The mountains finally appeared.
After two days of travel, the towering stone peaks rose before Team 18 like ancient giants guarding the horizon.
The air had grown colder.
The road slowly turned from forest paths into rocky terrain carved directly into the mountainside.
Far ahead, massive stone structures became visible.
Kael stopped walking.
"…Whoa."
Lyrielle stepped beside him.
Her emerald eyes widened.
"I've never seen anything like this."
Carved directly into the heart of the mountain stood the legendary gates of the Dwarf Kingdom.
The entrance was enormous.
Two gigantic statues of dwarven kings stood on either side of the gate, each holding a war hammer the size of a tree.
Golden runes glowed faintly across the stone walls.
Massive iron doors slowly opened as caravans moved in and out of the mountain.
Aurelia whistled.
"Okay… that's impressive."
Lucien nodded slightly.
"The engineering alone is incredible."
Seraphina studied the architecture carefully.
"The dwarves built cities that lasted thousands of years."
Kael scratched his head.
"Let's hope they also built good inns."
Lyrielle elbowed him.
"You're unbelievable."
The Mountain City
The moment they passed through the gates, the world changed.
The inside of the mountain was enormous.
A vast underground city stretched before them.
Bridges connected different stone platforms.
Massive pillars held up the cavern ceiling far above.
Glowing crystals illuminated the entire city like artificial sunlight.
The sound of hammers echoed constantly.
Dwarves moved everywhere.
Blacksmiths.
Merchants.
Warriors.
Miners.
The capital city of the Dwarf Kingdom was alive with activity.
Kael looked around in awe.
"…This place is insane."
Lyrielle laughed softly.
"You sound like a tourist."
Aurelia pointed toward a giant forge in the distance.
"Now that's a forge."
Lucien approached a dwarven guard.
"We are students from Supreme Arcanum Academy."
"We're here regarding the caravan attack."
The guard immediately straightened.
"The academy?"
He nodded respectfully.
"Follow me."
The Council Hall
They were escorted deep into the city.
Through stone corridors.
Past massive workshops.
Until they reached a large chamber carved directly into the mountain.
The Dwarven Council Hall.
Inside, several dwarven elders sat around a circular stone table.
One of them stood.
He had a long white beard braided with metal rings.
"I am Thorgar, elder of the mountain council."
"You claim to investigate the caravan attack?"
Lucien stepped forward.
"Yes."
"We encountered the attackers."
The dwarves immediately leaned forward.
Lyrielle spoke next.
"The monsters were corrupted."
"And controlled."
Seraphina added quietly,
"By a cloaked man connected to demons."
The entire room fell silent.
Thorgar's expression darkened.
"…So it has begun."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The elder slowly walked toward a large stone map carved into the floor.
For several weeks now…"
"…monsters near the Dwarf Kingdom have become violent."
"Creatures that normally live deep underground are appearing near the surface."
Aurelia crossed her arms.
"Corrupted monsters."
Thorgar nodded.
"Yes."
"And our scouts recently discovered something worse."
Lucien's voice grew serious.
"What?"
The elder pointed toward a region deep within the mountain tunnels.
"There are signs of…"
"…demonic magic."
The Secret Mine
Thorgar explained the situation.
A mining tunnel far beneath the city had been abandoned after miners disappeared.
Several investigation teams had already been sent.
None returned.
Lyrielle's expression tightened.
"So the corruption is coming from underground."
Seraphina nodded.
"That cloaked man could be hiding there."
Lucien looked toward his team.
"This is our mission."
Kael sighed.
"So we're going into creepy demon tunnels now."
Aurelia grinned.
"Adventuring."
Lyrielle whispered to Kael,
"You look scared again."
Kael smirked.
"Only a little."
A Strange Feeling
As they left the council hall, Kael suddenly slowed down.
Seraphina noticed immediately.
"…What is it?"
Kael looked toward the deeper tunnels of the city.
His chest felt strange.
A faint warmth pulsed through his body.
Almost like something…
…was calling him.
"I don't know."
"But something about this place feels…"
"…familiar."
Lyrielle looked at him carefully.
"Familiar?"
Kael nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
Seraphina watched him silently.
The same strange energy she felt during the tournament arena…
was faintly present again.
The Hidden Watcher
High above the city…
On a dark balcony carved into the cavern walls…
A cloaked figure watched the students enter the city.
The same man they chased in the forest.
His red eyes glowed faintly.
"So…"
"…they reached the mountain."
Behind him, a darker shadow appeared.
A demon's voice echoed softly.
"Are they a problem?"
The man smiled slowly.
"Not yet."
"But that boy…"
"…Kael."
"He might become one."
The demon chuckled quietly.
"Then perhaps we should kill him."
The man shook his head.
"No."
"Not yet."
"I want to see something first."
The Mission Begins
Later that evening, Team 18 stood at the entrance of the abandoned mining tunnel.
Cold air flowed out of the darkness.
The tunnel descended deep into the mountain.
Far below the city of the Dwarf Kingdom.
Lucien drew his sword.
"This is where the scouts disappeared."
Seraphina raised her blade.
"We proceed carefully."
Aurelia ignited flames in her palm.
"This is going to be fun."
Lyrielle looked toward Kael.
"Stay close."
Kael smiled.
"Always."
Then Team 18 stepped into the darkness.
Unaware that far below them…
Something ancient was slowly awakening.