The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 102

Chapter 102: 03/20- Mossgrazer
As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the oppressive atmosphere of stone corridors and flickering torchlight remained unchanged. The echoes of their footsteps bounced off the damp walls, and an eerie stillness settled in. It wasn’t long before movement ahead caught Aeliana’s sharp eyes. She instinctively halted, raising a hand to signal the others.

A small creature emerged from a patch of overgrown fungi near the crumbling stone walls. Its body was stout, covered in moss-like fur that almost made it blend into the environment. Despite its strange, otherworldly appearance, it didn’t seem threatening. Its rounded head sported two stubby horns, and its bright, beady eyes blinked curiously at the intruders in its domain.

Dorian squinted. “Well, that’s… disappointing.”

The leader of the Ironveil Company, standing just ahead of the group, chuckled. “That, my friends, is a Mossgrazer—a docile, dungeon-dwelling herbivore. Completely harmless.” He turned his gaze toward Aeliana with an amused expression. “I’ll let you have that one.”

Aeliana glanced at him before looking back at the Mossgrazer, who seemed unfazed by the group’s presence. She slowly drew her blade, feeling somewhat ridiculous preparing to strike down such an easy target. “You’re sure this isn’t some kind of trick? I’ve seen creatures play innocent before they—”

Before she could finish, the Mossgrazer let out a tiny sneeze, sending a puff of spores into the air. It let out a contented grunt, then waddled toward a patch of glowing mushrooms, nibbling lazily at the caps.

Kael crossed his arms, smirking. “Yeah, looks real dangerous.”

Sylva let out a hearty laugh. “If that thing so much as blinks aggressively, I’ll eat my own hammer.”

Aeliana sighed, lifting her sword just enough to test its weight. Even though this was hardly the fight she was expecting, she figured she might as well make use of the opportunity to gauge her weapon’s remaining durability.

With one swift motion, she lunged forward and swung her blade down. The Mossgrazer let out a startled squeak before collapsing, its moss-covered body twitching once before falling still.

Garrik gave a slow clap. “Brilliant technique. You’re truly an artist with the blade.”

Aeliana shot him an unamused glare. “Very funny.”

Markus adjusted his staff, raising an eyebrow. “At the very least, that confirms your weapon is still usable. Though I imagine it wouldn’t last long against anything with actual armor.”

Selene crouched beside the felled creature, examining the cut with an appraising eye. “The edge is definitely dulling, but it still managed to slice clean through. Not bad considering it’s practically a glorified piece of iron at this point.”

The leader of Ironveil gave Aeliana a nod. “Not bad. But I’d rather see how you fare against something that fights back.”

Aeliana rolled her shoulders, casting a glance toward the path ahead. “I’d rather not waste my energy on easy targets, anyway. Let’s keep moving.”

As they left the Mossgrazer behind, Kael fell into step beside her. “You realize we’re going to have to make a real stop to fix our weapons soon, right?”

Aeliana sighed. “Yeah, I know. Selene, how long do you think it’ll take to reforge these?”

Selene tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Depends on what kind of reforging you want. If you just need them back in working condition, a few hours at a good forge should be enough. If you want them upgraded? That’ll take longer.”

Dorian smirked. “We might as well get an upgrade while we’re at it. No point fixing something if it’s just going to break again.”

Sylva grunted. “As long as you’ve got the coin for it, lad.”

Kael shook his head. “Right now, I’d settle for a blade that doesn’t feel like it’s made of tin.”

Aeliana’s gaze shifted toward the leader of Ironveil. “How do your weapons hold up so well? I haven’t seen a single one of you dealing with the kind of wear we are.”

The leader smirked. “That’s the difference between being prepared and getting swindled.”

Garrik laughed. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

“Not a chance,” the leader said with a grin. “Come on, let’s move. I have a feeling we won’t be seeing any more harmless creatures from here on out.”

The group continued forward, leaving the quiet chamber behind. The further they went, the more the air grew thick with something wrong. The torches flickered violently, shadows stretching unnaturally along the stone walls.

Lirian, who had been silent for a while, suddenly tensed. “Something’s ahead.”

Markus closed his eyes, reaching out with his magic. A moment later, his expression darkened. “She’s right. And this time, it’s not some harmless herbivore.”

Aeliana tightened her grip on her sword, pushing aside any lingering frustration over their equipment issues. Whatever was waiting for them beyond the next bend—she’d be ready.

…

Aeliana’s blade cut clean through the Mossgrazer, and the creature crumpled to the dungeon floor without so much as a final cry. A moment of silence followed, broken only by the soft echo of the kill reverberating off the cavern walls.

Lirian, watching from the side with her arms folded, let out a small hum of approval. “That’s a clean sweep.” Her crimson eyes flickered with mild amusement, her expression unreadable as always.

Kael chuckled, nudging Aeliana’s shoulder with the hilt of his sword. “Not bad. But I’d like to see how you handle something that actually fights back.”

Garrik grinned. “If she keeps that precision up, I might actually start worrying for my position in this team.”

Aeliana rolled her shoulders, flicking the remnants of the Mossgrazer’s green-tinged blood off her blade before sheathing it. “I’d rather save my energy for real threats.”

The leader of Ironveil crossed his arms, studying her for a moment before nodding. “Fair enough. But don’t get too comfortable. Something tells me this dungeon isn’t going to let us off with just that.”

Before anyone could reply, Markus suddenly stiffened. His grip tightened around his staff, his fingers flexing as if he were preparing to cast a spell. “We’re not alone,” he murmured.

The mood shifted instantly. Aeliana and Kael exchanged quick glances, both instinctively reaching for their weapons. Garrik’s usual grin faded into something sharper, more alert. Even Lirian straightened, her playful demeanor vanishing.

From the darkness ahead, a low growl echoed through the chamber. It was guttural and deep, sending a chilling vibration through the stone beneath their feet.

Selene, who had been standing at the rear of the group, clicked her tongue. “And here I was hoping we’d get a little more time before the next fight.”

Sylva tightened her grip on her war hammer. “No such luck.”

Dorian’s hand rested on the hilt of his blade, his stance shifting as his gaze narrowed. “What are we dealing with, Markus?”

The wizard’s expression was grim. “Something large. And it’s not alone.”

As if to confirm his words, another growl—this time from the side—rumbled through the chamber. The torchlight flickered wildly, shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls.

Aeliana’s breath steadied. She could feel the presence closing in, her instincts warning her just moments before the first set of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.

Then another.

And another.

A pair of creatures stepped into view, their forms illuminated by the dim, flickering light. They were unlike anything she had ever seen—quadrupedal beasts with elongated, spiked skulls and sinewy, almost translucent skin stretched over powerful muscles. Their jagged teeth gleamed as they snapped their maws hungrily, thick saliva dripping onto the stone floor.

Kael’s voice was low, tense. “What in the Void are those?”

The leader of Ironveil exhaled slowly. “Spinehounds.”

Lirian tilted her head. “Carnivorous, aggressive, and highly territorial. They usually travel in packs.”

Dorian let out a humorless chuckle. “Of course they do.”

Before anyone could react further, the Spinehounds moved.

They were fast—faster than their size suggested. The first lunged at Aeliana with alarming speed, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her face. She barely managed to sidestep in time, her instincts driving her into motion.

Kael was already moving, his blade swinging in a sharp arc toward the second Spinehound. The creature twisted its body mid-lunge, dodging just enough that the strike barely grazed its thick hide.

Selene wasted no time, her hand moving to the dagger at her belt. “Markus!” she barked.

The wizard didn’t need any further instruction. He raised his staff, murmuring a quick incantation before slamming the tip into the ground. A burst of blue energy surged outward, momentarily illuminating the chamber as a wave of force sent the nearest Spinehound stumbling back.

Garrik capitalized on the momentary opening. With a roar, he swung his axe down toward the stunned beast, the blade biting deep into its shoulder. The creature screeched in pain, thrashing wildly as dark blood splattered across the stone floor.

Aeliana barely had time to register the strike before the second Spinehound lunged at her again. She didn’t hesitate. Her grip tightened on her sword as she pivoted, her blade flashing in a clean, decisive arc.

The Spinehound let out a strangled cry. Then, silence.

Its head hit the ground a second before its body followed, the lifeless form collapsing in a heap.

Lirian whistled from behind her. “Another clean sweep. You’re on a roll.”

Aeliana exhaled slowly, barely sparing the vampire a glance. She turned just in time to see Kael finish off the remaining Spinehound with a powerful downward strike. The beast gurgled once before slumping over, motionless.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Dorian let out a breathy laugh. “Well. That could have been worse.”

Sylva grunted, wiping her war hammer against her leg. “Could have been better, too.”

The leader of Ironveil took a step forward, surveying the remains of the Spinehounds. “Not bad,” he said, nodding approvingly at Aeliana and Kael. “You handled that well.”

Aeliana finally sheathed her sword, ignoring the way her heart still pounded in her chest. “Let’s just hope that was the worst this dungeon has to offer.”

Markus, still gripping his staff, didn’t look convinced. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

Selene, wiping blood from her dagger, smirked. “Well, if nothing else, this is a good chance to see how long your weapons last before they completely give out.”

Aeliana gave her a dry look. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

Selene winked. “I wasn’t trying to be.”

Kael sighed, shaking his head. “Let’s keep moving. If there are more of these things ahead, I’d rather not be caught off guard.”

The leader of Ironveil nodded. “Agreed. Stay alert. I doubt we’ve seen the last of them.”

And with that, they pressed onward, deeper into the dungeon—unaware of the even greater dangers awaiting them in the darkness ahead.