The moment the three groups stepped inside the Dungeon of Varnex, an eerie silence fell over them. There were no sounds, no whispers of wind, no echo of footsteps except their own. The silence was thick , too thick , making every step feel like they were walking into something unknown and dangerous. The air inside felt strange, heavy, like something was watching them from the shadows, though they could see nothing.
Despite the lack of immediate danger, all of them remained cautious. Their eyes scanned every corner, every crack in the stone wall, their ears alert for the tiniest sound. The deeper they went, the stranger it felt. No monsters. No traps. No blood. No strange smell. Nothing at all, and that was the most suspicious part of it.
Nira, walked ahead of everyone, skipping lightly from stone to stone, humming to herself, her dagger swinging at her side. Her bright energy stood out against the dullness of the dungeon. Kael stayed close to her, hands in his pockets, quietly watching. His usual smile remained on his face, calm and unreadable.
At the rear of the group were Drakar, Ruvan, and Orin. They moved in silence, eyes constantly scanning the back for any ambush. They made sure nothing could catch the group by surprise. The rest of the teams were in the middle , Grand Party, Rising Heroes, and Black Sigil mixed together but keeping formation.
They walked for a long time, yet nothing changed. No enemies appeared. No strange traps. Not even a drop of blood.
Fizzle let out a tired sigh. "How far do we have to go? I'm tired already." Syra, walking next to her, turned her head gently and replied in a soft tone, "But you're not walking." Fizzle pouted and floated a little higher. "Floating also needs energy, you know." Syra tilted her head slightly. "Oh? Is that true? I didn't know that." Fizzle just grumbled something and kept floating forward, causing a small chuckle from some of the others.
But the mood changed the moment they reached a massive open space.
It was a huge hall, far larger than any of them had expected inside a dungeon. The ceiling was high and arched, with cracked stone pillars rising toward the shadows above. The walls were dark and seemed to breathe. Strange carvings and markings lined the floor , faint, ancient runes that glowed weakly under their feet.
The Black Sigil immediately became alert. So did the Grand Party. Kael's smile faded slightly, and Junith turned her head quickly and told the Rising Heroes, "Be careful. Something's not right." They stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning the shadows around the open space. It was still quiet. Too quiet.
Then, just as they neared the center of the room, Kael's body moved like lightning. He grabbed Nira with one arm and jumped back in a flash. At the same time, Junith shouted, "Everyone, fall back!"
And then , a loud crash.
Something , or someone , fell from above, smashing into the ground with such force that dust and debris exploded in every direction. The impact shook the ground beneath their feet. The air shook with a sharp, deep rumble.
The Rising Heroes shielded their eyes as the dust filled the space. Fizzle quickly spun around in the air, trying to keep watch. While the younger heroes were stunned, the Black Sigil and the Grand Party immediately drew their weapons and formed a defensive stance.
Kael placed Nira gently behind him, drawing his katana as the dust swirled around them. And then, the dust settled. Standing in the center of the impact zone, tall and proud, was a massive creature. But it wasn't just any creature. The moment they saw him, gasps broke the silence.
He was silver-scaled, his body marked by glowing storm-blue veins that pulsed faintly with static. His eyes were golden , sharp and alive. His claws were jagged like lightning bolts, humming softly. His tail was long, whip-like, ending in sharp fan-like spikes. Wings folded behind his back, wide and powerful, colored in silver, blue, and streaks of gold with thunder-like patterns across the membranes.
It was Varnex.
The boss of the dungeon.
He stood there, tall, unmoving. His presence alone sent a wave of pressure across the room. But the question was , why was he here already? Dungeon bosses never appeared this early. Something was wrong. Kael narrowed his eyes slightly. Junith and Cyrus exchanged confused glances. The other warriors slowly tightened their grips on their weapons.
Then Varnex opened his mouth. His voice was not normal. It was layered , as if two voices were speaking at once. One voice was deep and proud, the other darker, twisted, and sick. "Welcome... to my dungeon," he said slowly, the room echoing with his words. "I hope you enjoy your visit." The strange double-voice sent a chill through everyone. "I know why you are here," Varnex continued. "So let me tell you why I am here as well." He stepped forward, claws clicking softly on the stone. "You think you can take my dungeon and win easily. That makes me laugh. You stand no chance."
Junith stepped forward slightly, calling out, "Varnex… what happened to you? Who did this to you?"
Varnex grinned "This… is nothing but power. The power of Tamokor, or as you call it… the Corrupted Core."
Cyrus took a step forward. "Who gave it to you? Who did this to you?"
Varnex laughed. The sound was heavy and unsettling. "Who did this to me?" he repeated. "Fools. I know what happened in the Dungeon of Karcanis. That beast rejected this power. He was forced to take it. But I… I chose it. I welcomed it." He raised his clawed hand, crackling with black lightning. "I chose to rise. I chose to become more. And now, I am on a level far beyond what you can imagine."
Cyrus stared at him, his face serious. "You must know it may have side effects. It's not natural. It's changing you."
Varnex smiled. His golden eyes glowed faintly. "Perhaps. But the power it brings… is worth any cost." The room went quiet again. Then Varnex's voice sharpened. "Let's make a deal."
Junith frowned. "What kind of deal?"
Varnex chuckled. "Patient, aren't you? It's simple." He raised one claw. "You defeat me… and I'll tell you everything. Everything I know." Then he lowered his claw and grinned. "But if you fail… you all die."
Immediately, everyone got into a defensive position. Weapons were raised. Magic began to glow in palms. The tension became sharp as a blade.
But Varnex laughed again. "Not so easy," he said. "You don't go straight to the boss fight, do you?" He raised both arms. "First, you must defeat my commanders. Only then shall you face me. And of course… you won't be facing them together."
A pulse of black light burst from his body. Shadows rose around the three teams.
"Let's see if you survive long enough," he whispered.
Then, darkness engulfed them. And the dungeon truly began.