Shield Of Vengeance

###Chapter 6: Battle Of the 10th Floor

Arie stepped into the dark, cavernous room, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls. One by one, torchlights along the edges flickered to life, casting an eerie glow across the vast space. Shadows shifted and danced until, in the center of the room, a hulking shape emerged—a massive spider with thick, dark skin and razor-sharp claws that scraped against the stone as it moved. Eight piercing eyes glinted in the low light, locked onto Arie with a predatory focus.

The spider gave a loud, shrill screech, then charged at Arie with surprising speed for a creature its size. Arie's body tensed, his senses kicking into high gear. He sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding a swipe from one of its spiked legs that left a deep gash in the floor where he'd just stood.

Arie wasted no time, summoning a fireball in his hand and hurling it directly at the creature. The flames struck the spider's hide—but fizzled out, leaving only a few faint scorch marks. Fire-resistant, Arie thought, frustration flickering in his eyes. This wouldn't be a simple fight.

Watching from a hidden corner near the entrance, the two men who had followed Arie exchanged worried glances. They had witnessed his skill against lower-level creatures, but this was entirely different. "This might be too much for him," one of them whispered.

Back in the center of the room, Arie's face hardened. He'd already come this far—he wasn't about to back down. He took a steadying breath, focusing his energy, and began forming another fireball in his hand. This time, he poured more magic into it, heating the flames until they began to shift colors, from orange to blue and finally to an intense, glowing purple.

One of the men watching gasped, recognizing the signs. "Destruction magic…" he murmured, stunned.

Arie raised his other hand, shaping the fireball into a blazing arrow and a bow in his grip. He took aim, the purple flames licking up his arm, and whispered, "Arrow of Destruction."

He released the arrow, and it flew forward with a powerful shockwave, lighting up the dark room as it cut through the air. The arrow pierced straight into the spider's chest, embedding itself deep in its thick hide. For a split second, there was silence. Then, with an earsplitting crack, the spider's body began to glow from within as the destructive flames spread, consuming it from the inside out.

The spider screeched one final time as it erupted into flames, lighting up the entire room. The ground trembled underfoot, and even the two adventurers near the entrance braced themselves against the walls, eyes wide with awe.

Arie stood silently, watching as the spider's massive form crumbled and finally disintegrated, leaving only faint wisps of smoke. In the ashes, a single piece of dark, tough skin remained, glinting in the dim torchlight. Arie picked it up, turning it over in his hand, feeling the surprising weight and durability of the material. Maybe I could have this forged into armor, he mused.

The two men stared at him, utterly speechless. They had never seen magic used with such precision and power by someone so young. They watched as Arie pocketed his prize and calmly left the dungeon, his expression cool and unreadable as he passed them by without a second glance.

Outside, the late afternoon sun was starting to dip below the city walls, casting long shadows across the street as Arie made his way back to the guild. When he entered, the guild was as bustling as ever, adventurers swapping stories and planning their next quests. The receptionist from earlier looked up and saw him approaching.

"Back already?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "How did it go?"

"I defeated the floor boss," he replied simply.

For a moment, she just stared at him, disbelief plain on her face. "You… defeated it?" She looked him up and down, her eyes lingering on his slightly singed clothes and the faint scratches on his arms. "How could a kid like you take down a floor boss on your own?"

In response, Arie reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece of the spider's skin. She leaned forward, her eyes widening as she recognized the dark, thick hide. "Is that… from the tenth-floor boss?" Her voice was a mix of disbelief and awe.

He nodded. "Yes."

"WHAT?!" Her jaw dropped. "HOWW…?" She seemed to be at a loss for words, struggling to make sense of what she was seeing. Finally, regaining some composure, she cleared her throat. "Well, I can't argue with proof like that. Here." She reached under the counter and pulled out a set of brass keys, which she handed to him. "These are for your new house," she said, still glancing at him as though he might vanish if she looked away. "It's small but cozy, just outside the main market. You've earned it."

Arie nodded, pocketing the keys. She hesitated, her curiosity clearly getting the better of her. "If you don't mind… how did you do it?"

"Magic," Arie replied simply. Before she could ask anything further, he turned and walked out of the guild, leaving her with a dozen unanswered questions.

Following the directions she had given him, Arie wound his way through the streets until he reached his new home. It was a modest, single-story cottage with a little garden out front, nestled between two larger buildings. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, finding a small but comfortable space with just enough room for one person. A bed, a table, and a tiny kitchen filled the main room, with a small bathroom off to the side.

Arie barely had the energy to take in the details. The bed looked incredibly inviting after the long day. He sank onto it, feeling the weariness of his journey and the battle catch up with him all at once. As soon as his head hit the pillow, his eyes grew heavy, and within moments, he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, knowing he had taken his first step toward a new life in Astraven.