As I passed through the portal, she was already there, standing tall in the warm sunlight.
Nymera Dravenholt, princess of the Dravenholt Empire, had hair that gleamed like spun gold, cascading in waves down her back. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled like polished jewels. Her skin was pale as milk, almost glowing against the sunlight, and a sword rested at her hip with the ease of someone born to wield it. She looked like a hunteress from a tale—ready for any prey.
I greeted her, and without exchanging another word, we set out.
Yesterday, I had been thinking about heading to a dungeon; my rank hadn't moved in weeks, and I needed to level up. While lost in thought, a figure approached—someone challenging me to a duel. I looked up, and there she was—Nymera.
I considered challenging her again, but then an idea struck me: why not invite her along on a dungeon trip?
"Do you want to go on a dungeon trip?" I asked calmly.
Her eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "Yes!" she exclaimed.
"Where is the dungeon?" she asked eagerly.
"Ravenscar territory," I replied evenly.
"Tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you on the other side of the portal," she said, practically vibrating with anticipation.
I was stunned. She looked like a child eager for adventure rather than the proud, disciplined princess she truly was.
Now, here we were, ready to enter a C-rank dungeon. Her rank was C, mine C+, so tackling a B-rank dungeon was out of the question. That meant grinding—hard.
After handing our IDs to the dungeon's security guards and passing the mandatory checks, we stepped through the portal.
The forest that greeted us was breathtaking. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, landing in golden patches on the soft, flower-strewn ground. The air smelled fresh, tinged with earth and moss, as if the dungeon itself were alive.
I cleared my mind, focusing. Movement flickered at the edge of my vision. I signaled Nymera to prepare.
She drew her sword in one fluid motion, her stance perfect, emerald eyes locked on the source.
We approached cautiously. Four wolves crouched among the trees, more monstrous than natural. Their legs were unnaturally long, giving them a skeletal, predatory look. Their eyes glowed crimson, and jagged fangs peeked from snarling mouths. Black markings ran along their limbs like veins of shadow.
The alpha, larger than the others, had fur like pitch, streaked with gray and red, as though smeared with blood. Its eyes were molten gold, glowing with intelligence and hunger. Claws as long as daggers dug into the forest floor. A low, vibrating growl echoed through the trees.
"Stay close," I whispered. "They'll coordinate. Don't underestimate them."
Her grip tightened. "I won't let them surprise us."
I nodded. "On my signal… ready?"
Nymera inclined her head. "One… two… three!"
The alpha lunged. I drew its attention while Nymera circled to flank. The other wolves darted around, snapping and swiping. A claw grazed my arm, slicing through armor and drawing blood. Pain shot through me, hot and sharp, but I pushed it aside. Nymera moved like a living blade, her strikes precise and lethal.
The fight was brutal. I rolled under the alpha's swipe, slashing at its flank while Nymera dispatched another wolf. One fell, then another. Finally, only the alpha remained. Its eyes burned with hatred.
"Focus on its left side!" I shouted. "Strike together!"
We lunged in unison. My blade cut deep while Nymera's sword tore into its opposite flank. The alpha staggered, letting out a final, guttural howl before collapsing. Blood and black ichor pooled on the forest floor.
Exhausted, we exhaled. "That… was intense," Nymera admitted, her chest heaving.
"Just the beginning," I said, feeling the burn in my arms and legs.
The day passed with relentless encounters—wolves, giant spiders, and slimes. Each fight left bruises, cuts, and aching muscles, but also rhythm, trust, and synergy.
By late afternoon, we limped toward the exit when a terrifying sound shattered the forest quiet.
Shouts and metallic clashes echoed. We ran, arriving to see a party of adventurers under attack by a massive wolf. Unlike the C-rank wolves, this one was a true nightmare. Its fur was jet black, streaked with crimson and silver, jagged spikes along its spine like sharpened bone, and golden eyes radiated raw, chaotic mana—a B- rank breaking through. Its jaws could crush a man, claws gouged deep trenches, and the forest trembled with its power.
Nymera froze. "A B- rank wolf… here?"
I drew my sword. "We can't let them die."
The Boss Fight Begins
The wolf charged, moving unpredictably. I barely dodged a paw swipe that shattered the ground beneath me. Nymera's sword struck its flank, sparks flying as her blade connected with thick fur and sinew. The wolf shrieked, spinning violently, crushing trees and undergrowth in its path.
Its raw power was terrifying, but the unstable mana made it erratic. Every claw swipe sent splinters flying, tearing leaves and underbrush. Pain and blood mingled, but my focus sharpened. Nymera's movements were a blur; she lunged, struck, and rolled under each massive swing, leaving deep gashes across the beast's flanks.
The wolf's attacks became more intelligent. It feinted to bait us into overextending, snapping its jaws at our heads, slashing at legs, and spinning to generate devastating momentum.
Adrenaline surged. I countered, stabbing at the joints in its forelegs to slow it, while Nymera slashed at its flanks and shoulders. Blood sprayed in arcs, dripping onto leaves and dirt, making the forest floor slick.
A paw slammed into a tree beside me, splinters embedding in my shoulder. Pain flared. I clenched my teeth and adjusted my stance. Nymera noticed and gave me a nod—silent communication, trust in action.
Suddenly, it reared back and slammed its massive body into another tree. Bark exploded outward, splinters flying like arrows. I was thrown back, rolling across the ground. Nymera barely evaded, using a tree as leverage to strike at its exposed shoulder.
The wolf roared, surging forward in a frenzy. Its unstable mana flared violently, arcs of raw energy crackling across the forest. Sparks struck the ground, igniting dry leaves and adding smoke to the already chaotic battlefield.
Phase Two: Unpredictable Fury
Its attacks became faster and more erratic. Each swipe could crush a tree or tear a limb. One paw strike sheared a large branch from above, which fell and shattered near me. The adventurers, frozen in terror, were pinned by fear and debris.
I glanced at Nymera, her face pale and streaked with blood. Her breathing was rapid, but her eyes burned with determination. "We can't let it corner them!" I shouted.
She nodded, weaving around the wolf, striking weak points in its joints. I struck its hind legs again, staggering it, and together we created a rhythm—bait, attack, retreat. The forest became a war zone: broken trees, pools of blood, torn underbrush, and sparks of wild mana.
The wolf lunged at Nymera with a desperate frenzy, jaws wide. I threw myself in front of her, parrying with my sword. Pain shot through my shoulder as it bit down on my armor, teeth scraping flesh. Blood ran hot, but I drove my blade into its flank.
Nymera twisted, thrusting her sword deep into its other side. The wolf howled, staggering back, thrashing violently. Its unstable mana flickered and crackled, arcs leaping across its fur. Sparks ignited small fires where blood and magic met the ground.
Phase Three: The Final Strike
The wolf staggered, bleeding from multiple wounds, mana flickering like a dying star. Its attacks slowed, but its fury was still palpable. Every swipe carried lethal force; every bite could kill. We were exhausted, bloodied, and every movement cost all our strength.
"One… two… three!" I yelled.
Together, we lunged, swords piercing deep into both flanks simultaneously. The wolf let out a final, shuddering roar, thrashing violently before collapsing. Blood pooled around its jagged, spiked body, dark mana smoke curling from its wounds.
We fell to our knees, barely able to breathe. Cuts, bruises, and exhaustion weighed on us like stones. Nymera's hair clung to her face, streaked with blood and sweat. My arms shook, vision blurred, but adrenaline still burned through my veins.
The adventurers crawled free, terrified but alive. "We… owe you our lives!" one stammered.
Nymera managed a weak smile. "Just… don't underestimate the dungeon."
Aftermath and Foreshadowing
As we limped toward the exit, our hands brushed. No words were needed. We had survived far beyond C-rank—together.
"Adrian," she whispered, voice hoarse, "I've never fought like this… together."
"Neither have I," I replied, meeting her emerald eyes. "We make a good team."
The forest was eerily quiet now, as if the dungeon itself were holding its breath. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and the wind whispered through broken branches, carrying with it a faint, almost imperceptible hum.
I sensed it before I saw it—a subtle flicker of light deep within the undergrowth, like a heartbeat beneath the earth. My pulse quickened, though I said nothing. Nymera's eyes were on me, unaware, but I felt the pull of something… powerful, hidden.
The artifact. I had come for it, but its presence was elusive, shrouded in the dungeon's deeper shadows. Today, I had only grazed the edges of what awaited. The hum of mana seemed alive, almost aware of our intrusion, teasing me with a promise of power and danger.
Tomorrow, we would enter again. The C-rank dungeon we explored today was just the surface. Deeper layers waited, and with every step, the forest whispered of secrets older and darker than we could imagine.
With Nymera by my side, I felt ready—but I also knew that the dungeon had more to reveal. Whatever lay ahead, I would face it… and the artifact would not stay hidden for long.