Belial and Xin exited the guild with a two-hour gap to fill before the raid. The streets of the city bustled with energy, vendors calling out their wares, and the smell of food hanging thick in the air. They decided to wander, taking in the vibrant atmosphere while chatting about what obstacles might lie ahead during the raid.
As they walked, the heat of the sun bore down, prompting the two to seek out some relief. They soon found themselves standing in front of a colorful ice cream shop, its windows displaying an array of flavors. Xin, ever the minimalist, opted for vanilla, while Belial, true to his sweet tooth, chose the more adventurous rocky road.
"That looks a bit too sweet," Xin commented, eyeing Belial's ice cream with mild disdain. He was never one for sweets.
"There's no such thing as too sweet," Belial replied with a grin, taking a large bite of his ice cream.
With cones in hand, they ambled along the busy streets, soaking in the city's lively atmosphere. Street performers played their instruments and displayed magical tricks, children darted between people, laughing, and the occasional horse-drawn carriage clattered along the cobbled roads.
Once their ice cream was finished, Belial and Xin's curiosity got the better of them, leading them to explore a nearby museum that had piqued their interest. The building was a grand structure, its towering columns inviting them in. As they neared the entrance, Xin suddenly stopped and tilted his head, listening intently.
"Hey, Bel, do you hear that?"
Belial paused, frowning as he listened. He heard nothing unusual, only the soft murmur of the city. He shrugged. "It's probably just the wind," he replied, though he noticed the suspicious glint in Xin's eyes.
Before they could dwell on it further, a group of guards came sprinting in their direction, their armor clanking as they rushed past the crowds. One of them stopped in front of Belial and Xin, his expression urgent.
"Have you two seen someone with a stolen artifact run past here?" the guard asked, slightly out of breath.
Belial shook his head. "No, we haven't seen anyone. What was stolen?"
The guard's face tightened as he explained, "A precious statue was stolen from the royal collection. We've been searching for hours, but the thief has vanished. If you see anything suspicious, let us know immediately."
"Got it," Belial replied, and with a nod, the guards rushed off, their search continuing.
As the guards moved on, Belial caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye—a flash of silver disappearing around a nearby corner. His instincts flared. He quickly handed what remained of his cone to Xin. "Hold this for me," he said, already taking off in pursuit.
"Wait—Bel!" Xin called after him, but Belial was already gone. After a brief hesitation, Xin followed.
Belial dashed around the corner, his eyes scanning for any trace of the silver figure he'd seen. But the alley was empty, and there was no sign of anyone. He cursed under his breath, frustrated at having lost them so quickly.
Moments later, Xin caught up, panting slightly. "What's going on? Did you see something?"
Belial shook his head, still scanning the area. "I thought I saw someone, but they're gone now. Damn."
With the trail gone cold, Belial and Xin spent the next hour wandering the museum. They marveled at the ancient sculptures, intricate tapestries, and stunning paintings that adorned the halls. Belial, ever the enthusiast for art and history, took his time at each piece, explaining its significance to Xin, who listened with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"Look at this sculpture," Belial said, pointing to a magnificent marble piece depicting a warrior in a dynamic pose, his muscles carved with astonishing detail.
Xin furrowed his brow. "What's so great about it? It's just a piece of rock."
Belial chuckled. "It's not just a rock, Xin. It represents the beauty of the human form. The way the artist captured every curve and line—it's incredible. Look at the way the light hits the marble, how it almost seems alive."
Xin shrugged, clearly unconvinced. "If you say so."
They continued their exploration, eventually stopping in front of a large painting of a dark castle, towering and foreboding, with clouds swirling ominously above it.
"Belial, what's so special about this painting?" Xin asked, squinting at the image.
Belial studied it for a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing really. It's just a boring old castle. I don't know why anyone would want to paint something so dreary."
Just as Belial finished speaking, he glanced at his watch and felt his heart skip a beat. "Oh no, the raid is starting in six minutes! We need to get to the north gate now!"
Xin's eyes widened. "We've been here for over an hour already?" he asked in disbelief.
Belial nodded, already moving toward the exit. "Last one to the gate buys dinner!" he shouted, taking off at a sprint.
Xin grinned, his competitive side flaring to life. "You're on!" he shouted back, quickly catching up to Belial.
The two raced through the museum, dodging startled visitors as they weaved through the halls. Bursting out onto the street, they grabbed their weapons from a nearby rack and dashed toward the north gate. Belial tapped into his Hax abilities, boosting his physical strength to run faster, create footholds and leap higher over obstacles. Meanwhile, Xin manipulated the sound waves around him, creating small sonic booms that propelled him forward.
As they neared the gate, they could see the raid party gathering. Belial pushed himself harder, his legs burning as he ran. Xin followed close behind, both of them determined to win.
Finally, they reached the gate just as the raid was about to begin. Belial skidded to a halt, breathing heavily but grinning. "We made it!"
Xin collapsed against the gate, panting. "Thank goodness. I thought we were going to be late."
Belial clapped him on the back. "Well, it looks like you're buying dinner tonight, buddy."
Xin groaned, rolling his eyes. "Aw man, why did you have to remind me?"
Belial laughed, his voice echoing against the tall, glowing gate. "Come on, let's go."
As Belial and Xin approached, their eyes swept over the group waiting ahead. Their guildmates stood near the gate, bathed in the soft pink and gold glow of the evening light. However, as Belial scanned the area, a frown crept onto his face—Cassidy was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, standing in front of the gate was Troxl, his imposing figure illuminated by the ethereal glow. Beside him were three unfamiliar faces. As Belial and Xin drew closer, the trio stepped forward.
Belial observed the trio with a measured gaze, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. The first, Sora, stepped forward with an air of quiet confidence. His auburn hair caught the dim light, and his green eyes sparkled with curiosity as he introduced himself. "I'm Sora," he said, his tone even but laced with intrigue. "Nice to meet you."
Before Belial could respond, the second figure, Flint, spoke up. His voice carried a thick accent that Belial couldn't quite place. Flint's blond hair was tousled, and his steely grey eyes scanned Belial with a hint of skepticism. "You can call me Flint," he said, his arms crossed over his chest as he gave Belial a quick once-over.
The third, Kyle, offered a simple nod. His expression was unreadable, his features neutral, as if he were reserving judgment. "And Kyle," he added, his voice calm and steady.
Belial inclined his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Belial, and this is xin" he replied, his voice smooth and composed. "A pleasure to meet you all." Xin added.
"So, you two actually came," Troxl said tauntingly, a smirk playing on his lips as he approached them. "I thought you'd have chickened out by now."
Belial rolled his eyes, unfazed. "Please. We're not afraid of you."
"But it's not too late to back out, little boy," Troxl taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Belial chuckled softly. "I've faced far scarier things than you," he replied, flashing a cocky grin. "Besides, I wouldn't miss a chance to show off my skills."
Before the situation could escalate further, Xin stepped forward, his hand landing gently on Belial's shoulder. "Let's not start any fights. We're here to work together, right?"
Troxl laughed, a mocking sound that reverberated through the air. "Work together? You two? With me? That's a joke."
Belial's eyes narrowed. "Hey, don't underestimate us. We're not here to play games."
"I don't need your help," Troxl spat back, his eyes hardening. "But since Cassidy left me in charge, I'll tolerate your presence. This is a C rank dungeon, and I'm not in the mood for babysitting."
Belial's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, so Cassidy didn't think you were capable enough to handle this alone?"
Troxl's expression darkened as his fists clenched. "Shut up. We're wasting time. And you won't be doing anything in this dungeon. You are too low, so just stay on guard."
Belial let out a carefree laugh. "Don't worry, big guy. I'll handle myself just fine." He hefted his katana over his shoulder with a confident flick.
Xin, standing beside Troxl, gave Belial a small smile. "Let's just stick together and watch each other's backs, okay?"
The group stepped through the gate, swallowed immediately by darkness. The air was thick and cold, a stark contrast to the warm glow of the entrance. Troxl frowned, his eyes scanning the murky shadows.
"It's too dark," he muttered. "Sora, light us up."
Sora, a thin man with a long staff strapped to his back, snapped his fingers. The tip of his staff began to glow, casting a faint light that illuminated the stone path ahead.
"What is this place..." Troxl said, his voice low and wary. "There should be monsters by now."
"Yeah, it's quiet," Sora added, his brows furrowing. "Dungeons usually have torches or some kind of light source."
Their footsteps echoed eerily through the cavern as they made their way deeper. The walls were damp, and the faint smell of rot hung in the air. As they neared a large door at the end of the corridor, the unmistakable sounds of battle reached their ears—clashing steel, pained grunts, and snarls.
Troxl stepped forward, pressing his hand to the massive door. "Stay alert," he said, his voice gruff.
As the door creaked open, the scene beyond unfolded—a hunter, locked in combat with a chimera, was seconds away from being torn in half by the beast's sharp claws.
Xin's eyes widened. Without hesitation, he surged forward, his feet barely touching the ground as he propelled himself toward the hunter. His hax activated in an instant, sending out a sonic wave that disoriented the chimera just long enough for him to grab the hunter and pull him to safety.
Before the group could regroup, a red light appeared on the floor, pulsating with an ominous glow. A towering red ogre materialized from the light, its massive body covered in jagged scars and thick armor. Troxl's hand flew to the hilt of his sword as he sized up the new threat.
"That's a B rank ogre," he muttered, drawing his blade. "I'll handle this with flint. You four deal with that chimera."
Belial cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Finally. I was getting bored."
His amethyst eyes gleamed as he glanced at Xin, Kyle, and Sora. "Let's turn this overgrown mutt into a throw rug."
Xin hefted his massive axe with a grunt. Sora, standing a few steps back beside Kyle, adjusted his grip on his staff, calm and focused. "We'll handle support," he said, his tone razor-sharp.
As they rounded the corner, the chimera came into view—towering, grotesque, with three snapping heads that snarled and spat. Muscles rippled beneath its mangy hide, its presence warping the very air around it.
"Puny... child..." it growled, voice fractured between its heads. "Do you... know who I am? I am Prince Valtor... heir of flame and fang!"
Belial blinked surprised a monster could speak, but then again it wasn't outside the realm of possibility..
"Prince? Of what? The Ugly Pound?" He twirled his katana lazily, smirking. "You look like a meatball someone left in the sun too long."
The chimera shrieked, all three heads baring fangs. Then it lunged.
Belial dodged low, his katana flashing as he sliced across one snarling maw, drawing a spray of dark blood. Xin followed with a thunderous roar, swinging his axe and hammering the beast's side, cracking bone. The chimera staggered.
Sora's staff pulsed, firing searing beams of light that scorched the chimera's hide. "Keep it busy!" he shouted, narrowly avoiding a whip of the creature's barbed tail.
Belial darted beneath the beast's massive body, slashing deep into its legs. "C'mon, ugly," he taunted. "You wanted to talk big—let's see you walk the walk."
Xin's axe crashed down again, this time carving into a neck. The chimera howled in fury, blood spraying as it thrashed wildly.
Then the floor pulsed green.
Cracks splintered outward, glowing with unnatural light. From the fractures crawled dozens of smaller creatures—twisted things pulsing with the same sickly glow.
"Ugh, side quests," Belial muttered, already slashing through the first wave. "I hate side quests."
"We're getting overwhelmed!" Sora shouted, blasting away the swarming creatures. "This isn't sustainable!"
Belial's eyes narrowed. "Then we end it. Xin—boost me!"
Xin nodded, bracing himself.
Belial sprinted forward. Xin launched him into the air with a grunt of effort, Hax flaring at his palms. Belial soared, katana raised, dark energy arcing across the blade like lightning.
With a shout, he descended in a blur of motion—cleaving through all three heads in a single, clean strike.
The chimera shrieked, then collapsed in a heap, its body twitching once before lying still.
Dust settled. Breaths heaved.
"We did it," Xin panted, sweat streaking his brow.
Belial landed beside him, flicking blood from his blade. "Was there ever a doubt?"
But the victory didn't last.
A door at the far end of the room creaked open, spilling golden light. Inside, ancient treasures shimmered—weapons, gems, relics untouched by time.
At the center stood a girl. Slightly taller than Belial, white-haired, eyes hidden behind a black blindfold. She held a glowing gem between two fingers like it was nothing.
Belial's eyes narrowed. "You again."
The girl smiled, twirling the gem. "Oh no," she said, voice syrupy and mocking. "You found me. Whatever shall I do?"
Before he could respond, she vanished—reappearing a breath away from him.
Belial's katana whipped through empty air.
Again, she vanished.
"Damn it!" Belial shouted, his voice echoing off the chamber walls as her laughter faded like smoke.