The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 66: Ch : Dungeon’s Second Test

As the whole team emerged from the tangled maze, Selene exhaled a long sigh of relief, her shoulders finally relaxing.

The cool dungeon air seemed to carry away the tension, if only for a brief moment.

"That wasn’t too bad. I thought C+ dungeons were supposed to be difficult."

Orion remarked, his expression bright. He was only able to say this because he was being nurtured by their party.

Selene wanted to shake Orion and tell him to take these words back. But before she could do that, Zara decided to take action.

Zara’s eyes widened, and she slapped her hand over his mouth, muffling his words.

"Orion! Are you trying to jinx us?"

He blinked, his eyes round with innocence, and then nodded sheepishly.

"S-sorry."

Selene cracked a smile, her nerves slightly soothed by their banter.

"Don’t worry, Zara. I don’t think he’s jinxed us... yet."

Ethan crossed his arms, his gaze sliding to Selene.

"You seem pretty sure of that. You got insider info you’re not sharing?"

She shrugged, her face calm.

"It’s one of my system skills."

It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Her Insight skill had provided the details, but it was also past life knowledge whispering in her mind.

"If I’m right, this dungeon has three parts. The maze was just the beginning."

Her voice was steady, but she couldn’t shake the unease lingering in her gut.

They moved forward, the path narrowing, the lush greenery of the maze giving way to stone and mist.

The next section lay before them—a thin, swaying bridge, suspended over a yawning void.

The bridge was narrow, with only enough space for one person at a time.

Its wooden planks creaked, and the ropes on either side were frayed, looking like they might snap at any moment.

Ethan stepped forward, his expression resolute.

"I’ll go first."

Selene nodded, slipping into the second spot, gripping Orion’s hand.

"Stay close to me, Orion."

Orion gulped, his eyes darting to the endless drop below.

"O-okay."

Zara brought up the rear, her movements cautious.

"Let’s keep it steady. No sudden moves."

As they stepped onto the bridge, it groaned under their weight, and the entire structure began to sway, the ropes creaking with each step.

The mist below swirled, but instead of a rocky bottom, there was only nothingness—a void that seemed to stretch into infinity.

Selene’s knuckles turned white, her fingers digging into the rough rope. She glanced down, and her stomach twisted.

The void seemed to pull at her, inviting her to fall. She tore her gaze away, focusing instead on Ethan’s back.

Ahead, Ethan moved steadily, his focus sharp.

"Keep your balance. One step at a time."

Behind her, Orion’s breathing quickened, and his grip tightened. His shield shimmered faintly, but its edges flickered, wavering with his anxiety.

"Selene. I—I can’t. I’m scared. I’ve never—never been this high up before."

He whispered, his voice trembling.

She looked back, his wide eyes filled with fear, his body shaking. The shield, their only protection, was cracking, the transparent barrier shivering with his unease.

"Orion, listen to me. You’re not alone. We’re all here. You can do this. Just keep breathing."

Selene kept her voice soft, calm.

"But if I mess up, we’ll all—"

His eyes glistened.

"You won’t. You’ve kept us safe this far. Trust yourself. I trust you."

Her hand found his, squeezing tightly.

Orion nodded, his lips pressed thin, and his breathing steadied, but just as hope sparked, the air shifted.

A low hum filled the void, and then, from the darkness, creatures rose, their wingbeats heavy and unnatural.

Their forms were twisted, large bat-like monsters, with leathery wings and gnarled claws. Their eyes glowed, a sickly green, and their screeches pierced the air.

"Incoming!"

Zara shouted, her bow already raised, an arrow notched and ready.

The first monster collided with Orion’s shield, and the impact sent a ripple through the barrier.

The bridge swung violently, and Selene had to dig her nails into the rope to keep from falling.

Ethan drew his sword, the blade catching the dim light, and slashed at the creature, sending it spiraling down into the void.

"Stay together! Don’t let them separate us!"

Orion’s shield wavered, thin cracks spider-webbing across its surface, but he gritted his teeth, his hands glowing, and the barrier strengthened, holding just long enough for Zara to take a shot.

Her arrow whistled, and another creature fell, its body disappearing into the abyss.

Selene reached for her own weapon, a small dagger, and as a monster swooped low, she jabbed upward, the blade sinking into soft flesh.

The creature shrieked, its blood hot and foul, and it tumbled away, its body twitching as it vanished.

"We need to move! Orion, keep the shield up! Ethan, clear the way! Zara, cover us!"

She shouted, her voice carrying over the wind and screeches.

Her orders were clear, and her team responded, their movements practiced and sharp.

They inched forward, step by step, the bridge swaying dangerously, but their progress was steady.

The monsters attacked relentlessly, but as they neared the end, their numbers thinned, and the void below seemed to recede, the edge of the bridge drawing closer.

Orion’s legs shook, his breathing labored, but he held on, his shield flickering, but never failing.

Selene stayed close, her presence a balm against his fear, and with a final push, they reached solid ground.

"Oh, for god’s sake-"

Zara complained as she picked up Orion and moved him and herself faster to safety.

The moment their feet touched earth, the bridge behind them crumbled, the ropes snapping, and the wooden planks spiraling into the void.

Selene fell to her knees, breathing hard, but when she looked up, her team was safe, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion.

"That...*huff*...was way too close."

Ethan said, his sword still in hand.

Orion sank to the ground, his shield finally dropping, and Zara moved to his side, patting his back.

Selene smiled, proud of them all. They’d survived, but she knew this was just the second part of the dungeon. The real challenge was yet to come.