The gates of the dungeon loomed before us, an ancient maw of coral-coated stone carved into a craggy reef wall. Salt mist billowed out from its depths, curling at our feet like ghostly fingers. Above the entrance hung a rusted iron sign swaying gently in the sea breeze, its edges worn by centuries.
"Only those who fear nothing may enter," an eerie voice whispered to our ears.
Fifty players stood at the dungeon gates. Swords were drawn, staves glowed, bows were ready. Some wore cocky grins, others looked like they were already regretting their choices. Most were level eight to thirteen, a few stronger ones pushing level twenty-five, and I was only level eleven.
Lars stood beside me, tightening the grip on his staff.
"Are you nervous?" I asked him.
"Kinda..." he replied. "I mean, it's my first time entering a dungeon. All I ever did when I played this game was kill goblins all day long."
"It's gonna be alright, we'll protect one another," I said.
A tall, Swedish mage with brown hair stepped forward from the crowd. He wore a deep violet robe, and the emerald gem in his wooden staff glowed softly in his hand.
"Listen up, everyone," he said, his voice steady and clear. "I'm Wex Holger, the tenth raid leader of this dungeon. I'm here to tell you that this dungeon has four chambers, and each one holds a key. We need to work together as a team to collect all four keys to open the boss's room."
"I hope," he paused, scanning the crowd. "I hope that we'll be the last group to clear this dungeon. Now, let's move forward, everyone! And remember to protect one another!"
The other players' voices echoed like a war cry, raising their clenched fists.
"WE'RE GONNA CLEAR THIS DUNGEON!"
"LET'S FINISH THIS!"
"WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? LET'S GOOOOOO!"
"YEAHH!!!"
Lars turned to me, trying to smile, though I could see the nervous twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"No turning back now, huh?" he said.
I sighed deeply and said, "Not unless we wanna die out here instead of in there."
He chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck.
I looked at Lars. "Make sure not to die on me, alright?"
Lars huffed a small laugh, patting down his robe pockets to check his MP potions. "Of course! You better not die on me either."
I smirked, giving his shoulder a light punch. "Definitely."
We shared a look, part fear, part determination. Neither of us said it, but we both knew this could be the last time we talked like this.
"Let's do this, partner!" we shouted in unison.
My eyes widened as a tall, slim German female archer suddenly appeared beside me. She had golden hair and crimson-red eyes framed by long underlashes, her white complexion glowing softly in the light. Her presence radiated precision and quiet power. She wore golden armor, and her red cape swayed behind her back.
In my mind, I called her—the Archer in Gold.
I glanced at her face for just a second.
"S-SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!" I thought, my face turning red as I quickly looked down.
Lars elbowed me with a smirk. "What's wrong with your face? Are you sick right now?"
I took a deep breath, straightened my back like I was about to pose for a portrait, and forced my face into the most serious expression imaginable.
"No. Not at all," I said in my most serious tone. "I'm absolutely healthy right now."
"Uh-huh..." Lars said, frowning and squinting at me like I'd just told him the sky was green.
Then, we stepped inside the dungeon.
Inside was a longitudinal chamber that looked like something out of a drowned nightmare. It had a corridor that twisted like coral intestines. Bioluminescent barnacles clung to every surface, and the water that pooled at our ankles glowed an eerie green color.
Wex stepped forward and cleared his throat. His eyes scanned the room, lingering on each of us for a moment.
"We need to get to the far end of this chamber," he said, his voice firm and deliberate. "That's where the entrance to the first chamber lies."
The players started to mutter nervously.
"This place gives me the chills, man..."
"I've got a bad feeling about this..."
"I don't like this… something feels off..."
Wex cleared his throat again.
"Now, let's move," he said, leading the way. "We have no time to lose."
And we followed.
After about seven minutes of walking, we finally reached the end of the chamber with no surprise attacks from the monsters of the dungeon. A tall steel door stood in front of us. Its surface was covered in rust and scratches. It looked like it hadn't been opened in years.
"Everyone, get ready," Wex said. "We're about to enter the first chamber's passageway."
We pushed the door open and stepped inside. A narrow passageway stretched out before us, swallowed by darkness. The air was cold and smelled like damp metal. And as we walked deeper, the sound of pirate-like laughter echoed around us every few seconds. Sometimes it was loud and close… sometimes distant, fading into the darkness ahead. Chains clinked somewhere in the dark, dragging slowly across the floor like something waiting for us to come closer.
Lars hid behind my back, gripping his staff tightly.
"T-This place is seriously creepy…" he whispered.
I glanced over my shoulder at him.
"Didn't know you were a scaredy cat, Lars," I said with a teasing grin.
He straightened instantly, walking ahead of me with his nose in the air.
"Me? A scaredy cat? That's nothing but pure fallacy," he said, puffing out his chest like a noble knight.
"Now that's a gallant mage!" I said, trying not to laugh.
Wex turned his head at us, clearly annoyed.
"Can you two please be serious? Monsters could attack us at any time, and you're acting like kids," he said.
Lars and I lowered our heads like scolded school kids.
"W-We're sorry…" we said in unison.
A tall, muscular warrior stepped up behind us. He was dressed in bright silver armor, and wore a closed helmet that hid his face. A massive longsword rested across his broad back, its blade gleaming even in the dim light.
"H-Hey! If you two get in trouble, give me a shout," he whispered with a confident grin. "I'm level twenty-five. I'll save ya."
Lars gave him a thumbs-up.
"Alrighty! We'll count on ya, Mr. High-Level Warrior!" he said.
I nodded, pointing at Lars.
"You heard him," I said in a slightly sarcastic tone. "You better keep us safe, Mr. High-Level Warrior!"
"Of course! Now, onward! Leave everything to me!" he said.
The high-level warrior puffed up his chest and marched forward like a proud soldier.
Six minutes later, we had finally arrived at the first chamber.
It was an old and vast empty room, silent except for the faint sound of dripping water. Glowing jellyfish floated near the ceiling, their soft blue light pulsing like slow heartbeats, casting ripples of light across the damp stone walls.
A sharp crack suddenly echoed through the room.
"W-What was that?" a male mage in blue robes stammered. His staff shook in his hands. "I-I definitely heard something…"
"Quiet," Wex whispered, eyes narrowing as he observed the ground.
The wooden boards beneath us split open with a wet, echoing crack. Chilled water gushed upward, splashing over our feet as ghostly shapes rose from the depths below.
Six Ghostly Sailors appeared first. Their half-rotted bodies were wrapped in chains. And in their right hand, they held corroded cutlasses. Behind them floated a dozen Wailing Mariners. Their bodies were tangled in seaweed, barnacles clinging to their decayed skin. Pale, hollow faces twisted in endless agony, eyes empty and unseeing, yet somehow fixed on us. And on their left hand, they carried rusted anchors, scraping them across the stone floor with a harsh, grating sound that made my ear hurt.
A system window appeared above their heads:
[GHOST SAILOR] — (LVL 15)
[HP]: [30/30]
[WAILING MARINER] — (LVL 15)
[HP]: [30/30]
"They looked terrifying in the game," I thought, my throat tightening. "But seeing them right in front of me… they're a hundred times scarier!"
The Wailing Mariners' mouths stretched open as they let out a sharp shriek that echoed through the room.
"My ears… they're gonna explode!" Lars whispered, hands clamped over the sides of his head.
"Everyone, get ready!" Wex shouted. He raised his glowing staff high. "Here comes the first wave!"
The battle began.
Mages attacked first, casting skills that exploded across the chamber, hitting both monsters. Warriors charged forward, clashing with the Ghostly Sailors, their swords ringing against corroded cutlasses, sending sparks and seawater flying. Arrows whistled through the air as Archers fired from a distance to hit the Wailing Mariners' from the back. Assassins darted between the players, finishing off weakened Ghost Sailors. Healers weaved through the chaos, casting healing skills to keep the injured players alive.
A male healer screamed as a Wailing Mariner threw an anchor that wrapped around his leg, pulling him under a flooded hole. Bubbles rose. He didn't.
The high-level warrior charged at three Wailing Mariners, raising his sword high.
"HERE COMES THE HERO!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber as he swung with all his might.
"I gotta do something," I thought.
I gritted my teeth as I lunged forward. I ducked under a weakened Wailing Mariner's swinging hook. My dagger plunged deep into its chest as it let out a hollow shriek before bursting into mist.
Lars stepped up, activating a skill: Arc Lightning. A jagged bolt of electricity leapt from his hands, chaining between the two weakened ghost sailors. The water around them sizzled and sparked as the Ghostly Sailors let out shrill cries as they were fried in the electric surge.
Finally, the last enemy fell, vanishing in a swirl of sea-mist.
"I-Is it over?" an injured male assassin muttered, breathing hard. "It should be over… r-right?"
A pedestal rose from the floor with the blue key resting at the center of the room.
A system window appeared above it:
[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED: BLUE KEY]
A blue coral door at the far end of the chamber slowly revealed itself as the fog cleared. It suddenly shimmered and then dissolved into nothing, revealing yet another dark passageway.
"Let's move to the next chamber," Wex said, his voice sharp. "We don't have time to waste."
We stepped into a chamber where a jagged maze of coral and barnacles twisted in every direction. Water pooled in the corners, reflecting the faint glow of bioluminescent algae, while the walls oozed thick, purple ink.
As we moved forward, a dozen Merfolk suddenly sprang from the flooded corners, their barbed spears catching the dim light. Their yellow eyes gleamed with predatory intent, and the slick scales along their bodies shimmered like wet metal.
A system window appeared above their heads:
[MERFOLK] — (LEVEL 15)
[HP]: [30/30]
"Watch out!" Wex shouted, lifting his staff, activating a skill: Lightning Bolt, sending bolts of electricity streaking through the air toward two Merfolks that lunged at a female healer.
The two Merfolk shrieked as the attack hit them, staggering backward just as the high-level warrior lunged, sword swinging, to finish them with a jump strike.
More Merfolk sprang from the flooded corners.
A Merfolk's spear whistled past my head and buried itself in the wall behind me. I sprinted toward it, dodging another spear, then rolled under its snapping claws. Coming up low, I slashed across its midsection and drove my dagger straight into its neck. The creature let out a gurgling shriek before collapsing to the floor.
A female warrior dressed in steel armor charged forward, swinging her sword in a wide arc.
"Stay behind me!" she yelled behind an injured female healer—but before she could say another word, a whirlpool that was cast by three Merfolk burst open beneath her. She screamed as the water pulled her down like quicksand, her sword slipping from her hands. The whirlpool swallowed her cry, leaving only the sound of rushing water.
"Shit! They're trying to pull us inside that hellhole!" Lars shouted. He thrust his wooden staff forward, activating a skill: Arc Lightning, the surge splitting across the water and electrocuting three weakened Merfolk that was casting a whirlpool skill.
I charged and finished those weakened Merfolk that Lars hit by stabbing each of them through the chest, twisting the dagger before pulling it out.
"You goddamn bastards..." I muttered, panting heavily.
When the last Merfolk fell, we were left panting in silence, looking pale and shaken.
"Let's move forward," Wex said. "Let us mourn our comrades' deaths later. We don't have much time left."
By the time we made our way out of the maze, only twenty-four players had survived, and some were barely alive.
Then we moved forward to another dark passageway.