..
Damian gave one last glance around the forge. There was nothing else of interest—whoever worked here had clearly been a master of their craft, but the real treasures had already been claimed.
As they walked toward the exit, their footsteps echoed in the silent chamber. The weight of their new weapons wasn't just physical—it was a promise of the battles ahead.
And just beyond the bunker doors, the world awaited.
..
---
Location: Earth - South Africa – Johannesburg. Blacksmiths Shop.
Year: 2026
Date: February 17th
Time: 5:51 PM
POV: Third Person
---
The heavy steel doors groaned as Damian pushed them open, the stale underground air mixing with the crisp evening breeze. The sky was dyed in shades of deep orange and violet, the last light of day casting long shadows over the ruined cityscape. They stepped outside, weapons secured, their newfound gear resting comfortably in their hands.
But the moment their boots crunched against the debris-littered street, they knew something was wrong.
A half-circle of scavengers stood waiting for them, positioned atop crumbling cars and leaning against the wreckage of an old storefront. There were fifteen of them, all armed—some wielding modern firearms, others gripping crude melee weapons that had clearly seen battle. The group was a ragtag collection of survivors, their armor mismatched and dirty, their expressions ranging from cocky to dead-eyed.
At the center stood their leader.
A towering man, at least 6'7", with a build like a war machine. His muscular arms were covered in old scars, his face rough with stubble, and his eyes sharp and cold. He carried himself like a man who had seen too many fights—and won most of them.
Resting across his broad shoulder was a massive greatsword, its metal blackened, glowing faintly with an ominous silver hue—an evolved weapon, much like the ones Adrian and Zayne had just acquired.
The man smirked, his deep voice carrying easily across the space.
??? "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" He spread his arms dramatically. "Fresh meat, dressed in some fancy new gear. Must've gotten lucky in there, huh?"
Damian Derulo ' What the? '
Zayne rolled his eyes. "Let me guess—you're a local thug that thinks he owns this territory?"
The leader chuckled. "I prefer 'King of the Wastes,' but sure." He slammed the flat of his sword against the cracked pavement, sending a small shockwave through the ground. "Name's Garrick. And this—" he gestured lazily to the men around him "—is the Bloodhounds. We take what we want, and right now… we want everything you've got."
Mira scoffed. "Wow. So original."
Damian glanced at Mira. 'Seems like this isn't the first time they're in this kind of situation.' Damian reasoned — seeing their almost bored look.
Adrian flexed his grip on his hammer, his expression impassive. "Not interested."
Elise exhaled, adjusting her katana at her side. "Typical scavengers. Always thinking the world belongs to them."
Garrik's smile widened. "Smart girl. That's exactly right. And because I'm feeling generous, I'll give you all one chance—drop your weapons, leave everything behind, and walk away. Do that, and maybe I won't cut you all down where you stand."
Damian clenched his fists, his heart hammering against his ribs. His sword hummed in his grip, its [Focused Mind] Facet keeping his mind sharp, his emotions steady. But still… could he really take someone's life?
Zayne tilted his head. "And if we say no?"
Damian Derulo 'Are these guys crazy? They're holding guns, Guns!!' he screamed internally.
Garrick sighed dramatically, lifting his sword. "Then we gut you like pigs and take your gear off your corpses. Simple."
The tension snapped.
Weapons were drawn. Swords glinted in the dying light. Guns were cocked. The Bloodhounds spread out, preparing for battle.
Damian exhaled slowly, shifting his stance. He wasn't ready for this, but he couldn't back down. Not now.
Then out of nowhere- the ground rumbled.
At first, it was subtle, like distant thunder beneath their feet. Then it grew. The earth shook violently, the vibrations rattling through their bones. Car alarms blared in the distance as the tremors intensified, cracks splitting the pavement. It felt like a stampede, like a thousand creatures were charging just beneath the surface—only it was a hundred times stronger.
Then—everything went black.
..
.
When the darkness faded, the battlefield was gone. The Blacksmith shop, the surrounding area, the Bloodhounds—all of it had vanished alone with everything in a hundred meter radius.
Instead, what remained was a single massive pedestal standing alone in the empty lot. And atop that pedestal sat a huge, ancient book, its leather cover a deep brown, its pages glowing faintly with mystical energy. The book was open when it appeared, but as if responding to unseen forces, it slowly closed itself, the air around it shimmering with magic.
On the pedestal, glowing silver letters carved themselves into the stone.
[ The Eclipsed Labyrinth ]
A powerful silence settled over the area.
They were gone. All of them.
The scavengers. Damian and his group. Every single person had vanished.
But not just them.
A tiny, baby-sized snake, wth shimmering midnight-blue scales, had been in the vicinity. Its silver eyes, filled with a strange intelligence, darted around frantically. It had been slithering through the ruined city, drawn by the scent of blood and power.
And then—it, too, had disappeared.
...
..
.
[ Inside The Eclipsed Labyrinth ]
..
A cold, weightless sensation filled Damian's body as he regained consciousness. He wasn't standing anymore—he was floating, surrounded by a vast, endless void.
Then, suddenly—gravity reasserted itself.
He crashed onto a hard stone floor, gasping as air rushed back into his lungs. The impact sent a very sharp pain through his ribs, but he pushed himself up, blinking rapidly.
Damian Derulo ' Argh! God damn it, where the fuck am I? '
A massive, circular chamber stretched out before him, its walls lined with towering stone pillars, each etched with glowing runes. The ceiling was so high that it disappeared into darkness, and the only source of light came from torches of eerie blue flame that flickered without a source.
Then, voices.
A groan from his left. Zayne.
"Ugh… the hell just happened?"
More movement. Adrian, Elise, and Mira were sprawled across the floor, recovering from the fall.
And scattered further away—the Bloodhounds.
Garrick was already on his feet, his greatsword drawn, his eyes darting around in confusion. "What the fuck is this?"
Before anyone could answer, a mechanical chime rang through the chamber, followed by a message, a screen appeared before each of them.
[ Welcome to the Eclipsed Labyrinth ]
A chill ran down Damian's spine.
They were no longer in the city.
And things were about to get a whole lot worse.
..
.
--
[ February 17th ]
[ 6:04 PM ]
--
____
[ Welcome To The Eclipsed Labyrinth ]
__
[ ⚠️ Warning ⚠️ : You Have Entered A Sudden Dungeon - The Eclipsed Labyrinth ]
__
- Dungeon Grade : Hard.
- Threat Level : Mythological.
- Recommended Escape Time : N/A
- Dungeon Type : Unfinished Story.
- Dungeon Medium : Confinement - No External Communication.
__
[ Dungeon Objectives ]
__
- Survive - This dungeon is filled with mythological entities. Failure to adapt will result in certain death.
- Eliminate The Guardians - To mini-bosses stand as enforcers of this realm. Defeat them to weaken the boss
- Locate Hidden Chambers - Rewards and secrets may aid your survival.
__
[ Exit Conditions ]
__
- Defeat the Gilded Behemoth.
- Defeating the Gilded Behemoth will open the Dungeon gate for ten minutes.
- Failing to exist within the time frame will result in dungeon collapse, sealing all within permanently.
__
[ Additional Notes ]
__
- This dungeon does not allow respawning upon death.
- The longer you remain, the stronger the dungeon's entities will become.
__
[ Good Luck, Challenger. ]
____
..
.
Damian Derulo 'What in the actual fuck? I didn't sign up for this.' Damian groaned inwardly.
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as he scanned the surroundings, his heart still racing from the abrupt teleportation.
Zayne glanced around, then quickly turned his attention to the rest of them.
Zayne Callister "Is everyone okay?"
Mira stretched her arms, checking for injuries. "I'm alright."
Elise ran a hand through her hair, frowning. "Same. Adrian, are you okay?"
Adrian's gaze wasn't on them—it was locked on the scavengers, his posture tense but controlled.
Adrian Vaughn "I'm fine." His reply was flat, but his grip on his hammer was steady.
They all turned their attention to the Bloodhounds, who were slowly approaching with measured steps, their previous aggression replaced by a sense of unease.
At the front, Garrick Johnson planted his massive greatsword into the pavement, the blade sinking into the stone with a dull thud. He let out a slow exhale.
Garrick Johnson "We seem to have been pulled into a dungeon of some sort."
Damian clenched his teeth, rolling his eyes. 'Yeah, no shit, Sherlock.'
Zayne took a step forward, maintaining a neutral stance.
Zayne Callister "Have you or your group ever encountered something like this before?"
Garrick shook his head. "No. Have you?"
Zayne Callister "No."
Damian's brows furrowed. 'Why are they acting like we weren't just about to fight a few minutes ago?'
Garrick leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. "Here's how I see it—you join us under my lead, and we survive this together." His tone carried the confidence of a man used to being obeyed.
Damian frowned. 'Not a bad idea, but I can see so many ways this could go south.'
Zayne didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned back toward them, silently motioning for them to huddle a few feet away from Garrick's group.
As soon as they were out of earshot, he spoke.
Zayne Callister "Guys, what do you think?"
Elise folded her arms. "I don't think we can trust them, but we're in an unfamiliar place. Splitting up might not be a good idea."
Damian nodded internally. 'She's not wrong.'
Zayne sighed. "You're right. We don't have much of a choice, but we'll have to stay cautious." He looked at Adrian and Mira. "Thoughts?"
Adrian simply nodded. "I'm with you, Zayne."
Mira, however, pursed her lips. "Then what do we do if—no, when—they turn on us?"
Zayne's eyes darkened. "We fight back."
Then his gaze shifted to Damian.
Damian frowned.
'Why is he looking at me?'
With a sigh, Damian shrugged. "Let's go with your plan."
Zayne straightened. "Alright. Stick together, watch each other's backs. If they try anything, we'll be the first to notice."
The group broke apart, stepping back toward where Garrick stood, his men watching them closely.
Zayne gave a small nod. "Please, lead the way."
Garrick smirked, seemingly pleased. "Smart choice."
He turned around, striding forward with confident steps, his men parting to clear a path for him. As one, the Bloodhounds followed, their formation tight and controlled.
Damian and his group exchanged one last glance before moving in as well.
The only path forward was through the massive archway at the far end of the chamber, leading into the depths of the Labyrinth.
Behind them?
A dead end—the wall stretching impossibly high, as if blocking any possible escape.
Like it or not, they had no choice but to move forward.
..
.
It had been over thirty minutes since they started their journey through the Eclipsed Labyrinth, yet all they encountered was the same foreboding stone corridors, stretching endlessly into the unknown.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, the flickering blue flames of the wall torches casting eerie shadows that seemed to move unnaturally. The silence wasn't comforting—it was oppressive, like something was lurking just beyond sight, waiting.
As they continued walking, an unshakable unease crept into Damian's chest.
It wasn't the usual nervousness that came with being in a dungeon. No—this was different. Something felt wrong.
He wasn't the only one.
Mira suddenly slowed her steps, her breath hitching as a faint whisper tickled her ears. The voices were distorted, distant yet somehow close, speaking in a tongue she couldn't quite understand.
Her Witch's Insight was activating.
She didn't need to open her Origin Status to confirm it—this had happened before. This sensation… it only ever meant one thing.
Something was coming.
Mira subtly signaled the others with a slight hand movement.
They discretely huddled together.
Zayne leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper.
Zayne Callister "What is it, Mira?"
Mira's sharp blue eyes darted around, her fingers tightening around her bow.
Mira Valen "My Witch's Insight just activated."
A wave of tension washed over the group.
Those who knew exactly what that meant instinctively gripped their weapons tighter.
Damian, confused, glanced between them.
Damian Derulo 'Am I missing something here?'
When no one bothered to explain, Sighing, he rested a hand on his sword, the weight of it bringing a small sense of comfort. If the others were on edge, he wasn't about to let himself be caught off guard either.
The change in their behavior didn't go unnoticed.
Garrick, who had been observing them closely, narrowed his eyes. Seeing their sudden wariness, he subtly signaled his own men.
The Bloodhounds weren't fools.
Something was off.
They tightened their formation, ready for either an attack from the dungeon… or from Zayne's group.
The oppressive feeling grew stronger.
Damian's breath hitched as the warning from survival instincts heightened.
Then—
*BOOM!*
The ground trembled.
A sickening chill swept through the corridor.
And then—
Something fell from the ceiling.
It landed with an earth-shaking impact, dust and debris scattering through the air.
Everyone froze.
And when the dust settled…
They were staring at something that shouldn't exist.
Towering over them was a massive, wraith-like knight, its body shrouded in tattered ethereal cloaks, dark mist swirling violently around its form. Glowing blue energy coursed through the cracks in its ancient, rusted armor, illuminating its grotesque silhouette in the dim torchlight.
Heavy, spectral chains bound its limbs, rattling with every movement.
And in its skeletal grasp—
A colossal greatsword, crackling with ghostly energy, humming with power.
It exuded pure, unrelenting malice.
A deathly wail that sent a shudder through their very souls.
Damian's fingers twitched over his sword.
Damian Derulo 'What the hell is that?!'
His mind screamed at him, but he couldn't get the words out.
He wasn't the only one.
The others and the Bloodhounds stood paralyzed, their eyes locked onto the walking nightmare before them.
And then—
A System Notification flashed before their eyes.
---
[ System Notification ]
-
* Challenger, you have encountered the first Mini - Boss --> Titan - Wraith Sentinel.
* Defeat the Titan-Wraith Sentinel to Weaken the Dungeon Boss.
-
[ Good Luck, Challenger. ]
---
A single line lingered at the bottom of the system message.
Damian Derulo ' What the fuck?! A mini boss?! This early?! ' His mind reeled. A goddamn mini-boss? They had barely even stepped into the dungeon, and now this?
Across from him, Garrick Johnson quickly took charge, his commanding voice cutting through the initial shock.
Garrick Johnson "Calm down! All of you! This isn't the first battle we've had, and it definitely won't be the last! Focus, Bloodhounds! Draw your weapons and—"
He never got to finish.
With unnerving speed, the Titan-Wraith Sentinel suddenly lurched forward.
Garrick Johnson "DODGE!!" Garrick bellowed.
He threw himself out of the way, and several Bloodhounds followed his lead. But—
*SHING!*
The Titan's massive greatsword sliced through the air—and through four unlucky Bloodhounds.
Flesh was cleaved apart like paper, blood splattering in gruesome arcs. Their bodies crumpled, some severed at the torso, others missing limbs entirely. The scent of iron and death filled the air.
Damian's stomach churned. His face felt hot—equal parts horror.
Zayne Callister " Damian! " Zayne's urgent call snapped him back. He turned to see the others gathered together and sprinted toward them, breathing heavily.
Zayne, ever their tactician, was already analyzing the situation.
Zayne Callister "That thing looks like a ghost," he said. "So here's the plan: Mira, fire a few arrows at it. If it's intangible, then wait for the moment it's about to attack. It shouldn't be able to be untouchable and strike at the same time."
Garrick barely dodged a dangerously close sword swing in the background.
Elise Laurent "And I guess the rest of us will try to get its attention?" Elise asked, her expression calm.
Zayne Callister "While trying not to die," Zayne confirmed grimly. He then turned back to Mira. "If your attacks connect, you know what to do."
She nodded.
" Alright let's go! " Zayne said and they all dashed to the titan.
Damian Derulo ' I can't believe i'm doing this, Just a few days ago, I was thinking of how to complete a chapter of my fanfic, now I'm fighting a corporal titan ' Damian mused to himself as he ran forward with Nyx Fang in his right hand, his mind focused.
As they reached the Titan-Wraith Sentinel, they immediately scattered, encircling the towering specter and striking whenever they saw an opening while dodging it swings.
Elise Laurent" [Ice Spear]! " Elise incanted.
Six massive ice spears materialized in the air before her and launched forward. They struck the Titan—but instead of embedding into its form, they passed right through.
Damian clicked his tongue. 'It really is phasing…'
Meanwhile, Zayne manipulated the blood of the fallen Bloodhounds, shaping it into a massive spike that pierced the Titan's chest.
It froze.
Then—
The spike phased through.
Damian's eyes widened as the Titan's glowing gaze locked onto Zayne.
It sprinted forward.
Its greatsword raised high.
Zayne barely had time to react. He hastily summoned a blood shield in front of him, hoping it would buy him enough time to escape.
But—
The Titan's sword passed through the shield like it wasn't even there.
Zayne's breath hitched.
Zayne callister '!!! Its sword can do that?!'
The blade was inches from cleaving him in half when—
*FWOOSH!*
A glowing red arrow struck the Titan's chest.
Its movements slowed—just for a second.
That was enough.
Adrian Vaughn "MOVE!"
Adrian charged in, slamming into Zayne and shoving him out of the way just as the greatsword sliced through the air where he had been standing.
Zayne quickly scrambled back to his feet, turning toward Mira—
She stood with her bow already drawn, her gaze locked onto the Titan.
Another glowing red arrow left her bowstring—striking the Titan again.
As if on cue, the others attacked in unison.
Elise conjured a massive ice spike, which pierced straight through the Titan's form.
Adrian leaped high, his huge warhammer raised, and brought it down with Breaker's Might activated.
The sheer impact of the blow obliterated the Titan's head, scattering ghostly fragments in every direction.
Damian slashed clean through its leg, severing it at the knee.
And finally, Garrick came from nowhere, driving his greatsword straight into the Titan's chest.
They waited.
They watched.
Hoping that would be enough.
It wasn't.
The Titan's chest began to glow.
Its body twitched.
The wisps of its form started regenerating, the shattered fragments of its head pulling back together.
On pure instinct, Zayne fired a blood arrow directly at the glowing core that was the source of the glow.
The glow flickered.
Then faded.
The Titan's regeneration stopped.
A beat of silence passed.
Then another.
And finally—
They exhaled in unison, releasing a breath they hadn't even realized they were holding.
---
[ System Notification ]
-
* Congratulations Challenger, you have successfully defeated the first Mini - Boss --> Titan - Wraith Sentinel.
* The Dungeon Boss has been weakened by 3%.
-
[ Good Luck, Challenger. ]
---
Damian Derulo ' What the? All that, for just three percent? Three Percent?! ' He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose over his mask. That entire hellish fight, dodging an intangible knight swinging a greatsword of death, nearly getting cut in half multiple times, and all they got was a measly three percent debuff to the dungeon boss?!
Damian felt scammed.
Beside him, Zayne let out a long sigh after seeing the system notification.
Zayne Callister " What the? *sigh* at least it's over "
*Thud*
A heavy sound broke the momentary silence.
Everyone turned.
Garrick had fallen to his knees. His remaining gang members stood behind him, their expressions grim.
They had lost nine of their own.
Damian frowned. 'Damn. Nine already?'
That was nearly half of them, just from a mini-boss.
'A waste of manpower. But still…'
It was a shame. They would've made great cannon fodder for future fights.
Damian glanced at the group again.
They chose to remain silent, allowing Garrick and his remaining men to mourn the dead.
No words needed to be said.
Minutes passed.
Finally, Garrick stood. The others followed.
He slowly walked over to the Titan's corpse, stopping in front of its fallen greatsword.
With a grunt, he gripped the hilt and attempted to lift it.
Nothing.
He struggled, veins bulging in his arms.
The sword didn't budge.
Damian had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing. Watching Garrick embarrass himself like that after trying to look dramatic was hilarious.
After a humiliating few seconds, Garrick finally gave up.
No one said anything.
With nothing left to gain from the corpse, they turned and departed, leaving the Titan's greatsword and remains where they lay.
This time, though—
Zayne took the lead.
A silent agreement between them all.
No one argued.
Garrick had just lost half his people. He probably needed a moment.
.
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued.....