The ground thundered beneath their feet.

The Dungeon's core chamber trembled with every step of the towering Behemoth. Its obsidian-black flesh was veined with molten cracks, dripping lava-like blood that burned holes into the stone floor. Three glaring crimson eyes scanned the intruders who dared force it into a corner.

They were exhausted—bruised, bleeding, armor cracked—but each of them stood firm.

Kyle was first to charge.

His breaths came in ragged bursts, sweat mixing with grime as he spun his blue spear in a tight arc to parry the creature's descending claw. Sparks burst against steel. His boots skidded across the scorched ground, but he forced his stance firm.

"Kyle! Its joints!" Someone yelled.

Kyle clenched his teeth and dove low. A trail of shimmering azure mana flowed along his spear as he thrust directly into the beast's knee joint. The blade dug deep—enough to draw a fountain of glowing blood.

The beast roared. Its tail lashed like a whip.

"KYLE!" Selena's voice cracked through the chaos.

A surge of icy wind burst beneath him, lifting him just enough as the tail barely grazed his side. Kyle hit the ground tumbling, clutching his ribs but nodding gratefully.

Selena emerged from a swirling cold mist—her breathing sharp and heavy. Frost crawled up her staff, and lightning pulsed inside her irises like a storm caged in glass.

She thrust the staff skyward. Spears of ice formed and launched downward with a snap of thunder, pinning one of the monster's arms to the floor. Lightning danced viciously through frozen bone.

Her knees shook. The staff was almost too heavy to hold anymore.

"Don't you… dare heal…" she growled as cracks spread further into the ice.

A blur darted past her—Crimson hair streaking through the air like moonlight.

Aurelia.

Her Red Spear traced a spiral of shimmering afterimages as she leapt onto a falling chunk of rubble. She looked like she was dancing—yet every movement was painfully efficient.

"Selena! Hold it!" she called, voice sharp but strained.

"Just… hurry!" Selena snapped back.

Aurelia kicked off the debris, flipping over the creature's snout. She spun mid-air and thrust her spear directly into its central eye. The beast screamed—blood splattering her cheek as she landed hard, ankle nearly buckling.

Kyle was already there, catching her elbow.

"You're reckless," he muttered.

"You're slow." Her smirk trembled—she was hurting.

Heat pulsed around them.

Lilliane stepped forward, one shaking breath at a time. Her robe was torn, hair matted with sweat, and magic swirled violently around her—like the elements themselves were rebelling against her near-empty reserves. Fire flickered at her right hand, wind coiled at her left, while water and earth spiraled beneath her feet.

She bit down on the pain. On the fear. On the doubt.

"Everyone—back!" she shouted.

They didn't hesitate. They knew what came next.

Lilliane slammed her palms together—

A roar of all the elements fused into one exploded outward:

Scorching fire split the ground

Wind blades sliced open newly formed wounds

Water pressure tore through exposed flesh

Earthen spikes surged upward, skewering the beast's remaining limbs

The chamber shook. Stone cracked. The monster howled and dropped to one knee.

Lilliane swayed—vision blurring white.

A support arm caught her: Aurelia's.

"You did great. That's enough," she whispered.

"N-No… not yet…" Lilliane rasped, but her legs were already collapsing.

Shadows rippled behind her.

With a silent glide, Sylthara materialized from darkness—black daggers dripping with shadow essence. Her expression was calm, almost eerily emotionless compared to the others' visible strain.

She sprinted forward, melting into the beast's blind spot—a place no one else could even perceive—and severed the tendons anchoring its remaining leg. A clean slice. Then another. Each movement precise, almost beautiful.

"Now." Her voice was cold, controlled.

Finally—

Luca stepped in.

His clothes were torn, his skin cut and bruised, but his twin sabers burned with starlight-infused mana, each breath measured and steady. He looked at the monster—not with fear, but with unwavering command.

"Kyle—launch me!"

Kyle slammed his spear into the ground, creating a pulse that shot Luca forward like a bullet.

"Selena, freeze the core!"

She raised her trembling staff and a sphere of frost enveloped the beast's heart-glow inside its chest.

"Aurelia—open the path!"

Aurelia thrust her spear upward, splitting scales around the frozen mark.

"Sylthara."

Already waiting. "Done."

She tore open the final gap—

And Luca struck.

He crossed his sabers before the dive, mana spiraling around him in blinding arcs. With a roar that shook the cavern, MOONSLAYER!!! he carved straight through the Behemoth's core, slicing it apart in an X of pure light.

The beast's body split into two massive halves. A final roar of pain thundered before it collapsed—shattering into chunks of obsidian and dissipating into glowing dust.

Silence rushed in like a wave.

One by one, they dropped to their knees—panting, trembling, barely conscious.

But smiling.

Their bodies hit the cold stone floor almost in unison—six exhausted warriors sprawled out, chests heaving, limbs refusing to move another inch. Sweat clung to their skin like a second layer of armor, and the air still trembled faintly from the beast's final roar.

Kyle was the first to break the silence.

A loud—almost delirious—laugh erupted from him.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

His laughter echoed across the cavern until he sat up, clutching his stomach.

"That was fun, isn't it?" he wheezed, still laughing like a madman.

Lilliane glared at him, her hair a tangled mess and her face flushed from exertion.

"What part of continuously battling for seven days in a dungeon without seeing daylight sounds fun to you!?" she snapped, her voice cracking adorably with fatigue.

Kyle smirked, propping himself up on his spear.

"Our shy princess is finally opening up, huh? Another fun fact?"

The flush on her cheeks deepened instantly.

"W–What shy princess!? I–I'm not shy! And what are you going on about—fun fact, fun, fun what!?"

Her flustered scrambling only made everyone laugh harder—even Selena let out a soft, tired snort.

Aurelia hid a small smile behind her hand, while Sylthara blinked at them all with silent confusion… but the subtle lift of her lips gave her away.

Luca finally sat up and stretched his aching back with a groan.

"Well," he managed between breaths, "I know a fun and thrilling fact about this."

All eyes instantly snapped to him.

He smirked mischievously.

"The reward for clearing this dungeon."

Laughter died. Completely.

Every single person suddenly sat upright, eyes gleaming with anticipation—hope—greed—everything at once.

Luca looked into each of their faces and couldn't help the quiet pride swelling in his chest.

We won't head straight to the dwarven lands like we did with the elven forest…

We'll take every chance to grow.

This dungeon was only the first step.

And he already knew what waited in the final room…

He wasn't telling them that, though. Where's the fun in that?

"Let's go," he said simply.

They pushed themselves up—limping, wobbling, but determined—and moved toward the massive stone doors waiting at the chamber's end. With a team effort, the doors groaned open, releasing a draft of chilling darkness.

Not a single torch, no glowing crystals, nothing.

Only a solitary pedestal in the center… holding a single box.

Kyle's excitement erupted like lightning.

"Mine!" he shouted, sprinting ahead.

Selena flicked a finger and sparks lightly zapped his back.

"Ugh! Such an embarrassment!," she said dryly.

He brushed off the static, refusing to dignify her with a look. He reached the pedestal, fingers trembling with adrenaline and exhaustion alike.

He threw open the lid—

His face went from triumph…

…to confusion.

"What's… this?" he muttered, voice echoing quietly.

The others glanced at each other—and hurried forward.

Aurelia arrived right behind Kyle and—without hesitation—smacked the back of his head.

"Idiot," she muttered, pushing him aside.

Kyle rubbed the spot with a pout while Aurelia reached into the box and carefully lifted out the object within.

A single, leather-bound book.

Everyone leaned in with the exact same confused look—brows furrowed, heads tilted slightly. Except Luca. He lingered a few steps away, arms folded, watching quietly with a small amused smile.

Sylthara blinked.

"A… book?" she murmured hesitantly, as though saying it aloud might change what it was.

Aurelia flipped it open.

Her eyes skimmed the first page.

They widened.

She flipped faster—page after page—expression shifting in a rapid swirl: confusion… intrigue… shock… excitement… and then absolute disbelief. Finally, she shut the book slowly, holding it close like treasure, her face an unreadable blend of emotions.

Kyle couldn't take it anymore.

"What is it!? Don't just stare! Tell us what you saw!" he shouted, aggressively snatching the book from her hands.

Aurelia glared, but Kyle was already flipping through the pages.

His turn.

His eyes widened too. His jaw dropped. His eyebrows nearly shot off his face. Then—click—his expression settled into the exact same thoughtful-puzzled-excited mess.

"Bro… what…?" he whispered, almost reverently, before shutting the book gently, like it might explode if handled wrong.

Now the curiosity among the remaining three turned into desperation.

Selena stepped forward with a sharp glare, snatching the book before Kyle could protest.

Lilliane and Sylthara leaned in from both sides, crowding around her. The moment their eyes slid down the rings of elegant runic text—each of them reacted in perfect synchronization.

Their expressions deadpanned.

A heavy, unified sigh escaped them as Sylthara muttered flatly:

"It's a spear technique."

Kyle pumped a fist triumphantly, glowing as if the heavens themselves had blessed him.

The girls were far less enthused.

Luca finally walked over to join the circle, hands slipping into his pockets, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.

"Don't worry," he said, confident and calm, "everyone will have their opportunities."

He inhaled deeply, stretching his sore muscles as if shedding the entire week of relentless combat.

Then, with a renewed spark in his eyes, he gestured toward the slowly opening exit path—the one leading back to sunlight, to wind, to the living world.

"Let's go," he said with a grin,

"and see the outside world again."

The six of them smiled—tired, aching, but victorious.

The next step of their journey awaited.

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