Thump!
Ares stumbled forward. As the red light faded, his feet landed on the cold stone floor. The damp air filled the air, tinged with the smell of rusted metal.
"Uh… this isn't a city anymore," Lyra muttered, her face pale. The staff in her hand trembled.
They stood in a wide hallway with black stone walls, overgrown with glowing green moss. Ancient torches burned with blue flames, though it was clear no one had lit them.
Ryn emerged from the shadows, her eyes sweeping around. "Dungeon. And from the aura… this isn't a beginner's dungeon."
Orion crouched down, examining the scratches on the floor. "There are tracks. Other players have already entered."
Ares frowned. "They were in a hurry."
"Too hasty," Orion said, his voice even. "Look at this."
He pointed to a dark red spot on the floor. Blood.
Lyra covered her mouth, her body trembling. "That… that's real blood, not a visual effect."
A moment of silence fell over them. This game world wasn't just a game anymore. The wounds, the pain, even the blood… it was all real.
Ares took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his chest. "We have to be more careful than anyone else."
They walked deeper. The sound of dripping water echoed, mixed with faint whispers of unknown origin.
"Hear that?" Lyra whispered.
"Dungeons are always full of tricks," Ryn replied coldly, her hand poised on the hilt of her dagger.
Orion trailed behind, his bow drawn. "Those whispers… weren't echoes. There's something here watching."
The hallway widened, opening into a large hall. In the center stood a three-meter-tall statue—a knight in armor, his face covered by a helmet, holding a large sword buried in the floor.
Lyra swallowed. "Is that a guard…?"
Ares raised a hand, signaling for the others to stop. He stepped slowly forward, his eyes fixed on the statue.
When he was only a few steps away—the statue's eyes flashed red.
GRRRAAAHH!
The stone statue moved, raising its giant sword with a terrifying roar.
The system beeped in their ears.
[Boss Guardian: Stone Warden]
[Level: 15]
[Special Rule: Player damage will be felt for real.]
Orion hissed. "Damn, this isn't just a mini-boss."
Ares raised his sword, his eyes burning with determination. "There's no turning back. If we fail here, we'll never find the key clue."
Lyra nodded, though her hands were shaking. "I'll keep you alive."
Ryn smiled faintly, her eyes cold. "Finally, something worth killing."
The Stone Warden swung his sword. The ground shook, and shards of stone flew. Ares jumped to the side, bracing himself with pain as a splinter hit his arm. The pain was palpable, piercing.
"Focus on his joints!" Ares shouted.
Orion had already released an arrow, striking the stone figure in the shoulder. A small crack appeared, but the Stone Warden barely budged.
"Insane defense," Orion growled.
Ryn ran in a circle, her body almost blurring into shadow. She stabbed her dagger into the gap in the Stone Warden's ankle, causing the monster to flinch slightly.
Lyra raised her staff, and a white light enveloped Ares. "Heal!" The pain in Ares's arm subsided, giving him room to continue fighting.
"Don't let a single blow land fully!" Lyra shouted.
The Stone Warden's giant sword swung again, this time straight at Ares. He parried, but the force was overwhelming.
CRACK!
Ares was sent flying, his body slamming against the wall. Fresh blood flowed from his temple.
"Ares!" Lyra ran, panicked.
Ares wiped the blood away with the back of his hand, then stood back up. His breath was labored, but his eyes burned with a burning determination.
"This is real pain…" he whispered. "And precisely because of that—I will not lose."
The Stone Warden's greatsword rose again, emitting a heavy sound like clashing metal. Cracks in the floor spread in all directions with each foot.
Ares crouched, raising his sword with both hands. His breathing was ragged, but his gaze never wavered.
"Orion, shoot the knee joint!" he shouted.
"I thought of it!" Orion drew his bow, releasing two arrows at once. The arrows lodged directly into the crack in the stone joint. The Stone Warden was pushed back slightly, his movements slowed by a fraction of a second.
Ryn didn't waste the opportunity. Her body flashed like a shadow, her dagger striking the back of the monster's knee. A crack rang out, and the Stone Warden's knee cracked even wider.
"Good! Keep going!" Ares advanced, his sword gleaming as it slashed across the monster's waist. Another crack appeared, but Ares's sword trembled as it carried a thousand kilos of weight.
The Stone Warden roared, his sword swinging against the wall. Dust and rocks flew, making Lyra cough as she kept her staff raised.
"Ares, be careful!" She channeled energy, a green glow covering Ares's body, healing his wounds bit by bit.
But even though he was healed, the pain didn't completely disappear. Ares's body remained bruised, his bones throbbing violently.
"I can take it," he muttered, though sweat poured down his face.
The Stone Warden stomped his foot. The floor shook, and stone pillars rose from the ground, trying to crush the players.
Ryn jumped, narrowly missing a sudden pillar. "Damn, this dungeon is truly cruel!"
Orion shifted back, releasing an energy-coated arrow that pierced one of the pillars before striking the Stone Warden in the back. The crack in the red light widened immediately.
"Now, Ares!" he shouted.
Ares channeled all his energy. The sword in his hand glowed faintly, a buff from Lyra. He screamed and slashed straight at the Stone Warden's chest.
CRACK!
A crunching sound echoed. The statue's chest shattered, the red light within pulsing wildly like a bursting heart.
The Stone Warden let out a long wail before his body cracked completely. Stone fragments flew in all directions, sending up an explosion of dust that shook the hall.
Silence.
Ares fell to his knees, his breath ragged. His hands trembled violently, as if his bones might break at any moment.
Lyra immediately ran over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Greater Heal!" White light enveloped Ares, partially closing the wound and soothing the pain.
Orion lowered his bow, his face remaining cold. "A warm-up battle... already this crazy."
Ryn wiped her dagger, covered in stone dust, then slid it back. "If this is just the dungeon entrance, I can't wait to see what's inside."
Lyra stared at him in horror. "How can you still smile?"
Ryn only replied with a cold stare, her smile faint and dangerous.
Suddenly, the system notification sounds rang out in unison.
[Quest Update: The First Step]
[You have successfully defeated the first Guardian. The clue to the Key of Return has been unlocked.]
In the center of the room, a blue light appeared, forming a path of light leading to the next passage.
Ares stood slowly, his eyes fixed on the light. "The first clue… finally appeared."
Lyra looked at him worriedly. "But if every step is this terrifying… what if we can't reach the end?"
Ares gripped his sword tighter. His body still ached, but the determination in his eyes was unwavering.
"We have no choice, Lyra. If the Key of Return really is in here, then the only way… is to keep going."
Orion stepped beside Ares, his bow ready to be drawn at any moment. "I agree. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can escape this nightmare."
Ryn led them, stepping into the path of light with light steps. "Stop talking. If you're afraid, let me go on ahead."
Ares smiled faintly, though his face was covered in sweat. "No. This time, I'll lead the way."
He stared at the glowing passageway, then stepped inside.
Each step felt heavy, not because of his injuries, but because of the burden he carried. Not just his own—but also the hopes of Lyra, Orion, Ryn, and perhaps thousands of other players waiting for a way out.
But as soon as they passed through the light, something changed.
The passageway wasn't just a path. The air was piercingly cold, and faint shadows whispered in their ears. It was as if the dungeon was alive, aware of their presence.
Ares's eyes narrowed. "I can sense… something waiting for us inside."
Orion took a deep breath. "The real question isn't what awaits…"
He turned, looking at Ares seriously.
"…but who will survive to the end."