Dungeon & Commander

Dungeon & Commander (Prologue)

The dark dungeon was enveloped in a thick, fog-like darkness, despite the bright sphere of light cast by the buffer. The heavy footsteps echoing from beyond the darkness made hearts sink, and the sharp roars sent chills down spines. They had come to hunt, but now they were being hunted.

The tank, the core of their defense, was already dead. The team, originally consisting of seven raiders and two carriers, was now reduced to four raiders and one carrier.

“Carrier, do you have any water?” the buffer asked.

“Here it is,” the carrier replied, handing over their share of the water bottle.

The buffer, aware of this, took the bottle and drank deeply, but the damned thirst refused to go away. The team leader approached the carrier.

“Did you drink any water?”

The carrier remained silent.

The team leader pulled out a water bottle and offered it. The hesitant carrier took a sip and tried to return the bottle to the leader.

“Drink more.”

“…Thank you, sir.”

The moment the team leader returned to his position, a crimson monster burst through the darkness, snatching the buffer and dragging him away. The buffer’s scream, as his upper body disappeared into the monster’s maw, was cut off abruptly, followed by the sound of bones breaking nearby.

The enraged team leader unleashed his magic, but it was futile. The cunning monsters had already fled beyond the attack range.

Time passed slowly. The burning thirst and the despair of inevitable death weighed heavily on them. When another raider collapsed, three monsters pounced as if they had been waiting.

The team members scattered, screaming.

“Don’t scatter! If you run, you’ll die!”

The team leader shouted, but it was in vain.

With the buffer’s death, the sphere of light vanished, canceling the magic. The team leader cast a light spell. Though he couldn’t maintain it as long as the buffer, he could manage it as a dealer.

Something flew through the darkness—a severed, blood-dripping arm.

‘Stay calm. There must be a way.’

He tried to convince himself, but his body was paralyzed with fear.

Faint echoes of screams reached him, along with the loud sounds of monsters fighting over their prey. Heavy footsteps approached.

Forcing himself to stand, the team leader prepared to respond to the attack. The footsteps grew louder and more intense.

How long had he endured? The team leader no longer had the strength to stand. Lying limp, he looked up at the floating light, and a memory flashed through his mind.

His son, riding on his shoulders, had once pointed to the full moon and stubbornly insisted on going there, asking to be taken. To his son, a father was a hero capable of anything.

‘I promised Joon I’d come back to him.’

The heavy footsteps approached slowly, but the team leader no longer felt fear. He only wanted to be a father his son could be proud of, even in his final moments. He gathered his magical power, preparing to cast a spell he had never used before. It was a forbidden spell, one that required sacrificing his life, but it was the ultimate magic that could grant his deepest desire.

Monsters surrounded the team leader.

The white light emanating from his body grew increasingly intense. With a flash, the brilliant white aura burst forth, rising into the air and transforming into a familiar shape.

A white eagle with large wings!

The eagle let out a long cry and flew beyond the darkness.

The team leader faintly smiled.