The shadows moved, and the glowing eyes began to take shape. Slowly, the monsters stepped into the dim light. At first glance, they looked like the usual creatures that lived in the dungeon, Horned Wolves, Blue Bears, Leaf Serpents, and Sting Bees. But something was different. A strange aura surrounded them, something unnatural. Their eyes were dull, yet filled with a weird energy. Their movements weren't normal either—stiff, yet unpredictable, as if something was controlling them. The group didn't waste time. Even though they were surrounded, they didn't panic. Everyone took a defensive stance, preparing for battle.
Drakar's voice was firm and clear. "Our objective isn't to defeat them. We need to find or make an opening and escape as soon as possible!" Everyone responded at once. "Yes!" The monsters started closing in. Lila and Adrian gripped their swords tightly. Sera held her wand with both hands, her fingers trembling slightly. Doran, unlike the others, felt excited. Fear mixed with adrenaline as he grinned, ready for a challenge. Drakar took the lead, standing at the front, his wings slightly spread in case he needed to react quickly. Fizzle, sitting on his shoulder, had no plans of fighting herself. Instead, she focused on supporting the others, watching their movements like a coach. Drakar said 'Lila you focus on finding a opening, while others cover her until she finds a opening'. To which everyone agreed.
Then a Horned Wolf suddenly leaped toward Adrian, its sharp claws aiming straight for him. Adrian barely had time to react. He raised his sword just in time, blocking the attack, but the force was overwhelming. His arms shook under the pressure, as his face showed visible struggle. The Horned Wolf was much stronger than usual. Just when it seemed like Adrian would be overpowered, Drakar stepped in. With a powerful kick, he sent the wolf flying. But something was wrong. The Horned Wolf landed on the ground and stood up immediately, as if it had taken no damage at all. Its dull eyes stared blankly, and it let out a deep growl.
Drakar clenched his fists. "They're stronger than usual. If we don't give it our all, we won't make it out of here." A Sting Bee suddenly shot toward Sera. She quickly reacted, casting a spell. "Root Crusher!" Thick roots shot up from the ground, wrapping around the bee and pinning it in place. She let out a breath of relief, but before she could relax, a Blue Bear charged at her from behind. She turned, eyes widening in fear, too late to dodge. Before it could hit her, Doran stepped in. With a powerful swing, he slammed his hammer straight into the Blue Bear's head. The impact sent the monster crashing to the ground. Doran wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I can't keep using full strength like this forever. I need to be more careful with myself."
Meanwhile, Lila was scanning the battlefield, her sharp eyes searching for an opening. She was observant, always looking for patterns in the enemy's movements. The monsters kept attacking one after another, but the group held their ground. They weren't winning, but they weren't losing either. Then, Lila's eyes widened. She saw it, a way out. "Everyone, to the left! Quickly!" she shouted. Without hesitation, the group sprinted toward the opening. Just when it seemed like they had a chance to escape, the monsters suddenly changed tactics. Instead of attacking one by one, they all rushed forward at once, coming from every direction. Drakar's eyes darkened. "Not all of us will make it…" He made a decision. "Go! I'll hold them off!" Lila's heart pounded. "No!" She turned back, refusing to leave him behind. But in that moment, a Blue Bear swung its massive arm at her. The punch landed straight in her stomach. Her eyes widened as pain shot through her entire body. Blood spilled from her mouth as she was thrown backward, crashing onto the ground. Everyone froze. For a second, the only sound was the growling of the monsters. Lila coughed, struggling to move. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand, even though her legs were shaking.
The monsters closed in again. The group was completely surrounded. Then, in the distance... A voice. "You lot, everyone—DUCK!" Without thinking, they obeyed. A blinding flash of lightning filled the air. A loud, cracking noise followed as a massive thunderbolt struck the monsters. The shockwave sent nearly all of them crashing to the ground, motionless. The group slowly lifted their heads. Five figures stood in the light. Adrian, still catching his breath, looked up at them. His worried face softened. Relief washed over him as he spoke. "This is… The Grand Party."