Part 3
The descent to the ninth floor took longer than expected.
The air grew heavier, as if the darkness itself were silently watching. Each step echoed through the stone like a living thing — lurking, waiting.
As they crossed the threshold, the environment shifted drastically.
The floor opened into what looked like an underground graveyard.
Shattered statues, covered in glowing green moss, rose eerily through a dense fog that hovered near the ground.
—This definitely doesn't look good… —Haruto muttered, gripping his katana as he tried to pierce through the mist with his eyes.
—What is that sound…? —Melodia whispered.
A rhythmic galloping approached, accompanied by the rattling of rusted chains.
—Whatever it is, it's coming this way —Yuna warned, drawing her bow tight.
Figures emerged from the fog. Headless, cloaked in dark armor that moved with an unnatural precision. In one hand, they carried swords wreathed in black fire. In the other, heavy chains that dragged behind them.
One of the spectral knights raised its sword. A guttural roar echoed from within its armor — as if a tormented soul was trying to claw its way out.
—Here they come! —Yuna shouted, firing an arrow infused with wind energy.
The arrow flew straight through the knight and vanished, as if it had pierced smoke.
—Perfect. Apocalyptic ghost knights. Just what I needed. I'll add that to my Halloween ideas list.
—What did you expect? —Thalindra snapped, activating her gauntlets. The runes etched into them glowed with alternating light and darkness—. Fluffy white bunnies blowing kisses? The place is called "Mine of Lost Souls," Haruto.
—Maybe the real problem is that he reads too many of those... what are they called again? Mangas? —Melodia added with a teasing smirk, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.
—Don't mock him too much. That lack of common sense might be contagious —Kizuna mumbled, wings twitching anxiously.
—Thanks for the support, Kizuna. Really —Haruto sighed.
Just then, one of the riders broke formation, charging at Yuna with its chain spinning like a whip.
—Yuna, look out! —Melodia cried.
Thalindra stepped in, her stance firm like a pillar of stone.
—Provoke!
She crossed her arms to block the blow.
CLANG! The chain struck her gauntlets, sending up a spray of sparks that rang through the cavern.
—Nice save —Yuna said, stepping back with a grateful smile.
But the other three riders didn't slow.
They advanced with raised swords, unaffected and undistracted.
—Looks like they're not all that impressed —Haruto muttered, shifting into a defensive stance—. Ideas?
—Relax. This light elf's got it covered. Purging darkness is kind of my thing —Melodia declared, raising her wand dramatically.
Haruto intercepted one of the knights, his katana clashing with a blade of black fire.
Sparks erupted at the point of impact.
—Melodia… less theatrical monologues, more actual help.
She clicked her tongue with visible disdain — though a glimmer of pride sparkled in her eyes.
—Hmph. You should feel honored to witness my magic. Light mages are extremely rare. Having me in the group is a privilege.
—Yes, yes, we know you're amazing. Now help us already! —Thalindra shouted, blocking another heavy strike with her gauntlets.
Kizuna fluttered nearby, laughing nervously.
—Go on, Melodia! Show 'em you're the great diva of light, Kizu!
Simo suddenly flew off Haruto's shoulder and landed on Yuna.
Instantly, the knights shifted their focus away from her, as if the raven's presence had disrupted their senses.
—Interesting… —Yuna muttered, taking the chance to reposition and adjust her bow.
Thalindra shoved the knight in front of her back with a burst of strength.
Her left gauntlet began to glow with radiant energy.
—Lightning Strike!
A wave of radiant light burst from her gauntlet, slamming into the knight and launching it backward in a glowing arc.
—Want more? I've got plenty to go around! —Thalindra roared, bracing for the next attack.
The four riders pulled back and aligned themselves, the hooves of their mounts pounding the ground in a deafening rhythm.
—Are they planning to charge? —Yuna muttered, eyes locked on their movements.
The group held their breath. The air itself felt like it had stopped moving.
—Don't let them! —Yuna shouted— but it was already too late.
The four riders raised their swords in unison, crossing them in the air.
A dark mist poured from their bodies, engulfing them completely… and then, they vanished from sight.
—They're not getting away! —Haruto yelled, rushing forward with his katana— but the mist repelled him, forcing him to fall back.
—What's happening?! —Melodia demanded, frustration creeping into her voice.
—They're… ascending —Thalindra said gravely, her eyes glowing with sudden realization.
When the mist cleared, the group found themselves facing a single figure — towering, ominous, and far more terrifying than before.
Where there had been four, now stood only one. But it was bigger, darker and deadlier.
Its armor was etched with glowing arcane runes, pulsing faintly with purple light.
Instead of a head, it bore a burning pumpkin — its blue fire flickering silently, casting shadows that danced across the cavern walls.
In its right hand, it held a massive sword engulfed in spectral blue flames. In its left, a heavy chain that cracked against the ground with each movement.
Its steed, equally imposing, let out a thunderous whinny. Its eyes glowed with the same eerie blue.
—This can't be good… —Haruto said, lifting his katana—. Any ideas?
Yuna stepped forward, her eyes analyzing the enemy.
—It absorbed the strength of the others. Now it's much stronger. We'll need strategy to take it down —her voice was firm, calling for action.
The knight raised its sword. The blue fire roared. The ground trembled.
—Come at me! —Thalindra shouted, raising her gauntlet in defiance—. Let me show you what dwarves are made of!
The horse stomped the ground hard. It neighed — accepting the challenge.
Then, the rider dismounted.
The horse, acting with a will of its own, charged toward Thalindra, eyes blazing with spectral light.
—Seriously? Now the horse wants to fight too? —Haruto asked, disbelief in his tone.
—Even better —Thalindra grinned, sparks in her eyes—. I've always wanted to teach a spectral horse who's boss.
Melodia, focused, lifted her wand with practiced elegance, eyes locked on the still-standing knight.
—Leave the specter to me. It's time you witnessed my brilliance.
—Crescendo Star!
Stars of light began to form above her head.
With a sweeping gesture, she launched them at the enemy — a brilliant rain of pure magical energy.
The stars struck the knight, each impact flaring with blinding light and echoing through the cavern.
Even with its resilience, the specter staggered under the force of her magic.
—Now that's what I'm talking about, Melodia! —Haruto grinned, charging straight for the knight.
Thalindra, meanwhile, squared off against the spectral horse — which watched her movements with unnatural precision.
—Come on, don't keep me waiting —she growled, her gauntlets blazing with energy.
The horse ignited in blue flames and charged like a runaway train. Its hooves thundered like stormclouds crashing down.
Thalindra braced herself, feet planted solidly but the impact shoved her back several meters.
Blue fire swirled around her armor, crackling as it tried to consume her.
—Thalindra, watch out! —Yuna called, unable to find a clear shot from her angle.
But the dwarf burst into laughter.
—Fire? On me? —she scoffed, brushing the flames away with a sharp flick—. I'm from Molgaroth! I've boiled water with lava!
She slammed her gauntlets together. The runes of darkness and fire ignited with force.
—Now I'll show you real fire.
—Dark Forge!
Her fists blazed with sparking blue flames. Like a cannonball of energy, she launched herself at the spectral horse, unleashing her full strength.
The beast's screech echoed through the chamber. Flames engulfed it entirely, consuming its body until it crumbled into ashes and light.
Thalindra stood tall, breathing heavily. She adjusted her gauntlets and turned back to the group.
—See that? Even ghostly beasts learn to respect a dwarf.
—Incredible… —Yuna whispered, a mix of relief and admiration in her voice.
—Now that was stylish —Haruto added, shifting his focus back to the main knight.
The real fight was just beginning.
Haruto clashed blades with the rider again and again. Despite the intensity, his eyes remained shut — his movements fluid, almost like a dance.
Yuna narrowed her eyes.
—Musashi Mode… —she murmured—. He only uses that when he's serious.
—That idiot's going to burn himself out before we even reach the boss —Melodia huffed, equal parts worried and annoyed.
Thalindra leaned against a rock, chugging a health potion in one go. Her energy bar was in the red — but her spirit was anything but.
—It's your turn now… at least until I recover.
Yuna approached Melodia, whispering something.
Melodia listened, raised an eyebrow... and then smiled theatrically.
—I can't believe I like your plan.
—Haruto, on the count of three—open him up! —Yuna called.
Haruto nodded without opening his eyes, still parrying the knight's strikes with precise movements.
—This better work —Thalindra muttered from her corner, recovering.
The knight raised its sword high. The blue fire flared intensely — energy building into a terrifying surge.
Yuna drew her bow tight. Behind her, Melodia began channeling, her wand glowing brilliantly.
The moment was here.
One mistake… and it would all be over.
—Symphony of Light: Oblivion —Melodia declared with dramatic flair, her wand shining with overwhelming radiance.
A stream of light enveloped Yuna's arrow, transforming it into a brilliant projectile — a pure arrow of light, radiating raw magical power.
—Now, Haruto! —Yuna shouted.
Haruto stepped aside just as the knight's sword came crashing down.
The impact unleashed a shockwave of blue fire but Haruto was already clear, leaving an open path for the counterattack.
—Hunter Shoot: Oblivion! —Yuna and Melodia shouted in unison, their voices ringing with determination.
The arrow shot forward like lightning, cutting through the air with blinding speed, leaving a radiant trail behind it.
The knight raised its sword to block but the arrow struck with devastating force.
The blade shattered into a thousand pieces. The blue fire vanished in an instant.
The arrow's energy tore through its magical defenses, layer by layer, without slowing down.
Finally, the arrow struck dead center in the knight's torso.
A blinding flash filled the cavern, followed by a thunderous blast that signaled the battle's end.
When the light faded, only ashes remained where the Spectral Knight once stood.
The group stood in silence, taking in what had just happened.
—That was amazing! —Kizuna squealed, fluttering excitedly around Yuna and Melodia—. You literally blew him up, Kizu!
Melodia lowered her wand, crossing her arms with a proud smile.
—Of course it was amazing. What did you expect? —Melodia tried to sound haughty, though she was clearly drained.
Yuna lowered her bow with a quiet sigh of relief.
—Nice work, Melodia —she said with a calm smile, her voice carrying both respect and gratitude.
Haruto approached, visibly exhausted. His steps were slow, and his face clearly showed the toll the battle had taken.
—That was... impressive —he murmured with a tired smile before slumping down against a rock.
His health bar was dangerously low.
—Let's take a break —Thalindra suggested, dropping heavily to the ground and pulling out another health potion—. Recover what you can. The final boss won't be any kinder than that one.
Yuna crouched down and picked up the item left behind by the fallen knight.
Her eyes wandered toward the dark tunnel leading to the next floor.
For a long moment, she just stared — silent.
What they had just overcome was no small feat. Without Thalindra or Melodia, they wouldn't have made it this far. What had started as a makeshift group… was now a solid, dependable unit.
And what awaited below… would be worse.
The darkness beyond the tunnel felt like a warning but also a calling. She remembered why they were here. And who they were fighting for.
For now, all they could do… was rest. And enjoy the moment of peace.