Darkwood: Circus Inferno

Trial II - Dungeons and Dangers

The next trial, the trap dungeon, loomed before the group like a nightmare waiting to unfold. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air heavy with the scent of dust and ancient stone. The walls seemed to pulse with a strange, ominous energy, and the flickering of distant torches cast long, grotesque shadows on the cold, unforgiving stone.

The group entered cautiously, their every step echoing unnervingly in the stillness. The deep hum of ancient magic seemed to reverberate through the walls, hinting at the danger ahead. Their senses were on high alert—especially after the last trial, where their teamwork had brought them victory, but this time, there were no weapons, no supernatural abilities, and no guarantees.

Xul was the first to speak up. "This place feels off. I’ve been through enough traps in my time to know when things don’t add up."

Riggs, ever the optimist, grinned nervously. "Great, just what I wanted to hear. A cursed dungeon full of traps. Fantastic." His usual bravado faltered as the group moved deeper into the labyrinth.

Ryuji flexed his muscles, clearly uncomfortable without his weapons, though he had adjusted somewhat. "I don’t like this. I’ve been stripped of my fire resistance, and the heat in here is already unbearable."

Tixo looked around, his sharp eyes scanning the dark corners. "Stay alert," he muttered, his voice low. "We don't know what we're walking into."

It didn’t take long for them to realize the severity of their situation. As the group walked further, a faint whirring sound echoed from the walls, and the ground beneath them shifted. Suddenly, large stone walls began to rise from the floor, trapping them in a narrow passageway.

Then, the first trap triggered.

Flames erupted from hidden vents in the walls, licking the stone with a ferocious heat. Ryuji, Ren, and Rex flinched back, their movements sluggish. Without their usual fire resistance, the flames burned hotter than they expected, singeing their clothes and stinging their skin.

"Fuck!" Rex shouted, backing up. "The fire... I can’t—"

"We can't rely on our usual magic," Xul warned, already moving into position to try and shield the group from the flames. "We need to keep moving—there will be more."

"Why are we even here if we can’t use our strengths?" Riggs muttered under his breath, rubbing his arm, now feeling the heat more acutely. His usual nonchalant demeanor wavered.

Then, Greyson, who had been taking point, froze mid-step, suddenly clutching his chest. The flames weren’t just hot—they were burning through his normally impervious skin. He grimaced, feeling the deep sting of pain, his breath shallow. “I… I can’t—”

"Greyson!" Anais shouted, rushing to his side. "What happened?!"

Greyson gritted his teeth, unable to hide the pain. “I can still feel everything… I’m not immune anymore. These damn flames..." His expression was a mix of disbelief and anger, his usual calm shattered.

"Just stay with us," Tixo urged, his voice strained, "We’re in this together."

But Greyson couldn’t help but show signs of exhaustion. The wounds from the fire weren’t healing as they usually would, and the group had no choice but to push on.