"Alright class, we're going to be going over multiplication tables today. Turn to page fifteen of your textbooks."

"Ugh, tables again? Isn't there a skill or something for this?"

"Are we going over dimensional calculus? How about manifold variations on the mana-sphere of the planet? We're not reviewing abstract number theory and how it relates to the elemental planes are we Mr. Stusen?"

"...no."

"Despite your inability to demonstrate it, your status says that you're reasonably intelligent. You don't gain a skill for something you should be able to do in your head. Now open your textbook and get to studying."

--Student Teaching, Lenorian Classroom. "Teaching guide to [skills]" AC 1198.

"...I think something might be wrong."

As Luna finishes pronouncing her dire statement, the boss rots away. It doesn't dissolve into motes of mana to be reabsorbed. No, it melts into a puddle that lay on the floor before us. As we watch the sludge seep into the ground, the familiar rewards pedestal begins to rise. Instead of a smooth transition upwards, it stutters and stops; as if the pillar was driven by gears that were grinding into place. On it lay another token, pristine like the first floor, but beside it? Beside it lay a chunk of rotting crab meat, festering in the water.

"I'm not eating that."

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea."

I extend a tendril of [Water Manipulation] to bring the token close. I stay back from the dissolving boss, I'd prefer not to have any of that sludge touch my shell. As I extend a claw to the token,

'ding'

Congratulations!

You have cleared the second of ten floors!

You have received the second floor token*!

*Token's allow you to return to this floor to resume your progress.

I wave the notification away as I start to think about what's happened so far. First the sphinx said that something was wrong. Now Luna thinks the [dungeon] is off as well. Not to mention the weird occurrence of a boss that wasn't supposed to be there. That's not even to mention the state it was in. And the rewards? The rewards were a joke, presented in a manner that screamed, "TRAP!!" I continue to consider the circumstances as I recover my resources. Coming to a realization, I decide then and there. I'm going to get out of this [dungeon] as soon as possible.

"Hey Luna!"

"Hmm?" She turns to face me. I could see her close to the pedestal, not touching where the puddle had vanished. Still her actions make me nervous as she seems to be trying to get a better look at the rotten meat; inching closer to do so.

"I don't know what's going on here, but I think we need to accelerate our progress. Whatever's happening with the [dungeon] might not be good for anyone living here."

"I agree. Do you think we should go back to tell Todd and the others?"

I pause, thinking about it, before replying,

"No, I think we should wait for another floor. It might just be a local problem you know? Something wrong with this area. I'd hate to get everyone's claws... err, appendages in a ruffle because of an unfounded suspicion."

Luna nodded an arm, "I agree. How about we wait for our resources to recover and then proceed onto the next floor?"

I nod and decide to pull up my status while I wait,

'Status.'

Character Screen Name: Sir Crabby McCrabbington I Age: 8 Months Level: 7 Class: Apprentice of the Coasts Race: Elemental Crab Titles: Triumvirate Unveiled, Kiss from a Crab, Luck of the Crab, Lore Contributor II, Bridge Between Health: 114/170 H-Regen: 0.17/sec Mana: 176/290 M-Regen: 0.31/sec Stamina: 148/380 S-Regen: 0.32/sec Basic Stats Strength: 15 Wisdom: 31 Vitality: 17 Intelligence: 29 Dexterity: 21 Charisma: 28 More...

I only suffered one attack in that prior fight, and my sand armor deflected some of the damage. I take a look at my claws where I blocked the hit. It seems like the reinforcement prevented any cracking so I wasn't suffering from any vitality debuff's. I think we were lucky we faced the monster we did. Even stronger and undead, we were familiar with it's tactics.

"It also helped that it was slower," I muttered.

"What's that?" Luna called.

"I said, that we were lucky with that fight we just had. It was also a big help that it was slower."

She moves closer and says, "Yeah, I think you're right. I managed to recover my legs at the hollow but I'm down five of them now. I'll need another rest to regrow them."

I assess her form. I can already see little nubs growing from where her arms broke off. I grow a little annoyed and say, "Yeah, but the limit to using your attacks is your mana right? Once that is recovered you should be okay for more exploring."

She nods an arm hesitantly, "Yeeaahh, okay. Okay, I can do that." I shuffle a bit at her nervous tone.

"Yeeaahh, okay? What does that mean exactly? If we're going to be a team I need to know what you're thinking."

She deflates a little, slumping down before saying, "It's just that, well I only have a limited number of attacks. If I use them all up, well then I'm kind of helpless. I'm too slow to dodge and I'm too squishy to take very many hits."

Her defensive tone lowers my mental claws a bit. I try to be more considerate as I say, "Yes, but that's what I'm here for. Stay back if you need to, but I don't think we can wait a day between every fight for you to be at one hundred percent. Not if we're going to figure out what's going on."

She waves an arm in acknowledgement, "Okay, we'll do that. Let me know when you've recovered. I'll just be over here."

She backs away and then falls to the floor, laying flat on the ground. She seems a little dejected but, I mean, I'm making sense right? Rewards usually come with risks and we might need to take a little risk to investigate. Putting it out of my mind for the moment, I check my skills. I've gotten several level and tier up's since the last time I looked at them.

Physical Skills Skill: Coast III Lvl: 3 Effects: Increase movement speed, relative to skill level Current Bonus: 11.5% faster movement Static Bonus: + 10% faster actions where Water & Earth meet Cost: 2 Stamina per second Lore: "I just like to [Coast]."- Government [Lackey] Skill: Slice III Lvl: 1 Effects: Increased effect of STR on edged weapons, relative to skill level Current Bonus: 10% greater cutting damage Cost: 12 Stamina per attack Lore: "Time to [Slice] & dice." - Royal Chef

[Coast] and [Slice] are now both tier three, and firmly in the double digit improvement realm. I don't bother to look at Natural Camouflage. It's still in tier one and I've had no cause to improve it's ability. I quickly test [coast] and [slice] and can feel the difference. My strikes are a little more sharp, and my movement's quicker and smoother in the water. I bring up my magic skills.

Magic Skills Skill: Mana Manipulation II Lvl: 8 Skill: Water Manipulation II Lvl: 2 Effects: Move mana, relative to skill level. Effects: Move Water, relative to skill level. Current Bonus: 6.8% faster/accurate shaping Current Bonus: 4.4% faster/accurate shaping Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed Cost: None (Passive) Cost: 1 Mana per Second Lore: "Wield the might Arcane"- Archmage Vendros Lore: "Nature is like [Water]. It takes the shape of it's container."- Sea Folk Advice Skill: Earth Manipulation II Lvl: 6 Skill: Mana Sense II Lvl: 2 Effects: Move Earth, relative to skill level. Effects: Feel the mana around you. Current Bonus: 6.4% faster/accurate shaping Current Bonus: 8.4% greater clarity Static Bonus: 5% faster train speed Static Bonus: 50% faster train speed Cost: 1 Mana per Second Cost: None (Passive) Lore: "I'm always down to [Earth]"- Elemental Saying Lore: "Begin your path to power." - Mage Guild Skill: Eyes of Intent I Lvl: 2 Skill: Sir Crabby's Story Effects: Manifest your will Effects: Channel the [AKASHA] to tell your story Current Bonus: Undefined Current Bonus: Various, dependent on [Lore] Cost: Variable Cost: Variable, user defined Lore: "My sight will end this age." - {REDACTED} Lore: "It can't be that easy." - Sir Crabby McCrabbington I.

The first thing I notice is that while [Eyes of Intent] has leveled up, there is no change to the listed effects. I guess it might just be stronger? "Manifest your will," would probably be pretty hard to quantify anyway. Maybe, "You Manifest 2% stronger?" That doesn't make sense. Heck, and [Sir Crabby's Story] doesn't even have a tier or level. It just is. Hmm, maybe the [system] has trouble with measuring them? After my review, I close the windows and climb to my feet. I ask Luna,

"Have you recovered?"

"Yep! I'm ready to go! We just need to find the exit now."

Flashing my [Mana Sense] reveals the familiar illusion blocking the exit. We pass through and discover stairs leading down. Step by step, we descend into the darkness.