The guild hall was a flurry of movement, a controlled storm of adventurers and knights making their final preparations before departure. The weight of the mission pressed on them, yet despite the tension, a sense of camaraderie wove through the air. Maps were checked and spread across wooden tables, the inked routes and formations scrutinized by captains and strategists of each knight squadron. The scent of metal, oil, and the faint bitterness of alchemical potions filled the hall, mixing with the subdued murmurs of warriors steeling themselves for battle.
Every soul present knew the magnitude of what they were about to face. A dungeon break wasn't just another mission. It was an event that could tip the balance of safety for the entire region. Failure was not an option.
In the midst of the bustling preparations, a familiar trio strode toward Obsidian Dawn. Trinity Blade carried themselves with the ease of seasoned adventurers, their presence an anchor amidst the controlled chaos.
Darin, the fire mage, folded his arms across his chest, a smirk tugging at his lips as he eyed Belle and Kai.
"Well, if it isn't our resident miracle worker," he teased, his sharp eyes flicking to Belle. "Guess we don't have to worry too much about this mission. You'll probably be done before we even start."
Belle arched a silver eyebrow at him. "You make it sound like I'm single-handedly clearing the dungeon."
Garron, the stoic tank of the group, let out a low chuckle. "After what you pulled off last time? I wouldn't be surprised." His voice was deep, steady, a grounding presence amidst the lighthearted exchange.
Lena, the healer, shook her head and nudged Darin lightly with her elbow. "Come on, don't jinx it. We're all in this together, remember?" Turning her attention back to Belle, she gave a reassuring smile. "Just stay safe, alright? Both of you."
Belle inclined her head, appreciating the sentiment, while Kai rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms.
"Same to you guys," Kai said, his tone carrying a casual confidence. "I don't want to have to come save your asses again."
Before Darin could fire back, a powerful voice cut through the chatter like a blade through mist.
"Alright, listen up!"
Garrick, the guildmaster, stood at the center of the hall, his broad stance and commanding presence demanding immediate attention. His face, usually calm but stern, was lined with a deep-set seriousness that silenced the room.
"Communication with the scout team at the dungeon was lost an hour ago. That means they might be in serious danger. We don't know if they've been wiped out, if they're trapped, or if they're barely holding on—but every second we waste is a second too long. We move out now. No more delays."
A ripple of tension passed through the gathered adventurers and knights. The casual exchanges faded, replaced by grim determination. Armor clinked as straps were tightened, weapons sheathed and slung over shoulders. Boots thudded against the wooden floor as teams gathered in their designated formations. The atmosphere shifted; this was no longer preparation—it was the beginning of battle.
Kai adjusted the hilt of his katana at his waist, letting out a slow exhale. "Alright, let's do this."
Just as he took a step forward, Belle casually leaned toward him, her silver eyes gleaming with mischief.
"So, same as last time?" she asked, an unmistakable playfulness laced in her tone.
Kai blinked. "Huh?"
Belle's smile widened. "You know, me giving you a lift."
The memory of their last 'transportation method' flashed in Kai's mind—specifically, the part where Belle had launched forward at a speed that made his stomach lurch and his brain temporarily forget how breathing worked. He turned to her, eyes narrowing.
"Not a damn chance."
Belle tilted her head. "Aw, come on, it'll be faster."
Kai crossed his arms. "No."
"You sure?" Belle leaned closer. "Or do you actually prefer a princess-style?"
"Kill me now. I'd rather die than do that again."
Belle sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. Guess I'll see you there… eventually."
With that, she crouched slightly, her body tensing like a coiled spring. In the blink of an eye, she shot forward, vanishing in a blur of silver and blue energy. A gust of wind rushed past, kicking up dust and rustling the cloaks of nearby adventurers and knights.
Stunned silence followed.
One of the younger adventurers let out a whistle. "Damn. And I thought horses were fast."
Another knight muttered, "She just… disappeared."
Kai exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Showoff." With a resigned sigh, he started walking, joining the rest of the adventurers and knights as they set off at a much more reasonable pace.
The wind roared past Belle's ears, a fierce and untamed force that only heightened the thrill of her breakneck speed. Trees blurred into streaks of green, the ground beneath her barely visible as she propelled herself forward with inhuman agility. She was a silver blur against the wild landscape, a comet streaking toward its target—the dungeon.
But even as the rush of movement filled her senses, something gnawed at the back of her mind.
A shift in the air. A wrongness.
Her silver eyes flickered as she activated her Aura Sense, her instincts sharpening like a finely honed blade. Then, she saw them—dark figures moving ahead, cutting through the dense foliage. The rhythmic pounding of heavy footsteps and the sharp, guttural cries of goblins filled the silence of the forest.
Belle's body tensed, her feet digging into the ground as she skidded to a halt. A gust of wind burst outward from the sudden stop, scattering leaves and dust into the air. Her gaze locked onto the approaching creatures.
Goblins. And armored bears lumbering alongside them, their thick pelts shimmering under the waning sunlight.
Her brows furrowed. Something was off. This dungeon break was expected to have monsters corrupted by miasma pouring out in an endless tide of aggression and madness. But these ones… they were normal. Their auras were untainted, lacking the chaotic, sickly haze of corruption she had expected.
A goblin shrieked, breaking into a sprint toward her, its jagged dagger gleaming in its clawed grip. The others followed, brandishing crude weapons and howling like rabid beasts. The armored bears let out deep, resonant growls, their massive forms shaking the earth as they began their charge.
Belle flexed her fingers, rolling her shoulders. No need for magic. Not yet.
The first goblin lunged, dagger aimed for her throat. Belle sidestepped, her movements a blur. She grabbed the creature by its wrist and twisted sharply.
CRACK!
The goblin barely had time to scream before she drove her knee into its stomach, sending it flying backward. It slammed into a tree, its body going limp.
Two more goblins lunged at her from both sides. Without hesitation, she ducked low, sweeping one's legs out from under it while grabbing the other by the face and slamming it into the dirt. The ground cracked beneath the impact, dust pluming upward as the goblin's body twitched before going still.
A thunderous roar erupted from behind her. Belle pivoted just in time to see an armored bear barreling toward her, its muscles coiling beneath thick fur and plated hide. It was a living battering ram, its claws digging deep furrows into the earth with every thunderous step.
It swung a massive paw at her, the sheer force of it enough to turn stone to rubble. Belle didn't flinch. She twisted her body, allowing the attack to graze past her before planting a firm hand against the beast's side.
Then, with a single pulse of raw energy—BOOM!
A shockwave exploded from her palm, rippling through the bear's body. The massive beast was sent tumbling sideways, crashing into the underbrush with a deafening thud.
The remaining goblins hesitated. Their primitive minds scrambled to process what had just happened, their glowing eyes darting between their fallen allies and the girl standing before them, utterly unscathed.
Belle took a slow step forward, brushing stray strands of silver hair behind her ear. "Not feeling so brave now?"
One of the goblins screeched and charged in desperation. Belle sighed.
She met its attack head-on, grabbing its throat mid-air before slamming it down with enough force to make the ground tremble. A heartbeat later, she spun, bringing her foot up in a vicious arc that caught another goblin in the jaw, sending it soaring into the trees.
The final armored bear let out an enraged roar, steam huffing from its nostrils as it made one last, desperate charge.
Belle planted her feet. The moment it reached her, she shifted her weight, grabbed it by the fur along its back—and with a single, monstrous display of strength, flipped the entire beast over her shoulder.
The ground shook as the armored bear hit the dirt, its massive frame convulsing before going completely still. Silence settled over the battlefield. The only sound was Belle's steady breathing.
She exhaled, rolling her shoulders. "That should do it."
Her gaze swept over the fallen creatures, her mind turning. These weren't corrupted monsters. They weren't mindless creatures driven by the dungeon's taint. They had acted with a certain cohesion, an unnatural unity.
Her fingers curled slightly. "Something's not right."
But she couldn't afford to linger. With one final glance at the carnage, Belle turned and disappeared into the forest, a silver streak racing toward the dungeon and the unknown threat that awaited her.
The journey had been swift, but as Belle neared the dungeon, she slowed her pace. Her sharp eyes scanned the surrounding area, noting the signs of battle—the ground was torn, scattered with weapons and the corpses of monsters. The smell of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the damp earth. The entrance of the dungeon loomed ahead, a jagged cavern mouth leading into utter darkness, exuding an eerie silence that sent a ripple of unease through her senses.
Her gaze swept over the fallen creatures. Goblins and armored bears—the same ones she had encountered earlier. Yet something felt off. Many of the bodies bore deep sword wounds, while others were scorched, likely from fire magic. Someone had fought hard to keep them at bay, but not all had been slain in time.
Then, a faint groan broke the heavy silence.
Belle's head snapped toward the source of the sound. Against the rocky terrain, slumped against the cavern wall, were three knights. Their armor was stained with blood, their bodies barely upright. Their breathing was ragged, their faces pale from exhaustion and injury.
One knight attempted to push himself up but winced, pain evident in his eyes. His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. "Who—?"
Belle swiftly crossed the distance, kneeling beside them. Without hesitation, she retrieved a glass vial filled with a shimmering green liquid from her pouch and handed it to the struggling knight. "I'm from Dawnstead Adventurer's Guild. Drink this. It'll help."
The knight hesitated for a moment before accepting, taking slow sips. Almost immediately, his breathing steadied, some color returning to his cheeks. Belle pulled out two more potions and handed them to the others. They drank, visibly relieved as their pain dulled, their bodies regaining a fraction of their strength.
One of the knights let out a shaky breath. "We… we managed to hold them off, but some got past us."
Belle's silver eyes darkened. "I ran into them on the way here. Took care of it."
The knights exchanged glances, clearly relieved but still wary. One of them spoke, his tone laced with exhaustion. "Then we owe you. But… if that was just the first wave…"
Belle followed his gaze toward the dungeon entrance. The eerie silence was almost suffocating. The air felt thick, heavy, as if something unseen was pressing against her senses. The deeper recesses of the dungeon were stirring, its unnatural stillness masking a building storm. A flicker of energy pulsed from within, like a heartbeat in the dark.
Her Aura Sense flared instinctively. There was something inside. Something waiting.
The others were still far behind. She had rushed ahead to ensure the scout team's safety, but now she found herself standing at the threshold of something far more dangerous. A low hum, almost imperceptible, vibrated through the stone beneath her feet. The dungeon was waking up.
It was only a matter of time before the second wave emerged.
End of Chapter 50