The group, composed of adventurers from all walks of life, advanced along the rocky path leading to the dungeon. The atmosphere was lively, with passionate conversations revealing the various motivations of the participants. Some were there for glory, others for money, and a few simply to test their strength.
Among them were knights, archers, priestesses, thieves, mages, and many others.
The group crossed a vast forest, slowly making their way along a barely visible trail. All around them, gigantic trees with lush green foliage rose toward the sky, their massive trunks bearing witness to an ancient era. The bushes, dense and almost supernatural, formed walls of brilliant green, some adorned with flowers of incredible colors that seemed to glow in the dim light.
The wind gently blew through the leaves, creating a natural melody, while the ground, covered in thick moss, muffled their footsteps. This forest, with its indescribable beauty, was both imposing and fascinating.
After several minutes of walking, the group emerged from the dense forest and found themselves on a vast plain bathed in sunlight. The grass swayed gently under a light breeze, and in the center, a small body of water shimmered beneath the clear sky, surrounded by a few rocks and wildflowers.
Exhausted from the journey, some members of the group approached the water to rest, dipping their hands into the cool water or sitting in the shade of a few rocks to recover their strength.
The group, like any raid worthy of the name, was led by an experienced guide. Their leader, the mage Ruyuk, a man with an imposing aura and graying hair, observed the surroundings with constant vigilance. Wrapped in his cloak decorated with glowing runes, he inspired both respect and confidence. Ruyuk was renowned for his mastery of the arcane arts and his ability to remain calm in the most perilous situations.
As the group took a short break, Ruyuk raised his hand to get their attention.
"Take advantage of this rest," he said in a calm but firm voice. "This will probably be the last moment of peace before we reach the dungeon. Be ready."
His meaningful words reminded everyone that the true test had only just begun.
While the other members of the group exchanged lively conversations or joked around to lighten the mood, Nolan remained apart, motionless, sitting cross-legged on the green ground.
With his eyes closed, he seemed indifferent to the commotion around him. His breathing, deep and steady, created a soothing rhythm that contrasted with the gentle sound of the water and the rustling wind across the plains.
Around him, a subtle aura began to appear. At first weak, it gradually became more distinct: an ethereal deep blue glow that slowly moved around his body. Nolan focused his inner energy, aligning his mind and body, immersing himself in deep meditation.
His goal was clear: refine his control over his aura and ensure that his power would be perfectly stable before facing the upcoming challenges of the dungeon. Such practice required rare discipline, and those who glanced in his direction could not help but be impressed by his unwavering concentration.
One of the warriors in the group, intrigued, whispered to his companion:
"This guy… he's not like the others. Do you see his aura? That's not something you see in just anyone."
But Nolan, completely absorbed in his meditation, paid no attention to the remarks. For him, the outside world did not exist at that moment.
Nolan, still motionless and sitting cross-legged, focused his aura with exceptional mastery. A mist invisible to the naked eye, made of Nekroz energy, slowly flowed from the surrounding environment toward him. This energy, omnipresent across the plains, seemed to vibrate and respond to his silent call.
Around his body, the bluish aura grew stronger, twisting and dancing like a flame. Nolan absorbed the Nekroz with remarkable precision. Every particle of energy that approached him seemed to merge harmoniously with his aura, strengthening his inner power.
His face remained expressionless, although his mind was immersed in absolute concentration. He could feel every surge of energy flowing through his body, mixing with his own power, refining his reserves, and strengthening his connection with the magical world surrounding him.
The massive trees and gigantic bushes around him seemed to tremble slightly, as if nature itself could sense this subtle extraction. Some members of the group, intrigued by the scene, stopped talking and silently watched him.
"What exactly is he doing?" whispered an impressed archer.
A novice mage answered quietly:
"He's channeling Nekroz… It takes incredible mastery to achieve that without causing magical instability."
But Nolan, indifferent to the gazes and whispers around him, continued absorbing the energy from the environment, refining his reserves and mentally preparing himself for the trials that awaited them.
As Nolan emerged from his meditation, he sensed a presence slowly approaching. Even before the person spoke, he could feel an aura slightly different from the other members of the group, like a bright but stable flame.
The young girl with fiery red hair and crystal-blue eyes stopped a few steps away from him. Her mage robe, decorated with golden patterns depicting stars and constellations, revealed a certain level of mastery over magical arts.
In a gentle voice, she introduced herself:
"Hi, my name is Azaria."
Nolan opened his eyes and stood up with controlled fluidity. He looked at her for a moment before calmly replying:
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nolan."
Azaria gave a small smile, slightly tilting her head, clearly pleased to break the ice.
"I saw you meditating. That's not very common in such a noisy group. You seem… different from the others."
Nolan raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms in a detached manner.
"Different, huh? Is that a polite way of saying that I don't really mix with the others?"
She shook her head, a mischievous glimmer appearing in her eyes.
"Not at all. It simply shows that you have a clear goal and that you're focused on achieving it. That's a rare quality."
Nolan watched Azaria for a moment, trying to understand her intentions. Eventually, a small smile appeared on his lips.
"And you? What brings you here, Azaria? You seem… different too."
She placed a hand on her hip, a confident smile on her face.
"Oh, I'd say I like observing interesting people. And you, Nolan, are definitely an interesting person."
Nolan nodded, amused by her honesty.
"Well, I think this is a good start to a conversation. So tell me, what are you doing in this group?"
Azaria smiled slightly, crossing her arms as she observed Nolan with a sparkling gaze.
"It's a little more complicated than that, but let's just say I'm here to show my progress," she answered lightly.
Nolan raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"So, it's not really the dungeon's treasure that interests you, is it?"
Azaria gently shook her head, her smile growing wider.
"Not really. Of course, it would be a nice bonus, but what I really want is to prove what I'm capable of."
Nolan was about to respond when a group of girls from the camp, a few meters away, called out loudly:
"Azaria! Come here, we need you for something!"
The young mage turned around, visibly surprised but flattered, and gave them a small wave in response. The girls looked at her with admiration, whispering among themselves and throwing curious glances at Nolan.
Nolan noticed that, throughout the entire group, Azaria seemed to be a central figure. Not only did the girls admire her for her strength and personality, but the men in the group also had lustful expressions on their faces.
Azaria turned back toward Nolan, shrugging with an expression that was half amused and half annoyed.
"Apparently, I'm popular," she said, slightly rolling her eyes. "It can be exhausting sometimes."
Nolan crossed his arms with a small smile.
"It must be difficult being the star of the group."
She laughed softly, a spark shining in her blue eyes.
"It has its advantages, but also its disadvantages. Well, I'll see what they want."
Before leaving, she pointed at him and added:
"We'll continue this conversation later, Nolan. Don't disappear before then."
Nolan watched her walk away, a barely noticeable smile appearing on his lips.
"I don't intend to leave," he murmured to himself before sitting back down to continue observing the group.
After a few minutes of rest, Ruyuk, the mage, raised his hand to get the group's attention.
"Form up. We're moving again," he said in a firm voice.
Everyone immediately obeyed without arguing. They adjusted their equipment and organized themselves into marching formation. The members of the group quickly formed a single line, ready to continue their advance. Everyone seemed focused, and a slight tension settled among them. The air grew heavier as they moved forward, as if the dungeon itself was reacting to their presence.
The march resumed, and the group continued onward.
The group advanced silently across the plains, their conversations gradually fading as the mountain came into view ahead of them. The slope became increasingly steep, requiring extra effort from everyone. Despite a few whispers of exhaustion, everyone followed Mage Ruyuk's instructions without question.
Suddenly, Ruyuk stopped abruptly.
The group exchanged puzzled looks, surprised by his sudden halt. Whispers started spreading again, with some wondering why he had stopped while the summit still seemed far away.
Nolan, however, did not move. He watched carefully. A slight smile appeared on his lips, because he had already understood what was happening.
Ruyuk raised his hand in front of him, and a subtle flow of energy could be felt in the air. Slowly, a massive door decorated with runic symbols began to reveal itself before them. The layer of invisibility hiding it faded away, unveiling the door in all its magnificence.
"There it is," Ruyuk simply announced.
The group approached with a certain hesitation, some still shocked by what they had just witnessed. Nolan, however, remained calm, observing the door without showing the slightest surprise.
One by one, the members of the group passed through the entrance and entered a long, dark corridor. The stone walls were decorated with torn tapestries depicting scenes of battles and mythical creatures. Large armors, blackened by the passage of time, stood on both sides of the corridor, holding enormous swords.
A heavy silence filled the area, broken only by the sound of the group's footsteps and their breathing. A thin mist hovered above the ground, adding a mysterious touch to the atmosphere, and every step seemed to make the air feel heavier.
Ruyuk spoke to the group in a serious tone:
"Stay alert. What you see here could be a trap or a threat."
Nolan carefully looked around, his eyes shining with a faint glow as he analyzed the surroundings. He already sensed that something was wrong, but nothing seemed obvious to his companions.
Nolan had grown accustomed to collecting the small fragments of elixir that faintly shined on the dusty floor, their glowing reflections catching his attention. He discreetly crouched down, sliding his fingers over them to pick them up one by one, making sure not to make any noise.
These fragments were valuable, and he knew they could be used to create powerful potions or enchantments. He also collected precious gemstones placed on the shelves.
Nearby, other members of the group, especially those belonging to the Thief class, were doing the same. They moved silently, their movements quick and stealthy, grabbing the small gemstones scattered throughout the dark corridor. The thieves, experts in the art of stealth, seemed to have a natural talent for finding hidden objects in shadowy corners.
Nolan, focused on the treasures scattered across the floor, stayed behind the group. He collected a few elixir fragments and gemstones that caught his attention. The thieves also searched through the objects, trying to add more value to their bags.
But Nolan knew that every item collected could potentially become a weapon or an advantage later.
Meanwhile, the group continued forward without waiting for Nolan, carefully progressing until they reached a large gate decorated with ancient symbols. An unsettling silence filled the air, and all members of the group remained cautious, although nothing seemed to threaten them yet.
They crossed the gate one by one and found themselves in a new environment.
They had entered a vast and deserted arena.
A burning sun mercilessly shone down on the group, heating the already dry and heavy air of the arena. The ground was covered with golden sand, cracking beneath the adventurers' footsteps. Around them, tall stone walls rose into the sky, broken in places by the passage of time but still imposing, creating a circular view around the battlefield.
The place seemed frozen in an ancient era, as if battles had taken place there for centuries, yet no sign of life could be seen.
The sky, a brilliant blue, appeared completely empty, with not a single cloud visible. The only sound reaching their ears was the faint whisper of the wind.
The atmosphere was heavy and silent, giving the scene a threatening feeling.
Suddenly, the oppressive silence of the arena was broken by a deep rumble.
A metal gate hidden beneath the ground slowly rose, revealing an imposing figure emerging from the darkness below.
A knight wearing black armor, as brilliant as it was terrifying, stepped toward the group. His massive axe, heavy and decorated with dark runes, was tightly gripped in his hands.
Every step of the knight echoed across the sand, his heavy boots striking the ground with a force that announced the violence to come. The air around him seemed to grow colder, and an icy aura surrounded his body.
His eyes, hidden beneath the opening of his helmet, glowed with a dark crimson light.
He said nothing, simply staring at the group with a piercing gaze, like a predator watching its prey.
The atmosphere of the arena immediately became heavier, as if time itself had stopped, frozen by the threat that was about to unfold.
Ruyuk, without wasting a second, ordered the group to prepare for battle. His voice, clear and commanding, cut through the tense atmosphere:
"Prepare yourselves. This is a formidable enemy. Stay focused and do not let yourselves be intimidated!"
The mage activated his aura. A greenish glow surrounded his body, a powerful energy pulsing in harmony with his movements. His usually calm expression was now filled with determination.
He took a combat stance, his hands moving through the air as if drawing invisible symbols. A thin magical mist formed around him, his energy ready to be unleashed at any moment.
The members of the group, although nervous, quickly followed his instructions. Swords were drawn, bows were pulled, and spells began to resonate through the arena.
Everyone knew that this was not just another creature they were facing, but a true test of strength.
Suddenly, the knight disappeared in a flash of shadow, leaving behind only a brief sensation of pressure in the air.
Before the group could react, an enormous shadow appeared above them.
The knight, like a beast ready to strike, was suspended in the air, his axe raised high, prepared to crush them all with a single blow.
Ruyuk, anticipating the attack, immediately activated his special skill:
[Shield]
A wave of protective energy spread around the group, forming a massive magical barrier that surrounded the adventurers.
This shield was unlike any ordinary defense. It was composed of twenty layers of magical energy stacked on top of one another, each capable of absorbing part of the incoming attack.
The impact was devastating.
The knight descended upon them with overwhelming speed, his weight and the power of his weapon exploding against Ruyuk's barrier.
The first layer shattered under the force of the impact.
Then the second.
Then the third.
One after another, each layer broke apart.
The shield trembled beneath the knight's relentless assault, the energy composing it disappearing at an incredible speed.
The knight did not stop.
He struck again and again with a strength that seemed endless.
The shockwaves from his attacks eventually destroyed the final layers of the barrier, causing a massive explosion of magical energy.
The group was thrown in every direction by the blast.
Some were launched against the arena walls, while others crashed violently onto the ground. The earth shook beneath the impact, and the air itself seemed to distort under the brutality of the attack.
Chaos took over the arena.
The members of the group, terrified, struggled to recover from the shockwave. Some were injured, while others, panicked, attempted to flee the dungeon.
But their efforts were useless.
The knight, relentless and merciless, slaughtered the fleeing adventurers one after another with brutal efficiency.
Every strike sent bodies flying, and terror spread rapidly among those who remained.
Ruyuk, seeing the situation deteriorate at an alarming rate, gathered his energy and launched a powerful beam of light toward the knight.
The bright attack cut through the air.
But before it could reach its target, the knight released a dark aura — an evil barrier that instantly erased the magical attack, reducing the light to nothing.
Without even stopping, the knight counterattacked with a devastating slash infused with dark energy.
Ruyuk moved quickly, barely managing to dodge the attack.
However, the knight's speed and power gave him no time to recover.
Before the mage could react, the knight had already appeared behind him.
In an instant, the knight grabbed Ruyuk's head with an iron grip, lifted him up, and slammed him violently into the ground with tremendous force.
The sound of the impact echoed throughout the arena.
The ground trembled beneath the force of the blow.
Trapped beneath the knight's strength, Ruyuk let out a muffled cry, his face pressed against the earth.
As the knight prepared to deliver the final blow, the scene froze in an oppressive silence, as if time itself hesitated to continue.
But suddenly, movement came from the shadows.
Azaria, the only member of the group still standing among the wounded and the fallen, stepped forward.
Her eyes shone with determination and anger.
With a swift motion, she raised her grimoire and cast a powerful fire spell.
The flames rushed toward the knight with blinding speed, striking his black armor with unexpected force.
However, despite the impact, the attack seemed to disappear without leaving even a mark.
The knight, completely unharmed, slowly turned toward her.
His cold gaze locked onto the young mage.
Ruyuk, using the last of his strength, shouted in desperation:
"Run! Get out of here, or you'll die!"
But Azaria ignored his warning.
Fear no longer affected her.
She had no intention of running.
Her hands tightened around her grimoire, and an intense explosion of flames erupted from her aura.
The fire danced around her body, fueled by her anger and her determination to protect those she had sworn to defend.
She took a step forward, ready to face the knight despite the overwhelming power of her enemy.
Azaria was determined not to fall.
This battle, she would fight until her final breath.
The knight vanished in a flash, teleporting behind Azaria.
His massive axe was already in his hands, and his face was filled with a fierce hatred. He raised his weapon, preparing to strike her down.
But at the very last moment, a figure appeared.
It was Nolan.
With a swift movement, he stepped forward, his black sword violently colliding with the knight's axe.
The impact released a powerful sonic explosion.
The shockwave spread across the arena, forcing the knight several meters backward.
The air around them seemed to vibrate under the immense force of the collision.
"I could say I arrived just in time," Nolan said, a slight smile appearing on his face as his eyes remained fixed on the knight's imposing armor.
Azaria, relieved, exclaimed:
"Nolan!"
Without wasting a second, Nolan pulled out two crystals from his pocket and handed them to Azaria, his expression serious.
"Quickly, take these two crystals."
"One of them will restore your HP and energy. Give the other one to Ruyuk and go help the survivors."
Azaria hesitated, worry visible in her eyes.
"But then… what about you?"
Nolan shook his head confidently.
"I don't need them. I can regenerate my HP and energy easily. Don't worry about me. Everything will be fine. Now go."
Without saying another word, Azaria took the two crystals, her heart filled with gratitude, before rushing toward Ruyuk and the other survivors.
Nolan turned back toward the knight.
His black sword remained in his hand, ready for battle.
The black-armored knight slowly stood back up, his red eyes glowing beneath his helmet.
The pressure emanating from his body was overwhelming.
The entire arena seemed to become silent.
The wind stopped.
The sand beneath their feet trembled slightly.
Nolan stared at his opponent with a calm expression.
The knight tightened his grip around his massive axe.
Two warriors stood facing each other.
One was an ancient guardian covered in cursed armor, carrying centuries of battle experience.
The other was a young swordsman whose mysterious power had remained hidden until now.
Nolan tilted his sword slightly over his shoulder, a confident smile appearing on his face.
"So, old man…"
He looked directly into the knight's crimson eyes.
"Come on. Let's have some fun."
The knight remained silent.
Then, in response, his dark aura erupted violently around his body.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Nolan's blue aura began to flare, mixing with the mysterious energy of Nekroz that surrounded him.
The two powers collided in the middle of the arena, creating a pressure so intense that even the survivors could feel it from a distance.
For the first time since entering the dungeon…
The black knight looked interested.
The battle had truly begun.