DAY 822
The unique design of Floor Six - with its treacherous path alongside one face of the mountain's internal canyon - had always been one of its primary strengths. The narrow route with its major climbs and jumps meant that parties were unable to bring their full strength to bear in most combat encounters, never mind the risk of falling to their deaths during one of those encounters. However, that strength also cut both ways. In a sense, Floor Six is the opposite of Floor Four when it comes to setting up a defensive battle. If the terrain forces a battle of one-on-one or two-on-two, then whoever is carrying the biggest stick is most likely to win. Given that the Domain expedition is now being led by Masters and Supremes, it's most likely that they will be the ones carrying that bigger stick.
Fortunately, the dungeon had had time to prepare and plan around this issue, and Xenia currently possesses one advantage she normally can't consider - mortal assistance.
With the Domain gearing up for their push into Floor Six, Xenia stands on one of the floor's ledges and peers into the darkness. "Fffffuck, it's driving me crazy that I can't go over there and manage this myself. Also, after spending a couple of years with the perfect perception of a dungeon core, it feels really weird not being able to see what's going on for once."
Standing by her side, Sincere gives his boss a smile. "No worries, dungeon master, that's what you have us for. I just did an inspection myself, so if you can live with getting your news second-hand for once I could give you an update?"
Xenia rolls her eyes. "I did notice you flying back over here, yeah. So how's it looking?"
"With Lollyp's help the mortal mages are doing an excellent job with reshaping the far side of the canyon. She's not at her best out there, but at her new high tier she's still a better elementalist than just about any of the mortals. Still, with enough mana potions even your basic mage can do some pretty good work, and that minotaur from the Scarlet Eagles does have some earth-shaping ability, which helps quite a bit. I suppose, if you wished to change my skillset, I could aid in the matter of building defenses myself."
The reincarnator shakes her head. "Don't want you getting distracted digging ditches, Sin-man, I'd rather have you keeping your focus on the big picture. Which brings me to point two - can we actually use anything we're building over there? It's a long ways out."
"Battle Alchemist Hansliss's night-vision potions will certainly help with the issue of the poor lighting, at least. For everything else - there's good luck charms." Sincere's smile turns wide as Xenia facepalms.
"Of course! They're out of bounds, so the luck charms will kick back in again! I'll open the stocks, but make sure they leave them over there after they're done with them, don't want them coming back and then immediately tripping on some dust and breaking their necks."
"Will do. Additionally, Grinner from the Scarlet Eagles team specializes in long-range combat, so I'm looking forward to seeing how she performs. Although to go back to what you just said - the slight matter of 'coming back'."
The topic causes Xenia to frown, as she eyes a demon flying overhead with a dwarf in hand. There's only a small number of dungeon residents who can fly, particularly considering that only dungeon guardians can fully leave the dungeon and not the basic minion monsters. 'Floor Six' does encompass a large amount of the open space around it, but it doesn't allow for its monsters to fully reach the other side. Thus, ferrying people over is a slow process limited to a handful of mortal demons, Valkyrie Brightsky, Sincere, and the few mages with barrier or air spells powerful enough to act as a short-lived bridge. Fortunately they'd had quite a bit of time to get things going, so a slow start wasn't too much of a hurdle. Afterwards, though...
"Well, if we win the fight on this floor, then it ain't an issue. We can take all the time we need to ferry people back over. Don't suppose you'd wager odds on that?"
Sincere sighs. "Given that we can't revoke Taly's status as floor guardian without resetting her into a weaker form, there's certainly a gap in the defenses there. I'm sure Sevastion will do his best, as will Trush, but Trush was plainly outmatched even when he was operating within his proper floor range. Do you plan to have mortals aid in the defense of the boss arena? At least there we can place portals for a quick evacuation."
"Yeah." Xenia nods thoughtfully. "I'm tapping the Miserables for this floor."
The declaration causes Sincere to sputter. "The Miserables? Against Supremes? And this isn't even the floor they've been training on - their experience is on Floor Ten."
"Yeah, for exhibition matches. A nice, flat arena where they can put on a show? You're right, a couple squads of Supremes there would paste them in about thirty seconds. But on this floor, where numbers will be tighter, and the arena more...interesting? I think this is the best spot for them. Of course, the idea is that everyone'll be a little ragged by time they even get to the arena, so. If shit goes really bad, I'll pull them out before they even need to fight."
"I see. Which brings us back to - assuming we don't win the fight on Floor Six, what is the plan for our ranged combatants?"
"Two options for em. I can hide some shortcut portals on this side, and if things calm down enough later, they can try to sneak back over and get back that way. Plan B, they'll have to climb down and hook up with the elementals. They can guide them back to one of the deeper floors."
"Ah yes, the elementals. It's unfortunate that I haven't had time to play a role in their current task myself. How are things going on that end?"
"That Grizza kid might be young but he's good enough at herding those nine-hundred-pound cats. It's slow going though so not really a priority to worry about right now."
Sincere nods. "A fair point. Hrmm, if there's nothing else, it looks like there's another collection of bottomless bags that need to be ferried over. I'll be certain to return before the Domain arrives, of course."
"Sure thing, get to it, fly boy." The Core Guardian chuckles at the nickname before heading off, and Xenia gives one last examination to the preparations. In particular her gaze is drawn up above to where a fury demon is setting up preparations of her own...
"What, not leading from the front, Sensationalist Thing?"
Pretty's eye twitches slightly at the address, although in the dark light of the tunnel no one would notice. "You know the layout of the floor ahead as well as I, Grenwald. Which is to say two things - one, that it is a floor exceptionally well suited to ambushes and surprises, and two, that we don't know the layout of the floor ahead."
The kobold frowns as another squad passes by. It's still almost all Masters and Supremes working on this phase of the assault, although a few lower-tier soldiers had been added in to pad out the numbers. In particular, flying scouts who might be of particular use on Floor Six had been volunteered for the assault. "You don't trust the briefing we've been given? I mean, I'll say this for that sort of floor design - it doesn't sound like the dungeon has much to work with, shit that it could change even if it wanted to. If it changes the paths a bit, where the climbs are, that ain't gonna slow us down much."
"Certainly, certainly. But, only after the dungeon pulls some horrible surprise on us that maims and massacres many of our numbers, and therefore no, I will not be leading from the front."
Tiffany rolls her eyes as she approaches the pair. "You're a real inspiration, Pretty. I can see why you got put in command of this operation. Actually, no, on second thought I'm not sure I can." She sticks her tongue out at the man before a thought occurs to her, and her eyes widen. "Wait, did you fuck someone to get put in charge of this? Who did it take? The commander? The Dragonlord?"
The thought makes the incubus laugh out loud. "Oh gods, if only! Do you have any idea how many demons have attempted to seduce the Dragonlord over the years? And none have succeeded, trust me, we would know. Anyone who managed it would likely become king or queen of our kind. But no. I have come here, of course, to seduce the dungeon."
Grenwald's eyes narrow at the taller man, and he tilts his head. "...Nah. You're lying."
"My! Is there any aspect of my leadership capabilities which you two will not be questioning today?"
The arcane demon nods along. "How many aspects can you think of? I mean, what are you actually contributing to today's mission?"
Before the incubus can respond there's a sound of magic and explosions that runs down the tunnel, coming from the direction of Floor Six. It's far more noise than would be expected from a single dungeon fight, yet there's not as much shouting or screaming as the adventurers might be used to. For his part, Pretty simply nods and utters a single word. "That."
Tiffany grimaces at that answer. "You what, just got a bunch of our people blown up out there? What just happened!?"
"I lied!" Pretty practically hops in place as his face lights up. "We are in the lead today, my stalwart companions! I discreetly had our illusionists set up some decoys for us before I came down here, and it seems they've done their job and triggered the dungeon's first ambush!"
The kobold looks up and down the tunnel in confusion. "Wait, all those people who were passing by - "
"Illusions! It is difficult to deceive a dungeon, but not impossible. Distractions and a good performance can certainly play a solid part in that, and you two have played your roles quite convincingly!"
"Because we didn't know we were playing a fucking part, you asshole!" Tiffany smacks the older demon's shoulder with one hand. "You couldn't have slipped us a message about the plan?"
"And why would I do a thing like that? I haven't lived to be however many centuries old it is that I am by being careless. Now come! Grenwald, ready your shield if you would, and Tiffany, be on the watch for projectiles? I suspect the dungeon's defenders will be quite annoyed that they haven't scored any kills just yet."
Tiffany prepares some of her defensive spells, but she doesn't look happy about it. "But just what is it we tricked them into doing out there? What are we walking into?"
Pretty grins widely as he begins to follow along behind Grenwald and his heavy armor. "I don't know! But I'm looking forward to finding out!"
From the far side of the canyon, the gnoll Grinner growls. "Faded - all of them faded, yes! Not a single body, no! Illusions!"
An orcish sniper standing nearby, Kalasha of the Valleylands army, sneers as she confirms the Horizon Hunter's analysis. "Fuck, I like it better when we're fighting idiots. I see some more coming out now, though - think they're illusions too?"
At the news the Challenger's mood shifts quickly, and the gnoll lives up to her name. "Do not know, no. But I'm looking forward to finding out..."
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