Adam had a frown on his face when the last of them had stepped through the portal. What he had expected was some dark damp cave that they would have to descend down while fighting off monsters that became more and more demonic as time passed.
Never did he expect that the place they would arrive was a dark colliseum carved from stone and lit with what seemed to be an unending array of torches. The place was eerie but contained a majesty that one couldn’t help but admire.
"Welcome to the First Layer of the Path to Hell" The Dark Leo remarked with a smirk as he raised his arms above his head in a playful gesture that made it seem like he was showing off his home.
"This dungeon is unique in that you won’t have to explore at all. In fact, you can summon the bosses at any time while you are within the bounds of the arena. However once you step onto the arena and begin a fight, you will not be able to leave until the opponent has been defeated."
Luna cocked her brow and remarked "So this dungeon is essentially a 1v1 Arena style format? Most battles won wins or something?" but the Dark Leo simply laughed in response for a brief moment.
"Hahahaha.....Wait. Are you serious? In that case...AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Ethan felt an intense urge to smack this dark haired asshole but feared that if he did so, Leo may end up getting hurt. So the group could only wait as the laughter slowly died down after some time. Dark Leo wiped the tears from his eyes before he simply said
"If just one of you goes up, you will be slaughtered all too easily. This is a BOSS fight. You need your whole team to stand a chance."
"How many bosses are there?" Morgan asked with some hesitation as he looked around the arena, getting a sense that something was off.
Dark Leo’s smile became wide as he slowly replied "There are six Bosses. As for what...or rather Who they are. You will figure it out all too soon~! Now shall we?"
The group exchanged a mix of nerves and determination before following Dark Leo toward the carved stone staircase. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the air thickened around them. The torches lining the walls flickered with an almost hungry glow, casting long shadows that twisted unnaturally with every movement.
When they reached the top, the arena spread out before them, flat and silent. The moment the last member stepped onto the stone tiles, the world lurched. Adam felt the ground ripple beneath his boots like a heartbeat. Then the entire coliseum shuddered and fell away.
The walls dissolved first, then the torches, then the upper stands. The ceiling vanished last, peeling away like smoke. In their place stretched an endless field of cold stone tiles in every direction. No torches. No walls. No sky. Just darkness above and the infinite arena below.
Ethan swallowed."What the hell..."
Dark Leo lifted his right arm. Metal flashed beneath the gloom, a glint of familiar gold that made Adam stiffen. Astra. He could not understand how this version of Leo had it, but there was no mistaking the bracelet. The accessory unraveled like liquid light, lengthening into a long whip that crackled with faint sparks.
Dark Leo rolled his wrist with casual expertise."Now then. Is everyone ready for the First Boss?"
His smile was relaxed, almost friendly, but the malice behind it made several in the group tense on instinct.
Crystal stepped forward and drew her sword in a smooth, practiced motion."I am."
Luna rested her massive battle axe on her shoulder."Bring it."
Ethan twirled his spear in his hand with growing impatience."Just point us at whatever you are hiding."
Morgan took a slow breath and gathered mana into his palms until they glowed faintly."Ready on my end."
Adam lowered himself into a fighting stance, daggers held tight."All set."
Lily was already at the back, rifle leveled and perfectly steady, her breathing slow. She did not need to speak. She was simply waiting for Adam.
Dark Leo tilted his head, eyes locked onto Adam with anticipation."Well? Shall we begin?"
Adam gave a sharp nod."We are ready."
The world froze. A faint static filled the air as glowing letters appeared in front of every player.
A system message materialized.
[Summoning the Monkey Zodiac: Rachel Wu. AKA: Nyx]
The temperature dropped. The tiles trembled.
As from the centre of the arena, Rachel began to rise up from a pool of shadows.
"What the fuck...." Adam hissed.
Everyone else was completely stunned as well. This was almost a carbon copy of the Rachel that they knew. Her armor that was closer to that of a dancer combined with her characteristic Simian like tail and ears was coupled with her signature black staff and silver moondrop ferronnière like tiara.
The only reason they knew it wasn’t her was because of the fact that her eyes were a glowing gold and a Status screen appeared in front of their eyes.
[Boss: Monkey Zodiac Incarnation: Nyx]
[Unqiue Boss]
[Race: Shadow Simian]
[Level: 20]
[Status: Healthy]
HP: 20,000/20,000
MP:10,000/10,000
ATK: 425
DEF: 250
Dodge: 600
STR: 60
AGI: 120
DEX: 100
INT: 95
WIS: 75
CHA: 110
LUK: 0
Skills: Appraisal (Innate), Umbral Embrace (Unique), Staff Arts (F), Mental Fortitude (D), Shadow Meld (Racial), Medical Knowledge (C) , Shadow Clone, Blink, Shadow Blade, Zodiac Skill: Monkeys Paw, Zodiac Skill: Simian Cunning, Zodiac Skill: Monkey See and Do
This was clearly a buffed version of Rachel but there was a new skill there that they had never seen before and it made both Adam and Luna nervous. The sound of a rifle firing was the que for the beginning of the battle. Rachel had aimed for the Monsters head but it was dodged with ease. It didn’t even move from its spot, merely tilting its head and allowing the bullet to breeze by.
"I really don’t like the looks of this." Adam remarked with a bit of cold sweat dripping down his back. On the other hand, Luna was beginning to smile in a dangerous way as she remarked
"I am gonna love this! I get the excuse to beat down a copy of Rachel? How could I not be excited!"
Lily let out a strained laugh as everyone once again realized that the smallest member of their little group was also the most insane.