Mass Cleanse was a unique experience.

Once the Runner’s Sojourn had been called to arms along with the rest of Runner’s Plaza, a group of [Cleric]s had cast the spell on as many groups as they could manage with their mana. To Myles, it felt like his blood fizzed and his stomach churned as a loud belch escaped. He smelled the vaporized alcoholic composite of the cider that his system expelled and couldn’t imagine it smelling as bad as it did. Next time, it would only be the non-alcoholic variety.

Kendra was no better off, and neither said a word as they moved toward the exit of Runner’s Plaza to wait for their team. Myles already sent off the messages to his wayward members and nudged Ashra with a note to bring Topoff and Medic, so it wouldn’t be long before they were at full strength.

Standing at the grass that bordered the two regions, the pair looked on as the throng of Runners pushed into the region to prepare for battle. If it was anything like Gregor, it wasn’t going to be pretty.

Patting his pocket to reassure his symbiote, Myles turned to Kendra. “Some date.”

She grinned, already re-armored and wielding her war hammer. “I dunno, Bright Eyes. Food, music, good conversation, a murderous monster out for our blood. Seems like a good one to me even if your taste in music is self-destructive.”

He just smiled.

“King’s Guard will prove me right.”

“It might. It might.”

All around them, the chaos grew, and the sounds of battle began to break out. Unlike against Gregor, the sky remained clear and no giant figure loomed on the horizon. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a giant stag lord.

It wasn’t long before Ashra arrived carrying the slimes with her on her shoulders. The slimes wiggled a greeting before jumping onto Myles as she began speaking. “I am sorry your courtship was interrupted.”

Myles smiled. “It’s okay, Ashra.”

Kendra raised a brow. “It isn’t, but it’s a good enough reason to call it short.”

“What she said,” Myles corrected. “Did you see the others?”

“I did not.”

That seemed odd enough, but his worry abated a few moments later as Will arrived with Mitchel, Lyna, and Tail in tow.

“Sorry,” Lyna waved as they caught up. “Will was sleeping.”

“You were sleeping,” Mitchel corrected. “You weren’t waking up and had to break down your door.”

“Potato, potato.” Lyna waved the truth away like it was a lingering stench of death. “Either way, we’re here now. It’s another region guardian, right?”

Myles nodded. “The lake.”

“Same plan as against Shardking?” Mitchel asked, hefting a new shield at his side.

“Kill it before it kills us,” Myles confirmed.

“And make out with Kendra after?” Lyna grinned.

“If he’s lucky,” Kendra said.

Myles wisely said nothing about that as the group pushed into the region proper. The second the last of the group crossed the threshold, the air shimmered and a barrier came into place behind them. Though the taste of mint filled the air, the barrier was as solid as crystal as they looked out at the bowed imaging of the plaza not ten feet in the other direction as new information populated the side of Myles’s vision.

You have entered the domain of Minerva, The Placid Reflection.

Observational Traits and Skills have been suppressed to a local area.

You have left a safe area.

Runner versus Runner combat is enabled.

Few words chilled Myles as those six at the end of the message. They hadn’t been there before even if he knew that Runner’s Plaza was a safe area. They’d come and gone more than a few times, and he’d never seen them. Then again, he hadn’t left since Shardking had fallen, and the second floor was unlocked. It wasn’t hard to figure out what that meant, but Kendra translated the feeling best.

“Sket,” Kendra cursed.

“Can’t be helped,” Mitchel said, hefting his shield. “We’ve got a job to do, it’s just one more problem we have to keep an eye out for.”

Myles agreed. “Watch your back, and keep an eye on your weapons. We don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“Other than Minerva,” Lyna corrected.

“That was implied,” Kendra reminded her.

“Always better to say it out loud so we’re all on the same page.”

No one took the bait as Myles organized the team, and they began to head towards the mass of Runners. The breeze blew unopposed through the enclosed area, bending the grass and adding a soft rustling to the otherwise quiet region. From a distance, Myles could hear the waves lapping against the lake shore, and something about it made everything click into place.

“Myles,” Tail asked carefully. “Where is everyone?”

From the plaza, the sounds of battle had been clear, almost crisp as they waited for the rest of their team. Mists, they’d even seen them run into the region without issues…

Will had turned from the ground, running a hand along the wall and sighing. “Instanced maybe?”

“Instanced?” Myles asked. “Like the lower levels can be?”

Will nodded. “Minerva is probably not a combat-oriented region boss.”

“Like Wilhelm the Lost on the twentieth floor?” Myles asked, referencing the gods-awful labyrinth challenge that had the Runners of the Sixth Run lost for days.

Lyna groaned but Will nodded. “Sounds about right. The challenge was just finding Wilhelm though. It probably has a similar theme though. Think about the title, the Placid Reflection. Placid means calm, right? Maybe that’s the first hint?”

“What about the sounds we heard?” Mitchel asked.

“Dunno,” Will said. “A distraction maybe? An overlay of other combatants? Either way, we can’t afford to wait around. We should be moving towards the lake to find out what's going on.”

Myles considered that and shook his head. “Let's look around first, see if there’s another way or another team we can work with. Then we’ll decide what to do next.”

***

Over an hour later and with no others teams to be found, no one was happy with the situation. Sure a few monsters had appeared, but they’d practically run when Ashra and Kendra took point and began pulping grass knots like fruit and snapping twig guardians like kindling. Mitchel had a good laugh when Myles picked up his first life weed though.

“I told you it was a different color.”

“It all cooks the same,” Myles grumbled good-naturedly, tucking it away as a gift for Medic later. The little slime loved the bitter taste of it, and it was a healing reagent anyways.

Soon enough though, the group had come to the decision that Will’s original idea was corrected, and they were instanced. That only made things more confusing though, and with no better ideas, the group made their way to the main attraction of the region, the lake itself.

As they approached, the first signs of Runner life began to show themselves as another team approached the lake from the other side. Careful not to alert anything waiting in the water like Minerva or another rare monster, Myles raised his hand, pointed to the shore between them, and whistled. On the other side, a figure raised its hand and motioned the same way in reply.

“Well, at least we’ve got an ally,” Myles said as they began the walk to the other side. Ashra said nothing, keeping her eyes on the other party and sniffing at the air more than usual.

“Hopefully,” Kendra said warily.

“Gotta give them the chance,” Lyna added.

“No, we don’t,” Tail said.

Myles paused at the statement and considered it. Tail wasn’t wrong, but then again, if they worried about every team they came across, they’d be little more than hermits. They needed to start integrating with more teams so that they’d have allies for the raids on later floors.

“We can deal with whatever they possess,” Ashra said as the slimes purred from Myles’s shoulder.

“Do you know why the slimes are purring?” Myles asked.

Ashra shrugged. “You would have to ask Paragon. It started it.”

Myles wasn’t quite sure what to say to that and looked at their approaching group. There were seven of them now, not the six he’d originally thought. It looked like a similar composition to their group, mostly humans, a Foxkin, a dwarf maybe, and a…

“Sket,” Myles said loud enough to be heard as the Twisted Breadstick flashed into existence, and the group got close enough for even his suppressed Skills to Identify.

“What?” came the general reply.

“They aren’t Runners.”

The others looked off at the approaching group, but they didn’t question Myles as weapons and other equipments were brought to bear. The other Runners did the same as they continued their cautious approach.

Soon, everyone could see what approached.

The Rising Star saw themselves reflected in near opposite perfection.

Monster Lore Unlocked!

Reflection information obtained!

Reflection

Dungeon Creature - Elemental Changeling

Rank ? Threat Level

Best trait - Various

Preferred Method of Attack - Mimicry

Special Attack: Various

Breeding Groups: Various

Special Ability: Mimicry

Known Drops: ?

Reflections are a group of elemental changelings related to the elemental planes of water and light. This has led to groups of them being called prisms. Though their method of mimicry is not fully understood, the reflection is thought to use a combination of light and aether resonance to copy their target’s appearance and weaponry. These are not always completely accurate and sometimes represent the target more as a potential than a full reflection, making them more or less dangerous than the original.

Defeat, study, or battle Reflections to enhance your data.

A moment later, Myles braced himself against Mitchel from a stumble as a pair of razor-sharp blades ripped through his pants at the kneecap and sliced through the forehead of his and Ashra’s copies. His symbiote felt what had to be done and responded in kind.

Status Effect - Kinetic Iron Flow

Effect: Control the kinetic iron that makes up the kinetic iron slime and bend it to your will. Your cost, control, and reaction time are based on your link status.

Current Cost: SE based on complexity

Current Link Status: Exceptional

Current Control: instantaneous

“I am not dealing with this today,” Myles said as the razors retracted and he steadied himself. In a smooth motion, he raised the Twisted Breadstick and summoned three lumps of dough no larger than his fist from his storage space. “Ashra, Force Strike!”

The others spared him only a glance before Ashra pounced. Her, glowing fists sunk into the form of Will’s copy before her leg followed through and popped it like a balloon. In the next instant, the three spears of dough gleamed in the sun before suddenly crusting over and launching at the remaining members of their copy party. Three wet thunks followed, and the gaping holes left in their wake lasted only a moment before they too exploded and left the part facing down one very confused-looking, washed-out reflection of Mitchel that still held his large shield in place. His saving grace didn’t last long as the rest of the team fell on him with the skill and force of the pride of lions.

Just like that, the reflections were gone, no more than puddles on the ground as Myles looked on, satisfied at the attack. That… hadn’t taken much. He wasn’t normally on the front lines, but he didn’t even need to think about using his Skills now. Was that the difference between the novice and proficient levels? How strong were the others now?

“Damn,” Kendra whistled. “Barely got a hit in.”

Myles suddenly became sheepish for a moment, embarrassed about his loss of control. “If we didn’t, it wouldn’t have ended well. They’re called reflections and can copy our abilities.”

“Was it your issues with mimics?” Kendra pressed. “Cause if it was, and that’s what it takes to get you to fight like that, we need more mimics.”

“Did you have to say that?” Mitchel sighed, wiping a hand down his face.

Kendra winced as soon as the comment registered. “Sket.”

As the puddles of their copy group began to rise once more, her wish was granted.

***

Another hour passed, and not a piece of loot dropped.

The fact they hadn’t received a status update should have been a bonfire in the night that this wasn’t over, and after three more increasingly difficult reflection groups, things were starting to sink in.

Whatever was controlling these things, they were adapting the reflections, but the group kept fighting until something stuck.

Better put, they kept fighting until something boiled.

When the fourth fell, Lyna was cackling manically as she held her newest, cast-iron weapon high in the air, the Overlord’s Frying Pan.

Overlord’s Frying Pan

Value: Unknown

Weapon - Mace - Cooking Equipment (Rare)

Description: A frying pan made of cast iron embossed with the symbol of a dungeon guardian, the Bacon Overlord.

Detail: A cast iron frying pan set with a red crystal at the end of the handle. This reinforced frying pan can cook without a fire by pulling in ambient mana to fuel the embedded spell. As a boon from its lord, bacon and other pork cuts will never burn.

Primary Effect - Weapon: Upon striking a foe, pent of fire magic will be released upon the impact point.

Primary Effect - Cooking: By sending mana into the carved emberstone, regulate the temperature of the frying pan to cook your meals.

Secondary Effect - Cooking: Holding this charge with no food present will clean the pan after three minutes.

It wasn’t a perfect solution though. The pan drained ambient mana rapidly, and it became obvious quickly that it wasn’t meant for rapid succession strikes. It was a good thing their group had three mana users. Between strikes, Myles, Will, and Tail took turns focusing their mana into the emberstone to keep it charged after the first strike. It was great practice for their control while Ashra, Mitchel, and Kendra kept the others distracted. Strike by strike, Lyna laughed as the reflections evaporated into bursts of steam with each overcharged strike. The steam didn’t even seem to bother her as it rushed across her armor. The wet, hot air was uncomfortable for Myles, but it just was worth it when all of their foes had fallen.

Still, no message came through, and after checking his interface, the costs were starting to pile up.

Soul Energy: 110/150

Mana: 40/110

Dough: 100/150

A third of his dough was gone, over half of his mana, and nearly a third of his Soul Energy had already been spent. Topoff purred from his shoulder as he examined the second number. No one had taken a serious hit, and Medic was already bonded to Kendra. “Will, Tail, Mana?”

“Low,” Will said.

“Not much better,” Tail added.

“Preference?” he asked as Topoff bounced onto the grass.

Will looked at the Korgan, and Tail extended their unwrapped hand to the wiggling mass. It only took a moment for the slime to extend itself and slip under the cloth to bond with the Korgan and increase their mana regeneration.

“We need a break,” Myles said simply. When the others agreed, they left the lake shore and made for one of the small groves they’d cleared of twig guardians. With Mitchel and Kendra on guard, Myles sat with the rest and considered their options. “We have to be missing something.”

Will nodded in agreement. “No loot, no status updates, no phases, and the reflections keep spawning or re-spawning. I can’t really tell which. I’d say you’re right, but the question is what is it?”

Myles thought back to each of the fights and what he saw.

The reflections were slower than them, but they were getting faster with each fight. They still were always the second to draw weapons but lacked any sort of weak point other than breaking the surface tension and shattering the creature’s form. As their armor improved, it wasn’t getting any easier.

The first time, He’d nearly taken out the entire group with Ashra. Each time after, they got faster, stronger, more solid, and more willing to take a hit to keep their clones of Myles, Will, and Tail on the field. Will’s clone alone was devastating. He’d never been stopped mid-combat like that. His stomach still lurched in his chest at the thought. Kendra had taken more than a few stab wounds from Tail’s clone, and their Myles…

Reflection Myles had to be crushed each time almost immediately. They’d made the mistake once in the second battle with them and it had cost them. He was nearly sick with how the reflection had used his dough to try and suffocate Ashra and Kendra. If he hadn’t asserted his control in time or if Squishy hadn’t cut their legs out from under them…

What were they missing?

Willing the information on them back to his sight, he reviewed what his lore Skill had taught him. There had to be something they were missing.

Reflection

Dungeon Creature - Elemental Changeling

Rank ? Threat Level

Best trait - Various

Preferred Method of Attack - Mimicry

Special Attack: Various

Breeding Groups: Various

Special Ability: Mimicry

Known Drops: ?

Rereading the information, Myles nearly smacked himself.

Squishy beat him to it.

“Sket!”

The others turned, expecting an attack, but simply saw a hand slip back into the rip their attack made earlier and Myles nursing a quickly reddening blotch on his face.

“Myles, if you wanted a hand, you could have just…”

“No.” He shook off Lyna’s comment, grinning like an idiot. “I think I’ve got this.”

***

On Myles’s hunch, the group returned to the lake. Sure enough as they approached, the seven reflections of their group returned from the aether, approached from the other side, and circled to meet them just as they had the first time. This time, there was a clear difference as the two groups met.

No one had drawn their weapons.

Instead, Myles stepped forward, an action mirrored by his double, and he spoke. “We’re looking for Minerva.”

The reflection didn’t respond at first, and Myles worried his guess had been about as right as a left turn, but eventually, the double opened his mouth and tried to speak. It was a bubbled, gargled sound that came from his copy. The words were completely unintelligible to most, but Myles had a Skill to deal with that.

Aetheric Translation

Skill Type: Passive - General (Dungeon Bound Required)

Cost: 1 Mana per minute

Distance: Clear Hearing required

Success Determination: None

Effect: Using the ambient mana in your body or the area around you, the Dungeon Core Codex you are bound to will translate any and all languages within its power for you. This ability is lost if your connection to your Dungeon Core is broken.

One after another repeated the same, gargled phrase until the seven had all said their peace, spoken in the same, almost monotonous version of his friends’ voices. Then as one, the reflections bowed and vanished in a flash of light.

Looking around, Myles wasn’t sure what he’d expected to happen. It was never that easy. Then again, it was the first floor, and most, if not all, of the Runners were prepared for greater challenges at this point. Even so, Myles, Ashra, and the rest of the team waited for the other shoe to drop.

“What did they say?” Will asked.

As if on cue, the lake began to roil and wave as bubbles and a strange glow began to rise from below.

“Myles…” Tail asked. “What did they say.”

From below the surface, crystal tiles rose like a fractured rainbow as a distorted sound began to thrum through the air. Every moment, the chest-thumping noise grew louder and louder.

“What did they say?” Lyna asked excitedly as the tiles finished rising from the water, each glimmering with its own, internal light. “By the Halls, what are we in for!”

Ashra stared out over it all, covering her ears the best she could as she pointed. “There.”

In the center of it all as the platform rose from the water was a woman dressed in flowing blue robes that clung to her form in places as if it had been painted on. She moved inhumanly, flowing, swaying, and mirroring the beat as the music finally became intelligible.

It wasn’t some primal noise as Myles feared.

It was worse.

“Minerva invites us to her challenge,” Myles repeated as the weight of it all settled in.

Minerva, The Placid Reflection information obtained!

Minerva, The Placid Reflection

Dungeon Creature - Elementkin Water Siren [Dancer]

Rank C+ Threat level (Boss)

Best Trait - Dexterity

Preferred Method of Attack - None

Known Drops: Unknown

Defeat Minerva, The Placid Reflection to unlock more information.

Ashra’s dumbfounded mind nearly struck Myles like a blow. “What is this?”

“Mists below,” Myles groaned. “It’s a Skill Challenge.”

Kendra grinned, almost able to stop the laugh. “They aren’t serious.”

There was a lot to be said for the Grand Dungeon.

It had scale.

It had power.

It had grandeur.

And, apparently, no one was dumb enough to send it a cease and desist to stop it from using copywritten music.

No, it wasn’t some primal noise made by an inhuman enemy. It was far worse as the woman at the center of it all danced to Moonkin’s Reprise by King’s Guard in ways that made his Skills stand on end.

A moment later, her sultry tone echoed across the lake like an extension of the music.

”Welcome to my Skill Challenge, Runners! I am Minerva, and to claim this region, you must show me your moves! Let the rhythm flow through you and feel the flow.” With her words, six reflections rose from around her, striking a pose and mimicking her movements as though the seven were one, emphasizing each movement until she broke from the group and moved towards the Runners with a sway that would put Trosana to shame. No larger than Mitchel, the Placid Reflection extended a hand to the group waiting on the shore and smiled brightly. “Shall we dance?”

Minerva, the Placid Reflection has offered you a Skill Challenge in place of combat.

Challenge issued: Dance Off!

Challenge requirement: Defeat Minerva in a series of Dexterity-based challenges. The last one standing will be declared the winner.

Victory Condition: Have at least one member of your team outlast Minerva.

Victory Reward: Be declared owner of the lake region.

Defeat Conditions: Fail to defeat Minerva or engage in hostile activities against Minerva or her reflections.

Defeat Punishment: Exile from the lake region until ownership is settled or begin combat.

Myles tried to perk up as he looked to the others as Minerva’s eyes locked onto him and her hand waiting.

“Well? What do we say?”

“No way I could keep up.” Will sighed, sitting himself down on the warm, sandy soil. “Thirty years ago, sure, but I don’t bend that way. Go have fun.”

“I can dance,” Tail offered wryly, tail twitching with a surprising amount of excitement at the challenge. “It has been a long time, but I relish the challenge.”

“I’ve been known to cut a rug,” Mitchel grinned, putting his shield back into storage.

“I am not missing this,” Lyna cackled.

“She will fall to us,” Ashra said simply.

Kendra smiled. “Myles, I just want to say this is turning into a great first date.”

Turning back to the region’s boss, Myles smirked. “Let’s dance then.”