Chapter 116: Noah and Terry

Mark and Derek traded uncertain glances at the masked man’s words. Neither of them could quite tell whether he was simply enjoying the sound of his own voice, or whether his sudden appearance here tied into something considerably more sinister. The three Tyrannosaurus rex stood before them, massive bodies partially swallowed by the cold mist drifting out from the mountain passage. Every breath they released seemed to thicken the tension in the air further, the largest one continuing to watch them steadily from beneath its heavy brow.

For a moment, neither student spoke. They’d already fought their way through several dangerous creatures by this point, and the sudden appearance of this mysterious rider had handed them an entirely fresh problem to deal with. Mark felt his own heartbeat quickening noticeably, though he forced himself to stay calm regardless. Whatever this man actually intended, panicking clearly wasn’t going to help either of them survive.

He adjusted his stance, keeping both fists raised, tracking the rider’s every movement closely.

"Any idea what he actually means by all that?" Mark asked quietly.

"Never seen or heard of the guy before. Was about to ask you the exact same thing," Derek replied with a shrug. His expression ran considerably more serious than his casual tone suggested. "Dude looks like he wandered straight out of someone’s nightmare. A masked maniac, basically."

"That’s reassuring."

"What were you expecting me to say? That he’s our long lost friend swinging by to welcome us?"

Mark shot him a brief look.

"Honestly, that’d be less surprising than literally everything else we’ve seen today."

"Fair enough."

Despite the quick exchange, neither boy lowered his guard even slightly. Derek’s crystal armor stayed fully active around both arms, its greenish surface reflecting the faint light filtering through the mountain passage. Mark’s protective bracers sat secured firmly around his forearms, the familiar strength granted by Symbiosis already settling comfortably beneath his skin.

Beside them, Penthesilea stood ready, battle axe held firm. The Amazon’s powerful frame remained motionless, attention locked entirely on the stranger. Unlike the two students, she didn’t seem particularly interested in trading guesses about his identity at all. She watched him the way any seasoned warrior watches an unfamiliar opponent, actively searching for any sign of his real intentions.

The masked rider seemed to notice her focused attention.

His head turned slightly, gaze lingering on the towering Amazon with clear, obvious interest. Something deliberate colored the way he studied her, as though her presence alone had caught his attention for a very specific reason. His posture stayed relaxed throughout, though that brief pause suggested he hadn’t fully expected everything currently standing in front of him.

Then his attention shifted back toward Mark and Derek.

"Well, well. Do forgive me for skipping introductions earlier. Rather discourteous of me, honestly, considering this marks our first proper, formal encounter."

Mark and Derek both blinked almost in perfect unison.

The man’s voice carried a strange mixture of amusement and unshakable confidence. He spoke as though they’d simply crossed paths at some casual social gathering, rather than standing in a remote mountain passage surrounded by enormous prehistoric predators.

He pressed one hand against his chest, offering them a shallow, theatrical bow from atop the largest Tyrannosaurus rex.

"I’m Noah, though most know me as Dark Descent. As I already said, genuine pleasure meeting you both here."

Derek stared at him for a long beat.

"Dark Descent? Seriously, that’s the name?"

Noah tilted his masked face toward him.

"Problem with my name, is there?"

"Not really. Just wondering who exactly signs off on a title like that sounding intimidating."

Mark pressed his lips tight, fighting back a laugh.

"Derek, maybe don’t go provoking the mysterious masked guy riding a twenty foot dinosaur."

"Why not? He introduced himself first. Rude not to respond properly."

Derek turned his attention squarely back on Noah.

"Anyway, are you actually responsible for this whole dungeon showing up inside our dormitory? Because if you are, that’s a serious invasion of privacy. And honestly, calling yourself Dark Descent, pretty generous considering you’ve got zero decent manners to show for it."

That final jab clearly landed.

Noah’s head snapped sharply toward Derek, the faint amusement in his posture pausing visibly for an instant. Beneath the skull mask, his eyes flashed with genuine interest, as though he genuinely hadn’t expected either student to respond to him quite this casually.

Mark glanced toward Derek, smiling.

"Nice one. Though I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you."

"What? I asked a perfectly reasonable question."

"Reasonable questions, sure. Your timing could use some serious work, though."

Noah began chuckling. Quiet at first, the sound steadily built until it echoed off the surrounding rocky walls.

"I like that jab, kid. Sharp tongue on you. Think you’re going to turn out genuinely interesting."

Derek raised an eyebrow.

"Glad to be of service. Now how about actually answering the question?"

Noah shook his head slowly, clearly amused by their mounting impatience.

"If you’re wondering whether I’m responsible for your arrival here, perhaps you ought to consider exactly why you were brought here in the first place."

Mark’s smile vanished instantly.

"So you are behind this."

"Never said that directly."

"You’re sure not denying it either."

"Ah, but where’s the fun in handing you every single answer before the real game’s even begun?"

Mark traded another look with Derek. The rider’s deliberately evasive words only strengthened their shared suspicion that this dungeon hadn’t swallowed them by pure accident. The earlier stages had already run strange enough on their own, but the real possibility that someone had deliberately engineered their presence here made everything considerably more troubling.

If Noah had genuinely orchestrated their arrival inside the dungeon, he presumably knew exactly how to get them back out too. That didn’t automatically mean he’d actually feel inclined to help, though.

Derek’s expression hardened.

"Whatever your reasoning is, you can’t honestly expect us to just stand here and play along quietly. We were in our own dormitory one second, and now we’re trapped inside some prehistoric nightmare. If you’re genuinely behind this, you owe us a real explanation."

Noah let out a small, thoughtful hum.

"An explanation? Perhaps. Though personally, I much prefer letting events speak entirely for themselves."

He leaned forward slightly, resting one hand against the thick neck of the enormous creature beneath him.

"Hope you both enjoyed the fun while it lasted, genuinely. Unfortunately, your little adventure ends right here, simply because I’ve decided it does."

Mark felt a faint chill run straight through him.

The rider’s tone hadn’t shifted at all, still carrying that same easy casualness, though the raw confidence behind his words landed unmistakably clear. He spoke as though their continued survival depended entirely on his personal approval, as though he’d already fully decided exactly how this entire encounter was going to end.

Noah reached down, patting the dinosaur’s massive head affectionately.

"Allow me to properly introduce my beloved pet summon. Name’s Terry."

The largest Tyrannosaurus rex let loose a deep, rolling growl, the rocky ground trembling faintly beneath its feet. Noah seemed thoroughly delighted by the sound, offering the creature another affectionate pat in response.

"Wonderful companion, honestly. A touch destructive, sure, but then again, nobody’s perfect. Terry genuinely loves smashing things apart, and I’d wager he’s rather thrilled about the prospect of some fresh playmates."

He gestured toward the two smaller Tyrannosaurus rex flanking their towering leader.

"These two are his brothers. Share a lot of the same interests, especially when it comes to play."

Derek stared hard at the three creatures.

"Your definition of ’play’ needs serious reworking."

Noah appeared to genuinely consider the remark.

"Perhaps. Though they seem to enjoy themselves well enough, and really, that’s ultimately what counts most, isn’t it."

"I’m starting to genuinely think this guy’s completely out of his mind," Derek muttered.

"Only just starting?" Mark whispered back.

Noah either failed to catch their exchange entirely, or simply chose to ignore it outright. He reached into the pocket of his long purple robe, withdrawing three bright green apples. Their skins carried an unusually glossy sheen, almost as though some faint magical light sat glowing just beneath the surface.

He held one up between two fingers.

"Of course, my boys deserve a little treat before the real fun kicks off properly. They’ve always had a soft spot for green apples specifically."

Mark frowned.

"Where exactly did those even come from?"

"His pocket. Obviously," Derek replied.

"I can see that part. I mean, why’s he carrying apples around out here, of all places?"

"Maybe he packed snacks specifically for the dinosaurs."

Derek paused, shooting the rider a deeply unimpressed look.

"Actually, that would honestly explain a lot."

Noah tossed the first apple toward the smaller Tyrannosaurus rex positioned on his right. The creature snapped it cleanly out of midair with surprising precision, swallowing it almost instantly.

The second apple followed right after, landing neatly in the open jaws of the dinosaur on his left.

Finally, Noah raised the third apple toward Terry.

"Now, now, don’t get jealous. Yours is coming right up."

He tossed it high into the air.

Terry lifted its enormous head, catching the fruit cleanly between its jaws. The apple vanished with a single, heavy crunch.

For a brief moment, absolutely nothing happened.

Then Mark felt the atmosphere itself shift.

A dense, suffocating surge of mana spread outward from all three dinosaurs at once, rolling out like an invisible, crushing wave. The energy disturbed the surrounding mist violently, sending it swirling and scattering wildly across the rocky ground. Both smaller Tyrannosaurus rex lowered their heads, releasing deep, guttural growls as thick muscle visibly tightened beneath their scaled hides.

Mark’s eyes went wide.

"Derek, did you feel that?"

"Yeah. Something’s definitely happening."

The first dinosaur began growing.

Its body expanded steadily, legs thickening visibly as its overall height climbed noticeably. The scales lining its neck and back hardened in real time, forming a considerably more pronounced layer of natural armor across its flesh. Its tail stretched longer and noticeably heavier, jaws broadening as fresh, surging strength flooded rapidly through its entire frame.

The second Tyrannosaurus rex underwent the exact same transformation in parallel. Its shoulders rose higher, limbs growing visibly more muscular, claws lengthening sharply against the rocky ground beneath them.

Within moments, both creatures had surged from roughly fifteen feet tall up to around twenty.

Mark instinctively stepped backward.

"Those apples just made them bigger!"

"I’m honestly more concerned they made them stronger too," Derek replied, raising his armored arms defensively as he studied the creatures closely. "Look at those scales. Considerably thicker than before."

The mana surrounding the dinosaurs kept intensifying steadily.

Their eyes began glowing with an eerie, unnatural light, roars deepening into something far more powerful and resonant. Every movement now carried noticeably greater weight, the surrounding energy making it painfully clear those apples had enhanced far more than mere physical size alone.

Then Terry began changing too.

The largest Tyrannosaurus rex rose even higher as its body expanded further, climbing from twenty feet all the way past twenty five. Its thick legs pressed down against the ground hard enough to send loose stones rolling away from its feet entirely. Its torso broadened, neck thickening with muscle, head growing even more genuinely imposing than before.

The scales covering its body hardened into a rugged, unmistakable layer of protection. Certain areas developed raised, ridged plating resembling natural armor, particularly thick along its shoulders and spine. Its eyes narrowed sharply, the glow within them sharpening into something considerably more intense and unsettling.

When Terry finally settled fully into its enhanced form, the creature looked genuinely, dramatically more dangerous than it had been only moments earlier.

It released a thunderous roar that echoed violently across the entire mountain range.

Mark felt the sound physically vibrate straight through his chest. Both smaller dinosaurs answered with their own ferocious cries, the combined chorus rolling through the fog and bouncing sharply from one rocky cliff face to the next.

Terry swung its enormous tail hard from side to side, striking the ground with enough raw force to send loose stones scattering violently in every direction. It took one heavy step forward, and the earth itself trembled visibly beneath its crushing weight.

Derek and Mark both retreated another step, visibly rattled by the full transformation.

"Okay," Derek said slowly. "I’m officially, permanently against feeding anyone’s pets ever again."

Mark kept his eyes locked on the dinosaurs.

"Pretty sure those weren’t ordinary apples."

"Really? What gave it away exactly? The part where they grew several feet taller, or the part where the big one now looks capable of flattening an entire building?"

"Honestly, both."

Penthesilea stayed completely silent throughout. Her narrowed eyes tracked every movement made by the enhanced dinosaurs, grip tightening steadily around her battle axe. Despite the creatures growing considerably more powerful, she didn’t retreat a single step. Instead, she studied their altered bodies closely, paying particular attention to the newly hardened scales and the raw energy still crackling visibly around their limbs.

She seemed to be calmly assessing the coming challenge rather than fearing it in the slightest.

Noah watched their reactions unfold with obvious, visible satisfaction.

"Wonderful, aren’t they? Little snack, little mana infusion, and suddenly everyone’s in a considerably better mood."

"Except us," Mark replied flatly.

"Oh, don’t be so selfish about it. You haven’t even started playing yet."

Derek stepped forward slightly, expression hardening considerably.

"That settles it. You’re genuinely behind this whole trap, aren’t you? Who are you really, and what exactly do you want from us?"

Noah’s smile widened visibly beneath his mask, the expression only readable through the subtle tilt of his head.

"Ah, finally! Took you long enough to ask. I do love this particular part, right when the victims finally start asking the real questions."

Mark felt his stomach tighten sharply at that one specific word.

Noah spread both arms wide, as though welcoming an eager audience to some grand theatrical performance.

"You two have arrived here to receive your proper destiny, courtesy of me personally. And I intend to make absolutely certain you both receive exactly what fate has already prepared for you."

"That’s not an actual answer," Derek said.

"Of course it isn’t. Real answers are always considerably more interesting once you’ve properly earned them."

"You’re making this needlessly complicated."

"Perhaps. Though I’m genuinely having a wonderful time regardless."

Mark studied Noah carefully. The man’s relaxed posture, strange sense of humor, and obvious, unshakable confidence made him genuinely difficult to properly read. He’d shown zero concern watching his dinosaurs transform into something considerably more monstrous, apparently fully convinced the three of them stood no real chance of escaping his control regardless.

Mark couldn’t tell whether that confidence stemmed from his own raw strength, the overwhelming power of his summons, or some hidden ability still waiting to reveal itself.

Whatever the real explanation turned out to be, the dungeon core might well represent their best shot at properly understanding exactly what was happening here.

Derek seemed to land on the exact same conclusion independently.

His eyes drifted briefly toward Noah’s neck, where something small and solid hung suspended from a chain tucked beneath the collar of his purple robe. The object resembled a compact crystal, though its interior carried a concentrated, inner glow that felt distinctly different from the surrounding ambient mana.

Derek’s attention sharpened instantly.

Could that actually be a dungeon core?

Mark turned toward Penthesilea. The Amazon had already shifted into a full battle ready stance, gaze locked firmly on Terry as the enormous Tyrannosaurus rex thundered steadily closer. Her battle axe rested easy at her si