Shield Of Vengeance

###Chapter 21: Skeletus

The students stood nervously before the enormous doors to the boss's lair, their breaths uneven as the tension in the air grew heavier. Weapons were drawn, and magic circles faintly shimmered in the hands of spellcasters. Everyone was on edge, knowing what awaited them on the other side of the looming, rune-etched doors.

The teacher stepped forward, addressing the class. "Alright, listen carefully. For this fight, you will be facing the boss in pairs or small teams. Each group will have their chance to prove themselves."

The announcement hit like a lightning bolt. The students erupted into whispers and nervous murmurs, their disbelief palpable.

"Are you serious?" Cedric blurted out, stepping forward. "That's insane! How can you expect us to face a floor boss in small groups? It's suicide!"

"Yeah!" Eldren added, his voice trembling slightly. "Do you even care about your students? We're here to learn, not get ourselves killed!"

The teacher held up a hand to quiet the protests. "I understand your concerns, but let me assure you, this exercise has been carefully planned. You will not be going in alone. Agin will accompany each team, and his primary role will be ensuring your safety. If things get out of hand, he will step in to protect you and pull you out."

Agin, standing a few paces away, frowned deeply but didn't object outright. "I don't like this plan," he muttered under his breath, but his tone was loud enough for nearby students to hear.

"Neither do we!" a student in the back called out, their voice shaking.

The teacher ignored the outburst, turning toward the massive stone doors. He placed both hands on the surface, and with a low, rumbling groan, the doors began to creak open. As they parted, a rush of cold air swept out, carrying with it the unmistakable stench of death and decay.

As the torches along the walls of the chamber flickered to life, their cold blue flames cast haunting shadows across the jagged stone floor. The air grew heavier, laced with an unnatural chill that sent shivers through the spines of everyone present.

At the far end of the massive chamber, an enormous figure sat slumped in the darkness. Its skeletal frame was grotesque, each bone unnaturally elongated and jagged, as though carved from ancient stone. Skeletus, the King of Skeletons, lay dormant.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint crackle of the torches. Then, a deep, bone-rattling sound echoed through the chamber as Skeletus began to stir. Its massive head tilted upward, its hollow eye sockets igniting with a menacing crimson glow.

With an ear-splitting creak, the towering skeleton shifted, pulling itself up from its throne of bones. Dust and debris cascaded from its monstrous form as it rose to its full, terrifying height. Its ribcage expanded with a hollow, echoing gasp, as though drawing breath for the first time in centuries.

And then, it roared.

The sound was primal, a thunderous cry that reverberated through the chamber and sent cracks spiderwebbing across the walls. The sheer force of the roar caused the students to stagger, some clutching their ears in pain.

The Skeletus, now fully awake, turned its blazing eyes toward the intruders, its towering form radiating a chilling aura of malice and power. The battle was about to begin, and the students could feel the oppressive weight of the King of Skeletons bearing down on them.

"That's it… right?" Eldren asked, his voice cracking as he tried to steady himself.

"That's Skeletus," Agin said grimly, gripping the hilt of his sword. "And if you're smart, you'll take this fight very, very seriously."

The teacher stepped back, gesturing toward the first team. "Cedric and Eldren, you're up. Julian, you'll join them. Agin, I'm counting on you to ensure their safety."

Cedric and Eldren exchanged uneasy glances but nodded, stepping forward with Julian following closely behind. Agin took his position at the front, his towering frame providing a slight sense of reassurance to the students.

"Alright," Agin said, his voice firm. "Stick to the plan. Cedric, focus on using your sword skills to distract it. Eldren, support with your magic. Julian, back them both up. I'll step in if things get too dangerous."

Cedric tightened his grip on his sword, nodding. "Got it."

Eldren swallowed hard, forming a glowing magic circle in the air. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Julian didn't speak but gave a firm nod, his staff already glowing with energy.

The fight began with Cedric charging forward, his blade flashing in the torchlight as he aimed a powerful slash at Skeletus's leg. The blade connected, but it barely left a mark. The giant skeleton turned its glowing eyes on Cedric, swinging its massive claw in retaliation.

"Move!" Agin barked.

Cedric barely managed to dive out of the way as the skeletal claw smashed into the ground, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.

Eldren stepped up, releasing a burst of fire from his hands that engulfed Skeletus's arm. The flames licked at the bones but seemed to do little more than anger the creature. It let out another roar, swinging both of its claw in a wide arc.

"Shield up!" Julian shouted, slamming his staff into the ground. A shimmering barrier appeared just in time to block the attack, though the force of the blow sent the entire team staggering backward.

"This thing's tougher than we thought!" Cedric called out, breathing heavily.

"No kidding!" Eldren replied, launching another spell.

The battle raged on, each member of the team doing their best to hold their ground. Cedric's sword strikes grew more desperate, Eldren's magic began to waver as exhaustion set in, and Julian's barriers became slower to form.

Skeletus, meanwhile, seemed almost unfazed. It raised its free hand, gathering a swirling ball of dark energy. The sight sent a chill down Agin's spine.

"Scatter!" he shouted.

The team barely managed to dodge as the energy exploded, sending a wave of destructive force through the chamber. Cedric and Eldren were thrown to the ground, their weapons skidding away.

Agin stepped forward, his sword glowing with a faint blue light as he unleashed a powerful strike at Skeletus's chest. The blade connected, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the skeleton's ribcage, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.

Skeletus retaliated with a backhanded swing, catching Agin off guard and sending him crashing into the wall. He groaned, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead, but pushed himself back to his feet.

"Damn it," he muttered. "This thing's tougher than I thought."

Cedric and Eldren struggled to stand, both badly injured. Julian's magic was nearly depleted, his breathing ragged.

"Agin!" the teacher called from the entrance. "Pull them out!"

Agin gritted his teeth, nodding. He raised a small crystal, its surface glowing faintly, and muttered a quick incantation. In an instant, he and the team vanished from the chamber, reappearing safely at the entrance.

The rest of the class watched in stunned silence as the injured team collapsed to the ground, their faces pale and their breaths labored.

"They… they couldn't do it," one student whispered, their voice filled with fear.

"If even they couldn't handle it…" another murmured, trailing off.

The teacher stepped forward, helping Cedric and Eldren to their feet. "You all fought bravely. Take a moment to recover while we prepare the next team."

Agin turned to the teacher, his expression dark. "This is madness. That thing is stronger than you let on. You're risking their lives for what? Some test?"

The teacher hesitated, his confidence wavering for a moment. "They're here to learn, Agin. And sometimes, the best lessons come from facing real challenges."

Agin shook his head, clearly dissatisfied with the answer, but didn't argue further. As the students watched in silence, the reality of the challenge before them began to sink in. The fight with Skeletus had only just begun.