Bound By Fury:The Forced Path

"1 Hour has passed since we entered the dungeon we have slayed more wolves than we could count and i leveled up 2 more times while doing that"

Before them yawned the mouth of a newly revealed dungeon entrance, its jagged opening aglow faintly, ominously purple.

An immense amount of energy they had never felt wafted around it, sending shivers down their spines.

First to break the silence was Cha-Jong.

"This. this isn't supposed to be here."

"Dungeons don't just appear inside other dungeons."

"What the hell is going on?"

Garret: (gripping his axe tightly)

"Looks like we've got ourselves a second dungeon."

"But that's impossible, right?"

"Double dungeons are rare even in the old reports."

Mira stepped forward, her fiery orange staff casting faint light onto the entrance

"This isn't rare; it's dangerous."

"Double dungeons are unstable."

"The monsters inside are always unknown...and we don't know if this one even has a way out."

Lyra leaned casually upon her staff, a curl upon her lips in amusement.

"Dangerous, sure."

"But don't forget the rewards."

"Double dungeons are a goldmine."

"Artifacts, rare materials, even direct rewards. "

"We'd be stupid not to consider it."

Cha-Jong:

"And we'd be even more stupid if we got ourselves killed for greed."

"We're here for the original c-rank dungeon's boss, not to risk our lives chasing unknown treasure."

Akira finally spoke, having stood quiet all that time, in a cool, measured tone.

"We're here already."

"We can't just back out now when it means letting go of a chance to get more rewards."

Cha-Jong scrunched up his face as he turned to Akira, his face a mask of some annoyance mixed with curiosity.

"It is not about rewards , E.B...It is about keeping everyone alive."

Garret:

"I'm with the kid."

"We've handled everything so far."

"And if the monsters are tougher, all the better."

"Makes the fight more exciting."

Mira: (snapping)

"Exciting?"

"You think this is a game?"

"We could be walking into a death trap, Garret!"

 "Relax, fireball."

"You're always whining about wanting better loot."

"Here's your chance."

Mira shot him a glare but held her tongue for the moment.

She turned to Cha-Jong.

"Look, Cha-Jong, I'm not saying we have to go in, but Lyra's right about one thing—double dungeons come with rewards you don't find anywhere else."

"If we play this smart, it could be worth it."

Garret:

"Then let's prepare."

"We're hardly novices."

"We had more than thirty wolves down in under an hour without so much as bursting a sweat."

Cha-Jong: (sighing deeply)

"This isn't about the wolves."

"Double dungeons are unpredictable."

"I've read reports of whole teams—strong teams—disappearing in these things."

"But."

He glanced around at his team, noting the eager looks on Garret's and Lyra's faces, the cautious but considering expression on Mira's, and the unwavering confidence in Akira's eyes.

 "I suppose you're not going to let this go, are you?"

Garret: (grinning) "Nope."

Lyra: "Not a chance."

Mira: (reluctantly) "It's risky, but I'll admit. the potential rewards are hard to ignore."

Cha-Jong turned to Akira one last time.

"And you, E.B?"

"You're sure about this?"

Akira met his gaze steadily.

"I already told you all i didn't come here to play it safe."

"If this dungeon can make me stronger, I'm going in."

Cha-Jong rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated but also unwilling to abandon the majority vote.

"Alright."

"But we do this with care."

"No one must either wander on their own. "

"And at the first hint of trouble, we are taking off."

"Understand?"

Garret: "Got it, boss."

Lyra: "Sure thing."

Mira: "Understood."

Akira said nothing, but the slight smirk on his face spoke volumes.

No sooner were they inside the double dungeon than, in a twinkling, the air around them changed.

The hum, soft and pulsating from outside, now was deep and rhythmic, almost like a heartbeat within that cavernous space.

The purple lights radiated from the walls, casting eerie shadows.

The entrance behind them boomed shut, its reverberation in their ears placing them absolutely alone in the dark.

Mira: (panicking)

"The exit—it's gone!"

"We're trapped!"

Cha-Jong 

"I knew this was a bad idea."

"Hell."

"If there's a problem now, there's no way to get out."

Lyra never taut, was now drawn tight.

"This isn't funny any more."

"We don't even know what's in here."

Garret tightened the hold of the axe in his hand over his pacing nervousness.

"Relax."

"We'll handle it."

"We've faced tough fights before."

The tension was thick with that tinge of doubt hanging in the air-the silent moment.

Akira's voice cut through like a blade.

"Now, there's only one way; it's in front, so look forward and forget the back."

In his few words, there was simple weight to settle nerves:

Garret's grin was back, Mira's breathing had steadied, and Cha Jong regarded Akira with silent respect.

Cha-Jong: Nods.

"Alright."

"Ahead."

"Everyone keep their guard up."

They proceeded deeper into the dungeon more cautiously.

The path was uneven; the ground crunched beneath their boots.

As they walked, the purple glow grew brighter, and they found the cavern opening into a larger chamber.

With that, they stepped in.

The only response was of a loud snort, reverberating off it.

A colossal figure emerged from the shadows, causing the floor to shake a little.

He was at least three times the size of Garret and was a towering Minotaur.

His fur was dark and matted, and every strand of muscle flowed with raw power.

In one of his hands, he grasped an enormous two-headed axe that pulsed with magical energy.

It was a menacing, glowing crimson-eyed figure with something about its presence that suffocated him.

"Of course, it had to be a Minotaur."

"Its magic power...this thing's stronger than anything we've faced before."

Garret: "I do love a good challenge, but this might be pushing it."

Mira: (readying her staff)

"We've got no choice."

Cha-Jong went on a yelling spree.

"Formation!"

"Garret, forward!"

"Mira, concentrate on its leg"

"Lyra, buffs for Garret!"

They charged at the beast. Garret swung his axe with all his might, aiming for the torso of the Minotaur.

Mira shot a salvo of fire arrows to its knees as Lyra could only chant buffs for Garret.

The minotaur gave out one of those loud, echoing bellows, swung his axe in a quick arc.

Garret barely blocked it; the force sent him sliding backward.

Mira's fire arrows found its legs, but the flames fizzled out against the thick hide.

Garret: (gritting his teeth)

"This thing's a monster!"

"We're not even scratching it!"

It had no time to recover as the Minotaur raised an axe once more, this time in a frantic downstroke.

Then, a blur of movement occurred.

Akira Intervenes

Akira was suddenly in front of the Minotaur at light speed before any of the others could think. His PanthoSword came into his hand as he leaped, delivering a strong kick into the chest of the Minotaur. The effect from the impact sent a shockwave throughout the chamber, and the huge beast took a few steps back, roaring because of the pain.

"What in the heck??"

"Did he just. stagger it with one hit?!

The Minotaur roared louder, crimson eyes locking with Akira.

The axe lopped suddenly in a wide arc, looking to cleave him in two, but Akira merely ducked beneath the strike and rolled on.

He had clearly further enraged the Minotaur this time, and it charged with a deafening bellow. Akira sneered, luring the beast into the trap. Just as it closed the distance, he sidestepped and managed to cut across with his sword at the exposed side. White light crackled on the blade as it cut deep, leaving a searing wound.

Mira:

"Daaaaamn, that hurts him big time!"

"Everybody move away!"

"We gotta support him!"

They tore into it with more vigor, Garret charging once more with his axe to its leg, Mira sending fire arrows onto its exposed wound, blanketing a sheet of flame across its body, and Lyra with her buffs

The creature let out a painful bellow and slowed, finally falling to the onslaught.

Seeing the Minotaur stumble and its axe fall to the ground, Akira knew his chance had come.

Cha-Jong:

It's now, E.B!

Akira's sword sliced down with gigantic force, cleaving easily through to separate the head of the Minotaur from its torso.

The beast simply fell to the ground with a loud clatter.

"I already told you, the only way is forward."

As they all were taking breaths and preparing themselves for further movement into the dungeon, the status window flickered before Akira:

[Status Window]

[Your level has increased]