Takeshi fired several rounds into the golem's head and torso, but the creature didn't flinch. The bullets ricocheted harmlessly off its dense stone body, and its glowing eyes locked onto him, cold and unfeeling.
"Hey! Look out!" Nyx shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.
The golem raised its massive fist, the air vibrating from the sheer force behind the motion. Takeshi tightened his grip on his sword and braced himself. Steel met stone with a brutal clash, but the force behind the blow was too much. The impact sent him skidding backward, boots scraping against the stone floor as he narrowly evaded a follow-up strike.
As he regained his footing, Nyx's sharp eyes caught a faint glow pulsing from the center of the room—the true source of the golem's strength. A massive crystal, tethered to the creature like a beating heart, radiated waves of raw mana.
Raising her hand, Nyx whispered, "Dark Force," her voice steady despite the rising tension.
A colossal hand formed from swirling dark energy, coalescing above the crystal before lunging toward it. The golem roared, its stone body trembling as the dark hand tightened its grip around the crystal. Its focus snapped to Nyx, fury burning in its hollow gaze.
The creature retaliated, gathering loose sand from the dungeon floor, compressing it into a dense sphere, and hurling it toward her. Takeshi reacted in an instant, firing a barrage of rounds at the golem's arm, forcing its aim off by inches. The sand sphere missed its mark, shattering against the wall in a cloud of dust and debris.
"Nyx, whatever you're doing—finish it now!" Takeshi shouted, his voice cutting through the cavern's echo.
Nyx gritted her teeth, pouring every ounce of energy into her attack. The dark matter hand squeezed tighter, cracks spider-webbing across the crystal's surface until—finally—it shattered into a thousand brilliant shards.
The golem froze mid-stride. A second later, its stone body crumbled, collapsing into a lifeless heap of rubble.
As the dust settled, Takeshi rushed to Nyx, catching her just as her legs gave out. Without a word, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back toward their camp.
A warm fire crackled in the silence, casting soft light against the cold dungeon walls. Minutes passed before Nyx stirred, her crimson eyes fluttering open to the sight of Takeshi tending to a spit over the flames, roasting thick slabs of beef.
Noticing her awake, he offered her a piece. Nyx, still pale, shook her head weakly.
"I don't eat that," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "I only drink blood."
Takeshi blinked, unsure if he'd heard her right. Before he could reply, Nyx shifted closer, her lips curling into a playful but unsettling smirk. A faint glint danced in her eyes.
"What're you—"
Before the sentence left his mouth, her fangs sank into his neck. A sharp jolt of pain shot through him as she drank deeply, her touch both cold and oddly gentle. After a moment, she pulled back, her cheeks flush with renewed strength.
"Well... that was unexpected," Takeshi muttered, rubbing the side of his neck where faint bite marks lingered.
Nyx leaned back, stretching slightly, her energy restored. "Sorry... vampire instinct," she said, her tone half-apologetic, half-amused. After a moment, her gaze softened. "By the way, what's your name?"
"I'm Hiroshi Takeshi," he replied, his voice steady despite the lingering sting.
Their brief conversation ended as Takeshi packed the last of their supplies. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he glanced at her, eyes sharp but calm.
"You coming? Or planning to stay here and rot?"
Nyx stood, stretching her arms with a faint smirk. "I'm coming."
Their journey deeper into the dungeon pressed on in silence, the air growing heavier with each step. Before long, the faint growl of unseen predators echoed from the shadows. From the darkness, a pack of demon wolves emerged, their eyes glowing with savage hunger.
Takeshi stepped forward, unsheathing his sword. His voice was low, but firm. "Stay behind me."
The wolves lunged, claws raking against his blade as he deflected their attacks, the force of each strike driving him back inch by inch. Holding his ground, he countered, his sword flashing in tight, practiced arcs.
Behind him, Nyx raised her hand, fingers weaving through the air as dark energy pulsed at her fingertips.
"Dark Force: Slow."
The lead wolf's body staggered mid-leap, its movements suddenly sluggish and heavy. Takeshi seized the opening, stepping in with a decisive swing, his blade cutting cleanly through its chest.
Without hesitating, he pushed forward, cutting down the next two wolves with sharp, efficient strikes. More circled, closing in.
Nyx's voice rang out again. "Sharp Pierce. Dark Spikes."
Above her, jagged shards of dark matter materialized, launching forward like a storm of spears. The spikes tore through the remaining wolves, piercing their flesh before they hit the ground.
Silence settled over the dungeon once more as the final beast fell.
Takeshi lowered his sword, exhaling slowly, before glancing back at her. A rare smile crossed his face. "Thanks for the assist."
Nyx brushed a lock of hair from her face, her expression calm but satisfied. "You're welcome."
After catching their breath, the two pressed onward. Eventually, their path led to a towering, ornate door carved with ancient runes. The markings pulsed faintly, as if the door itself were alive.
"This is it," Takeshi said, tightening his grip on the sword's hilt. His voice was quiet, but the determination in his eyes was unmistakable. "Are you ready?"
Nyx met his gaze, her own expression calm but resolute. "Let's finish this."
Side by side, they pushed the heavy doors open, stepping into the heart of the dungeon—and whatever waited for them beyond.