Edited by: God

Two monsters attacked from both sides at once, and both of them were impaled by sickle-like limbs that grew from my shoulders. I looked over chamber covered in blood and bodies – my work here was done.

You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Warrior Level 15]You have obtained [140] exp + [70] exp

You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Warrior Level 15]You have obtained [140] exp + [70] exp

You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Scout Level 11]You have obtained [110] exp + [55] exp

You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Warrior Level 15]You have obtained [140] exp + [70] exp

…

…

Wall of notification that I quickly ignored. One dead monster, two dead monster, three dead monsters… four… 11 warriors and 12 scouts. Bastards scratched me here and there… I think I pulled my muscle too.

Screw this, I will have some more time to complain as I would find Gisele. Map-mind!

Once again I looked at hologram-like vision inside my head. Gisele moved deeper into the dungeon, at the same time I moved through three chambers she overcame distance five times greater. Can’t be surprised here, in the end, she hates idle actions. I would hate telling that to her, but she is rather hopeless in dungeon evaluating. Our job is supposed to be moving slowly through the floors, finding all possible traps and monsters… But no - she just rushes to the boss chamber. But fear not, eventually she will have to wait for me, mostly because she is carrying camp equipment in her bag…

… And I carry most of the food in mine. There was no way I would allow my hot-blooded lizard carry most important things, would I? Sorry, I do love her, but there is no way I won’t let myself have something to… control her…. Damn it, it made me sound like a villain, and the only thing I want to do is to keep both of us safe.

I dived deeper into the dungeon. Unlike in newbie dungeon here, most of corridors and rooms were empty, you think it was a good thing? More time to rest? No. It is far worse than you can be expecting! Normally you could try finding a pattern which room was safe and which didn’t. Here you were wondering if behind a rock there wasn’t a monster trying to ambush you… Or if the very rock wasn’t a monster in the first place! You were walking tensely all this time, and when you would start relaxing… Bam! An attack.

A mucus felt from the ceiling on my shoulder. Great. Please don’t be another bug monster. Please don’t be some disgusting creature that I won’t even want to touch. I raised my head and looked up.

The whole ceiling was covered in green and grey eggs, looking as if they were made of partly decayed flesh… No, wait. It actually was flesh!

[Nest of Meat-weavers] Level1Hp[50/50]SpNASkillsHeat-sensing [Passive] [Level NA}Nest build by Meat-weaver Worker. Queen is laying eggs which are being transported by Workers around dungeon.

In those, hatchlings are maturing and waiting for adventurers to come by.

[Meat-weaver Hatchling]Level3Hp[75/75]Sp[30/30SkillsVenomous Bite [Active] [Level 3]Hatchling of Meat-weaver. Far from reaching its adult form.

They are pretty much weak, but overwhelming in numbers.

A few creatures that looked like a chimera of spider and ant left its fleshy home. And just like the others monsters I found here - their limbs looked sharp

Tank-beasts to exhaust you, pack beasts to cripple and bleed you and now that. The swarm that will try to eat you to the bones. I looked at the number of beasts that left each of the eggs and quickly multiplied it by the number of nests. The number I got was: a lot. Getting into this dungeon without a mage or LOTS of explosives was a suicide.

Yet this time I didn’t intend to break a sweat.

- “Answer my call, spirits of the blaze…”

Other eggs started opening. The mana rushed through my veins as the air kept getting warmer. This time, my sweet little monsters, I intended of finishing it with one move.

Scratching sound was becoming louder and louder as tiny razors were forcing lairs open. Monsters were falling from the ceiling all around me. Few of them already started climbing up my leg, one landed on my shoulder and almost dug its fangs into me. But it didn’t matter. My spell was already ready.

Gisele’s POV

Zari said beasts should be big and slow. Big-and slow my ass! Yeah, it started out nicely! Tanky beasts that I cut in half with two swings! But WHAT THE FUCK WERE THESE EGGS?!

- “LEAVE ME ALOOONE! YOU FUCKEEEERS!” I yelled still running away.

I could deal with big monsters. I could deal with smaller monsters. But how the hell was I supposed to kill hundreds of tiny bugs in same time!? I looked back once again. It was a mistake.

Floor, walls and ceiling, all were covered in the mass of moving exoskeletons. Very hungry moving exoskeletons! Where is Zari!? Where is he and his magic as he is truly needed!? I had some explosives, but these were supposed to be used to crack one or two walls if we would get trapped, it definitely wasn’t enough to get rid of these bastards! Ten of them? Maybe. Twenty? If I was lucky! I looked back one more time

There were definitely more than twenty of them!

I passed to another chamber. Few small, toothy, blind dog-like beasts with enormous ears looked at me. This was my chance! I run to one of these monsters and kicked it in direction of approaching mass then I resumed my brave act of running away. In no time I heard pained yapping of creature I kicked as it was being devoured. Rest of monster raised on its lower limbs and let out a screech.

Were they crying because they saw their colleague being killed? That’s so sad! Sorry, friends, it is either you or me here!

Then I felt something. The ground trembled a little- from opposite direction something was coming.

No! NO! Not from both sides at the same time! I raised my sword waiting for the enemy that was about to jump from behind a corridor. Group of horse sized beasts, looking similar to those from chamber behind me, rushed in my direction… But it didn’t look as if they were after me. Mass of insects once again became visible behind my back.

I cursed and waited. The first beast ran past me. Second too, and third. They jumped into the swarm and started crushing and biting spiders. Each of them managed to kill four or five before they got covered in countless beasts.

How did it Zariel said once? Some of you may die, but this is a sacrifice I am willing to make? His words finally started making a sense to me! Indeed, they could reduce the swarm a little, but I was hoping that they would slow it down in the first place, or even satisfy their hunger! For now… better not to stay here!

I resumed my voyage deeper into dungeon past chambers and corridors, ignoring few tank-rock beasts that raised from the ground to attack me. I jumped over one of them, climbed on the pillar from which I jumped through the small hollow in the wall. I stopped there to catch a breath.

What a crazy dungeon! It wouldn’t be THAT challenging if I would have waited for Zari, listen to his strategy and… Damn. There is no way he won’t complain. And he will be right. UUUH! I hate when he gives lessons! “See Gisele? I told you! We should come up with some plan beforehand! But NOOO, reconnaissance by fire! Told you It would be this way…”! This is what awaits me. Ten hours of being forced to listen to Zari’s wisdom!

And then it happened. My stomach growled. I should have eaten something before coming here. Quickly checking my bag I discovered only a few dry rations. Most of the food was with Zari… There is no way he didn’t do that on purpose! Another reason to find him! Then we would… Wait. What was that sound? I looked up just to find out I am in next chamber filled with eggs.

- “… Just give me a break!” I groaned.

Zari’s POV

In the end, I walked in the circle. Set of chambers was connected making me re-enter the same chamber I was dumped in, yet, from this perspective, I saw another corridor that up until now was hidden. I actually liked the fact that it turned out this way. You know, in the end, I am a former gamer, and gamer never leaves any part of dungeon undiscovered.

Traveling through the newly found tunnel I reach the crossroad. Where now? Left or right? I should join with Gis first - so, let’s check where is she… MAP-MIND!

Oh, she is getting closer! She is walking my direction… No, wait, she is moving way too fast for peaceful walking.

- “JUST LEEEAVE ME ALOOOON YOU FUCKING BUGS!!” I heard her scream from the left.

I exhaled air rapidly. Once again I started the chant. Tongues of flames started dancing between my palms. Gisele jumped from behind a corner and looked at me. She needed a second or two before she would recognize me, mostly because I was partly morphed, but white hairs, twin colored eyes lit up by fire between my hands made her cheerful as she ran past me.

- “KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE BEFORE THEY LAY, EVEN MORE, EGGS!” she yelled hiding behind me.

I covered corridor in raging inferno

You have slain [Meat Weaver - Hatchling Level 2]You have obtained [16] exp + [8] exp

You have slain [Meat Weaver - Hatchling Level 2]You have obtained [16] exp + [8] exp

You have slain [Meat Weaver - Hatchling Level 2]You have obtained [16] exp + [8] exp

You have slain [Meat Weaver - Hatchling Level 2]You have obtained [16] exp + [8] exp

You have slain [Meat Weaver - Hatchling Level 2]You have obtained [16] exp + [8] exp

Skip, Skip… mark all as read

Indeed, sucks to be melee here. Gisele kept panting behind me as she looked at me. I saw both anger and gratitude in her eyes.

- “…Zari…thank you… YOU BASTARD! YOU SAID THAT MONSTERS HERE WILL BE BIG AND SLOW!... damn, that magic of yours is surely useful… WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME!?... thanks for saving my ass tho… AND GIVE ME SOME OF FOOD SUPLIES!”

- “What a rollercoaster of emotions!”

- “What is rollercoaster?”

- “Doesn’t matter. And: who jumped unprepared into unknown dungeon… again?”

- “…me?” she asked lowering her head

- “And who kept rushing across the dungeon like a mad man getting attention of every beast around?”

- “…. How do you know about it?” she raised her brow

Oh, I just have ability to locate all of my party member inside mapping skills that appears in my mind. Nope. I prefer not speaking about all of my skill PLUS she wouldn’t understand a single word.

I can locate you whenever I want? Nope, that would sound as if I am spying on her… which wouldn’t be a complete lie…

- “Oh, I bluffed. By now you told me I was right.”

A light punch in the shoulder.

- “Bastard!” she pouted. “…Also, I hate bugs. Especially those small one. How am I supposed to kill them? They come from all direction at once!”

I took some time to look at her from all direction appraising her, just to see if she wasn’t bitten. Her stamina was bit exhausted, by she didn’t suffer any wounds. Thanks the goddesses! Up until now I didn’t realize it could be THIS dangerous. Not for Gis.

“Are you alright, sweetie? Something hurts you? Need a break?” I asked with far weaker tone than I wanted. “N-no. I am fine. You know, I am touch-one!” She said after a moment, still surprised with my question

- “You are not supposed to charge in alone!” Ok, if she is fine it means she is ready for my scolding-lesson! “Dungeons are places for teams. Warriors take down tanky monsters, rogues fast and ambush-type. Mages are taking down special beasts and fill gaps in party defense. And yes, we count swarm as special type.”

- “… But there were supposed to be only big and dumb here.” She puffed her cheeks. Again.

- “This dungeon is weird. Corrupted somehow. Crazy. 1st floor is supposed to be a training ground – it tells you what you can expect. Difficulty level keeps growing and so does treasures. Have you seen any treasure chests?”

- “…Nope?”

- “Exactly. Dungeons usually are not trying to kill you, not from the start at least. But not this one. It’s a trap-dungeon… Or so I think. Can’t tell anything more until I would see a dungeon’s heart…”

Heart of the dungeon… crystal possessing dungeon’s mind. As I read from books, it has very similar structure as communications stones… What if it possess something like Dungeons DNA? Can I eat it? Or use it as piece of jewelry? Forge it into ring or necklace that would boost by magical abilities? Or use it to studies about communication? Hehehe… Thehehehe…THAHAHAHAHA! MUAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HA!

- “Zari, why are you are drooling?”

- “I am most certainly NOT doing that!” I said wiping corner of my mouth with sleeve. Damn it, I actually did a little.

- “Still, dungeons hearts are hidden deeply and heavily protected. Sometimes even cursed. In the end they don’t mind getting people inside, but if they would went too deep…”

Yeah, I heard the stories. Stories about great adventurers trying to capture hearts of medium-rank dungeons. Within secret chambers hidden behind puzzle doors they witnessed hell itself. Beasts being born in the thin air, tunnels shifting as they were crossing through them.

After getting rid of intruders the dungeon would fall asleep, like a sick body in fever - meaning that even these have limits of powers, and for abusing them they had to pay a price. Still, this guy is not playing fair and I most likely want to have a talk with it.

- “I know, love…”

- “Also, guild pays a lot for scouting down a dungeon… but they pay nothing for destroying it!”

- “If we would find it too difficult and dangerous, we have moral responsibility to get rid of it…”

- “Zari, many things can be said about you, but being moral is not one of them.”

- “Soooo? You don’t want to visit our host?”

- “I didn’t say that.” She replied after a moment “…So, you want to explore some more of dungeon? In that case less talking and more killing!... But I am leaving bugs to you!”

I just shrug my arms. She needs to have last word. To feel in charge. Her desire of being viewed as the one in charge can be both charming… and extremely annoying.

Gisele readied her sword, I get rid of ashes from my fingertips, we double checked if our bags are secured before venturing deeper into cave.

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Chapter RSS About the author 2 Fictions 0 Posts 0 Threads Anuel Follow Author Saturday, December 16, 2017 11:12:13 PM

Bio: Some people want me to write with Style, some people want me to write with Passion, some people wish to see me using logic, yet I... I find madness to be much more alluring.

Srsl tho, I am kinda crazy, ya know?

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