Shield Of Vengeance

###Chapter 20: Dungeon

The entire class gathered in front of the dungeon's entrance, the air buzzing with excitement and nervous energy. The entrance was different from what Arie had imagined—a smaller, heavily reinforced door carved into the side of a rocky hill. It seemed less grand than the bustling main entrance adventurers used.

Arie furrowed his brow as he glanced at Princess Lea, standing nearby.

"Uhh, Ma'am, why aren't we using the normal entrance? You know, the one adventurers always go through?"

Lea tilted her head, a little puzzled herself, but before she could answer, their teacher overheard and stepped in.

"That's a good question, Arie"

the teacher said, his tone calm but authoritative.

"Because this is just an academy activity, we're not using the main entrance. That area is busy with official adventurers, and we don't want to interfere with their work."

Arie nodded thoughtfully.

"Ohhh, that makes sense."

Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he added,

"Hmmm... But how do you know that Arie? "

Arie laughed nervously saying.

"Oh, uh… I just happened to know it, that's all. Hehe,"

she said, waving her hand dismissively.

The teacher raised an eyebrow but decided not to press further. "If you say so."

The teacher then clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, before we begin, I'd like to introduce someone who will be ensuring your safety today. Everyone, meet Agin, a Master Class fighter."

A tall, battle-hardened man stepped forward. His presence was commanding, with sharp eyes and a confident smirk. He wore lightweight yet sturdy armor that bore numerous scratches—clear signs of experience. A massive greatsword rested on his back, and his movements were calculated yet relaxed, as if he were always prepared for a fight.

"Hello, everyone,"

Agin greeted, his voice deep and steady. "I'll be accompanying you today to make sure everything goes smoothly and safely. Stick close, follow the rules, and we'll all have a good time."

Whispers broke out among the students.

"Whoa, a Master Class fighter? He must be so strong."

"Do you think he fought dragons before?"

"Look at that sword! I bet he can cut a boulder in half with it!"

Arie glanced at Agin, unimpressed.

"Hmph. He doesn't seem that amazing,"

he muttered under his breath, earning a quick nudge from Lea.

"Don't be rude!"

she whispered sharply.

As the murmurs settled, the teacher raised his voice again.

"Alright, everyone, the only thing we're waiting for now is the guild official who will unlock the entrance for us. This is a private route, so it's kept sealed until it's needed."

The class shifted restlessly as they waited. Some students adjusted their equipment, while others whispered about strategies or tried to calm their nerves.

After a few minutes, the teacher clapped his hands again to grab their attention.

"Alright, is everyone ready?"

"Yes, sir!" the class replied in unison, their voices a mix of enthusiasm and nervousness.

Agin chuckled, crossing his arms.

"Not bad, kids. Let's see if you can keep that energy once we're inside."

As the guild official approached to unlock the entrance, Arie felt a slight unease in the pit of his stomach. This was supposed to be just a school activity, but something about this dungeon… felt different.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed as the guild lady finally arrived, her breaths slightly uneven from rushing. She was a slender woman with sharp features, her official guild uniform pristine despite her apparent haste.

"I'm so sorry for being late!"

she exclaimed, bowing politely to the teacher and the students.

The teacher gave her a reassuring smile. "It's alright. We haven't waited long."

Nodding, the guild lady approached the sealed entrance, pulling out a key embedded with glowing runes. As she worked to unlock the door, her gaze drifted to the group, her eyes stopping suddenly when they landed on Arie and the princess. Her expression shifted to one of surprise.

"Huh…?"

She blinked, her lips parting slightly. "Arie? And… Princess Lea? Why are you two together?"

Arie tilted his head, caught off guard by her reaction.

"Oh, uh… I guess you could say we're classmates. Why?"

The guild lady looked between them, visibly puzzled, but didn't press further.

"It's just… unexpected. You're the last person I'd expect to see in this group. I didn't even know that you go to school"

"What do you mean by that?" Lea asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Well," the guild lady said, locking eyes with Arie, "he's a registered adventurer. I'm actually the one who registered him. He came to me some times to take quests. Not to mention he defeated a floor boss on his own"

Lea raised an eyebrow at Arie. "Really? You're an adventurer? Why didn't you mention this before?"

Arie scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "It's not a big deal. I only took quests because I needed money to enroll at the academy. I barely even went into the dungeon—less than five times, really."

"Wow," Lea said, crossing her arms. "So you do have some experience, huh?"

Arie shrugged. "Like I said, it was only for the money. Nothing serious."

The guild lady smiled, finishing her task as the runes on the door began to glow. "Well, the door is open now. Good luck with your activity, everyone. And stay safe!"

The group descended into the dungeon, the air growing cooler and more oppressive with each step. The dimly lit stone walls seemed to close in around them, and faint echoes of unknown creatures reverberated through the tunnels.

As they moved, Agin, the Master Class fighter, took the lead. His imposing figure and calm demeanor made the students feel slightly more at ease.

The first few floors were uneventful, with Agin easily dispatching any lesser monsters that dared to approach. The students watched in awe as he swung his massive sword with precision, taking down enemies with a single strike.

"Wow," one of the students whispered. "He's so strong…"

"Yeah, but did you notice how he's barely even trying? He's just clearing out small fries," another added.

Despite Agin's effortless performance, Arie remained silent, his thoughts elsewhere.

Finally, they reached the 20th floor, a larger, more ominous chamber. The teacher signaled for everyone to stop and rest for a moment. The tension in the air was palpable as the group settled down, some students nervously whispering to each other.

After a brief rest, the teacher stood up and addressed the group. "Alright, everyone, listen up! For today's activity, we will be taking on the floor boss of this level."

The announcement sent a wave of shock through the students. Whispers broke out immediately.

"A floor boss? Isn't that too dangerous?"

"I thought this was just a simple training exercise!"

"What if we can't handle it?"

Agin's expression darkened, and he stepped forward. "I have to object to this, sir. A floor boss at this level is not something students can handle. Even I would struggle against it."

The teacher raised a hand, trying to calm him down. "Agin, I understand your concern, but I have a teleportation crystal. If things get out of hand, I'll use it to evacuate everyone immediately."

Agin scowled. "That's not the point. Even if we escape, someone could get seriously injured—or worse—before we can activate the crystal. You're putting everyone at unnecessary risk."

The students grew even more uneasy, their murmurs growing louder.

Arie frowned, glancing at Lea. "Is the boss on this floor really that powerful?"

Lea looked at him, surprised. "You don't know? Floor bosses are usually only handled by Level 3 or 4 adventurers. And not just one or two—it takes an entire party to bring one down."

"An entire party?" Arie's voice was laced with disbelief.

Lea nodded gravely. "Yeah. The one you took from floor 10 requires about 10 level 2s, in my estimation. And the one we're supposed to face is the King of Skeletons: Skeletus."

"Skeletus?" Arie repeated, his expression darkening.

"Yes," Lea continued. "He's a giant skeleton, towering over anyone who faces him. I've heard he's as tall as a castle wall, and his strength is enough to crush a shield in one hit."

Arie felt a chill run down his spine. He had only been to the dungeon a handful of times, and never had he faced anything remotely close to what Lea was describing.

Before their conversation could go any further, the teacher clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone! It's time to proceed."

The students looked at each other nervously. No one wanted to move, but the teacher's authority was absolute.

Agin sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Fine. If I can't stop this madness, I'll do everything in my power to protect all of you. Just stay behind me, and don't try anything reckless."

The group advanced, their footsteps heavy with dread. When they reached the entrance to the boss's lair, the oppressive atmosphere thickened, making it hard to breathe. The faint sound of rattling bones echoed from within, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly.

Arie stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he felt a sinister presence emanating from beyond the doorway. His hands clenched into fists. "Feel that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lea nodded, her face pale. "Yeah. That's him… The King of Skeletons: Skeletus."

The students huddled closer together, their fear evident in their wide eyes and trembling hands. Agin stood at the front, his grip on his sword tightening.

"Stay alert," Agin said, his voice low and steady. "This isn't going to be easy."

(Heh, who am I kidding? I can't possibly beat Skeletus. But if I look scared now, these kids will fall apart before the fight even starts. Guess I'll just have to put on a show.)

As the teacher prepared to open the massive doors leading to the boss's chamber, the students braced themselves. The fight of their lives was about to begin.