Chapter 9 – The Battle for the Dungeon

Knight-Captain Alric led his team through the entrance of the dungeon, his steel boots echoing against the cold stone. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, the only sound being the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.

Behind him, Archmage Elara whispered an incantation, her staff glowing faintly as a barrier of light flickered to life around them.

"This place feels... alive," she muttered.

Bishop Lorne gripped his silver pendant, his face pale. "No. It's worse than that."

Alric's grip on his sword tightened. He had fought many dungeons before—but none had made his instincts scream like this one.

Then, they took another step forward.

And the door behind them slammed shut.

In the Dungeon Core Chamber, Reo watched them through his Dungeon Sight.

"They're moving cautiously," he murmured. "Good. That means they'll waste time."

He swiped through his Trap Activation Menu.

[Triggering Floor 2 Mechanisms…]

A deep rumbling echoed through the halls.

Then—darkness swallowed the entire floor.

The strike team halted as the torches around them flickered out.

Total blackness.

Elara cursed, casting Illumina Sphere. A bright orb of light ignited above them, revealing—

Nothing.

The walls had changed. The path they had entered from was gone.

Bishop Lorne swallowed. "A shifting labyrinth…?"

Alric's eyes narrowed. "Stay close. If we get separated, we're dead."

A whisper slithered through the darkness.

Then—something moved.

The Blackthorn Twins reacted first, drawing their daggers. "We're being watched."

A low growl rumbled ahead.

Then, out of the shadows—a panther-like creature lunged.

A Shadow Stalker.

Alric swung his blade with perfect precision, but—the creature passed right through it.

Then, another appeared. And another.

The hallway erupted into chaos.

From his chamber, Reo smirked.

"They're tough, but this isn't even the real challenge."

He turned toward his newest creation.

In the depths of the Blood Furnace, a figure knelt—his golden rune-etched skin glowing in the red light.

Jerrod.

Or rather… what he had become.

The system message confirmed it.

[Dungeon Champion Created – Abyss-Touched Jerrod]

His eyes flickered open, glowing with a new, inhuman light.

Reo's voice was calm but firm.

"It's time for you to welcome our guests."

Jerrod's lips curled into a twisted smirk.

"With pleasure."