No! I don't want to be a Super Necromancer!

Without warning, the dragon let loose a deafening, earth-shaking roar from all nine throats simultaneously, a dreadful cacophony that reverberated through the cavern. Flames, ice shards, lightning bolts, and toxic fumes erupted in a stunning, terrifying display.

The message was clear: to enter the inheritance site, one must first get past this formidable gatekeeper.

The twelve drow houses surged forward simultaneously, each eager to prove themselves worthy. The lakebed turned instantly into a storm of action and ruthless competition as the various houses unleashed their unique and closely guarded powers.

House Nocturna, led by Vathrian, swiftly conjured barriers and arcs of impenetrable darkness. Their powerful spells masked their movements as they attempted to slip past unnoticed, deflecting the snapping jaws and lethal blasts of the dragon's breath.

House Xarvith warriors, true to their renowned combat mastery, brandished gleaming scimitars as they dashed fearlessly through the deadly gauntlet, blades moving with blinding speed to deflect and counter incoming attacks.

Yet even as the houses pushed forward, true drow nature quickly surfaced.

Sabotage erupted openly, subtly yet ruthlessly executed. A swift knife in the back, a well-placed shove into a burst of dragon flame, an innocent stumble that exposed an ally to hungry jaws, betrayal blossomed everywhere, cold-blooded and calculated.

The shrieks and agonized screams of fallen drow echoed horribly, mingling with the dragon's roars. But none of their companions flinched or paused. Their faces remained impassive, eyes focused solely on their goal. Friendships meant nothing here; only power mattered, and every fallen ally was simply another competitor removed.

Damien and Lyrisa surged forward alongside the others, their movements synchronized and fluid.

Yet as they approached the gatekeeper, Vathrian acted with cold decisiveness. He gave a subtle nod, and instantly his three hooded protectors unleashed a strange, devastating darkness spell, forming a vortex that yanked Damien violently toward the waiting jaws of the nine-headed guardian.

"Damien!" Lyrisa shouted in panic, her eyes widening as she realized the deadly precision and timing of the betrayal. She reached desperately to grab him, but the pull was overwhelming, impossible to counter so suddenly.

Yet Damien moved with shocking ease, twisting his body gracefully midair, a calm smile on his face even in peril.

He kicked out powerfully, his foot slamming hard into the snout of the nearest snapping dragon head. Leveraging the impact, he propelled himself into an agile somersault, energy bursting from him in a dazzling flash as he landed gracefully several meters away from the beast.

The nine-headed dragon roared furiously, enraged at the unexpected strike. All nine heads snapped around simultaneously, dragon fire erupting forth in a devastating torrent of mixed elements aimed directly at Damien.

But Damien was already moving, his form fluid and precise, effortlessly evading the deadly blasts. He spun gracefully, timing his steps with uncanny precision. As he dodged, he subtly positioned himself perfectly between the hooded protector responsible for the vortex spell and the enraged beast.

The hooded protector had barely realized the danger before the streams of elemental fire and poison engulfed him completely, incinerating him in an instant. His agonized scream was brief yet chilling, a stark reminder of the stakes involved.

Damien landed softly beside Lyrisa, calm and composed despite the chaos around him. Vathrian's eyes flashed dangerously cold, a silent promise of future vengeance as he slipped through the portal, leaving the chaos behind.

Lyrisa exhaled heavily, relief washing visibly across her elegant features. "Thank god you're okay," she panted softly, a hint of a teasing smile playing across her lips. "I wouldn't want to lose my monkey king helper before the trials even truly began."

Damien chuckled, eyes sparkling with wry amusement. "I won't die that easily."

Together, they stepped decisively through the shimmering portal. Instantly, their surroundings shifted dramatically, reality bending around them in a dazzling whirlwind of light and shadow.

When it settled, they found themselves in a strange new realm entirely, a vast hall lined with ancient stone columns carved with eerie runes, their glow casting long, flickering shadows across the polished marble floor.

Ahead stretched a series of doors, each framed with intricate, otherworldly symbols. A silent, oppressive aura permeated everything, filled with the whisper of ancient magic and hidden dangers.

Damien glanced thoughtfully around the room, brows knitted slightly. "A series of challenges?" he mused softly, already assessing their surroundings carefully.

Lyrisa nodded solemnly. "JerAxle's legacy will not be easily obtained. Each door ahead likely guards a trial meant to test our strength, intelligence, and resolve. Only the worthy will reach the end."

Damien smiled confidently, cracking his knuckles lightly. "Then I suppose we'd best get started."

She nodded, her gaze steady and resolute. "Yes. But watch your back. Vathrian won't give up easily, and there are plenty more who'll happily spill blood to claim the inheritance."

"I'm counting on it," Damien replied calmly. "After all, we wouldn't want this adventure to get boring."

Together they approached the first door, senses alert, bodies coiled with anticipation. As they touched the ancient stone, the symbols lit brilliantly, and the heavy stone door creaked open to reveal their first true trial, an enormous, shadow-filled maze stretching into infinity.

Damien grinned widely, eyes gleaming with excitement and challenge. Beside him, Lyrisa drew her twin scimitars smoothly, blades humming with anticipation.

"Ready?" she asked quietly, her voice holding determination and confidence.

"Always," Damien replied, stepping forward into the darkness.

Behind them, the door sealed shut with a resonant, final thud.

The first trial had begun.

Damien and Lyrisa stepped through the ancient stone door, the heavy rumble behind them signaling their commitment. A cool breeze brushed their faces, scented faintly of iron and stone, as they found themselves on a vast, circular stage surrounded by towering stone walls.

Along the walls, flickering braziers cast wavering shadows that danced like dark spirits, providing a grim illumination to the arena.

Damien's gaze swept across the expanse, noting immediately the etched runes along the perimeter, pulsing faintly with ominous energy. Opposite them stood an opposing gateway, carved from obsidian, its dark surface shimmering ominously. The gateway slowly ground open, and from it emerged figures clad in battered armor, eyes vacant yet glowing softly with a cold, unsettling azure hue.