Chapter 3, Entranced entrapment

When we don’t receive the notification stating that we have entered an active dungeon my party draws comfort in the knowledge that the dungeon has indeed been, and still is, inactive. I don’t really understand their reason for taking comfort in the lack of a notification. They might see it as a confirmation of our information being valid but this makes even less sense since we don’t know anything else of note. Not even the name of the dungeon according to Julie.

I’m not about to start questioning my party’s lack of fear in the face of the unknown when we already made it this far. Following in the back of the group I study the smooth cave walls for anything of note. The only thing I see is a 5 centimeter wide spider sitting in its web strung between two stalactites and I identify it for lack of anything else to look at.

[Fly Trapper Spider - Level 1]

Nothing else of interest shows itself until we reach the cave's end. The cave smells damp and dank while the rock beneath my feet feels slick with moisture. A few sorry looking blades of grass and small sections of moss grow in the corners where dirt must have collected over the years.

A stark contrast to the boringly smooth cave wall is suddenly cast into relief by Julie’s light, the 4 meters tall and 3 meters wide rectangular frame of gold inlaid lapis lazuli very difficult to miss. Each of its corners strengthened by viridian metal fastenings holding the giant entryway’s frame against the wall at the slanting angle of a few degrees facing down towards us.

We all gaze at what is undeniably a very grand door frame for a few moments before Howard takes point on Julie's prodding and all of us follow, stepping through the entrance with me trailing last in line.

We all marvel at the ancient but still defined architecture. Standing on the sleek white marble flooring I run a hand over the smooth, lapis lazuli speckled dark granite walls. Studying the snaking bands of thick viridian metallic alloy I try to understand the engraved intricate archaic designs that make their way across the walls and into every corner in beautiful organic patterns. They’re like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

We’re all speechless for quite a while. The truly ancient dungeons are known to be beautiful more often than not but seeing this must be something new to all of us. This being my first delve into a dungeon, I have no reference, but I can still tell by the others awestruck expressions that this isn’t the usual sight adventurers are greeted by.

Barhald behaves like an excited child and Julie has to call him back before he gets lost running around while uttering exclamations of “superior dungeon design patterns” and “unknown mana enriched alloys”.

Going through the spacious corridor set on the other end of the chamber we soon reach the second chamber of the first floor. It’s a gorgeous sight as we’re greeted by the addition of rubies encrusted into the azure speckled dark walls, glittering and scattering Julie's magical light in dancing, hypnotic patterns.

The gems are pretty but I don’t really feel the need to study them closer. They’re obviously valuable but what if there’s even more valuable stuff further in? There’s no need to stay here is there?

“Come on, let’s head deeper in.”

Julie’s command couldn’t have come sooner and I’m honestly glad to hear her voice. Had I ever doubted her leadership?

I feel no reluctance in following the narrowly focused commands from Julie as we pass through multiple chambers without even checking the corridors branching off the straight, ruby filled path. We’re practically running but I’m sure we can move a little faster, no need to waste time on unimportant exploration after all.

Are those rubies glowing and moving in the darkness behind us? That’s odd. It’s probably only a trick of the magical light construct, no need to investigate it any further. I’m sure Julie knows what she’s doing as I can practically smell the treasure we’re moving towards. It might even hold the answer to getting my arcane class! This is just perfect.

Running out of the antechamber leading into the chamber of the 1st floor guardian we all come to an abrupt halt. I’m here already? I was looking for something but this isn’t it. My hazy mind slowly clears up only to be saturated with horror at the realization of where I am and how I’d gotten here.

Ahead of us in the massive chamber there’s enormous ruby crystal growths. They sprout from the ceiling, walls and floor in a chaotic mess. Their edges wickedly sharp and with cores undulating in a wavering crimson glow.

We all share a few tense seconds taking in the bizarre sight with renewed mental clarity before anyone notices the piles of bones, covered with yet more crystalline growth. After noticing the thinly masked graveyard I look towards Julie. She’s growing paler and paler with each movement of her eyes.

Barhald simply stares before he sighs and says his piece.

“Well, fuck.”

The chamber rumbles.

Almost losing my footing as the monstrosity of a creature lands at the other end of the chamber I scramble to steady myself against the wall before studying what’s in front of us. It is a huge black bat with rubies for eyes, talons and fangs. It hunches at a height of 3 meters and lets out a screech matching its size in volume. It stares us down with a hypnotic, twirling, ruby red gaze as less securely fastened crystals rain down around it, shaken loose by its landing and subsequent sonic attack.

I don’t hear what the others are shouting over the high pitched noise, amplified by oscillating crystals, but I retain the presence of mind to throw [Identify] the monster's way.

[Ruby Trance Bat Queen - ??]

Ding! General skill [Identify] has leveled from [5] to [6].

I would have cheered at the level up for [Identify] if I wasn’t preoccupied with listening intently with my still ringing ears. With the Bat Queen finally shutting up there’s only the oscillating crystals and the panicking voices of my party to contend with what else my ears are picking up behind us.

I spin on my heels in horror as I recognize the noise coming from our path of retreat, trying to count their numbers while rapidly inspecting individuals of the massive swarm heading our way doesn’t get my hopes up.

[Ruby Trance Bat - Level 6]

[Ruby Trance Bat - ?]

[Ruby Trance Bat - ?]

“Hey guys-”

I start only to be spoken over by Ormar who continues to loudly argue with Julie over how we got here.

“GUYS! Behind us!”

This time my voice is loud enough that both Mister Mason and Jake turn my way. With their attention I simply point behind us at the way we came through and both of their faces drain of color.

It might have been the end for me if someone other than Mister Mason turned my way. With barely seconds to act he pulls violently on his mana reserves, quickly raising the marble flooring into a half meter thick barrier covering the entrance and our escape path with a mighty crash.

The clash of marble and granite finally gets the attention of the rest of the group. Jake has already unslung his bow and Mister Mason is on his knees wheezing from the effort of moving solid rock to that extent without any time for refined mana control.

“How are we supposed to get out of here now?!”

Ormar shrieks but Julie tries shutting him up long enough to get some information out of Jake who’s running back their way.

Barhald and Howard, having had enough of the verbal shouting match, hurries over to me and Mister Mason while casting a vigil eye towards the slowly encroaching Bat Queen.

“Did you want to make this our tomb, Mister?”

Barhald sounds incredulous and I would’ve answered for Mister had there been any need for it. There isn’t though as a moment later the raised marble fortification trembles with the onslaught of seemingly hundreds of crystalized bodies bashing full speed straight into it.

Small cracks start spreading from the strain and through them a cacophony of screeches, wing flaps and crystal talons scratching stone is heard. Howard, being the most collected of us, grabs Mister Mason and throws him over a shoulder before urging me and Barhald towards the party leader and fire mage who have finally gone quiet.

“-and with their number they’ll break through and overwhelm us shortly if we remain in this chamber.”

Jake finishes as I move close enough to hear him. Did he seriously complete a whole sentence?! My brain nearly short circuits at this development but I force myself to ignore it in favor of listening to our leader’s next rapid fire commands.

“We won’t manage to take down the level 67 Bat Queen before the swarm breaks through. We move forwards to the next floor immediately. Howard takes aggro, Jake as distraction, Barhald clear path with [Berserk], Zelaria and Ormar carry Mister, GO!”

I barely manage to grab my half of the burden before the Bat Queen reaches us.

Sprinting after Ormar and holding my share of Mister between us I follow the flaming fury of steel that Barhald is becoming. This must be the result of him using a [Berserk] skill on Julie's orders as I’ve never seen him move with such speed or strength before. He plows through solid crystal carving a path across the room while avoiding the larger obstructions.

Continuing after the berserk dwarf with Ormar as a navigator I look behind me in time to witness Howard smash a gauntleted fist straight at the Bat Queen’s left eye, cracking it and eliciting another earsplitting screech. Luckily Julie’s light magic counteracts the sonic attack this time, restoring whatever damage done by the awful noise.

I pick up my pace as Ormar stretches Mister between us enough to elicit a yelp of surprise as I jump, duck and sidestep around sharp crystals too sturdy to easily break or too lucky to have met the dwarven fury. I catch glimpses of Jake doing acrobatic maneuvers between crystal pillars all around me while firing his bow at our backline, distracting the Bat Queen and lowering the damage inflicted on our brave shield.

Seeing the flaming dwarf reach the stairwell and close one of the two heavy metal doors in preparation for our arrival I squeeze out the last bit of speed I’m capable of and follow Ormar into the stairwell.

We take a few hurried steps down the stairs before Ormar and I unceremoniously drop our passenger, getting rewarded with another indignant yelp from Mister. I take a few heaving breaths before turning my attention back towards the double doors behind us, analyzing the situation.

The next person through is Julie who I note is panting and pale but otherwise unharmed. We get to spend a few seconds listening to the battle in the guardian chamber before Jake makes his silent and sudden appearance behind the still open door, immediately followed by a bloodied Howard making a mad dash through the opening, tripping on the stairwell’s edge and heading straight at me.

I don’t manage to dodge in time and I get battered and bruised as we tumble down the stairwell. The wall breaks our increasing momentum after a few bone crushing turns and I come to a halt with Howards massive bulk on top of me. My newly broken ribs make themselves known by searing agony across my chest.

I lay still while trying to breathe and ignore the sharp marble step trying to tear my spine in two with the help of the added weight. Blood flows down Howard’s chest into my eyes and mouth making my endeavor even more of a challenge. I start growing concerned that I will suffocate on the stairs when Howard doesn’t alleviate my torment by standing up, or even moving for that matter and I blink away tears of relief when I finally hear Ormar’s voice calling for Julie.

“Howard seems badly injured. Quite a few bleeding tears in his plate on the back. Hurry up boss and heal him before he loses too much blood.”

Hello?? Can’t somebody move him off of me? I’m literally drowning here.

“Where’s Zelaria? Did she tumble further down?”

I gather all my remaining strength to give Ormar a piece of my mind but the noise leaving me is more a mixture of a pained weeze and wet cough. To my relief it’s enough.

“There you are! Ouch, that doesn’t look very comfortable. Bad luck to end up beneath instead of on top. Hah!”

Next to join us are Julie and Jake.

“Let me patch him up real quick with [Emergency Restoration] before we make it further away from the Bat Queen. The doors should hold but I’d like to put some distance between us and them if possible. Ormar, did you see where Zelaria went?”

“Yeah boss, she ended up beneath him it seems.”

“Oh, well that’s unfortunate.”

Get the fuck moving and help me out or I’ll swear to strangle you in your sleep Ormar! Ghahh! Why are they taking their time talking instead of moving this mountain off my chest?? Wait, are you serious? Julie is going to heal Howard before moving him? That bitch is doing this on purpose! Wait until I get out of here.

I’m in luck as Jake silently starts pulling the giant down the steps and uncovering me. I manage to bite back a scream as his torn plating catches on a broken rib and starts pulling it to the side but I can’t hold back my tears and let out a pathetic whimper.

Julie, finally seeing the state I’m in, starts restoring me right after finishing with Howard on Ormar's urging, making it up to me enough that they avoid my immediate retaliation. I watch as Jake slaps Howard’s face around a few times before he gets the desired, grunting response and walks up to get the others.

It isn’t long before Mister Mason and a now deflated dwarf joins us. I use my regained ability to breathe to satiate my curiosity as we start making it down the stairwell one revolution at a time.

“Barhald, what was that [Berserk] ability of yours? It looked like you set yourself on fire. Is the cost of using it so high that you don’t like it or why haven’t I seen you use it before?”

Barhald lets out a slightly tired chuckle.

“Aye, it's quite taxing on my body to use it. Think of it as burning huge amounts of mana quickly to fuel my muscles into constant peak performance. It not only empties me out but puts a huge strain on my joints, ligaments and muscles alike. Though Julie’s call to let me use it was probably the right one. Don’t think I’d manage to clear a path quickly enough otherwise.”

Julie gives me a smug look as though looking down on me for even doubting her command. I ignore it and instead turn my attention to Howard who is walking in front of me.

“Are you alright now Howard? It did seem like you hit your head pretty badly once our tumble came to a stop against the wall.”

He gives me a backwards glance before turning his head forwards, taking a while to answer.

“Yeah, uh, and sorry for crushing you. Didn’t really have a chance to stop before it was too late. Might have blacked out before I even hit the wall.”

After reassuring him I’m alright I turn silent, listening to my party argue about how we’re going to make it out of here after the delve. We are all apparently united in thinking that looking for another exit might be the safest approach. Well, everyone except Ormar.

“But how are we supposed to find another exit? You reckon there are natural caverns dug out from the lower floors leading us to another exit?”

“You can’t be serious Barhald! That might be even more dangerous than going back into the crystal meatgrinder upstairs. Who knows what is nesting outside the dungeon walls.”

Julie gives him a peeved look and sighs before making a decision.

“Well you might be right Ormar but if we do not find any easy spots to power level ourselves to a much higher level, while getting armor strong enough to withstand the swarm above us, we’re dead going back there. We might as well look for possible exits while diving lower into the dungeon.”

That finally placates everyone and in the following silence I look around for any interesting changes. I note the first change after what feels like a dozen revolutions going down. The viridian metal bands snaking their way down alongside us are beginning to join together and taper off.

Then even the azure speckles in the dark granite shrink and disappear. We’re left with a stairwell with white marble steps and dark granite walls of ever increasing darkness, almost becoming a solid sleek black surface without texture the further down we go. It gives me the impression of walking down a spiral into nothingness.

“This is both beautiful and creepy as fuck.”

We all agree with nods and murmurs to Barhald’s statement.

“I wonder how the dungeon core created this effect. There must have been a reason for it. Maybe it works with both being aesthetically pleasing and ominous at the same time?”

That gets me thinking and I answer him as he’s swiveling his head looking for any clues.

“It might be an attempt at creating psychological distress in adventurers without enough courage to reach the lower floors.”

Julie clicks her tongue at me without offering any counter arguments. I pointedly ignore her once more and continue expanding on my theory.

“There might have been more to this stairwell when the dungeon was active. Maybe even illusions or fear inducing mind magic. If what I’ve heard is correct then dungeons never put lethal obstacles in staircases to lower floors, not making anything with a beautiful transition such as this would be a waste.”

Howard and Barhald make noises of agreement before Julie snaps our focus back on track.

“Alright, focus now everyone. You too, Zelaria. I think I see light up ahead. We might be reaching the next floor.”