After their victory against the lizards, the group continued descending through the dark tunnels of the mine.
The air grew heavier, the humidity turned the heat into something unbearable, and the lack of light began to erode even Haruto's confidence.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, an unnatural silence forced them to stop.
Kizuna, floating uneasily, glanced around but found nothing unusual.
—Do you think this floor is empty, Kizu? —she asked, twirling midair with uncertainty.
Thalindra clicked her tongue, crossing her arms.
—I doubt it. The only empty floor is the fifth; it's a rest area. This is way too quiet, and I hate it when things are 'way too quiet.'
Yuna kept her sword at the ready, her eyes scanning the darkness cautiously.
—My night vision detects no movement… but that doesn't mean we're alone.
Her voice was low and firm, as if expecting something to emerge at any moment.
Melodía, ever dramatic, raised her wand with an air of grandeur.
—O light that sees all, guide our path and reveal our enemies!
Haruto sighed.
—Was that really necessary?
—Of course it was! —Melodía ignored his comment and waved her wand—. Revealing Light!
A blinding flash spread through the tunnels.
The shadows that once seemed harmless shifted into hundreds of small, oval shapes.
The tunnels were infested.
Creatures cloaked in dark magic covered the walls, the floor… even the ceiling.
Melodía closed her eyes and smiled smugly.
—Come, Haruto. Admit it. You don't need to thank me.
Haruto did not share her enthusiasm.
—Melodía… whatever you do… don't move.
Haruto's sudden serious tone sent a chill down Melodía's spine.
—What do you mean? —she asked, her voice trembling.
And that's when she felt it.
Something small and cold crawling on her shoulder.
Slowly, she turned her head.
A violet cockroach, the size of Kizuna, stared back at her, its antennae twitching restlessly.
For a moment, the two locked eyes.
—S-someone do something, Kizu! —Kizuna screamed, flying frantically in circles.
But no one moved.
The group was paralyzed, overwhelmed by the sheer number of cockroaches now covering the floor, the walls… even the ceiling.
At that moment, Olivia spoke.
—Warning! Multiple enemies detected. Darkness Cockroaches. Level 12. Disgusting… if you ask me.
—Now's not the time for your commentary, Olivia! —Haruto thought in panic.
Yuna swallowed hard, gripping her sword as she tried not to look at the creatures multiplying by the second.
—This is worse than any nightmare…
Melodía remained frozen, her face locked in a mixture of terror and disgust.
—Why… why couldn't it have been a dragon? —she murmured, her voice trembling.
Every passing second pushed her closer to breaking into tears.
—Stay away, you vile creatures!
She raised her wand in desperation.
—Symphony of Light: Oblivion!
Glowing musical notes began to etch themselves onto the enemies' bodies.
Each note shone brighter, as if charging up for something massive.
—Melodía, don't stand there alone! —Yuna shouted.
She rushed toward her without hesitation, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her back to the group.
—Tempest Veil!
Yuna summoned a dome of wind, forming a protective barrier around the party.
The notes on the cockroaches glowed intensely, reaching their peak before exploding into a symphony of light.
The enemies disintegrated instantly, leaving behind a brilliant, fleeting spectacle floating in the air.
As the radiance faded, the group stood in silence, processing what had just happened.
—Well… that was… more dramatic than necessary. —Haruto commented, wiping the sweat from his forehead and glancing at Melodía with a mix of surprise and respect.
Melodía, still trembling, adjusted her hair with forced dignity.
—That should teach them never to cross my path again. —She tried to regain her grandeur, though her voice still carried a slight tremor.
Thalindra let out a dry laugh.
—If that's what you do when you're nervous, I don't want to imagine you at the final boss.
Yuna smiled softly and placed a hand on Melodía's shoulder.
—Good job, but next time, don't stand alone.
—Understood… —Melodía murmured, looking ahead at the tunnel stretching before them.
The group reached the fifth floor, an enemy-free zone.
According to Thalindra, the area was infused with a rare mineral that repelled creatures, creating a safe haven inside the dungeon.
They took advantage of the peace to share provisions and recover their strength.
Melodía, in particular, looked exhausted after her last attack, her mana reserves down to half.
The silence was broken when Melodía set down her water bottle and pulled something from her magic bag.
—Right, I wanted to give you something.
Her bag, elegant and refined, looked like it came straight from a luxury boutique.
With delicate precision, she pulled out four bracelets and a silver feather brooch.
—These are for Haruto, Yuna, and Thalindra.
She handed a bracelet to each of them.
—What are these? —Thalindra asked, examining the item curiously.
—Manalia Bracelets. —Melodía smiled with satisfaction—. They'll boost your mana and help you last longer in battle.
Kizuna watched with sparkling eyes, clearly expecting her turn.
Melodía, noticing her anticipation, pulled out a miniature version of the bracelet and placed it around Kizuna's wrist.
—And for our little Kizuna, something special.
—Thank you so much, Kizu! —Kizuna exclaimed, admiring her gift as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
Finally, Melodía approached Simo, who had been observing from Haruto's shoulder.
—And last but not least…
With gentle care, she fastened the silver feather brooch onto the raven's plumage.
—This is my way of apologizing for what happened in the city. I hope you'll accept it.
Haruto, Yuna, and Thalindra exchanged surprised glances at the gesture.
Haruto was the first to break the silence.
—Thank you, Melodía. This means a lot.
—Yeah, thanks. —Yuna added, slipping on the bracelet while smiling warmly.
Thalindra nodded in her usual straightforward manner.
—A useful and elegant gift, just as expected from you.
Simo tilted his head slightly, accepting the gift with grace.
Melodía smiled, letting out a soft laugh before returning to her spot.
With their rest over and their energy restored, the group prepared to move forward.
Yuna stood up, smiling with determination.
—Alright, we should keep going.
Thalindra rose to her feet, adjusting her heavy armor with a firm nod.
—From the sixth floor onward, things get interesting. That's as far as I've ever gone.
—What kind of enemies are waiting for us? —Haruto asked, securing his weapons on his belt.
—Shadow Specters. —Thalindra answered seriously—. Before, I couldn't handle them, but with my current gauntlets, I can take them on. They're only vulnerable to light magic.
Melodía smirked confidently, raising her magical baton.
—Then, I believe it's time for me to shine.
—What are we waiting for?! Let's go, Kizu! —Kizuna exclaimed, floating excitedly while waving her tiny hands.
With Kizuna's energy fueling their morale, the group descended to the sixth floor.
As they arrived, total darkness swallowed them, as if the air itself was made of shadows.
The luminescent moss from the previous floors was gone, and a freezing chill crept into their bodies.
Eerie whispers filled the air, unintelligible words flowing from the very walls.
—Definitely feels like a haunted house. —Haruto murmured, trying to hide the shiver running down his spine.
—Stay close. Don't separate. —Yuna ordered, her voice firm but calm.
She unsheathed her sword, ready for anything.
—Alright, but if something suddenly jumps at us, someone else goes first. —Haruto added, activating a small magic lantern, which barely managed to pierce through the darkness.
Melodía gracefully waved her baton.
A warm glow radiated from it, gently illuminating their surroundings.
—No need to worry. This orchestra conductor won't let her audience stumble in the dark.
Thalindra took the lead, her heavy footsteps echoing across the rocky floor, setting a steady rhythm that kept the group focused.
—Be ready. If the whispers get closer, that means the Specters are near. Don't hesitate. Don't give them the chance to attack.
The group nodded, moving forward cautiously.
The oppressive darkness of the sixth floor seemed to shift, as if each shadow had a life of its own.
The whispers drifted in the air, heightening the tension.
Thalindra broke the silence, her voice carrying a faint smile, trying to ease the pressure.
—Did you know dwarves have a rule about fear? If you can't see it, it can't hurt you. That's why we keep our mines well-lit.
She paused, glancing around.
—But here... well, I guess we'll improvise.
Haruto let out a short chuckle, though his gaze remained sharp.
—So, what do we do if we can see them?
Thalindra snorted, clenching her gauntlets.
—Ah, in that case… hit them harder than they can hit you.
The group laughed softly, easing some of the tension.
But they didn't lower their guard.
The shadows moved with each step they took, while the whispers grew sharper and clearer.
Melodía raised her wand.
A flash of light emerged from the tip of her wand, illuminating the path.
—Alright, let this light guide us.
Her smile turned defiant.
—Because if something tries to hit us first… I'll make it regret it.
—Well then, let this light guide us.
Melodía smiled confidently as the light from her wand expanded a little further down the tunnel.
Thalindra clashed her gauntlets together, activating the darkness runes. The faint, ominous glow they emitted seemed to signal approaching danger.
The whispers grew louder, surrounding them completely.
Every step they took pulled them deeper into an invisible ambush.
—I can't detect anything… but I know something's there. —Yuna frowned, her elven senses at their limit.
Haruto tightened his grip on his katana, scanning the darkness.
Simo, perched on his shoulder, shifted restlessly, moving his head from side to side, as if trying to focus on something in the distance.
—See anything, buddy? —Haruto murmured.
The raven cawed, its echo ringing eerily through the tunnel.
Then, with a sharp movement, it raised its wing and pointed toward a spot in the darkness.
—Get ready. Simo detected something.
Haruto signaled toward the area, his gaze sharpening.
Thalindra moved to the front, her gauntlets glowing faintly.
Her ears twitched slightly, catching the sound of air breaking as something rapidly approached.
—Here they come. Stay close.
The tension grew with each passing second.
From the darkness, a blurred shadow shot forward, accompanied by a piercing screech that twisted the air as it moved.
—Attention! Shadow Specter detected! Level 16. Primary ability: "Ethereal Grasp."
The specter lunged at Thalindra, but the dwarf grinned confidently.
She planted her foot firmly, raised her gauntlets, and took the impact head-on.
—Come on, show me what you've got!
The specter let out a sharp wail as its claws struck the runes on Thalindra's gauntlets and was violently repelled.
Another specter materialized right in front of Haruto.
Simo cawed again, pointing with his beak.
—Watch out, offbeat! —Melodía called out, keeping the chamber illuminated with her wand.
Haruto raised his katana just in time, blocking the attack.
The sound of claws scraping against metal echoed through the air.
—That was close…
Haruto pushed the specter back, resetting his stance.
The enemy floated before him, extending a ghostly hand as its shadow stretched, moving as if trying to reach him.
—Warning! Master, that attack will drain your vitality if it touches you.
Haruto reacted instantly and, with a diagonal slash, sliced the specter in two. A tormented wail rang out before it faded into the air.
—Not bad, Haruto-Kyun! But you could do it with more style next time, Kizu. —Kizuna teased.
—With or without style, it works.
Haruto took a deep breath, scanning the area. He knew another specter could appear at any moment.
Thalindra, still locked in combat with her specter, shouted from the front:
—Less talking, more hitting! If these are just the regular enemies, the boss is going to be a real headache.
Suddenly, a swift movement caught the group's attention.
Simo shot forward, flying directly toward Yuna.
To their horror, a specter had emerged from the shadows, slowly absorbing Yuna.
—Damn it! —Thalindra growled, finishing off her enemy with a final strike—. I won't make it in time!
Yuna struggled to resist, but the specter was draining her energy rapidly.
Her desperate gaze searched for the group, but they were all too far away.
Then, Simo perched on her shoulder, and a silver aura enveloped both of them, forming a radiant barrier.
The specter let out an agonized screech, violently repelled, releasing Yuna before vanishing into the darkness.
Haruto rushed to her side, helping her stay on her feet.
—Are you okay? —he asked, his gaze shifting to Simo, filled with gratitude and amazement.
—I'm… fine. Thanks to Simo.
She gently stroked the raven, who nestled back onto her shoulder, still glowing faintly.
Thalindra approached, eyeing Simo with curiosity.
—That raven of yours… he's more than he seems, isn't he?
Melodía, still adjusting her wand, scanned their surroundings cautiously.
—If we keep this pace, these specters will finish us off before we even reach the boss. We need to stay more alert.
—Then let's keep moving, but carefully. —Haruto said, adjusting his katana, his eyes fixed on the dark tunnel stretching ahead.