[The Barrows - Crypt

Warning: the dungeon proper operates differently than the outside world. Time passes normally, but here, time is cyclical. Once all monsters are cleared from the dungeon, the dungeon will loop back, replacing the space, and everything in it, to the way it first was. Items removed from the dungeon will reset without reclaiming the item from its new owner.]

I wave away the notification and draw my sword, ignoring the possibility of traps for the moment in favor of trying to get to Cerberus. The sounds of battle intensify, and furious growls punctuate each clash. We burst into an small, square room, where Cerberus has already torn two of the Wights to pieces, but the two that remain have inflicted several obvious gashes on his hide. Beneath him, an armless torso struggles to move, but only manages to dislodge more of its rotting body from their broken attachment points.

Cerberus tries to attack, but warily avoids the blades that fend him off. Those first two kills were clearly not free… he’s used to a stronger body. I loose my sword and easily beat aside the defensive guard of one of the Wights, while Lauren slips easily inside its effective range before deftly removing its sword arm and head.

The chattering skull falls to the ground behind her, hatred glowing in its eyes, only to be summarily crushed under Cerberus paw. He pants heavily, radiating pain and anger. “Here Cerberus, let me-”

“Do not touch me, human. You have done enough.”

“Your body will get stronger-”

“Empty words, empty lies. Do not waste your breath or my patience.”

“You know what? Let’s stop here and talk about this. Lauren, sorry, but would you mind scouting a bit?”

“No problem.” She’s gone before I look away.

I turn back to Cerberus. “Talk to me.”

“I have nothing to say-”

“Bullshit you have nothing to say. You have plenty. You think I’m weak, worthless, and stupid. You think there’s no way I, nor any of me species, can beat this thing and break out. You think that because you weren’t able to, even when you were here, fighting for your life alongside your people. You think that because you failed, nothing can succeed. And you might be right… we might be doomed. I…” I take a deep breath, but let it out wordlessly, lost in thought. “I… know we can. Humans alone? Maybe not. Carnines and humans together? Still might not be enough… but here’s the thing: it’s not just us. You and I can’t possibly be the only ones who want out of here; who want to end this vicious cycle. If we get enough things like us… enough power on our side, following one will… this is far from impossible. But, that theory is worthless if I can’t get you onboard-”

Cerberus, who had been oddly quiet during my rant, interrupts. “Why?! Why don’t you leave me to my own, let us live for a little longer, to stretch our tired souls? Have you any idea how many deaths we have known? Not even I recall. The endless torment has blurred together, and to quantify it would only make it more terrible. We… I, do not wish to fight anymore.”

“We never wanted to fight. None of us ever asked for this ‘trial’, but we have it anyway. There’s no avoiding fighting while we’re here, and if we try, we’ll only end up stuck in this place, tortured like you, your people, and everything else here. The Dwarves tried to be peaceful, to sit in their town and make a life here, and they were destroyed. The administrator won’t tolerate peace. It has always been your burden to carry the will and fate of your people… why would you lay that down now?”

“I have NOT. Relinquished. That burden. I must do what is best-”

“Which is freeing them.”

“They cannot be freed. This place is eternal.”

“You were bound by the system when you tried this. I am not. You, should our bond deepen enough to allow it, will also avoid the chains of the system. The game is rigged against us, and we’re doomed to lose if we play it as intended, but we don’t have to. I’m offering you a real chance to beat this, something the system doesn’t know about, but I need proof that you’re committed. The ties that bind us will be that proof.”

Cerberus does not reply for a while. I approach him after several minutes of silence, and though he regards me warily, he does not move away or bare his teeth. I place my hand on his back, eliciting a shiver of discomfort from the small horse sized animal. I quickly mend his wounds, pulling his thick hide back into one complete piece.

“Come on, let’s catch up with Lauren.” I start to walk down the hall, and, after a moment or two of silence, heavy footsteps follow behind me. I check my status, just for a moment, and the result brings a small smile to my face.

[Dominations - 100% Cathid; 6% Cerberus]

I hear movement up ahead, which is how I know it isn’t Lauren. I approach a ‘T’ intersection, with noise very close on the left, and a faint shuffling on the right. I hazard a peak left only to find a Wight’s soulless eyes staring back into mine. I pull my head back immediately as it raises its sword to strike, but catch a glimpse of a flash behind it, and the sound of clattering bones follows my retreat.

“You didn’t think I’d let it get you, did you?” Lauren saunters around the corner, cheeky smile prominently displayed.”

“I don’t know why I ever worried.” I reply, a touch of sarcasm lacing my voice.

“Hmph.” She flicks her hips and turns her back to me. “That way there’re two rooms, one with a few enemies, a weird pile of goop, and some interesting looking containers, and the other doesn’t have anything trying to kill us in it, probably, but it has some shitty stones with shitty writing I can’t read on them. I didn’t get a chance to check out the other side yet.”

“Mmm… well, neither of those sound like a queen’s chambers, but I’d rather clear the dead end so we don’t have to worry about surprise flanking.”

We head left at the intersection, and hang left again at the next one. As Laure said, a pile of sludge occupies the center of the room, and two undead stand perfectly still behind it. Maybe it’s a trap of some kind? I step forward, sword held low and ready, while Lauren and Cerberus stick to either side of me, if a little further back. The Wights lurch into motion, ambling directly towards us and, coincidentally, into the grime. They make it no more than two steps before their legs start breaking apart, causing them to fall into the mess while they continue to claw towards us. In a matter of ten seconds at a max, all motion has stopped, save a few disturbing bubbles from the grime.

Oddly, the puddle seems to have increased in size, as I look down to find it less than a foot from my shoe. I back up several steps, almost bumping into Lauren, only to have the puddle slowly close the gap.

“It’s alive. The thing is alive. Lauren? Stab it with fire.”

“Gladly.” She darts forward and stabs into the flowing gunk with one of her daggers, passing easily through it and sending a nice stream of fire out on her withdraw. The ooze parts around the flame, and it quickly extinguishes. I frown, tightening my grip on my sword, and channel my Energy into it. The temperature drops, and I swing hard at a deeper part of the ooze. It doesn’t quite splash out of the way, but it’s reminiscent of hitting the water elementals earlier. How is it alive? I tear my sword back out, taking a chunk of frozen shit with it, and turn, swinging at a nearby wall and shattering the foul liquid.

The sentient sludge seems to pause at this, but ultimately flows back into the spot and continues to inch ever closer to us.