CHAPTER 60: HERE GOES NOTHING

The trio were not taking the advice at all.

Neal’s fist collided with a Spider-Wolf’s face, and the collision shook the entire floor. The creature’s skull cracked like glass.

The monsters were already weakened by the explosion and he was getting constantly healed by Kaelen so it was much easier defeating them.

Two more pounced at him. Neal replied with a spun, his hands glowing with intense light.

Solar Vortex

—a swirl of light erupted from his body, launching the creatures away in scorched arcs.

"Alira, left!" Kaelen called.

A blur passed through his vision—Alira was already there.

She appeared behind a Chimera Gnasher, her blades slicing into the base of its spine. The creature shrieked and spun, but her Ghost Step let her phase through its lunge, reappearing behind it.

Shhlick— another clean decapitation.

Kaelen didn’t stand still either. As more monsters approached, he drew complex sigils midair with his fingers—

Cascade of Thorns

Dozens of glowing spears of divine light burst upward from the ground, skewering half a dozen enemies.

A venomous leech launched toward his face which he easily blocked with Radiant wall and counter attacked with mana woven into threads.

One thread snapped out and whip-cracked the leech mid-flight, bisecting it.

As they were fighting Kaelen had noticed stronger monsters approaching them.

"More coming," Kaelen said. "And they’re higher level."

The Lurking Woe descended, a hybrid of lizard covered in chitinous shells with spider limbs clicking against the ceiling as it vomited a stream of bone-white silk, coating the ground and trapping Kaelen’s legs.

Fwish! A tail whipped through the air, nearly taking off Kaelen’s head—but Neal intercepted it, grabbing the tail with bare hands.

Kaelen smirked, " Got you idiot."

He had purposefully not dodge the spider’s silk to lure it out.

"You don’t get to touch him."

Sunbrand Detonation

BOOM!

The tail exploded into chunks. Neal flew upward and slammed into the Lurking Woe’s body with both fists, sending it crashing to the floor.

Alira reappeared midair, blades spinning—Lacerate

She dashed past the Woe, slashing across its exposed belly. Purple ichor sprayed across the battlefield.

But the monster was still alive and recovering quickly.

"Still alive?" Kaelen growled.

The monster regenerated before their eyes—flesh knitting, bones clicking back into place.

"Kaelen—do something!" Neal shouted.

"I’m thinking," he said, heart racing.

Sanctified Wrath pulsed in his soul. But he wouldn’t use it. Not yet. Too costly. Too risky.

Then an idea came to his mind and he berated himself.

Why are you so stupid Kaelen! You’re a fucking cleric and a legendary Divine Cleric at that.

He raised his hand—

Divine Bind

Golden chains erupted from the ground, ensnaring the regenerating Woe. They dug deep into its shell, locking it in place.

Kaelen followed up with—

Holy Reversal

A support spell that reflects the target’s next healing instance as damage.

He laughed as if he had done the most wisest thing. "You dare to use healing in front of me the genius, the absolute number one Divine Cleric, the handsome Kaelen Maglor."

The Woe screamed as its own healing turned inward, causing its body to shudder violently.

Alira landed next to him, panting. "Nice trick."

Kaelen smiled. "Please please no compliments, you’re making me shy."

But his long pointy nose says otherwise.

Neal roared, golden light surrounding his arms—

Solar Drive, his trump card in mid-tier combat. Every punch from now on ignited with pure kinetic solar energy.

He charged at the Woe, fists blazing like suns.

Kaelen layered him with buffs:

Life Veil

Fortitude of the Martyr

Crusader’s Resilience

Neal became a golden juggernaut, punching with enough force to crater the battlefield. He tackled the Woe and dragged it across the dungeon, smashing through its minions like bowling pins.

"Alira—pressure points!" Kaelen barked.

Alira vanished.

One blink.

Two.

She appeared on the Woe’s back, plunging a black dagger into the precise joint between its shell and limb.

The limb exploded from the inside. The Lurking Woe shrieked in agony.

"Neal!" Kaelen called.

Neal grinned and leapt high.

Comet Slam

He came down like a meteor, both fists driving into the Woe’s skull.

CRAAACK!

The monster convulsed once—and then stopped.

The silence was sudden. Deafening.

The horde began to retreat.

Derek raised his hands,"Hey Hey you don’t get to decide when to leave."

Then walls emerged from the ground on all sides blocking their way of retreat.

Neal was panting. Alira crouched in exhaustion.

But Kaelen’s robes were clean and as good as new, his expression was radiant, not even a sweat on his face.

And with another series of skill spamming he had killed every monster. When the last monster dropped to the floor the system notification ranged.

Silver Dungeon cleared.

Rewards : 100 silver rank poison arrows, 10 silver rank shields, two pairs of silver rank gloves.

They had done it.

Derek sheathed his sword with reverence. "I underestimated you."

Kaelen waved his hands, "Don’t mention it, it was too easy, not even a test for me."

Then, a sound.

Hummmmmmmm...

A portal appeared.

Not a system-exit gate.

It was deep black. Ringed with ancient symbols. And leaking violet mist.

They all turned to it.

"...That’s not supposed to be there," Derek said, his voice low.

Neal looked at Kaelen. "We going in?"

Kaelen tilted his head. "We take the core first."

They approached the heart of the dungeon, now exposed. A crystalline silver core rests inside it embedded in the wall. Kaelen grasped it.

Then the world shook.

CRACK!

The walls began collapsing.

"Now lets leave."

The exit portal blinked—then vanished.

Kaelen screamed in horror. "Wait! Wait! Wait! Noooooo...."

He cursed "damn it. Stupid dungeon"

"what’s wrong with this dungeon," Derek whispered. "There’s no way out. The exit portal just vanished."

Kaelen stared at the mysterious portal. "Nope there’s still one."

Alira stepped up beside him. "It’s a trap."

"Yup."

"Still going?"

"Obviously. Where else?"

Neal laughed, blood in his teeth. "The dungeon is for the brave to conquer. I’m in."

Kaelen turned back to the team.

"Ready?"

They all nodded.

Then Kaelen took the first step through.

"Here goes nothing—"