PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)

★CHAPTER 38★

“It’s going to be dark in there,” I said, my voice filled with a sense of anticipation.

“Yeah, it’s going to be dark,” Kyle chuckled. “It’s not always a picnic, you know?  The ones from level 150 and above can be a challenge.  They're big, they’re nasty, and they're tough.”  He glanced at me, a glint of amusement in his eyes.  “Just be careful, alright?  No need to get yourself killed trying to be proud.”

“I know, I know,” I said to him.

Kyle was right.  The Dark Caverns was a D-rank dungeon, filled with black furred Giant bear-wolves with a steel form skill, capable of withstanding incredible force.  They ranged in levels from 150 to 300, and the ones from level 300 were considered to be quite powerful.  The higher level Bear-Wolves were definitely a challenge, even for experienced hunters.

I was a bit surprised that he hadn't mentioned the danger before.

“Yeah, well, just be careful,” he said.“and try not to get hit.”
“Yeah, I wasn't planning on getting hit anyways.”

“The monsters are more powerful in the dark dungeons.  But you know what they say, the best loot comes out after dark"  He grinned, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.  "So, this time, we get to keep the loot all to ourselves."

He paused, as I suddenly thought about something peculiar.

"Why doesn't it become day and night inside the dungeon?"

“The dungeon's internal clock is independent. no one has been able to figure it out, some say it is because it is a living entity, which is why it repairs itself after a hunt" he said. 

“And It’s just how it is.  If it’s dark, it’s dark.  If it’s sunny, it’s sunny.  The dungeon environment is controlled by ours, it doesn’t change, No night-day shift.”

He gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry," he said.  "I've been through this a couple of times.  The monsters in this dungeon are separated from each other.  You can usually find one or two at a time.  And the further you go in, the higher level they are.  The boss room?  No one’s ever gotten that far.”

I nodded, my mind buzzing with information.

A pair of guards, their faces hardened by countless battles, stood at the entrance, their eyes glinting with an almost predatory glint.  But they seemed to relax slightly at the sight of Kyle,  his face a familiar sight in the dungeon hub.

“Hey, Kyle,” one of the guards said, his voice gruff.  “You back in town?  You’re looking good.  And who’s your friend?”

Kyle grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement.  “This is Lucas,” he said.  “He’s a new hunter, a friend of mine.  We’re going to take on the Dark Caverns.  Just a friendly little duel.”

The guards chuckled, their faces filled with a mixture of amusement and respect.   They knew about the friendly duels.  Kyle was notorious for his competitive spirit.

“Alright, boys,” one of the guards said.  “Be careful out there"

The guards stepped aside, allowing us to enter the dungeon.

“You ready for this?” Kyle asked, his voice a mix of excitement and bravado. 

“more than ready,” I said, a wave of confidence surging through me. 

"You know the usual," Kyle said, gesturing towards the swirling portal.

The moment I stepped through the entrance, the weight of the darkness settled upon me.  I couldn’t see a thing,  but my senses sharpened, my hearing becoming hypersensitive, my instincts heightened.

“I can’t see a thing,” I muttered.

“You’ll get used to it,” Kyle said, his voice a reassuring presence in the darkness.

“So, the rules are simple,” Kyle said, his voice a low rumble in the darkness.  “Whoever hunts the most monsters wins.”

I nodded, my senses on high alert, trying to adjust to the darkness.

“This place is huge,” I whispered, my voice barely audible in the suffocating silence.  “And the ground… it’s hard.”

"Solid rock," Kyle said, his voice a reassuring presence in the darkness.  "You get used to it.  You’ll find your footing.  Don’t worry, we’ll find some loot before too long.  And remember, it's a duel this time.  Whoever gets the most kills wins.”

I nodded, my heart pounding.

"Oh, and before we forget," Kyle added, a mischievous tone in his voice.  "My skill is Teleportation, you know?  And it's a rare one.  I can get to places quickly, like a flash!  You can’t compete with that.”  He let out a chuckle, “Just saying!”

I smiled, but I knew he was right.  His Teleport skill was powerful, a definite advantage in a dungeon like this. 

“No problem, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “and I’m sure you'll make it rain loot for us,” I added, chuckling back.  “But don’t worry,  my sword is sharp, and I'm ready to fight.”

He pulled out his sword, its gleaming surface reflecting the faint glow of the magical energy that pulsed around it

I drew my sword, The Eternal Blade felt heavy in my hand, its magical energy pulsing with a power I could barely contain. its blade glinting faintly in the dim light of my torch.  The air crackled with tension, the silence broken only by the sound of our breathing

A low growl, deep and menacing, echoed through the cavern, shaking the very foundations of the dungeon, a sound that sent chills down my spine.

"Here it comes!" Kyle exclaimed, his voice laced with a mixture of excitement and anticipation.  He giggled, a sound that was both unnerving and exhilarating in the eerie silence of the dungeon.  "Let's see what you've got, Lucas.  Let's hunt some bears!"

The air around us crackled with energy, the ground beneath our feet trembling, a primal tremor that vibrated through my bones, a sign of the approaching danger.

The black furred Giant bear-wolves were coming.

And the duel had begun
...