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Chapter 80: Descent into the Dungeon of the Leech
Chapter 80: Descent into the Dungeon of the Leech
The air inside the Assassin’s Guild was thick with the scent of old parchment and bloodstained contracts. Seraphis, Elowen, and Sylvaine stood before the guild’s representative, a man clad in dark leather, his face partially obscured by a hood.
He held out a mission scroll, his voice calm yet commanding. “This one is different. A dungeon extermination.”
Sylvaine arched a brow. “Assassins in a dungeon? That’s not our usual style.”
The representative nodded. “The target is a creature called ‘The Leech.’ It’s been devouring adventurers and growing stronger. No one has reached the bottom of this dungeon and lived to tell the tale.”
Seraphis took the scroll and skimmed through the details. “Twenty-five floors…”
Elowen crossed her arms. “So, what’s the catch?”
The representative smirked. “The deeper you go, the worse it gets.”
Seraphis rolled up the scroll. “Then let’s get started.”
The Dungeon Entrance
They stood before the gaping maw of the dungeon—an ancient ruin buried beneath the earth. The entrance was framed by crumbling stone pillars, covered in strange, writhing symbols that seemed to pulse with an eerie glow.
Sylvaine stepped forward, peering into the darkness. “Looks inviting.”
Elowen pulled out a dagger. “Let’s hope there’s something worth killing in there.”
Seraphis smirked. “Only one way to find out.”
With that, they stepped inside.
Floor 1: The Sinking Depths
The air grew damp the moment they crossed the threshold. The stone walls were slick with moisture, and a foul stench clung to the air. Water dripped from above, pooling into shallow streams along the cracked floor.
Sylvaine took a cautious step forward—and the ground suddenly sank beneath her foot.
She flipped backward just in time as the floor collapsed, revealing a pit lined with jagged spikes.
Elowen exhaled. “Traps already? They’re not wasting time.”
Seraphis knelt beside the pit, analyzing the surroundings. “The ground here isn’t stable. Stay light on your feet.”
They advanced slowly, moving with precise steps. The corridor twisted and turned, leading them into a cavernous chamber filled with knee-deep water.
Then, the water began to ripple.
Sylvaine’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s moving.”
From the murky depths, a swarm of leech-like creatures burst forth, their slimy bodies writhing toward them. Their mouths were lined with razor-sharp teeth, and their bodies pulsed with an unnatural glow.
Elowen reacted first. She flicked her wrist, sending a dagger flying into the nearest leech.
The moment the blade pierced it, the creature screeched—but instead of dying, it split into two.
Sylvaine cursed. “They multiply.”
Seraphis unsheathed her metal playing cards, their edges gleaming. “Then we cut them faster than they can divide.”
With a single motion, she sent her cards flying in rapid succession, slicing through the swarm before they could overrun them.
Elowen and Sylvaine moved in sync—dodging, striking, and keeping the creatures at bay.
After several tense minutes, the last leech fell lifeless into the water.
Seraphis retrieved her cards. “That was just the first floor. This dungeon isn’t going to be easy.”
Elowen smirked. “Good. I’d hate for it to be boring.”
Floor 2: The Howling Maze
They descended further, the air growing colder with each step. The walls narrowed, forming a twisting labyrinth of stone corridors.
Sylvaine ran her fingers along the wall. “This place is unnatural… I can hear something.”
A distant, eerie howl echoed through the maze.
Then, the walls shifted.
Elowen’s eyes widened. “It’s moving.”
The maze was alive.
Seraphis narrowed her gaze. “Stay close. If we get separated, we’re as good as dead.”
They pressed forward, keeping their senses sharp. The howls grew louder, turning into a cacophony of whispers. Shadows flickered along the walls—distorted figures moving just out of reach.
Then, a shape lunged from the darkness.
A twisted beast, its form shifting between wolf and shadow, snarled as it pounced.
Seraphis reacted instantly. Her cards spun through the air, carving deep into the creature’s form—but it reformed just as quickly.
Elowen cursed. “It’s not solid!”
Sylvaine’s eyes flashed. “Then let’s make it solid.”
She pulled a vial from her belt and hurled it forward. The moment it shattered, a silver mist spread through the air—coating the beast.
Seraphis grinned. “Smart.”
Her next attack struck true—this time, the beast let out a piercing shriek before vanishing into nothing.
The maze shifted again, revealing a path forward.
Sylvaine exhaled. “We need to keep moving before it traps us again.”
Without hesitation, they pressed on.
Floor 3: The Hall of Echoes
The third floor opened into a vast chamber—its ceiling so high it vanished into darkness. Stone pillars lined the hall, each one carved with ancient symbols.
Elowen shivered. “Something about this place feels… wrong.”
The moment they stepped forward, the ground trembled.
A deep, guttural voice filled the chamber.
“You have come far… but you will go no further.”
The pillars began to move—shifting into monstrous figures of stone and shadow.
Gargoyles.
Their glowing eyes locked onto the assassins, and in an instant, they attacked.
Seraphis leapt aside as a massive stone fist crashed down where she had been standing.
Sylvaine rolled, dodging another strike. “We need to break them apart!”
Elowen threw a dagger—but it merely bounced off the gargoyle’s stony hide.
Seraphis clenched her jaw. “We need to find their weak points.”
She focused, eyes scanning the creatures. Then, she saw it—small, glowing cracks near their chests.
“Aim for the core!”
Elowen and Sylvaine adjusted their attacks, striking at the weak points. The first gargoyle let out a monstrous roar as its core shattered—its body crumbling into dust.
Seraphis darted between two more, weaving through their strikes before slicing through their cores with her metal cards.
One by one, the gargoyles fell.
The chamber fell silent.
Elowen exhaled. “Three floors down. Only twenty-two to go.”
Seraphis smirked. “We’ll see if we make it that far.”
With that, they pressed forward—deeper into the dungeon, where greater horrors awaited.