Chapter two.

Mickey rode his electric bike homewards, privately glad he was finally getting some use out of it. He generally didn’t use it during the day since neither the streets nor the current laws were really set up to include cyclists. Mickey got the bike as a compromise between function and capacity. He simply couldn’t keep a car or motorbike in his personal dimension. Not only would they take up the majority of the weight and volume available, but the stress of holding near capacity would make him sluggish and tired.

On the way he noticed a twenty four hour service station. On an impulse he stopped in and bought a modest bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

Once home he wheeled his bike down the side of the building and spent five minutes storing it in his dimension. Inside he placed the flowers in a tall glass half filled with water. Arranging this and the chocolates next to Elly’s key he added a note which just read “for you” with a small hand-drawn heart. After crawling into bed next to his girlfriend he went to sleep.

Mickey woke to instant awareness, blinking. Elanore’s alarm was going off. Knowing that Elly was a terrible morning person Mickey got out of bed to warm the shower up and start the kettle. Coming back to the bedroom he found Elly predictably sleeping through the alarm. Mickey turned the alarm off and proceeded to poke, prod and otherwise push his girlfriend into the shower before going to finish making her morning coffee. After putting it next to her keys and flowers he promptly went back to bed. He had the day off. He roused briefly when Elly gave him a fierce coffee flavoured kiss.

“mrgglrd frospe.” He mumbled to her departing form as she left.

Mickey was roughly pulled out of sleep by a familiar sense of wrongness. Something was where it shouldn’t be. He started clumsily reaching for things that weren’t there before realizing that somebody had stepped into his dungeon.

Elsewhere, earlier.

The four teens argued, or more accurately two teens argued while another two stood off to the side and feigned disinterest. The shorter leaner teen stood his ground stubbornly.

“It’s a fucking stupid idea. Look it has fucking ‘Terrible Risk” right fucking there, written on the motherfucking wall.”

“It also has terrific rewards and I could really use a new phone mate. C’mon what's the worst that could happen.”

This came from the taller beefier teen, pale blond hair framing his face.

“It’s a trap by the ManHunter and we all get cut up into pieces and sold to the Damned Lord to be turned into Damned Soldiers in His Damned Army of the Damned.”

“One, the Manhunter is in prison. Two, there hasn't been a missing person spree or a abduction alert in years and three, if you don’t go in that just means I’ll go in alone and isn’t that so much worse?”

“Argh FINE. You’re a shitty fucking friend you know that right?”

“Pffft, whatever if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have any friends. C’mon this'll be great.”

Thus Alphonse led his reluctant friends to either fortune or doom.

Within the twisted dimension and unknowingly under the attention of Mickey they were greeted by the sight of… a cave. A cave, completely ordinary aside from being impossibly located and almost totally empty. The exceptions to this were a gently glowing gem held in a pillar with a sign reading “Touch Gem For Risks And Rewards.” and a pair of roughly varved doorways on the the other side of the room.

Without hesitation or reasonable caution Alphonse rushed over the pillar to touch the gem whilst the other three were still getting their bearings. Instantly a crest was tattooed onto his chest, marking him as a novice delver. Infront of his eye popped up a translucent screen proclaimed

[Hello there! You appear to have contracted the dungeon system. Would you like to view the tutorial now?]

"What the fuck?" Alphonse was bamboozled.

[Hello there! Welcome to the tutorial! First we’ll go over your Identity Screen.]

[NAME * Your name. You can enter your name, and change it after once and only once. It is highly recommended you use your actual name since giving yourself a name like dongmaster69 or TheTremendousDarkShadow may give you a detrimental title such as “idiot” or “Arrogant”. This is not a game. Do not treat it like one. You have been warned.*

TITLE * Your title. A title may come with advantages or disadvantages. You may acquire titles from your actions.

CONDITION * Your overall condition.

Health - Healthy * How Healthy in general you are.

Stamina - Rested * How exhausted you are.

Mana/Qi/Focus - None * Resources that various abilities or equipment need to function. You only see the resources you need so this will disappear after the tutorial.

Status - None * Are you Bleeding? Poisoned? Hasted? Strengthened ? It will get listed here.

EQUIPMENT

Worn- Shirt, pants, socks(2), underwear, shoes(2),

Held- wallet^, phone, headphones.

* This is where your equipment gets listed. Equipment is what you have. There are subsets like worn, carried, held and more.

ABILITIES

None * This is where your abilities getsgets listed. Abilities are what you can do. More is generally better, though some can have downsides or be completely negative. It’s empty because you barely started and are weak like little baby. There are subsets of abilities like skills, spells, passives and more.]

[Hello There! In this dungeon you will find various challenges and trials. They could range from running an obstacle course, to solving a puzzle, to fighting a creature. Completing These challenges may reward you with loot or skills and titles. The greater the challenge the greater the reward. By proceeding deeper into the dungeon you accept the risks in return for the potential rewards. Injury or Death may occur. You have been warned]

[Congratulations! You have earned the title achievement “To Boldly Go.” You are rewarded with the title “the Bold” Would you like to equip it?]

{To Boldly Go. You step fearlessly where others fear to tread from either caution or cowardice. Be the first to explore a region.}

{the Bold. You lack Caution and Cowardice in equal measure. Minor bonus to reaction times and initiative, minor bonus to resisting fear effects.}

“Holy fucking shit. GUYS YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THE GLOWY ORB RIGHT NOW. I GOT A FUCKING STAT SCREEN!” Alphonse screamed in excitement to his friends.

Benji looked at his best friend in confusion.

“A stat screen? What the fuck are you on about?”

“A status screen or a character sheet. Like in video games. The orb lets you level up man. fucking touch it. You’ll see.”

Mickey was elated they figured it out so fast. He was glad he ran his idea by his sister Michelle before actually doing it. His first plan was more or less to open a gym. Which would have been more limiting and have caused all sorts of problems. Seeing the bulky teen catch on validated his trust in his sister.

Seeing that his friend was fine after touching the glowing artifact of possible doom Benjamin gave it a reluctant tap. followed by the two remaining teens Dolphin and his sister Cassowary. Thus Big Al, Benji, Cassie and Donga became the first of the Brisbane delvers.

“So how do we level up exactly?” Cassie asked the group

Big Al shrugged.

“Fucked if I know. Figure we go through one of those doors and complete a challenge. Then we’ll see.”

Cassowary looked at the others.

“Well what are we waiting for? No time like the present.”

Donga held up a hand.

“Maybe we should wait and come with some more stuff. Like bandages and some kind of weapon?

“Nah mate we should go now. I got a title and an achievement for being first. We might get one for completing a challenge first too. We wanna do it before someone else comes along and beats us to it yeah? C’mon let’s Gooo!”

Alphonse boldly led his friends to the rightmost door. Cassowary immediately followed, eager to see if she could indeed level while Benji and Donga looked at each other with resignation. Before Cassie even made it to the cave door though, screams of “Rats! Motherfucking RATS!” Echoed out and the two boys lost their hesitancy and rushed to help their friend.