Chapter 3: The First Dungeon

Arin and Cassiel stood at the brink of the impending dungeon, and the air buzzed with anxiety. Their spines tingled with a dark force that pulsed through its high, jagged walls, which were a combination of stone and something otherworldly. Like the jaws of some old beast, the entrance yawned wide, tempting them to venture into its depths. Within, shadows twisted and slithered, and sometimes, a snarl or hiss rose out of the shadows.

They had come here thanks to Arin's power to fragment time. The vision had been brief, but it had made its point very clear: this dungeon held something very important. Something that would either save them all or aid in stopping the end of the world.

With a fixed mouth and dimly lit eyes, Cassiel advanced, signaling their link to the within them; the apocalypse itself stirred. Arin trailed after, with short intakes of air. They were increasingly exhausted with each use of their power, and they hadn't fully recovered from the last sight into the future.

"This location... Cassiel whispered as they looked around the dungeon's walls. "It seems...acquainted."

Arin glanced at them but did not pursue. Though the extent of Cassiel's burden was yet unknown, they could feel it. They concentrated on the current work at hand.

As soon as they entered the dungeon, the door slammed behind them, leaving them momentarily in total darkness. When Cassiel lifted a hand, a dim blue radiance shot out of it, illuminating the stone walls in an unsettling way. As they advanced, Arin's heart raced, but not because of the horrors that loomed ahead, but rather because they were beginning to suspect something far worse was waiting for them on the inside.

The first chamber was a long corridor with a stone floor, and it was surprisingly basic. Arin, though, sensed the threat. "Hold on," they said, their focus narrowing their eyes.

They took a deep breath and turned on Time Fragments. A shimmering veil of reality dropped over them, and the world around them grew silent. Arin's vision wavered, swishing across several futures. In one, they saw themselves walking upon a pressure plate that was buried beneath the floor made of stone, setting off a hail of projectiles. In another, when they attempted to flee, the ceiling gave way. As they came back to the present, Arin's gut twisted because each of the futures revealed a different, horrible conclusion.

With their voice wavering from the strain of the image, Arin rasped, "Traps." The ground is manipulated. We must navigate the spaces between the stones; if we take a wrong step, something bad will happen.

Cassiel gave a nod, and their eyes briefly softened at realizing how much Arin had suffered from the vision. "Remain near me," they uttered in a quiet yet resolute tone. Cassiel's protective tendencies erupted, and although they tended to mask their feelings, it was getting more difficult to contain their worries for Arin.

They moved across the hallway with cautious strides. Even with Arin's assistance, every motion was deliberate and exact, and as they got closer to the passage's finish, the anxiety increased. As if the dungeon was learning from their experiences and adjusting to them, the traps appeared nearly intelligent; put them to the test.

They made it to the other side safely at last, but their relief was fleeting. The next chamber was enormous, with a floor covered with broken glass and high, vaulted ceilings. A massive, distorted monstrosity that resembled a nightmare given flesh towered in the center. With a guttural growl, Arin felt a wave of horror come over them instantly.

Without hesitation, the beast charged. Cassiel dodged the beast with a shimmering energy blade, moving like lightning. Despite their obvious power, the dungeon appeared to respond with every metal-on-claw collision. This was more than a struggle, Arin understood as the walls moved and the earth shook. The actual dungeon was alive, testing and attempting to shatter them.

Arin's heart pounded. They were unable to remain silent. With their last remaining energy, they used Time Fragments again in an attempt to put an end to the conflict. Though Cassiel was battling, the thing was regenerating, and the walls were closing in on them; one particular glance in the vision stuck out. a vulnerability. just below the animal's rib cage.

"Cassiel!" With strained vocals, Arin yelled. "There's an opening—it's ribs!"

Cassiel made no hesitations. They were able to deflect the creature's following strike and pierce it deeply with their sword in one smooth motion. The beast gave one last, resounding shriek before disintegrating into dust.

Though Arin and Cassiel knew this was just the beginning, the room became quiet.

While they gathered their breath, Arin saw odd symbols engraved on the walls. They gave out a soft glow, as though responding to their presence. Cassiel drew closer, their eyes narrowing at the sight of the antiquated tongue.

While tracing the patterns with their fingertips, Cassiel said, "It's the language of my people." As they read the text, their expressions grew serious. "There's a curse attached to this dungeon."

Arin scowled. "Blessed?"

Cassiel's jaw became tense. "My people were charged with defending the Earth a very long time ago. It was to be protected by us against powers outside this planet. However, we were unsuccessful. The planet was cursed by a terrible power that predated even the stars, imprisoning its life energy within subterranean lagoons. The energy of the planet is depleted as the dungeons expand.

Arin felt her stomach fall. Therefore, if we don't halt them,

With a tone laden with remorse, Cassiel concluded, "The Earth will die." "And I'm to blame,"

Between them, silence descended. Gazing upon Cassiel, Arin perceived not just a formidable fighter but also someone weighed down by the resentment of a past transgression. They experienced a strong, unsaid tie based on shared responsibility for the first time. Arin extended her hand and touched Cassiel's arm.

"There's still time," Arin mutedly said. "This can still be stopped. collectively.

The stern mask they wore crumbled for a brief time as Cassiel's eyes softened. Arin saw the skepticism that lingered in their eyes even though they nodded.

Arin's strength faltered as they were ready to venture farther into the dungeon. They were beginning to feel the strain of employing time fragments, their bodies becoming weaker after each usage. However, they persisted because they knew that each step they made would get them closer to learning the truth and preventing the end of the world.