The group sat on the steps of the Mausoleum, looking outwards towards the Dark Tower in the distance. A black fog seeped upwards towards the sky from the base of the tower. Inside upon a throne of desecration sat the embodiment of arrogance, the True Lich. The group was confident but nervous. They were all aware that the vast majority of groups failed the upcoming fight. Manrin sat to the right of Rel, cleaning his glasses. Rel seemed to be lost in thought. Ardi, sitting in front of Lily, went over the upcoming battle plans in his mind. Lily looked at the group. She was happy to have the good fortune of coming across them all. Most of them were together due to pure coincidence, Lily only wished Meimei was among them. She knew that Meimei secretly felt insecure about her abilities. Lily didn’t care if she had no magic at all, she would still love her.

“It’s neither here nor there.” Ardi’s face came into view as Lily snapped out of her stupor.

“What?” Lily asked.

“You were thinking about some things that don’t matter right now.” Ardi responded, staring at her with a simple expression.

“True. We only need to be thinking about that right now.” Lily motioned towards the Dark Tower with her head.

“I’m glad you get it. We are all going to make it through this dive this time.” Ardi said, giving a confident thumbs up. Rel laughed from the background.

The group were all nervous in their own ways and for their own reasons. Rel knew that the upcoming battle relied heavily on her, and that weighed on her restless mind. Manrin didn’t particularly care if he won or lost -as he already considered himself plenty strong- but he had grown to care for the group, and therefore wanted their success. Ardi, seeing himself as the leader of the group, felt that if they could not defeat the True Lich, it would reflect poorly on his leadership abilities. Ardi had high aspirations, and if he couldn’t even manage a Labyrinth dive team, he would never meet his goals. Lily simply wanted to fight; she was perhaps the least nervous of the group.

The labyrinth divers set off for the Dark Tower. The group was uncharacteristically quiet as they fought off the undead fodder which sometimes attempted to block their path. Undead were initially difficult for most sorcerers and adventurers, but once one got used to fighting them, they were truly trivial, something quick and intelligent like a goblin was much more difficult to fight. In the case of the undead, a simple slap the head was enough to kill them. The group all took turns taking care of the undead which approached them, with Rel using the occasional light magic when a spirit would attempt an attack. A particularly disgusting corpse that was still somehow animated made Rel gag as the group stepped over it. Lily and Ardi couldn’t help but let out a laugh at the sight of Rel’s unsettled face. The group, even in their nervousness, got along very well. This was something that was unfortunately rare in dive groups, as they were often composed of people who were far too interested in their own exploits, with no interest in helping or caring about others.

It wasn’t too much longer that the group reached the edges of the properties that surrounded the once proud fortified watch tower. The, now, Dark Tower, seemed to ominously welcome the group inside with wide open, iron doors. The group paused a moment, looking at each other to make sure everyone was ready to go. Lily gripped her sword tightly. This time for sure, she was going to prove herself worthy to challenge the platinum star mages of the academy. The group stepped inside the dark tower. Malice as black as the night enveloped them, like a cold hug of a killer. Chills crept down their spines. The group formed into a circular formation, this tower had a higher concentration of spirits than the graveyard, so they needed to keep watch all around them.

The occasional attack by a spirit wasn’t enough to slow down the group. Lily and Rel could both destroy the spirit. If Ardi or Manrin spotted the spirit that would tug the sleeve of either Lily or Rel who was next to them and they would immediately respond with an attack. This was a strategy the group had developed after their first experience in the Dark Tower. In their first venture into the Dark Tower the group was far less organized, which lead to several of them being injured. A spirit’s attack would penetrate any defense and cause serious internal injuries. The group continued to make their way through the tower. The throne room with the True Lich would be halfway up the tower. The group was concentrating, leaving small talk aside. The only occasional sound would be the scuffle of a quick attack by Rel or Lily against a spirit which attempted an attack on someone.

It wasn’t long until the group made it to the middle floor. A great door of black glass and metal stood before the group. This ancient magical door was the only thing separating them from the True Lich.

“Let’s take a moment to get ready.” Ardi said with a serious tone.

The group shook their heads in agreement and immediately moved to completing their pre-fight duties. This was something the group had practiced over and over. Rel began reciting a prayer, preparing to enhance Lily’s weapon. Lily de-materialized her sword, allowing her to recover as much magical energy as possible before the fight. Ardi prepared different salves for emergency healing. He also began to wrap his feet and hands, so he could move as agile as possible without worrying about losing a boot or glove. Manrin sat, controlling his breathing. His job would be sub-healing and distracting, the same as Ardi. As the group finished tightening their garments and preparing their spells they stood up and formed a triangular formation in front of the great obsidian door. Lily turned towards Rel, holding out her sword. Rel smiled at Lily.

“Let the power of that which shows the truth flow into the shape of this one’s ambitions, LIGHT VEIL!” Rel chanted the light enhancement spell on Lily’s sword, causing it to glow white.

“Let’s do this.” Ardi said with a serious tone.

Manrin straightened his glasses in agreement. The group collectively took a deep breath, and all together pulled the great doors open. A cool black mist crept out of the inner sanctum of the room which the group entered. Atop a great throne with great stairs leading up to it sat a skeleton with a golden crown on its head. Every fiber of primal survival instincts in the group screamed at them to run. A low rumbling sound echoed around the large sanctum as the group slowly approached the lifted throne. Even with the low rumbling sound, each breath that anyone in the group took seemed to echo as loud as an explosion. The group was filled with nervousness, trepidation, and excitement.

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Suddenly the corpse atop the ruined throne began to twitch and turn. Air rushed back into the room, slamming the great doors shut behind the group. The sounds of breaking and twisting bones filled the air as the True Lich rose atop his throne and stared down at the interlopers below. The True Lich opened his rotten jaw, a low roar joined the rumbling and filled the sanctum. The lich began stomping down the stairs of the throne towards the group of labyrinth divers. The malignant being seemed unstable, like it was about to fall over, but in the same breath it seemed so sturdy as to be impossible to push over. As the True Lich reached the last step of the stairs to its throne it shifted its weight to its right shoulder, taking up a rotten scepter that had been attached to its side.

The group gave each other a quick nod before sprinting off in all different directions. Rel immediately let loose a beam of light directed at the true lich, which he dodged with surprising dexterity. Ardi, having arrived at the right side of the lich, flung out several knives which had been blessed with holy water. The lich flicked its boney hand, and without looking at the incoming knives, deflected them with sorcery. The next to let off magic was Manrin. He called forth thick vines which cracked through the decrepit stone floor and grabbed ahold of the lich’s feet, immobilizing him. The lich, realizing the danger of being unable to dodge, quickly began working on destroying the vines by tearing them with his boney hands. Lily appeared overhead of the lich, mid-jump towards him. The lich looked at her, desperately thinking of a way to survive. Lily’s magical sword glowed bright white with the blessing which Rel had rendered unto it. The lich was out of time, Lily slammed down on its shoulders, shattering the bones which supported its arms.

The lich let out a ghoulish roar as it ripped its feet free of the vines which bound them. Lily landed next to Ardi. The ghoul glared at the group. It no longer had arms, but it was still not ready to give up the fight. It began chanting a spell that the group had not heard before.

“Rel, now!” Ardi yelled out.

Rel had been surging her magical power since she had let off her first attack. She held out her staff in front of her, casting one final explosion of light towards the lich. The light magic slammed into the True Lich, combusting him with magical flames. The lich chanted a few more words, seemingly finishing his spell, before his upper body melted away, and his boney legs collapsed to the ground.

The group stood by for a moment, not willing to let their guard down yet. After a few moments of the bone legs not moving the group breathed a sigh of relief.

“Did we do it?” Rel asked sheepishly.

At just that moment a wave of magic crashed downwards on the group, pushing them all to the ground. A massive magical aura which the group had never experienced before rushed out like a river from the bones of the true lich.

“W-what is this?” Lily asked, looking towards Ardi and Manrin.

“I have no idea; the True Lich shouldn’t have this kind of magic.” Manrin squeezed out, clearly in pain.

The broken and melted fragments of the True Lich began re-assembling themselves. The legs of the being stood up as the re-assembled bones began attaching themselves in order. After just a moment the True Lich came into view again. This time with such an aura of tremendous magic surrounding it even the act of breathing was difficult for the group. The lich began to float into the air as glowing orange veins seemed to crack outwards from its eye sockets and inner cavities.

“It-it’s an Incarnation!” Manrin yelled out.

Incarnations were mythical beings of Labyrinths. It was written in many stories and legends that each labyrinth housed a being of comparable power to a god, and the labyrinth stood as a prison for these beings. Incarnations were thought to be bodies puppeteered by one of these god-like beings. On only a few occasions in recorded history had an Incarnation appeared in a Labyrinth. The way one could tell was said to be the divine blood which flowed from them, in the form of crystal amber. The Incantations were said to house an amount of power equal to that of an Archmage. While an Incarnation would only last a few seconds or minutes before the body disintegrated, it was more than enough time to destroy everything and everyone around them.

“Everyone cast your most powerful spell, no matter what, we are all dead if one of us doesn’t manage to stall it!” Ardi yelled through the crushing force of the Incarnation’s magical aura.

The group knew the gravity of the situation. No one had ever lived after seeing an Incarnation, the only way anyone knew that they even existed was through investigation magic. Using magic beyond one’s capability was likely to kill them, but only the most powerful spells stood a chance against the immense being that floated before them. Even if it killed them, everyone felt a duty to give it their all, even so just one of them could live. Against the immense pressure bearing down on the group only Lily and Ardi had the physical strength to stand. Rel and Manrin sat on one knee, fighting against the inevitable being which now challenged their right to live.

“Form before me, mother of the universe, spark of all life. Show those which would rally in the dark no quarter and flush them from their dwellings. End that of the unknown and illuminate all faith. CREATE SUN!” Lily chanted and a disturbance of heat appeared in front of her, the air twisting and turning as a shining dot began to rapidly grow larger. “Darkness unknown, father of no life, end of all creation. Devour that which is around you and become alone again. COLLAPSE!” With her other hand outstretched Lily snatched the newborn sun, collapsing it into a black point. “Combination magic, BLACK HOLE!” Lily finished her most powerful spell. A black hold began to emerge, silencing all existence as it began to spread. Lily nearly collapsed from the amount of mana that she had used.

“That which all beings call home, the natural shift and ebb, low to me, behold my command. Mother of earth become mine, and gift me your domain. DOMAIN CAPTURE!” The ground began to shake and crack as Manrin attempted to seize control of the very ground underneath from its patron deity. Blood began rushing from Manrin’s mouth and nose, as his mana screamed away from his body.

“I cast away my life so that I may experience true reality. Extract my soul to this vessel and show before me the truth,” Ardi grabbed his knife, aiming for his heart as he brought it down towards himself. “BECOME UNDEAD!”

“Mother of the beings above, carve out a star for me and allow me to sit beside you. Let my devotion be truth to my intentions and show gracious acceptance to my ascension. MANTLE OF GOD!” Rel began to violently glow as her flesh began to be torn from her body.

The group all cast their most powerful abilities in the hope that just one of them would be enough to slow the Incarnation, so that someone in the group could make it out alive. It was a foolish gamble, but something that a group of school children would think of. In truth they were just as likely to die from the spells they themselves cast.

Time seemed to slow as the group’s spells began to trigger. The Incarnation looked over them, seemingly unbothered. However, it turned its head and looked past the group, suddenly worried about something in the distance.

“[S̶̨͍̅̚Ǐ̵̼͓̾L̸̥̠͘Ế̶͈̼N̷̼̯̋Ċ̶͉̾È̸̙͉̕ ̶͓̦̔M̸̩̲̑̇A̴̲̦͝Ġ̴̗̐I̸̗͓̅Ć̶͚].” A female voice seemed to boom from behind the group. All of the spells that the group had been casting evaporated and destabilized. Rel fell to the ground unconscious immediately. The Incarnation began multi-casting dozens of spells at once.

“[R̷̯̅E̵̪̋T̸̺͆͝Ů̷̳R̵̦͌N̷̛͖͎̉ ̵̹͝͠T̶̙͐̈Ö̵̻ ̸͍̲̆V̶̰͐͘O̷̭͛I̴͍̳͋̊D̶̼̩̈́͘].” The female voice once again spoke out. The Incarnation seemed to cease moving, before its bones simply crumbled to the ground. Manrin fell unconscious, joining Rel. Lily’s vision began to darken at the edges as she too began to lose her grasp on reality. In her last moment she caught a glimpse of Ardi’s lifeless body- dagger still impaled into his heart.

Darkness. Lily’s vision failed her, and her consciousness faded.