Elsewhere in the dungeon…
Team Selvin Arcos, Tessan Vrey, and Delan Mirros found themselves in a labyrinth of foggy caves, filled with echoing whispers and flickering shadows.
Selvin conjured a frost barrier as shadowy creatures lunged toward them. "This place messes with your mind…"
Tessan grunted, swinging his twin daggers through a wraith-like figure. "Is it weird I kinda like it?"
Delan focused silently, summoning a field of ice spikes. "Keep moving. The dungeon's alive. And it's watching."
As more illusions swirled through the mist, their figures blurred… and vanished from our view.
---
Meanwhile…
Team Arisella's corridor—now scorched and trembling.
The Magmablood Knight stood tall—an ancient suit of molten armor, steam billowing from its joints. Its red sword hissed as it dragged against the floor.
Fiora's hand trembled for the first time. "That's not a C-class creature…"
Elvren cracked his neck. "Which makes it perfect."
Arisella's gaze never wavered. "Formation Omega."
Fiora raised her staff. "Reinforcement field—Deployed."
Blue rings spread under their feet, fortifying their physical and magical resistance.
The knight raised its blade and charged, surprisingly fast for its bulk.
CLANG!
Arisella blocked the first strike—her twin swords glowed with divine light, yet the impact pushed her back several steps.
Elvren stepped in, fire swirling. "My turn."
"Solar Crest: Burn Spiral!"
A cyclone of fire spiraled from his arms, crashing into the knight's chest.
The beast stumbled, glowing cracks forming on its armor—but it retaliated with a molten slash that tore through the cave wall, sending debris flying.
Fiora gritted her teeth, chanting faster. "Blessing of Aether—Light Mend!"
A warm glow pulsed from her staff, healing Arisella's bruises and restoring Elvren's spent mana.
The knight stomped, the floor glowing beneath it—a lava trap erupted under Fiora.
"Fiora—!" Arisella called out.
But she had already raised her barrier. "I've got myself covered."
Suddenly, the knight split its blade in two—twin molten sabers crackled in its hands. Its speed increased. It came for all three at once.
Slash. Slash. Spin. Slam.
Flames roared, magic clashed—this wasn't training. This was war.
Elvren was laughing now, flames spiraling around him like living creatures. "Yes! This is what I live for!"
Arisella's eyes glowed silver. "Heaven's Edge: Mirrorfall!"
From above, silvery blades of light rained down, pinning the knight in place for just a moment.
"Fiora!"
"On it!"
Fiora raised both hands, pushing every last drop of mana.
"Aether Seal!"
A burst of divine pressure slammed into the knight's molten core—the cracks from Elvren's fire and Arisella's blades widened.
The Magmablood Knight staggered…
Elvren took the final step.
"Ashborn Flash."
He appeared behind it, whispering to the flames.
Then—
BOOM.
A phoenix-shaped explosion tore through the corridor. When the light faded, only molten rubble remained.
Fiora slumped to the wall, breathing hard. "We're alive…"
Elvren dusted himself off. "You're welcome."
Arisella simply said, "We move. There's still more ahead."