Party Chat

[Jerome Smith]: Does it always do this?

[Arcs S'tar]: Gods above, Aster, when you said he was dense, you weren't lying.

[Aster K'lon]: Give him some room for ignorance. He is, after all, freshly reincarnated.

[Thron of the Fallen Skies]: Ha! Probably a weakling yet!

[Aster K'lon]: Yes, Jerome, different dungeons will act differently. So far, we've only hit dungeons that are at the bare minimum level of existence. Here, though, they start gaining personalities. Minds of their own.

[Jerome Smith]: Interesting. Also, @Thron, I'm not weak. You'll see.

[Thron of the Fallen Skies]: What is that symbol?

[Arcs S'tar]: A reincarnator's language, perhaps.

[Jerome Smith]: Oh, I've been meaning to ask. Why do you all speak English?

[Aster K'lon]: It is believed that the process of reincarnation adjusts one's soul enough for reincarnators to understand Common. Worry not.

[Arcs S'tar]: He truly is an ignorant ass.

[Jerome Smith]: Do you want a fight?

[Arcs S'tar]: I could teach you a lesson in respect, if you'd like.

P-System Log

As funny as it is watching them bicker, I do want to get into the dungeon at some point. I wonder if there's anything I can do to motivate them...

Nah. I'll just let it play out. Looks like they're actually progressing forward through the entry room while chatting, so they are making progress of some sort, at least.

This dungeon's entry room looks nearly identical to the last one's, the sole notable difference being that this one has a distinctly blue hue to it while the [Common] one was very clearly pure white.

The sign here is different as well, not just in content but presentation. It's a physical sign, just like the one before it, and it reads:

S'ker Dungeon of Devils

With Recommended Party Level:

Adventurers of 20-30 WPA

Else their fate is to be slain

Is this whole fucking place an exercise in shitty poetry? I mean, I have to admit it's kind of a neat gimmick, but it's really odd to see.

The WPA on this is way, way higher than the 5-10 that was on the [Common] dungeon. I wonder if Jerome is going to struggle with this one. I mean, he has more people with him this time, and even though he did need a lot of help to clear the [Common] dungeon, that one was apparently anomalously over-upgraded specifically because his class was too strong for it. Maybe the combined effects of having more adventuers to even out the class rarity as well as not having the dungeon get harder abruptly will be enough for him to clear this one easily.

Or maybe he's going to need me to pull his ass out of the fire again. Who knows?

Whatever the case, we're entering the unsafe rooms now.

P-System Log [a different kind of dungeon]

This place is definitely different from the last few dungeons we've tackled. I mean, I intellectually knew that of course the [Common] Dungeon Cores wouldn't be able to match up against those that were two whole rarities higher than them, but being here is a completely different appearance. The design is different, yes, and the mana and W Inertia flows thicker here than in many places (including even other dungeons) but that's not the firs thing I noticed.

No, the big standout is the paths. I have a perception dome that can cover a room, but my perception also extends beyond that dome. I only have a vague sense of what lies beyond, and the stuff that lies beyond the first room is mostly fuzzy to my senses, but I can still see ahead to some extent.

And what I see is an actual, proper dungeon. Something that you might find in a campaign handbook, one with twists and turns and dead ends and unique rooms--it's fantastic. For the first time, I feel like a proper adventurer. Never mind my lack of adventuring gear, experience, or, uh, a body. It feels like I'm properly playing something like DnD in real life, and though I know that it's different here and that I can't act like I'm just in a game, I can't deny having a little bit of childish glee at the prospect of clearing an actual cool dungeon like this.

I mean, come to think of it, I kind of am playing a game, aren't I? I don't have absolute control over my character, but I'm basically a third person camera for Jerome. Heh.

Well, whatever. The entry room led into a hallway, one flanked by two ten-foot-tall statues tucked away into depressions carved into the walls. I can sense mana inside them, and they emit just the slightest bit of W Inertia. If those aren't traps or monsters, I will eat a hat. Like, find a hat and make a skill to allow me to eat said hat. I'll do it.

Party Chat

[Arcs S'tar]: I recognize the configuration, but it's not a repeat. Unfortunate.

[Thron of the Fallen Skies]: Mm. I have yet to hit this exact permutation either, but it does appear to be a central well type. The details will be evident once we advance further.

[Jerome Smith]: You guys hit this place up a lot?

[Thron of the Fallen Skies]: Once every few days, weakling. I would not expect one so unused to hard work as you to understand our livelihoods.

[Aster K'lon]: Do not advance forth yet. The statues are primed with an offensive skill that will trigger once you pass.

[Arcs S'tar]: I knew that.

[Jerome Smith]: Oh, thanks.

P-System Log

Livelihoods, huh? I suppose that makes sense, for adventuring to be a proper job. I didn't really think that much about it before, but the presence of a guild does mean that it's an actual thing to do for a living. I just assumed it was something people always did on the side. Dumb of me, I guess.

Aaaaaand Jerome's moving forward.

[Misty Strike] activating! [Proximity Trigger] triggered! [Ethereal Spear] cast! [Proximity Trigger] triggered! [Ethereal Spear] cast! P-System Log

No hat eating for me. Jerome just used his skill to dash past the statues, and sure enough they did have a skill embedded in them. As far as I know, Aster hasn't run this dungeon before, so I guess she just spotted it with her [Mana Sense]. Handy skill to have. I'm glad I have my own version of that, at least, since it looks like I can't unlock class-locked skills otherwise.

Anyway, it looks like that was a one-shot skill. The mana's been expended in the form of a blindingly white spear that shot straight into the wall. Both spears are long enough to run the width of the dungeon hallway, and from the feel of it they would cause damage if you ran into them sidelong, but they're fading now.

I can't believe it. Jerome actually used his brain to figure out a strat that could safely clear the trap. Is this the same Jerome Smith I was initially attached to? I have to say, almost dying did wonders for his character.

P-System Log

[Arcs S'tar]: The reincarnator can access an [Epic] skill?

[Aster K'lon]: Indeed he can.

[Thron of the Fallen Skies]: Many reincarnators can, Arcs. It is merely their gifted skill that they obtain upon reincarnation. He is unlikely to have anything impressive otherwise.

P-System Log

Okay, these guys are starting to piss me off too. I think I can see where they're coming from--if they can't tell that Jerome is godsent, then there's no way that they would know he's unique. From the way they describe it, it sounds like average reincarnators aren't really anything to write home about.

Still, they could be less assholish about it! I get that they're mad that Jerome is kind of making every faux pas imaginable, but he is a reincarnator. Even I don't know half the social shit they expect him to know! Geez, they're petty.

...maybe I'll be petty back. Nothing impressive otherwise, huh? We'll see how that goes once I get some W Inertia and some time.

Party Chat

[Jerome Smith]: Look, guys, I get that you don't like me, but can we try to work together at least?

[Thron of the Fallen Skies]: We may.

[Arcs S'tar]: Of course. We would never let something as base as dislike or irritation color our ability to adventure.

[Jerome Smith]: Okay, that's all I ask.

P-System Log These guys are assholes, man... maybe we just got off on the wrong foot. Maybe Jerome showing them up will do their problems with their egos some good? [Proximity Trigger] triggered! P-System Log Oh, the walls just opened up. Not that much, mind, but enough to let a few mobs. Skeletons, looks like. Five on either side. [Fireball] cast! [Reckless Charge] cast! P-System Log

oh damn they're actually decent at their jobs

Both of those skills just cleared five skellies apiece. The fireball barely managed to not hit any of the party members, which I have to say was a little irritating, but the fact remained that we did come out unscathed. As for the dwarf, that guy just zipped forward at like twice his normal speed and started glowing. Man took the skeletons out with a single hit each.

Party Chat [Arcs S'tar]: Let's get moving.