The last stone guardian fell with a thunderous crash, its marble torso splitting cleanly in half as it struck the temple floor. Shards scattered across the chamber like bones from a fallen titan.
A faint ding echoed in Harry's ears.
[You have defeated: Arcanus Sentinel – Elite Constructs]
[EXP Gained: +220]
Harry nearly collapsed beside it. His arms trembled. His sword felt heavier than an anvil. Lightning still crackled faintly at his fingertips—aftershocks from his last desperate Lightning Wave.
His Status bar, hovering faintly in the corner of his vision, pulsed in warning.
[HP: 360 / 780]
[MP: 840 / 1500]
He wasn't the only one in rough shape. The temple chamber looked like a battlefield frozen in time—columns cracked, flags torn, scorch marks blackening the floor. And among the rubble lay two of his companions.
Cassia was sprawled near a broken pillar, blood trailing from her scalp where a guardian had slammed her against the wall.
[Party Member: Cassia – HP Critical]
Charles lay half-buried under stone fragments, his cuirass dented inward where an enchanted spear had crushed into him. Joseph was kneeling beside him, trembling, casting weak healing spells.
[Party Member: Charles – HP Critical]
"Damn it…" Harry whispered, rushing toward them. His legs nearly gave out, and the system flashed another warning:
[Stamina Low]
He swallowed down a healing potion, feeling the burn spread through his veins.
HP Restored: +200
Better—but still not good enough.
He knelt beside Cassia. Jason appeared at her other side, sweat dripping down his brow.
"She's unconscious, but alive," Jason said, touching two fingers to her throat. "But if she takes another hit like that…"
"She won't," Harry said sharply.
The stone dust on the floor swirled around them like mist. The torches lining the hall continued to burn with fire, illuminating the carved Roman murals that watched from the walls.
It was hard to believe that minutes earlier, the room had been filled with hulking, enchanted guardians eager to crush them.
Harry wiped the sweat from his brow. His armor was dented and chipped, goblin-forged plates bearing the scars of the fight.
Harry cursed. "Two down already… and this is only the first floor of the dungeon."
Jason grimaced. "Arcanus didn't play around, huh?"
"He built an empire with an army made of metal," Harry muttered. "These guardians were the warm-up."
Joseph looked up, voice shaking. "We—I can stay. Look after them. You can't move them without risking worse injuries."
Harry nodded, then placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder. "Good. Stay safe. Use the wards I shared with you and keep them safe."
Jason blinked. "I want to stay with Cassia."
Harry answered after some time. "I'll need a Ward Breaker for whatever comes next. Arcanus wouldn't trap his treasure behind just stone guardians. There will be sealed locks, layered barriers, and lots of traps."
Jason exhaled, relieved—and terrified.
"Right."
Joseph stood, sensing what came next. "Please be careful. Those statues almost killed us."
Harry checked his cracked shield, then his sword. The blade was still sharp—thank Merlin for mithiril weapons.
"I'm fine," he lied.
He looked at his fallen comrades again, anger simmering behind his calm expression. No statue, no dungeon, no dead Roman warlock was going to take his people from him.
He turned toward the dark corridor ahead.
A low rumble trembled beneath the floor—another chamber waking.
Jason tightened his grip on his wand. "So… what's the plan, boss?"
Harry raised his shield and stepped into the shadows.
"We push forward," he said. "Floor 2 won't clear itself."
The stone door rumbled open, groaning like an ancient beast disturbed from centuries of slumber. Harry stepped forward cautiously, Jason close behind him. David, Cassandra, Marcus, and Angela followed, their footsteps echoing in the cold, torchlit chamber.
The door slammed shut behind them.
BOOM.
A heartbeat of silence.
Then—
T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T!
A deadly hiss filled the chamber as a volley of arrows exploded from every direction.
"DOWN!" Cassandra shouted.
Harry didn't think—his body moved on instinct. He thrust both palms forward.
[Death Ward – Lv.9]
A dome of swirling black smoke erupted around them, thick and impenetrable. The arrows struck it with vicious force.
TING! TING! TING! TING!
Hundreds of metal shafts ricocheted off the barrier, piling around the group like a nest of metallic snakes. Jason flinched, arms raised over his face.
Jason swore loudly. "Merlin's sweaty beard—that would've turned us into pincushions!"
The barrage went on for several long, suffocating seconds.
Then silence.
Harry let out a slow breath and lowered his hands. The Death Ward barrier dissolved.
Cassandra looked around. "Everyone all right?"
Angela checked her arms, exhaling shakily. "Close. Too close."
David examined the walls. The entire chamber was lined with tiny black slits—hundreds of them—each one capable of launching an arrow with frightening velocity.
Marcus nudged an arrow on the floor. "Ironwood shafts. Enchanted tips. One hit from these, and even healing potions won't stop bleeding."
Jason stepped carefully toward a narrow tile on the ground. His eyes widened. "Don't move."
Everyone froze.
Jason pointed to the tile under Marcus's boot. "Pressure trigger. These floors are covered with them."
Marcus lifted his foot as if he'd stepped on a sleeping cobra.
Jason knelt and began tracing lines along the floor—thin, almost invisible glowing threads of magic etched into the tiles.
"Arcanus used an old Roman ward system," Jason muttered, tapping his wand. "Pressure plates connected to kinetic spell relays. Every time someone steps on one, the walls release—"
THWIP!
A single arrow shot out near Harry's head, grazing a strand of his hair.
"—that," Jason finished through clenched teeth.
Cassandra looked at Harry. "You all right?"
Harry nodded, though his heartbeat thudded wildly.
He turned to Jason. "Can you break it?"
Jason swallowed. "It's not a simple ward. It's a network. Every tile is connected to ten others. If I break the wrong one, we trigger all of them."
"Meaning we die?" Marcus asked.
"Painfully," Jason replied.
Harry scanned the chamber with Observe.
[Observe - Lv. 11]
Lines of arcane data flashed across his vision, highlighting the active magical grid under the floor.
Harry frowned. "It's not just pressure plates. The ward reacts to movement."
"Motion detection and pressure sensitivity?" Angela gasped. "What kind of madman was Arcanus?"
Cassandra muttered. "Someone who didn't like visitors."
Jason worked quickly, sweat beading on his forehead. He muttered Latin counter-runes, tracing them into the air.
[Warning: Ward Stability 62%]
[Warning: Incorrect Rune Detected]
"Hold on," Harry said.
Jason froze. "Did I get it wrong?"
Harry pointed to a faint shimmering glyph on the floor. "Reverse the last rune. It's mirrored."
Jason blinked, corrected it—and a soft click echoed through the room.
The glowing threads on the floor dimmed.
[System Notification]
[You have disabled: Arcanus Trap Ward]
Jason collapsed backward. "Done. Oh, sweet Merlin, it's done."
David let out a relieved laugh. "Remind me to buy you a Firewhisky after this."
Cassandra, always the practical one, looked toward the chamber's next archway—another massive door adorned with carvings of Roman soldiers and serpents.
"If this was only the hallway," she said grimly, "what do you think the next room will hold?"
Harry tightened his grip on his sword.
"Something worse," he replied.
The stone door ahead rumbled open with a deep groan that echoed down the narrow passageway. A faint orange glow flickered beyond it—torchlight, dancing against ancient marble.
Harry stepped forward first.
And froze.
"Merlin…" Cassandra whispered behind him.
They had stepped into a Colosseum.
A real one.
Massive stone walls stretched up into darkness, curving into a perfect circle. Rows upon rows of marble seats spiraled upward like giant ribs. The ceiling—if there was one—was lost in shadows far above. The air smelled of dust, ancient magic, and something older than both.
The moment the group crossed the threshold, the passage slammed shut behind them.
Torches around the full circumference of the arena ignited in a wave of roaring fire.
FWOOM—FWOOM—FWOOM—FWOOM!
The entire Colosseum came alive.
And then Harry saw them.
Spectators.
Thousands of them.
They did not breathe.
They did not move.
They were soldiers—the Iron legion of Arcanus, sitting in rigid rows across every tier of the Colosseum.
Their bodies were sculpted of iron, silver, bronze, even gold—shaped like legionaries, gladiators, cavalry, archers. Some were missing limbs; some were battered; some still held rusted weapons crusted with dried blood from centuries ago.
Jason swallowed hard. "Arcanus didn't build a chamber…"
His voice cracked.
"He built hideout for his army."
The metal warriors' heads moved—not fully, not smoothly—but enough to track the intruders. A thousand cold iron eyes turned toward Harry and the Serpent Court.
A shiver crawled down all their spines.
A loud grinding noise echoed across the arena.
On the opposite side, a giant gate made of black steel rose into the air, dust falling like rain. Behind it… thunderous hoofbeats pounded the ground.
Then they arrived.
The Eternal Legion of Arcanus.
A formation of metal cavalry, mounted on mechanical horses whose joints whirred with enchantments, marched forward in perfect synchronization. Behind them came the gladiators—towering figures with massive shields and blades larger than Cassandra. Metal lions, wolves, and serpentine beasts prowled between their legs, their bodies glowing with runes the color of molten silver.
Marcus whispered, "This is suicidal."
Harry's heart hammered.
This wasn't just a dungeon. This was history awakening.
The ground beneath them shook.
A massive horn bellowed across the arena—
BWHOOOOOOOOM!
The spectators of metal slammed their weapons against their chests in a deafening, metallic roar.
Cassandra drew her wand with trembling fingers.
David gripped his wand.
Jason cursed under his breath.
Harry stepped forward, raising a hand to silence them.
He turned around, looking at every one of his companions—the Serpent Court, the thieves, the friends who stood with him long before Italy.
He took a deep breath.
"Everyone," he said quietly.
They looked at him.
"I don't know if we can survive this."
His voice did not tremble.
He spoke as if death itself was simply another obstacle.
"Arcanus built this army to conquer nations. We are six people standing in a colosseum meant for thousands. We may die here, all of us."
Cassandra's jaw tightened.
David nodded grimly.
Jason looked pale.
But Harry kept going.
"If this is the end… then I'm glad I met all of you. I'm glad you joined me. I'm glad we fought together. Whatever happens now—thank you."
Angela sniffed. Marcus looked away, blinking rapidly.
Harry lifted his sword.
"If we die—let it be a battle worth remembering."
The horn blasted again.
The gates on both sides of the arena yawned open.
The ground trembled under the march of hundreds of metal warriors.
Cassandra whispered, "Harry… this is insane."
Harry smiled faintly.
The Eternal Legion broke into a full charge.
Arrows notched.
Blades raised.
Metal beasts roared.
The arena came alive with pure, merciless violence.
Harry shouted the only words that mattered—
"READY YOURSELVES!"
And the battle began.
From the far gates, the cavalry thundered across the arena—metal hooves striking sparks against stone, gears screeching, swords raised. Behind them marched the gladiators, shields like tower walls, followed by metal beasts snarling through fanged jaws.
The Eternal Legion of Arcanus.
An army designed to conquer the world.
Harry stepped forward.
His armor shimmered and locked into place over his body: black plates, silver-edged, with runes that hummed under his skin.
He lifted his mithiril sword. It vibrated with power.
All around him, the Serpent Court spread out:
Jason stood slightly behind, wand drawn, eyes flicking across the arena for wards.
Cassandra tightened her grip on her wand.
David pulled out two enchanted axes from his back.
Marcus and Angela readied their dueling stances.
Harry inhaled.
"Ready."
Cassandra whispered, "Dear Merlin, protect us."
The horn sounded a second time.
And the armies collided.
A metal horse the size of a bull barreled toward Harry, its rider lifting a massive spear.
Harry raised his hand—
"SHADOW VEIL!"
Black smoke exploded from him in a circular wave.
[Shadow Veil – Lv.10]
MP -45
Visibility for enemies: 0%
Visibility for caster: 100%
Darkness swallowed the charging cavalry.
Screams echoed from deeper in the group—not fear, but strange metallic cries of malfunction as they crashed into each other.
Harry moved.
Wind Step.
Wraith Flight.
Sword Spark.
He blurred in the darkness like a phantom.
[Wind Step – Lv.12 Activated]
+160% Movement Speed
MP -20
He vaulted above one horse, spinning, bringing his sword down on the rider's neck—
CLANG!
A crack splintered across its metal chestplate.
Not dead.
Not yet.
Harry used his left hand—
"BONE SPEAR!"
A spear made of jagged, whitened bone erupted from his palm and pierced downward.
[Bone Spear – Lv.8]
DMG: 420
MP -35
CRACK!
The metal rider shattered, exploding into fragments.
But the horse reared, and its mechanical forelegs slammed into Harry's side—
[HP -60]
He rolled, gasping.
Another cavalryman lunged.
Cassandra screamed—
"CONFRINGO!"
The blasting curse detonated against its chest.
The metal warrior staggered, chestplate glowing red-hot—
It didn't fall.
Angela shouted, "Hit the same spot again!"
Marcus and Cassandra both aimed—
"BOMBARDIA MAXIMA!"
"REDUCTO!"
The combined impact hammered the cracked area—
BOOM!
The rider exploded, fire spraying from the broken gears.
But five more cavalry soldiers charged them.
"Fall back!" Harry called.
David hurled an axe—
THUNK!
CRUNCH!
The axe buried itself in a horse's face, snapping its jaw.
The thing still galloped forward, head caved in, blindly swinging its rider's blade.
David muttered, "Yeah, I hate enchanted things."
A circle of cavalry surrounded Harry.
He checked his MP.
[MP: 930 / 1400]
Enough.
He stabbed the ground.
"THUNDERDOME!"
Lightning exploded outward in a circular wave.
[Skill Activated: Thunderdome – Lv.3]
Radius: 10 meters
DMG per arc: 300
MP -35
Thunder roared across the arena.
Five cavalry units seized violently as electricity surged through their joints. Metal plates burst open, gears melted, and several collapsed into glowing slag.
Angela shielded her face. "HARRY, THAT WAS BRILLIANT!"
Harry exhaled, panting.
Wave One cleared.
But the ground trembled again.
The gladiators advanced in a tight shield wall, their steps in perfect rhythm. The sound of their marching echoed like a heartbeat.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
"Don't let them close in!" Jason shouted.
Cassandra raised her wand—
"INCENDIO MAXIMA!"
A river of fire roared forward.
The gladiators raised their shields as one. The flames washed over them.
No damage.
Jason hissed, "Use piercing spells—stone-cutters, bone-breakers—NOT blunt magic!"
Marcus obeyed—
"DIFFINDO!"
A slash of red magic cut into a shield—
Barely a scratch.
David charged with both axes, roaring. He leapt and buried his weapon into a gladiator's shoulder joint—
CRUNCH!
Sparks flew. The metal warrior staggered, then swung its massive blade at David.
Harry blurred forward—
"WRAITH FLIGHT!"
[Wraith Flight – Lv.13]
Turns user immaterial for 18 seconds
MP -50
The sword cut straight through his ghostlike form.
He rematerialized behind it and stabbed into the open joint David exposed.
CLANG—CRACK—SHATTER!
The gladiator fell.
Cassandra and Angela combined another spell—
"REDUCTO!"
"REDUCTO MAXIMA!"
Their twin beams slammed into another gladiator's knee, cracking it.
It collapsed, shield falling aside long enough for Jason to yell—
"NOW!"
Harry whipped his hand forward—
"FIREBALL!"
The huge orange sphere detonated point-blank—
BOOOOOM!
One gladiator down.
Seven more advancing.
Harry's HP was dropping. MP too.
He checked the Status—
[HP: 470 / 780]
[MP: 650 / 1500]
Not good.
The ground vibrated.
Metal lions, wolves, and boars poured in from the other side of the arena—eyes glowing with molten runes. Their claws sliced through stone like bread.
One lunged at Cassandra—
"Protego!" she cried.
The barrier shattered instantly.
"CASSANDRA!" Harry shouted—
He dashed and slammed into her, pushing her out of the way as a metal wolf snapped at his leg.
Its jaw clamped—
[HP -90]
Harry screamed as metal teeth pierced armor and skin.
David decapitated the wolf with a savage overhead strike.
"Harry, your leg—"
"Later!" Harry growled.
Angela hurled a chain lightning hex—
"VOLTAGIA!"
Bolts jumped between metal beasts, stunning several.
Marcus and David finished them with crushing blows.
The arena went silent.
Then—
BOOOOOM.
A massive gate opened.
A single warrior stepped out.
He stood twelve feet tall, made of blackened steel, wearing a helmet shaped like a skull. In his hand was a sword the size of a tree. Each step shook the arena.
Jason whispered, "Is that—?"
Harry nodded grimly.
"The Exarch of Arcanus."
A boss.
[Dungeon Boss Detected]
Iron Exarch – Lv. 35
HP: 10,000
DEF: Very High
Weakness: Joint Seals (Minimal)
"Everyone spread out!" Harry yelled.
The Exarch swung its sword—
WHOOM—CRASH!
The shockwave split the ground, sending everyone flying.
[HP -80]
[HP -110]
[HP -70]
Cassandra hit a pillar and screamed. Angela collapsed. Marcus coughed blood. Jason limped from a cut across his leg.
"Harry," Cassandra gasped, "we can't win this."
Harry spat blood.
"We don't need to win beautifully. We just need to win."
The Exarch charged.
Harry activated EVERYTHING.
Thunderdome.
Lightning erupted outward—
[DMG: -300]
Minimal effect.
The boss barely flinched.
Harry rushed forward—
Wraith Flight to dodge the massive sword—
Wind Step to flank—
Bone Spear into the joint of its ankle—
[DMG: 1120 – CRITICAL JOINT HIT]
The Exarch roared as its leg buckled.
David seized the opening.
Both axes came down—
CRASH—CRACK—GRIND
[DMG: 850]
Cassandra, bleeding from the head, forced her wand forward—
"REDUCTO MAXIMA!"
A huge beam of destructive magic shot at its knee.
The Exarch's joint exploded—
The giant toppled.
"NOW!" Harry screamed.
Everyone unleashed their strongest spells:
"BOMBARDIA!"
"DIFFINDO!"
"CONFRINGO!"
"FULMINARE!"
"FIREBALL!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Metal shattered. Runes died. The giant's chest cracked open—
Harry sprinted up its fallen arm, sword glowing with his last MP.
He plunged the blade into the Exarch's core—
PIERCE—CRACK—SHATTER!
The boss exploded into dust and molten metal.
[Boss Defeated]
[EXP +1,800]
[Party EXP Shared]
[Victory Achieved]
Silence.
Then—
Everyone collapsed where they stood.
Cassandra fainted against the wall.
Jason lay coughing blood.
Marcus clutched a broken arm.
David had a deep gash across his chest.
Harry fell to his knees, breathing hard.
[HP: 50 / 740]
[MP: 30 / 1400]
They had won.
But only barely.
Harry stared at the remains of the Exarch.
"Arcanus…" he whispered, voice trembling.
"What else did you hide down here?"
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