Chapter 6 – The Dungeon Master's Hunt

The moment the elite team stepped into the dungeon, Reo felt it.

Six presences.

Stronger than the previous adventurers. More cautious. More experienced.

He stood before the Dungeon Core, eyes closed, feeling the labyrinth shift around them.

The new traps were in place. The monsters were positioned.

And now—the hunt would begin.

The six elites moved through the first corridor, their torches casting flickering light across the stone walls.

Unlike the earlier adventurers, they didn't rush forward blindly.

Aria the Silverwind crouched low, inspecting the floor. "No dust. The dungeon is alive. It resets itself."

Father Matthias whispered a quick prayer, his holy magic illuminating the dark. "Evil lurks in these halls."

Ahead of them, the corridor opened into a vast, circular chamber with multiple exits.

And then—they heard it.

Footsteps.

From every direction.

Jerrod spun around, gripping his sword. "They're surrounding us!"

Veylan raised his fist. "Hold formation!"

But Aria's sharp eyes narrowed. She pressed a hand against the wall.

"…There's no one here."

The moment she spoke, the footsteps stopped.

A beat of silence.

Then—a whisper.

Low, almost a breath. Right beside Jerrod's ear.

"Leave."

The young knight's breath hitched. He swung his sword wildly—only air.

Kaela's fingers flicked, casting a reveal spell. Light flared through the chamber—

Nothing.

No enemies.

Only shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls.

"This is an illusion," Kaela muttered, eyes darting. "The dungeon is playing with us."

Reo, watching from the Core, smirked. Correct.

The Hall of Echoes wasn't meant to kill.

It was meant to unsettle.

To weaken their resolve.

And it was working.

Jerrod's knuckles were white around his sword. Ronan's stance had stiffened. Even Veylan's eyes darted, looking for threats unseen.

But Aria…

She was different.

She stood perfectly still, hands clenched. Then, in a soft breath—

"…He's watching us."

Reo's smirk vanished.

His eyes narrowed.

She noticed?

Aria exhaled, turning to Veylan. "We can't stay here. We need to keep moving before the dungeon gets inside our heads."

The captain nodded. "Forward. No hesitation."

They moved deeper.

Reo, for the first time, frowned.

That rogue is sharp.

No matter.

She could see the game.

But she couldn't stop it.

They reached a narrow bridge—an old, cracked stone path stretching across a bottomless pit.

A single way forward.

Sir Jerrod eyed the darkness below. "…There's no end."

Kaela muttered a spell, dropping a flickering ember into the abyss. The tiny flame fell.

And fell.

And fell.

It never hit the bottom.

"Something is down there," Father Matthias warned.

Veylan stepped forward. "Single file. Move fast, don't stop."

The first to step onto the bridge was Ronan. His heavy boots echoed in the vast chamber.

Nothing happened.

Next was Aria.

Still nothing.

Then, Jerrod stepped forward.

A deep, guttural growl rumbled from below.

The stone shuddered.

A black tendril shot up from the abyss, wrapping around his ankle.

Jerrod screamed as it yanked him down.

Veylan lunged, grabbing his arm just in time.

"Hold on!"

Below them, the darkness shifted.

A shape moved in the abyss—massive, writhing, alive.

An ancient horror lurking beneath the dungeon.

And now—it had noticed them.

Reo grinned.

"Let's see how well you handle my pet."