The passage sloped downward, the stone beneath their feet smoother than the chamber they'd left behind.

Ryn walked in silence for a few steps before stopping near the wall. He slid down into a crouch, back resting against the cold stone, and reached into his pouch.

Jay slowed, then turned. "…You okay?"

"I've been better," Ryn said.

He pulled out a roll of bandages, already stiff from the cold. With practiced efficiency, he peeled back the torn fabric on his side.

The claw marks were ugly, angry red lines that tore into his skin. At least they were shallow.

Ryn wrapped the bandages tight, teeth clenched as he cinched them down. The sting flared briefly, then dulled into a steady ache.

He pulled on it once more, just to make sure it held.

Good enough.

Jay glanced back the way they'd come, toward the sealed chamber.

"So, wanna talk about what just happened?"

Ryn finished cutting off the excess bandage and pushed himself back to his feet. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he tested his breathing once more, then looked down the corridor ahead.

"…Yeah," he said finally. "I think I get it now."

Jay blinked. "Get what?"

Ryn adjusted Snow at his side, fingers resting on the hilt longer than necessary.

"That chamber," he said. "The way the hounds came at us."

He paused, choosing his words.

"Normally, hounds don't wait," Ryn continued. "They attack at once, trying to overwhelm their prey."

Jay's brow furrowed. "You're saying they were holding back?"

Ryn shook his head slowly.

"Not really. It felt less like a fight, and more like…a test, a trial of some sort."

The words settled between them.

Jay let out a slow breath. "…I really don't like the sound of that."

Ryn stepped forward, expression steady now.

"Me neither," he said. "But at least now we know."

The next part opened up. Just as they'd suspected, it was empty.

Almost.

At the center of the room sat two figures, motionless and half-dusted with frost.

Stone constructs.

One was massive, broad-shouldered, its body carved thick and dense, a heavy mace resting against its leg and a tower shield planted firmly into the ground before it. The other was leaner, its frame etched with faint runes, a long stone staff laid across its lap.

They were waiting.

Jay swallowed. "…Please tell me those aren't what I think they are."

Ryn didn't answer immediately. His eyes traced the shapes, the spacing between them, the way the room subtly funneled movement toward the center.

"The archetype's obvious," he said finally. "Tank and mage."

Jay groaned. "Of course it is."

Ryn stepped forward slowly. Unlike the hounds, these had been placed here on purpose—that much was obvious.

A flicker of irritation crossed his mind.

This dungeon really was testing them.

How come Rora never mentioned this?

There wasn't time to dwell on it.

As Ryn crossed the center of the chamber, faint lines etched into the stone floor began to glow.

The mage golem's staff pulsed once, the tank's shield rumbled, shaking off the accumulated dust.

They rose together, slow and deliberate, as if finishing preparations rather than awakening.

Ryn exhaled and unsheathed Snow with a sharp shing.

"Jay," he said quietly. "We'll copy them. Tank and mage."

Ryn dashed forward, aiming for the opening.

"RYN!" Jay shouted. "I'M NOT A MAGE!"

He aimed for the mage. It was the most basic combat strategy drilled into him as a child:

Go for the backline first.

But he never reached it.

Stone blurred.

The tank golem stepped sideways with a speed that didn't belong to something that massive. Its shield snapped up into place an instant before his blade struck, the impact ringing out in a deafening clang.

The force rattled up Ryn's arm, numbing his fingers and forcing him to stagger back.

He disengaged immediately, boots scraping as he put distance between them, eyes locked on the constructs as he reassessed.

As if to mock him, the tank golem kicked Ryn's blade back to him. Snow skidded to a stop at his feet.

The construct lowered its shield slightly, head tilting just enough to be unmistakable.

Pick it back up.

Ryn's jaw tightened as he reclaimed his blade.

"…So that's how it is."

The tank golem advanced again, shield raised high.

Behind it, the mage lifted its staff.

Ryn's eyes flicked up.

The air above the shield shimmered. Fire condensed at the staff's tip, accumulating until it had become a ball of pure flames.

A heartbeat later, it launched, arcing over the shield golem and coming down towards Ryn.

Aquila flared, hurling him sideways as the blast tore through the space he'd occupied.

He slid to a stop, breath sharp.

"…Artillery," he muttered.

The tank never broke stride.

It didn't need to.

Fine.

Ryn raised his hand and focused.

Energy gathered, tight and controlled. A faint constellation shimmered into being above his palm as a small, condensed bolt of light formed.

[Orion - MP Charged: 45]

[MP: 20/110]

The arrow screamed across the chamber and struck the tank golem's shield dead center, detonating with a thunderous boom.

The golem slid back a full step, stone grinding loudly against stone as cracks spiderwebbed across the shield's surface. Light burst outward, the force strong enough to rattle the entire chamber.

For a moment, it looked like it might work…

Then the tank golem adjusted.

Its stance shifted, shield angling upward as its massive frame twisted with surprising finesse. The remaining force of the projectile was caught, redirected—

And sent skyward.

The shattered remnants of Orion's arrow screamed into the ceiling and exploded overhead, stone raining down in a violent cascade.

Ryn stared.

"…It redirected it."

The tank golem settled back into position, shield still raised. The cracks across its surface dulled as the mage's runes pulsed behind it, reinforcing the damage.

Ryn lowered his hand as the bow faded, breath heavier now.

So even Orion wasn't enough.

The golems didn't slow.

If anything, they pressed harder.

The tank advanced relentlessly, shield never leaving the mage's line, swinging its mace in heavy arcs that forced Ryn back step by step. He couldn't afford to block them—one mistake, one solid hit, and he'd be sent flying.

The mage didn't pause either.

Artillery rained down in controlled intervals. Smaller spells this time, tighter and more frequent, each one cutting off behind him while the tank advanced.

It was like a methodical rhythm, designed to grind him down.

After what felt like minutes of dodging, Ryn finally took a hit.

The shield slammed into his shoulder, knocking the breath from his lungs and sending him skidding across the stone. He rolled, barely avoiding the mace as it shattered the floor where he'd been a moment earlier.

[HP: 93/150]

Pain flared.

He pushed himself up, breathing hard.

One Aquila left.

The thought stayed his hand.

If he used it now, and failed…there would be nothing left.

Another blast detonated overhead. Stone fragments rained down, one slicing across his arm. He grasped it as more of his blood fell on the floor.

[HP: 75/150]

Ryn gritted his teeth.

He couldn't keep this up.

Then—

A sharp clink echoed across the chamber.

Ryn's eyes snapped sideways.

A small metal vial bounced once…twice…across the stone floor.

Jay's voice cracked. "GET DOWN!"

The vial detonated.

Not fire, nor shrapnel—but a concussive boom that rolled through the chamber like a striking bell, magnified.

The tank golem staggered.

For the first time since the fight began, its stance broke. The shield dipped. Cracks rippled through its body along the surface.

The mage's runes flickered violently.

Ryn stared.

And for the first time—

Some damage was finally done.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.