The Hero Party arrived at the dungeon as the sun began to set.
Seilan looked at the surroundings. "We stop here tonight. We enter in the morning." She looked at everyone. "After we eat — four of you sleep until the middle of the night. Two of us stay awake. Then we switch. We have to be prepared."
She began preparing the food. While she cooked she spoke without looking up.
"Making food for your party is one of the most important things a leader does. Give them the best food. Keep their energy stable for the fight ahead."
When the food was ready nobody knew what it was. They ate cautiously at first. Then their eyes widened.
"This is amazing."
"All the energy I lost traveling — it's back. Just like that."
"You are incredible Seilan."
Seilan didn't look up. "I know I'm incredible. You don't need to tell me. Now eat. Don't talk."
They ate around the fire in silence.
When the plates were empty Seilan stood. "Me and Liam take the first watch. The rest of you — sleep. And if I hear that even one of you is still awake I will put you unconscious myself until morning."
They disappeared into their tents without a word.
Seilan looked at Liam. "You can sleep too if you're tired."
"I can't sleep. I'm not tired."
They sat by the fire After three hours of silence .
Then Liam spoke.
"Seilan — you are an amazing leader. You genuinely care about this party." He paused. "But you know — there are things in this world we cannot understand. Sometimes walking away is better than fighting with honor. A hero who saves a city but dies doing it — the world forgets them. Life is hard. It makes people focus only on their own problems." He looked at her. "Tomorrow — if we go in there and realize we can't clear it — please stop. Don't let anyone die trying."
Seilan looked up at the sky.
"That is exactly my style Liam. It's why I haven't lost a single life until now." She was quiet for a moment. "You know — I was a commoner too. Like you." She paused. "My parents sold me to a noble family to be their servant. After the work was done every day — without anyone knowing — I would go to the training ground and watch the guards train. I wasn't like the other children. I just wanted to be stronger. For one reason." She stopped.
"If one day I became a mother — I wanted to be able to feed my child. Give them love. Do everything for them that was never done for me." She smiled quietly. "But look at me now. No man can approach me for love. Everyone sees only a warrior that no one can surpass. Every woman fighter searches for a man stronger than herself. I don't. I just want to fall in love. I just want to be a mother." She looked at him. "Do you think I can still do that?"
She shook her head. "Sorry Liam. This is the first time I have ever opened myself like this to anyone. I don't know why I did it."
"It's okay," Liam said. "It's good to talk Whwn Someone is listening."
He looked at the fire. "I think you are going to be a wonderful mother. I hope one day you see how happy a child can be — with a mother like you."
Seilan stood.
"You didn't have to say that for me.
Liam smiled. "Believe me — my childhood wasn't better than yours. I don't even want to talk about it."
"Okay." Seilan Got up turned toward her tent. "I'm going to sleep."
Wake them When you want to sleep
She stopped for just a moment without turning back.
"See you in the morning."
Liam didn't sleep. He sat by the dying fire and watched the sky slowly brighten.
The sun rose little by little, its light touching his face.
Liam: "Zulixa. Do you think we can survive another day? What do you think about this party?"
Zulixa: "Why did you wake me up?"
Liam: "What? Do you sleep? How do you sleep?"
Zulixa: "I don't sleep. I just like to act like I'm sleeping."
A pause.
Zulixa: "Liam. You already know what is in there. Why won't you accept that they can't survive this?" She paused. "You saw it too — the light from the dungeon. That spell is called Creation Light. Only an upper rank Light user can cast it."
Liam: "Is there a way to stop them from dying?"
Zulixa: "There is one way. I can use a Creation Spell. I create an imaginary space — like a sealed room. They sleep inside it safely. But I don't know if I can bring them back out again." She laughed softly.
Liam: "Zulixa. You are laughing at a time like this?"
Zulixa: "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Behind him, Seilan's voice broke the silence.
"You didn't sleep?"
She looked at the others. "Everyone up! Now!"
They emerged from their tents one by one, eyes heavy.
Seilan: "Get ready. We are going."
They prepared quickly .
Seilan looked at Liam. "You didn't sleep. Can you fight? Going in without sleep is dangerous."
Liam: "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
They moved out toward the dungeon.
After a while they stood before the entrance.
Zulixa: "Can I say something?"
Liam: "No. This is not the time for nonsense."
Zulixa: "Hmm. Okay."
They entered.
The moment they stepped inside the dungeon dissolved around them. In its place — a vast green field stretched in every direction. A road cut through the center. Standing in the middle of that road was a beautiful winged girl, waiting.
Seilan: "Don't be fooled by her appearance. She looks powerful."
They approached.
The angel spoke. "I welcome you, brave warriors, to my master's kingdom."
Seilan: "Kingdom? This is a dungeon."
Angel: "No. The dungeon was only an illusion. This is my master's personal space. The only way to leave — is the death of the one who cast the space seal spell. Doesn't that make your heart burn? Isn't my master amazing?" She smiled. "I came to welcome you. Follow the road. Eventually you will reach my master's throne. When you see it you will understand two things. First — you will know who my master is. Second — you will know your death is guaranteed."
She disappeared.
Silence fell over the group.
Seilan: "Don't let that get into your heads. It's only words — meant to shake us and lower our guard. Let's move."
They walked. The road wound over a small hill.
Then they saw it.
A throne of pure gold — enormous, god-like — rising from the earth ahead. Everything around it gleamed. A figure sat upon it, with five angels standing before him. The girl from the road was among them.
Seilan: "Stay close. Don't create any openings. We can do this."
They reached the throne.
The figure stood.
"Welcome to my kingdom. I am General Aelion. The 5th Light General. The Bringer of Light. The Purifier of Darkness." His voice was calm. "You came here to be punished for what you have done in your lives. I guarantee — your sins will be removed by the time you die. That is my mercy. I cannot let the beautiful creations of the gods go to waste."
One of his angels clasped her hands together. "Bow. My master has decided to purify you all. Oh master — how wonderfully merciful you are — to think of these lowly lives."
Aelion looked over the group. "Which one of you leads this group? Is there someone here named Liam?"
His angel: "Yes master. That is correct."
Aelion: "One of you is powerful. I believe I know which one is Liam. Step forward."
Zulixa: "It's a trap. The second you step in front of your group he will attack."
Liam: "Thank you Zulixa."
He stepped forward anyway.
The instant his foot crossed in front of the group a beam of pure light shot from the General's finger — thin as a line, aimed directly at Liam's heart.
Liam reacted. A dark sword materialized in his hand. He deflected the beam. It shot upward and exploded in the air above them.
Everyone froze.
Before anyone could speak Liam was already moving — a streak of pure darkness cutting across the field toward the throne at full speed.
One of the angels appeared to intercept him. Liam hit her with a single strike and sent her crashing through the throne.
A piece of the throne broke away.
Aelion looked at the damage. His expression didn't change.
"So. Savion was right. You are strong."
He stepped down from the throne.
"But you are going to die here."
He moved.
Pure light. A single line of speed that no one in the party could even see.
Seilan screamed. "He is coming! Davan — shield his attack!"
Davan moved in front of the group. He activated his shield and blocked the General's attack with everything he had.
The General hit the shield.
Davan flew ten meters back. His shield broke. He stood up.
The General looked at him. "I don't fight you. Don't interfere until your time comes."
Liam understood. If he let them fight the General they would all die. He had to pull the General away from the group.
Aelion looked at his angels. "Kill all of them."
The moment he finished speaking he and Liam locked eyes and launched at each other.
The speed was beyond sound. Two lines of light clashed in the sky. A red and gold glow against a dark mix of black and purple. The impact split the air.
The angels attacked the others. The fight broke out across the entire area.
Seilan fought her opponent and commanded the party at the same time.
"We have to finish this fast and help Liam!"
Seilan's opponent went angry. "You think I'm not a problem for you?"
She attacked Seilan. Seilan reacted easily. But then she saw the other party members struggling against their angels. She started defending them too with her magic. Fighting her own battle and protecting everyone else at the same time.
On the other side of the area two powers clashed.
Every time Liam and Aelion hit each other in the sky the ground beneath them cracked and crumbled.
They stopped on the ground.
Both had minor injuries. Both still standing.
Aelion looked at him. "Look. I even ruined my own kingdom for you. So I can purify you properly."
Liam: "Zulixa. Why are you silent?"
Zulixa: "Sorry. I didn't tell you. I'm searching for a way to create a spell to nullify the space seal spell. Even if we win or lose we are going to need that spell. But I need more time."
Liam: "Okay. I will give you all the time you need."
He attacked the General with his dark sword.
The General grabbed his sword hand mid-attack with impossible speed.
With his other hand Liam landed a direct blow to the General's chest. The General flew back far.
When he landed he raised both hands. Two balls of fire appeared. He came back at Liam fast.
Liam thought he could block it. He raised his hand to protect his head.
The attack hit. He blocked it but lost some magic and health.
Zulixa: "Be careful. Every hit you take you lose stamina. That makes you unable to use your full magic capacity. And you lose health with it. That is his specialty. He has that effect in a fight. That is what makes him dangerous."
Liam: "Then I have to finish this fast."
He attacked again with full power.
The General drew a light sword.
It was not first time Liam had fought against a light sword. He knew a dark sword could overpower a light sword. His plan was to go face to face. Both sides attack. Both deflect. But Liam had to keep hitting him fast and keep the pressure on until he overpowered him. Or until one moment came — the light sword would break and create an opening.
The General swung his sword.
Liam swung his dark sword.
They clashed. The impact shook the ground beneath them. Both held their position.
Liam pushed harder. He attacked again. And again. Each clash sent shockwaves tearing across the ground.
The General held firm but Liam could see it. The light sword was flickering slightly with each hit.
One more push.
Both swung with full force.
Both screamed on the final hit.
The swords clashed. The light sword broke in half.
Liam struck again. His dark sword pierced the General's belly. The General dropped to his knees. Liam pulled the sword out. The General fell to his left.
Liam looked back.
His party had won. Every angel was dead.
But the party was at their limit. They couldn't fight anymore. The four lay on the ground breathing hard. Seilan was the only one still standing — holding herself up with his sword.
Seilan spoke. "Liam. We did it. We won. If this fight went any longer every one of us would have died. We couldn't keep going. We changed strategy. The four of us attacked one angel at a time. That way we could kill them one by one. Davan shielded us during every attack."
Liam: "Good thinking Seilan."
he looked around. "But why are we still in this space? Why didn't the spell cancel?"
Zulixa: "I don't know. But I'm very close to finishing the counter spell. When I'm done we can cancel it."
The space began to vibrate.
Seilan and Liam looked around.
"What is going on?"
"What is happening?"
Liam: "The space is closing I think."
A voice screamed from above.
"Did you think killing a Light General was that easy? Is this all? And you think you won? A lowly human kills a Light General that easily? I'm going to burn you until even your ash can't hold my fire."
"I just healed myself."
Aelion screamed. "Let me show you the true power of a Light General!"
His form changed. A golden light erupted from his body. His aura doubled. Then doubled again.
Zulixa: "Liam this is dangerous. When I say now — go to your party. I will teleport all of you outside."
That small moment of distraction was all it took.
In one second Aelion moved.
His sword glowed with fire.
Seilan saw it.
She moved fast. She stepped in front of Liam.
She chanted. "Magic Creation — Legendary Shield."
The attack pierced the shield.
It pierced through her chest.
She fell.