A heavy silence fell across the chambers. All five groups stood still, surrounded by the remains of ancient places now twisted by time, power, and something darker, the Corrupted Core. The air around them was thick and heavy. If a normal person were here, they might not even be able to breathe. But these were not ordinary people.
They were members of Black Sigil, The Grand Party, and The Rising Heroes. They weren't strangers to danger. But this… this felt different. The commanders they now faced were not only powerful , they had been touched, or perhaps consumed, by something deep and dark.
And now, the battles began.
---
The Thundergate
The air buzzed with electricity as Sylra, Cyrus, Lila, and Fizzle stood at the heart of the broken mountain pass. The sky above rumbled, and lightning flashed between the tall bronze pillars around them. Sparks cracked through the air like wild snakes.
Standing in front of them was Borrum, the Thunderhorn.
He was massive, his body covered in dark fur and thick armour that glowed faintly, like it had captured the energy of every storm it had ever been through. One of his horns sparked with a steady line of electricity. His hammer, which looked more like a boulder on a stick, was already in his hands.
He rolled his shoulders slowly, cracked his neck, and then flexed his fingers with a grin that showed his sharp teeth. His eyes glowed faintly. There was no hesitation in his gaze—only the desire to fight.
Without a word, he rushed forward.
Cyrus dashed in first, trying to draw his attention. Borrum swung the hammer, but Cyrus just barely dodged, the wind of the swing knocking him back.
Lila joined, moving swiftly around the other side, her blades flashing as she tried to strike his legs. But Borrum was fast. Faster than a creature his size should ever be. He spun around, his hammer crackling as it slammed into the ground. The force sent shockwaves through the floor, throwing dust and loose stones into the air.
Sylra stayed behind, casting her spells from a safe distance. She sent waves of sound magic, trying to throw off his balance and support her teammates. Fizzle clung behind her, trying not to get noticed, his small frame trembling as he peeked out.
Borrum didn't stop. He chased after Cyrus and Lila like a storm chasing lightning, fast, loud, and terrifying.
---
The Ironhall Core
Deep below the ground, inside the burning Ironhall Core, Ruvan, Zerik, and Sera stared ahead at the cracked, iron heart. At first, it was silent. But then a glow appeared within the cracks, red and bright, like molten metal.
The ground began to tremble.
With a loud roar, the metal heart burst open, and Thirak emerged. His body was made of heavy ores, fused together by ancient fire. His eyes were hollow, but the heat in his chest burned like a forge. He didn't speak. He didn't hesitate. He just charged.
His huge arms swung like metal beams, striking anything in his way.
Ruvan moved quickly, avoiding the first attack and countering with strikes of his fist enhance with his magic. Sparks flew, but it was like hitting a wall. Thirak didn't even flinch.
Zerik backed up, sending his enchanted cards flying to scan for weak spots while trying to keep Thirak distracted. His cards circled the golem's limbs, reading his motion, but Thirak's rage was wild and hard to predict.
Sera stood farther back, ready to support with her magic. But even then, the heat coming from Thirak was intense. It burned the very air. She was scared, in self-doubt. Her legs froze but she knew she can't let anyone down, as she try to get her act together.
They weren't looking to defeat him through brute force. They needed to find a way to calm him or shut down the energy source that was pushing him to madness.
But for now, all they could do was survive the onslaught.
---
The Nullmirror Vault
In the strange and dark hall of the Nullmirror Vault, Adrian, Vaela, and Darek stood side by side. The floor was covered in a shallow layer of black water, still and cold. The walls around them reflected nothing. Not even their own faces.
They couldn't see their enemy.
"Where is she?" Adrian whispered.
There was no answer.
Then suddenly, a sharp line of shadow shot toward them.
Darek reacted first, pushing Vaela to the side as he dodged another strike. From the darkness, attacks kept coming. They were fast, clean, and silent. It was as if the shadows themselves were trying to tear them apart.
They didn't know it yet, but they were facing Velthra, the silent assassin of the shadows.
Adrian tried to swing his sword in the direction of the attacks, but hit nothing. Vaela sent out a wave of ice, hoping to slow down or expose the attacker, but the magic just disappeared into the air.
Only one thing was clear , Velthra was watching them from the dark, waiting for the right moment. And all they could do… was dodge and survive.
---
The Echoing Hollow
Wind moved gently through the stone arches of the Echoing Hollow as Doran, Nira, and Junith stood at the edge of the battlefield. Around them, small petals floated, carried by the breeze. It was a peaceful sight, until the wind stopped.
At the center of the hollow, the sphere of air began to twist. The stillness became pressure. And from within, Ristella stepped forward.
She did not shout. She didn't charge. She simply moved, her body floating with the wind.
Junith's eyes narrowed as she stepped forward, spear at the ready. Doran gripped his hammer tight, his strong body grounded like stone. Nira twirled her dagger, smiling a little as leaves began to gather around her, called by her magic.
Without warning, Ristella raised a hand. The wind burst.
Junith dashed forward, trying to strike first, but was pushed back by a sudden gust that knocked her off balance. Doran slammed his hammer down, breaking through a stream of rushing air to push closer. Nira moved like a dancer through the wind, using her connection with nature to hold her ground.
Ristella moved with grace and silence, as if she were part of the wind itself. Her attacks weren't wild, they were precise, calm, and controlled.
But deadly.
---
The Skyvault Sanctum
High above the clouds, in the temple of wind and storm, stood Kalix.
And in front of him stood Orin, Kael, Nymera, and Drakar.
The temple shook as Kalix opened his eyes. His skin was dark, but it shimmered with golden marks that pulsed like living lightning. His white robe fluttered in the wind, and the energy around him was so strong that it made even the floor vibrate.
"Be careful," Kael muttered.
Drakar stepped forward, his stance firm. "Let's see what he's got."
Kalix raised his hand. A bolt of gold lightning flashed across the sky and struck the ground in front of them. The temple rumbled.
And then… the fight began.
Orin, calm and focused, moved to the side, watching for openings. Kael sent out dark energy in waves, looking for a way to pin Kalix down. Nymera summoned light to counter the divine thunder, her eyes locked on Kalix's every move. Drakar charged with raw power, his blade flashing.
Kalix did not flinch.
He moved through them like a current of storm. Each step was fast and strong, each strike was sharp and clean.
---
Long ago...
There was a time when Varnex stood inside his dungeon, overseeing the chambers, when a stranger appeared before him.
It was Kalix.
Varnex, surprised, looked at the man. "You… You're strong. Maybe stronger than me. Why would someone like you want to join my dungeon?"
Kalix smiled lightly. "You seek power. I seek a place. Let's skip the unnecessary questions."
And that was it. From that day forward, Kalix became the First Commander of the Dungeon of Varnex.
Not because he was ordered to.
But because he chose to.
His story is unknown even to Varnex. What is his true purpose is unknown as well. But he is ready to defeat anyone who entered the dungeon and that is a problem.
And now, the battle between all five groups and Varnex's commanders had begun.
The dungeon had reached its next stage. The storm had begun. The shadows had risen. The silence was broken. And every strike, every decision from here on… would decide their fate.