I am the fairy\elf king???/

The day began with high spirits. The Hestia Familia, bolstered by its new members, embarked on a dungeon raid to secure resources and prove their mettle. The group had grown close, their teamwork refined through countless battles. As they descended into the labyrinthine depths of the dungeon, the air thrummed with anticipation and resolve.

"Stay sharp," Kirito said, his voice calm but firm. His dark eyes scanned the twisting corridors. Jace nodded, gripping the fused spear he had spent countless nights perfecting. Beside them, Kade, Lyra, Mira, and Orin moved in sync, their expressions a mixture of determination and excitement.

The deeper they ventured, the more formidable the monsters became. Hordes of goblins and kobolds gave way to trolls, ogres, and other nightmarish creatures. Yet the Hestia Familia fought as one, their combined might carving a path through the chaos.

"This isn't so bad," Lyra quipped, her daggers glinting as she dispatched a snarling wolf-like creature.

"Don't jinx it," Orin replied, launching a fireball at a charging ogre. The spell exploded in a blaze of heat and light, leaving behind a smouldering husk.

Jace couldn't help but smile. Despite the danger, the camaraderie among them was undeniable.

But the dungeon was a cruel and unpredictable place.

As they entered a vast, dimly lit chamber, the ground beneath them trembled. The air grew heavy with a malevolent presence. From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything they had encountered before—a Behemoth. Its massive frame towered over them, muscles rippling under dark, scaly skin. Its glowing red eyes burned with primal fury.

"Scatter!" Kirito shouted, his dual blades flashing as he leapt into action.

The group moved instinctively, their training and experience guiding them. Mira unleashed a torrent of water magic, aiming for the creature's eyes. Lyra darted around its massive legs, slashing at tendons. Kade and Orin provided cover, their combined fire and wind magic creating a whirlwind of destruction.

But the Behemoth was relentless. With a deafening roar, it swung its massive tail, sending Kade crashing into a wall. Blood spattered the ground as he slumped to the floor, unmoving.

"Kade!" Lyra screamed, her voice breaking.

Distracted, she didn't see the creature's claw until it was too late. It struck her with brutal force, her body crumpling like a rag doll. Jace's heart clenched as he watched her lifeless form hit the ground.

"No!" Mira's cry was one of anguish and rage. She charged forward, her staff glowing with intense light. But the Behemoth's tail lashed out again, impaling her through the chest.

Orin's magic flared with desperation, flames erupting around him as he hurled everything he had at the beast. For a moment, it seemed as though he might succeed. But the Behemoth's massive jaws closed around him, snuffing out his fire and his life.

Jace stood frozen, his mind unable to process the horror unfolding before him. His closest friends, his newfound family, were gone. Beside him, Kirito's face was a mask of fury and grief.

"Jace," Kirito's voice was low and trembling, "we end this. Now."

Something inside Jace snapped. A searing pain tore through his chest as his magic surged uncontrollably. His fused spear glowed with an otherworldly light, responding to the storm of emotions within him. The air around him crackled as wind and energy swirled in a violent vortex.

"You'll pay," Jace growled, his voice laced with unbridled rage.

Together, he and Kirito charged. Kirito's blades struck with a speed and precision that blurred the line between offense and defense. Jace's spear became an extension of his wrath, each strike carving deep into the Behemoth's thick hide.

The creature roared in defiance, but it was no match for the fury of the two warriors. Jace unleashed a devastating attack, channeling wind and light magic through his spear. The resulting explosion rocked the chamber, leaving the Behemoth staggering.

Kirito seized the opening, leaping onto the creature's back and driving both blades into its spine. The Behemoth let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing, its massive body shaking the ground as it fell.

Silence descended upon the chamber, broken only by Jace's ragged breaths. He dropped to his knees, the weight of what had just happened crashing down on him. Kirito knelt beside him, his expression unreadable.

"They're gone," Jace whispered, his voice hollow. Tears streamed down his face, cutting through the grime and blood.

Kirito placed a hand on Jace's shoulder, his own grief evident in his eyes. "We'll honour them. And we'll make sure their sacrifice wasn't in vain."

As they gathered the remains of their fallen comrades, Jace felt a burning resolve take root in his heart. The pain of their loss would never fade, but he would carry their memories with him. He would fight for the future they had dreamed of together.

The dungeon had claimed much, but it had also forged an unbreakable bond between the two survivors. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, driven by a shared purpose and the enduring strength of their fallen friends.

 (AUTHOR'S NOTE SORRY FOR THE LATE CHAPTER)