The first waves of goblins came at them in shrieking clusters, their guttural cries bouncing off the stone walls. Perberos moved like a shadow ahead of the group, his bowstring singing again and again, each arrow finding a target in a green throat or chest before the creatures even realized what was happening.

  When the groups grew thicker though, with half a dozen at once pouring from a narrow tunnel, he had no choice but to drop back beside Josh. “Too many,” he muttered.

  Josh stepped forward to meet them, shield raised, sword ready. The first goblin’s crude spear clattered harmlessly off his shield, and Josh drove his blade through its side before shoving it back into its companions. “Brett, now!” he shouted.

  Flame Chain burst from Brett’s hands with a crackling hiss, arcing between the clustered goblins. Fire jumped from one to the next, engulfing them in brilliant orange light and the sharp smell of burning flesh. Screams echoed, then faded, leaving only the sound of crackling embers.

  Josh exhaled through his teeth, lowering his shield slightly. “You’ve got stronger,” he said, half-impressed, half-wary of the manic gleam in Brett’s eyes.

  Brett grinned, slightly out of breath. “Just getting warmed up.”

  Another pair of goblins rounded a corner, only to meet the same fiery fate. The last one tripped over its smouldering kin before collapsing in a heap.

  Bhel looked down at the remains, then at the soot-covered tunnel ahead. “You two are making this difficult,” he grumbled good-naturedly. “Can’t even get close enough to swing before everything’s roasted.”

  Josh chuckled, wiping goblin blood from his blade. “You’ll get your turn. Just wait until his fireball hits the wrong wall and we get a suntan.”

  Brett huffed. “I’ll have you know my aim has improved massively.”

  Carcan murmured, “Good. Let’s keep the ‘massive improvement’ somewhere that isn’t directly behind Josh’s head.”

  Josh snorted, and Bheldur barked a laugh.

  Even Perberos let out a low, amused chuff before raising a hand to signal silence, he’d spotted another group up ahead. The humour faded as quickly as it came, replaced once again by focus as the party advanced through the glowing cavern tunnels. The new group of goblins was quickly defeated, with Perberos thinning the group and allowing Bhel to clean up the few remaining.

  As they moved deeper into the dungeon, the narrow tunnels began to widen, the air thick with the stench of smoke and blood. The walls glistened faintly with damp mineral veins, and the flickering light of their spells and torches painted strange shadows across the rough stone.

  The goblins came in larger packs now, ten, sometimes fifteen at once but the party cut through them with ease. Perberos’ arrows struck with deadly precision, dropping the first few before they even reached striking range. Josh met the rest head-on, shield slamming, blade flashing in wide arcs, his new skills helping him keep them all at bay. Brett’s magic turned the battlefield into a dance of fire and light, and Bhel’s axe finished off anything that managed to stumble through the mess of flames.

  When the first orc appeared among the goblins, a hulking brute who even towered over Josh, it earned a collective pause from the group. Its roar rattled the tunnel walls, but the hesitation didn’t last long. Josh intercepted its charge, the impact vibrating through his arm, before driving his sword into the creature’s thigh. Brett’s flame chain struck a moment later, wrapping around the orc and three nearby goblins, leaving behind their charred bodies and the acrid tang of burnt flesh.

  The orc let out a guttural scream, its flesh blistering and peeling in the firelight. Josh slammed his shield into the creature’s chest, forcing it back. Bhel darted in before it could recover and carved his axe across the orc’s gut. The cut opened the creature from hip to hip, spraying blood and a mess of steaming viscera into the dirt. The orc staggered once and fell, eyes emptying as life fled its body.

  Josh stepped past the corpse, staring down at it, and at the burnt goblins dissolving into drifting golden motes that left scraps of loot behind. He exhaled and shook his head. Magic. It would never stop feeling strange.

  Not long after, the second and third orcs went down just as easily, the tension in the party eased again.

  Carcan brushed soot from her sleeve. “If this is what passes for a challenge down here, I’m almost disappointed.”

  Bhel gave a short laugh. “Easy for you to say, you’re not the one swinging an axe in a smoke cloud.”

  Josh smiled faintly, though his grip on the sword tightened. He could feel his pulse steadying after the fight, the familiar rush of battle giving way to unease. Don’t get cocky, he told himself. That’s what got you nearly killed before.

  The memory of the troll came back sharp and cold, how quickly things had turned when he’d thought they had it under control.

  He took a slow breath and scanned the passage ahead, where the tunnel sloped downward into darkness. “Let’s stay sharp,” he said quietly, mostly to himself but loud enough for the others to hear. “The deeper we go, the worse it’s going to get.”

  Brett nodded, a spark of seriousness replacing his usual grin. “Yeah… guess we shouldn’t start celebrating yet.”

  The party regrouped, weapons ready, the flicker of firelight casting long shadows ahead as they pressed further into the dungeon’s waiting depths.

  The party pressed on for hours, the monotony of battle broken only by the shifting rhythm of the dungeon itself. The tunnels twisted and dipped, opening into wide caverns filled with the stench of sweat, smoke, and death. Each chamber brought more enemies, goblins with crude iron weapons, orcs with jagged axes and cruel grins. Their levels crept higher with every encounter and the party gained experience using their new skills with every enemy they killed. Though the fights were still one-sided, fatigue had begun to set in.

  Twice they stopped to let Brett and Carcan meditate, the others standing guard while faint motes of mana shimmered around the two mages. The air always seemed calmer during those moments, the dull hum of energy pulsing softly through the stone. Josh took the chance to stretch and rewrap his gauntlets, while Bhel leaned against the wall, chewing on dried meat and muttering about how mages had the best excuses for sitting down.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  When Brett finally opened his eyes after the latest rest, a faint golden glow flickered across his vision.

  [Meditation skill has advanced to Adept rank.

  You now recover mana more efficiently and may enter a deeper trance in less time.]

  Brett blinked at the notification, then grinned and stood, rolling his shoulders. “Finally,” he said, a mix of pride and exhaustion in his voice. “Adept meditation. Guess all that sitting around with my eyes closed is paying off.”

  Josh smirked. “About time. Thought you were just pretending to nap while we did the hard work.”

  “Ha Ha,” Brett replied, brushing dust from his robes. “If I didn’t meditate, you’d be out there fighting with no fire support. So technically, I’m keeping you alive.”

  Bhel snorted. “Yeah, and technically I’m keeping the orcs from splitting you in half while you hum to yourself.”

  Carcan smiled softly as she stood, her staff glowing faintly. “Let him have his moment, boys. We’ll be glad of his extra mana soon enough.”

  Brett grinned wider. “Exactly. The next group of goblins better be ready, because I’ve got energy to burn.”

  Josh chuckled, tightening the straps on his shield. “Then let’s not waste it. We move in two minutes.”

  The group nodded, settling back into formation. Their spirits were tired but high, with each fight bringing them closer to mastering their new powers, and deeper into the heart of the dungeon.

  They pressed deeper into the dungeon, the air around them growing heavier with each step. The stone walls glistened with moisture, and the faint hum of mana vibrated beneath their feet like the pulse of something alive. Even the torchlight seemed to struggle here, shadows stretched longer, darker, almost reluctant to retreat.

  Josh led the way, shield raised, every sense on edge. The corridor narrowed before opening into a wider chamber, the flicker of light revealing something massive moving in the gloom ahead. A deep, rumbling growl rolled through the air, and when the creature stepped forward, Josh’s breath caught in his throat.

  It was a troll. Every bit as large and hideous as the one that had nearly ended them before. Its mottled grey skin hung in folds over thick muscle, and its single yellow eye glowed with primal hatred.

  Fear hit Josh like a hammer to the gut. His body remembered the panic, the helplessness, the pain. His shield arm trembled despite himself, and for a split second his mind screamed at him to turn and run.

  “It’s level eight!” Perberos shouted from behind, voice tight but steady as he notched an arrow.

  Josh barely heard him. His heart thundered in his ears, his throat dry. Then, a gentle hand pressed against his back. Carcan’s voice followed, calm and clear despite the tension.

  “We’ve got this,” she said softly. “We’ll work as a party and defeat anything that comes at us. This is a hurdle we’ve got to overcome.”

  Josh drew in a sharp breath, grounding himself in her words. He looked over his shoulder, saw Brett already drawing mana into his hands, Perberos steadying his bow, and Bhel’s axe gleaming faintly in the dim light. His fear didn’t vanish but it no longer ruled him.

  He tightened his grip on his sword and nodded once. “Alright,” he said, voice low but firm. “Let’s finish what we started.”

  The troll let out a bellow that shook the chamber, and Josh raised his shield, stepping forward to meet it head-on.

  The troll roared, shaking the cavern walls, its rancid breath rolling over the party like the stench of rot and damp. Dust rained from the ceiling as it charged, its massive footsteps thundering like drums of war. Josh’s heartbeat raced to match it, fear clawing at him but he planted his feet and raised his shield.

  “Alright, you bastard,” he muttered under his breath. “Let’s see how we do this time.”

  With a surge of adrenaline, Josh charged to meet the monster, his boots splashing through puddles on the stone floor. The troll’s fist swung in a brutal arc, and instinct screamed at him to dodge but he held firm. The blow connected square with his shield, a shattering impact that echoed through his bones.

  He braced, teeth gritted, the force of it driving him back half a step. Only half a step. Not thrown. Not broken. The memory of the last fight, the sheer hopelessness of that day, flashed in his mind, but he shoved it away as he pushed the trolls arm away. He was stronger now.

  “Not so easy this time!” he roared, shoving forward.

  Brett’s voice echoed behind him, a chant building to a sharp crescendo. “Firebolt”

  A burst of fire exploded past Josh’s shoulder, snaking out like a living serpent and smashing into the troll’s leg. The creature screamed as the flames seared flesh, the smell of burning meat filling the air. The next fire leapt along its arm, crackling and hissing, and Josh seized the opening.

  He swung his sword in a wide, powerful arc, the blade biting deep into the troll’s thigh. This time, the cut stuck. Blood sprayed, thick and dark. The creature staggered, roaring in pain.

  Bhel charged in beside him, his axe flashing. “Let’s see you shrug this off!” he bellowed, bringing it down on the troll’s knee. The limb buckled, sending the monster crashing to one side.

  Perberos’ bow thrummed, arrows finding their mark in the troll’s face and chest, each strike deliberate, merciless. “Eyes!” he shouted. “Go for the eyes!”

  Josh raised his shield again as the troll lashed out wildly, its massive arm slamming against the steel. The impact rattled him, but he stood firm, digging his boots into the ground. “You’re not throwing me this time!” he growled through clenched teeth.

  He slammed into the creature, shield-first, knocking it further off balance. Then he activated Lion’s Roar, the sound erupting from his chest in a guttural bellow that made even his party flinch. The troll froze, dazed for a split second by the sheer volume, its attention fully locked on him.

  “Now!” Josh shouted.

  Another burst of fire struck from behind, soon followed by Magic Missiles, streaks of blue energy that slammed into the creature’s chest. Its hide bubbled and split under the onslaught.

  “Don’t stop!” Carcan called, her voice firm and commanding as she held her staff high, as she threw up a shield to dampen the blow that was about to land on Josh. “Keep the pressure up!”

  Josh felt his stamina dipping fast, but he pushed through, activating Fortify. The ache in his arms dulled, his breathing steadied, and his movements gained a new weight. The next time the troll’s fist slammed into his shield, it barely budged him.

  He grinned. “Not so scary anymore, are you?”

  The creature tried to push forward, but its burned leg gave way. Bhel leapt in again, his axe cleaving into the monster’s shoulder. Perberos’ final arrow buried deep into its neck, and Brett’s last Firebolt burst against its chest, engulfing it in flames.

  The troll staggered backward, its bellow turning into a choking gurgle. For a moment, it tried to reach out, perhaps in blind fury, perhaps in fear and then its bulk toppled, crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact that sent dust and smoke billowing.

  The cavern went quiet except for the heavy sound of their breathing.

  Josh stood there, panting, sword lowered, staring down at the troll’s smoking corpse. His arms trembled from exertion, but his legs held steady. He’d faced his nightmare and won.

  “Everyone alright?” he asked, glancing around.

  Bhel wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Still in one piece.”

  “Smelled worse than it fought,” Brett said, grinning, flames still faintly dancing on his fingertips.

  Carcan gave a small, teary laugh, shaking her head. “You did it, Josh. We all did.”

  Josh looked at her, then down at the troll’s smouldering form. He exhaled slowly, relief flooding through him, mixing with pride. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “We did.”

  The fear that had haunted him since their first encounter felt lighter now. The troll had fallen, and this time, they were still standing.