Growing Pains

The morning air was crisp as the group made their way to the dungeon entrance. The town was already alive with activity—merchants opening their stalls, blacksmiths hammering away, and adventurers heading out on their own quests.

Tomas rolled his shoulders. "So, are we expecting another near-death experience, or are we actually going to have a clean dungeon run this time?"

Leila smirked. "Depends on how dumb you decide to be."

Tomas gasped "What do you mean!?"

Beren snorted. "She's right, though."

Mira sighed. "If we want to survive, we need to play this smart."

Leila nodded. "No charging in blindly. We observe, we adapt."

Tomas grinned. "See? That's why you're the team strategist."

Leila rolled her eyes. "I think that's just called 'having common sense.'"

Tomas waved a hand dismissively. "Same thing."

The Dungeon Entrance

The dungeon was located in the rocky outskirts of town, an old ruin half-buried in overgrowth. Unlike the dungeon back in Duskhaven, this entrance was marked by a large stone doorway, reinforced with metal spikes. The guild had clearly worked to keep anything inside from getting out.

Two guards stood watch, clad in light armor, their spears resting lazily at their sides. One of them perked up as the group approached.

"First time entering?" he asked.

Mira shook her head. "Second time."

The guard glanced over their gear, taking an extra second to eye Arlan's hooded figure, then shrugged. "Just don't get yourselves killed. If you run into anything above your rank, retreat."

Beren grinned. "No promises."

Leila sighed. "He means 'we'll be careful.'"

The guard smirked. "Sure."

With that, the heavy metal gate groaned open, revealing the darkness beyond.

Tomas cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Let's go kill some things."

The descent into the dungeon was familiar—but everything felt different.

The rough stone walls, the glowing moss lining the corridors, the damp, musty air—it was all the same. But they weren't.

The last time they ventured here, they had barely scraped by, pushing themselves to their limits against the monsters within.

Now?

Now they had new strength.

And absolutely no idea how to use it.

Adjusting to Power

"We've been here before," Tomas muttered as they trudged through the tunnel. "We know the layout. We know the monsters. This should be easy."

Leila shot him a look. "You always say that. Then something tries to eat you."

Tomas huffed. "Not always."

Beren snorted. "Three times last run."

Leila smirked. "Four if you count the gelatinous cube."

Tomas groaned. "That cube was cheating."

Mira ignored them, glancing at Arlan. "We're stronger than last time. But we need to test our limits—figure out what we can do before we get overwhelmed."

Arlan nodded. He could feel the difference in his body, the way his steps were firmer, his magic heavier in his veins. Even Shade and Bones felt… more solid.

A clicking noise echoed from his shoulder.

Bones, in his skeletal rat form, chattered excitedly.

"Bones... stronger. Faster! Crush all enemies."

A wispy voice rasped from his shadow.

"Shade... stronger... than Bones."

Bones spun around on Arlan's shoulder, his glowing green eyes flaring. "Bones... STRONGEST!"

Shade let out an eerie, amused whisper.

"Stupid... little Rat."

Arlan sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Guys. Not the time."

Leila squinted at him. "Are your summons… arguing?"

Arlan coughed. "Uh. No?"

Leila narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious.

Mira just shook her head. "Alright, let's find something to kill before they drive us insane."

The moment came sooner than expected.

From deeper in the tunnel, something stirred.

The stone beneath their feet rumbled. A long, segmented body emerged from a nearby burrow, mandibles clicking aggressively. A massive, armored stone centipede—one of the burrowing creatures they had barely managed to handle last time.

Tomas grinned. "Alright, let's see what we can do now!"

He charged forward— And immediately slammed into a wall.

The force of his own acceleration sent him crashing forward as his shield glowed with unfamiliar energy.

The centipede ignored him, lunging at Mira—

She raised her staff, summoning fire—

Her fireball misfired, launching straight into the ceiling instead.

Stone rained down on the battlefield, missing the centipede entirely.

Leila groaned. "Are you serious?"

Beren rushed forward, raising his axe—his berserker strength kicking in.

He swung— And his axe lodged into the dungeon floor.

His eyes widened. "Uh."

The centipede lunged.

Arlan reacted instinctively. "Shade! Bones! Do something!"

Shade slithered forward—his spectral claws tearing at the creature's armored hide.

Bones, still in rat form, hissed.

"Bones need BIIIIIG form!"

With a crack of bone, he transformed, his body expanding into a skeletal bear.

…That immediately tripped over itself.

The giant bear tumbled straight into Beren, knocking him over.

Beren growled from the floor. "Are you kidding me?"

Leila facepalmed. "This is embarrassing."

Recovery and Victory (Sort of?)

The centipede was clearly just as confused as they were.

It hesitated, its many beady eyes flicking between the group of half-functioning adventurers.

Arlan gritted his teeth. Focus.

He raised a hand. Shadowy tendrils flickered at his fingertips. He launched a Shadow Bolt.

It actually hit.

The centipede screeched, rearing up in pain—

Giving Leila the opening she needed.

With a sharp twang, she fired an arrow straight into one of its eyes.

The creature shuddered, twitched—then collapsed.

Then—

Tomas groaned from the floor. "I think my ribs are broken."

Mira exhaled. "What the hell was that?"

Beren grunted, yanking his axe free. "We need to work on that."

Bones, back in rat form, huffed.

"Bones STRONG. Bones TRIED."

Shade's whispering voice coiled around them.

"Master's allies... stupid."

Arlan sighed, rubbing his face. "Let's just keep moving before something hears us."