The morning was quiet.
But the air was thick with tension.
We stood at the edge of a new dungeon.
Bigger than the last.
Darker too.
It looked like a mouth waiting to swallow us whole.Liora was right next to me.
Her eyes steady and calm.
Ready.I tried to be calm,
but my heart wanted to jump out of my chest.
"This is it,"
I whispered, gripping the scythe tighter.
It pulsed gently in my hands — like it felt all the fear and fight inside me.We stepped in.
The tunnel was cold. Damp.
The only light came from little glowing crystals on the walls.
They barely pushed back the heavy shadows around us.
Water dripped. Echoed.
Far away, low growls.
My boots made noise on the stone floor.
Too loud in the quiet.
The scythe whispered inside me:
"Don't hold back."
We hadn't gone far when I noticed fresh deep claw marks on the wall.
Chills ran down my spine.
Then they came.
Small creatures with sharp teeth.
Wild blue eyes glowing.
Fast.I didn't think.
I swung the scythe. Bam.
They fell like leaves in the wind.
But more kept coming.
The hallway filled with their snarls and clicks.Liora fought beside me.
Her blade flashed.
We moved together.
Like a dance only we knew.
I felt her fear.
But more than that, her trust.
And that made me steady.
I charged into the swarm.
Listening to the voice:
"Don't hold back."So I didn't.
I let the power flow.
Cold. Sharp. Relentless.
My eyes flickered silver.
They fell before me like shadows at dawn.
One lunged at Liora.
I threw myself in front.
The beast hit my scythe.
Pain shot through my arms.
I gritted my teeth.
I held firm.
No way I'd let anything happen to her.Slowly, they thinned out.
Then slipped back into darkness.
Silence.
Liora looked at me.
Wide-eyed.
Steady.
"You're stronger than anyone I've met," she said.
I smiled.
Tired.
"This is just the start."We picked up shards, fangs, herbs.
Not much.
But a win.
Outside, hunters whispered.
The new guy.
The one who tore through monsters.
I didn't care.
What mattered was everyone was alive.
Especially her.I leaned close to her.
"Will you trust me?"She paused.
"I want to."That was enough.
That night, I sat alone.
Scythe on my knees.
"You're getting stronger," it said.
I didn't reply.
Every time I used it, something cold crept deeper inside.
I looked out the window.
The Tower stood dark and tall.
Waiting.
Patient.
Dangerous.
This was only the start.
I wouldn't fail this time.
To be continued...