Chapter 32: The Artificial Dungeon

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Artificial Dungeon

Only a few minutes had passed since Zarl’s projection had vanished. Arin stood at the dungeon entrance, his sword already in his hands. The Dungeon Master’s Mark was still glowing faintly. He turned to Ayan and Saira. "We stay together." Saira nodded. "Obviously." Ayan gave a short nod as well. "Agreed." Arin stared into the darkness. "Mira is in there somewhere." He clenched his jaw. "We find her and get out." Nobody argued. Arin stepped forward, crossing the threshold. At once, the feeling of the village was gone.

The wind, the birds, the distant voices, everything was gone. It was as if they were inside a soundproof chamber. Arin turned his head, taking in the sight before him. Smooth stone, flat floor, an evenly built ceiling. There were no natural formations, no roots, nothing that would be found in a natural cave. Arin frowned. "This isn’t a dungeon." "It is," Ayan said. "But it’s..." Arin trailed off. "Artificial," Ayan finished.

Arin turned to him, surprised. Ayan’s expression was grim. "Every single detail was made," He said. Saira ran a hand along one of the walls. "This isn’t natural at all."

"No, it isn’t," Ayan agreed. Arin looked up at the endless corridor ahead. "Zarl built all this?" Ayan gave a short nod. "Yes." Arin narrowed his eyes. "Why?" Ayan didn’t answer. They continued walking in silence, the only sound being their footsteps. Step after step, Arin glanced at his hand. The Dungeon Master’s Mark was still glowing.

"It hasn’t stopped," He muttered.Ayan looked at it as well. "The Mark is reacting to the dungeon," He said. "But I can’t control anything," Arin said. "That is because you are not connected to its core," Ayan replied.

Arin looked at him. "So being a Dungeon Master doesn’t automatically let me control every dungeon?" "Correct."

Ayan replied. Arin gave a slow nod. "Good to know." Ayan’s expression softened. "Very good to know." They continued walking.

Then, suddenly, growls echoed in the corridor. Everyone stopped. More growls followed, coming from the darkness ahead. Saira lowered herself slightly. "Monsters," she said. Arin raised his sword. "Stay close."

Ayan moved to his left, while Saira took the position on his right. They advanced cautiously, until the corridor opened up into a large chamber Several creatures stood in the center. Arin’s eyes widened. "Chimeras?"

There were six of them, some of which had humanoid features, while the others barely resembled humans at all. The creatures turned their heads, locking eyes with Arin.

Saira’s expression darkened. Ayan’s grip on his sword tightened. Arin raised a hand. "Don’t." Saira looked at him. "They’re going to attack." "I know," Arin said. "Then let me kill them." "No," Arin said firmly. Saira’s expression was thunderous. "Arin." "We don’t know if there’s a way to save them," Arin said. Ayan looked at the chimeras, his expression even colder than before. "We cannot hesitate forever." Arin glanced at him. "I’m not asking you to hesitate," He said, tightening his grip on his sword. "I’m asking you to wait."

One of the chimeras charged at him, but Arin stepped to the side, avoiding the attack.

CLANG!

Arin’s blade met the creature’s claws, sending a shockwave down his arm. He gritted his teeth. "Strong!" Another chimera jumped at him from the side, but Saira was faster. "Arin!" She cried. "I’ve got it!" Arin ducked under the attack, slashing the creature’s arm. The chimera staggered back, but another one was right behind it. Ayan moved forward, blocking the attack. "Three on the left," He said. "I see them!" Saira said. She rushed forward, dodging one of the attacks and slashing the other chimera’s side, sending it flying into the wall with a loud BOOM! Arin looked at her, surprised. "Saira!" She stopped, turning to him. "What?" "Don’t kill them!" Arin said.

She clenched her fists. "I know!" Another chimera attacked her, but she blocked it, her expression growing more and more frustrated with every blow. "I hate this." Arin knew exactly how she felt. He hated it as well. But something about this entire situation was wrong. The chimeras weren’t behaving like mindless monsters. They were being used, just like the villagers above. Arin pushed one of the chimeras back. "Someone is controlling them." Ayan’s eyes narrowed. "Yes." Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. Arin stopped, looking around. "What was that?"

Ayan turned around. "Move!" The floor between them split open. "Arin!" Saira cried.

She jumped back as a wall rose from the ground, separating them from Arin. Arin reached out for her. "SAIRA!" Their hands almost met before the wall came between them.

BOOM!

Arin stumbled back, looking at the wall. "Saira!" He turned to the wall. "Wait!" Ayan said, grabbing his shoulder. "Don’t." Arin turned to him. "Let go!" "The dungeon is changing." "I know!" Arin yelled. "You don’t," Ayan said, looking at the wall. "It separated us deliberately." Arin’s expression darkened.

"Zarl." Ayan nodded. "Most likely." Arin tried to slash the wall, but his blade only bounced off. "Saira!" His voice echoed in the corridor, but there was no answer. Arin turned to Ayan. "We go around." Ayan nodded. "Yes."

They ran. On the other side of the wall, Saira stood, staring at it. "Arin!" She received no answer. Her expression darkened. Then, she heard growls behind her. Saira turned around, her eyes widening. Three chimeras were standing in the corridor. She clenched her fists. "You’ve got to be kidding me." The chimeras charged at her, but Saira’s expression hardened. "Fine." She ran forward, meeting their attacks.

Meanwhile, Arin and Ayan ran through the corridor. Arin looked around. "Where did that come from?" Ayan examined the walls, his expression growing more and more troubled. Arin noticed it. "What?" Ayan said nothing, running his fingers along the wall.

For a few seconds, he was silent, his fingers tracing the carvings. Then, his grip tightened. "This design..." Arin said. "What about it?" Ayan asked. Ayan pulled his hand back. "Nothing." Arin frowned. "That’s not nothing." Ayan looked at him. "We need to keep moving.""You’re hiding something," Arin said. "Yes," Ayan replied. Arin stopped. Ayan kept walking.

Arin looked at his back. "Ayan." The dragon stopped. Arin’s voice was quiet. "If this place reminds you of something..." Ayan didn’t turn around. "...you need to tell me." There was a long pause. Then, Ayan spoke. "Not yet." Arin sighed. He followed him, not noticing the faint blue glow that had appeared in the ceiling. A magical eye opened, watching them.

Meanwhile, deep inside the dungeon, Zarl was watching the events unfold on a crystal ball. The servant was standing next to him.

"They have been separated," the servant said. Zarl nodded. "Good." The servant looked at the image. "The demon is alone." "Yes," Zarl said. "And the Dungeon Master is with the dragon." "Exactly," the servant said. The servant frowned. "Why separate them?" Zarl smiled. "Because I want to see how they act when they cannot rely on each other." He raised his hand, and the image changed. It showed Saira fighting the chimeras. Arin and Ayan continued running. Zarl watched. "The demon will fight," He said. He raised his hand again, and the image changed to show Arin and Ayan running through the corridor. "The Dungeon Master will search for his maid," Zarl said. Then, his gaze fell on Ayan. "And the dragon..." Zarl’s smile vanished. "...will remember." The servant looked at him.

"Remember what?" Zarl said nothing, only watching the image.

Back in the dungeon, Arin and Ayan continued running. The corridor seemed to stretch for miles. Arin looked at his quest log.

[Time Remaining: 06:47:19]

His expression darkened. "Almost seven hours." Ayan looked at him. "What?" Arin shook his head. "Nothing." He looked ahead. "We need to move faster." They ran. Then, a voice called out to him.

"Arin."

Arin stopped, his eyes widening. "Mira?" The voice called out again. "Arin..." He turned around, running back the way they came. Ayan followed him. They entered the chamber, but it was empty. Arin looked around. "Mira!" He called. Nothing. Ayan’s expression darkened. "It was an illusion."

Arin clenched his fists. "He knows exactly what to use against me." A faint laugh echoed in the chamber.

Zarl’s voice. "Of course I do." Arin turned around. "Zarl!" There was no one there.

Then, the floor beneath Arin’s feet gave way. "ARIN!" Ayan cried. He reached out for Arin, but it was too late. Arin fell through the opening. "AYAN!" Arin shouted. The dragon jumped after him, but another wall appeared between them.

BOOM!

Arin landed on the ground, disappearing into the darkness. Ayan pounded the wall.

"ARIN!"

There was no answer. The dungeon was silent. Ayan stood alone, his expression dark. For the first time since they entered the dungeon, his calm mask was gone. "This..." he muttered, looking at the carvings on the wall. "...was built by someone who understood the Dungeon Master." His fists clenched.

Meanwhile, deep inside the dungeon, Arin opened his eyes. He was alone. The Dungeon Master’s Mark was still glowing. And in the darkness ahead of him...

Something growled.