Continuation

Chaos erupted.

The first creatures burst into the cavern from the tunnels—hulking, quadrupedal beasts with elongated limbs and blackened, bone-like armor covering their bodies. Their glowing red eyes fixated on the group like predators locking onto prey. 

Fraero didn't hesitate. "Hold the line!"

The first monster lunged, claws slicing through the air, but Fraero stepped forward and slammed his shield into its face. The impact sent a shudder through his arm, but the beast staggered back.

"Too slow," he muttered, raising his sword. "These guys are weak!"

But more came. Too many.

Garrick roared as he caught one mid-leap. The sheer force sent his boots grinding against the stone floor, but he held firm. His muscles bulged, veins tightening as he grabbed the monster by its throat and, with a guttural shout, slammed it into the ground. The cavern floor cracked beneath the force.

"Ha! That's all you got?" he bellowed. "They wouldn't last a second in the ring."

Another beast lunged.

Yara reacted instantly, hands flaring with bright, flickering flames. "Back off!" She thrust her palms forward, and a gout of fire exploded from her hands. The flames licked against the monster's armor, charring it. It howled in agony before crumpling.

"Oh?" She was shocked by her own power. 

"One shot..." Julius muttered, perhaps they had been worrying for nothing.

Julius darted forward, shadows clinging to his form as he activated Stealth. He circled the fight, daggers in hand, watching for an opening. It seemed however that the team was so strong that there wasn't much for him to do.

Kiera took her position in the back, nocking an arrow. "Stay still for one second..." she murmured, waiting for a perfect shot.

A beast went for Yara—she was still mid-cast, it was aiming for her head.

Julius struck. Emerging from stealth, the monster had no idea he was there to save her.

He lashed out with his dagger, he used his free hand to slam the monster down and used his dagger to slit it's neck. It's flesh was soft and thin, it had been freakishly easy to end it's life. Blood spilled over his hands, sizzling strangely.

Yara exhaled in relief. "Nice timing."

"No problem-."

Julius barely had time to react before another enemy was against him. He dodged, twisting his body just as razor-sharp claws tore past his ribs. Pain flared up his side, but he gritted his teeth. The creature was like an oversized rat. He was going to attack but a shout from Kiera stopped him.

"I've got it."

Kiera took her shot. The arrow whistled through the air and embedded itself in the creature's eye. It let out a hideous screech before Garrick stepped in and delivered a brutal punch that sent it flying.

Another beast rushed Fraero. He blocked with his sword, bracing for impact, but the sheer force sent him sliding back. "Damn, they hit hard now," he muttered. "I think they're getting stronger

It lunged again—but suddenly, Fraero's shield pulsed with a golden glow.

His Knight Skill activated. When he used it, a small tab showed in the air, Julius read it with interest.

[Unyielding Bastion] – When bracing for impact, reduce incoming damage by 70% and reflect a portion of it back.

The moment the beast slammed into him, it recoiled as if it had hit an iron wall. The force of its own attack rebounded, cracking its bone armor and sending it tumbling.

Fraero didn't let up. He drove his sword into its exposed underbelly, silencing it.

Julius spun just in time to see a third beast lunging at Kiera. She had just loosed an arrow—too slow to react in time.

Garrick moved.

His Tank Skill flared.

[Titan's Grip] – Allows user to grab enemies, regardless of their size, and immobilize them for a short duration.

His hands clamped down on the beast's head mid-air, stopping it completely.

The monster thrashed, trying to break free, but Garrick grinned. "You ain't going anywhere. I like this class."

Then, with terrifying strength, he lifted the entire creature over his head and slammed it into another beast. Both collapsed in a heap.

Yara gathered fire in her staff, She screamed. "Garrick, move! I'm using half my mana on this."

Garrick dove aside. Yara released a fireball, and the explosion engulfed the monsters in roaring flames.

Kiera's arrows blitzed them, leaving only a few monsters straggling. Then Julius leaped from stealth and impaled the remaining beasts with ease.

"That's it. They're all dead." Julius called out, a sense of victory ran down their veins.

The cavern fell into a tense silence, only their ragged breathing filling the space.

Blood, ash, and the stench of burnt flesh lingered.

Julius wiped sweat from his brow, his daggers trembling slightly in his grip. "That was insane…"

Fraero nodded. "But we won."

Kiera leaned against a rock, catching her breath. "I don't think I've ever been that concentrated. I didn't even look away once, I just shot arrow after arrow..."

Yara was silent, glancing at her staff idly.

Garrick laughed. "Hell of an introduction to this place."

{Wave 1 Completed.}

A pause.

{Wave 2 incoming…}

The air turned cold.

Julius' heart sank.

"…Wave what?" Yara whispered.

Then, the system delivered the final blow.

{Congrats on clearing Wave 1 out of 3.}

{You will be given your EXP at the end of the Trial to ensure the Trial is fair.}

A silence heavier than any battlefield fell over them.

Fraero's fingers tightened around his sword.

Kiera exhaled shakily. "No way."

Yara looked pale. "We barely survived that."

Garrick gritted his teeth. "So what? We'll fight the next one."

Julius clutched at his hands. "Huh? We didn't even get any levels from that? What about the loot?"

His hands clenched. His heart pounded.

He looked at the tunnels—deeper, darker, and stirring.

More eyes.

More growls.

And this time… there were bigger ones.

Impossible difficulty was just getting started.