BOOM.

It is an understatement how loud the crash is. How the turtle dances on uneven footing caused by his own attempts to destroy the Minor Liche moments ago.

So he falls. BOOM. Like thunder exploding from the heavens to strike down the unworthy. Or the unholy. The ground quakes like never before as something “breaks” inside the world of the underground. That first layer of hell.

Human ears can’t quite hear it, but screams are heard in that layer of the Void between the dungeon and the rest of real space. Things yet to be formed wait in limbo, mourning the loss of their chance to join the living.

Because the Floor Boss might lose to mere ants… and what will become of the dungeon core if that happens? But the Kapa Boss isn’t thinking about the dungeon core or the first layer of hell, only his pain! And it is immense. He tries to swat at the thing hanging off his eye like a mote, and succeeds in-

Nothing. The System rewards him with nothing, but he feels the dull brush of the blade handle sticking out of his eye and how it moves as he presses against it carelessly.

So more screams of anguish. A pain he should be able to bear but can’t for some reason, as the primal part of his brain overreacts to losing an eye. The profuse bleeding and the nerves literally dancing on fire remind him over and over again that he is ruined and scarred! He tries to pull the small speck out as he balances himself on his arm. Rage mixes with panic as such delicate maneuvers are beyond the bulk of his hands, the immense size of his claws. But he still finds a way to latch on to it, even as his neck starts to itch, before he begins to pull-

And then his other eye goes black in a surge of hot, piercing pain that sends a shrill ear-shattering scream that shakes the underground foundation. His howls excite the denizens in the Void, who, at the very least, look forward to feasting on his soul. Suddenly without warning, he gets up and dashes in a direction he isn’t sure of, running blindly as skeletons hack at his right eye while a commander’s blade is stuck in his left. He screams and screams as he runs, unable to see, unable to think, only blundering and failing as he goes somewhere and nowhere!

Skeletal Warrior has suffered Critical Blunt Damage

Skeletal Warrior has suffered Critical Blunt Damage

Skeletal Warrior has suffered Critical Blunt Damage

Skeletal Warrior has suffered Critical Blunt Damage

Skeletal Warrior has suffered Critical Blunt Damage

5x Skeletal Warriors have returned to the Void.

Skeletons fall off him. The minor legion, unable to hold on to the rampaging kaiju of a monster, are crushed underfoot when they land. The ground quakes and threatens to give way from his panic alone, the mini layer of hell manifested by the dungeon unable to contain something so big suddenly moving so fast. He needs to find a stream. He needs to find dirt. He needs to find ANYTHING!

And while he panics and crashes through trees and bulldozes through hills, Matt watches in amazement.

The plan worked.

Greg walks up to Matt, having long since jumped from the Boss after stabbing it. There was no hope in conventionally fighting it, and while both Matt and Greg hated seeing all that EXP go to waste…. making something that big and powerful flee in panic, in rage?

Priceless.

***************

“So, how long before he circles back,” Greg asks. After some more probing, they’ve found their way up from this underground level. They had to be mindful of not getting trampled by the Kapa Boss running in literal circles for anything to help his eyes. Which was easier said than done, but it was better than the alternative-

Matt eyes the rampaging Boss and lets the vibrations of his movements rattle his bones.

“We got him pretty good, but Bosses normally heal over time.”

Greg nods, mostly because it makes sense. Otherwise, dungeon crawling would be a matter of waiting for adventurers to fail so you can steal the rewards. Which sounds easy… not that this adventure has been easy for Greg so far.

“You got everyone ready this time?” Matt asks, knowing the answer.

There were plenty of corpses, so he augmented the eight skeleton warriors lost with eight skeleton rangers. And this time, he let Greg equip the warriors to his heart’s content, crafting tower shields, long spears, and even rope for some reason. Greg even took the time to get Matt new clothes. They were wet with swamp water, and if Matt had a better sense of smell, he would be offended, but the damp black tattered cloak clung to him tightly. It made Matt feel like a wraith.

“Yes Boss!” Greg says sarcastically, and Matt smiles. It is an unnatural thing, a smiling Liche and a laughing skeleton warrior, but before them is the final challenge. A stairway that leads straight up, made of solid gray stones like the ones laid out in the dungeon proper, only guarded by a hazy unwelcoming smog.

And while Matt stands in growing anticipation, Greg sees signs that some of the Kapa actually chose to flee to the presumed surface; discarded toys and various knickknacks lay at the feet of the narrow staircase.

Seeing all this brings the massacre Greg perpetrated to the forefront of his mind. Especially now that the blood lust is gone, his mind can dwell on something besides the urging for more EXP, more Loot, more glory. Sure, he brought Matt back, but what will his life be if they survive this? His undead life? Especially now that Matt is also a skeleton, which in Greg’s mind reduces the chances that Matt can help him not be undead…

But Greg doesn’t show his discomfort. He nods at his troops to march forward; tower shields first, five in total moving in single file, followed by the rest of the skeleton warriors he hand-picked to carry steel and not basic iron. However, Greg also needs them to be pack mules, so they are also laden with miscellaneous supplies like rope. Then there are the archers who follow behind the warriors; two keep their bows at the ready, but the other six carry extra corpses. Matt enjoys that consideration.

Which leaves Greg, Matt, and Doug to bring up the rear.

“Fuck it.”