Blood and Shadows

This dungeon was harder.

Arlan had expected that, but knowing it and living it were two different things.

The deeper they went, the more the damp, muggy air clung to their skin. The tunnels twisted in unnatural ways, forcing them into tight spaces where visibility was poor. Every few feet, the sounds of dripping water echoed, distorting in the darkness.

And then—they heard them.

Hissing. Clawed feet scraping against stone. Low, guttural growls.

Leila held up a fist, signaling the group to stop.

"We're close," she whispered.

Ahead, the cavern opened up into a wide, flooded chamber. Water pooled at their feet, rippling from unseen movement beneath the surface. Luminescent fungi clung to the walls, casting eerie green light that barely pierced the gloom.

Tomas shifted uneasily. "I don't like this."

Beren rolled his shoulders. "Yeah? Well, I don't like running low on coin. And this quest pays well."

Mira tightened her grip on her staff. "We're at a disadvantage. This terrain favors them, and we're all still recovering from the last fight."

Arlan knew she was right. They weren't winning these battles easily anymore.

And that was a problem.

Before he could voice that thought—the ambush began.

A sharp hiss cut through the air.

Leila barely had time to react before a lizardman lunged from the water, claws flashing in the dim light.

She twisted—but not fast enough.

The creature's claws raked her side, cutting through leather armor.

She gasped, stumbling.

Tomas reacted immediately, slamming his sword hilt forward, sending the lizardman crashing backward.

The moment of panic lasted only seconds—but it was enough.

More movement.

From the shadows of the cavern walls, three more lizardmen rushed forward.

Emerald Lizardmen Raiders (E-Rank)

Beren swung his axe at the closest one—but the creature dodged, twisting its body unnaturally. It was fast.

The lizardman raked its claws across Beren's arm, leaving deep red streaks.

Beren snarled in pain but held his ground.

Mira fired off a spell, a burst of flames arcing through the air—

—but the sturdiness of the lizardman weakened it, making it fizzle out against its scales.

Tomas grit his teeth. "Damn it! These things are tougher than goblins!"

The worst part?

The biggest lizardman hadn't even joined the fight yet.

The Emerald Chieftain stepped forward, towering over the rest.

Its scales shimmered in the dim light, and a jagged bone crown rested on its head. Unlike its minions, it wasn't rushing in.

It was watching.

Calculating.

It let out a guttural growl, raising its spear.

Emerald Lizard Chieftain (E+ Rank)

The air shifted.

Suddenly—the water around their feet surged.

Mira's eyes widened. "He's using magic!"

The chieftain's spear pulsed, and a wave of water crashed through the chamber—

sweeping Arlan off his feet.

He slammed into the cavern wall, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.

Arlan groaned, struggling to push himself up.

The chieftain stalked forward, spear raised—ready to finish him.

But before it could—

A bone-chilling growl tore through the cavern.

The air shook as Bones—his tiny rat form suddenly engulfed in a dark pulse of necrotic energy—transformed.

His skeletal frame expanded, bones twisting and snapping into place.

Where once was a rat, now stood a skeletal wolf, its ribs stretching with each breath, its fangs gleaming with unnatural sharpness.

With a snarling lunge, Bones sank his teeth into the chieftain's ankle.

The chieftain roared, staggering—but Bones held firm.

Its long clawed fingers scraped the wolf's skull, trying to pry him off.

And then—Shade struck.

The spectral goblin flickered into existence, appearing directly behind the chieftain.

His translucent claws stretched unnaturally, reaching forward—

—and plunged straight through the lizardman's chest.

The chieftain seized up, its body convulsing as Shade siphoned its life essence.

Its roar turned into a sickening shriek.

That was the opening Arlan needed.

A bolt of shadow erupted from his palm—striking the chieftain's exposed throat.

The magic pulsed.

The chieftain gurgled—then collapsed.

Aftermath

The lizardmen were dead.

Mira breathed heavily, her arms trembling.

Tomas groaned, sitting up. "I'm going to feel this fight for days."

Beren wiped blood off his face. "We need… a break."

Leila let out a weak laugh. "You think?"

Bones, now back in his usual rat form, skittered onto Arlan's shoulder, clicking his teeth proudly.

Shade, hovering nearby, simply tilted his head, watching.

They had won. But just barely.

Mira exhaled, shaking her head. "If this is what an E-rank dungeon is like… we're going to need a hell of a lot more training."

Arlan silently agreed.

They were still too weak.

And the world wasn't going to wait for them to catch up.

For now, though, they had five lizard heads to collect.