Chapter 17: Into the Unknown

The cave entrance loomed ahead, the darkness inside broken only by faint glowing crystals embedded in the walls. One by one, the teams stepped into the portal, unaware of the sinister shift that was about to occur.

Adam, the first team leader to go in, walked forward with his usual arrogant confidence. His eyes glinted with self-assurance as he disappeared through the shimmering portal, his team trailing behind. Next came Volt, his sharp gaze flicking back at the others before he smirked, stepping into the unknown with his cunning always at play. Seraphine followed, her disciplined stance never wavering. But before she crossed into the portal, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder.

"Arthur," she said, her voice softer than usual, "be careful."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden concern, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "You too, Seraphine."

She nodded and disappeared into the light.

Finally, it was Arthur's turn. His team—Elara, Leora, Leo, and Mira—waited anxiously behind him, all of them keenly aware of the tension building in the air. Arthur glanced at the swirling portal ahead, feeling a strange pull in his chest. Something was off about this place, though he couldn't quite place what.

"Ready?" Arthur asked, his calm tone doing wonders to steady the nerves of his team.

They all nodded, and together they stepped through the portal.

---

As soon as they entered, the atmosphere changed. They were no longer in the academy's familiar grounds but inside a dark, eerie cave. The air was heavy with moisture, and a slight chill crept along their skin. The ceiling loomed high above them, jagged rocks hanging ominously as if ready to fall at any moment. Webs thick as rope crisscrossed their path, stretching across the cavern walls. The faint glow of the crystals barely pierced the gloom, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

Elara, who was usually composed, frowned as her eyes adjusted to the low light. "This place feels wrong," she muttered.

Leora glanced around nervously. "And I hate spiders."

Arthur, leading from the front, kept his eyes sharp. They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone floor. The silence was unsettling, broken only by the occasional sound of dripping water from the stalactites above. But soon, the quiet was broken by the faint skittering of legs—lots of legs.

The first spider they encountered was massive compared to the creatures found on Terra. It scuttled across the cavern floor, its many eyes glinting in the dim light. Arthur, unfazed, signaled to the others.

"Spread out. Be quick, and don't let them surround you," he ordered.

The team moved into formation, their movements fluid from weeks of practice. Elara conjured sharp ice spikes that shot through the air, piercing the spider's legs. Leora followed up with a burst of flames, scorching the creature as it screeched in agony. Arthur moved with precision, cutting down any remaining spiders that approached them with a flick of his hand, summoning sharp winds to slice through their limbs.

"Easy enough," Leo remarked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

But as they pressed deeper into the cave, they found themselves standing at the entrance to a much larger chamber. Arthur's eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. The atmosphere shifted again—this time more ominous, more sinister.

As they entered, they saw it: a massive, grotesque spider slowly crawling across the floor. Unlike the others, this one was far more twisted, its body pulsating with dark energy, its legs covered in thick, matted hair. Its eyes glowed with a malicious light, and its fangs dripped venom as it scuttled deeper into the cavern.

Elara's breath hitched. "Why is there a mutated spider here? This… this doesn't make sense!"

Leora's eyes widened, fear creeping into her voice. "What the hell is that thing?"

Arthur's team stood frozen for a moment, their shock evident, but Arthur remained calm. His sharp eyes followed the creature as it disappeared into a larger space further ahead.

"Follow it," Arthur said, his tone calm but firm. His team hesitated, but his unwavering confidence gave them the push they needed.

They crept forward, staying low and quiet. As they reached the edge of the cavern, they looked down and froze in terror. Below them, hundreds of spiders moved across the floor, but not the ordinary ones they had been fighting. These were mutated, grotesque beasts like the one they had just seen. And in the center of the horde was the biggest spider any of them had ever laid eyes on.

It was enormous, with a bloated, pulsating body that dripped with dark energy. Its eyes were glowing orbs of malevolence, and its legs were thick as tree trunks. Its presence exuded power, so much so that even standing at a distance, they could feel the oppressive force weighing on their chests.

Mira, usually one of the braver members of the team, visibly shuddered. "That… that thing is a monster. We can't beat that."

Elara clenched her fists. "It's an A-rank monster. There's no way we can fight something like that head-on."

Leora's face paled. "How are we supposed to beat that?"

Arthur observed the creature with a cool gaze, though internally, his curiosity was piqued. *A descendant of an Elder God… here? But why is it so weak? Even the weakest of their lineage should have the power to destroy planets. This one barely manages to control its minions. What happened to it?*

He didn't need to fear the creature. He knew he could destroy it easily, even without his full power. But he held back. There was something he needed to understand.

Arthur's voice cut through the fear. "Calm down, everyone. Panic won't help us. We need a plan."

His teammates looked at him, drawing strength from his unwavering composure. One by one, they forced themselves to take deep breaths and regain their focus.

Leo spoke first. "We can't fight that thing. Not with just us. We need to find the other teams."

Elara nodded in agreement. "Right. We need to regroup. There's no way we can take this monster down without help."

Arthur gave a slight nod, though his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about the creature's weakened state. *There are two ways to defeat a red dungeon. One, kill the boss. Two, destroy the core. That thing is protecting something, and I'm willing to bet it's the dungeon core. But why would a creature of such powerful lineage be here, guarding a mere core?*

He was snapped out of his thoughts by Leora's voice. "Arthur? What do you think?"

He blinked, returning his attention to the team. "Right. We regroup with the others. But we need to stay quiet and avoid detection. That thing is too strong for a direct fight, especially without a solid plan."

The team nodded, grateful for his leadership. They began to move, keeping low and out of sight, but Arthur's mind continued to race. He could feel the tension building, the danger creeping closer. And yet, beneath his calm exterior, excitement simmered. *I could end this with a flick of my wrist, but where's the fun in that?*

---

Outside the dungeon, Kael stood with his heart pounding in his chest. He stared at the portal, now glowing a deep crimson red, dread sinking into his stomach. He had never seen a shift like this, and it could only mean one thing: a double dungeon.

The hunters around him exchanged worried glances. One of them stepped forward. "What's the plan, Professor?"

Kael shook his head, anxiety gnawing at him. "We can't get in unless they defeat the boss or destroy the dungeon core. For now… we wait. And we pray they survive."

---

Support my other Novel:

Rise of the Strongest Harem King

Please leave A comment and Power Stones