Chapter 12 : The Temple of the Lion

Hi! I'm finally half free. I found a summer job but I'll still try to write despite not having the big holidays I hope for. I'm posting this on the 14/07 so yay Frace day I suppose.

Now for this chapter (and the next two normally), I tried something different. Since I didn't want to just do three times a dungeon with only a few differences in characters and layout, I tried to write each dungeon in a different writing style. I think it's a fun challenge to do so I hope it'll be fun to read. I'll try to post the next two chaps in the next few days to avoid making you wait for what is basically three times the same – ish thing. If I manage to do it, you can consider it as my early birthday celebration since I'll work on the actual day of my birthday.

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Standing before a majestic gateway belonging to a civilisation lost in time were three figures. Of them, two were adventurers and the last belonged to a knight's order. The first adventurer was a markswoman, clad in purple and black, her lighting arrows were to be feared. The second one was a warrior, her face always covered by a heavy helmet, she wielded a greatsword with swiftness and strength unparalleled. Their companion was a witch, her bewitching appearance only matched by her skill with a catalyst.

The stone entrance was ancient but grand, the passage of time having not in the slightest diminished the dignified aura of the place.

"Dear servants of mine, let us conquer this dungeon swiftly for it is a pressing matter that we rescue our realm by bringing down the malignant beast!" exclaimed the archer.

Hearing these words, her allies nodded and all entered the dungeon. The insides of the temple were as grandiose as the outside led them to believe, reminding the royal amongst them of the palace she once walked.

Their first trial lied in front of them, surrounding a mysterious pillar were monsters. Their surface was fiery red and they left scorched scars on the ground they trampled.

As soon as the adventurers approached, the creatures springed into action, boucing towards the warrior on the frontlines. But before contact could be made, a purple streak pierced through the first monster. The archer had struck.

Promptly after, the warrior swung her blade and the witch cast bolts of lightning, quickly dispatching the enemies.

Rid of the monsters, they could finally approach the pillar. The warrior examined it in puzzlement, what could make monsters want to guard this column? Sensing her bewilderment, the witch explained.

"It is an electro monument, a mechanism that can be activated through the use of elemental energy aligned on the electro element. Fortunately for us, both the Prinzessin and I can use such energy."

The archer approached her lightning-clad hand to the monument and, soon, it lit up in purple brilliance. Before the adventurers, a wall slowly slid into the ground, opening a new pathway for them.

Not long after, another monster-filled room appeared. This one was filled with humanoid creatures, their heights akin to a child's. In the center, a creature stood out in particular, blue robes adorned its figure and blue fur covered its head. On its face, a mask of bone-like color, different from the other creature's ones.

The room had another peculiarity, the entire floor was covered in water. The depth was ten centimeters, impairing movement but not preventing it.

This water, however, was not a curse, it was instead a blessing. The witch and the archer sent powerful electrical current into the water, electrifying the monsters walking inside. The only one remaining was the blue clothed creature who evaded the current by levitating over the water. Realising the attack, it cast a blue shield around itself before firing high-speed water projectiles.

Seeing the current recieding, the warrior sprung into action and soon, blade clashed against shield relentlessly. As the monster's defense was about to be breached, it vanished from sight, reappearing a few meters further back. Unfortunately for it, an arrow cackling with power flew straight into it, breaking open the shield. The warrior rushed towards the weakened monster and made use of the opening, plunging her blade into the monster's body.

Room after room was cleared and soon, it had already been several hours since they had entered.

Taking camp for a short rest, they finally interrogated the witch about the inquiry that plagued them. What was the identity of the beast they had sworn to strike down?

They had expected many things, but reality was often stranger than fiction. Indeed, the creature was none other than one of the four guardians of the land of Mondstadt, the one once known and revered as the Dragon of the East, Dvalin. While the reason for its treason was unclear but one thing held true : It had to be stopped.

Their rest finished, it was time to keep exploring, marching decisively towards the further depths of the temple.

The way was strewn with challenges but finally, they arrived in the final room.

The room was large, it could easily fit hundreds of people. In the center was a circular platform, in the middle of which lied a marble altar. Further back in the room lied a large crystal, swirling with energy.

"Our goal is to break this crystal, it is one of Dvalin's sources of power. Are you ready to fight it's guardian, cuties?" said the witch.

To which the warrior acquiesced confidently while the archer concurred dramatically.

And so they made their way towards the platform. As they approached, the energy around the crystal gathered before them, forming the slightly translucent form of a lion, three meters in height.

The lion howled fiercly, challenging the adventurers to come closer.

The archer drew her bow, the witch prepared her spells and the warrior readied her blade. They wouldn't back down.

The first to move was the swordswoman, she lept towards the foe, sending a powerful strike at the beast. The lion jumped to the side, avoiding the brunt of the attack. The wound it withstood only serving to anger it.

It swiped its claws at the warrior, sending her flying backwards despite parrying the blow. It couldn't celebrate, however, as an arrow plunged near its eye while bolts of lightning seared its fur. Furious, it sprung towards the markswoman, only to be intercepted by the warrior's greatsword flying towards it, soon followed by the warrior herself.

As the beast clashed against the warrior, occasionnally being pierced by arrows or struck by lightning, it failed to notice the presence of a fleeting shadow high above it. And in a moment of weakness from the lion, the shadow dives straight towards the beast's eye. The shadow, now revealed to be a purple raven, claws at one of the eyes while ripping out the other with its beak.

As the lion cries in pain, the archer strikes it in the mouth while the warrior pierces its heart and the witch uses the arrow to conduct her lightning inside of the creature.

As the guardian falls, the crystal cracks before finally shattering.

After verifying that the crystal couldn't be repaired, the witch heaved a sigh of fatigue before smiling to her companions, they had completed their quest and could now return victorious.

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I hope you enjoyed this style of writing. The dungeon is lightly inspired from the in game dungeon but mostly OC. As for the concept of guardian of the crystal, I thought it was kinda unsatisfying to have a dungeon without a boss at the end so I added one. I already yapped a lot at the begginnig so I'm gonna stop here for now.

Have a good day and see you soon ! :D

CrystalEnBoite