It was indeed a Fungal Sentinel. An animated construct of corrupted flora.
The glowing mass pulsed. Tendrils of light reaching out like predatory arms. Spark didn't hesitate. He roared. A sound more animal than human. And launched himself at the Sentinel.
His form blurred. He didn't need the werelion transformation for this. His sheer human strength was enough. Added with Honey's instant [Elemental Coating]. Fire Element.
Lilith, quick as thought, teleported behind the Sentinel. Spatial Blink. Her crossbow whirred. Launching a bolt that struck the Lumina Orb directly.
The bolt didn't pierce it. But it caused the Sentinel's form to ripple. Its light was flickering.
Scarlett took a crystal jar from her bag and opened it. Her gu-insects came out. A shimmering cloud of minuscule terrors. They swarmed to attack the enemy's fungal body.
They began to chew and burrow. Causing small explosions of light. As they consumed the raw fungal material composing the Sentinel.
The Fungal Sentinel shrieked. It lashed out. Thick, glowing tendrils erupted from its mass. Aiming for Spark.
He met them with his flaming fists. Tearing through the glowing flora. Each punch sent an explosive shockwave through its amorphous body. Dimming its internal light.
"And there was the Symphony of Dawn..." Melody's singing voice wove through the chamber. Clear and pure. Her song was a cascade of melodic notes. Wrapping around her team members. Boosting their agility and striking power.
Serenade's voice followed. Deeper and resonant. Joining her daughter's voice. As it was the same song. However, somehow, her voice seeped into the Sentinel. Making its movements sluggish. Its glowing form was wavering as if struggling to hold together.
Ivy, crossbow at the ready, aimed for the Lumina Orb. She chose her moment.
Spark's relentless assault forced the Sentinel to recoil. Exposing its core. That was when Ivy's bolt flew. It wasn't a mere bolt. It was a special one. With the tip imbued with a concentrated explosive and corrosive agent.
The bolt exploded on impact with the orb. Not enough to shatter it. But enough to cause a searing reaction.
The Sentinel shrieked again. A sound of pure agony. Its light dimmed drastically.
"Got you!" Spark bellowed. He immediately shifted. Muscles bulged. Hair sprouted. Claws elongated. In the space of a heartbeat, a massive werelion stood where Spark had been.
He leaped forward. A blur of immense power. And slammed his clawed hand down onto the Lumina Orb. The impact was deafening. The room flashed with blinding light.
The Fungal Sentinel exploded. The glowing fungi that had formed its body disintegrated. Into sparkling dust that settled on the floor. Just like shimmering snow.
The Lumina Orb cracked. Its light was now steady but intense.
Spark reverted to his human form. His breathing was a little bit heavy. But still controlled. His clothing was fine this time. It was a special one. Stretchable outfit enhanced with runes.
He picked up the Lumina Orb. It felt warm, pulsating gently in his palm. "Good work, Girls!" His voice was gruff. A hint of satisfaction beneath the usual easy-going tone.
He tossed the orb to Ivy. "Ivy, secure this. See if it's still potent."
Ivy checked the orb. "It's even more stable than I anticipated, Master. A truly rare find." She carefully placed the Lumina Orb into a specially warded pouch.
The chamber was quiet again. The air was thick with the faint scent of decaying fungus. Spark looked at the treasure chest. "Lilith, still no traps?"
"Clear, Master!" Lilith confirmed. "The mechanism is complex, but no trap. I can solve it. But it will take time. If Scarlett's key can do it faster..." She gave Scarlett a dry look.
Scarlett pouted. "Of course it can." She took her Archthief Key out. "Mine can open any lock."
Scarlett knelt down. Inserting the Archthief Key. It transformed itself to fit with the lock. There waa a series of intricate clicks. And soft grinding sounds. The heavy lock mechanism disengaged. The chest creaked open.
Inside, lay a collection of items. Nestled on a bed of faded velvet. There was a single, intricately crafted buckler. Engraved with draconic pattern.
Beside it, there was a cluster of crystalline shards that shimmered with an inner light. And at the very bottom, a handful of pristine, uncut mana gems.
Ivy, ever meticulous, immediately identified the shards. "Master, these are Mana Essences! Highly refined, almost pure. Very rare. And these are Mana Gems." She pointed to the gems. "They are perfect materials for many alchemy recipes."
"Take them and use them then." Spark immediately instructed her.
"The buckler seemed to be enchanted." Lilith mused. Picking it up. "It feels… heavy. Charged."
Spark took his [Appraisal Goggles] and checked the buckler.
[Object: Draconic Buckler]
[Type: Defensive Shield]
[Quality: Enchanted]
[Characteristics: Super Tough]
[Characteristics: Enhanced Fire Resistance]
[Characteristics: Enhanced Status Recovery]
Spark received the buckler. It was cold to the touch. Yet a subtle energy hummed within it. It felt quite powerful. It didn't match his fighting style though.
"Will it help your fighting style, Lilith?" He asked.
Lilith shook her head. "It won't help me much. In fact, it might be a hindrance for me."
"It will be yours then, Scarlett." Spark tossed it to Scarlett. "You're the only vanguard other than me and Lilith. It won't interfere much with your gu-insects, would it?"
Scarlett received the buckler enthusiastically. "No, it won't. I could make use of this in battle. For sure. Thank you, Master."
Spark nodded. "Melody, Serenade... where next?" He asked. Turning to their dungeon navigators.
Melody was holding the map. Ready to chart the path they were traveling. Serenade was holding the Celestial Treasure Radar. She activated the artifact.
"That way, Master." Serenade replied. Pointing to one direction. "There was faint treasure energy signature in that direction."
"Good. Let's move. Melody, keep charting. Scarlett, you stick with Lilith up front. Ivy, Serenade, stay close." He commanded decisively.
The air grew colder as they ventured further. The phosphorescent fungi of the Sentinel chamber faded. Replaced by an oppressive, inky darkness. Torchlight became essential again.
The labyrinth twisted and turned. Seemingly without logic. Passages doubled back. Sometimes ending abruptly in solid rock. Other times leading into vast, echoing caverns.
Melody continued to chart their path with an almost supernatural precision. Despite the confusing layout. Her artistic eyes picked out subtle variations in the rock. Faint natural marks. Or unusual mineral deposits that indicated a path.
"The energy signature is growing stronger, Master." Serenade noted. Observing the treasure radar in her hand. "It's not far. And… erratic."
They navigated a stretch of corridor. One where the floor was slick with some unseen viscous fluid. And strange, whispering sounds seemed to follow them from the shadows.
Spark kept his senses sharp, ready for bare-handed melee combat anytime. The other members of the team were similar. Vigilant. Careful.
Suddenly, the whispers intensified. From the slick walls, skeletal forms began to peel away. Their bony fingers tipped with phosphorescent green claws.
Spark immediately identified the Necrotic Ghouls. They were not particularly strong, but numerous and corrosive.
"Don't get separated! Tight formation!" Spark barked orders. He lunged forward, sweeping a wide arc with his arm. Sending two ghouls shattering against the wall. Their bones dissolved into acrid smoke.
Lilith and Scarlett were already moving. Lilith was a blur of motion. Weaving through the ghoul horde. Her crossbow fired bolts that punched clean holes through their brittle frames. Each ghoul she struck collapsed. Dissolving into smoke.
Scarlett's gu-insects appeared. And swarmed the ghouls nearest to Ivy and Serenade. The bioluminescent insects chewed through the necrotic flesh. Turning the ghouls into piles of dust. Before they could reach their targets.
Ivy didn't wait to be fully protected. She pulled two vials from her belt.
"Corrosive Acid!" She announced. Tossing them with practiced ease. The vials shattered against a cluster of ghouls. A terrible hiss filled the air. As the acid melted through bone and sinew. The foul stench of dissolving death filled the air.
Melody's song erupted. It was now the 'Daytime Ballad'. A vibrant, uplifting melody that seemed to push back the encroaching shadows. It instilled a swiftness in her allies movements. And an extra punch in their strikes.
Serenade's voice harmonized with Melody's ballad. In haunting, low hum. It caused the Ghouls to falter. Their movements were becoming jerky. As if their skeletal joints were seizing up. Some even collapsed. Unable to maintain their cohesion against the magic.
Spark grunted approval. The team was efficient. Ruthlessly efficient. He liked that. He didn't need to bark many orders. They had anticipated his needs and his strategy.
He moved through the ghouls like a living battering ram. This time, his powerful limbs were coated with Light Element. They shattered bone. Crushing corrosive remains.
He ensured none got close enough to touch Melody or Serenade. Who were focused on their magic. Their wishart songs.
Ivy, behind him, unleashed another volley of explosive vials. Each one shattered against a thicker cluster of ghouls. Disintegrating them.
The Necrotic Ghouls were tenacious. Endlessly reforming from the slick walls. But they were no match for the coordinated assault.
Within minutes, the corridor was clear again. The only remaining evidence of the fight being the lingering acrid smell. And the faint shimmer of residual magic.
...
"The Treasure Radar is pointing directly through this wall, Master. Very close." Serenade stated. Pointing to one part of the wall with one hand. While holding up the artifact with another one.
"A hidden passage," Spark mused. He eyed the rough rock face.