Once all the clans had gathered outside the enigmatic and mythical dungeon, the atmosphere thick with anticipation, it was soon time for the long-awaited dungeon event to finally kick off.
Right as the 3-year countdown since its last mysterious opening reached its climax, the dungeon entrance surged with an electrifying power. An unstable, magical portal materialised within the solid, ancient ice walls of the glacier that everyone had gathered on.
The swirling, almost hypnotic energy of the dungeon entrance seemed to call out, like a siren's song, to every clan present.
It was an irresistible allure that few could resist as one by one, the lords of various clans with their hearts pounding with excitement, dashed through the mystical gateway.
The urgency in their movements was palpable, each hoping to claim a share of hidden treasures.
It was common knowledge among the clans that there were often countless, rare treasures carelessly strewn across the first level of the dungeon. The saying that the early bird often caught the worm was a well-acknowledged wisdom in these circles.
Among the gathered warriors, there were only a select few like Max who were supremely confident in their strength.
These rare individuals waited patiently, deliberately letting the initial mad dash and frantic rat race conclude before making their entrance. They knew that it was not these smaller, temporal rewards they were truly after.
In this sea of frenzied movement, Max remained steadfast and immovable. He waited, as patiently as the timeless, awe-inspiring ice that surrounded him.
His eyes observed the frenzied wave of clan members, a blend of seasoned warriors and green novices, as they eagerly dove into the dungeon followed by the calmer, more measured individuals.
Finally, as the last haunting echoes of footsteps faded into the crisp, cold air, Max turned to his trusted companions: Severus, Anna, Sebastian, and DarkSorrow. Without a single word exchanged, the unspoken understanding was mutual as they effortlessly fell into a step behind him, their trust in him unwavering.
Joining them was Lucius Aurelius and his men, their faces a complex blend of apprehension and grim determination.
They stepped through the icy, almost otherworldly gateway, only to find themselves being enveloped in a mysterious shroud of swirling mist that seemed to belong to another dimension.
As they emerged, they found the atmosphere inside was strikingly, unsettlingly different from the world they had just left. It wasn't just colder, it was bone-chilling.
The temperature inside was piercing, the kind of cold that seeped into your bones and despite the vitality of tier5 warriors being excellent, Anna's breaths came out as visible puffs while Severus's fangs seemed to frost over.
Even Lucius's normally unflappable demeanour showed signs of discomfort as he began rubbing his palms together in a clumsy attempt to produce some heat.
" Trrrrrrrr "
Sebastian's teeth began clattering as he closed his arms close to his body in order to conserve body heat.
The surroundings felt unnaturally cold to him as he felt a significant portion of his strength being sapped out of his body as the restriction of the dungeon reduced him to a mere tier5 warrior.
Each step that the group took produced a crunching sound that reverberated eerily throughout the chamber, a constant reminder of the unsettling stillness that pervaded this place.
However, despite the cold, those who had entered in a frenzy had already begun exploring the first level and were searching for treasures and breaking icicles on whatever they felt was valuable.
About 500 metres from the common entry point laid a massive ice structure that stretched till the ceiling itself and looked like an ever-expansive ice sheet.
There were no points for guessing that it was an intricate labyrinth made of ice walls, towering and seemingly impenetrable.
Each wall was etched with the same ancient runic symbol that Max recognized but chose not to share as its meaning was deeply personal to him.
It was here that everyone else felt it—a heavy, suffocating pressure that seemed to grip their very souls, suppressing their powers and sapping their strength. Lucius clenched his fists, visibly shaken. Even DarkSorrow, usually so composed, took a moment to steady herself.
However, Max felt none of it. In fact, the icy landscape, the labyrinth, the chill in the air—it all felt oddly comforting, like a long-forgotten memory or a dream of home.
Severus looked at Max, puzzled. "You seem unaffected."
For a moment, Max stood silent, drinking in the atmosphere that felt not oppressive but embracing to him. Then, he broke into a slow, knowing smile.
"Let's just say the dungeon and I have an old understanding," he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia and newfound purpose.
And so, with everyone wondering the meaning behind his profound words, Max used the power of the Agni-Astra to create a warm flame that burned bright.
Everyone quickly huddled around the heat source and followed his lead, as Max began the exploration of the dungeon.
Max's confidence in clearing the dungeon had just increased tenfold as he realised that despite everyone else having their strength capped, he did not have the same handicap.
He could still fully feel his divine energy flowing through his veins and was sure that if he wanted to, he could still execute all his divine moves inside.
This dungeon was never created for modern vampires in the first place and the only reason none of them were able to clear this dungeon in a thousand years was simply because none of them were fated to be it's inheritor.
On every single dungeon wall, in ancient Draconic, it was written
" The dungeon of the primal god of war welcomes the vampires ".
The ' vampire's ' referenced here were undoubtedly primordial vampires and not the modern one's, a fact that Max was sure of because he did not face any suppression while everyone else did.
This dungeon was not created by the vampire progenitor as everyone believed it to be.
This dungeon was several millennia more ancient and was created by an individual who went on to become a celestial.
A dungeon
that Max was fated to clear.
—-------
/// A/N - Chapter 3/7, enjoy ///