The dungeon square loomed ahead like a gaping maw. Its stones were slick with moss, and the air smelled of decay and magic. Kael's hands shook as he tightened his grip on the golden die. Liora and Thane flanked him, silent but ready.
"This is it," Liora whispered, her eyes glinting with firelight. "Step wrong, and we're toast."
Kael swallowed. "Any advice?"
"Don't panic. And don't trust the traps," Thane said, scanning the shadows. "Everything in here is… alive, in a way."
The first step into the dungeon felt like stepping into another world. The walls pulsed faintly, almost like they were breathing. Kael's eyes darted to the floor, where runes glowed ominously under his feet. A wrong step could trigger a collapse—or something far worse.
Ahead, two paths opened: one narrow corridor lined with flickering torches, the other a wider hall with a faint red glow at its end. Kael's gut screamed to take the torches—they seemed safer—but the red glow… that was treasure. Risk or reward. The golden die in his hand seemed to pulse with anticipation.
He took a deep breath. "Red," he said, and Liora raised an eyebrow.
"You've got guts," she muttered, following him.
The hall twisted and narrowed. The red glow intensified, revealing a chest suspended in midair, protected by a floating circle of rotating blades. Kael froze. One misstep, and the blades would slice him to ribbons.
"Wait," Thane said softly, "look at the floor—there's a pattern. Step in the wrong sequence, and it'll activate the traps."
Kael's mind raced. He studied the tiles, their faint symbols hinting at the order. One misstep… he would be toast. But one correct sequence… and he could claim the chest.
He rolled the golden die. It spun and landed on six, shimmering brighter than before. A warmth spread through his hand, almost guiding him.
Carefully, Kael stepped along the tiles. One… two… three… the blades hummed closer… four… five… six. His foot landed perfectly, and the chest floated down into his hands.
Gold, jewels, and a sword that radiated heat and energy. Kael's eyes widened. "I… I did it."
"Beginner's luck," Liora said, though a hint of admiration colored her tone.
Thane said nothing, but Kael noticed his nod. The silent approval felt heavier than words.
Before they could celebrate, the ground trembled. The shadows at the edges of the dungeon coalesced, forming shapes—humanoid, cloaked, but faceless. The first agents of the Shadow Syndicate.
Kael tightened his grip on the sword, heart pounding. The game had just begun—and already, it was deadly.
"Roll wisely, Kael," a distant, cold voice whispered in his mind. "Every move has consequences. Every player is watching."
And in that moment, Kael realized the Monopoly board wasn't just a game. It was a war.