The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

The air in the dungeon grew heavier as Aeric and the rest of the team pressed deeper into the rest of the labyrinthine Lobbies, each more treacherous than the last. The walls, slick with condensation, shimmered faintly with traces of Divinity, and the sound of distant growls echoed ominously.

The fourth Lobby greeted them with a pack of Whisperfang Hounds. These sleek, shadowy creatures had glowing, amber eyes and elongated claws that scraped against the stone floor. Their specialty was stealth; they blinked in and out of visibility, circling the group in a predatory rhythm.

"Hold formation!" Kael barked, raising his flame aegis. The fiery barrier rippled around them, forcing the hounds back momentarily.

Ryn stepped forward, his blade glinting with Essence. "Like usual... I'll dismantle their pattern." Wearing his mask, he charged, his daggers arcing through the air. The first hound blinked, but Ryn anticipated the move, his strike cleaving through it mid-teleport.

Bel chanted softly, her hands glowing as she enhanced Ryn's speed. "Stay sharp!" she called, throwing a weakening hex that slowed the hounds' movements.

Alzera spotted an opening and unleashed a barrage of sharp water jets, cutting through the pack with precision. "Dagwood, the spear!" she called.

Aeric rummaged through the heavy supply bags, pulling out a sleek, water-aligned spear and tossing it to her. "Catch!" he said, watching her impale the last hound as it lunged toward her.

They defeated those beasts easily as they had a difficulty of 40%.

They moved on to fifth Lobby, and there they found a ferocious swarm of Glimmerbeetles.

At first, it was an eerily quiet Lobby until the ground quivered. From the crevices of the walls, a torrent of Glimmerbeetles poured out. These luminescent, beetle-like creatures were no larger than a fist but made up for their size with sheer numbers and explosive Divinity cores.

"Don't let them surround us!" Kael shouted, expanding his flame aegis outward to incinerate any beetles that came too close. Read new chapters at empire

Alzera leaped onto a rock, using her elevated position to summon a wave that swept through the swarm. "Ryn, keep them from flanking!" she yelled.

"I'm on it!" Ryn charged, his blade spinning in a whirlwind, cutting a path through the swarm.

"Bel, come on! Buff them up!" Aeric said, throwing her her magical staff. Bel caught it and slammed it into the ground, sending a wave of energy that bolstered the group's defenses.

When a cluster of beetles climbed the wall and lunged toward Alzera, she slipped. Aeric moved on instinct, dashing forward and catching her arm before she hit the ground. "Gotcha," he said, his grip steady.

Alzera looked up, breathless, red cheeked. "Thanks… again."

"No problem," Aeric said quickly, setting her back on her feet. "Come on," he said, still worried his sisters could catch up. "Let's finish this."

With Aeric's encouragement, Alzera nodded, then summoned a final torrent of water, filled her sword with it, and with an arc, she drowned the remaining beetles.

They moved on to the sixth Lobby, which had a difficulty of 70%. In that Lobby, there was the legendary Boneclad Serpent.

The objective came, telling them to slay the beast in order to advance.

The sixth Lobby tested their coordination. This Boneclad Serpent was not child's play. It slithered into view, a massive skeletal beast with crystalline eyes, presenting itself to them.

It wasted no time as well. Quickly, a tail lashed out, sending shards of bone flying like projectiles.

"Kael, shield!" Alzera shouted as the shards ricocheted off the flame aegis.

Ryn darted toward the serpent, dodging its snapping jaws and putting on his mask. "I'll keep it busy!" he called, warping around and slashing at its exposed joints.

Bel whispered a spell, weakening the beast's movements while amplifying Ryn's agility. "Strike its head!" she urged.

Alzera aimed for the serpent's glowing eyes, sending sharp water bullets. "Dagwood, I need a bow!"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Aeric searched the bag for a while, but then finally found the bow and a quiver of sleek arrows. "I've found it!" he exclaimed and tossed her the sleek, wind-etched bow. "Make it count!" he said.

Alzera grabbed the bow with one hand and the quiver with another. She rolled over and positioned herself in a kneeling stance and with a sharp inhale, Alzera released a piercing shot that was assisted with gusts of wind.

It shattered one of the serpent's eyes, causing it to thrash wildly. Kael expanded his shield to protect the group as Ryn drove his dagger into the serpent's skull and pushed it further.

That was when Alzera made a swift spin, and sliced her fire infused sword through the head of the beast. The battle ended right there.

Aeric looked at the entrance of the Lobby. "Come on," he said tentatively. "Let's go."

They advanced to the final Lobby where they were to face the boss. However, as they readied themselves, they got a notification that the Cryomancer Revenant was about to be the beast to beat first.

And then, they could face the final boss.

Well that was bad news, but it was not unheard of. In the penultimate Lobby, the Cryomancer Revenant awaited them — a spectral figure encased in icy armor. It wielded a staff that summoned frigid winds and ice shards.

"Stay close!" Kael commanded, his flame aegis countering the freezing temperatures.

The revenant floated ominously, unleashing a blizzard. Ryn pushed forward, his strikes deflecting incoming shards. "It's too fast!" he growled.

"Slow it down, Bel!" Alzera shouted, attacking the monster with her frostbane dagger.

Bel imbued her staff with a hex that tethered the revenant's movements. Alzera followed up with a spiraling water cyclone, shattering its icy armor.

"Finish it!" Aeric called, throwing Alzera her ax imbued with fire. With a powerful swing, Alzera cleaved the revenant's staff, causing it to dissipate into icy mist.

They barely had time to rest after that. The ground began to tremble and the notification came that the Abyssal Behemoth was the final boss to defeat.

Once the Behemoth was killed, the entire Dungeon would be cleared. The Lobby declared its Difficulty, and it was fitting of the beast; 90%.