The dungeon stretched out wide before them. The air felt thick, like they were breathing underwater. No one spoke. Every small shuffle or scrape echoed around them, making the silence almost worse than the danger they knew was waiting somewhere up ahead.
“Alright, first wave,” Marcus whispered. He raised his sword, his voice steady even though Jeremy could see his knuckles were tight around the hilt. “Stay together, just like we practiced.”
They moved ahead slowly, the shadows around them shifting and swaying. Jeremy's eyes caught movement. There, barely visible, something dark, moved along the edge of the cavern. Shadowy, blob-like creatures started to drift forward, their shapes almost too blurry to focus on. It made his head feel weird just looking at them.
Marcus took a deep breath, then charged forward. His feet seemed to glide over the rocky floor, his movements controlled, his Reflexes making him look like he'd been doing this for years. He slashed down, the blade cutting right through one of the shadowy figures. But as soon as it dissolved into mist, two more surged forward.
"They're tougher than I thought!" Marcus shouted, his voice strained as he blocked another incoming attack. The force of the impact made him stumble slightly, his confidence visibly shaken.
"We need more power here! Jeremy, Andrew, get in!" Perci called, her voice urgent as she parried a creature trying to close in on Mia.
Jeremy stepped forward, thrusting his spear with precision. He aimed at the creature's shoulder, his spear piercing through it just enough to push it back, allowing Andrew to step in with his mace. Andrew swung hard, the impact shattering the creature into mist, the Essence flowing into him.
"Keep it up, guys! We need to stay on top of them!" Mia yelled, her hands glowing brightly as she cast another burst of light, keeping a group of shadow creatures at bay.
The creatures came at them in waves. Jeremy realized they were nothing like the ones his friends had fought in the Tierless dungeons. They had spent the past two weeks in Tierless dungeons, and now they were facing their first Tier 1 challenge. These creatures fought with a ferocity that caught them off guard, forcing everyone to adapt quickly. Jeremy could see Timothy struggling, his hammer swings growing slower under the relentless onslaught, each impact straining his stamina.
"Tim, uh, switch with me?" Jeremy called out, his voice cracking slightly. He moved forward, as he tried to take Timothy's place. He swung his spear wide, a little too hastily, and nearly lost his balance before forcing the creatures back. Timothy gave him a confused look before stepping back, catching his breath.
"Uh, thanks, Jeremy," Timothy panted, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Andrew moved in beside Jeremy, his mace crashing down on another creature that had tried to flank them. "They're not giving us a break, are they?" Andrew grunted, his eyes meeting Jeremy's.
Jeremy shook his head, his focus sharp. "No breaks. We just need to keep pushing."
Perci darted forward, her daggers slicing through a shadow that tried to slip past Marcus. "We've got this, but we need everyone! No holding back!"
Jeremy could feel the pressure, the intensity of the fight pushing him to act. He tried to ignore the twisting feeling in his chest about the Essence. Right now, his friends needed him, and he couldn't afford to hesitate. He moved in sync with Andrew, their combined attacks breaking through the creatures that swarmed them. Each swing, each strike, was precise and deliberate. The teamwork they had practiced was what kept them alive, and Jeremy knew it.
The battle was hard, harder than any of them expected, but they were holding on—together.
Jeremy kept close, using his spear to jab at any of the creatures that tried to slip past Marcus.
"Got one coming your way, Andrew!" Jeremy called, thrusting his spear forward, the point missing the shadowy creature by inches as it twisted away. Andrew moved in swiftly, his mace coming down with a crunch that echoed in the cavern. Jeremy watched as the creature dissolved into mist, the Essence flowing into Andrew, his friend's eyes lighting up for a second as he absorbed the energy.
Andrew shot Jeremy a quick grin. "Thanks for the heads up!"
Jeremy nodded, but something still felt off. He couldn't quite place it. The others seemed to move together so naturally, almost like they were reading each other's minds. Perci slipped past Jeremy, her daggers flashing in the dim light as she carved through another creature. She was quick, her movements almost too fast to follow, her eyes sharp as she glanced at Mia.
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"Left side, Mia!" Perci shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. Mia spun around, her glowing hands releasing a burst of light that caught the creature mid-lunge, freezing it just long enough for Timothy to step in and finish it with a heavy blow from his hammer.
"Nice one!" Timothy panted, giving Mia a thumbs-up. She smiled, sweat beading on her forehead as she nodded back. They were working together, moving as one, and it made Jeremy feel... disconnected.
The others kept calling out to each other, quick glances and short phrases that carried more weight than anything Jeremy could say. He forced himself to stay close, to keep up, but every step felt like he was just a beat behind, never quite in sync with them. He also found himself avoiding dealing the killing blow whenever he could, wanting his friends to get the Essence instead. The others didn’t seem to notice, too focused on the fight.
Jeremy tried to fit in, to match their rhythm, but he kept hesitating. He wasn’t used to this anymore. Not after all that time in the hospital, sitting around while everyone else got stronger. He didn’t want the Essence. Not after what happened—after his mother forced it into him, the way it felt like it was taking something from him even as it made him stronger. He couldn’t let himself absorb more. He just… couldn’t.
The battle seemed to stretch on forever, but finally, the last creature was cornered, squirming in the light of Mia’s glowing hands. Marcus turned, looking at Jeremy. “Hey, Jeremy! This one’s yours!” he called, a grin on his face, his eyes bright with excitement.
Jeremy's stomach twisted, and he stared at the creature for a second, his spear feeling heavy in his hands. He could feel the others watching him, waiting. Slowly, he stepped forward. But then, just as he got close, he stopped. He turned to Andrew, holding out the spear. “You finish it,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Andrew blinked, surprised. “What? Are you sure?”
Jeremy nodded, his throat feeling tight. “Yeah. Go ahead.”
Andrew hesitated, then took the spear, stepping forward and jabbing it into the shadowy figure. It dissolved, the Essence flowing into Andrew, who looked back at Jeremy, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and confusion.
The cavern was quiet again, and they all stood there, catching their breath. Andrew wiped his brow, glancing at Jeremy. “Why didn’t you take the kill?” he asked, his voice careful, like he was afraid of the answer.
Jeremy shrugged, trying to seem casual. “It doesn’t really matter,” he said, his voice sounding hollow even to him. He turned away, pretending to check his gear, anything to avoid their eyes. He could feel Perci’s gaze on him, though. She was always too good at reading people, her blue eyes watching him thoughtfully, like she could see right through whatever act he was trying to put on.
He wished he could explain it. He wished he could tell them what it felt like to take in Essence that wasn’t earned—how it twisted something inside of him, made him feel like he was losing himself. The memory of his mother forcing the Seekers' Essence into him still lingered, a constant reminder of what he wanted to get rid of. He could let it go, give it to his friends, let it help them grow stronger. But they would ask questions—questions he didn’t have answers for. Not now, anyway. Not when they needed to focus.
So he forced a smile, nodded at Marcus, and said, "Let’s keep moving. We still have a lot to get through."
Marcus nodded, and they all fell back into formation, moving forward into the darkness again.
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As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the atmosphere shifted. The cold was unnatural, seeping through their clothes and making each breath feel like inhaling ice. Marcus led, his sword ready, his eyes sharp for any sign of movement. Jeremy took up the rear, his spear held tightly, eyes scanning the darkness behind them.
He glanced at Andrew ahead of him. His brother moved with a new sense of purpose, each step confident, his mace held firmly at his side. Jeremy noticed how much Andrew had changed—the hesitation that once held him back had vanished, replaced by something fiercer. Andrew seemed ready to take on whatever came their way, to lead when needed. Their mother hadn’t even been sure if Andrew would survive the war, and that thought still haunted Jeremy. He didn't know how to feel—part of him wanted to protect Andrew from everything, while another part recognized and respected his brother's growing strength.
A small smile touched Jeremy’s lips as he watched Andrew, pride swelling inside him. But that pride was quickly followed by a pang of guilt. It felt like he was drifting away from his friends, and he didn't know how to stop it. He felt the gap widen with every hesitation, every secret left unspoken. It wasn't just about strength—it was about being their friend, and Jeremy feared he was losing them.
He looked at Perci, who was just ahead of Andrew. She kept glancing back at him, her eyes catching his from time to time, worry clear in her gaze. Jeremy tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he knew it looked forced. He could see it in her expression, the way her brows drew together in response, her lips pressing into a thin line.
But Jeremy kept his head high. He couldn’t let his own fears and doubts interfere with their mission. They needed him, and he had to be there for them, even if it meant holding back his own troubles. He knew he couldn't afford to let them down—not now, not ever.
Finally, they reached the mouth of a vast chamber. The air buzzed with an energy that made the hair on Jeremy’s arms stand on end. The ceiling arched high above them, and shadows shifted and swayed across it, cast by an unseen light source. Marcus raised his hand, signaling everyone to halt. They stopped, and Jeremy felt the tension ripple through the group, their breaths held as they stared into the darkness ahead.
They all looked to Marcus, waiting for his nod of approval. Jeremy tightened his grip on his spear, his heart pounding in his chest. Whatever was waiting for them in that chamber, they would face it together. Despite the growing divide, despite his secrets, Jeremy knew one thing for certain—he wouldn’t let anything happen to his friends.
Marcus turned back to them, eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. He gave a slow, deliberate nod. It was time. With that silent signal, they stepped forward, together, into the unknown.