Outside the Dungeon World, beneath a swirling vortex of energy that had now become eerily still, two figures emerged.
They stepped through the lingering tendrils of magic. Their bodies draped in armor that seemed to be forged from congealed blood. It was deep crimson mingling with dark black veins that pulsed with unnatural energy. The armor clung to their bodies and looked sleek, exuding a sinister aura.
The two women hovered silently in the sky, their piercing predatir eyes fixed on the vast structure below, the Elf Palace. Its protective dome gleaming with an ethereal light and inside it were filled with vigilant elven guards.
Despite the watchful gaze of those below, no one noticed the intruders. Their presence was so well-hidden that even the most powerful Elves who have high Magic senses, including King Gulben, were unaware of the danger lurking above.
The taller of the two women surveyed the palace with a calculating gaze. Her eyes that gleaming with a strange allure, narrowed slightly as she broke the silence.
"Is this the place where the Dragonborns are residing?" she asked in a voice that dripped with honey of malice, her tone seductive yet dangerous.
The second woman, standing at her side, nodded slightly, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile.
"I think so," she replied, her voice softer but no less menacing. Her eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "I'm curious about them... Are they really as strong as the Great Power said? Because if they are not that strong, it will not be too exciting."
The first woman's expression didn't change as she cast a sidelong glance at her companion.
"The Great Power doesn't need to lie to us," she said, her voice filled with certainty. "We wouldn't have made the pact if we doubted that."
The second woman's smile widened, a flicker of excitement dancing in her eyes as she glanced toward the palace again.
"Then... what shall we do?" she asked. "Are we going to attack now?"
The first woman's eyes darkened, but then she shook her head, a predatory grin stretching across her face.
"No," she said. "I don't sense the power of the Dragonborns here. They're not around. I don't know where are they going."
Eccar shrugged, a rare moment of doubt crossing his normally confident expression.
"Hard to say," he muttered, crossing his arms. "We're strong, yeah... but are we strong enough? If we're wrong, we could be walking into a death trap."
Erend considered his words carefully. They had fought through countless waves of monsters. But the uncertainty lingered—was this power truly enough to face the Great Calamity waiting outside this realm?
They both knew the Dungeon World had more to offer. There was still a BOSS waiting for them, deeper in the endless desert.
But time was against them. The outside world couldn't afford to wait for them to defeat more monsters no matter how powerful it was. If they waited any longer, they risked losing everything they had fought so hard to protect.
"I don't think we can wait," Erend finally said, his voice firm. "If we go after the BOSS now, we'll be stuck in here for too long. And we don't have that kind of time."
Eccar nodded in agreement, though there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Yeah... let's hope this is enough." Discover stories with m,v l'e-novelhall.net
They stood in silence for a moment longer, the gravity of their decision sinking in. This might be the last chance they had to grow stronger but the risks of staying outweighed the benefits.
They had to return to the real world and face whatever awaited them.
Erend took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. He summoned the portal to go out then the air around them shimmering as a tear in the fabric of the Dungeon World opened before them.
The swirling energy pulsed with a familiar rhythm, beckoning them to leave the harsh sands behind.
"Let's go," Erend said, stepping toward the portal.
Eccar followed without a word, both of them casting one last glance at the vast desert. Then they stepped through the portal, leaving the Dungeon World behind.
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