Dungeon Wolves

The entrance to the dungeon loomed before them, a massive archway carved from black stone and adorned with ancient runes that pulsed with a dim, eerie light. The air inside was thick and damp, carrying the scent of earth, decay, and something darker. A deep chill emanated from within, as though the dungeon itself was breathing, waiting for its next challengers.

"This is it," Sinthia said, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. "Once we go in, there's no turning back until we reach the first safe zone."

"Where's that?" Reed asked, glancing warily at the runes.

"After the tenth floor," Sinthia replied.

Jaxon raised an eyebrow. "So we're stuck in here until we clear ten floors?"

"Pretty much," Elias said, flipping one of his enchanted cards between his fingers. "That's how most of these dungeons work. The first floor should be easy, though—mostly low-level monsters."

"Don't underestimate it," Kade warned, his silver eyes glowing faintly beneath his hood. "The weak ones are often the fastest to turn deadly."

Reed nodded, his grip tightening on his staff. Starshadow, the baby Skyrend Griffon perched on his shoulder, let out a soft chirp, its dark wings fluttering nervously.

Without another word, they stepped inside.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed. The sunlight vanished, replaced by an unnatural twilight that seemed to cling to the walls. The floor was rough stone, cracked and worn by centuries of footsteps. A long corridor stretched ahead, disappearing into the darkness.

"Stay close," Jaxon said, his symbiote shifting subtly beneath his cloak, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

They moved cautiously down the corridor, their footsteps echoing softly. The air was filled with a low, almost imperceptible hum, as though the dungeon itself was alive, watching them.

After a few minutes, the corridor opened into a vast, cavernous chamber. Jagged stone pillars rose from the floor like the teeth of some ancient beast, and patches of glowing moss clung to the walls, casting an eerie green light.

"This must be the first floor," Elias said, scanning the room. "Looks empty."

"Too empty," Kade muttered. His chains stirred, sensing something in the shadows.

A low growl echoed through the chamber.

Jaxon tensed. "We're not alone."

From the darkness, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared, followed by another, and another. Slowly, a pack of dire wolves emerged, their fur bristling and their fangs bared. Each one was the size of a small horse, their muscles rippling beneath their shaggy coats. But there was something off about them—something unnatural.

"They're fast," Sinthia said, drawing her sword. "Be ready."

The wolves didn't wait. In an instant, they lunged, moving with blinding speed.

Jaxon reacted first. His symbiote lashed out, forming a shield that blocked the first wolf's attack. At the same time, his human body drew a pair of daggers and slashed at the creature's flank, forcing it back.

Kade's chains snapped forward, wrapping around another wolf's legs. The beast snarled, thrashing wildly, but the chains phased through its flesh, draining its energy. With a flick of his wrist, Kade sent it crashing into a nearby pillar.

Elias tossed a card into the air. It glowed brightly before transforming into a spectral lion, which roared and pounced on one of the wolves, pinning it to the ground. The wolf snapped at the lion, but its jaws passed through the spectral beast without effect.

Reed extended his Healing Domain, creating a protective barrier around the group. When one of the wolves lunged at him, he reached out and touched its side. The wolf howled in pain as its muscles locked up, paralyzed by a surge of bio-manipulative energy.

Sinthia moved like a blur, her curved sword flashing as she cut down one of the wolves. "Don't let them surround you!" she shouted, dodging another attack with a graceful spin.

Despite their size, the wolves were incredibly fast. Every time one of them attacked, it seemed to vanish and reappear a split second later, making it difficult to track their movements.

"They've got some kind of haste ability," Elias said, throwing another card. This one exploded in a burst of lightning, stunning two of the wolves. "We need to slow them down!"

"On it," Reed said. He knelt and placed his hands on the ground, channeling his energy into the stone. Vines sprouted from the cracks, twisting and coiling around the wolves' legs, slowing their movements.

Jaxon took advantage of the opening. His symbiote formed a massive blade, and he charged forward, slicing through two of the entangled wolves in one swift motion. Blood sprayed across the floor as the creatures let out pained howls before collapsing.

Kade's chains wrapped around another wolf, draining its life force until it crumbled into dust.

Elias summoned a swarm of spectral crows, which descended upon the remaining wolves, pecking and clawing until the beasts were forced back.

Within minutes, the battle was over. The last wolf let out a final, defiant snarl before Sinthia's blade cut it down.

The chamber fell silent once more, save for the ragged breathing of the party.

"Is everyone okay?" Reed asked, his Healing Domain expanding to tend to any minor injuries.

"We're fine," Jaxon said, wiping blood from his blade. "But that was just the first fight. If this is what the first floor is like…"

"The deeper floors will be worse," Kade finished grimly.

Sinthia sheathed her sword. "That's the point. The deeper you go, the greater the rewards—and the greater the danger."

Elias grinned. "Good thing we're not afraid of a little danger."

Jaxon chuckled. "Let's keep moving. We've got nine more floors to clear before we can rest."

As they continued deeper into the dungeon, none of them noticed the runes on the walls glowing faintly behind them, as if marking their progress—or tracking their every move.