The group stepped cautiously into the huge, dark chamber. Each of their footsteps echoed off the smooth stone walls. Flickering magical lights along the edges of the room gave glimpses of what was inside—a massive, shadowy figure, the Shadow Guardian, lying still in the middle. It looked like a statue covered in swirling shadows. Jeremy thought it could wake up any second, like they were poking a sleeping giant.
He glanced at Andrew, who was right beside him. Andrew looked back at him with a serious nod. Jeremy tried to look brave too, but his stomach was twisting. He couldn’t help but think about what had happened in the Tier 2 dungeon—the panic, the desperate escape. What if something like that happened again? What if they had to run away, and this time, they couldn't make it out in time? The thought made his hands feel clammy, and he hated it. He wanted to be strong, not scared.
Marcus made a signal for them all to get into position, and Jeremy and Andrew automatically moved to the front. They were supposed to be the strongest, and everyone knew it. But still, Jeremy couldn't ignore that small, nagging feeling in the back of his mind.
As they got closer, the ground suddenly rumbled. Jeremy’s heart skipped a beat. The shadows around the shifted like they were alive, and the Guardian’s eyes lit up with a purple glow. It got up slowly, rising to its full height, towering over all of them. Jeremy swallowed hard.
The Shadow Guardian let out a low growl that felt like it was vibrating inside Jeremy’s bones. He felt his legs tense, wanting to back away, but he took a deep breath and stepped forward, nodding at Andrew.
Jeremy was the first to attack. He rushed forward, his spear slicing through the air as he aimed at the joints of the Shadow Guardian. The shadows kept moving, and it was hard to tell where the real weak points were. It was like trying to hit something underwater; everything shifted right when he thought he had it. Still, Jeremy’s spear was fast, his movements fluid. But there was always that hesitation—that tiny, annoying voice in his head that made him second-guess himself every time he thought he saw an opening, afraid that he might deal the killing blow on accident.
Andrew was right beside him, swinging his mace with these powerful, heavy hits. Unlike Jeremy, Andrew didn’t hesitate. He just went for it. Jeremy could see how Andrew’s Body stat had to be close to his own—every swing of the mace made the Shadow Guardian stagger, showing Andrew's raw strength.
Marcus and Timothy stayed behind the brothers, waiting for their chances. Whenever the Guardian shifted its focus, Marcus jumped in, his sword slashing quickly to grab its attention. Timothy followed up, swinging his hammer at the Guardian’s legs, trying to make it lose balance. They didn’t look scared, even though Jeremy knew they had to be nervous.
Andrew worked so well with them. He made sure they had opportunities, adjusted his strikes to support theirs, and everything seemed to flow perfectly. Jeremy felt them all working together, but somehow, he couldn’t quite sync up. It made him feel... off, like he wasn’t keeping up with their progress, even though he was supposed to be the stronger one.
Mia was a little farther back, shooting arrows that were wrapped in flames. She aimed for any cracks that were starting to form, trying to make them bigger. Her shots were careful, each one meant to help. He knew she was giving it her all, just like everyone else.
Perci was on the ground, her eyes scanning the Guardian, sweat beading on her forehead. She focused intently, using her Observation to find any weak points they could exploit.
As the fight raged on, Jeremy found himself trying to keep track of everything at once—his friends' positions, their movements, the Shadow Guardian's attacks. His spear darted forward while his eyes constantly scanned the battlefield, and he realized how much his awareness was being tested. He could feel his body moving almost instinctively, all the practice and training finally clicking into place.
Skill Improved: Multitasking Basic → Simple
But the Shadow Guardian was so tough—way stronger than they thought. Marcus and Timothy were slowing down, their attacks not coming as often. Mia’s arrows were getting less frequent too.
Jeremy gritted his teeth, frustrated. He was supposed to be strong enough to handle this, but it didn’t feel like it. His hesitation kept costing them time, and every time he thought he saw a spot to hit, he would hesitate just enough to miss it.
Then Perci suddenly gasped, her eyes flying open. She yelled out to Jeremy, her voice shaky, “The neck! There’s a weak point where the shadows are thinnest at the base of its neck!”
Jeremy locked his eyes on the spot she mentioned. It was tiny—barely there—but he could see it. He took a deep breath and signaled to Andrew and Marcus to help make an opening. But even then, a part of him wondered if he could really do it, if he could land the final hit.
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Andrew didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, his mace swinging with so much force that the ground seemed to shake. He got right up in the Guardian’s face, drawing all of its attention. Marcus was right there with him, his sword flashing as he struck at the Guardian’s arms, trying to throw it off-balance.
Jeremy took off, running straight at the Guardian. His spear was ready, his eyes locked on that weak point at the base of the neck. He hesitated for a split second, thinking about what it meant to kill this thing and take in its Essence. He didn't know if he wanted more Essence right now—he still hadn't fully figured out the last one. But he knew he couldn't let everyone down.
Gritting his teeth, Jeremy pushed forward, driving the spear right into the weak spot Perci had pointed out. It let out a deep, echoing groan, its whole body shuddering as the shadows started to lose shape. The massive figure collapsed, the darkness fading away like smoke until there was nothing left but a pile of ash.
Jeremy landed, his legs shaking beneath him. Dust filled the air, and he looked over at Andrew, who gave him a tired but proud grin. Marcus and Timothy nodded at him, relief clear on their faces. Jeremy tried to smile back, but he couldn’t shake that feeling of hesitation that still nagged at him, even though they’d won.
Still, there was something good there too—a moment of real teamwork. They had done it together. Andrew had been crucial, and Jeremy knew that without his brother’s quick thinking and confidence, they might not have made it.
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Everyone was exhausted. Mia leaned on her bow, and Timothy gave Marcus a weary grin as he wiped sweat from his forehead. Perci came over to Jeremy, her face pale but her eyes shining. “Nice strike, Jeremy,” she said, her voice soft but genuine. He could tell she meant it, but there was something else in her eyes—she had seen his hesitation, just like he had felt it.
Andrew clapped him on the shoulder, but his expression quickly turned serious. "Why were you hesitating Jeremy? We could've finished it sooner," Andrew said, his voice edged with frustration, his brows knitting together.
Jeremy clenched his jaw, looking away. He could feel the weight of Andrew's words, and the frustration in his brother’s tone cut deeper than he wanted to admit. The mix of emotions all churned inside him until he couldn't contain it anymore. He sighed heavily and reached into himself, into the ocean of Essence swirling within him. He took out a small piece—what came from the Guardian—and sent it to Andrew.
Andrew didn’t have a choice—the moment Jeremy handed over the Essence, it was automatically absorbed. Andrew's eyes widened as he felt the power flow through him, but he didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he looked down at his hands, then back up at Jeremy, his face a mix of emotions.
"Take it," Jeremy said, his voice quiet but firm. "I don't want it. The academy won't know who dealt the final blow. It's fine if you take the Essence." He met Andrew's eyes, the exhaustion clear in his gaze. He was tired—not just from the fight, but from all the emotions that he had yet to process with his mother’s visit. "I need to figure this out... and I can't do that if I'm weighed down by more Essence I can't handle."
Andrew frowned, watching him carefully. "Jeremy, why don't you want the Essence? Even with all the gains from that Tier 2 dungeon, why are you avoiding it now?"
Marcus stepped closer, his frustration evident. "Jeremy, this isn’t just about you," he said, his voice sharper than usual. "If something's going on, you need to tell us. We can't afford any surprises out there. We’re a team, and that means we all need to be ready—especially you."
Jeremy stiffened, avoiding their gazes. He felt the words catch in his throat, the truth too heavy to share. The memory of his mother's ruthless actions, her demands—it was something he wasn't ready to say, not even to his closest friends. "Look, it's... complicated, alright?" he muttered as he tried to be convincing.
Andrew took a moment, clearly processing what had just happened. Jeremy could see his brother glancing at him, hesitation in his eyes. After a tense pause, Andrew stepped forward to face the rest of the group.
"Listen," Andrew began, his voice a bit shaky but resolute, "If Jeremy is willing to give away his Essence to help all of us, then I should do the same." He paused, his eyes flicking briefly to Jeremy, uncertainty lingering in his expression. "We're all in this together, right?" He tried to force a smile, even though doubt lingered in his eyes.
Before anyone could protest, Andrew began splitting the Essence. His actions were slower, deliberate, as if each decision weighed on him. He handed a portion to Marcus, Mia, Timothy, and Perci—everyone but Jeremy and himself. "Take it," he said quietly, his gaze not meeting Jeremy's.
Jeremy frowned, irritation flashing across his face. That wasn’t the point at all. He wanted Andrew to keep the Essence, to grow stronger. The memory of their mother’s chilling words about Andrew possibly not surviving the coming war echoed in his mind, making his heart sink. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the frustration building inside him, knowing now wasn’t the time to argue.
Jeremy took a moment to gather himself. Instead of saying anything, he forced a tight smile, nodding as the others accepted the Essence from Andrew. He stayed silent, though a knot of frustration twisted deep in his gut. It wasn’t easy, watching Andrew give away what Jeremy thought he desperately needed.
The others could feel the tension in the air, their eyes shifting from Jeremy to Andrew. Mia was the first to break the silence, giving Andrew a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Andrew. It means a lot."
As they all turned away, Jeremy found himself already forming a plan. Once they were out of the dungeon, he would find an excuse to get Andrew alone—anything that would work. Then, he would give Andrew some of the Essence their mother had entrusted to them. He couldn't let his brother face what was coming without every possible advantage. Not if he could help it. The thought gave him some comfort, even if it wasn't a perfect solution.