Part 1
The long-awaited day had arrived.
Under Molgaroth's gray sky, the snowfall was lighter than in previous days.
Haruto walked with Simo and Kizuna perched on his shoulders, while Yuna and Melodía walked beside him. The tension between them had disappeared, replaced by a subtle camaraderie.
The doors of the forge swung open, releasing a wave of heat that clashed against the cold air outside.
Thalindra, covered in soot and sweat, stood waiting with her arms crossed and a satisfied expression.
—Right on time. —She nodded toward a nearby table, where her gleaming gauntlets rested—. They're ready.
Haruto stepped forward, admiring them. They were larger and heavier than he had imagined, with runes of various colors glowing faintly, as if holding a latent power.
—You really finished them? —Melodía asked, impressed.
Thalindra grinned with pride.
—Of course. Thanks to that Umbranite you gave me, these gauntlets are perfect.
—What makes them so special? —Haruto asked, leaning in curiously.
The dwarf savored the moment before responding.
—I thought you'd never ask. Each one has six embedded runes—one for every existing element. I call them the Elemental Gauntlets.
The group exchanged intrigued glances.
—With these, I can strike any enemy, no matter their elemental affinity. Plus, they absorb magic-based attacks, reducing elemental damage.
—Knew they'd be awesome, Kizu!
Thalindra couldn't hide her proud smile. She slipped the gauntlets on with a decisive motion and activated her magic.
—Materialize Lock!
The gauntlets shone brightly before vanishing, fusing into her magical inventory.
Then, she stepped closer to the group, a confident smile on her face.
—I'm Thalindra Terrafist. From today onward, I'll be working with you as your tank. I'll be in your care. —She said, looking directly at Yuna.
Yuna nodded, mirroring the same determination.
—The pleasure is ours, Thalindra. Welcome to the team.
The rest of the group nodded in agreement.
—If everything's ready, I think we should head out. Anything else we need to know? —Haruto asked, adjusting his coat.
Thalindra grabbed a towel, wiping the sweat from her forehead before looking at them intensely.
—Yeah. The mine is infested with specters… and the Soul Reaper isn't just a physical enemy. His attacks don't just harm the body—they weaken the spirit. We'll need light magic. —She turned her gaze toward Melodía.
The elf held her stare firmly.
—I'll do whatever it takes. You can count on me.
Thalindra let a faint smile escape.
—I hope so. There won't be second chances. And one more thing… —She paused—. I'll be leading the front. I'll show you what I'm made of.
Haruto exchanged glances with Yuna and Melodía. Though each of them had their doubts and fears, Thalindra's determination gave them an unexpected sense of security.
—Then let's go. —Haruto said, straightening up—. It's time to take on this dungeon.
Before stepping out, Thalindra took one last look at her workshop.
It had been a long time since she'd last closed its doors.
She let out a final breath and shut them behind her.
There was no turning back now.
—Alright, onward to the abandoned mines.
The group followed behind Thalindra as snow gently fell over the crowded streets of Molgaroth.
They made a brief stop at the guild to register Thalindra's adventurer plate and take down the Soul Reaper mission poster from the quest board.
As they moved toward the outskirts, the dwarves of Molgaroth greeted Thalindra with respect, acknowledging her reputation.
The snowfall grew thicker, and the mountains began to dominate the horizon.
After a couple of hours of walking, they finally arrived at the abandoned mines.
Over time, the place had transformed into a dangerous dungeon.
Its entrance, dark and covered in ice, seemed like a silent warning of the challenges that awaited them.
Thalindra stopped at the mouth of the cave and turned to the group.
—This dungeon has ten floors. —she stated firmly—. The first few are simple, but the deeper we go, the more dark specters will appear.
The group nodded, processing the information.
—My recommendation is that you stay behind me. I'll draw the enemies in, and you'll attack when it's safe. —She continued, then turned her gaze to Yuna—. You'll lead the attacks. You're the leader.
Then, she shifted toward Haruto, crossing her arms with an inquisitive look.
—The only one I don't know what to expect from is you, Haruto. I have no idea what your abilities are. I fight in close combat, and my affinities are earth and fire. What about you?
Haruto exchanged a glance with Yuna, who nodded silently.
—Well… I don't have a fixed position. I can use projectiles from a distance or fight with a sword.
Thalindra nodded, but Haruto wasn't done yet.
—As for my elemental affinity… —he paused before continuing—. I have all of them.
Silence fell immediately.
Thalindra raised an eyebrow.
—Come on, don't mess with me. No one in this world has an affinity with all elements. That's impossible.
Haruto sighed and, with a calm gesture, opened his status panel.
A hologram unfolded, revealing a hexagon with each element glowing in perfect synchronization.
Thalindra's eyes widened.
—This… this can't be. How is this possible? —she murmured, bringing a hand to her chin.
Yuna smiled calmly.
—Haruto isn't from this world, Thalindra. He's a messenger of the goddess Mizuki.
Thalindra let out a snort, still skeptical.
—Alright… I guess I'll have to see your skills in action. But don't disappoint me.
Haruto smirked confidently.
—I promise I won't.
With the plan set, the group stepped into the dungeon.
Their footsteps echoed through the cold stone corridor.
To their surprise, the magic lamps were still lit. The luminitas glowed steadily, and the fluorescent moss along the walls helped maintain visibility.
—From here on, gear up. The enemies aren't far. —Thalindra warned.
Everyone nodded.
Yuna summoned her bow with a graceful motion.
Haruto materialized what appeared to be a katana, adjusting to its weight.
But all eyes were on Melodía.
—Materialize! Conductor Wand.
A wand shaped like a conductor's baton materialized in her hand.
—Activate Mode! Rhapsody Symphony.
Her arcane attire materialized around her, radiating the elegance of an orchestra conductor.
Thalindra smiled in approval.
—Not bad. —She raised her own hands—. Now it's my turn.
With a decisive motion, she summoned her gauntlets.
—Materialize! Elemental Might.
The heavy, gleaming gauntlets appeared in her hands, their elemental runes emitting a faint glow.
—You guys never cease to amaze me, Kizu! —Kizuna exclaimed, clapping her tiny hands as she floated around the group.
Thalindra let out a short laugh before stepping forward.
—That's nothing. Watch this.
—Activate Mode! Elemental Bastion.
A heavy silver-and-red armor appeared, enveloping her body in a flash of light. The metal's reflection contrasted against the dungeon's darkness, making her look like a walking fortress.
The group was impressed by how each of them showcased their abilities. But they quickly realized the dungeon had done the same.
From deep within the tunnel, a swarm of bats approached swiftly, their screeches echoing through the dark corridors.
Thalindra didn't hesitate for even a second. She stepped forward and took position.
—Warning! Ice Bats detected. Level 5. —Haruto's panel announced.
—Provoke! —Thalindra shouted, releasing a fiery aura that drew the bats toward her like magnets.
Yuna exchanged a quick glance with Melodía.
—C Minor Scale!
Ethereal notes emerged from Melodía's wand, slicing through the air like invisible needles, piercing the enemies with surgical precision.
Thalindra smiled, dusting off her armor.
—Precision and elegance. I expected nothing less from you.
Meanwhile, Yuna fired arrows with deadly accuracy, hitting the bats' vulnerable spots. Haruto, though still refining his sword technique, efficiently took down the ones he managed to reach.
—Let's not stop. Keep moving. —Thalindra ordered with authority.
Despite the constant encounters, the enemies gave no experience or loot due to the level difference, so they decided not to waste more time.
Finally, they reached a descending tunnel that would lead them to the dungeon's second level.
Thalindra led the way, her pointed ears twitching at every sound. Her sharp hearing kept her on alert, as did Yuna and Melodía's.
As they reached the next floor, green eyes gleamed in the darkness. From the shadows, wolves with white-and-green fur emerged, moving swiftly and gracefully.
—Warning! New enemies detected. Wind Wolves. Level 8. —Olivia announced.
Thalindra clashed her gauntlets together, generating a metallic echo that resonated through the cavern.
—Time for another round.
One of the wolves activated a wind ability, unleashing a gust of air that kicked up dust and debris, shrouding the area in a blinding storm.
—Don't spread out! —Yuna ordered, switching her bow for her sword as she tried to locate the others through the swirling dust.
The wolves took advantage of the confusion, attacking from different angles.
Thalindra, unfazed, repelled every charge with powerful blows. The storm didn't seem to affect her, as if she could see through the dense haze.
Suddenly, a wolf lunged straight at Melodía.
Before she could react, Haruto stepped in, swiftly brandishing his katana.
The blade halted the wolf mid-air, but the beast clamped its jaws around the sword, struggling fiercely.
—Thanks, Haruto. I'll finish off this pack in an instant.
Melodía raised her wand, preparing a spell.
—Don't do it! —Thalindra shouted from the front, her voice booming over the howling wind—. If you waste mana on the early floors, we'll be in trouble later!
Haruto struggled with the wolf when another one attacked from the side, tearing his coat with its claws.
Yuna moved swiftly, slicing with precision, separating the wolves and reducing the pressure on Haruto.
—"I can't keep this up… These wolves are going to take me down."
The thought of running out of mana unsettled him, but his body had already found an answer.
A wind aura surrounded him, lifting dust particles as his eyes shone with pure determination.
—"Tempest Waltz."
—I'll worry about the consequences later. I can't fall here.
He tightened his grip on his katana and advanced.
—That's it, Haruto-kyun! Finish them, Kizu! —Kizuna shouted.
The wind intensified, wrapping around Haruto in a fluid dance.
His movements, once clumsy, became agile.
—Take this!
With a diagonal slash, the gust amplified the impact, sending the wolf crashing against the rocky wall.
The beast vanished in an ethereal flash, leaving behind floating specks of light.
Thalindra, still engaged in combat, glanced over for a brief moment and smirked.
—That's the way! But don't get cocky. There are still more left.
Yuna moved with lethal grace, her sword weaving through precise slashes that kept the wolves at bay.
Her gaze met Haruto's, and she nodded approvingly before continuing her dance of deadly strikes.
Melodía, resisting the urge to use magic, positioned herself behind Thalindra, who blocked each attack with devastating blows.
—I didn't think it would be this intense so early on.
—It's a dungeon. What did you expect? —Thalindra grunted, crushing another wolf with a solid strike.
Finally, the remaining wolves retreated, leaving the path clear.
—Well done. —Yuna sheathed her sword as the wind settled—. Let's keep moving before something worse shows up.
But Thalindra raised a hand.
—Wait…
Silence reigned for a moment.
Then, from deep within the tunnel, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the walls.
The sound rumbled through the air.
The group tensed.
—It must be the first "Ascended."
Her tone was anything but reassuring.
Whatever it was… was waiting for them on the third floor.