The fireball shot forward and exploded with a loud blast, shattering one of the skeletons instantly.
Andras nodded approvingly.
"Nice shot. You took one out right away."
The skeletons clattered forward, metal ringing with every step.
Fireburp fired two more fireballs — both hit their targets, and the skeletons collapsed in flames.
Andras stepped forward and summoned lightning into his palm.
The air crackled, then the lightning bolt split one of the undead in half.
The remaining two were smashed against the wall by his water projectiles, shattering into pieces.
Within seconds, the chamber fell silent.
Six skeleton soldiers lay broken across the stone floor.
Fireburp looked around, panting.
"W‑we… we did it?"
Andras smiled.
"We did. And you did well."
At the far end of the chamber stood another door.
After the Battle
The skeletons crumbled into dust, and the chamber fell silent once more.
Fireburp was still panting, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"We did it!
I defeated them — two at once!"
Andras smiled.
"See? You can do it.
You'll be able to shoot down the imp spawn just as easily — you'll just need to aim better since they fly."
Fireburp looked at him curiously.
"But you shot them in the head so quickly. You used water and lightning too?"
"Yeah.
As you saw, if you blow their heads apart, the whole skeleton collapses into a pile.
But you're better off aiming at their bodies with that big fireball of yours."
Andras looked around.
"I don't sense any more enemies. Let's search the chamber."
The Ancient Banner
Fireburp walked to one of the walls, where a huge, dusty painting hung.
Beside it, an old banner dangled — bearing the wolf‑head crest.
"There's a big painting on this wall.
And next to it a banner… isn't that your crest?"
Andras stepped closer and touched the edge of the banner.
"Hm… this is definitely a Wolfwood crest.
But if I'm not mistaken, this is the very first Wolfwood crest — the one used five hundred years ago."
Fireburp pointed at the painting.
"Who is this woman? She looks strong… and incredibly beautiful."
The painting depicted an armored female knight with long hair, a wolf‑head shield, and a strange short sword in her hand.
Andras looked at her with respect.
"Indeed. A female knight.
But judging by the crest, she wasn't a knight serving the house — she was a member of the Wolfwood family itself."
The Founder's Portrait
Fireburp bent down toward the bottom of the painting.
"There's something written at the bottom."
"You're right… it's a signature.
Andrasa Wolfwood."
Fireburp's head shot up.
"Andrasa? That sounds like your name. Did you know her?"
Andras smiled.
"I've read about her.
Andrasa Wolfwood was the founder of House Wolfwood, and the strongest female knight of the first Wolfwoods.
She lived five hundred years ago, during the era of the previous Demon King.
She was one of the Kingdom's Knight‑Captains, and she won a decisive victory against the demon armies.
As a reward, the king granted her noble rank.
She received a large forested territory — and here she founded House Wolfwood."
Fireburp looked around the ruined chamber.
"So this… was her city?"
"Most likely.
In her time, the city of Wolfwood didn't exist yet — nor the castle.
This ruined area might have been the first Wolfwood settlement.
And this underground section was probably a natural cave system originally.
I assume she set up her base underground because of the demons… or because the forest was extremely wild back then."
Fireburp gazed at the painting with awe.
"So she was strong enough to defeat demons?"
Andras nodded.
"Not just strong.
According to the records, no warrior stronger than her has ever been born in Wolfwood — not even my grandfather, and he was incredibly strong."
Fireburp stared at him, mouth open.
"She might have been stronger than you?!"
Andras grinned.
"Who knows?
One thing is certain: I'm far from reaching my full potential.
So let's just say… it's part of my plan to one day surpass this warrior maiden."
Then he suddenly stopped and pointed at the sword in the painting.
"But wait!
The sword in her hand… that's not the Wolf Fang!"
Fireburp leaned closer.
"What is it?"
Andras' eyes gleamed.
"If the painter was accurate, then Andrasa is holding a dwarven‑forged rune blade.
A short sword — exactly the kind I want.
And look — four runes are engraved into it.
One rune short of being a legendary‑grade weapon.
Even so, it's a masterpiece."
From the depths of the chamber, a faint metallic scraping echoed.
As if something… or someone… was beginning to wake.
The Forgotten Lift
Andras was still staring at the painting when his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Right!
I remember reading in one of the books that the Wolf Fang was forged about three hundred years ago.
So of course Andrasa had a different sword five hundred years ago."
His gaze slid across the rune blade depicted in the painting.
"Since I didn't even know this rune sword existed, it might be hidden somewhere down here.
We need to find this rune blade!"
Fireburp asked cautiously:
"Okay, but… before or after we defeat the demons?"
"Good point.
First we defeat the demons, then we search for the sword."
"Are we going back to the other two passages?"
"There's still one room here we haven't checked. Come on."
A short corridor stretched from the back of the chamber, leading to a massive lift made of stone and metal.
Fireburp grimaced.
"Please don't let there be more skeletons.
This isn't even a room… just a short hallway with a lift at the end."
Andras examined the mechanism.
"Perfect — at least we won't have to go back the way we came.
The lever is locked… let's see."
He tried moving the lever, but it didn't budge.
"If this lift works like the one in our castle, then it's locked from below.
The lower lever has to be pulled for the lift to come up."
The faint glow of the light‑orb flowers illuminated the depths below.
"Hm… it's pretty deep, but thanks to the flowers we can see the bottom.
Roughly fifty meters down."
Then he looked at Fireburp.
"Fireburp, can you fly down to the bottom and pull the lever?"
The dragon girl went pale.
"Fly down into that dark pit?!"
Andras pointed calmly downward.
"The bottom is lit — you're not flying into darkness.
Think of it as a courage test.
Just descend straight down; you don't even need to flap your wings hard."
Fireburp's voice trembled.
"That's not the problem — it's not about my wings!"
Andras sighed.
"Are you flying down on your own, or should I throw you?"
"Fine, fine, I'm going!" Fireburp grumbled, taking a deep breath.
The Test of Courage
Fireburp stepped onto the edge, then slowly, cautiously began to descend.
The light‑orb flowers grew brighter the closer she got to the bottom.
Her fear gradually evaporated.
Pride took its place.
She did it.
The dragon girl reached the bottom, pulled the lever, and the lift shuddered to life.
Fireburp stepped inside, and the platform rose back to the first level.
When the door opened, Andras greeted her with a smile.
"Well done."
Fireburp's tail swished proudly.
Then they both stepped into the lift, and the mechanism began descending — deeper than they had ever gone before.
The Third Level
The lift slowed to a stop.
The gate opened, revealing the third level before them.
The air was warmer.
The light‑orb flowers grew more sparsely.
Ancient runes glowed faintly red along the walls.
Andras stepped forward.
"We've arrived.
This is the bottom of the dungeon."
Fireburp swallowed.
"This is where the demons will be… right?"
"I don't know what's waiting for us, but it gives me chills."