When Boran turned around, he encountered a terrifying sight in the dim corridor. Before him stood horrors from ancient times: the Bone Walkers.
The leading Bone Walker Warrior clutched a rusted, notched sword in its bony fingers. Pieces of rotted armor clung to its skeletal frame, with arrow fragments from an ancient battle still lodged in its rib cage. Red light from dark energy within its skull seeped through empty eye sockets, making this eerie sight even more menacing.
Behind it stood the Bone Walker Archer, with a more delicate build—perhaps once a female hunter. A worn quiver rested on its bone shoulders, and in its hands, it held an ancient bow of blackened wood. Its finger bones, deformed from drawing bowstrings, and a deep crack along its skull—likely its death blow—told its story. Green light leaked from its hollow eyes.
Both creatures wore century-old tatters of armor and clothing. These grayed, rotted fragments caused their bones to clatter against each other as they moved, creating spine-chilling clicks.
Their movements were mechanical and unnatural, distinctly unlike those of the living.
The Bone Walker Archer suddenly drew its bow and loosed an arrow. The projectile cut through the cold air toward Boran. He reflexively raised his shield, but the arrow struck with such force that it made him stagger.
[45 Damage taken]
[Health Remaining 108]
"Damn it!" Boran shouted, clutching his chest in pain. "This archer is a complete monster!"
The Bone Walker Warrior sprang into action. Despite its lifeless form, each step was determined and relentless. It advanced with a mechanical rhythm, holding its rusted sword before it. Its bones clattered with each step, creating sinister clicks that echoed through the corridor.
Boran's eyes widened. The severity of the damage and his opponents' power had caught him unprepared. Acting on instinct, he turned and fled.
"I need to get out of here!" he thought, breathless. "These creatures are way above my level!"
The footsteps and bone clicks persisted through the dark corridors. At every turn, he glimpsed the relentless pursuit of the skeletons. The archer occasionally paused to aim but couldn't find a clear shot in the narrow passages.
Boran's heart thundered in his chest. His wounds made running difficult, forcing a groan with each step. Though his breath grew shorter, he couldn't risk stopping—the bone clicks and footsteps behind him meant death.
Thoughts raced through his mind as he ran: "I should have anticipated such powerful creatures. I should have been more careful. What am I going to do now? How far can I run?"
The desperate chase lasted a minute. Despite his burning legs, the danger behind kept him moving. Just as hope began to fade, a sound caught his attention.
First came a faint murmur, then it grew louder—screams. Multiple human screams.
The Bone Walkers halted abruptly. They turned their skulls toward the sound, the lights in their eye sockets flickering with momentary hesitation. Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, they changed direction and headed toward the screams.
Boran leaned against the wall, steadying his breathing. His heart still pounded as he listened to the receding footsteps of the skeletons, grateful for his luck.
"Those screams..." he muttered. "Must be other adventurers. I hope they're as lucky as I was."
He remained against the wall longer, gathering his breath and strength. The pain and fatigue in his body lingered from his frantic escape. After ensuring the Bone Walkers had truly departed, he slowly straightened up.
"I need to do something," he thought. "These creatures are too powerful. Maybe I should gain more experience first, find better equipment. Or... maybe I should form a group. I won't get far in this dungeon alone."
He listened carefully. Neither bone clicks nor screams could be heard anymore. The damp silence of the dungeon had reclaimed the corridors. Boran began moving forward, this time with greater caution.
"At least I got away from them," he thought. "But this dungeon is far more dangerous than I imagined. I need to be better prepared for my next encounter."
Boran stood still, wrestling with his conscience. The screams had stopped, but now he heard battle sounds in the distance. The clash of swords, explosions, and magical bursts echoed through the corridors.
"Going there would be madness," he thought. "I just barely escaped death. But..." He sighed. "If there are people who need help and I abandon them to death, I couldn't live with that guilt."
He gripped his shield tightly. His wounds were still throbbing and making themselves known with every movement, but at least his breathing had returned to its normal rhythm and the burning sensation in his chest had subsided. Though an inner voice told him to stop, he listened to his conscience and slowly began moving toward the direction of the battle sounds.
With each step he became more cautious, placing his feet carefully. The sounds of battle from behind the walls grew increasingly distinct, with metal clangs and shouts echoing off the stone corridor walls. Suddenly, following a powerful magical explosion, a dazzling purple light illuminated the entire corridor, making shadows dance for a moment. Immediately after, a woman's voice echoed, filled with urgency and danger.
"Watch your backs!"
Boran quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest. The sounds of battle were very close now; metal clashes and magical explosions were reverberating off the walls. As he turned the final corner with cautious but determined steps, the sight before him left him astonished.