novelblue
Chapter 86: The Dungeon's Cruel Embrace
Chapter 86: The Dungeon's Cruel Embrace
The moment they stepped beyond the protective glow of their dying campfire, the oppressive weight of the dungeon pressed down upon them once more. The stone walls seemed closer, the air thicker, and the silence more suffocating. Every step echoed unnaturally, as if the dungeon itself were whispering their movements back at them.
Seraphis led the way, her sharp white eyes scanning every shadow for movement. Behind her, Elowen flexed her fingers, shaking off the stiffness of rest, while Sylvaine whispered an incantation, forming a faint magical barrier around them.
The next four floors awaited them.
Floor 14 – The Fangmaw Pit
The descent into the fourteenth floor was steep, the stone path narrowing into a jagged corridor that forced them to walk in single file. The air was damp, carrying the scent of rotting meat and something feral.
Then they heard it.
A low, guttural growl from deep within the darkness ahead. Seraphis flicked her wrist, sending two of her metal playing cards spinning forward like silent scouts. They cut through the air, slicing against something fleshy before returning to her hand, dripping with blackened blood.
A snarl erupted from the shadows.
The creature lunged—a Fangmaw Behemoth, a twisted beast resembling a wolf but grotesquely oversized, with two massive jaws stacked upon each other, filled with rows of jagged teeth.
Elowen reacted first, her daggers flashing in the dim light. She sidestepped its charge, bringing her blade down into its shoulder. The beast howled but didn't slow—its second mouth opened from its stomach, attempting to bite at her midsection.
Seraphis' cards struck first.
Two projectiles shot through the second mouth, embedding deep into its throat. The creature reeled back, choking on its own blood, giving Sylvaine enough time to conjure a burst of violet fire that engulfed the beast.
It burned. It shrieked. Then it collapsed into a heap of smoldering flesh.
One down.
Floor 15 – The Stone Sentinel’s Gauntlet
The next chamber opened into a vast arena, where the walls shimmered unnaturally. The moment they stepped inside, the ground trembled.
Stone sentinels rose from the floor, humanoid figures forged from ancient rock, their bodies lined with glowing rune engravings. Their eyes ignited with a blue glow as they locked onto the intruders.
"This isn't going to be easy," Sylvaine muttered.
The first sentinel moved with terrifying speed, its massive stone arm swinging in a sweeping arc. Seraphis ducked just in time, feeling the wind of the strike rush past her face.
Elowen leaped onto its back, plunging both daggers into the cracks along its shoulders. The sentinel jerked violently, trying to shake her off, but she held on.
Sylvaine chanted, her hands glowing.
A pulse of arcane energy surged through the air, striking the ground beneath the sentinels. The magic disrupted their runes, causing one of the stone warriors to crumble on itself.
Seraphis took advantage of the opening, sending her cards spinning toward the weakened core of another. The sharpened edges sliced through its chest, shattering its enchanted heart.
One by one, the sentinels fell, their once-immortal bodies reduced to rubble.
Floor 16 – The Daggerwings' Nest
The sixteenth floor was deceptively quiet—a winding cavern with stalactites hanging like jagged teeth from the ceiling. The air was damp, carrying a faint scent of rust.
Seraphis moved first, but she stopped abruptly. Something felt wrong.
Then she saw them—eyes in the dark.
The Daggerwings struck all at once.
Bladed creatures, no larger than a human head, descended from the cavern ceiling, their razor-sharp wings slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
Seraphis twisted her body, barely dodging as one creature slashed past her shoulder. Blood trickled down her arm.
Elowen threw a dagger, pinning one to the cave wall. Another dove straight for Sylvaine, but she raised her staff, conjuring a barrier just in time.
Seraphis gritted her teeth. They were outnumbered.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent ten metal playing cards spinning into the air. They circled her like a deadly storm before she unleashed them all at once.
The Daggerwings were shredded mid-flight, their bodies collapsing to the floor in twitching heaps.
Blood dripped from multiple cuts along their arms and faces, but they were still standing.
Floor 17 – The Hollow King’s Gaze
The seventeenth floor was the most unsettling yet.
The chamber stretched endlessly in all directions, and in the center stood a throne. Upon it sat a lifeless figure, clad in obsidian armor, a massive sword resting across its lap.
Seraphis felt it instantly.
A presence. A pressure. A gaze.
Then, without moving, the figure spoke.
"You are unworthy."
The armored being rose from its throne.
Its eyes—**empty voids of darkness—**locked onto them. The moment it took a step forward, the entire room shook violently.
"Weapons ready!" Seraphis barked, sending her playing cards forward.
The Hollow King swatted them aside like mere insects.
Elowen and Sylvaine attacked in unison—daggers and magic converging in a coordinated assault. But the moment their attacks made contact, they simply vanished.
The Hollow King raised his sword.
A wave of black energy erupted from the blade, forcing Seraphis to dodge just in time as the ground where she stood was erased from existence.
They were outmatched.
But retreat was not an option.
Seraphis gritted her teeth. If conventional attacks wouldn't work, then she needed to find another way.
Her mind raced. What was the weakness?
Then she saw it—the throne.
The runes on its surface were pulsing, feeding energy into the Hollow King.
"Destroy the throne!" she shouted.
Elowen and Sylvaine didn't hesitate. Sylvaine launched a barrage of arcane blasts at the throne while Elowen dashed forward, daggers slashing at its base.
The moment the throne cracked, the Hollow King staggered.
Seraphis didn't waste the opportunity. She launched all of her cards at once, each one glowing with deadly intent.
The cards pierced through the Hollow King’s chest, severing the last remnants of his energy.
The being let out a low, guttural sigh… and crumbled into dust.
Silence fell.
And then the door to the next floor creaked open.
A Moment to Breathe
They stood there, chests heaving, wounds stinging, exhaustion setting in.
"That… was close," Elowen exhaled.
Sylvaine wiped sweat from her forehead. "Too close."
Seraphis looked ahead. Three more floors down.
And the dungeon was only getting harder.
They kept moving.