The dim glow of torches flickered along the stone walls as Lior raised his hand. "Come forth!"
The familiar light burst from his palm — but this time, something was different. When the radiance settled, two unfamiliar silhouettes stood beside the elementals. One shone so brightly the chamber seemed to breathe with light, while the other devoured even the faintest glow, forming a sphere of darkness so deep it almost swallowed sound itself.
The others — Ignis, Aqua, Terra, and Sylph — stepped back instinctively.
"Who are you?" Lior demanded, his voice firm but wary.
The dark one's voice was calm, deep, almost echoing within itself. "I am the shadow that guards your light. I am Night."
Then the other stepped forward, his golden aura casting the chamber in warm brilliance. His smile was confident yet gentle. "And I am Solaris, the light that banishes the dark."
Lior blinked in shock. "Light… and shadow?"
A faint notification flickered in his mind — [New Elemental Contracts: Night and Solaris] — and memory rushed back. After the battle with the Chimera King, when the system messages had flooded his vision, he had barely noticed two faint lines:
You have gained affinity with Shadow.You have gained affinity with Light.
He hadn't understood then. But now, seeing them before him, it all made sense.
Lior smiled faintly. "I see… so you're the ones I gained after that fight."
Solaris nodded. "You've come far, summoner. Your heart carried both the courage to face darkness and the will to protect others. That balance drew us to you."
Night added quietly, "The void and the light exist together. One cannot rise without the other."
Ignis crossed his arms, flames dancing on his shoulders. "Hmph. Another pair of fancy talkers."
Solaris chuckled. "Jealous, flame?"
"Don't push it," Ignis muttered, sparks flying.
The tension broke as Aqua sighed, smiling. "At least we're a complete circle now."
Lior couldn't help but laugh softly. For the first time, his full elemental circle stood before him — six beings bound by power and trust. "Good. Then let's move. We have more floors to clear."
The group pressed on.
Every floor was a new storm of monsters — skeletal knights, corrupted mages, and beasts that oozed dark energy from their wounds. The deeper they went, the more dangerous it became. But now, their power was on another level.
Solaris moved like a comet, his golden spear tearing through enemy ranks, his light purging curses before they could reach Lior. Night, on the other hand, slipped between shadows — silent, surgical. His attacks didn't leave wounds; they left nothing.
By the 60th floor, the dungeon's air had changed. It was thicker, heavier, as if the very stone pressed against their souls.
They set up camp at the 69th floor. The air was oddly calm — no monsters in sight, only the quiet hum of energy that seeped from the walls.
Ignis sat near the fire, his flames warming the group. Aqua prepared food, Terra formed stone seats, Sylph danced lightly around the fire, drawing air to keep it alive. Solaris and Night sat opposite each other — light and shadow flickering between them like rivals of destiny.
Solaris broke the silence. "You're quiet, Night. Still hiding behind that mist of yours?"
Night didn't look up. "Silence is a weapon too, bright one."
"Hmm," Solaris smiled faintly. "Then I'll be the noise that keeps you awake."
Lior chuckled. "You two are going to drive me insane."
Despite their banter, Lior felt something deeper — their powers complemented each other perfectly. Solaris radiated warmth, hope, and clarity, while Night brought balance, strategy, and unseen strength. Together, they made his team unstoppable.
They rested, laughed a little, then pressed onward again.
By the 75th floor, the atmosphere changed again — darker, colder, and eerily still. The walls shimmered with runes none of them could read. It didn't feel like a dungeon anymore — it felt like a throne room buried underground.
"This… doesn't feel right," Aqua whispered.
Lior nodded. "Stay alert. Everyone, formation three."
The moment they stepped forward, the air trembled — clang!
A sound like a sword being drawn echoed through the chamber.
From the center of the room, a lone figure stood — armored head to toe in dark silver, a tattered cape behind him. His visor gleamed faintly blue. A single emblem shone on his chestplate — a crown.
Lior focused his appraisal skill.
[???][Race: Unknown][Rank: Royal Knight][Stats: ???????]
"Impossible," Lior muttered. "My appraisal can't read him…"
The knight raised his sword slowly, the movement sharp and graceful.
Then he moved.
SLASH!
Sylph barely saw it coming. A single cut of wind and light — and she screamed as her form flickered, her essence collapsing back into the void.
"Sylph!" Lior shouted. His heart pounded, his mana surging instinctively.
Ignis leapt forward, flames bursting around him, while Solaris and Night stepped side by side — one blinding the enemy with radiance, the other cloaking the ground in shadow.
The knight didn't speak. Didn't hesitate. He simply raised his blade again, and the air itself seemed to bow to him.
To be continued…