The dust had barely settled in the dungeon chamber, yet the atmosphere remained thick with hostility—not from the defeated Twilight Behemoth, but between the two women standing beside Ethan.
Seraphina Nightshade and Serene Aldridge locked eyes, their gazes filled with unspoken challenges. The air between them crackled, as if even the lingering mana in the chamber could sense their growing rivalry.
Ethan sighed, rolling his shoulders as the remnants of pain from the battle ebbed away. His newly evolved passive ability, Titan's Ascent, still surged through his veins, making his body feel almost weightless.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride → Titan's Ascent (Progress: 0%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 70%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 52%)
Unyielding Flesh (Progress: 55%)
Seraphina finally broke the silence, her voice sharp. "You're still clinging onto him like a leech, Aldridge. Is this some noble house tradition I don't know about?"
Serene smirked, unfazed by the insult. "And what about you? You're acting like an overprotective guard dog. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were worried I'd take him away."
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can we not do this here? We just took down a damn behemoth, and there could be more threats lurking around."
Seraphina turned to him, her expression softening slightly. "We should move. This dungeon's energy is unstable."
Serene, flipping her silver hair over her shoulder, gave Ethan a knowing look before walking past him. "Try to keep up, hero."
A Sinister Presence
As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the passageways twisted unnaturally, as if the very structure of the dungeon was resisting their presence. The walls pulsed with an eerie purple glow, casting shifting shadows that danced in the corners of their vision.
Ethan remained on edge. His instincts screamed that something wasn't right.
Seraphina suddenly halted, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Something's watching us."
Serene, too, seemed to sense it. "It's not just watching. It's waiting."
The air turned suffocating. A slow, guttural chuckle echoed through the chamber.
"Well, well… an F-rank, a Nightshade, and an Aldridge, all in the same place. What a delicious combination."
From the darkness emerged a cloaked figure, their presence oozing malevolence. The sigil on their robes marked them as an elite from one of the underground assassin guilds.
Ethan's fists clenched. He didn't need mana to recognize danger when he saw it.
Seraphina took a step forward, her blade already drawn. "Who sent you?"
The figure laughed. "Oh, let's not ruin the surprise. Just know that your lives have been bought… and I always deliver."
Ethan exchanged a glance with Serene and Seraphina. He had a feeling this battle wouldn't be as simple as the last.
To be continued…