Part 1
The first of the big ones stepped forward.
It was nearly seven feet tall — broader, thicker, and more armored than the rest. Its shield was made of layered bone and splintered wood, and its sword looked more like a crude cleaver.
It moved slowly, but every step echoed.
Straight toward the four Riftwalkers.
Ryden stepped forward without hesitation, slashing toward its neck.
CLANG.
The monster raised its shield just in time. The strike bounced off with a dull, brutal thud.
"Damn thing's heavier than it looks," Ryden muttered.
Dae-hyun blurred behind it, silver aura sparking again.
He threw a sharp punch toward the back of its leg—nothing.
Rin-ah cracked her knuckles. "Leave that part to me."
She sprinted, leapt off the edge of Ryden's sword mid-swing, flipped above the monster, and dropped behind it.
Then she drove her fist into the back of its knee.
CRUNCH.
The entire leg snapped at the joint and twisted outward — the skeleton staggered.
Reika stepped forward slightly, eyes glowing.
Her fire began to gather.
Small embers circled her palms, then flared brighter — unstable, but focused.
Meanwhile, Min Jae-won raised his staff and fired a jet of fire that smashed directly into the skeleton's shield. It splintered apart with a fiery crack, burning across the chamber floor.
"Now!" Ryden yelled and moved in for the finishing strike.
But the monster moved faster than it looked.
It caught Ryden's blade mid-air with its bony hand — then drove its own sword forward and cleaved through his wrist.
Blood sprayed across the stone.
"R-Ryden!" Jae-won shouted.
"NO!" Rin-ah screamed, leaping forward.
"Dammit!" Dae-hyun cursed, pulling Ryden back as he dropped to his knees.
Reika's eyes widened — then narrowed.
She stepped forward.
The fire in her hands turned brighter, hotter, starting to turn white around the edges.
"Move!" she shouted.
The others pulled back instantly.
Reika took one deep breath, focused everything she had, and released it.
A fireball — jagged, unstable, charged with raw aura — launched forward and slammed directly into the skeleton's chest.
The impact exploded.
Stone cracked, fire surged outward, and the skeleton's entire body was obliterated, bones flying in every direction like glass shrapnel.
When the flames cleared… nothing remained but scorched floor.
Reika stood in the center, breathing hard. Her eyes still glowing faintly.
Silence.
Then Levi said quietly, "Okay… now she's warmed up."
Part 2
Dae-hyun was already beside Ryden, silver aura glowing faint around his hands.
"Hold still," he muttered, focused.
He pressed both palms near the severed wrist. A faint hum echoed through the chamber as tendrils of light wrapped around the wound, reconnecting torn flesh and stabilizing the bone.
Within moments, the bleeding stopped. The skin fused — not perfectly, but clean enough to survive.
Dae-hyun wrapped a tight bandage around the joint and sat back.
"You won't be able to move it for at least a day," he said. "But it's attached."
Ryden clenched his jaw. "That's enough."
"Alan, behind you!" Ryden suddenly shouted.
Alan spun instantly.
The second elite skeleton stepped through the broken gate — even taller than the first. Its body crackled faintly with energy, and the sword it held looked newer — less rust, more killing intent.
Alan narrowed his eyes.
"Levi," he said calmly.
Levi stepped forward beside him, twirling his dagger once.
The two stood side by side, no smiles now — just locked in.
The skeleton raised its shield and began walking toward them.
Levi tilted his head. "We going or what?"
Alan nodded.
Let's go."
They dashed in together, low and fast.
Alan struck first — blade flashing toward the chest.
CLANG.
The skeleton blocked with its shield.
Levi's dagger came in next — deflected by the skeleton's sword.
Then Alan planted a foot on the shield and vaulted upward.
Mid-air, he twisted and slashed clean through the shoulder, slicing the skeleton's shield arm completely off.
"Levi — feet!" he called out.
Levi grinned. "On it."
He dashed low, blade sweeping clean across the ankle joint — severing the left foot. The monster staggered hard, now off balance.
Both jumped back behind it.
Then—
One synchronized strike.
Alan's fist slammed into the right side of its ribcage.
Levi's fist crashed into the left.
BOOM.
The skeleton shattered from the impact, bones scattering across the chamber floor like splintered wood.
Silence.
Reika stepped forward slowly, wide-eyed. "You two are… amazing."
Min Jae-won lowered his staff. "That was some clean teamwork."
Dae-hyun gave a tired smile. "Nice work."
Ryden, still gripping his healing-wrapped arm, nodded. "Let's move. That gate wasn't guarding nothing."
The group turned toward the second gate, now half open.
What lay beyond was darker. Quieter.
But something was waiting.
End of Chapter