The march toward power doesn’t slow. If anything, it accelerates.
The next anomaly? Disappointing.
A lake. Massive mutated fish with stumpy disgusting legs. That was weird.
At first, I thought we’d have to fight in the water—a logistical nightmare. But then the damn things scurried out on their grotesque limbs, gills flaring, spitting jets of water. Their attacks weren’t dangerous unless your Constitution was below 30, aning our weakest fighters could tank the hits.
It was barely a fight.
By the ti the last fish flopped lifeless onto the shore, most of our fighters had gained at least one level, and our elites each walked away with two. We looted the bodies, collecting fish at, coins, and a few shards. Not a bad haul, but not enough.
We move on.
As we push toward the next anomaly, I catch sothing on the map—a dungeon entrance, not far off.
At first, it was just a curiosity. Then I see the level. 24.
The sa level as the dungeon Mischief and I had cleared alone.
I stop. This… this was worth a detour.
Ellison catches up beside , already shaking his head. “I’m not sure, Layton. The last ti you entered a dungeon like this, it took you five days to complete.”
I et his eyes. “And the last ti, I was weaker.”
Ellison scratches the base of his antlers. “We don’t have five days to spare.”
“We won’t need five days.” I turn back to the entrance, a shimr barely visible against the landscape. “We could’ve cleared the last dungeon way faster if we’d been at this level. With evolved classes? We’d have done it in a day. If we take a small team of elites, we finish before nightfall.”
I could see the hesitation in his face, but I pressed forward.
“You’re not gonna be idle, either. While I clear this with the elites, you take the rest of our fighters to the next challenge.”
Placing my hand on Ellisons shoulder I try to be convincing.
“Elise is close to evolving her class. If you find a manageable dungeon or anomaly, she could hit the next tier. Sa with Daevon—if he unlocks a barrier spell, we’re that much stronger.”
Ellison stares at for a long mont. Then, he smiles.
“When I first t you, I wondered how you gained strength so fast,” he says, almost amused. “The more I see, the clearer it becos. You don’t stop.”
I shrug. “Strength is safety.”
Ellison studies for another second. Then nods. “Alright. Face your dungeon. We’ll et at the anomaly when you’re done.”
I turn to the others. “Mischief, Nick, Daevon, Durkil, Alex. You’re with . Let’s get to work.”
-
Nick, Daevon, Durkil, Alex, and Mischief stay with while the rest of our fighters head off for another challenge.
“Mischief, I can’t speak directly to Durkil or Daevon—will you translate for using telepathy?”
Since gaining Gift of Tongues, Mischief has been able to understand all spoken languages. When his telepathy evolved, the skill adapted—allowing him to communicate in those languages, too. He nods at my request.
I take a deep breath. “Alright, listen up. We’re on a ti crunch, but that doesn’t an we get reckless. My barriers are stronger now—I can sense when they’re breaking down—but they’re not foolproof. Do not rely on my protection. Fight like it doesn’t exist.
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“This dungeon is above your level, which ans two things: First, we’ll need to play it smart. Second, you’re going to gain levels fast. Take advantage of that. Push yourself. If you hesitate, you lose.”
I scan their faces. They’re tense, but determined.
“Everyone ready?”
Nods all around.
We step through the portal.
-
Like before, the world shifts.
We step into a pocket dinsion—another distorted echo of our world. The forest is still here, but the trees have been cleared in places, making way for a small village in the distance. Another lived-in dungeon.
I was starting to get a bit of a sense of what to expect. Sohow other factions were placed into our world from others throughout the universe. Why? I was still piecing that together. But none had been idle upon arrival.
They built and cultivated the dungeon. Another big why? Especially if this was just a pocket dinsion? Maybe if they defended enough challengers they earned their freedom? I hoped in ti the pieces would continue to co together.
I signal the group to take cover imdiately. I learned my lesson last ti—I won’t be caught off guard again. I had already covered everyone in a barrier before we even entered and then again once we appeared on the other side for good asure.
[System Notification:
You have entered a Level 24 Dungeon.
Objective: Eliminate Dungeon Occupants.
Warning: The defending faction has multiple success conditions, including capture and enslavent as an acceptable completion scenario.]
I freeze rereading the notification.
The hell does that an?
I turn to Mischief explaining the notification. “Can you ask Durkil—what kind of sick system ssage is this?”
Mischief is silent for a mont as he relays my words. Durkil responds.
Then Mischief relays his answer. “According to Durkil, slavery is a common practice among certain factions. So dungeons capture enemies rather than killing them outright. He’s surprised your world doesn’t have slavery.”
I scratch my head awkwardly. “Oh, we had slavery. We definitely had slavery. We just weren’t fans.”
Durkil shrugs, uninterested.
I shake my head. Great. So that ans the system recognizes capture as a valid win condition. That…is such bullshit!
The implications setting in. How was that fair? Every objective I had ever gotten was kill, kill, kill. I could’ve been enslaving factions this whole ti?
Ok not that I would do that. I an if this was an option that ant there COULD be other options besides killing.
Then why the hell hadn’t I gotten any? The more I thought about it the more annoyed I beca. Choosing to ignore it for now I vowed to learn more from Ellison later.
Moving on from my frustrations I begin to form a plan of attack.
I turn to Mischief. “I don’t want to go in blind.”
“Would you be able to scout ahead—see what we’re dealing with?”
Mischief gives a look. “I thought you didn’t like slaves?” Then, before I can respond, he vanishes into the shadows.
I blink. That cat is really starting to get sassy with . Honestly? I love it.
Alex shudders beside . “That is so freaky.”
“Huh?”
He gestures toward where Mischief disappeared. “Watching him just fade away like that. I tried to track him, but between his speed and stealth, he’s like… a living shadow. It’s terrifying.”
I smirk. “Yeah, but at least he’s our living shadow.”
Alex pales a little. “Yeah. Except he did tell he would bite off my arm.”
“He didn’t though.” I say reassuring. It doesn’t seem to help.
We wait in silence. It doesn’t take long.
A mont later, Mischief reappears—right next to .
Everyone jumps.
“Holy shit, Mischief,” I say, clutching my chest. “Give a guy a warning.”
He doesn’t even look sorry. “I could have.”
I roll my eyes. “What did you find?”
Mischief sits, tail flicking lazily. “There are over a hundred enemies. So are ard with spears, but most are spellcasters. They’re divided into four separate camps, far enough apart that we can take them on individually without alerting the others.”
A hundred enemies. Mostly casters. That’s new.
My barriers can absorb a lot of physical damage, but I haven’t tested them much against magic attacks.
I rest my chin on a fist. “Okay. Anything else?”
Mischief’s tail stills.
“Yes. There is a central camp. A large group of humans are being kept in chains.”
I stiffen.
“Humans?” I echo. “You’re sure?”
He cocks his head. “Well they are either humans or they just look exactly like humans.”
My jaw clenches.
The system warning flashes in my mind. Capture and enslavent.
Sobody already lost to this dungeon. That changes things.
I turn to Mischief. “Can you translate one more ti to the Guildians?”
Explaining the situation to Alex and Nick--Mischief relays my words, his eyes watching carefully.
The others react with mixed expressions—Durkil and Daevon are indifferent. Alex’s hands tighten into fists. Nick just shakes his head.
I take a deep breath. “Our priority hasn’t changed—we clear this dungeon. But if we can free those people, we do it.”
I glance at the village. I can’t tell what kind of condition those prisoners are in. Can’t tell if they’re still themselves or just another part of the system’s twisted rules.
But I know one thing for certain, it won’t be hard to put down the inhabitants of this dungeon.
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