End(1)

Talk - " "

Think + abilities/passives names - [ ]

System - ( )

Author thought - [[ ]]

Action - * *

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Dain, being the first to reach the bottom of the second floor, was greeted by an unexpected sight – a vast expanse of snow. The unanticipated wintry landscape caught them entirely unprepared. Lacking the necessary gear to endure the harsh cold, the group faced a bad situation. 

Regrettably, Dain had to convey the difficult decision to the others – they had no choice but to turn back, acknowledging the danger posed by traversing the snow without the proper equipment. It wasn't worth the risk to get the demon girl who might be already dead.

"We must turn back," Dain declared solemnly. "Venturing deeper to find the girl poses too great a danger. We are woefully under-prepared for travel through snowy terrain. Let's retreat and report to the guild. They can send someone better equipped to assess the dungeon's potential to see if they should keep or destroy the dungeon."

Despite Alya and Hagen's eagerness to push forward, they wisely deferred to Dain's orders. Recognizing his extensive experience and track record of ensuring their safety, they understood the importance of trusting his judgment, especially when it came to navigating potential dangers.

So they left, this time they were quicker to leave as they now knew the first floor was perfectly safe and held nothing that could hurt them.

Meanwhile, Alex had observed and overheard the entire sequence of events, including the group's decision to report to the guild about his dungeon. Anticipating their return, he positioned himself on the first floor, concealed within the shadows. Summoning his Death Angel, he held it in reserve, preferring to engage in a one-on-three confrontation, seeking a genuine challenge for himself, as how else would he improve his fighting skill.

With some foresight, Alex stationed Warren and Akitaru at the entrance, instructing them to wait. The girl he had rescued, now unconscious from fear, remained in their care. Alex contemplated the impending encounter, opting for a one-on-three confrontation, while his summons stood ready to respond if the situation called for their involvement.

Observing the gradual ascent of light through the dungeon, Alex remained patient, biding his time in the shadows. He awaited the opportune moment for a well-timed sneak attack, planning to capitalize on the element of surprise when the group re-emerged on the first floor. 

As the group ascended the stairs, Alex, concealed right beside the entrance, held his breath, hoping that they wouldn't glance left and notice the imposing 9-foot-tall wendigo-like creature that stood silently, its gaze fixed upon them. The tension in the air heightened, as Alex readied himself for the impending confrontation.

As the group kept going up, Alex keenly sensed their proximity, realizing they had reached the first floor. Silently lurking by the entrance, he observed them walking by, entirely oblivious to his presence. 

As the third person in the group, an unsuspecting elf girl holding a bow, finally revealed herself, Alex seized the opportunity. With his hands raised high, he unleashed a powerful strike, slamming his fist down with brute force. 

Simultaneously, he infused his hands with the dark element, capitalizing on the really minor decay effect it wielded. The sudden and calculated assault targeted the vulnerable rear of the group, initiating the confrontation with a decisive blow.

The elf girl met a swift demise, her body crushed effortlessly by Alex's powerful strike, reminiscent of crushing a soda can with his foot. Meanwhile, the person in the middle proved too slow to counter Alex's assault. In a rapid sequence, Alex executed a decisive uppercut, causing the individual to drop the lantern and be propelled into the darkness by the formidable force behind the punch. 

The cracking noise that resonated as Alex's uppercut struck the young elf man's chest indicated a significant impact, likely resulting in some broken bones. However, the older elf man, demonstrating quicker reflexes, managed to react in time as Alex aimed a fist towards him. 

Swiftly responding to Alex's punch, the older elf man adeptly blocked the incoming fist with his sword, effortlessly halting the force behind it. Despite the apparent ease in his defense, the blood seeping from his nose and mouth hinted at the hidden toll.

Undeterred, drawing on his experience battling taller creatures and wielding a sword, the seasoned warrior capitalized on Alex's momentary vulnerability. Using the momentum from the overextended punch, the older man skillfully redirected his sword toward Alex's head, turning the tide of the encounter in his favor.

Reacting quickly, Alex narrowly evaded the sword aimed at his head, only to have the two large horns atop him severed effortlessly. Springing away, he retreated into the shadows, seeking an advantageous opening against the older man. Despite being concealed in darkness, Alex couldn't escape the keen gaze of the seasoned warrior. The older man's eyes remained fixed on him, seemingly piercing through the shadows, revealing an uncanny ability to see in the dark. 

Though the older man appeared to have the ability to see in the dark, he possessed a skillful proficiency in detecting mana, like the dark mana emanating from Alex's hands. Alex, with no formal magic training, inadvertently revealed his use of magic and location, a fact easily discernible to someone with experience in detecting magical energies.

In contrast, Dain, having received training in magic detection and utilization, could perceive Alex clearly. To Dain, Alex's hands glowed like a bright light in the darkness, exposing his position even in the shadowy concealment. 

However, upon witnessing the dire state of his companions, with Alya's crushed body and Hagen struggling on the brink of death, an inferno of rage ignited within Dain. An overwhelming surge of mana and rage, harnessed from the depths of his being, coursed through him, converging with unparalleled intensity upon his sword. 

The weapon now infused with the unleashed power, Dain stood ready to channel his fury into a formidable and vengeful strike. The atmosphere crackled with the potency of his unleashed magical might as he prepared to unleash it upon the beast who had wrought such devastation.

Dain's once silver sword blazed to life, transforming into a radiant beacon as an inferno engulfed it. The flames roared with an intensity so scorching that even his specially crafted weapon, designed to withstand the prowess of a fire user like him, began to melt under the extraordinary heat. 

The rapid manifestation of this fiery onslaught caught Alex off guard, leaving him unable to intervene or prevent the unleashing of Dain's devastating magical assault. The fight was now dominated by the searing brilliance of Dain's wrathful blaze.

With the blazing sword rapidly melting, Dain unleashed the accumulated power, directing it as a swift and unstoppable slash toward Alex. The onslaught was too rapid for Alex to evade. As the massive wave of fire surged towards him, in a sudden and unexpected turn, Alex's Death Angel emerged, leaping in front of him to absorb the full brunt of the devastating attack. 

The sacrificial act of the Death Angel shielded Alex from the onslaught, absorbing the searing impact on his behalf. The cave was now marked by the aftermath of this fierce clash, with the molten remnants of Dain's once-formidable sword casting an ominous glow.

Despite the valiant sacrifice of his Death Angel, the explosion following the wave of fire left Alex severely damaged and clinging to life. The intense heat and force of the blast took a toll on his body, leaving him with severe burns and the acrid scent of burnt flesh emanating from his charred form. 

Dain was no better either. The immense release of mana proved too much for Dain's body to withstand. His arm, the conduit for the remaining essence of the melting sword, bore the brunt of the overwhelming magical energy. The excess mana surged through his arm, causing it to overflow and ultimately explode when he executed the final slash towards Alex.

The catastrophic aftermath left Dain in a dire state; his body weakened to the point where he couldn't maintain his stance. Collapsing towards the ground, he lacked the strength even to flip himself onto his back. The toll of the intense magical exchange painted a picture of mutual devastation, with both combatants grievously wounded and incapacitated.

In the aftermath of the explosion, a heavy silence descended upon the cave, only to be broken only by the distant echo of footsteps. Surprisingly, Hagen was propelled a considerable distance away from the epicenter and managed to escape the worst of the blast. 

However, he bore the visible scars of the encounter, with burns covering his body and most of his equipment singed away. Hagen's survival could be attributed to the fact that he carries everyone's potions, including a valuable health potion discovered in a previous dungeon, and that the potions survived the fire. 

This potion proved crucial, healing wounds that would have proven fatal under ordinary circumstances, allowing Hagen to endure the initial punch from Alex and emerge from the devastating clash with his life intact.

With a sense of urgency, Hagen hurried to Dain's side, finding him still alive but in critical condition, bleeding profusely. Hagen, relieved by Dain's continued breath, reached for the last health potion in his possession. Though it was a weaker variant, every bit of assistance mattered in their current dire situation. 

Hagen administered the potion, hoping to stabilize Dain's condition and prevent further deterioration. The exhaustion of Hagen's magic reserves from shielding himself during the wave of fire added an additional layer of urgency to the critical task at hand.

The aftermath of the intense magical clash revealed lingering fires that illuminated the cavern, casting an eerie light across the charred landscape. Amid the devastation, the black beast was still on fire, however, when they saw the black beast bring out a small leather pouch and poured an orange substance on itself. They saw the fire that was consuming the black beast disappear, leaving them in fear.

But in the next moment, Hagen and Dain were struck with horror as they witnessed the black beast miraculously produce three red potions seemingly out of thin air. The creature proceeded to pour the liquid over itself while consuming one of the potions.

The sight left the two survivors in disbelief, grappling with the realization that their adversary possessed means of recovery that surpassed their expectations. The battle seemed far from over, and a new wave of uncertainty washed over them as the black beast underwent a revitalization. 

In a desperate race against time, Hagen exerted every ounce of energy to reach Dain, so both found themselves immobilized. As they teetered on the edge of defeat, a glimmer of hope emerged when they spotted two men sprinting down the passage with a palpable sense of urgency. 

One of them was clad in a full suit of metal armor, while the other donned a mysterious black leather armor. The unexpected arrival of these newcomers injected a renewed sense of anticipation and hope into the dire situation. But the hope quickly faded away when they heard the man in the metal armor say 

"Quickly bring the master outside, the fire may try to consume him again. I deal with the other two" The somber words hung in the air, dashing the fleeting optimism that had briefly taken root. The realization that the newcomers might not be the salvation they had hoped for intensified the tension in the cavern, leaving Hagen and Dain with a sinking feeling of despair.

Lying incapacitated on the floor, unable to lift a finger, Hagen and Dain helplessly observed the man in black laboriously attempting to drag the defeated black beast outside. Meanwhile, the man in the metal armor approached them with a grim aura. 

In a swift and merciless strike, he raised his Poleaxe high and brought it down on Hagen's neck, ending his life instantly. Dain, emotionally shattered by the losses of someone akin to a son and daughter, could only shed a tear as he awaited the same fate. 

The Poleaxe descended once more, extinguishing the last glimmer of resistance from Dain, who met his demise with a mixture of sorrow and bitterness. The cavern, once filled with the echoes of battle, now harbored only the heavy silence of defeat.

--------

Thanks for reading.

Comment on any mistakes or changes I should make.