Is That a Wall

Arriving at the entrance to the dungeon, the party was surprised to see that the entrance was unguarded. Only two piles of rock sat around the entrance.

"Two destroyed golems," Savina muttered.

Kneeling down, Rio picked up one of the many stones that littered the floor. Turning it over in his palm, Rio dropped it back on the floor. "Did Elenwen mention sending anyone ahead of us?" Rio asked, already knowing the answer.

Kicking a rock, Savina bit her lip. "Somebody's already passed through here. The chances are high that they know about the dungeon. Given how this person or group of people seemingly destroyed these golems with ease. No blood anywhere, so they didn't get hit."

Weighing up the options, Rio sighed. "From everything you've said about golems. I've figured you don't just accidentally beat one. Look at these rocks, no scratches, no damage on any of them. If Elenwen didn't tell us golems might be guarding the entrance, I might just mistake these for being normal piles of rocks." Turning to Iseul, Rio gestured to the dungeon. "Can you?"

Walking a few feet into the mineshaft, Iseul knelt down. Putting a hand on the stone floor, Iseul focused his Hunter Sense to detect the vibrations in the stone.

A cacophony of sounds came back to Iseul. The sound of stone grating against stone, heavy footsteps and many other lesser sounds but one sound overpowered all others. From deep within the dungeon, Iseul could feel a pulsing energy that reverberated through the stone.

Activating his system, Iseul sent his party a message.

Iseul: What else would you expect from a dungeon infested with golems. Thuds from heavy footsteps, the sound of stone rubbing stone. There is one thing, it's the faintest sound but also the strongest. I can feel a strange energy running through the environment, it's hard to describe.

"A strange energy? That sounds about right." Walking up to the entrance, Savina conjured a small ball of violet fire between her thumb and index finger, holding it forwards, the small fire cast a faint light on Iseul's back. "If the artifact is as powerful as I believe it to be, that energy is excess mana that the artifact is emitting in order to sustain the dungeon. The fact Iseul can feel it from out here confirms that this is the source of the golems." Glancing at the rubble behind her, Savina lightly shrugged. "If that wasn't obvious already."

"Well then." Closing the message, Rio pressed his palms together, a portal forming as he opened them again. "All we can do is be on our guard. Grab your swords, Iseul. If it's not just golems in there, we should be prepared for anything."

~~

The party crept through the dark stone hallways of the mineshaft, their only source of light was a ball of violet fire floating a few inches above Savina's left palm. Dim enough to not alert anyone of their presence, bright enough to show them where they were walking.

Iseul guided them through the twisting passageways, slowly they descended deeper into the dungeon.

Taking another step, Savina's foot kicked against loose stones on the floor sending them bouncing into the dark. Looking down, Savina crouched, lowering the flame closer to the ground. As the fire illuminated more of the floor, the group could see more rocks lying in heaps on the ground.

"That answers why we haven't come across any threats. We're still following someone else's footsteps, and they are clearing out this dungeon with ease," Savina muttered. "Whoever they are, they must have someone guiding them."

"Are they doing the same thing Iseul's doing?" Rio asked, adjusting his grip on his sword.

"Potentially. What we're doing is like following a river to its source. But instead of running water, we are following its rampant mana." Savina grimaced as she thoughtfully rubbed her chin.

"Is something the matter, Neia?"

Glancing at Rio, Savina sighed. "It's just… Something's been bugging me. What do you know about Dungeon Guardians?"

"Dungeon Guardians?" Rio repeated as he thought on the word. "I actually think I've read a book about those. They defend the artifacts at the end of dungeons, don't they."

"They do. Dungeon Guardians can only be created when the artifact at the end of the dungeon matures into a B-tier or higher quality item. The stronger the artifact tier, the stronger the Guardian…"

Realizing what Savina is talking about, Rio exhaled. "Oh I see. Your worried that the Dungeon Guardian will be too much for us to handle. Is that it?"

"Well," Walking forwards, Savina took a moment to consider their options. "It's not just the threat level of the Dungeon Guardian that's got me on edge. There's an unknown party at play here... If we are lucky, this unknown party might help us deal with the Dungeon Guardian…" Savina's thought's trailed off as she fell quiet.

As Savina went quiet, Rio could tell that she had more to say.

"And if we're unlucky?" Rio motioned for her to continue.

"If we're unlucky… These people could give us more trouble than the Dungeon Guardian."

Rubbing his brow, Rio saw Iseul perk up.

"Iseul? What's wrong buddy?"

Looking into the darkness ahead of them, Iseul brought his swords up.

"Neia!" Rio shouted. "Give us some light!"

Putting her hands together, Savina poured mana into the dim violet flame. Within moments, the dim flame erupted into a crackling ball of fire.

The light burst forwards, but still, nothing came into view.

Putting a hand on Iseul's shoulder, Rio shook him. "What can you see, Iseul."

Pointing at the fireball with one sword, Iseul pointed into the dark with the other.

"He wants you to throw a fireball," Rio added.

"Oh yes, thanks, Rio." Savina snapped, pulling the fireball apart, now a fireball in each hand. Savina threw the left fireball forwards.

Flying through the air, the violet fire smacked into a wall.

Confused, Savina watched the fire as it slowly singed the stone wall. "Is, is that a wall?"

Annoyed, Iseul crouched low to the ground. Darting forwards, Iseul ran towards the 'wall'.

"Iseul, what are you doing!" Rio fruitlessly shouted after him.

"Wait," squinting, Savina could swear that the wall was slowly moving closer to them. Cradling the lone fireball in both of her hands, Savina ran after Iseul. Forming a larger fireball, Savina threw it at the ceiling."

"Not, you too!" Rio groaned.

Impacting the ceiling, the fire lit up a wider area.

Illuminated by the fire. What Savina had mistakenly called a wall, was a large golem. So wide that it almost blocked the tunnel.

Jumping, Iseul swung his swords at the golem.

With speed betraying its size, the golem's brought its two arms up. Catching the swords, the golem grappled with the golem. Although it was far larger than him, Iseul easily held his ground. Taking a step forward, Iseul pushed the golem backward.

"For Divine's sake, stop grappling with things, Iseul." Ducking under the right arm, Savina brought her hands up. Targeting the joint, Savina's palms lit up with her violet fire. Grabbing the arm, Savina's fire began to pour onto the Golem's elbow.

In a burst of strength, the golem pushed Iseul, forcing him backward. Turning its attention to Savina, the golem brought its right arm up. As the golem was about to hit Savina, Rio pushed her out of the way. Bringing his sword up, Iseul blocked the golem's attack. The force of the attack threatened to knock him over.

"I wish you two would stop leaving yourselves so open to attacks-"

Moving to attack, Iseul brought both of his swords smashing down into the golem's weakened elbow, due to being corroded by Savina's magic imbued violet fire. Iseul cute clean through the golems elbow.

Hitting the ground with a thud, the golem's only reaction to having its lower arm cut off, was to attack. Swinging down, the golem's last remaining fist met Iseul's back.

Slamming the Champion into the stone floor. Savina took this moment to react.

Using the crevices in its rocky back, Savina clambered up the golem. Now sat on its back, Savina conjured two large fireballs in either hand. "Let me show you what happens when you hurt my friends." Slamming the fireballs into the golem's head. Savina poured more violet fire into her attack.

As the arm reached up to grab Savina, it stopped. The violet fire crackled as it burnt through the stone that made the golem's head.

Dropping to its knees, Savina hopped off of the golem as it collapsed onto the ground. Upon expiring, the golem's body fell apart. The blockage collapsed into another pile of rubble.

Taking a moment to breathe, Savina was about to check on Iseul. She couldn't help but smile, seeing that Iseul had already stood up and was just standing there like he hadn't just been punched by a boulder.

"Are you ok Iseul?" Savina asked.

Slamming his swords into the stone. Iseul stretched his arms, giving Savina a small thumbs up.

Punching the back of Iseul's head, Rio fumed. Rubbing his hand as it now hurt from punching Iseul's helmet, Rio grunted his reply. "Yeah, he's fine. He's got a thick skull that's his problem, it'll take a bigger punch than that to keep him down. I swear Iseul, one day you're going to get punched by something stronger than you can withstand, and I'm going to have to say I told you so."

Illuminated in the dwindling violet fire, Savina could swear she saw Iseul shake. He wasn't crying, was he, laughing? Shaking her head, Savina gestured down the way the golem came. "We must be getting close if this thing tried to block our path."

Kicking part of the now-dead golem, Rio checked his sword for damage. "I have a question if we're following someone. How did this golem slip past them?"

"Maybe they aren't as good as we give them credit for? Or they took the wrong path. Either way, I'd rather not find out. Iseul, how close are we to the artifact?"

Putting six fingers up, Iseul retrieved his swords.

"Six minutes?" Rio asked, with a nod from Iseul affirming this, Rio nodded back. "He says we're six minutes away from reaching the artifact. If we run, maybe we can make it there in three."

Putting her hands out, Savina pulled all of her violet fire from the crumbled golem. Forming it all into one fireball, Savina lit their way. "The faster we get there, the less likely we'll be running into any more problems."

"Agreed. Let's move as fast as we can then."

Breaking into a sprint, the party ran, leaving the golem's remains behind to disappear in the darkness.

As their light dimmed and dimmed, the faint violet fire disappeared around a bend.

"They did better than I expected."

Near where the party had just been fighting, part of the stone wall disappeared as the man in the red fox mask stepped through the dissolving illusion. A bright white light floated above his right shoulder

Lazily leaning against part of the once hidden passage, the Blue fox huffed. "I don't get it, Red, why are we letting them go ahead of us. I can deal with any Dungeon Guardian, what's the point in waiting for them to reach it?"

Chuckling, the Red fox crossed his arms as he jokingly shook his head. "Now, now. Your ability is strong, without a doubt you'd be able to crush any Dungeon Guardian that relied on its skills or abilities, but you'd lose if the Dungeon Guardian was a purely physical fighter, and besides. Two of those three are Champions. I can feel it in the air."

"Champions?" The Blue fox laughed. "I haven't had the chance to fight a Champion in ages."