The Chest

The group barely caught their breath but something strange began to stir. The blood pooling around the lifeless body of the Bladed Spine Viper shimmered unnaturally as if alive with a purpose of its own.Slowly, the crimson liquid started to coalesce, shifting and contorting before their eyes. The blood shaped itself into intricate patterns in the air and glowing faintly as it solidified into what appeared to be some texts.The texts floated just above the ground, their design was a blend of cursive symbols interlaced with box-like structures. They pulsed faintly as if breathing, emanating an eerie energy that made the air feel heavier."Wha... what is that?" John's voice broke the silence. He looked to the others for answers, but their faces was the same as his confusion.The tremors that had started moments earlier intensified, vibrating through the chamber and shaking loose small fragments of stone from the ceiling.Sensing the growing tension, John turned sharply to his Beasts. "Inky, Miki, stay alert. Watch the surroundings."The Beasts obeyed immediately, their sharp eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of further danger.Marik and Amel who both still catching their breath turned to Irene with looks that carried a glimmer of hope for answers.Irene frowned deeply, her gaze fixed on the glowing runes. Her eyes seemed to flicker with recognition."This is the Dungeon's language," Irene said, her voice steady but laced with unease. "Runes unique to the Dungeons. They use these to communicate with us, outsiders. It's their way of speaking. This is their words."John's mind processed her statement. The Dungeon has its own language? The implications made his skin prickle. The idea of a 'living' Dungeon, something that he used to dismissed as metaphorical, now felt alarmingly real and literal."You can read it?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and urgency."I'm trying," Irene replied, her tone tight with concentration. Her eyes remained locked on the glowing blood text, studying the intricate symbols with the intensity of someone deciphering a life-or-death puzzle."Yeah, no pressure," John said, his attempt at levity falling flat as his gaze swept the chamber.The quake persisted and every shadow seemed more sinister than the last. He can feel as if the Dungeon itself is looking at them right now. His grip tightened. "We can't afford to be caught off guard."Seconds passed in tense silence, each one feeling like an eternity. Finally, Irene exhaled sharply, her lips pressing into a thin line as she deciphered the cryptic symbols."It says... we've completed a significant feat. It recognizes what we've done and offers us a reward." She paused, her brow furrowing as she added cautiously, "It says we can proceed deeper to claim it.""A reward?" John's eyes lit up. "Then let's go!""Wait!" Amel's voice was sharp, stopping him in his tracks. "In the Dungeon, you can't be sure. Sometimes, they trick you. A reward might not be what it seems. Or worse, it can be a trap."The weight of her warning hung heavy in the air. John hesitated, his excitement giving way to fear.She had a point. He didn't know anything about The Dungeon but John was sure that it was not a place of charity. It's a living thing and the fact that it have its own intentions that could be as treacherous as the Beasts it housed make him feel chill run down his spine."Shit," John cursed. He glanced at Irene. "Can you sense anything else from the runes? Any clues about this... reward?"Irene shook her head, her expression unreadable. "The text doesn't elaborate. It's deliberately vague, like it's leaving the choice up to us."John's gaze flicked to the ominous passage leading deeper into the Dungeon. The air there seemed darker, heavier, almost daring them to step forward."A reward, or a trap?" He mulled over the risk.John swept his gaze across his companions."What do you think?" he asked. "T think this chamber's not going to hold much longer. We've got to make a choice fast."The tremors had grown stronger, and the ominous groans of the Dungeon echoed around them, making it clear time was running out. Dust rained from the ceiling, and jagged cracks crept along the walls.The group exchanged glances. Irene clenched her fists, her teeth gritting as she made up her mind."We need to move forward. With your abilities, John, and if we're careful, I believe we can make it."John's brows rose, skepticism flashing in his eyes. "You're putting your life on me?" he asked with disbelief.Irene met his gaze without hesitation. "Yes."Her firm response hung in the air for a moment. Then, one by one, Amel and Marik nodded in agreement.Their expressions were serious. The weight of their trust pressed down on John's shoulders."They really believe I can get them through this?"John exhaled slowly, steadying himself. The fear gnawed at the edges of his mind, but his curiosity burned. What lay deeper in this Dungeon? What reward awaited them? If its really a reward."Alright," he finally said. "Let's go."Without looking back, John take his sword from the Viper's open mouth and led them toward the tunnel at the far end of the chamber.The thought of leaving the Bladed Spine Viper's corpse — and its potentially valuable meat — left a bitter taste in John's mouth."Damn shame," he muttered as they ran. "But this chamber might come down any second."The group sprinted into the tunnel, the sound of crumbling stone following them. The narrow passageway twisted and turned, the oppressive atmosphere growing thicker with each step.As they pushed onward, John's mind raced with questions."Is there really no information about this Dungeon?" he asked over his shoulder. "It's so close to the town. There have to be adventurers who've mapped out the deeper levels already."Amel, running just behind him, shook her head. "There's information, but it's not shared openly. This Dungeon's rumored to hold high-value treasures and the teams that make it this far? They guard their findings like their lives depend on it."John clicked his tongue in frustration. "Petty bastards," he muttered under his breath."That's how this world works, John," Irene said, her tone calm but her eyes sharp as she glanced at him with meaningful look.John blinked, absorbing her words, but the urgency of their situation left no time for deeper thought.They pressed on, the tunnel eventually widening into a vast chamber eerily similar in structure to the one they had just left.The air here was different though, its less oppressive and almost inviting. At the center of the chamber stood a large, gleaming silver chest. It was raised on a stone pedestal, as if calling them to approach.The group skidded to a stop, their eyes locked on the chest."Well, that's... obvious," John muttered, eyeing the chest warily. His instincts screamed that this was too good to be true."It's a trap," Amel said softly while grabbing her other hand. "It has to be."The group exchanged wary glances. Then slowly, they began to approach the chest with deliberate and cautious steps.Nothing happen until the reach the chest. But when John extended his sword to open it...---