The rescue party ventured deeper into the dungeon. The deeper they went, the more bizarre the dungeon became. The blue crystals that they had seen in abundance were growing more distant, and the tunnels were getting significantly wider. Rayan kept his sword out as he walked. Dev walked beside him, his shield slung over his shoulder.
Nisha and Tara brought up the rear as the Guild Master and the other adventurers watched their backs. Mira kept watch over the group, as she had done since they entered the dungeon. She had said little since they had entered the dungeon. Her eyes searched every tunnel, every nook and cranny, looking for something.
Someone.
Arin.
Rayan suddenly stopped, and everyone behind him stopped as well. "What is it?" Dev asked. Rayan looked ahead of him. "There," he said. There was something at the end of the tunnel. The Guild Master walked forward, peering into the darkness. "There is a chamber ahead," he said. Rayan nodded.
"Let’s go check it out."
The group walked forward, and soon the tunnel opened up into a large chamber. Everyone stopped, gawking at the sight before them. The chamber was massive, and the ceiling was lost in darkness. Several pillars of stone littered the room, but what caught everyone’s attention were the bodies. There were a number of them littered around the room. Some of them were goblins and wolves, but there were some larger creatures mixed in as well. Tara gulped. "What happened here?" The Guild Master knelt down beside one of the bodies. "These aren’t fresh," he said. Rayan looked around.
"Then what are all of these for?" No one had an answer. Suddenly, there was the sound of crunching. Everyone turned towards the sound, and they saw something moving in the darkness.
Crunching.
Low growling.
Dev raised his shield. "What is that?" There was another sound.
Crunching.
Rayan tightened his grip on his sword. "Something’s eating," he muttered. The Guild Master raised a hand. "Everyone, be quiet." The group slowly walked towards the sound, and they came up behind one of the pillars. They looked over the edge and gasped. There, in the middle of the room, was something massive. It was sitting on top of the body of one of the larger creatures, tearing into it.
Crunching.
The adventurers stared in horror.
It was huge.
It was easily as big as the Minotaur that Arin and the party fought before, and its muscles were even more defined. Its horns were longer as well, and its brown fur was littered with scars. Its massive axe was lying on the ground next to it. Rayan’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "No way," he muttered. Dev’s face was pale. "I know that monster," he said. Mira looked at him. "You do?" Dev nodded. "It attacked us before." Rayan’s grip on his sword tightened.
"The Minotaur." Mira looked at the creature. "That’s the one that attacked Arin?" Rayan nodded. "Yes." The Guild Master studied the Minotaur. "This isn’t the same one," he said. Dev frowned. "It is." "No, it’s not, you reported something small," the Guild Master said, shaking his head. "It is the same Minotaur," he said, looking at its massive frame. "But it has grown." Nisha looked at the bodies around the Minotaur. "It has been feeding," she said. The Guild Master nodded. "Probably for days before even encountering you."
Rayan’s expression darkened. "So all of these monsters it killed," he said. "It ate them," the Guild Master finished. Dev gulped. "And it became stronger." The Minotaur stopped feeding and looked up. Its red eyes locked onto the group and it growled. Everyone stood their ground as the Minotaur rose to its feet. It was enormous. The ground shook as it took a step forward.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Tara took a step back. "It’s even bigger than before," she said. The Minotaur raised its axe. "Spread out!" Rayan yelled. The Minotaur charged.
BOOM!
Rayan barely got out of the way as the Minotaur’s axe slammed into the ground.
CRASH!
The ground exploded as the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the room. Dev raised his shield. The Minotaur swung its axe again, and it collided with his shield, sending him flying backwards. "DEV!" Rayan yelled as he ran towards the Minotaur. His sword was out as he slashed at the beast’s arm.
CLANG!
The blade barely made a scratch. Rayan’s eyes widened. "What?" The Minotaur swung its fist, and Rayan was sent flying across the room. Nisha raised her staff. "Fireball!" she shouted.
BOOM!
A fireball shot from her staff and hit the Minotaur in the chest, sending a plume of smoke into the air. Tara immediately notched three arrows and let them fly.
SWISH!
SWISH!
SWISH!
The arrows struck true, and for a moment, the Minotaur was stunned. Then, it rose from the smoky haze, still standing. Nisha’s face was pale. "That didn’t do anything," she said. "Fall back!" the Guild Master yelled. The Minotaur let out a deafening roar that sent shockwaves through the room. Mira covered her ears as Rayan pushed himself off the ground. "This thing," he said, breathing heavily. "Is not the same anymore," Dev said as he got to his feet. The Minotaur charged again, and the adventurers scattered. Its axe slammed into one of the pillars, destroying it.
BOOM!
Another swing sent another pillar crashing down. "Stop fighting it head on!" the Guild Master yelled. They all tried to retreat, but the Minotaur was too fast. It swung its axe at Nisha, but Rayan got in the way.
CLANG!
He blocked the attack, but it sent him flying across the room. "RAYAN!" Nisha shouted. "I’ve got it!" Rayan said as he got to his feet. The Minotaur pushed against him, and Rayan’s feet slid across the ground. Dev ran over to him. "I’ll help!" he said, slamming his shield into the Minotaur’s side. It didn’t do much, and Dev’s eyes widened in surprise. "You’re kidding me." The Minotaur kicked him in the gut, sending him flying.
BOOM!
Dev landed on his back, and Mirza watched helplessly as the Minotaur turned towards Nisha. "Someone stop it!" she cried. The Guild Master raised his weapon. "Everyone, stick together!" he shouted. The Minotaur raised its axe, and Rayan looked up at it. For the first time, he seriously considered that they might not make it out of this fight. Suddenly, there was another sound. Not from the Minotaur. Something else. It was deep and guttural, and it sent shivers down Rayan’s spine.
The Minotaur turned its head slightly, and Rayan followed its gaze. "What is that?" he asked. The Guild Master looked towards where the Minotaur was looking. Far above the chamber, Arin was flying through the tunnels. Ayan’s massive wings carried him and Saira, who was in her demon form, across the room. "We’re close," Arin said. Ayan nodded. "I can hear fighting." Arin looked at his quest window. The quest was still up, and the only thing that had changed was the time.
[Time Remaining: 43 Minutes.]
Arin’s eyes widened. "We’ve already lost seventeen minutes." Saira looked at him. Ayan looked back. "Should I go faster?" Arin looked ahead. "Can you?" Ayan’s golden eyes narrowed. "Yes. Then do it." Ayan spread his wings, and he shot forward.
WHOOSH!
Arin grabbed onto his back. "Whoa," he said. Saira flew beside them in her demon form. "We are almost there," she said. Arin looked ahead, and he could hear the sounds of the battle.
BOOM!
CRASH!
Another roar from the Minotaur. Arin’s expression darkened. "They’re fighting it," he said. Ayan’s eyes narrowed. "The creature?" "Yes," Arin said. "Then we should hurry." Ayan sped up again, and back in the chamber, the Minotaur raised its axe. Rayan stood in front of it, his sword already damaged. Dev’s shield was cracked, and Nisha’s magic was all but gone. Tara’s arrows were nearly depleted, and the Guild Master stepped forward. "Everyone, move!" he shouted.
The Minotaur brought its axe down, but Rayan jumped aside. The axe slammed into the ground, and the Minotaur pulled it out. Suddenly, it heard something. A powerful wind.
WHOOSH!
Everyone turned towards the entrance, and the Minotaur turned as well. Something massive was flying overhead. Rayan’s eyes widened as he looked up. "What..." he began, but he was cut off as the creature landed in the middle of the room. The ground shook, and the adventurers all braced themselves as the dust cleared. The dragon raised its head, and its golden eyes locked onto the Minotaur. The Minotaur let out a deafening roar, and the dragon let out a roar in return sending the Minotaur crashing back breaking the walls.
Then, the figure on the dragon’s back landed on the ground. Rayan’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he looked at the figure. The boy slowly got to his feet. Rayan whispered one word. "Arin." Mira’s eyes widened. "Arin?" Arin looked at them. "I’m back," he said. For a moment, no one said anything. Then, Mira ran over to him. "Arin!" she cried. Arin barely had time to react before she tackled him to the ground. "You idiot!" she shouted. Arin blinked. "What?" "We thought you were dead!" she said. "I’m okay," Arin said. Mira looked him over. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I’m fine," he said. She stared at him. "You fell into the dungeon!" "I know," Arin said. "And you disappeared!" "I know," he said. "And now you come back riding a dragon?!" Arin looked at Ayan. "Yeah..." Mira looked at the dragon. Then at Arin. "I have a lot of questions," she said. Arin sighed. "I know." Rayan walked up to him. "You really survived." Arin smiled. "Looks like it." Dev walked up to him. "You saved us again," he said. Arin looked at him. "Again?" Dev looked at Ayan. "That dragon just saved us." Arin looked at Ayan, who was standing behind him. Then a second figure landed nearby.
Black wings folded behind her. Rayan immediately raised his sword. "Demon!" Arin raised his hand. "Wait." Everyone stared at Saira. Arin sighed. "She’s with me." Rayan lowered his sword slightly. "You’re traveling with a demon?" Arin looked at Ayan. Then at Saira. Then at the entire rescue party. "Long story."
Tara looked at him. "And the dragon?" "Also a long story," Arin said. Nisha looked at him. "You really need to explain yourself." Arin nodded. "I know." Behind them, the Minotaur slowly pulled its axe from the ground. Arin’s expression darkened. He turned around, and his eyes locked onto the Minotaur. The Minotaur looked at him as well. It was the same one. The one that attacked him. The one that caused him to fall. The one that almost killed him. But this time, Arin wasn’t alone. Ayan stepped forward, and Saira spread her wings. Rayan raised his sword, and Dev raised his shield. The Minotaur let out a deafening roar, and Arin gripped his weapon. The timer still appeared in his peripheral vision.
[Time Remaining: 42 Minutes.]
Arin stared at the Minotaur.
"Let’s finish this."