Chapter 10: Discovering the Secret Dungeon

Lorian's body still ached from his last battle. The fruit's effects had finally settled, leaving him stronger, sharper—but the lingering dizziness and strange visions made it clear that whatever he consumed wasn't ordinary. Markus walked beside him, silent for the most part, occasionally glancing at him with an unreadable expression.

"This place," Markus finally spoke, "is unlike the rest of the dungeon. It's not meant for just anyone to find."

Lorian could feel it too. The walls shimmered faintly with an ancient glow, and the air itself felt heavier. Ahead of them stood a massive door, covered in intricate runes. The sight of it sent a shiver down Lorian's spine.

As he stepped closer, the runes on the door pulsed, recognizing his presence.

"Only those who are ready may enter."

The voice echoed from the stone itself, ancient and powerful. Markus nodded in approval.

"This is your trial, Lorian. If you fail, this door will never open for you again."

Lorian clenched his fists. He had no intention of failing. He pressed his palm against the door, and immediately, the world around him shifted.

Trial of the Mind

Lorian found himself in a dark void. No walls, no floor, just an endless abyss stretching in all directions. Then, whispers filled the air.

"You are weak."

"You don't belong here."

"You will fail, just like before."

The voices attacked his mind, weaving through his thoughts like venomous serpents. They knew his doubts, his fears. Images flashed before him—his past failures, moments of helplessness, the times he let others down.

His breath quickened. His hands trembled.

"No," Lorian growled, gripping his head. "This isn't real."

The whispers grew louder, mocking him, drowning his thoughts in fear. But then—amidst the chaos—he remembered Markus's words.

"This is your trial."

A trial was meant to be overcome.

Lorian clenched his fists and stood tall.

"I am not weak."

The whispers faltered.

"I belong here."

The darkness cracked.

"I will not fail."

With a final surge of willpower, Lorian roared, and the void shattered like glass. Light engulfed him, and when it faded, he was standing in a new place.

Trial of the Soul

Lorian stood before a massive mirror, but the reflection wasn't his own.

Instead, he saw a twisted version of himself—eyes dark with malice, a cruel smirk on his lips. This version of Lorian stepped out of the mirror, drawing a blade identical to Lorian's own.

"I am everything you try to ignore," the dark reflection sneered. "Your anger, your hatred, your fear. You need me."

Lorian drew his own blade.

"I am you," the reflection continued. "If you reject me, you reject your own strength."

The fight was brutal. Every move Lorian made, his reflection countered perfectly. It was as if he was fighting himself—not just physically, but mentally.

The dark Lorian fought with pure aggression, fueled by rage. And for a moment, Lorian considered giving in—letting go of restraint, embracing the raw power.

But then he remembered Selene. His parents. His little brother. The people who believed in him.

Power without control was nothing but destruction.

Lorian took a deep breath, stepped back, and lowered his weapon.

His reflection hesitated.

"I am not afraid of you," Lorian said. "You are part of me, but you do not control me."

The dark Lorian's smirk faltered. Cracks spread across his form. He let out a final snarl before shattering into dust.

The mirror disappeared. Lorian stood alone, victorious.

Trial of the Body

The moment Lorian stepped into the final trial, he felt the shift.

The ground trembled. A massive, armored beast—twice the size of any monster he had faced—emerged from the shadows. Its body was covered in thick, obsidian-like plates, and molten energy pulsed beneath its skin.

This was a real fight.

Lorian barely had time to react before the beast lunged. He dodged, but its claws scraped his side, sending searing pain through his body. Blood dripped onto the ground.

The fight raged on. Lorian used every skill, every ounce of strength he had. But the beast was relentless. Even with his newfound power, he was barely keeping up.

Then—he made a mistake.

A misstep. A second too slow.

The beast's massive claw struck his chest, launching him across the arena. He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood. His vision blurred. His body refused to move.

And then—everything went silent.

Lorian opened his eyes to a place that shouldn't exist.

A quiet village. A warm breeze. Laughter in the distance.

And standing before him—his parents. His little brother.

His breath caught in his throat.

"Mom? Dad?" His voice was barely a whisper.

His mother smiled, her eyes full of warmth. "You've grown so much."

His father placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can't stay here, son."

Tears blurred Lorian's vision. "But—"

His little brother grinned up at him. "You still have a job to do, big bro."

His mother cupped his face gently. "You have a purpose, Lorian. It's not your time yet."

His father squeezed his shoulder. "Stand up."

And just like that, they were gone.

Lorian's eyes snapped open. He was still in the trial. The beast loomed over him, ready to strike the final blow.

But Lorian moved.

Faster than before. Stronger than before.

He dodged, his blade glowing with newfound energy. He wasn't just fighting now—he was dominating.

The beast roared, but it no longer mattered. Lorian's strikes were precise, relentless.

With one final, earth-shattering blow, Lorian destroyed the monster.

The battlefield vanished.

Lorian found himself standing before the massive door again. The runes glowed brightly—accepting him.

He had passed.

Markus stood nearby, watching him with something close to approval.

"You survived."

Lorian let out a breath, a small smirk forming. "I did."

The door slowly creaked open, revealing the secrets that awaited him inside.

And Lorian stepped forward, ready for whatever came next.

The golden towers of the capital stood tall, basking in the glow of the setting sun, yet to Selene, they felt suffocating. From the balcony where she stood, she watched the bustling marketplace below, where merchants called out their wares and nobles whispered among themselves, draped in expensive silks and adorned with meaningless trinkets.

It all felt so hollow.

Despite the city's grandeur, despite the endless resources at her disposal, she had learned nothing of real value. The capital was supposed to be a place of knowledge, yet every answer she sought led to locked doors and wary glances. Every scholar she approached spoke in riddles, every book she found omitted crucial details. It was as if the truth was deliberately being hidden from her.

A quiet sigh left her lips. How long have I been chasing ghosts?

She clenched the edge of the stone railing, frustration coiling inside her chest like a serpent. Her entire life had been defined by duty, by purpose, by the belief that her strength existed for a reason. But standing here, drowning in the weight of her unanswered questions, she felt lost.

"Selene."

The voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to find Alex watching her carefully, his sharp eyes studying her expression. Aiden stood beside him, arms crossed, his impatience evident.

"We've been here too long," Aiden said, voicing what she already knew. "Whatever answers you're looking for, they're not in this city."

Selene didn't respond immediately. She wanted to argue, to insist that there was more to uncover here. But deep down, she knew Aiden was right. The truth wasn't buried in books or behind palace walls—it was out there, in the chaos of the dungeons.

Yet the idea of leaving the capital without certainty made her uneasy. What if we're walking into something we don't understand?

As if sensing her hesitation, Alex spoke, his voice softer than his brother's. "If the dungeons are the key, then we need to move. Standing still has never been your way."

Selene exhaled through her nose. No, it wasn't. She had never been the type to sit and wait. And if the capital held nothing for her, then it was time to go.

Then came the news of Emric's arrival.

The night air was cool as Selene, Alex, and Aiden made their way to the eastern gate. The streets were quieter now, with only a few night patrols passing through.

When they finally reached the gate, Emric was waiting. His armor was covered in dust from the road, and his dark hair was slightly unkempt, but his presence was as commanding as ever. His sharp blue eyes locked onto Selene the moment she approached.

"You're late," he said, though his tone carried no real irritation.

Selene crossed her arms. "You should've sent word that you were coming."

"I would have, but things are moving too fast." He exhaled sharply, his expression darkening. "Selene… the dungeons are spreading."

Her stomach tightened.

"What do you mean spreading?" Alex asked, his voice calm but firm.

Emric glanced around before lowering his voice. "New dungeons are appearing in places they never should have. Villages that have never seen a dungeon before are now overrun. And it's not just that—the creatures inside them are changing. Growing stronger. Smarter."

Selene felt the blood drain from her face.

Emric continued, his voice grave. "There are more people with abilities now than ever before. It's like something—someone—is pushing this forward."

A tense silence followed his words. Aiden was the first to break it, scoffing under his breath. "Of course. Because we didn't already have enough problems."

Selene barely heard him. Her mind raced, piecing together everything she had learned. The dungeons weren't just appearing randomly. There was a pattern. A purpose.

And if Emric was right, then the capital knew.

"Do you think the nobles are aware of this?" she asked quietly.

Emric's expression hardened. "They know. But they won't act until it's too late. Right now, their focus is on their own power struggles. They don't care about what's happening outside these walls."

Selene's fingers curled into fists.

She had spent weeks in this city, hoping to find guidance, to find answers. Instead, she had found a den of politicians who valued their own security over the fate of the world. The realization filled her with something close to anger.

Alex must have noticed, because he spoke up. "Selene."

She met his gaze.

"If this is what we've been waiting for, then we already know what to do," he said simply.

Aiden smirked. "Yeah. We go where the action is."

Selene inhaled deeply. Yes. The capital had nothing left to offer. If she wanted real answers, if she wanted to understand the origin of their powers, then she needed to face the truth head-on.

She needed to return to the dungeons.

But what she didn't know was that something, or someone, was already waiting for her.