Leon and his party pressed onward, steadily conquering each floor of the dungeon. Each level presented its own unique challenges—traps, puzzles, and fearsome monsters guarding the way forward.
The third floor was a labyrinth of shifting walls, designed to disorient and separate the group. Leon’s quick thinking and Marian’s Mana Infusion allowed them to maintain communication through magical signals, ensuring they regrouped before facing the Golem Sentinel guarding the core. The victory was hard-earned, but the spoils were worth it—a rare Earthstone Core that Lyric claimed, granting him the ability to summon stone barriers.
The Dungeon Core, however, went to Dren, who gained a single skill called Stone Shard.
The fourth floor turned into a trial of endurance, a scorching volcanic expanse where Kara’s Flame Ward became indispensable. The oppressive heat drained their stamina quickly, but her protection allowed them to push through and defeat a Fire Drake nesting in the core chamber. The reward? A Blazing Fang, a weapon enhancement that Leon decided to save for the right moment.
This time, the Dungeon Core went to Lyric, who gained two skills: Dragon Scale, a legendary defensive skill, and Blast Fire, a powerful offensive ability.
By the fifth floor, the party had developed a rhythm. Roselia’s ability to silently eliminate threats from the shadows made her invaluable against stealthy enemies, while Dren’s sharp instincts helped them avoid several ambushes. The enemies grew fiercer, and Leon’s leadership was put to the test as he adapted their strategy to counter the dungeon’s escalating dangers. The boss, an Abyssal Stalker, tested them all with its ability to phase in and out of reality. It took a coordinated effort, with Marian’s Magma Knight delivering the final blow, to bring it down.
The reward this time wasn’t a Skill Core but an Item Core. Since it was Marian’s turn to claim it, she received the Shroud Dagger of Epic Quality. However, recognizing that Lyric was better suited to the weapon, she handed it to him without hesitation.
As they rested at the edge of the sixth floor, the group’s spirits were high despite their fatigue.
"We’re halfway through," Kara said, wiping sweat from her brow. "Feels like we’ve been down here forever."
"Each floor’s been tougher than the last," Lyric added, fidgeting with an arrow. "But we’ve gotten stronger too."
They were also absorbing the Sources as they gained after defeating all the monsters on the way.
Leon nodded, his eyes scanning the dimly lit chamber ahead. "We’re not the same group that entered this dungeon. Stick to what we’ve learned, and we’ll make it through."
Roselia smirked faintly. "That’s the plan, Captain."
The sixth floor awaited, its ominous entrance exuding an aura of danger. The group exchanged a final glance, tightened their grips on their weapons, and stepped forward, ready to face whatever awaited them in the depths.
The sixth floor opened into a vast, icy wilderness. Towering glaciers reflected an eerie blue light, and the biting cold was a constant drain on their stamina. Every step was treacherous as the ground cracked underfoot, threatening to give way into frozen pits below. The monsters here were Frost Phantoms—swift, incorporeal creatures immune to most physical attacks. Marian’s Flame Ward became invaluable, and Lyric’s new Blast Fire skill proved essential in countering their icy foes.
The boss was a Frost Titan, a massive humanoid made of living ice. Its attacks sent shards flying in all directions, forcing Kara to shield the group repeatedly. The final blow came from Leon’s Gravity Flux, which destabilized the Titan long enough for Dren to shatter its core with a precise strike.
The reward was a Glacial Vein Core, which Marian claimed. It granted her a new skill: Frozen Halo, an area-of-effect spell that slowed enemies and reduced their defenses.
The seventh floor was a lush, sprawling forest bathed in perpetual twilight. Glittering plants emitted faint light, and the air buzzed with magical energy. But the beauty was deceptive—many plants were carnivorous, and enemies like Wood Wraiths and Thorn Beasts attacked from the shadows.
Roselia’s stealth abilities shone here, allowing her to dispatch threats before they could fully emerge. Meanwhile, Leon’s tactical use of Eldritch Blast and Lyric’s precise ranged attacks helped the group clear their path. The boss was an Enchanted Treant, a colossal tree creature with roots that could ensnare and crush. Marian’s Magma Knight dealt massive damage, while Kara absorbed its attacks long enough for Leon to sever its enchanted core.
The reward was an Ancient Bark Core. This time, the group voted for Kara to claim it. She gained the skill Nature’s Embrace, a passive ability that enhanced her stamina regeneration and provided minor healing over time.
and it seems their luck has ran out as they only gained one skill each.
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The eighth floor was a vast desert, its golden sands rippling under an oppressive sun. Every step drained their strength, and shifting dunes made navigation difficult. Enemies like Sand Serpents and Mirage Scorpions attacked suddenly, blending perfectly with their environment.
Leon’s Gravity Flux was key to pinning the quick-moving enemies, while Marian’s Frozen Halo offered relief from the sweltering heat. Lyric’s Dragon Scale proved invaluable in defending against venomous attacks from the scorpions.
The boss of this floor was the Sand Wyrm, a gargantuan creature that burrowed beneath the sands, striking from below. The group coordinated carefully, luring it into a trap. Kara tanked its deadly bites, Roselia set explosives at its weak points, and Leon delivered the final blow with a concentrated Eldritch Blast.
The reward was a Golden Fang Core, which Dren claimed. He gained the skill Sandstorm Step, allowing him to move swiftly and evade attacks in combat.
And he also gained another skill called Death Sink, a AOE skill which made the ground into an whirlpool of sand and make one sink it as they die of suffocation if they don’t counter it.
The ninth floor was a treacherous swamp filled with stagnant pools, thick fog, and toxic fumes. The air was heavy, making every breath a challenge, and the monsters—Bog Hounds and Swamp Shades—were relentless in their pursuit.
Roselia’s stealth and Lyric’s ranged support helped mitigate the constant ambushes. Meanwhile, Marian’s Mana Infusion kept the team’s energy levels high as they pushed through. The boss, a Swamp Leviathan, was the most formidable foe yet. Its massive frame towered over the group, and it spewed corrosive acid that Kara had to block repeatedly.
Leon devised a plan to lure the Leviathan into a patch of unstable ground, where its weight caused it to sink. Using this advantage, the group launched a coordinated assault, with Marian’s Magma Knight and Dren’s Sandstorm Step delivering the decisive blows.
The reward was a Venomous Heart Core. Leon handed(Donated) this one to Roselia, who gained Shadow Leap, a skill that allowed her to teleport short distances while leaving behind a disorienting shadow.
And Leviathan Summoning Skills, which summons as pitch black Leviathan.