The dungeon run went pretty smoothly, almost to the point where it felt routine as besides the new guy, the rest it wasn't their first time working together, and it showed in the way they moved, there was not a trace of hesitation or confusion, they trusted each other fully.
During the exploration they encountered a few monsters every now and then
At the front, the tank who was a broad-shouldered guy with a worn shield blocked a lunging goblin with ease before bashing it aside like it weighed nothing. Off to the side, a guy with short hair and twin daggers moved quickly and easily cut down two more before they could even react. A few steps behind, the mage lifted her staff lazily, muttering a short chant before a small burst of fire shot forward, finishing off the rest without much effort. They talked in between it all too; small complaints, light jokes, nothing serious, like this was just another day at work. Clear it, get paid, move on.
"…So you're new, right?" The tank who was the one who recruited the new adventurer asked, glancing back in an attempt to start a conversation with him.
The young man nodded slightly. "Recently registered."
"No party?" The mage asked
"Not yet," he replied. "For now, just this one… it's only temporary."
The tank let out a small hum with his arms crossed, shifting his shield onto his shoulder before glancing back at him. "Fair enough." He pointed towards himself using his thumb toward himself. "Name's Brann. I'm the one who asked if you wanted to join....if you remember that is."
He tilted his head slightly, motioning to the others as they kept walking. "That's Lyra our mage," he added, nodding toward the girl with the staff, who gave a small wave. "And the one up ahead is Kael, our assassin."
Kael didn't turn, but he lifted a hand briefly in acknowledgment, already scanning the path ahead like he wasn't even part of the conversation.
Brann continued casually, "We've also got an archer, she goes by the name Mira but unfortunately she's down with a fever, so you're filling in for today." He pulled the new guy in with a big smile. "Stick with us, do your part… and if I like what I see by the end of this, we can talk about you running with us properly."
At the front, Kael slowed a bit, glancing ahead. "…Stay sharp. Feels off."
"What's the matter?" Brann walked ahead.
"The dungeon...it's too quiet." He paused for a bit then continued "not to mention we haven't encountered any monster for a while now"
That was when they felt it, it started out low but eventually became heavy
*Thud Thud Thud*
Everyone came to a halt
"…I'm not the only one feeling that right?" The mage asked as she watched the ground beneath her feet tremble
Eventually the steps got closer and closer with every passing second causing the ground and the walls of the cave to shake violently.
"…What the hell are we up against?" someone brann whispered as sweat dripped down his forehead.
No one answered, Kael clenched his daggers tightly and Lyra clenched her staff while shaking in fear of what might appear
Finally they could see something moving towards them. A shadow, large enough to block out what little light reached that far. It stepped forward slowly, and the moment it came into view
"…You've got to be kidding me…." Kael muttered as his hands fell to his side
A Minotaur standing at over 8 feet tall with enormous muscles while steam left its nose every time it exhaled, it was clear that a creature like that didn't belong here in a place like this. That was the first thing everyone realized. Yet somehow it was standing right in front of them
"…This has to be a joke…" Lyra muttered, her voice already shaking.
The captain tightened his grip on his weapon. "…We can't let it pass."
"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Kael grabbed him by the collar
"If that thing reaches the surface, people die.," he paused then continued. "Plus...do you really think it'd smile and show us the exit."
No one looked convinced, but they couldn't argue either.
The Minotaur let out a deafening roar that echoed through the corridor, shaking dust loose from the ceiling. It went on for a few seconds before everything suddenly went quiet.
No one moved. Kael swallowed hard, while breathing unevenly, Brann tightened his grip on his weapon, with his heart pounding like it was about to pop out of his chest
Suddenly the Minotaur vanished and appeared right beside Kael and with only a single swing of its arm, it sent him flying into the wall with enough impact to kill the average person.
Brann and the new member barely managed to dodge, rolling out of the way just in time as the ground cracked beneath the force of the next hit.
"KAEL...DAMN IT ALL" Brann roared as he charged, shield raised and slamming straight into the Minotaur with everything he had.
For a brief moment he actually held it there, his boots digging into the ground as his arms trembled under the pressure but, It didn't last. The difference in strength was very obvious. The Minotaur barely moved, its arm coming down again, heavier this time, forcing Brann lower, his stance began breaking bit by bit as he was seconds away from being crushed.
Suddenly, the new guy formed a strange looking bow out of thin air which was already drawn and ready to fire, the arrow glowing strangely as he released it. It shot forward and struck the Minotaur directly in the eye, making it shriek in pain as more arrows followed instantly, precise and controlled, driving into its body and forcing its attention away from Brann.
The Minotaur roared, even more enraged than it was before, and with a single violent swing, it sent Brann flying like he weighed nothing before locking onto the new member.
It charged at him really quickly
Brann saw it and with what little strength he had left, he forced himself up and threw himself forward again, planting his shield between them. "Move!" he shouted—
The impact came and once the dust cloud cleared, he was gone. Crushed completely. Flesh and blood scattered across the ground in an instant.
"…No…"
Lyra's voice broke as her staff slipped from her hands, her breathing turning uneven, body shaking as panic set in. Her heart pounded so loud it drowned everything else out, after witnessing to of her comrades that she had known for a very long time die such gruesome deaths, she couldn't think straight nor could she even move, her legs completely gave out on her.
The new member noticed, he moved quickly, pulling her up effortlessly before turning and running. He wasn't panicked at all, even now as he put distance between them and the monster. Only when they reached a turn deeper into the corridor did he stop, setting her down carefully.
"Breathe." His voice was completely calm
She shook her head, tears already forming. "I—I can't—Brann—he—"
"I know," he said quietly, cutting in before she could spiral further. He crouched slightly in front of her, his tone steady, controlled. "But listen to me." His hand reached into his pouch, pulling out a small vial and pressing it into her shaking hands. "Drink."
She hesitated, fingers trembling, she uncorked it and swallowed, the potion took effect almost immediate as her breathing steadied just a little.
"You're alive," he continued, calm as ever. "That wasn't by chance."
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
"…Brann stepped in to protect you," he added, placing another potion in her palm. "If you die here, then what he did means nothing."
That hit her causing her to clench her gist "But…I can't leave you," she said weakly."…You'll die."
"Don't worry, I can handle myself" He replied as he stood up slowly due to the Minotaurs foot steps getting closer
She stared at him, still shaken, but thinking clearer now.
"Once you get to the guild, you tell them what happened." He started walking towards the monster "I'm sure they'll send help"
For a moment, she didn't move but eventually her legs finally obeyed and she ran as quickly as she could.
The moment her footsteps faded, that of the Minotaur got even closer.
He exhaled slowly, his hand lifting as the bow reformed and out of the darkness the Minotaur emerged once more.