Vaelis and Val stepped into the dungeon together.
The air inside was heavy, thick with the smell of damp stone and blood.
From the shadows, giant bats swarmed toward them.
— Incoming, Val muttered.
With a swift motion, he drew his weapon and struck. His power was overwhelming—each slash cleanly cut through the monsters, while earthen spikes erupted from the ground, impaling those that tried to escape.
Vaelis followed closely behind.
Flames danced around her blade.
Every swing ignited the darkness, burning wings to ash and turning screeches into silence.
They advanced steadily, their teamwork precise and efficient.
Too efficient.
Then the dungeon trembled.
A massive shadow descended from above.
What emerged was no ordinary monster.
A grotesque evolved creature, half bat and half dragon, its wings vast, its scales jagged and dark. Its eyes burned with savage intelligence.
The beast let out a piercing shriek, followed by a thunderous dragon's roar.
The battle began.
Claws slashed through the air.
Shockwaves cracked the stone.
The scream alone made their ears ring.
Vaelis unleashed wave after wave of fire, while Val reinforced the ground, blocking and countering with brutal force.
But it wasn't enough.
They were being pushed back.
— Vaelis! Val shouted.
— Hold it off for one minute!
Before she could answer, he leapt away, disappearing into the upper darkness of the cavern.
— One minute…? she whispered.
Gritting her teeth, Vaelis poured everything into her magic.
A sea of flames erupted around her, engulfing the monster in scorching heat.
The creature roared in pain—
Then burst through the inferno.
Its claws struck her body.
Vaelis was thrown back violently, blood staining the stone.
— Damn it…!
At that very moment—
Val descended from above.
He crashed his fist into the ground.
The dungeon shook.
A gigantic rune spread across the floor beneath the monster, glowing with ancient symbols.
— Now.
From the rune, countless earth spikes erupted upward.
The beast let out one final scream before being torn apart.
Silence fell.
Vaelis lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
The monster was dead.