The Dungeon's Dark Allure

"It's almost sundown, and we've only managed to earn fifty gold coins!" Tsuchiyo's voice rang from behind the kitchen door, and Ayaki just gritted her teeth in annoyance. There was a loud clanging sound, metal against metal—and she knew exactly what was going on. Tsuchiyo had a habit of letting her frustration exhaust by throwing things around. Ayaki had grown used to these tantrums, she always knew that the best move was to get away, find somewhere to be in and let Tsuchiyo calm herself down.

She was standing in the common room, her elbows leaning into the counter as she gazed at the empty tables. Today wasn't very promising, and they had only managed to get a few customers, compared to the ones they normally on an average day. She took a deep breath, before she turned around just in time to face Yukino, as she slipped out from the kitchen.

Her blond hair was still tied into a bun, but a few loose bangs framed her cheeks. Her arched ears twitched, the only reminder of her elven heritage. She was carrying a bucket, and a mop—her movements fluid as she went down the door beneath the staircase.

Ayaki couldn't help but feel sorry for her, for the poor elf that had gotten herself into the hands of Tsuchiyo. She knew the consequences that followed being under her—the bitter scolding, the restless working and so forth.

She walked down the corridor, her footsteps quiet on the wooden floor. She passed by the door Yukino had entered, not bothering to glance in her direction. Her mind was preoccupied with the tension that lingered in the air. As she continued walking, the corridor eventually led her to their room. The door creaked softly as she pushed it open, revealing a cozy space with two single beds. The room was tidy, with a few personal touches that made it feel like home.

Ayaki threw herself onto one of the beds, feeling the softness of the mattress envelop her. She turned onto her side, pulling the pillow open to reveal a hidden compartment. From within, she pulled out a small necklace with a silver pendant.

The pendant glinted in the fading light, and her eyes became lost in its gentle sparkle. Memories flooded her mind, transporting her back to a time when life was simpler. The necklace had been her father's parting gift, the only legacy he had left her.

As she gazed at the pendant, her thoughts wandered to her father, and the stories he used to tell her. She remembered the way he smiled, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. The memories were bittersweet, filling her with a mix of sadness and nostalgia. As she laid on the soft mattress, the silver pendant glimmering in her hand, her thoughts drifted deeper into the past. One particular memory surfaced vividly, pulling her back to a sun-drenched afternoon years ago.

She could see herself, a small girl peeking through the dense bushes at the edge of their backyard. What stood before her was alive with the warmth of the sun and the sounds of nature. He father, a tall and sturdy figure, stood patiently next to her brother, who was eager yet inexperienced with a bow in hand.

"Focus, Izuro! Find your target," her father instructed, his voice calm and steady.

Ayaki watched, her heart swelling with admiration as her father demonstrated the correct stance, his arms pulling back the bowstring while the arrow pointed skyward. She could see the way he moved.

Izuro's brow furrowed in concentration, and Ayaki could see the determination etched on his young face. After a few moments of silence, he released the arrow. It soared through the air, but instead of hitting the trunk of the nearby tree, it barely grazed it.

"No! I missed!" Izuro shouted, his frustration boiling over. He threw the bow to the ground, the thud echoing in the silence of the afternoon. "I'm never going to hit the mark!"

In that moment, Ayaki felt a shift in the air. There was something different about her brother; a flicker of raw energy erupted from his like a transparent flame. Even from her hiding spot, she could feel its intensity—a pulsating force that seemed to vibrate through the ground beneath her.

Their father took a step back, his expression shifting from surprise to amusement. "Izuro," he chuckled with a gentle voice, "calm down! Let's try again."

Ayaki felt a strange mix of emotions as she observed these things. She recognized the spark of anger within Izuro, a fire that burned deeply and brightly, and for the first time, she understood that he was different—different from her, different from their father.

In that moment, Ayaki realized that while they shared the same blood, Izuro possessed a unique intensity that set him apart from the rest of them, making him the perfect son because he was born with magic.

As the memory faded, Ayaki returned to the present, the pendant still glimmering softly in the dim light. A bitter smile crossed her lips as she thought of her family. Her lips moved softly, and a barely audible whisper escaped her mouth. "Why did you have to leave me, father?"

*

Later that night, Karl stood outside the Griffin Inn, gazing out at the streets lit up by flickering lamps. The cold air stung his face, and his insides twisted with anxiety as he checked the time for what felt like the hundredth time. It was already late, and he was starting to worry that Ryūjin wouldn't show up.

Just as he was about to give up hope, a figure emerged from the shadows. The man wore a flowing brown coat, black boots, and a woolen hat pulled low over his face. As he drew closer, Karl's eyes narrowed, and then his expression relaxed into a mixture of relief and annoyance.

"You're late," Karl said, trying to keep his tone light.

Ryūjin smiled fairly, his eyes glinting in the lamplight. "I had some business to take care of," he said, his voice smooth as silk.

Karl raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. Instead, he nodded and said, "Shall we get going?"

"Oh yes, we are already late." Ryūjin said softly, before he brushed his temple with a couple of fingers. Karl thought the tattoo beneath Ryūjin's eye shimmered, almost as if it moved slightly as if it was alive. Just a feather, Karl thought wondering if it was real or his mind was playing an illusion.

Karl couldn't help but notice how the streets were, empty in the dead of night. The only music he heard, came from other taverns that were somewhere within the streets. They hardly walked past a number of people, and it made Karl wonder why people slept so early?

He followed Ryūjin through the winding streets, the silence between them punctuated only by the sound of their footsteps.

As they turned a corner, Ryūjin glanced over his shoulder. "Almost there."

Karl nodded, his eyes scanning the deserted streets. They walked past a few more twists and turns before stopping in front of a stone wall. He stared at the wall, confusion etched on his face. "This is a dead end."

Ryūjin smiled and walked towards the wall. Karl's eyes widened as Ryūjin simply vanished into the stone.

"How did you do that?" Karl asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Ryūjin's voice drifted back from the other side. "You really don't know anything about magic, do you? Ever heard of a cloaking spell?"

Karl scratched the back of his neck. "No."

Ryūjin chuckled. "Then how are you ever going to become an Archmage when you don't know about the basics?"

Without waiting for Karl to respond, Ryūjin walked back into view and gestured for Karl to follow him. Karl hesitated for a moment before stepping through the wall.

As he passed through the stone, Karl felt a sudden chill run down his spine. On the other side, he found himself in a short corridor lined with lamps. The air was thick with the sound of voices, laughter, and the occasional small explosion.

Ryūjin grinned, clapping Karl on the back. "Welcome to the Dungeon, kid."

As they walked towards the light, Karl's eyes widened in wonder. The corridor opened up into a vast chamber, and in the center of the room, Karl saw a large arena. The crowd was circled around the arena, cheering and chanting.

He didn't waste any time, pushing his way to the edge of the arena and staring down into the pit. That's when he felt terrified. The air was thick with tension.As he stared down, Karl heard snippets of conversation from the crowd.

"I've got ten gold pieces on the Shadow!"

"No way, the Beast will take him down!"

The crowd's laughter and shouts filled the air, but Karl's attention was focused on the arena.

A cloud of smoke lingered in the air, obscuring Karl's view. As he peered into the pit, he saw two figures emerge from the smoke. They were fighting, but the smoke made it hard for Karl to make out what they looked like.

Karl's jaw dropped as he stared at the sea of faces. "What is this place?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the din.

Ryūjin chuckled. "This, my friend, is where the real magic happens. Welcome to the dungeon."

Karl was silent all this time.

His eyes remained fixed on the arena, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Just then, a gust of wind blew the smoke away, revealing a girl who had flipped backwards, landing in a crouch-like stance. Her features slowly came into the light, and Karl's eyes widened as he took in her appearance. She had black hair tied into pigtails, and her eyes gleamed with a intensity.

As the smoke cleared further, Karl saw a woman standing opposite the girl, wearing a bodice and tight pants. She held a staff with a stone at its tip, and the staff seemed to shimmer. Karl's eyes darted back to the girl, and he felt a surge of curiosity.

"Who's that?" Karl asked Ryūjin, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ryūjin raised an eyebrow. "The girl or the woman?"

Karl's eyes remained fixed on the girl. "The girl."

Ryūjin's smile grew wider. "People call her the Beast."

Karl's eyes snapped back to Ryūjin, a mixture of confusion and fascination on his face. "The Beast?" he repeated, his voice full of wonder.

*

The girl was panting, sweat slightly visible on her forehead as she stared at the woman, who stood with a confidential smirk on her face. Her bloody lips gave her a devilish appeal, adding to her charm. Her tight grip on her staff screamed danger, the stone at its tip pulsating with an inner light.

"I have to admit, you're quite powerful...." The girl said, her tone heavy beneath her breath. "....but you're still not powerful enough to take me down!"

"Is that so?" The woman asked, a loose hand brushed aside her loose hairs.

Without thinking, the girl bolted from where she crouched—running as quickly as she could, clearing the distance between her and the woman. Just as she was about to get close enough, the woman lifted up her staff, before thrusting it back to the ground with a mighty thud, that left a cobweb of cracks. It didn't take long for the ground to be covered in thick darkness, like ink had been spilled there.

However, it didn't stop the girl from advancing. Instead, she leapt into the air, just in time to transform into a bird. The bird flapped its wings, flying a bit more above ground—its silver feathers shimmering under the pulsating light. Without a second thought, a bright light consumed the bird for a moment, and when it faded—the girl was visible once more—but with a pair of wings for hands, and talons for feet.

The girl, with her wings for hands and talons for feet, swooped down towards the woman, her eyes blazing with fury. "Now you die!" she screamed.

The woman, however, didn't flinch. With lightning-quick reflexes, she dodged to the side, her staff flashing in the light. She thrust the staff forward, aiming for the girl's belly.

But just as the staff was about to make contact, the girl's body began to shift and contort. She exploded into a swarm of bees, buzzing angrily as they surrounded the woman.

The woman's eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled backward, screaming as the bees stung her repeatedly. She fell to the ground, writhing in agony.

The referee's voice boomed through the arena. "And the winner is... Rina Sato, also known as... the Beast!"

The crowd erupted into applause, cheering and whistling as Rina's bees gathered together, reforming into her human shape.

Karl, however, couldn't tear his eyes away from the woman, who was still lying on the ground, grunting in pain. He felt a pang of concern, wondering who she was and why the fight was so intense.

Ryūjin chuckled, clapping Karl on the back. "Don't worry about her, kid. She'll be fine. It's all part of the game."

Karl turned to Ryūjin, his eyes questioning. "What game?"

Ryūjin's grin grew wider. "You'll see. Just wait and watch."

As the applause for Rina's victory died down, the referee's voice boomed through the arena once again. "And now, for our second match of the night... please welcome Hunters Koji and Iruka!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as two men stepped into the arena. They were both tall and muscular, with scars etched into their faces and arms. They eyed each other with a fierce intensity, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

The referee raised his hands, and the crowd fell silent. "Let the match begin!"

Koji and Iruka charged at each other, their swords flashing in the light. The air was filled with the sound of clashing steel, the two Hunters exchanging blow after blow.

Karl watched in awe, his eyes darting back and forth as the two men fought. It was intense, the movements lightning-fast and deadly.

But in a flash, the match was over. Iruko landed a devastating blow, striking Koji's sword aside and plunging his own blade deep into his chest.

Kael's eyes widened in shock as Koji stumbled backward, his sword falling from his grasp. He crashed to the ground, a pool of blood spreading rapidly from his wound.

The crowd gasped in horror, some of them covering their mouths in shock. Karl felt his stomach lurch, his mind reeling with the sudden violence.

Ryūjin's voice was calm and detached. "Well, that was... intense. Don't worry, kid. He'll live. Probably."

Karl turned to Ryūjin, his eyes wide with concern. "What kind of game is this? Why is it so... deadly?"

Ryūjin's grin was unsettling. "This, kid, is the world of the Dungeon. And in this world, only the strongest survive."

"So this is where you want me to be participating?" Karl couldn't hold back the question.

Ryūjin's grin grew even wider. "Not just participating, kid. I want you to be one of the best. I want you to survive, to thrive, and to make a name for yourself in this world. If you prove yourself capable, then there won't be anything stopping you from becoming an Archmage as you desire."

Karl's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with doubts and fears. "But at what cost? I just saw a man almost die in that arena. Is that really what you want for me?"

Ryūjin's expression turned serious, his eyes glinting with a fierce intensity. "The Dungeon is not for the faint of heart, kid. But if you're willing to take the risk, I promise you that the rewards will be worth it."

He hesitated, unsure of what to say or do. But as he looked out at the arena, he saw Rina standing tall, her eyes sparkling with pride. He saw the crowd cheering, their faces filled with excitement. And he knew that he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to experience the thrill of the fight, the rush of adrenaline, and the sense of pride and accomplishment that came with victory.

"Okay," Karl said finally, his voice firm and resolute. "I'm in."