Meredith glanced at the students, gauging their reactions.
Some looked relieved at how easily the zombies had been dispatched, while others remained tense, gripping their weapons or wands with white-knuckled hands.
Richard, for his part, merely folded his arms. If this is all we're dealing with, then this really is just a glorified lecture, he thought. He understood why they needed to start at the basics, but it didn't make it any less dull. And do they even know how to use those things they're holding?
Meredith turned on her heel. "Let's keep moving. The Dungeon's boss should be ahead. Once we reach it, we'll discuss Dungeon closure and proper exit procedures."
They pressed on, the tunnel narrowing slightly as the air grew even more stifling. The dampness of the stone walls and the faint, ever-present scent of decay made it an unpleasant experience. The eerie blue crystals embedded in the walls provided just enough illumination to see the uneven path, though shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, playing tricks on their minds.
A few more zombie thralls appeared, but they were quickly dispatched by Meredith before they posed any real threat. Richard's frustration grew with each encounter—there was nothing for him to do but watch.
Anne, seemingly emboldened by her earlier success, stuck close to Meredith, her eyes sharp as she watched the simple fireballs being cast. James, the dark-haired boy who had asked about the spell earlier, walked near the back, occasionally muttering under his breath with another boy.
Unbeknownst to him, both Meredith and Richard could hear him clearly.
"The bitch thinks she's so great," he grumbled. "If they'd teach us that fireball spell, I could clear the Dungeon faster than she does."
The other boy snickered in agreement, adjusting his grip on his wand. "Yeah, it's not like these zombies are even a challenge. My little sister could handle them."
Richard felt a flash of anger. These children have no idea what real danger is like—or how quickly a single mistake can lead to death in a Dungeon. Still, he held his tongue, certain Meredith would deal with their attitude soon enough.
Eventually, the path opened into a wider chamber, and the atmosphere shifted.
"See that door over there?" Meredith pointed to a three-metre stone archway. "That's where our boss awaits. Before we proceed, gather around—it's time for a crucial lesson on boss-room identification and safety protocols."
She waited patiently until the trainees had formed a semi-circle around her, their faces illuminated by the crystals' glow. Meredith raised her hand, pointing firmly towards the archway.
"When you approach a Dungeon's boss chamber, there are always signs—physical and magical—that you need to spot immediately. Ignoring these can be fatal." Her voice grew serious, losing the casual edge she'd maintained so far.
"Who can tell me what they see?" she asked sharply.
The students craned their necks, eyes narrowed in concentration. Richard studied the doorway as well, though he already knew the telltale signs: the stones around the archway pulsed faintly with magic, shimmering in a rhythmic pattern that almost resembled breathing. The air felt denser, charged with suppressed energy.
Anne hesitated, glancing nervously at her classmates before speaking up. "There's a door. We haven't encountered any constructs in the Dungeon yet. And… the air feels different here—heavier. The stones around the doorway are glowing in a pattern."
"Exactly," Meredith said, beaming at the ginger girl.
James scoffed quietly from behind, barely audible, but Richard heard it clearly enough. Meredith must have caught it too, because her eyes flicked in his direction, cold and unamused.
"James," she said sharply, "since you find this amusing, perhaps you'd like to lead us inside first?"
His eyes widened, startled at being called out. "I—I didn't say anything," he protested weakly, cheeks colouring.
Meredith raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh, but you did. If you think you're skilled enough to underestimate this Dungeon, prove it. I'll even give you a tome for the fireball spell you want."
Richard couldn't help a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. She's quite mischievous, eh?
James hesitated, clearly regretting his earlier bravado. Yet all the other students were now staring, waiting to see what he'd do. He took a shaky breath, gripping his wand tighter, but Meredith raised a hand to stop him.
"Before you proceed, remember: once you enter a boss room, the doors usually seal shut until the boss is defeated—or until all who enter are dead." She let the gravity of that statement sink in. "James, are you still confident enough to enter alone?"
James shook his head vigorously, his bravado thoroughly crushed. "No, ma'am," he mumbled, gaze lowered.
"That's what I thought. Now stop being a dunderhead and try to learn from this experience," Meredith said, her voice echoing off the walls.
With a final reproachful glance at James, she turned to the rest of the group, motioning for them to follow. Placing a hand against the stone door, she murmured something, causing the runes around it to flare brightly for a moment.
"All right. Behind this door, there's only a high F-Rank zombie," she revealed. "I'll step inside, and I'll wait for you to follow me before starting the encounter. Remember, this is still a real boss fight, even if it's just for training. Stay alert and follow my lead."
Meredith pushed the door open and slipped inside. As soon as she disappeared from view, the rest of the students froze, glancing uneasily at each other.
Bloody hell. This can't be happening, Richard thought in exasperation, and he strode into the boss room after her.
The chamber beyond was large and dimly lit, illuminated only by clusters of the same eerie blue crystals that lined the Dungeon's corridors. In the centre stood the zombie boss—a grotesque figure, twice the size of a normal thrall, riddled with rot and towering ominously in the murky gloom.
Meredith waited near the entrance, arms folded, a faint smirk on her lips. "Took your sweet time," she teased in a low murmur.
He sighed in reply, taking up a position beside her. "It looks like your group is full of wusses," he quipped under his breath.
He could have used Burst Step to finish off the boss in seconds, but… the kids have to learn, he reminded himself.
Moments later, the trainees filed in timidly, huddling behind their instructor. James, conspicuously pale, kept close to the rear, avoiding everyone's eyes.
Meredith unfolded her arms and stepped forward. "Watch closely," she instructed, raising her hand. "When dealing with a boss, you must finish it quickly. Sometimes they have hidden abilities—and you don't want to discover those the hard way."
The zombie boss stirred, letting out a guttural roar as it lunged forward with surprising speed. Several students gasped, scrambling backwards in alarm.
Yet Meredith remained calm. Her hand glowed with bright energy, the air shimmering as a blazing orb of flame coalesced around her fingers. She hurled it without hesitation, striking the zombie square in the chest.
Fire erupted on impact, the monster staggering backwards as its rotting flesh went up in flames. Unfazed, Meredith conjured a second fireball, launching it immediately with pinpoint accuracy. It slammed into the boss, engulfing the creature completely. With a final, shuddering groan, the zombie collapsed, reduced to little more than smouldering ash.
Silence settled over the chamber, broken only by the crackle of embers dying against the cold stone floor.
"See?" Meredith said smoothly, turning back to the students. "That is how you clear a Dungeon boss."
Richard suppressed a chuckle, sneaking a glance at James's thoroughly chastened expression.
"Any questions?" Meredith asked, raising an eyebrow.
Not a single student dared reply.