The waiting area was a cacophony of chaos and battle. Ferron’s hammer slammed down onto the skull of a snarling beast, the creature letting out a final yelp before collapsing in a heap. Next to him, Kagejin leapt with his usual stealthy precision, his razor-edged bracers slicing cleanly through the neck of another attacker.

  “Two to me!” Kagejin called out, his voice calm but tinged with competitiveness.

  “Bah! You’re counting neck-snips? That’s child’s play!” Ferron retorted, swinging his hammer in a wide arc and sending two smaller beasts flying into the wall with a sickening crunch. “Make that four!”

  “Oh, so it’s a competition now?” Shadow quipped from above, clinging to the ceiling. He dropped onto an unsuspecting beast and plunged his claws into its back, twisting viciously before vaulting back into the shadows. “Three for me—and that’s quality work.”

  “Focus, you lot!” Vulcanis bellowed, his massive hammers alight with molten energy as he brought one of them down on a beast attempting to flank Ferron. The ground trembled beneath the impact, and the creature was reduced to a smoldering pile. “This is no time for games!”

  “Easy for you to say, Vulcanis,” Ferron shot back, grinning despite the carnage. “You’re the size of a barn! You just stomp and things die.”

  “Efficiency is key,” Vulcanis rumbled, his glowing runes flaring brighter as he swung his other hammer into the side of a beast. It howled before crumpling into the molten ground he had conjured beneath its feet.

  Meanwhile, one of the clockwork minions, a sleek, spider-like construct, was overwhelmed by two large beasts. Its metallic legs flailed helplessly as it was torn apart, its inner gears spilling out like entrails.

  Brent gasped as he watched the destruction through his Dungeon Vision. “No! Not the spider guy! He just got his leg oiled yesterday!”

  “Stay focused, Brent!” Emil urged, his tone sharp but encouraging. “You’ve got plenty more minions to hold the line.”

  At that moment, another clockwork minion, a humanoid construct armed with rotating saw blades, charged into the fray. Its blades whirred with deadly precision, carving into a pack of smaller beasts. However, its triumph was short-lived as one of the larger creatures barreled into it, smashing it into the wall. The minion sparked and sputtered before collapsing in a heap of twisted metal.

  “I’ll make sure they get repaired,” Emil said reassuringly.

  At that moment, The Iron Resolve adventurers were transported back into the waiting area, bewildered as they found themselves still in the seated positions from their carts when they arrived. They quickly took in the chaotic scene. Seeing the battle unfolding, they jumped into action.

  Bell, the dwarf fighter, decapitated a beast with his axe, then turned to Parker, the human ranger, his face a mixture of confusion and awe.

  “Do these... metal things always joke while fightin’ for their lives?” Bell asked, gesturing toward Ferron and Kagejin.

  “It’s unsettling,” Parker admitted, loosing an arrow at a charging beast that collapsed with a gurgling growl.

  “They’re insane,” Mitch, the halfling rogue, muttered, throwing a dagger that embedded itself between the eyes of a lunging creature.

  Jake, their leader and human warrior, held his sword aloft. “Focus, Iron Resolve! Let’s show these beasts what we’re made of!”

  Sarah, their cleric, nodded, her mace swinging down onto a smaller beast’s head, crushing it. “Stay close! Watch your sides!”

  Phil, the elf mage, unleashed a barrage of ice shards, freezing two of the smaller creatures in place. “They’re tough, but we’ve faced worse!”

  Above it all, Brent’s voice rang out through the Dungeon Vision. “Yes! That’s it, team! Keep it up! Ferron, that was a solid swing! Kagejin, did you see the way that thing’s head popped off? Classic!”

  Emil sighed, though there was a glimmer of amusement in his voice. “You realize this isn’t a sporting event, right?”

  “It’s my dungeon. I’ll cheer if I want to!” Brent countered, glowing brighter as his excitement grew.

  Ferron, hearing the exchange, grinned as he planted his hammer into the chest of another beast. “Hear that, Emil? Boss approves of the banter. Maybe you should lighten up.”

  “If I ‘lighten up,’ this place would fall apart,” Emil deadpanned.

  The Iron Resolve, though initially outnumbered and taken by surprise, held their own as well. Bell cleaved through a beast with a roar, while Phil unleashed a torrent of frost magic to slow another. Sarah stood steadfast, her shield raised as she blocked a strike aimed at Mitch, who darted forward to land a decisive blow. Parker’s arrows flew true, bringing down two smaller creatures attempting to flank the group.

  Shadow scuttled along the ceiling, his jewel-like eyes glinting as he surveyed the battlefield. “Looks like we’ve got this under control.”

  At that moment, a final wave of beasts surged through the breach. The air grew thick with tension as the defenders prepared for the onslaught.

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  Unnoticed by all, the shadowy figure with branch-like protrusions remained hidden in the darkness near the hole in the wall. Its glowing eyes watched intently, unblinking as it took in the scene. It did not move, blending seamlessly with the chaos, a silent observer of the battle's outcome.

  As the defenders braced themselves, Brent’s voice rang out again. “Let’s end this! Show them why they should never mess with Golem’s Gambit!”

  The minions and adventurers rallied, ready to finish the fight, unaware of the sinister presence lurking in the shadows, quietly analyzing their every move.

  The battle reached its climax as Ferron drove his massive hammer into another beast, sending it crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud. Around him, Kagejin sliced through the air, his bladed bracers carving deadly arcs into the remaining creatures. Shadow skittered across the walls, darting in and out of combat to deliver precise strikes, while Vulcanis delivered the final, molten blow to a snarling beast, his twin hammers glowing red-hot.

  Across the room, The Iron Resolve had fully joined the fray. Bell brought his axe down on a beast, cleaving it in two. Phil, the elf ranger, nocked a final arrow, letting it loose into the eye of a lunging creature. Sarah and Carah, working in tandem, took down another beast with a combination of sword strikes and protective shields. Mitch, small but deadly, leapt from one creature to another, stabbing smaller beasts in their vulnerable spots. Parker hurled fireballs that erupted into searing explosions, helping clear the field.

  The battle reached a sudden halt. The last snarling beast fell to a perfectly aimed strike from Shadow, and silence blanketed the chaos-ridden game room.

  But in the shadows of the broken wall, the mysterious tree-like figure observed the aftermath. Its glowing eyes narrowed as it slunk further into the darkness, retreating into the tunnel beyond the broken wall. It left no trace of its presence, slipping away unnoticed by the jubilant warriors and minions.

  As the dust settled, cheers erupted from the gathered adventurers and dungeon minions. Brent’s voice boomed through the dungeon vision to his minions, “That’s what I’m talking about! Fantastic job, everyone! You all are absolute legends!”

  Kagejin retracted his blades and gave Shadow a mocking smirk. “How many did you get? Ten? Maybe twelve?”

  “Eighteen,” Shadow replied coolly, polishing one of his claws.

  “Eighteen?! You’re lying!” Kagejin exclaimed, folding his arms. “I’m going to count the bodies.”

  Ferron, standing tall among the wreckage, turned to Bell, clapping him on the back in a congratulatory gesture. The dwarf yelped as the sheer force sent him sprawling to the ground. The room burst into laughter, the tension of the battle dissipating.

  “Sorry about that!” Ferron said, chuckling as he helped Bell to his feet. “I forget how fagile you little ones are.”

  “I’m sturdy enough to wield this!” Bell growled good-naturedly, hoisting his axe.

  Brent observed the scene, glowing with pride. “They really came through for us, didn’t they, Emil?”

  “They did indeed,” Emil replied. “We should reward them for their bravery. They didn’t have to fight, after all.”

  Brent nodded. “I think a bronze token is in order. Let’s give them something to remember this by.”

  As if on cue, shimmering bronze tokens materialized in the air before the adventurers, each engraved with a stylized “GG” for Golem’s Gambit. The adventurers caught the tokens, their faces lighting up in amazement.

  “From the dungeon,” a voice announced, echoing warmly through the room. “A token of our thanks for your courage and valor today.”

  Jake held up his token, inspecting it with a grin. “Not bad. Something to show off back at the tavern.”

  Bell snorted. “Aye, as if you need another reason to boast.”

  The conversation shifted as Brent and Emil surveyed the damage. The wall behind the dartboard was a jagged hole leading out into a tunnel. Parts of the game room were charred, clawed, or otherwise wrecked. Tables were cracked, and a few game stations had been utterly destroyed.

  “We can’t let anyone run the dungeon like this,” Brent said, concerned.

  “Agreed,” Emil replied. “We’ll need to shut down for repairs. But the sooner we get it fixed, the sooner we can reopen.”

  Brent’s core pulsed thoughtfully. “What if we make an announcement? Something that sounds official but also reassures everyone they’ll have their shot tomorrow.”

  “I have just the thing,” Emil said. With a flick of his metallic hand, a glowing orb appeared in the air. A clear, melodious female voice rang out through the dungeon:

  “Attention all adventurers. The Dungeon of Golem’s Gambit will be temporarily closed for repairs and enhancements. Operations will resume tomorrow morning. All teams slated to enter today will be given priority access upon reopening. Thank you for your understanding.”

  The announcement echoed through the rooms, and Brent watched as the adventurers groaned in mild disappointment but ultimately accepted the news.

  “Well,” Jake said, pocketing his bronze token, “guess we’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “You bet your oversized sword we will,” Bell added. “We’ve got a course to conquer.”

  As they left the dungeon, excitement buzzed in the air. Even amidst the chaos of the battle, the adventurers were eager for another chance to run Brent’s creation.

  Brent sighed in relief, turning to Emil. “Not bad for our first real invasion. Let’s get to work.”

  “And tomorrow,” Emil replied, “we’ll show them what Golem’s Gambit is truly capable of.”