The group continued down the sloping tunnel, the air thickening with an almost metallic scent. Then, as they rounded a bend, the darkness peeled back revealing something impossible. A structure. Rows of smooth, magenta-colored bricks formed a massive wall that seemed to stretch endlessly across the cavern. The glow of their torches flickered off its surface, casting deep purple reflections across the stone floor. The wall looked ancient. Parts of it were cracked. Ryota blinked. “What the hell…? A wall? Down here?” Lars stepped closer, running a hand along one of the bricks. “This isn’t natural stone. Someone built this.” The realization settled over them like a weight. They followed the wall, keeping quiet, every step echoing softly through the hollow expanse. After a few minutes, the cave widened into a massive open chamber and their breath caught. Below them, dozens of Ghouls wandered through a vast subterranean city. Their pale bodies moved in eerie rhythm, their guttural breathing blending into a constant, unsettling hum. Structures jutted from the ground crude towers made of bone and brick, bridges connecting them like veins in some monstrous organism. Emi’s voice trembled. “T-There are so many…” Ryota swallowed hard. “So this is their home.” Lars scanned the area, his expression grim. “If this is their city, then their leader… has to be close.” Their eyes followed the magenta wall as it curved around the cavern, eventually merging into a colossal fortress at the far end. It rose from the ground like a wound in the earth. Massive spires twisting upward into the ceiling, windows glowing faint red from within. Even Akira, standing silently behind them, seemed to pause in quiet awe. Yuki’s voice broke the silence. “It makes sense now.” Lars turned. “What does?” Yuki’s gaze stayed fixed on the fortress. “Ghouls aren’t mindless beasts. Not all of them. In the Shadow Realm, they had structure, ranks, hierarchy. This… proves they still do. They’re not just monsters.” Ryota frowned. “You’re saying they built that?” She nodded slowly. “They might be trapped here. But they’ve adapted. Built a kingdom of their own.” A heavy silence followed. The idea of intelligent Ghouls capable of building unsettled all of them. Lars finally broke the silence. “We can’t go in there. Not yet.” He glanced around, scanning the cavern’s ridges. “We’ll find high ground and watch from above.” They moved carefully along the wall until they found a narrow ledge winding upward. It wasn’t much, but it offered elevation and a view. “Quiet,” Lars whispered. “If one of them spots us, we’re done.” They climbed slowly, hands gripping rough stone, boots scraping against the wall. Loose gravel crunched underfoot, but the low hum of the Ghoul city drowned it out. After several tense minutes, they reached the top of the ledge. From above, the fortress was even more vast. The magenta walls spiraled into each other, forming hallways that twisted and overlapped like a labyrinth. Some areas were open courtyards filled with motion. Ghouls dragging corpses, others sharpening crude weapons made of bone. In the distance, a faint, rhythmic sound echoed something like chanting. Ryota exhaled softly. “This… is insane.” The group settled into their vantage point, the flicker of torchlight barely reaching their faces. Yuki narrowed her eyes. “We can’t just barge in,” she said quietly. “There’s too many. We’d be overwhelmed before we even reached the gates.” Lars nodded, his gaze steady on the fortress below. “Then we’ll need to catch the boss off guard. Hit fast, hit clean.” Ryota leaned forward, spotting movement below. “Hey one’s walking under us.” A lone Ghoul shuffled along the outer wall, its movements slow but deliberate. Ryota grinned slightly. “Should we take it out?” Lars hesitated, eyes narrowing. “Only if we can do it quietly.” Yuki shook her head almost immediately. “No. Not smart. If even one of them hears a sound, we’ll have the whole fortress on us in minutes.” Emi fidgeted nervously with the hem of her sleeve, her blue eyes darting between them. “M-Maybe we should just… go back. We’re too close. We’ve already seen enough for now.” Lars turned toward her, thinking for a moment. She wasn’t wrong. Emi continued, voice soft but resolute. “We still have a long day ahead… and the next two after that. We should regroup and plan.” Lars nodded slowly. “You’re right. No point dying here tonight.” The group descended from the ledge as quietly as they could, sticking close to the wall to avoid the sightlines of any patrolling Ghouls. Once their boots hit the lower path again, they turned and followed the opposite direction of the fortress. After several minutes, the narrow tunnels opened into a vast cavern. The air here was cooler, the sound of distant echoes bouncing through the empty expanse. The ground near the edge dropped off sharply into a massive pit that vanished into blackness. The faint whistle of air told them it was deep. Very deep. Ryota peered over the ledge and whistled softly. “Yeah… that’s death.” Lars crouched beside him. “If we fell, we wouldn’t even hear the bottom before hitting it.” Emi backed away from the edge quickly. “Let’s… not go near that.” Yuki nodded. “Agreed. We’ll move around it and find another path.” But before they could, a sound shattered the silence, a low, guttural screech that echoed through the cavern. Lars’s head snapped toward the noise. “Everyone-!” Too late. A Ghoul burst from the shadows, sprinting full speed down the rocky slope toward them. Its movements were feral yet precise, claws dragging sparks from the ground as it charged. “Shit!” Ryota shouted, stepping back instinctively. The Ghoul leapt into the air, claws extended. Ryota barely managed to lean backward, the attack passing inches from his face. The motion was so close it cut a few strands of his hair as the claws sliced through the air. He hit the ground hard, rolled, and thrust his palm forward. Three bursts of spiritual energy fired in rapid succession, bright orange flashes illuminating the cavern. Each blast struck the Ghoul in the chest, forcing it back a few steps but it didn’t fall. The creature screeched, skin sizzling where the energy struck, then lunged again. Ryota blocked with his forearm, the impact numbing his arm to the elbow. The Ghoul’s claws tore through his jacket, leaving bloody lines across his shoulder and ribs. Ryota countered with a straight punch to its jaw and nothing. Another to its gut still nothing. The Ghoul’s strength dwarfed his own. Every exchange left Ryota slower, weaker. “Ryota!” Yuki shouted. She thrust her hands forward, summoning energy. Ice materialized from the air above, condensing into a jagged boulder that crashed down onto the Ghoul’s back with a heavy crack. The impact pinned it to the ground, stone shards scattering across the cavern floor. The creature shrieked, flailing under the weight of the ice. Emi’s breath came fast and shallow. “I-Is it dead?” But the sound of cracking ice answered her. The Ghoul’s arm burst free, swinging upward. It dug its claws beneath the chunk of ice and heaved the entire block lifting with sheer brute strength. Its body was mangled, one arm broken, yet its aura burned brighter, rage twisting its features into something almost intelligent. Lars drew his sword, his eyes narrowing. The faint purple glow returned along the blade’s edge. “That’s no ordinary Ghoul,” he said grimly. “That’s high B-rank… maybe A.” Ryota wiped blood from his mouth and stood beside him, wincing. “Perfect. Just what I wanted.” Yuki’s ice shimmered faintly in her palms again. “We can’t take it lightly. If this one’s a scout from the fortress-” “Then the rest will know we’re here soon,” Lars finished for her. The Ghoul let out another scream, its red eyes blazing in the dark. Lars took a step forward, blade ready. “Then we kill it before it makes a sound.” The Ghoul let out a distorted roar, its throat rattling like rusted metal. Then, without warning, it charged again faster than before. The ground cracked beneath its feet, and its claws glowed faintly with spiritual energy, burning like fire. “Here it comes!” Ryota shouted, stepping back. Lars moved before anyone else could. He shot forward, meeting the Ghoul head-on. His blade flashed, colliding with the creature’s claws in a burst of sparks. The clash echoed through the cavern, metal screeching against raw energy. Lars gritted his teeth, muscles straining. The Ghoul was relentless each strike heavier than the last, forcing him backward step by step. The edge of the cavern loomed behind him, a sheer drop into nothingness. “Yuki!” Lars shouted between swings. “A little help here would be great!” Yuki raised an eyebrow, hands glowing faintly with cold blue light. “You seem like you’re doing fine.” “I’m not doing fine!” Lars snapped, parrying another swipe that nearly took his head off. Yuki sighed dramatically. “Alright, alright. Hold your horses.” She lifted both hands and summoned a wave of freezing air. The temperature in the cavern plummeted instantly, mist curling around her boots. In seconds, ice coalesced beneath the combatants, stretching outward from her feet until it formed a narrow bridge over the pit gleaming and unstable, suspended in the air. “Seriously?!” Ryota yelled. “You’re putting him on ice over a bottomless pit?!” Yuki smirked. “It’s called creativity.” Lars barely had time to register what she’d done. He stumbled back onto the icy surface as the Ghoul lunged again, claws slashing. The first step nearly sent him sliding, but he dug his boots in, swinging his blade with everything he had. Each strike sent shards of frost scattering into the air, their clashes echoing like thunder. The ice cracked under their combined force, lines splintering across the bridge. Lars shouted over the chaos, “Yuki, remind me to kill you if I survive this!” “You’re welcome!” she called back cheerfully. The Ghoul lunged again too fast to dodge. Lars ducked low, twisted his body, and kicked upward with all his strength, his boot connecting with the creature’s chest. The impact sent the Ghoul stumbling backward, claws scraping helplessly against the slick surface. “Now!” Lars barked. Yuki’s eyes glinted. She snapped her fingers. The ice bridge shattered in an instant, the entire structure crumbling beneath the Ghoul’s feet. The monster’s screech echoed through the cavern as it plunged into the endless black below. Lars stood stranded on the opposite side of the cavern, separated from the others by a yawning pit that seemed to stretch into infinity. “Yuki!” Lars called, his voice echoing across the gap. “Bridge! Now!” Yuki nodded and stepped forward, already channeling energy into her hands. Frost began to bloom at her fingertips, ice forming in midair as she concentrated. The temperature plummeted again, her breath visible in the dim light. But before the bridge could fully form, a sound cut through the air. A low, guttural hiss. Lars froze. His eyes darted toward the far tunnel. From the darkness, another Ghoul emerged. This one was different. Its body was taller, leaner, its muscles taut beneath pale, torn flesh that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. Deep red lines glowed across its chest like veins of magma. But what truly froze them all wasn’t its strength… It was the smile. The Ghoul’s mouth stretched wide, unnaturally so, revealing rows of jagged teeth. Its lips peeled back in a grotesque imitation of human amusement. Yuki’s hands faltered for just a moment. “Is… is it smiling at us?” Ryota stepped back. “That’s not supposed to happen. They don’t… they don’t do that.” The Ghoul tilted its head, the grin widening as it reached behind its back. The sound of scraping bone filled the air. When it pulled its hand forward, it was gripping a weapon, a massive blade carved entirely from a creature’s femur, its edge splintered yet sharp enough to gleam in the torchlight. The sight made even Lars’s breath catch. He swallowed hard and called across the gap. “Yuki! Hurry!” “I’m trying!” she snapped, pressing her hands together. The ice bridge began to reform, a narrow line of frost snaking its way across the abyss slowly, too slow. The Ghoul crouched. Its red eyes locked onto them. Then it sprinted. The sound of its claws pounding against the stone echoed like thunder. Sparks flew as the bone blade scraped along the ground, leaving a glowing trail behind it. The air vibrated with the force of its approach, a predator’s speed, pure and unrestrained. Emi gasped, stumbling back. “It’s- it’s coming straight for us!” Ryota readied his hand, energy flickering to life in his palm. “Then let it come!” But even as he spoke, they all knew this wasn’t like the others. This Ghoul moved with purpose. It wasn’t hunting. It was challenging them. Across the pit, Lars gripped his sword tighter, purple light flaring along its edge. His heart pounded as he braced himself. “Yuki, if you don’t finish that bridge in the next three seconds-” Yuki cut him off, eyes narrowed. “Then you better learn how to fly!” Despite the fear, Ryota barked out a short laugh. “She’s got a point!” But the humor died instantly as the Ghoul let out a warped chuckle, a sound halfway between a growl and human laughter. Lars’s blood went cold. The monster was enjoying this. The Ghoul broke into a sprint, faster than any they’d seen before, the bone blade dragging behind it and showering the air with sparks. And from the shadows of the cavern, Akira watched quietly, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. This will be their hardest trial yet. The Ghoul raised its weapon. The ice bridge glimmered faintly halfway across the pit. The air shook with the Ghoul’s laughter. The sound echoed through the cavern like mockery, making the hairs on everyone’s neck stand. Then it lunged. The bone blade gleamed red in the dim light as it swung, the force of its movement kicking up wind and dust. Emi froze, the monster’s aura freezing her in place. But before the blow could land Ryota moved. He jumped in front of Emi, planting his feet firmly between her and the charging Ghoul. Spiritual energy surged into his hands, light rippling up his arms until both palms glowed blinding blue. “Back off!” he shouted. He thrust his hands forward, releasing a concentrated blast of energy. The explosion roared through the air, a wave of light and heat that swallowed the Ghoul whole. The impact shook the cavern, fragments of rock raining from above. When the smoke cleared, the Ghoul staggered, half its chest blown open. A massive hole gaping where its heart should’ve been. For a heartbeat, everyone thought it was over. Then the Ghoul looked down at the wound… and laughed. It tilted its head upward, the twisted grin still carved across its ruined face. With one fluid motion, it swung the bone blade upward. The strike came faster than anyone could react. Blood splattered across the stone. Ryota stumbled back, clutching his chest where the blade had carved a deep diagonal slash. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to one knee. “Ryota!” Yuki shouted, reaching toward him. He coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Still… alive,” he rasped. Akira’s eyes flicked toward the fight. She shifted slightly, every instinct screaming to step in but she didn’t move. Emi’s fear burned away, replaced by anger. She clenched her fists, spiritual energy sparking around her fingertips. She darted forward, silver threads shooting from her hands two of them slicing through the air like glints of moonlight. The Ghoul swung its blade to intercept. One string snapped against the bone weapon but the second struck true. A line of crimson split open across the Ghoul’s shoulder, the cut running deep into its flesh. The monster snarled, unfazed, its head twitching with a bone-cracking sound. It raised its blade to strike her down but Emi didn’t flinch. Her eyes glowed faintly as she launched several more threads, weaving them through the air with precision. The strings looped around the Ghoul’s arms, legs, even its neck pulling tight until the creature’s movements jerked to a stop. The Ghoul strained, muscles flexing, but the bindings held fast. The air thrummed with tension as the threads cut into its flesh, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. Yuki’s breath caught. “She’s got it!” Emi pulled one arm back, ready to send another string straight through its neck. Then something heavy hit the ground behind her. Dust burst into the air as cracks spread across the stone. Another Ghoul had dropped from the ceiling. This one was different, smaller, faster, its body covered in thin black spikes like armor. Its face was hidden beneath strands of flesh that quivered as it breathed. Emi froze, her confidence shattered in an instant. “N-No…” The first Ghoul’s grin widened as it felt her hesitation. The threads around its limbs loosened just slightly. Lars stood on the far side of the cavern, his heart pounding as he watched chaos unfold. Two towering Ghouls now faced his team, one dragging its jagged bone blade through the dirt, the other crouched low, twitching like a predator ready to spring. “Yuki!” he shouted across the gap, panic bleeding into his voice. “Hurry it up! I can’t do anything from over here!” Yuki didn’t answer, her eyes locked on the growing frost beneath her palms. The air around her shimmered with cold light as the bridge stretched out inch by inch, cracking and reforming as it pushed toward Lars. “Almost there,” she muttered through clenched teeth. On the other side, Ryota struggled to his feet, blood still dripping from his chest. “Any day now, ice queen!” “I’m working on it!” she snapped. The Ghouls screeched, taking a step closer. Then, finally, the bridge connected. The glow faded, solid and complete. Lars didn’t hesitate. He dashed across the narrow span, boots clattering against the ice, his blade already drawn and glowing violet. He landed beside the group, eyes sharp, chest heaving. “Alright,” he said, voice low and steady. “Now we finish this.” Lars stood at the front of the group, his violet-lit blade humming softly in the darkness. The two Ghouls loomed ahead, one dragging its bone sword through the ground, the other crouched low, its spiked body glinting faintly under Yuki’s icy light. Both radiated killing intent so heavy it felt like the air itself was vibrating. “This is bad,” Lars said, voice low but steady. “We’ll only survive if we work together. Keep their attention off Emi long enough for her to get a clean shot at their heads.” Ryota, breathing hard, glanced between them. “Both of these freaks look different from the others. They don’t even move the same.” Yuki nodded grimly. “You’re right. These two… they remind me of the ones I saw in the Shadow Realm. The stronger Ghouls. They’re all unique. Each one evolves differently. That’s how you tell the elites apart.” Lars let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “So we’re fighting two of the strongest ones in the dungeon. Great. Our luck’s fantastic.” “Could be worse,” Ryota muttered, wiping blood from his chin. “We could be fighting three. Let’s at least move away from this cliff before someone falls.” “Good idea,” Lars said. “Stay tight. We’ll push back as we fight.” Behind them, Emi’s hands trembled slightly, silver threads already forming between her fingers. Fear twisted in her stomach but so did something else. Determination. If I can’t fight now, she thought, then I’ll never make it. She took a step forward. That was all the spiked Ghoul needed. It lunged, a blur of motion, claws outstretched. The glint of its teeth was the only warning she had. Emi snapped her arms forward, two threads shooting out like lightning. They struck its neck, but instead of slicing through, the strings sparked, a screech filling the air. Her eyes widened. “My threads… they’re not cutting!” The creature raised an arm to strike, but before it could, “Not so fast!” Lars’s voice boomed. His blade flared violet as he activated the magnetic pull. The air warped, and the Ghoul’s body jerked violently mid-lunge, dragged toward him like metal to a magnet. Lars gritted his teeth, swinging his sword upward as the Ghoul came flying in. The impact was brutal. Steel met flesh with a heavy crack. The blade hit the creature’s stomach but didn’t pierce; its skin was like iron. Lars growled, muscles straining, and lifted anyway using the force of his swing to heave the monster over his shoulder and fling it back across the cavern floor. The Ghoul hit the ground hard, sliding to a stop, its claws digging into the rock as it hissed. Before Lars could recover, the bone-blade Ghoul moved. It blurred forward, faster than expected, blade cutting through the air with a shriek. Yuki reacted instantly, slamming her hands together creating a thick ice wall between them, the weapon embedding deep into the frozen barrier. The Ghoul snarled, pulling the blade free with a spray of frost shards. Across the field, the spiked Ghoul was already back on its feet, sprinting straight toward them again, faster this time. Emi’s hands shook. “My strings can’t cut through its armor!” Lars stepped forward, raising his blade again. “Then we change tactics.” He pointed his sword toward the spiked Ghoul. “Yuki, Ryota, handle the one with the sword. Emi and I will deal with this bastard.” Yuki nodded sharply, then grabbed Ryota by the arm. He winced as she pulled him close, pressing her glowing palm over his wound. Frost spread across his chest, sealing the bleeding with a layer of ice. Ryota hissed through his teeth. “Cold!” “It’ll hold,” Yuki said flatly. “Try not to die before it melts.” Ryota forced a grin. “Yeah Yeah.” Lars tightened his grip on his sword, eyes fixed on the spiked Ghoul as it bounded closer. The creature’s claws gleamed under the dim light, its grin still stretched wide and unholy. He smirked, energy flaring violet along his blade. “Round two, then.” The spiked Ghoul lunged again, claws tearing through the stone floor as it closed the distance. Lars met it head-on, his sword clashing against its forearm with a deafening clang. Sparks scattered through the air like embers. Emi stood behind him, strings forming between her fingers, but even her sharpest threads couldn’t pierce its hide. “Lars!” she shouted over the clash, “do you have a plan?” Lars gritted his teeth, pushing back against the creature’s weight. The Ghoul’s spikes scraped against his armor, shredding a piece of his cloak as its claws pressed down. “Yeah,” he hissed, straining to keep his footing. “But you’re not gonna like it.” The Ghoul swung again. Lars ducked, the blade’s aura flaring violet as he slashed across its torso. The attack barely left a mark. The monster’s laughter echoed in his ears. “What is it?” Emi yelled, sending a string to wrap the creature’s leg and pull it off balance. The Ghoul stumbled, tearing free with brute force. Lars exhaled sharply, sidestepping another swipe. “Those spikes, they’re absorbing my attacks. If I can destroy them, you’ll have a clean shot at its head.” Emi blinked. “How?” He blocked another claw, sparks bursting between them. “By dumping everything I’ve got into one strike.” Her eyes widened. “Everything?” The Ghoul slammed its arm into his side, nearly sending him flying. Lars grunted, driving his sword into the ground to stop himself from sliding. “If I do it right, the explosion of energy will tear the spikes clean off its body.” He twisted, parrying a downward slash, their blades screeching against each other. “If I miss-” he snarled, pushing the monster back, “it’s over for both of us.” The Ghoul lunged again, claws glowing faint red with spiritual energy. Lars met it with a horizontal swing, the two forces colliding in a burst of light. The air vibrated with the impact. “There has to be another way!” Emi cried, sending out more threads to slow it down. One managed to wrap around its wrist, but the Ghoul ripped free, tearing the string apart like paper. Lars took a step back, panting, sweat running down his temple. “No time to think of one.” His violet aura flared brighter, crackling along his blade like lightning. “When I strike, it’ll drop its guard. You finish it quick and clean.” Emi bit her lip, her hands trembling as she readied her strings. “If this doesn’t work…” Lars smirked, spinning his sword once and lifting it high. “Then I guess I’ll owe you an apology in the afterlife.” The Ghoul let out another ear-splitting scream and charged, the ground shaking beneath its steps. Lars steadied his stance, blade gleaming brighter with every heartbeat. Emi’s heart pounded. Her fingers tightened. She whispered to herself, “Don’t miss…” Lars gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body trembling from the strain. The violet glow around his sword flared brighter, spiraling upward like a living flame. The very air around him began to hum, energy vibrating through the cavern, shaking dust loose from the ceiling. “Alright…” he muttered under his breath, voice hoarse but steady. “Let’s end this.” He drew in a final breath, channeling everything, every drop of spiritual energy he had left into the blade. The purple aura ignited into a raging fire, wrapping around him in a cyclone of light. The cavern was drenched in violet radiance, shadows fleeing from the sheer force of his power. His sword pulsed once, then twice before Lars roared and brought it down in a single, devastating swing. A massive wave of light tore through the air, a crescent of pure energy screaming toward the Ghoul. It struck with a deafening impact, the blast ripping through the cavern and throwing shards of rock in every direction. The ground quaked. For a moment, there was only blinding light then silence. The smoke slowly began to clear. The Ghoul was still standing. But its armor of black spikes was stripped away entirely, its body exposed and pale beneath the flickering torchlight. Lars dropped to one knee, his chest heaving. “Emi!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the haze. Emi’s eyes locked onto the weakened monster. For the first time, there was no fear in them, only resolve. “Got it!” she cried. Her spiritual energy ignited, glowing a radiant golden-yellow. The light shimmered through the strings coiled around her hands until they shone like strands of sunlight. With one breath, she launched them. The threads shot forward faster than air could catch them, glowing arcs cutting through the space between her and the Ghoul. The string met flesh and this time, it cut. It sliced clean through the creature’s chest, the force of her spiritual energy blazing along the threads as they pierced through the heart. The Ghoul’s body shuddered once then split cleanly apart. Its upper half slid from its lower and hit the ground with a heavy thud, the sound echoing through the cavern. For a brief moment, the only thing left was silence and the faint hum of fading energy. Emi dropped to her knees, gasping, her arms trembling from the drain of power. Her golden threads flickered out one by one, dissolving into faint motes of light. She could hardly believe what she’d done… what they had done. Then she heard it, a dull thump behind her. “Lars?” She turned just in time to see him collapse, his sword clattering beside him. The purple aura that had once surrounded him was gone, leaving only the dull shimmer of fading energy. “Lars!” she cried, scrambling to his side. She knelt beside him, her heart pounding as she saw the color drained from his face. His breathing was shallow, his eyes half open but unfocused. He managed a faint smile. “You… did good, Emi,” he said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Clean hit. Right through the heart.” Tears welled in her eyes as she gripped his hand. “You shouldn’t have used everything… you could’ve-” But before she could finish, his eyes fluttered shut. “Lars!” She shook him once, then froze as she realized he was still breathing, just unconscious. Completely spent. Emi exhaled shakily, relief washing through her as tears streamed down her cheeks. She wiped them quickly and whispered, “Thank you…” Yuki and Ryota stood side by side, the icy ground beneath them littered with shards of shattered frost. On the other side of the wall, the bone-blade Ghoul stalked forward, its jagged weapon dragging along the stone, carving deep glowing lines into the ground. Ryota’s breathing was heavy, his chest still bandaged with Yuki’s frozen seal. “Alright,” he muttered, “so blasts are out, right? Too loud, too flashy?” Yuki nodded, eyes fixed on the monster. “They’ll draw every Ghoul in this dungeon. We do this clean.” The Ghoul raised its sword high and brought it down on her ice wall with a thunderous crack. Fractures spread through the barrier, shards scattering into the air like glass. “Yuki,” Ryota said, voice tightening, “that wall’s not gonna last.” “I know.” Her tone was calm. “Get ready.” Another strike. The wall groaned under the pressure. Then one final hit and it shattered completely, exploding into a cloud of shimmering frost. Before the dust could settle, Ryota moved. He leapt from the top of the collapsing wall, a concentrated ball of spiritual energy burning in his palm. “Surprise, ugly!” he shouted. He dropped down like a meteor, slamming the blast directly into the Ghoul’s skull. A flash of orange light and a spray of black blood filled the air. When the smoke cleared, the Ghoul was still standing. Half its head was gone, but its body swayed, claws twitching, the bone blade dragging lifelessly beside it. Ryota blinked. “Oh, come on! How are we supposed to kill something that doesn’t need a head?” Yuki stepped forward, frost forming around her hands again. “Then we won’t kill it,” she said. “We’ll drop it.” Ryota frowned. “You mean off the edge?” She nodded. “The fall’s deep enough. If we can push it back, it’ll never crawl out.” He glanced toward the pit behind the Ghoul, the black abyss stretching endlessly. “That’ll be hard,” he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. “It’s not stupid enough to just walk into it.” As if the dungeon itself wanted to mock him, another sound tore through the cavern: the wet slap of feet hitting stone. A second Ghoul crawled out from one of the side tunnels, its body featureless, skin pale and slick. It didn’t look special, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. “Of course there’s another one,” Ryota muttered. “Why wouldn’t there be?” The bone-blade Ghoul turned sharply toward the newcomer, letting out a guttural growl. The new Ghoul hissed back then charged, its claws slashing wildly. The first Ghoul swung its bone sword, slicing into the other’s arm. Blood splattered across the floor. The second Ghoul retaliated immediately, tearing at the first with a feral scream. The two monsters collided, biting, clawing, and slashing at each other like rabid beasts. Ryota blinked, lowering his hands slightly. “Wait… are they fighting each other?” Yuki exhaled in disbelief. “Like Akira told us, higher-ranked Ghouls don’t share prey.” Ryota grinned, eyes lighting up. “Then this is perfect. While they’re busy trying to kill each other-“”-we push them both,” Yuki finished, already forming ice beneath her feet. They exchanged a quick nod. The two Ghouls slammed into the wall beside the pit, their shrieks echoing through the cavern. That was the opening. “Now!” Yuki shouted. She thrust her hands forward, ice erupting beneath the monsters’ feet, turning the ground slick. Ryota slammed both palms down, channeling a controlled burst not a wide explosion this time, but a powerful shockwave aimed low. The blast rippled across the floor, the force knocking the two Ghouls off balance. They stumbled backward, claws scraping against the slick ice as they tried to regain footing. Yuki pushed harder, frost spreading faster, freezing their legs in place just as Ryota released one final pulse of energy. The ice cracked and the ground trembled. Both Ghouls teetered on the edge then toppled backward, vanishing into the pit with twin screeches that faded into the depths below. Ryota dropped to one knee, panting. “Well,” he said, catching his breath, “that was… fun.” Yuki brushed a strand of hair from her face, exhaling slowly. “You did good, Ryota.” He grinned weakly. “Finally. Some credit.” The echo of the Ghouls’ fall lingered for several seconds before silence reclaimed the cavern. Yuki turned toward where Lars and Emi had fought earlier, her expression hardening. Yuki’s eyes darted toward the far end of the cavern where the flashes of violet and gold had just faded. “It looks like they’re done over there too.” She and Ryota sprinted toward Lars and Emi, their footsteps echoing softly across the ruined stone floor. When they reached them, Emi was kneeling beside Lars, her hands trembling. “Emi, what happened?” Yuki asked, dropping down beside her. “Lars… he’s passed out,” Emi said, her voice shaking. “He used everything. He has no spiritual energy left at all.” She looked down at him, her tears already streaming. “We can’t stay here. We have to get out and rest before more of them come. I don’t care about the boss anymore… I just want us to leave alive.” Her words broke apart near the end, her voice cracking as tears splattered the stone beside her knees. Yuki placed a hand on her shoulder, nodding solemnly. “Alright. We’ll move him.” She glanced at Ryota. “Help me lift him.” Ryota nodded, still pale from blood loss, and together they carefully hoisted Lars onto their shoulders. Yuki turned to Emi, her tone firm but gentle. “You lead the way. We’ll follow behind.” Emi wiped her face with the back of her hand and nodded shakily. “O-Okay…” They began to move, slow and careful, the sound of their boots crunching over loose gravel the only thing breaking the silence. Then they felt it. A pressure. A spiritual weight so immense it made their hearts skip. The air grew dense, suffocating, and the light from their torches flickered erratically. “Yuki…” Ryota whispered. “Tell me that’s not-” Before he could finish, Akira leapt high into the air, landing silently on a ledge above them. Her yellow eyes glinted as she looked down, her expression darkening. So… it’s finally here. Below, the shadows began to move. From the tunnel ahead, something massive emerged tall, broad-shouldered, wrapped in remnants of tattered cloth. Its skin was deathly pale, its face half hidden beneath cracked bone armor. But what stopped them cold wasn’t its size… It was its voice. “Stop.” The word echoed through the cavern, deep and resonant, vibrating through their bones. The group froze in place, terror rooting them to the spot. “D-Did it just… talk?” Ryota stammered, eyes wide. Even Yuki’s composure cracked. “No way…” The creature, the Ghoul Boss stepped forward into the dim light. Its glowing red eyes swept over the group with something disturbingly human in their gaze. Then, behind it, came the sound of hundreds of footsteps, claws scraping stone in eerie unison. The tunnels filled with Ghouls. Dozens turned into hundreds in seconds, their eyes glowing faintly like embers in a sea of darkness. Yuki’s grip on Lars tightened. Ryota set his jaw, preparing a blast, but he was trembling. They were completely surrounded. High above, Akira’s eyes narrowed. So that’s the boss, she thought. If I move now, I can kill it. But with that many… even I’d need time. She clenched her fist, torn between instinct and duty. The Ghoul Boss’s mouth twisted into a grotesque grin. “Humans… so fragile. Yet you’ve come this far. Impressive.” Its voice was calm, deliberate, almost regal. Then it turned slightly, raising one skeletal hand. “Capture them.” The command sent a ripple through the horde. The Ghouls surged forward all at once, screeching as they surrounded the group. Ryota fired a blast into the crowd, the explosion lighting the chamber in a flash of orange but it didn’t matter. For every Ghoul he struck, ten more replaced it. Yuki summoned ice walls, one after another, trying to buy them space but the creatures tore through them instantly. “Don’t hurt them,” the Boss ordered coldly. “Bring them to the fortress.” The Ghouls hesitated at the command then obeyed, closing in with unnerving coordination. Ryota swung wildly, his energy fading fast. “Get your hands off me, you freaks!” Yuki tried to freeze their arms, but one grabbed her wrist, forcing her back. “Yuki!” Emi cried, trying to reach her but another Ghoul seized her by the arm, pulling her away from Lars’s body. In seconds, they were surrounded completely, their struggles useless against the sheer number pressing in. Akira crouched low on the ledge above, her hand reaching for her side. She could kill the Boss, she knew she could. But her eyes darted across the group: Yuki, Ryota, Emi, and unconscious Lars. Even if she won, they might not survive the aftermath. The Ghoul Boss turned, its red eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Follow,” it commanded. “You are… my guests.” The Ghouls didn’t harm them, they didn’t have to. The sight alone, that endless horde moving in silent obedience, was enough to break any resistance. Slowly, surrounded on all sides, the group was herded toward the glowing magenta fortress in the distance, the home of the Ghoul Boss. And from above, Akira’s whisper echoed in the shadows. “Hang on… I’ll end this soon.” Lars’s consciousness returned slowly, a fog at first, then pain. His head throbbed, and the sound of distant screeching echoed in his ears. When he opened his eyes, the world swam in dull color and cold light. He was chained to a wall, heavy black iron binding his wrists, his arms stretched painfully above his head. The floor beneath him was damp, the stench of decay thick enough to taste. He blinked hard, forcing his vision to clear. To his right, Emi and Yuki sat huddled together, their chains clinking softly whenever they moved. Both were trembling not just from fear, but exhaustion. Yet when Emi saw Lars stir, her eyes widened with relief. “Lars!” she cried, voice cracking. “You’re awake!” Yuki turned sharply toward him, exhaling shakily. “Thank the stars… we thought you might not wake up.” Lars tried to move, but the chains only rattled in defiance. His muscles ached with every shift. “What… what happened?” His voice was rough, barely more than a whisper. Emi lowered her head. “After you passed out… the boss showed up.” Her words trembled. “We couldn’t fight back. There were too many. They… captured us.” Lars looked around, the stone walls were covered in faint magenta runes that pulsed like veins. “How long have I been out?” Yuki answered softly, “Hours. Maybe longer. Time feels strange here.” He glanced toward the far side of the room. Ryota sat slumped against the wall, his shirt stained with dark, dried blood. The wound on his chest had reopened where the ice had melted away. His breathing was shallow, his eyes half-open but alert. Yuki’s voice broke slightly. “His wound’s gotten worse. If we don’t do something soon, he’ll…” Ryota gave a weak laugh, interrupting her. “Don’t start mourning me yet.” His smile was tired but stubborn. “I’ll be fine. I’ll get us out of here somehow.” Yuki frowned, her tone sharp despite the fear. “You’re a dummy, you know that?” “Yeah,” Ryota said, chuckling dryly. “But I’m your dummy.” The attempt at humor was thin, but it drew a shaky smile from her anyway. Lars leaned his head back against the wall, guilt settling over him like lead. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t used all my energy…” Emi shook her head immediately, her chains rattling. “No. Don’t say that. You saved me. You saved all of us. In a dungeon like this…” Her voice quivered. “…something like this was always a possibility.” Lars looked at her, really looked and saw that despite the tears staining her face, there was a strange strength behind her eyes now. The timid girl from before was gone. Before he could reply, the heavy door across the chamber creaked open. The sound alone silenced them. Four Ghouls entered, tall and pale, each wearing scraps of armor made from bone and rusted steel. They moved with mechanical precision, claws scraping the floor as they approached. Without speaking, they each grabbed one of the captives, the cold touch of their hands like ice against skin and began dragging them out of the chamber. Lars struggled, teeth gritted. “Where are you taking us?!” None of the creatures answered. The group was forced down a long hallway illuminated by faint, pulsing light. The air grew louder with every step, a rising roar, low at first, then deafening. When they finally emerged, their eyes widened. They were in an arena. A massive pit carved deep into the cavern, ringed by jagged stone spires. Hundreds of Ghouls filled the stands climbing the walls, clinging to the ceiling, crowding every inch of space. Their collective screech was a horrifying chorus, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The four were thrown into the center of the pit, their chains snapping loose. The Ghouls’ shrieking rose to a fever pitch. Then, from the opposite side of the arena, the Ghoul Boss stepped forward. He was enormous up close, his pale flesh stretched taut over muscle, his bone armor gleaming under the magenta light. When he spoke, his voice thundered across the pit, deep and resonant. “Brothers,” he growled, spreading his arms. “The feasting hour has come.” The horde howled in unison, the sound rattling the cavern ceiling. The boss continued, his crimson eyes gleaming. “For centuries, we have waited for prey worthy of the feast. And now-” He gestured toward the four chained humans, his mouth curving into that grotesque smile. “-they have come to us willingly.” The crowd erupted again. “If they defeat me,” he said, his tone mocking, “they may leave this place alive.” His gaze darkened, voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “But I will rip their limbs off one by one… and divide their flesh evenly among you all.” The arena roared. The Ghoul Boss’s smile widened, showing rows of jagged teeth. “We have not had a feasting hour in many years,” he said, spreading his arms once more. “Tonight, my kin, we feast and we shall remember this night for centuries.” The Ghouls screamed with excitement, pounding the walls, the ground, the ceiling until the sound became one endless wave of hunger. And in the center of it all, Lars, Yuki, Ryota, and Emi stood together, exhausted, injured, terrified but alive. The tunnels trembled with distant roars as Akira Namiki sprinted through the winding corridors of the dungeon. Her breath was steady, her movements precise. She wasn’t running from fear. She was running toward it. Her eyes burned gold as she rounded a corner and there, ahead, three Ghouls lumbered through the passage, their twisted forms blocking her path. Akira’s pace didn’t falter. “Out of my way,” she muttered. She raised her right hand, light gathered in her palm, swirling, crackling, condensing into a blinding core. In an instant, the glow exploded outward, stretching and solidifying into a blade of pure light. It hummed with energy, the air around it vibrating under its power. The Ghouls hissed, raising their claws. Too slow. Akira vanished in a flash of gold. A single arc of light sliced through the dark. The sound came a half-second later a clean, slicing hum that echoed down the tunnel. When she stopped moving, the Ghouls were already falling, three perfect lines through their chests, light still burning where their hearts once were. Akira didn’t even look back. The blade in her hand shimmered brighter as she continued running. Back in the arena, the Ghoul Boss froze mid-sentence. Its crimson eyes narrowed, head tilting slightly, as if listening to something distant. It could feel it, the sudden extinguishing of three of its kin. “…So,” the Boss growled, its voice low, guttural. “Another human crawls in the dark.” It lifted its head toward the ceiling, its voice booming through the chamber. “Send two of the A-ranks. Go. Bring me this intruder’s head!” The two Ghouls obeyed instantly, leaping into the shadows with monstrous speed. Then, turning back to the horde, the Boss’s jagged smile returned. “The feast,” it snarled, “grows larger. Another body joins the meal!” The arena erupted into laughter and shrieks of hunger, claws scraping against stone. Far away, Akira skidded to a stop as two towering A-rank Ghouls landed in front of her, their eyes glowing like embers. She groaned softly, spinning the light blade once in her grip. “Really? Two A-ranks? That’s cute.” The Ghouls lunged simultaneously, claws flashing. Akira moved faster than thought. Her blade traced a crescent through the air, a wave of radiant light followed, engulfing them in a blinding flare. When the light faded, both Ghouls stood motionless for a heartbeat then fell apart, cleanly bisected from shoulder to hip. Their bodies hit the floor in unison. Akira twirled her blade once, the energy humming softly before dissipating into sparks of gold. “That’s an A rank dungeon for you.” Without hesitation, she kept running her figure, a streak of golden motion cutting through the dark. Moments later, the arena’s air shimmered. The Ghoul Boss paused mid-step, its red eyes widening as a golden light flooded the far entrance. The crowd of Ghouls shrieked and recoiled from the brightness. Then she appeared. Akira landed lightly on the arena floor, dust swirling around her boots. Her eyes locked onto the Ghoul Boss, whose trembling claws betrayed its fear. “Yuki. Ryota. Emi. Lars,” she said evenly, scanning each of them. “You’re alive. Good.” The four of them stood together in the center of the pit, chained but defiant. Emi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Akira…” Lars, still pale, met her gaze and to her surprise, his tone was firm. “Don’t step in.” Akira blinked. “What?” Ryota pushed himself upright, blood still staining his chest, a tired grin spreading across his face. “He’s right. We’re supposed to beat this dungeon on our own.” Yuki stepped forward beside him. “We started this trial together. We’ll finish it together.” Emi nodded, her voice trembling but resolute. “You told us this dungeon would prove our strength. Let us prove it.” Akira stared at them, silent. The golden light reflecting off her eyes dimmed slightly not in weakness, but in pride. Finally, she smiled. “Heh. You’ve grown more than I thought.” The Ghoul Boss let out a low, guttural snarl, its massive frame trembling. Even in its fury, it couldn’t mask its fear. The presence of the light-wielder: the human who killed its A-ranks like insects made its very soul quake. Akira turned toward it slowly, then sighed. “Fine,” she said, walking toward the edge of the arena. “Have your little feast.” She dropped down to one knee, sitting calmly on the cold stone, and leaned her back against the wall. Then she waved a hand dismissively, her expression relaxed. “Go on,” she said to the Boss, her tone almost teasing. “Let’s see if you can make it interesting.” The Ghoul Boss claws clenched. The horde howled in bloodlust. And in the center of it all, the four stood battered, exhausted, but ready.