On a dim and dark dungeon Stood a lot of people wearing irons clad and armors right infront of a giant gat
Kim suho watched in silence as he swallowed the nervousness deep in his eyes. Looking at the inscription in the massive door
"Does this place feel. weird to anyone else?" he mumbled, glancing over at Sung Jin-Woo, the scrawny guy who'd been assigned to his party.
Jin-Woo let out a tired chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Weird is putting it lightly. This place feels like it wants us dead."
Suho buckled his sword strap over his shoulder, catching a hint of torchlight off his gold-tinged hair. "Well, at least I'm not the only one thinking it. Not that it'll help much."
Jin-Woo managed a weak grin, beads already forming on his forehead. "You look like you've been on plenty of raids. This is probably nothing for you, huh?"
"Trust me, I've seen some wild stuff, but something about this dungeon just isn't right," Suho admitted.
Their conversation was cut short by a bellowing, taunting voice echoing from a distance.
"Hey, blonde!" a D-rank hunter sneered, his broad frame blocking Suho's view. "You gonna swing that toothpick you're carrying, or is it just for show?"
Suho let the jab slide, his calm expression betraying no irritation. "Depends," he said, his voice even. "You want me to try it out on you?"
The man blinked, caught off guard by the retort, before scoffing and turning away. "Tch. Whatever. E-ranks like you should keep your mouths shut and let the real hunters work."
Suho ignored the man, making a knowingly dry glance to Jin-Woo, who pressed hard on his mouth to suppress a wide grin.
"Dude, don't mind him. Some people think trash-talking boosts their rank," Jin-Woo said.
"Do not work for me, though," Suho added, smirking. "But hey, each to their own."
It had a somber effect on the party as they delved further into the dungeon. The hall opened up to a cavernous chamber, and in front of them stood a huge stone door with carvings on it depicting scenes of battle: warriors clashing against monstrous beasts in a chaotic dance of life and death.
"Now that's a boss room if I've ever seen one," someone murmured.
"Maybe we should go back," a younger hunter suggested, his voice quivering.
"Turn back?" the broad-shouldered hunter sneered. "We haven't even gotten started! What are you, afraid of a big door?"
"Shut it, Kang-Tae," Song Chi-Yeol, the leader of the raid, shouted. "Let's just keep moving. Everyone, stay close."
With a low groan, the door creaked open, revealing a massive hall lined with towering statues. Each one was carved with impeccable detail, their lifelike faces frozen in solemn expressions.
Kim Suho felt a small shiver in his bones as soon as he stepped into the dungeon. The walls were moist with condensation, the metallic tang hanging thick in the air, making it cling to his tongue and his throat. It was unnatural for a dungeon. His instincts were screaming at him to turn around, but he wasn't qualified to speak out. Hunters were not known for backing down, no matter how much signs beg them to turn around
"Whoa." Suho muttered, his eyes scanning the rows of statues.
"They're incredible," Jin-Woo said, though there was a nervous edge to his voice. "But. is it just me, or do they look like they're watching us?"
The party stepped forward, though hesitantly, into the hall. It felt oppressive there, as if the weight of the statues' gaze pressed down on them with every step.
At the far end of the hall stood an altar, and before it, a smaller statue holding a stone slab. Its presence drew them in, curiosity and unease warring within each hunter.
"What does it say?" Chi-Yeol asked, stepping forward cautiously.
The slab glowed faintly, the ancient runes upon its surface shifting as if alive. The hunters watched as the words seemed to translate themselves, their meaning becoming clear:
"Thou shall worship god. Thou shall praise God. Thou shall prove thy faith."
The moment the words were read aloud, the massive doors behind them slammed shut with a deafening boom.
"What the hell?!" Kang-Tae yelled, spinning around to face the sealed exit.
"We're trapped!" someone screamed, their voice shaking with fear.
The air thickened, the oppressive silence punctuated only by the frantic shouts of the hunters. Suho's grip on his sword tightened as he darted his sharp blue eyes between the statues.
"This isn't a normal dungeon," he muttered under his breath.
"No kidding," Jin-Woo whispered back, his voice barely audible over the rising panic.
"Everyone, calm down!" Chi-Yeol commanded, though even he sounded shaken. "Panicking won't get us out of here."
Before anyone could respond, the slab in the statue's hands began to glow brighter.
"Worship, praise, and faith. Failure to comply will result in judgment."
"Judgment?" Jin-Woo echoed nervously.
Suho stepped forward, his voice steady. "I think it's telling us what we need to do. Worship, praise. prove our faith."
"Are you crazy!?" Kang-Tae shouted. "What if it's a trap?"
"Do you have something better?" Suho shot back, his tone firm.
They hesitated then reluctantly followed the commandments, kneeling before the altar, lowering their heads and worshiping the statues.
No one moved, nothing happened, and then statues began to come to life.
Suddenly in front of them, the massive statue with overbearing momentum
It's eyes shot up a beam of energy annihilating everything in its path including the hunters
"Move! They're alive!"
The chamber erupted into chaos as the hunters scrambled to defend themselves. The huge statue released beams of energies with terrifying speed, it's eye moving in impossible speed. Another beams crashing down with bone-shattering might
"Stick together!" Chi-Yeol yelled, though his command was lost amidst the panic.
Suho and Jin-Woo fought side by side, their weapons barely scratching the statues' impenetrable forms. Despite his reckless nature, Suho found himself shielding others, taking blows meant for them.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Jin-Woo panted as he swung his dagger at a statue.
"Better crazy than dead," Suho replied with a grin, although his exhaustion was clear.
-----------
One by one, the hunters dropped; in no time at all, there were only a handful left. As the slab glowed once more.
Suho and Jin woo looked at the retreating figures of some people in dismay
Song chi-yul remained silent as he also watched them leave
"The door's almost closed. It's too late now, but I finally gets what happening now"
"You all should leave"
"What!!"
"Mr Song Chi-yul!??"
Both Jin woo and Suho exclaimed in shock as they stared at him
"The door won't close fully as long as there's at least one person in the atlar, right? "
Song's eyes were firm as he said his words
"You three have many years left ahead of you. You should leave"
Hearing his words, Su-Ho's eyes became fierce
"What are you talking about!? How could I just leave you here, if anyone's getting sacrificed it should be me! I'm just a weak E-Rank and I don't think anyone's gonna care if I die"
Hearing his words song was left speechless as he sighed in sadness
"."
"Miss ju-hee you could help mr sung right?"
"You-"
Suho was just about to start arguing when Ju-hee's legs suddenly give up as he lay on the ground in fear
"M-my legs! I can't move them"
She screamed, repulsed
"It must be Mana exhaustion."
"This-"
"That's enough, Mr. song, pls take the both of them out of here"
Suddenly amidst the silent, sung Jin-woo spoke in a dready voice startling all of them
"What-"
"Just do it! We don't have much time, plus I'm already disabled and can't move in time even if I had help"
"You. Fine"
Song with all of his strength carried ju-hee and just in time. The floor beneath them lit up, A grid of bluish rune
"I'll stay," Suho said without hesitation, stepping forward.
"No!" Jin-Woo grabbed his arm, desperation in his eyes. "You don't have to do this!"
"Neither do you," Suho said back, his stare not wavering. "But if it's between me and you, I'm not going to let you die here."
The chamber exploded in blinding light before Jin-Woo could say a word. The statues halted their actions as two columns of energy came plummeting toward Suho and Jin-Woo-one golden and one dark.
Jin-woo looked at suho in contemplation. An eerie silence emerge as the statues continued to march forward, straight into the altar where the two lay
Both of them closed their eyes in silence and waited for whatever it was.
Then, a beam of light came crashing down as the pierced body of the two men were engulfed in the beam of light, the light waxed away, what now remains is the body of two men, their wound now vanished as if it never occurred.
Then in the shades, The Architect's voice sounded in the hall, placid and calculating,
"Two fit vessels. the Shadow Monarch and the Monarch of Light and Dawn. What a rare and intriguing coincidences."
As the dungeon was collapsing, the Architect's voice lingered. "Fate has chosen its champions. Let the game begin."
The two hunters lay side by side, their fates now intertwined.
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Not gonna lie but this chapter is a bit rushed since I have School works To do RN so I only wrote up to 1400 words
And my mind is a bit messy today given I have headache so bear with me if there's some confusing things you've read -_-