled with energy as lightning bolts arced through the horde of monsters, reducing them to charred flesh before they dissolved into mist. Boork fought with the skill and experience of a true professional, especially impressive for someone who wasn’t a Defender. His shield absorbed devastating blows as he struck out at the monsters, following Ashkar’s orders flawlessly. Kaiden hated to admit it, but the mercenary was as efficient as he was ruthless.
But Ashkar—Ashkar was something else entirely. He moved like a force of nature, cutting through the swarming creatures effortlessly. His blade danced through the chaos, felling enemies with every swing. Kaiden tried to keep up with his movements, but even with his increased stats, Ashkar was still too fast to follow.
The drake roared from above, its battered and bleeding form marked by deep cuts, gashes, and scorch marks that marred its gray scales. Its wings created gusts of wind that reached all the way to where Kaiden stood. Each time it attacked, it targeted Boork, claws outstretched as it dove low. And every time, Ashkar intercepted with his blade slicing through the air, narrowly missing the drake’s exposed underbelly. Clearly, they all hadn’t been near misses before.
Kaiden’s muscles tensed every time the drake swooped low. He felt utterly useless, just standing there while they risked their lives. But he couldn’t afford to disobey Ashkar’s command. “Don’t go in there!” echoed in his mind, keeping him rooted to his spot.
Still, Kaiden couldn’t stop glancing toward the tunnel’s entrance. The Bracer chest had to be in there. It’s mine, he thought. I just have to bide my time.
The drake let out an ear-splitting roar, swooping low once more, claws outstretched and its maw glowing with the embers of another fireball. Ashkar stood firm, his blade gleaming in the flickering light. At the last possible moment, he sidestepped smoothly, evading the beast’s talons as they raked through the air where he had just been.
Before the fireball even left the monster’s mouth, Ashkar pivoted and slashed upward, his blade carving deep into the drake’s wing joint, forcing it off balance. The drake howled in pain, its descent now clumsy and erratic as the fireball extinguished. Its massive body skidded across the cavern floor, kicking up debris as it rolled onto its back. Before it could recover, Ashkar closed the distance and leapt onto its heaving chest.
The creature's eyes locked onto him, a final defiant glare, but Ashkar’s blade plunged into its exposed underbelly in a decisive strike. The cavern reverberated with the drake’s dying roar as its head collapsed and limbs fell lifeless, its massive frame shaking the ground before it began to dissolve into pink mist.
Ashkar stepped back, shaking the blood from his blade. “Stupid flying monsters,” he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with irritation.
The last few stragglers Zinnia had been dealing with dissolved into mist—not from her magic, but as a direct result of the boss’s death. The cavern was finally clear. In the center, a massive chest materialized. Ashkar, Zinnia, and Boork all walked toward it, satisfaction plain on their faces.
Congratulations, You’ve completed Mooregrave’s Hollow!
Kaiden’s heart pounded in his chest as he lingered near the tunnel entrance, his gaze darting between the group and the Bracer tunnel. Is this my chance? he wondered. If they were distracted with the loot, he might be able to sneak back into the tunnel unnoticed and claim the Bracer chest. It might look suspicious, but with their attention focused on the massive chest, maybe they wouldn’t realize he’d disappeared.
He began to back slowly toward the tunnel, keeping his eyes locked on the trio. His steps were cautious and silent as he edged closer to the entrance. But just as he turned to slip inside, he caught a glimmer of movement out of the corner of his eye.
Boork crushed a small, glowing object in his hand, the motes of light dissolving into the air like tiny fireflies scattering into the ether.
“Time Prison!” Boork shouted, his voice triumphant.
Ashkar and Zinnia’s eyes widened in shock as thin, shimmering tendrils of energy snaked out from Boork’s hand. A magical dome sprang to life around them, freezing their movements as though they were encased in ice. Unlike actual ice, however, they weren’t entirely silenced. They struggled against the time barrier, their muscles visibly straining, and spoke through clenched teeth.
“What the—?!” Zinnia spat, her voice laced with disbelief.
“A Time Prison?” Ashkar growled, his tone cold and furious. “You’re fucking dead, Merc!”
Kaiden froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched in horror. Boork let out a maniacal laugh that echoed across the cavern, the sound grating and triumphant.
The mercenary turned, his predatory gaze locking onto Kaiden with chilling intensity. “They can’t help you now,” he sneered, taking a slow step forward. His laughter subsided, replaced by a deadly calm. “Finally... you’re all mine.”