Alonso soared through the skies, the winds slicing past him as the ocean known as the Great Flood stretched endlessly before his eyes. His destination, a solitary tower-like structure, loomed on the horizon. This metallic dungeon, standing defiant amidst the vast waters, was his next challenge.
As Alonso approached, he marveled at the towering black walls of the dungeon, each one glistening with an eerie sheen, like oil-slicked metal reflecting the dim sunlight. The dungeon was shaped like a massive rectangular tower, its length far exceeding its width, creating a narrow but imposing fortress. Around the base, a metallic platform extended like a drawbridge over the ocean, offering a stable footing for any adventurers bold enough to venture inside.
Upon landing gracefully at the dungeon's entrance, Alonso's eyes fell on the lone figure guarding it—an old man with a long gray beard that draped over his chest. His slouched posture and droopy eyes made it clear that he wasn't expecting anyone, let alone someone like Alonso. The man blinked in surprise, taking a lazy step back as Alonso approached.
"Who are you?" the old man asked, his voice thick with skepticism, not bothering to hide the doubt laced in every word.
Alonso, calm and composed, pulled out his adventurer ID and golden pass, handing them over with a measured smile. "I'm Alonso. Cheng sent me to investigate the dungeon."
At the mention of Cheng, the old man's expression changed. His brow furrowed, and he leaned in to inspect the ID more closely. "Cheng, eh?" he muttered, squinting suspiciously at the pass. "Well, ain't that somethin'... Cheng doesn't usually send greenhorns to a place like this." His eyes flicked up to Alonso, sizing him up, clearly unconvinced. "A C-rank, though? Really?"
Alonso simply nodded, his calm demeanor unshaken.
The old man snorted, scratching his chin as if mulling something over. "Alright, you check out, I guess. But let me give you some advice—don't get too excited, boy." His tone turned sharp, and he gestured lazily toward the entrance. "This dungeon is mysterious and confusing it's impossible to slove ". Hell, if the Flaming Bull herself couldn't clear it, I don't see how a C-rank kid stands a chance." His laugh was a dry, mocking rasp. "Yoi yoi, ha ha ha."
Alonso's gaze remained fixed on the entrance, his voice steady as he replied, "well you know what they say fortune favours the bold"
The old man shrugged, unimpressed but wary. "Well, don't say I didn't warn ya."
As soon as Alonso stepped foot inside the dungeon, he was greeted by a strange atmosphere. The air was thick, and the walls glowed faintly, illuminating the long, narrow corridor ahead. The path seemed linear, almost as if the dungeon itself wanted its challengers to proceed forward, with no chance of turning back or getting lost. Blue lights, resembling fireflies, floated aimlessly around, casting an otherworldly glow over the metallic walls.
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Alonso advanced cautiously, feeling the pulse of magic coursing through the dungeon. Soon enough, he found himself on the first floor, where his first challenge awaited him.
Metallic skittering filled the air, and from the shadows emerged giant, robotic spiders. Each one the size of a man, their bodies glinted in the dim light, and their glowing red eyes locked onto Alonso with predatory intent. These creatures were not made of flesh or bone but were fully technological, their bodies covered in black metal and powered by glowing cores embedded in their thoraxes.
Without warning, one of the spiders pounced, aiming to impale Alonso with its razor-sharp legs. But Alonso was faster. In one swift motion, he used Light Step, moving with such grace that he appeared as nothing more than a blur. He reappeared just beside the airborne spider and, with a well-aimed punch, pierced straight through its metallic shell. The spider's body fell to the ground, twitching before it exploded into pieces.
No time to relax.
Twenty more spiders scuttled out from the shadows, crawling along the walls and ceiling, their red eyes all fixated on him. Alonso took a deep breath and activated his gravity magic, soaring into the air to avoid their incoming attacks. But one spider shot out a web of gleaming iron from its abdomen, wrapping it tightly around Alonso's leg and yanking him back down toward the ground.
With a thunderous crash, Alonso slammed into the cold, hard floor, shaking the entire room. He groaned, but he didn't have a second to waste. The other spiders were already launching their iron webs, trying to ensnare him in their lethal threads.
"Not today," Alonso muttered under his breath.
With a thought, he used Minor Teleportation, disappearing from their sight in a flash of light. He reappeared directly behind the spider that had dragged him down, his hand crackling with magic. With a single punch, he shattered its core, sending its body flying across the room in a fiery explosion.
As the remaining spiders charged, Alonso formed a fiery whip in his hand, the flames licking the air with deadly intensity. With swift, fluid movements, he lashed out in every direction. The whip carved through the metallic spiders like butter, slicing them cleanly in half. Sparks flew with each strike, and every explosion sent a wave of heat through the room.
The spiders, in a final desperate attempt, fired their webs at him from all sides, but Alonso was too nimble. He moved with an elegance that seemed almost inhuman, dodging and attacking in the same breath. His movements were so fast and precise that it appeared as though he was dancing through the battlefield, each swing of his whip accompanied by an eruption of fire and metal.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The explosions echoed through the chamber as one by one, the spiders met their fiery demise.
When the last spider fell, Alonso stood amidst the wreckage of smoldering metal, his fiery whip slowly dissipating into embers. He wiped the sweat from his brow and, without a second glance at the carnage he had wrought, continued forward.
He entered the second floor, his mind already calculating the next series of challenges that lay ahead.