THE BOY

They stopped abruptly and stared at the giant boulders blocking their way. The path should have stretched further ahead, instead of being caved in. It seemed recent, the taste of dust lingered and made it hard to breathe.

Saldon coughed – the air was unpleasant, like sandpaper sliding down his throat.

“Kheh, a dead end?”

“Not quite, hm.” Favian motioned further ahead. A low dark spot hid a hole, wide enough for a grown man to get through. A shortcut, that is, if you don’t mind a chance of breaking your legs while going down.

Saldon had no idea how deep it leads, and to be honest, he didn’t want to find out.

“Map?” The commander asked and the boy gave it. “Something big might had fought and brought down all the damned floor. It happens. Monsters larger than mortal fears, battle over who’s the baddest of them all.”

Crewer advanced and knelt beside the hole to shine some light into, what appeared like, deep dark abyss. Both brothers stayed to watch the rear while the rest checked out their surroundings.

Between them, they had three lanterns. One perished in the previous fight while another while back. All the spares left them together with the peasant boy. Luckily, narwhal oil burns for days.

“[Obey]: (...)”

“Eh?” For a moment it seemed like Saldon heard someone whisper, but it drowned under Favian’s voice. “– Or the dungeon might have abandoned this place.”

“Abandoned?” Confused, Saldon absently asked, turning his head in hope to hear the voice that almost certainly belonged to a woman. Did he imagine it with sleep deprivation taking its toll?

“Right, nobody had the time to tell you.” Favian leaned against the wall, oblivious to Saldon’s search. “It isn’t well known, most who don’t plan to take a single step inside the dungeon, don’t care. Not everything you see is part of the dungeon. You can tell the difference by the state of disrepair. Like how the last earthquake split open side of the dungeon, but it hasn’t closed up after all these years.”

Favian’s words brought back recent memories of an awe-striking sight. A clean-cut revealed the dungeons inside. Hallways and rooms bare like a child’s open dollhouse only in the size of a mountain.

“All dungeons can self-repair.” Redhead continued. “It takes time, yes. Greater the damage, longer the wait, but in days or weeks, what takes humans decades of hard work will reconstruct simply as if alive creature heals its wounds. Creepy, yes?” Favian chuckled at Saldon’s ashen face. “And then one day, for whatever reason, Miss Cridosal doesn’t need This Place. It will stay untouched, abandoned, slowly crumbling even if the room next door is crystal clean and perfect. Who knows, why? Monsters will avoid it and won’t wander there as frequently. Because of this dungeon diver like us, often use them as safe havens for rest.”

“A good friend of mine said –” Commander intervened. “– people often misjudge the size of Cridosal dungeon. It is the worlds biggest dungeon, covering almost three fourth of the continent, but most of it is abandoned. The actual size is, at best, half of that.” The old man amused himself, dragging his finger through the thick layer of dust. He drew a simple reflection of Agate continent, their kingdom, and the dungeon. “Records say its origin point was located somewhere in the southern coastal region that once belonged to a kingdom long since perished. It expanded further into human lands, stripping nearby land of resources and life, leaving behind discarded parts.” He tapped the place. “From there it got the name, named after the mountain Cridosal. Although, most refer simply ‘the dungeon’ since it’s the only known one on the continent. ”

“All this,” Sadon leaned closer. “Abandoned, empty?”

“I wouldn’t say, empty. We, humans, are as resilient as shameless. In places it relinquished its claim, towns and cities sprang up, right on top of dungeons ruins. But speak not of this to anyone. Given their placement no tax collector, right in their mind, for few coins went through the dungeon. People there live happy, paying no taxes, calling no King as their own. You can imagine how pleased his highness is.”

Favian yawned, bored. “Offing everyone’s heads, I guess.” He dragged a finger across his throat. He probably had heard all this a dozen times. “So, what’s the plan n–?” Redheads last word blundered as he watched the command activate his skill [Iron Skin] and jump – straight down the hole.

“Crewer!!”

Skittering pebbles echoed with a heavy stomp and a small light in the sea of dark.

“I’m alright, huh, cough, seems like – wait…” Footsteps. “Ah, I have found our missing noble or what left of someone dressed all fancy.”

“You gave Us a Heart attack!” Favian instantly winced as his own voice echo away. “Shit.”

“It’s safe. You can use the fallen rubble as a makeshift slide. But keep it down.”

“That’s not…” Favian grunted and forced himself to shut up. This was their commander, the type of man who in one breath emphasize caution and safety, and in the next one, jumps down an unknown hole. ‘Maybe practice what you preach?’ “Yes, sir.” He turned to the rest of them. “So what you’re waiting for? It’s safe.”

Brothers turned to each other and played a quick ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ before the loser went first, cursing. Other soon followed.

“You’re up, boy.” Favian nugget Saldon.

The boy gazed down and felt his stomach churn. His muscles stiffened and he couldn't move. All the dark, monsters and unknown, combined, couldn’t scare him as much as peering into that black hole.

Yes, he was afraid of heights. Yes, he will take this secret to the grave.

“Keep your head safe. Let the momentum carry you. Don’t flap, you’ll likely break an arm.”

“Sir?” Stiff as a staff, Saldon croaked a plea. “Could you please push me?”

Favian blinked. “Push you? Are you sure?”

“Ye–!”

Maybe a warning would been appreciated, but the boy got his wish, being shoved over the edge. Gravity sank its claws in boy’s flesh and pull him down into the dark to greet death. It was over before Saldon had the chance took a breath for a scream so he did it afterward. He was alive – maybe. He landed bit awkwardly. In spite of the warning, flapped his arms. But nothing seemed broken, and yes, he was alive.

Hallway here looked just like the one upstairs – dark and dusty like their mood. They haven’t seen the sun in a long while.

“Alright?” Favian checked up soon as he himself got down with a cloud of dust.

Saldon punched him in the chest.

“I’ll take it as, yes.” Redhead squeezed boy’s shoulder to reassure, before smirking turned where the old man knelt. “Who’s he?” He asked, observing the skeleton that laid half leaning against the wall.

“Our target? Look –” Crewer indicated at the locket around the dead man’s neck. “Isn’t that House Weller crest?”

“An ugly blob representing a unicorn lion monstrosity? Yeah, that’s them.”

“Then the job is almost done.”

A wave of relief and excitement, brothers woohooed and Favian fist pumped. They can go home.

“Forgive my transgression, my intentions are pure.” Crewer chanted before touching the skeleton.

Oddly, this was a custom from the old ways, one of the few that survived in midst followers of The True Word. Even knowing that isn’t a skill, people hoped in saying those words to appease the lingering spirits so they know, their remains aren’t robbed.

The old man reached for the pendant.

“Hm?” It felt cold to the touch in spite of the leather glove. Too late he realized the meaning. “Get ba –” He was cut short.

Long bony fingers wrapped around his neck and lifted him up. In a fluid motion, the skeleton stood, blue glow shining in its eye sockets.

Everyone sprang into action to save their commander but froze when the cold voice spoke.

“Little filthy rats. Worthless, but so be it. Hear my [Last Words]!” Its cry sank deep into one’s soul.

They could do nothing but listen. The power of [Last Words]

[“Stab, kill, destroy. It’s sick to the core, eating owns children, devouring, growing, drowning in madness. We made a seal that won’t hold, break IT!

Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It! Break It!

BREAK IT!

DESTROY WHAT’S WITHIN, THE HEART, AND END THIS CURSE!

[Last Wish]: FULFILL MY FAILED QUEST!”

[A7t3nt10n!! A wra1t4 of a long dead her0 ha5 u53d 5k177 [Last Wish] to pa55 on h15 [UnaUTHOrizED] qu3st to any human [foRBHidDen] fortun3 3n0ugh to stubb7e upon his corps3.

Qu3sts obj3ctive: Br3ak [UNauthORIZED] the s3al put 0n by t4e h3ro and de5troy what’s wit41n.

Succ3ss: Fulfi77ing the objectiv3 R3war0: 3rr0r exp, 3rr0r g0ld Fa17ur3: Leav1ng the dun6e0n without fulfi77ing the obj3ctive C0ns3qu3nce5: Immin3nt 5tart of the m0nster wa1ve Av3ra63 mon5ter respawn cut sh0rt from one y3ar to one h0ur ????. ????.

Its body crumbles to dust, leaving only the pendant in commanders hand.

Time resumed its course.

“...”

“...shit...”