Sarzina Acacia was in the middle of yet another attempt to overco her fear of unicorns when the Dungeon interrupted her. As fearing unicorns were ingrained in the elven culture the elven noblewoman saw no sha in her fear. If one unicorn could and would kill an elven queen with no warning then all unicorns were sothing worth fearing.
Yes, that particular unicorn had had a high level, so realistically not every unicorn would be that powerful, but they still had that potential for both power and sudden aggressiveness.
So naturally, being surrounded by even just two of such unpredictable beasts was terrifying.
Your linked Dungeon Core requests knowledge on the incoming mbers of The Order of The Broken Goddess.
Will you accept this request?
Yes/No
"What incoming mbers?" Zina stopped cautiously petting her chosen unicorn. Constantly staying on guard while touching a unicorn took her full attention and she didn't want to risk accidentally touching a sore spot and getting attacked.
She was pretty sure Dungeon monsters didn't get sore but part of being on guard ant taking as few risks as possible.
There was no answer from the System and the request hadn't changed or disappeared.
The Order of The Broken Goddess was the na of the cult that Hypnotized that poor stableboy wasn't it? That ans I can't just deal with it later, thinking the sapient Dungeon is joking.
Turning around she stood face to face with a second unicorn which had apparently snuck up on her while she was thinking. Seeing the monster that close to her she naturally froze. But the beast simply looked at her and when she eventually unfroze it let her walk away without a fuss.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
"Sheriff Fraxinus, I have reason to suspect that mbers of the Hypnotizing cult are approacing our location. Any new arrivals will have to be guided directly into the Dungeon and their exit blocked till any and all tirs have reached zero."
The sheriff looked surprised and worried at the new command, but he was quick to spring into action, barking orders to those of his subordinates who were nearby.
Through the way mistress Acacia had worded the command, he knew she wouldn't tell him why she suddenly suspected the cult was coming so he didn't ask.
Shortly after news of the cult had been discovered alongside the Dungeon's ability to undo Hypnosis, the dungeon mistress had implented a law that everyone had the right to accuse another of being under the effects of mind control. The accused would then be escorted into the Dungeon. If they had a tir next to their na they would be forced to stay in the Dungeon till it was finished counting down, while they could leave imdiately otherwise.
Anyone freed from mind control was required to inform both the sheriff and the dungeon mistress of all they knew of their old controller. People making false accusations for fun could be fined, while a serious but wrong accusation simply wasted a little bit of everyone's ti.
Which was naturally better than anyone having been mind controlled in the first place. Rather waste a bit of ti here and there than leave people without their free will.
Dakath Fraxinus took his job as head of security seriously.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Just as the Dungeon had said, 6 cult mbers had arrived at the still unfinished town. What the Dungeon hadn't told Zina - or maybe hadn't known - was how quickly they would arrive.
Despite having left the Dungeon as soon as possible and going straight to sheriff Fraxinus, it had only taken a couple of minutes before a pair of deputies escorted the 6 newcors into the newly built Security Guild. The building, while otherwise finished, had an incomplete prison ward underneath it - also known as 'a dungeon for living sinners' - with only two completed cells. No one had thought any more would be needed before the town grew in size. So, the work had been postponed so the construction workers could begin making residential housing now that the more important buildings were finished.
As the newcors entered the building, Zina was quick to conclude that their ager cells would be unable to hold any one of them. While she couldn't tell their exact tiers she had more than enough Awareness and experience being among people her own power level to conclude that every single one of them were around her own tier - the 6th, almost 7th - or above it.
If they're that powerful, then the Hypnotist must be among them. We have to be careful. Most people only reached the 4th tier, after all. A group of people that powerful were either professional miners, nobles, or bodyguards. And considering the Dungeon's warning, the latter seed more likely.
Zina wished she could relay that thought to Fraxinus, but as two of the 6 were beastkin - fox and mouse judging by the ears - she didn't want to risk them hearing her and getting tipped off. With them all being at her own power level or higher, there was no way she would be able to fight them off, after all. Not even with the entire town by her side.
Talking seed to be the only viable strategy, and while Zina didn't mind talking her way out of a fight, being without a plan B was frustrating.
And honestly. Kind of scary too.
"I am Sarzina Acacia and this is Sheriff Dakath Fraxinus." Normally she would have introduced herself as the local dungeon mistress - and to not do so was a bit of a faux pas as the other person now couldn't show one the respect one deserved - but knowing their goal it would only have led to them becoming hostile towards her.
The sheriff gave her a questioning look at the lack of title but said nothing.
"What brings you to our humble settlent, travelers?" The dungeon mistress continued.
"We heard rumors of a new Dungeon appearing around here and decided to stop by. Going through the sa Dungeon over and over again can get quite boring, after all!" The short mouse beastkin of the group appeared to be their leader.
He must be the Hypnotist then. If I'm right and the Hypnotist is among them, that is. Having had to keep the Dungeon's secrets secret ant she had gotten better at keeping her mouth shut while thinking. A training she was putting to good use now.
The locals tensed up as they looked warily at the newcors. While Zina was the only one who had realized just how powerful the strangers were, the fact that no introduction had happened from their side was worrying. Elves were taught that an introduction from a stranger - even if the na was obviously an alias - was a way for the stranger to say 'I an you no harm'. Likewise, no introduction ant 'I'm here to harm you'.
So, while the mouse had made no actual threat, that was what the elves heard.
"Then the Dungeon you shall visit." Zina was quick to keep the conversation going. Now if only they'll cooperate. But she knew that was likely a pipe dream. "However, our protocol states newcors must enter the Dungeon with at least two mbers of the Security Guild. And as the current maximum allowed on a Floor is 6, I'm afraid you'll have to split up or leave soone behind when you visit the Dungeon."
Where before the mouse beastkin had been watching Zina quite normally, he was now staring intensely at her. "Are you sure that's really necessary?"
Am I?
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Oh no.
Having a 7th 0%'er show up at the sa ti the Lightning Mage stopped all attempts at splitting the cult up in two groups was too much of a coincidence to be unrelated.
aning my link to the Surface World had been compromised.
Knowing that the Lightning Mage wanted to have elven guards prevent the cult mbers from exiting before their tirs were up, and predicting the cult wanted to enter as one group, ant I hadn't changed the allowed number of sapients per Floor yet. I had planned on raising the number once the two groups started to disagree on what was going to happen and letting the Lightning Mage know it was happening.
Having the number raised would an the whole group of cult mbers could enter at once, which in itself was a disadvantage for , but it would also allow any elf who wanted to guard them to do so. The elves of this town had declared blessed, after all, so they would want to protect .
But if the cult and the elves began fighting while outside my Dungeon, I wouldn't be able to help the elves and overwhelm the bad guys by double-teaming them.
Nor would I get any EXP should anyone die, but that was mostly a bonus for getting them inside my Dungeon. Survival did take priority in situations like this.
But now that plan was ruined! I didn't dare relay any ssage to the Lightning Mage in case she tried to warn the cult of my sapiency. While she wouldn't be able to actually say anything - the Rule prevented that - she could certainly hint at my secrets like she had done with the priest.
For that sa reason I decided not to lower the allowed amount of sapients either. If the whole group couldn't enter after the Lightning Mage had stated the number was 6 then they would start to ask questions that the mind controlled elf would have to answer. Which in turn would make her try to hint to my independence despite being 'tad'.
So, while I would have preferred to only have allowed the minimum of 4 in at a ti to be safe, I considered the advantage of being underestimated more important.
I only rembered after all 6 had entered my Dungeon that I had already made a Rule that would have made them forget I was sapient as long as they were inside my Dungeon.
I should have lowered the number! Arghhh!
Mlartlar [Hypnotized] [Dungeon Weakness] [7 hours, 46 minutes, 39 seconds] Hybrid between elf and beastkin - Vulpinekin Battle Commander Level 55
Reid Alvarado [Hypnotized] [Dungeon Weakness] [9 hours, 33 minutes, 19 seconds] Human Paladin Level 52
Agtius [Hypnotized] [Dungeon Weakness] [9 hours, 13 minutes, 19 seconds] Giant Axe Master Level 57
Jenna Ery [Hypnotized] [Dungeon Weakness] [9 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds] Human Elental Mage - Earthquake Level 48
Marthox [Brainwashed] [Dungeon Weakness] [3 hours, 39 minutes, 59 seconds] Beastkin - Muskin Hypnotist Level 60
Talindra Delonix-Regia [Brainwashed] [Dungeon Weakness] [6 hours, 6 minutes, 39 seconds] Elf Noble Light Hunter Level 74
Those levels are terrifying! Before this the Lightning Mage and her pet had been leagues above everyone, but compared to these people?! Those two might both be level 59, but at least there's only two of them!
And level 74?! How can I possibly compete with that? I couldn’t even defeat the Lightning Mage and her pet while I had a whole army! I might have a second Boss now but there's no way that'll be enough!
Reviews
All reviews (0)