41

The dungeon remained in absolute silence. Not a drip of water was heard, which usually echoed from the lower levels, nor the rustle of creatures moving in the shadows. The bioluminescent flowers that covered the walls seemed to beat to the rhythm of the energy emanating from Aurora, their petals opening and closing like small lungs breathing the magic of the place. The air was dense, heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss, and a slight hint of ozone that gave the environment a metallic touch. Sitting on the spongy floor of the main chamber, Aurora watched the central hologram with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. Her recent transformation had awakened something new in her, a primal instinct that she could barely control, a thirst for power that called her from the depths of her being.

Kaili stood a few steps away, her iridescent wings glowing faintly under the light of the red orb. Her dark eyes were fixed on Aurora, evaluating each of her movements with a mixture of admiration and caution. Sebastián, meanwhile, remained near the entrance, watching both with a mixture of astonishment and worry. Aurora's transformation had left him breathless. She was no longer the little girl he had known, but a young woman, with a beauty and power that intimidated him.

"Sebastián," Kaili said suddenly, breaking the silence with her melodious voice, "I have detected intruders on the boundaries of the forest. Adventurers sent by Eldoria."

Sebastián frowned, his mind still trying to assimilate Aurora's transformation. "Adventurers? What are they doing here?"

"Exploring anomalies," Kaili replied with disdain. "They seek the origin of the power that manifested during your hibernation, Aurora. But it doesn't matter. This is a perfect opportunity to train our queen."

Aurora looked up from the hologram, her amber eyes glowing with an intensity that made Sebastián feel a chill. "Train?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Yes," Kaili continued, approaching Aurora with a calculating smile. "A practical battle. You will be able to use your new powers against them. It will be an excellent way to develop your strategic ability and learn to control your strength."

Sebastián took a step forward, his expression tense. "Kaili, this doesn't seem like a good idea. Aurora is still learning to control her powers. What if something goes wrong? What if she gets hurt?"

Kaili looked at him with a mixture of irritation and amusement. "Hurt, you say. Sebastián, our queen is practically invincible. These adventurers are nothing more than insects compared to her. Besides, she needs to learn to fight. We can't protect her forever."

"But she could get hurt!" Sebastián insisted, his voice full of worry. "We don't know how strong those adventurers are. And even if they are, she is too valuable to risk her in an unnecessary fight!"

Kaili sighed exasperatedly, but before she could respond, Aurora intervened. "I want to do it," she said with a clear and firm voice that surprised both of them. "I want to fight."

Sebastián looked at her in disbelief. "Aurora, you don't have to do this. We can find another way..."

"No," Aurora interrupted, standing up. There was something in her tone, a determination that Sebastián had never heard before. "Kaili is right. I need to learn to use my powers. I want to be strong... to protect us."

Sebastián opened his mouth to protest, but the words died in his throat. He knew he couldn't stop her. Since her amnesia, he had always felt a deep need to protect Aurora, and that need had intensified with her transformation. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her.

"Okay," he said finally, lowering his gaze. "But promise me you'll be careful."

Aurora nodded with a small smile. "I promise."

Kaili, satisfied with Aurora's decision, turned to the hologram. With an elegant gesture, she activated the interface and began to modify the structure of the dungeon. "Very well, my queen," she said with a cruel smile. "Let's prepare a trap that even the most experienced heroes won't be able to avoid."

Kaili explained her plan in detail while Aurora watched her attentively. The shadow bats would guide the adventurers to the hidden entrance of the dungeon, using their curiosity to attract them. Once inside, they would face a series of obstacles designed to gradually weaken them.

"On the first floor," Kaili said, pointing to the hologram, "we will activate the simplest traps. Spears that emerge from the ground, gaseous poisons... nothing too complicated. Just to test their resistance."

Aurora nodded, absorbing every word. "And then?"

"The second floor will be more challenging," Kaili continued. "The aquatic creatures of the underground lake will be more aggressive. I have also placed illusions on the walls to confuse them. If they manage to survive to the third floor, they will face armed skeletons and small spectral creatures."

Sebastián listened in silence, his worry growing with each detail. "And the fourth floor?" he asked finally.

Kaili smiled with satisfaction. "That's where you will come into action, my queen. You will personally eliminate the survivors in a demonstration of your power. It will be a lesson for anyone who tries to challenge us in the future."

Aurora nodded again, but this time there was a strange glint in her eyes. It was a mixture of excitement and something darker, something that Sebastián couldn't identify. It was as if a part of her enjoyed the idea of battle.

"Trust me, Sebastián," Kaili said, noticing his discomfort. "Everything will be fine. Our queen is stronger than you imagine. This will be an easy victory."

Sebastián didn't answer. He simply stood there, watching Aurora as she studied the hologram with an almost hypnotic concentration. He knew he couldn't stop her, but that didn't mean he had to agree.

With the plans established, Aurora and Kaili dedicated themselves to adjusting the last details. Aurora modified the plants in the upper levels so that they would release more potent poisons, while Kaili coordinated the creatures of the dungeon to make sure they were ready to attack.

Sebastián, meanwhile, stayed out of it, observing everything with a mixture of anxiety and resignation. He knew he couldn't protect Aurora from everything, but that didn't mean he was going to give up so easily.

"I'm ready," Aurora announced finally, her voice resonating with a confidence that Sebastián hadn't heard before.

Kaili smiled with pride. "Then, my queen, let us begin."

And so, the trap was set. The shadow bats flew out into the forest, leaving traces of residual energy that would soon capture the attention of the adventurers. Meanwhile, Aurora, Kaili, and Sebastián waited in silence, preparing for the battle that was about to come.

Sebastián looked at Aurora one last time, his eyes full of worry. "Please, be careful," he murmured.

Aurora returned his gaze, her lips curving into a small smile. "Don't worry, Sebastián. Everything will be fine."

But as the shadows of the dungeon lengthened and the air became charged with anticipation, Sebastián couldn't help but feel that something was about to change forever.

The shadow bats were not long in finding the adventurers. They were a group of five, led by a warrior in silver armor and a stern look. At his side, a mage in a blue robe with a bow on his back, a warrior in leather armor with two daggers at her waist, and two scouts in dark clothes with crossbows in their hands.

The adventurers were camped on the edge of the forest, near a small stream. They seemed tired, but alert, with their weapons at hand. The shadow bats approached stealthily, fluttering among the trees, emitting small sounds that aroused the curiosity of the scouts.

"What is that?" one of the scouts asked, pointing his crossbow at the bats.

"I don't know," the other scout replied, frowning. "I've never seen bats like those. They seem... strange."

The warrior in silver armor approached, observing the bats carefully. "They are shadow bats," he said in a deep voice. "They are dangerous creatures. We must be careful."

The mage in the blue robe nodded. "They are creatures of darkness. It is said that they feed on the vital energy of living beings. We must prevent them from approaching."

The scouts tightened their crossbows, aiming at the bats. "Don't worry," one of them said with a confident smile. "We will finish them before they can harm us."

But the shadow bats were faster than they seemed. With erratic movements, they dodged the scouts' arrows and pounced on them, biting them in the neck and arms. The scouts screamed in pain, trying to defend themselves, but the bats were too agile.

The warrior in silver armor and the mage in the blue robe joined the fight, attacking the bats with their swords and spells. The warrior in leather armor moved agilely between the trees, attacking the bats from behind.

The battle was short but intense. The shadow bats were resistant creatures, but they were finally defeated. The adventurers, wounded and tired, gathered in the center of the clearing, watching the bodies of the bats with a mixture of relief and worry.

"Those bats were stronger than I expected," said the warrior in silver armor, wiping the blood from his sword.

"Yes," replied the mage in the blue robe, healing his wounds with magic. "We must be careful. If there are creatures like those in the forest, there may be others even more dangerous."

The warrior in leather armor nodded. "We must be prepared for anything. We cannot lower our guard."

The scouts, still shaken by the attack, looked at each other with concern. "Maybe... maybe we should go back to the city," one of them said with a trembling voice.

"No," replied the warrior in silver armor firmly. "We cannot give up now. We have come too far. We must continue."

The others nodded, albeit with doubts. They knew that the forest was a dangerous place, but curiosity and the promise of a reward drove them to continue forward.

"Let's rest a little," said the mage in the blue robe. "Tomorrow we will continue with the exploration."

The adventurers prepared to rest, but the tension in the air was palpable. They knew that the forest hid dangers they had not yet discovered. And as they slept, the shadows of the dungeon grew longer, waiting for the moment to attack.