Silent Ascension

The echo of the ogre's fall had barely faded when the ground beneath the team began to rumble again. Jeff's heart thudded in his chest. He could feel it — the dungeon wasn't finished with them yet. The walls seemed to close in slightly, the atmosphere heavy with a sense of impending danger. He wiped his bloodstained hands on his pants, trying to steady his breath. His senses felt sharper than ever before, his body still thrumming with the effects of Ascendant Growth. This wasn't just a boost in power; it was something more.

Marcus, now with a grudging respect for Jeff, raised his hand to signal for the team to stop. His eyes scanned the dark corridor ahead, wary of what might be lurking in the shadows. The other hunters were tense, weapons ready, but none of them spoke. There was no need for words; they all knew that the dungeon had many more secrets to reveal.

"Stay alert," Marcus commanded, his voice low but commanding. "This dungeon is far from finished with us. We'll move in formation — F-rank, you stay in the middle."

Jeff didn't argue. He had no intention of getting in the way of the seasoned hunters, especially now that he had a glimpse of what they could do. But he wasn't going to sit idly by, either. He felt the Ascendant Growth skill stir within him again, waiting for the right moment to push him further.

The corridor led them to another large chamber, but this one was different. The walls were adorned with strange runes, glowing faintly in the dim light. At the center of the room, there was an altar, its surface covered in dust and ancient markings.

"Trap," Marcus muttered, his eyes narrowing. He turned to the others. "Don't touch anything. Let's figure out what this is."

Jeff's instincts tingled. He stepped forward cautiously, his gaze fixed on the altar. There was something about it, something beyond the obvious danger. His mind raced, analyzing the scene.

Before anyone could react, the runes on the walls flared with light, and a pulse of energy surged from the altar. A force, nearly invisible but undeniably powerful, struck the entire group, sending a shockwave through their bodies. The air crackled as the magic embedded in the dungeon reacted to their presence.

"Ambush!" Lila shouted, narrowly dodging a burst of energy that shot from the altar.

In an instant, the ground beneath them shattered, and dark figures emerged from the cracks. They were humanoid, but their features were obscured by shadow, their bodies cloaked in a shroud of dark energy. They moved quickly, appearing as mere silhouettes before striking with lethal precision.

"Stay focused!" Marcus barked, drawing his sword and charging at the nearest shadow. The others followed suit, but Jeff held his ground, trying to make sense of the situation. These weren't ordinary monsters. These were minds, not bodies.

The shadows seemed to bend around the attacks, slipping through the strikes with impossible agility. Jeff's mind raced. These creatures weren't purely physical; they were a challenge to both mind and body. They were attacking their perceptions, creating illusions.

Then it clicked. The altar was connected to this phenomenon — a test, not just of strength, but of mental endurance. The Ascendant Growth skill inside him pulsed again, its influence amplifying his cognitive abilities. He could feel his thoughts sharpening, processing the danger more quickly than before.

Jeff closed his eyes for a moment, shutting out the chaos around him. Focus. The skill was telling him to focus, to think.

He opened his eyes, now seeing clearly. The shadows weren't as they appeared — they were distortions, reflections of the team's own fears and doubts. It was as if the dungeon was probing their minds, searching for weaknesses.

This is my chance.

Drawing on everything he had learned, Jeff called upon the power of his skill and tapped into a new layer of perception. His thoughts raced as he reached deep within, pushing beyond his previous limits. His mind was now his strongest weapon.

"Guys, don't fight them physically," Jeff shouted to the team. "They're not real! They're in our heads."

Lila hesitated for a moment, looking around at the shifting shadows. "What are you talking about?"

Jeff focused on the nearest shadow, and with a deep breath, he willed it away. The illusion shattered like glass, revealing the true form of the monster beneath — a hulking, armored beast, its presence far more intimidating than the shadow had been. But it was real, tangible.

He turned to the others, who were now beginning to understand. "Focus your mind. It's all a test. These things are created from our thoughts."

With renewed determination, the hunters began to focus, each one trying to clear their mind and see through the illusions. Slowly but surely, they broke through the mental traps, dispelling the shadows one by one.

Jeff felt the weight of the dungeon's pressure ease as the last shadow dissolved. He was panting, but there was a thrill in his chest. This was no ordinary dungeon. It wasn't just about surviving physically; it was about overcoming mental barriers. And for the first time, he understood what it truly meant to be an ascendant.

Marcus walked over, wiping sweat from his brow. "You've got a sharp mind, Jeff," he said, his voice begrudgingly respectful. "I didn't expect that."

Jeff nodded but didn't respond. He was still processing the enormity of what had just happened. He wasn't just a fighter — he was a thinker. His growth wasn't just about power; it was about how he approached the world, how he saw through the lies and illusions, both external and internal.

The altar pulsed again, its energy calming, as if acknowledging the team's victory. But Jeff knew this was only the beginning. There was more to come. And whatever came next, he was ready.

"I don't think we're done yet," Jeff muttered, glancing around the room.

As the dungeon shifted and the path forward opened, Marcus turned to the group.

"Let's move. We've passed the trial of strength and mind, but I have a feeling the real test is still waiting ahead."

With those words, the group prepared to continue their descent. Jeff, now more confident than ever, followed — ready to face whatever came next.