The chill in the air deepened with every step Ethan took down the spiraling stone staircase. The musty smell of damp earth and something acrid, almost metallic, clung to the walls. The hidden dungeons beneath Blackwell Academy were a stark contrast to the gothic grandeur above, a warren of crumbling cells and forgotten chambers that seemed to whisper tales of imprisonment and dark deeds. He clutched the makeshift spellbook Eleanor had hastily compiled for him – a collection of half-understood incantations and hastily sketched diagrams. It wasn't much, but it was all he had.

He had followed Eldridge's trail – a flickering residue of arcane energy – from the history professor's now ransacked office, through a concealed passage behind a bookshelf depicting a particularly gruesome scene from the French Revolution, and down, down, down into the bowels of the academy. Each echoing footstep amplified the pounding in his chest. He wasn't a fighter. He was an artist, a student who'd accidentally stumbled into a world he didn't understand. But he couldn't let Eldridge succeed. He couldn't let the Ruby Eye unleash its power. Eleanor’s sacrifice was not going to be in vain.

The staircase opened into a vast, cavernous chamber. Torches flickered in sconces along the walls, casting dancing shadows that writhed and twisted like restless spirits. In the center of the chamber, Eldridge stood bathed in an eerie red glow, his face contorted with a manic glee that sent a shiver down Ethan’s spine. He was surrounded by a circle of glowing runes, each pulsing with power. On a pedestal before him sat the Ruby Eye, its crimson depths blazing with an unholy light.

“Ethan,” Eldridge hissed, his voice raspy and distorted. “I expected you. Eleanor, however… her interference was… regrettable. Though necessary.”

He didn't need to be a master wizard to understand that Eldridge’s mind was fractured, possibly irreparably. The obsession with resurrecting his wife, fueled by the corrupting influence of the Ruby Eye, had driven him over the edge.

“This has to stop, Eldridge,” Ethan said, trying to project an authority he didn't feel. “You can’t bring her back this way. The Ruby Eye… it’ll corrupt her, twist her into something… monstrous.”

Eldridge laughed, a chilling, hollow sound. “Corrupt? She already *is* corrupted by death! By the indignity of being stolen from me! I will restore her, Ethan. I will make her whole again.”

He raised his hands, and the runes surrounding him flared brighter. “You stand in my way. And for that, you will suffer.”

Ethan knew that talking was pointless. He had to act. He flipped through the spellbook, desperately searching for something, anything, that could help him. Most of the incantations looked like gibberish, but one caught his eye – a hastily scribbled diagram of a ward against dark magic. Eleanor had called it “A Beginner’s Bubble.” It was supposed to create a temporary shield.

“Alright, Eldridge, let’s dance,” Ethan said, trying to sound confident.

He quickly sketched the ward in the air with his finger. A shimmering, translucent bubble surrounded him, just as a bolt of green energy slammed into it. The bubble flickered, straining under the impact. The "Beginner's Bubble" wasn't going to hold for long.

Eldridge unleashed another volley of spells – crackling whips of energy, bolts of black fire, and shards of ice that screamed through the air. Ethan dodged and weaved, the bubble taking the brunt of the attack. The air crackled with arcane energy, the smell of ozone filling the dungeon.

Ethan was hopelessly outmatched. Eldridge was a professor of history, yes, but he had clearly been dabbling in the dark arts for a long time, honing his skills in secret. Ethan, on the other hand, was an art student who'd learned more about mixing paints than mixing potions.

But he had one advantage: surprise. And a desperate, improvisational spirit.

While Eldridge was busy unleashing his magical onslaught, Ethan scanned the chamber, looking for anything he could use. He spotted a pile of discarded tools near the wall – rusty shovels, picks, and hammers, left over from some long-forgotten excavation.

An idea sparked in his mind. A crazy idea, but an idea nonetheless.

As another bolt of black fire hurtled towards him, Ethan ducked behind a crumbling pillar and grabbed a shovel. He muttered a few random words from the spellbook, hoping they might have some effect – anything was worth a try. He charged towards Eldridge, not with a spell, but with a shovel.

Eldridge stared at him in disbelief. "You… you think you can defeat me with *that*?" he roared.

Ethan swung the shovel with all his might, aiming for the runes surrounding Eldridge. He didn’t know if it would work, but it was worth a shot.

The shovel connected with the rune, sending sparks flying and disrupting the flow of energy. Eldridge staggered back, momentarily disoriented. It worked!

Emboldened, Ethan continued his unconventional assault. He wielded the shovel like a crazed warrior, smashing runes, deflecting spells, and generally causing chaos. Eldridge, caught off guard by this unexpected attack, struggled to regain control.

“You insolent fool!” Eldridge shrieked, his face turning purple with rage. He focused his energy, summoning a swirling vortex of dark magic.

Ethan knew he couldn't dodge this one. He braced himself for the impact, but at the last moment, he remembered something Eleanor had taught him – a basic reflection spell. He didn’t know if he could pull it off, but he had to try.

He held up the spellbook, focusing all his will on the page with the diagram of the reflection spell. A shimmering shield appeared in front of him, deflecting the vortex back towards Eldridge.

The vortex slammed into Eldridge, sending him crashing against the wall. He lay there, stunned and disoriented, the Ruby Eye flickering ominously on its pedestal.

This was Ethan’s chance. He rushed towards the pedestal, determined to grab the Ruby Eye and end this madness. But as he reached for it, Eldridge lunged forward, grabbing his ankle.

“You won’t win!” Eldridge snarled, pulling Ethan to the ground.

Ethan scrambled to his feet, kicking and struggling to free himself. Eldridge’s grip was like iron. He could feel the corrupting influence of the Ruby Eye radiating from Eldridge’s touch, seeping into his skin.

He looked around desperately, searching for something, anything, to help him. His eyes fell on a puddle of water near his feet, reflecting the eerie red light of the Ruby Eye.

An idea struck him. He knew that water was a conductor of energy. And he knew that the Ruby Eye was a source of immense magical power.

He carefully maneuvered himself so that Eldridge’s hand was submerged in the puddle. Then, he channeled all his remaining energy into a single, desperate spell – a spell of amplification.

The puddle erupted with energy, sending a jolt of pure arcane power through Eldridge’s body. He screamed in agony, releasing Ethan’s ankle.

Ethan stumbled back, gasping for breath. Eldridge writhed on the ground, his body convulsing. The Ruby Eye glowed brighter than ever, bathing the chamber in a blinding red light.

Suddenly, Eldridge began to change. His features contorted, his body twisted and warped, his skin turned a sickly green. He was transforming into something… monstrous.

“I… I feel… power!” Eldridge roared, his voice now a guttural growl. “The Ruby Eye… it’s making me… *whole*!”

He rose to his feet, towering over Ethan. He was no longer Professor Eldridge. He was something else entirely – a grotesque parody of a human being, fueled by the dark magic of the Ruby Eye.

The duel had just begun. And now, Ethan was facing a monster. He knew that his wit and his improvisational skills would be tested as never before. Because, he would need to find a way to stop Eldridge without destroying him completely.