Chapter 40: The Dungeon of No Return!
Chapter 40
WOOOSH!
ZOOM!
POOF!
CLICK, CLICK!
"That tickled." Kael mumbled as the group was forcefully ejected out of the gate, which now loomed directly behind them.
"Huh? Where are we?" Zen asked, looking around in confusion.
"I... I’m lost." Jace replied, equally baffled as he scanned the strange new location.
"Thought you said the gate would take us somewhere that felt like another world. So what are we doing here?" Aria asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked around.
Before them stretched a massive underground cavern, illuminated by an eerie blue glow pulsing from crystals embedded in the jagged ceiling. The air was thick and damp, smelling of wet stone and a faint metallic tang — blood.
The walls weren’t smooth but alive, crawling with vein-like roots that pulsed faintly with energy as if feeding on the air itself. Shadows seemed to shift and slither across the stone even when no one moved.
It wasn’t silent, it felt like the cavern breathed. Each second, a low hum echoed through the tunnels, like the cavern itself was watching, waiting for something to stir.
Cracked stone pathways formed narrow bridges over bottomless pits, with glowing runes marking dangerous areas. Every step echoed ominously, heightening the sense that any sound might awaken something lurking in the darkness.
Scattered bones — some human, some beast lay half-buried under rubble and dust. Broken weapons protruded from the ground like remnants of forgotten battles. Occasionally, a faint screech echoed from deep within the cavern, not close, but not far enough to be ignored.
At the heart of the cavern, behind a locked door engraved with ancient runes, stood a massive gate-shaped altar. The gate itself was colossal, like two double doors that led to who knows where.
"We are in a dungeon?" Rina asked, her voice cautious, lips dry from the tension in the air.
"Dungeon or not, it doesn’t change the mission. Slay all the beasts here, including the boss, so we can close the gate. Otherwise, it will break out and turn into a portal break," Erin said, a visible mist curling from her blade as she focused on the double doors.
"She’s right. There’s no time to overthink things. Our goal is to take down the beasts, and I suppose they are all behind that door," Jace said, pointing toward the massive double doors.
’No. I have a bad feeling about this. My senses are on high alert. My blood has gone cold. My heart is thumping like a drum, warning me of a trap that could take my life. Something is very wrong here,’ Zen thought, placing a hand on his chest in an attempt to calm his racing heartbeat.
"What happened? Is something wrong?" Aria asked, noticing the panic in Zen’s eyes.
"I... I don’t know. I just feel something terrible is about to happen," Zen replied, sweat beginning to trickle down his face.
"Toughen up, dude. Stop acting like a weakling," Kael said, nudging him lightly.
"No! You don’t understand. Guys!" Zen shouted, stopping Erin and Jace who were about to move forward. "We have to leave! I can’t explain it, but something is terribly wrong here."
"You’re a Reaver, right? Then you should know better than to act on feelings alone. Stop being a coward and let’s go," Erin said without turning around. "If you want to go back, leave now. No need to be here. We can handle this ourselves."
"Uhm... what if Zen is right? What if something really is wrong?" Rina asked, feeling the same oppressive pressure emanating from beyond the doors.
"Come on, guys. They are just D rank and C rank beasts. What could possibly go wrong? Be brave, let’s move," Jace said with a warm smile, stepping forward to lead the way.
’No. This feeling won’t go away. Something is wrong, I can feel it,’ Zen thought, reluctantly following the others. Finally, they arrived in front of the imposing double doors, their faint runes glowing ominously in the dim light of the cavern.
Kael gripped his shield tighter, as if his life depended on it. Cold steam spiraled around Erin’s blade, while droplets of water slid down Jace’s Katana.
Aria drew her bow and nocked an arrow. Zen quietly pulled his dagger from his inventory, making sure nobody noticed. With a nod from the group, Jace pushed the massive door open. Instantly, a wave of frigid air washed over them, making Zen gulp audibly.
They stepped inside.
Immediately, Zen’s breath caught. The chamber’s scale was staggering.
The space stretched wide enough to fit a cathedral, maybe two. The ceiling soared into darkness, chains as thick as tree trunks dangling from above, swaying slightly despite the still air. Each chain groaned, its rusted metal echoing ominously throughout the cavern.
The floor was uneven, a mix of broken stone and packed dirt, littered with shattered bones from previous challengers. Gigantic torches set into cracked pillars burned with sickly green flames, casting warped shadows that danced along the walls like restless ghosts.
Then he saw them.
Ogres.
At least a dozen massive, hulking brutes, easily twice the size of a grown man. Their greyish-green skin glistened with sweat, muscles rippling beneath thick, scarred hides.
They stomped lazily, their heavy feet shaking the ground, dragging crude clubs forged from metal scraps and bones. Some sat on boulders gnawing on half-eaten carcasses, drool mixing with blood. Others growled and shoved each other around like bored gladiators waiting for the next kill.
Their red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, and their tusked mouths curled into cruel sneers as they scented the intruders.
And then... silence.
Every ogre froze. Heads turned slowly. A hundred pairs of glowing eyes locked onto Zen’s group.
At the far end of the chamber, looming atop a towering throne of jagged stones, broken weapons, and bones, sat the boss.
The ogre king.
Triple the size of the others, it was a hulking mass seemingly stitched together from boulders and fury. Thick scars crisscrossed its body like badges of honor. Its armor, a chaotic mess of scrap metal and beast hides, barely covered its chest.
In one hand, it gripped a massive stone hammer, torn from a temple column and repurposed for carnage. Its other hand lazily scratched its belly, though its yellow eyes burned with primal fury and sharp intelligence.
The minions knelt in a semi-circle around their king, snarling low, fidgeting as though restraining themselves from rushing forward to shred the intruders.
Zen’s hand crept toward his chest, heart thumping as he activated his system skill.
{Inspect skill activated}
{Name: Ogres}
{Rank: C}
{Essence: None}
{Health: Full and Stable}
’C rank? The small ogres are C ranks? I thought Jace said they were just D ranks!’ Zen thought, his lips quivering as he focused on the boss.
{Name: The Ogre King}
{Rank: B}
{Essence: Flame}
{Health: Full and Stable}
’A B rank?!’ Zen stuttered inwardly, eyes widening in horror. His mouth went dry, legs trembling.
Tring.
{Error, Error, Error!}
{Host has encountered a B ranked boss!}
{Calculating survival rate...}
{Survival chances: 2 percent}
{Host isn’t strong enough to face the beast. Quick advice: run while you still can.}
"Two... two percent survival chance?" Zen muttered, sweat streaming down his face. He glanced back at the double doors, only to see them creak and slam shut, sealing their fate.
Turning back slowly, he saw the ogre king’s lips curl into a menacing grin. At a gesture from its clawed hand, the C rank minions stirred and prepared to charge.
"Fuck! Guys! They’re all C rank beasts and the boss is B rank!" Zen shouted, noticing his teammates readying themselves to attack.
"Like hell they are." Erin said calmly, ice forming around her sword. In a blur, before anyone could stop her, she dashed forward.
The hundred C rank ogres surged after her at an alarming speed, forcing her eyes wide with shock.
’Crap! He was right. They are C ranks. Damn it!’ She thought as she was unable to change her trajectory in time as one of the beasts swung its metallic club towards her face at full speed while she could do nothing but watch her life flash before her eyes.