(Day 166) Aprilis 11th, 12th year of the Dragon, Age of Enlightenment

We made our way down to the 2nd level. “Okay everyone, I want you to stay right here. There are going to be a lot of loud booms and flashes as fireballs go off. Do not move until I come back for you.” With that, I went off and started spamming fireball and bolt spells. I didn’t even bother to worry about what I was destroying until I ran into a nest of salamanders. Six to be exact. Immune to fire, fun. I’d switched to unarmed attacks, using Shadow Step, Displace, and Stealth to make short work of the Salamanders. When I was done I made my way back to the party. “

“All done, levels safe,” I said.

“The party walked onto the 2nd level gingerly to find barren rock and the bodies of the 6 salamanders. Everything else had disintegrated. After we’d collected all the loot everyone received 3 platinum, 9 gold, and 7 Silver.”

“You guys want to try level 3”

“That is way above our levels, even your level,” Daranus said

“Well, as I’m sure you’ve noticed I’ve got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. Tell you what, we’ll continue down, you guys stay near the exit to the upper level, and if I fail, well, I’ll be dead, but you’ll all be able to get away. If I’m as big and nasty as I think I am though. We’re going to get to level 9. Then I’m going to go down to level 10. Have a talk with the asshole running this place and we are going to get some epic loot. What do you say.?

Greed won the day and all five followed me down to the next level.

Level 3 took under 5 minutes and earned us 6 platinum each.

Level 4 took another 5 minutes, and we found our first magic item. A Composite Longbow of Deadly Accuracy +3 which was given to Xander. We also found 11 platinum each.

Level 5 took 10 minutes because the element of fire started to become prevalent. I couldn’t just fireball everything, Instead, I used Light Beam which was usually a single target spell or Death’s touch. We’d earned 15 Platinum each from that floor as well as three epic Healing Potions that healed 500 hp each. Daranus had taken them as party treasure.

Level 6 took 10 minutes. It was the first time I had ever run into undead. The extra five minutes had been used to try to see if my nanites could just disintegrate them and then to see what attacks worked best. Nanites were a no-go, the magic animating them wouldn’t even let the nanites affect them. In the end, Fireball was the ticket. Death’s touch had healed them, so at least I now knew not to use death magic on the Undead We’d earned 20 platinum a piece and found a Staff of Healing that could heal 100 hit points per charge and had 25 charges. The staff had been given to Desari.

Level 7 took the standard 5 minutes. We’d earned 25 platinum a piece and found three sets of Chain Mail +3 which had been awesome.

Level 8 Took 10 minutes. Every creature on that level had been immune to fire. The entire level had been infested with just one creature type, some man-sized lizards. I’d activated Displace and used Stealth as much as possible to sneak up and use Death Touch on each. It hadn’t been difficult, just time-consuming. We’d found a Cloak of Fire Resistance that gave its wear 50% resistance to fire and 31 platinum a piece. The Cloak had gone to Daranus.

Level 9 took about 16 minutes. The monsters were a type of Minotaur with flaming horns. These Minotaurs were as comfortable on all fours as they were on two legs and were between levels 900 and 1000. Serena was probably smiling down on me because I’d been given a very specific lesson in humility for him during that combat. One of the Minotaur had dropped to all fours and charged me so quickly that he’d actually scored a hit as I just stood there awe-struck at how fast it was moving. After that fight, I’d berated myself for just standing there. At the time I’d simply thought “This should not be happening” as I flew through the air after taking a total of 1,600 points of damage from the initial hit. Just before I landed my next thought was, “Oh, so that’s how it's going to be,” as I rolled to my feet and brought my “A” game.

I then proceeded to turn each of the Minotaurs into a bloody physical mess. I hadn’t reduced my damage. I’d just hit as hard as I could and moved, allowing myself to flow between the minotaur that couldn’t hit me once I’d started using all of my skills fully. 75 seconds later, a level that had been packed with 75 minotaurs was empty. It had been a bloody mess when the party came down.

The rest of the party had looked at me with a little concern but said nothing. My nanites had made sure that I appeared clean, though there was blood and guts just about everywhere. The party had gathered their loot and found multiple magic items this time. There was a Wand of Lightning Bolts level 200 with 30 charges and a Staff of Fireballs level 100 with 20 charges. Both went to Chesarie. A Shortsword of Quick Strikes +5 which allowed a follow-up attack. Thrum had absolutely lost his mind when I told him the stats. He’d taken the Shortsword. A Longsword of Fire +5 that had gone to Daranus and Bracers of Air Defense +100 that gave the wearer a +100% to defense while worn against ranged attacks. Those had gone to Chesarie. There had been no money on this level though.

“Holy shit!” Daranus said

We all smiled and looked at our loot.

“I told you I could get us here” This next part though. I don’t think you guys should come down those stairs. Before I even arrived at the guild I’d heard that no one that goes down comes up”

“You know what’s down there right?” Daranus asked

“Yep a very big and angry Fire Elemental,” I said

“No, a very big and angry Legendary Fire Elemental” His fire is so hot that it will melt stone. Nothing that goes down comes back because if you make it to the bottom, you melt.

“Yeah, not concerned,” I said.

“And why wouldn’t you be concerned?” Daranus asked

I put my fingers over my lips in the obvious “shh” symbol and said, “Fire doesn’t bother me.”

Daranus looked at him, looked down, then looked at him again “Well, okay if fire doesn’t bother you then go down there, knock that boss out so we can get some awesome loot and some experience. You’re sure?” he asked

“Yeah, I got this,” I said with a grin

“Well, I can see that you won’t be talked out of this. So… good luck! Come get us when you’re done. If you’re not back in 30 minutes though or the bottom of the stairs start to glow, we’re heading for the exit.” Daranus said.

“Fair enough,” I said laughing and slapping Daranus on the back lightly. “You all stay safe up here.

As I started walking down the steps I looked over my shoulder and said “I’ll be Back” in my best Terminator impression. They wouldn’t get the joke but I thought it was hilarious. I made my way down to the next level and looked out onto a sea of molten lava. Immediately I was struck by a column of fire that probably did millions of points of damage. I didn’t even bother to check my prompts, I was immune so I didn’t care. I saw my target standing off over the lava about 100 feet away. I cast Water Bolt. It flew from my hand and evaporated 30 feet into the room. So, spells can be affected by their opposite energy type and even destroyed. That was definitely knowledge worth knowing even if it sucked to figure it out in the middle of a fight.

Where I was standing erupted as Lava flowed up and around me but didn’t actually move me. The 100% immunity to Earth spell was coming in really handy right now. I moved and cast Light Beam. The elemental was hurt but its magic resistance reduced my magical attacks by 75%. The Elemental returned with another gout of flame. I hit it with a 2nd light beam. The fire Elemental moved towards me and tried to hit me with a flaming fist which missed. I used Death Touch, which hurt it. The Fire Elementals' last attack was to bear hug me. I relented and let myself be drawn into the hug and then cast Death Bolt at point-blank range. The fire Elemental vanished. Immediately the magma started to cool and then turn into a normal rocky floor as a prompt appeared in my vision.

Hail and rejoice Adventurers. The Harbinger of the Dungeon of Divine Elements has been Slain. Fear not, the Harbinger will return in 30 days.

I activated my investigation skill and sent my Nanites out searching as I moved around the room. My vision noticed the tell-tale signs of a trapped storage area in one of the walls. Using my nanites, I disarmed the trap in short order and opened it to look upon a shining Golden Crystal. I turned my informational prompts on and then activated Identify.

Identify: Success: You have found the Soulstone of the Divine Detrik. This Soulstone contains the trapped soul of the God Detrik. Unlike Common Soulstones, Soulstones containing Divines are considered Artifacts. This Artifact is acting as the Item of Power for the Dungeon of Divine Elements. You may claim this Artifact which will cause a message to go out to the Dungeon Master of the Dungeon of Divine Elements that their Item of power has been removed and they have 24 hours to replace it or replace it with another item. Once removed everything within the Dungeon of Divine Elements pauses until a new Item of Power is placed within.

Do you wish to Claim the Soulstone of the Divine Detrik, Yes or No?

I chose “Yes”

Congratulations. You have claimed the Soul Gem of the Divine Detrik from the Dungeon of Divine Elementals. A New quest is Available.

Divine Quest: Free the Divine.

The Divine Detrik has been trapped in a Soulstone for over 500 years and wishes to be free. To complete this quest the Soul Gem must be taken to a Place of Power and shattered. Once shattered this Divine will utilize the Place of Powers Spheres of Power to reform into a Divine. This may only be done at a Place of Power. If shattered anywhere else. The Divine’s soul will be released, and The Eye will claim him.

If reformed the Divine Derik may choose to reward those that have freed him as the will of the Divine is a fickle thing. Reward type unknown.

I placed the Soul Gem in my ring of holding and then made my way upstairs. Once I’d collected the party I led them down and claimed their treasure. We each earned 80 platinum, 80 Gold, 80 Silver, and 80 Copper. Additionally, there was a magic item for each of us. There was a Dagger of Backstabbing +5 that Thrum took. A Quiver of Endless Arrows for Xander. A Ring of Spell Casting that allowed a mage to put up to 300 spell slots worth of spells in it that went to Chesarie. A staff of Resurrection with one charge that Desari claimed. A ring of the Sword Master, that allowed the wearer to utilize any sword as if they were level 100 if their skill was lower and a bo staff +5 made out of Ironwood for me. My herbalism skill had triggered, letting me know what it was.

“Okay everyone I kept my end of the bargain. Let’s make our way out of here then I need to be on my way.” I said.

“Sounds fantastic Adam. Thank you! When you took down that elemental you helped each of us earn enough experience that we each made it to level 101, almost level 102.”

“Power leveling for the win,” I said smiling.

I walked with them up through the various levels until we exited the dungeon under the obelisk.

A man in a black robe was rushing into the dungeon muttering “How? Who?” I just kept walking until we stepped back through the gate and found ourselves at the Adventures Hall again. I reviewed the treasure I’d earned 192 platinum, 93 gold, 89 Silver, and 80 copper after a 20% tax and a bo Staff +5. If I could find a dungeon, or I could return to this one after they’d put another item of power in it. Dungeon diving would be a really good way to make money, though I’d want to go in alone next time.

Turning to my party I said “Thank you, everyone. I hope I helped all of you and maybe we’ll get together and do this again sometime.”

I made my way back to the college and decided that I needed to upgrade my Monk and Clerics classes. I activated my portal to the 30x30 room, stepped in, and closed the door to my pocket dimension. Next, I had my nanites create a bed with pillows and a blanket. Then I put them to their default settings of defense, hydration, nourishment, and bodily waste recovery before I laid down on the bed. I wasn’t sure if doing what I was about to do was a good idea or how it would affect me. I opened my Personal Interface as I did some quick math in my head. Yep, I had enough XP. I also made sure to set up an auto distribute function for my attributes to be distributed evenly with any remainders going to my Luck attribute. Then I set the interface and hit execute.

A bright white light filled my mind and body. Even my willpower, constitution, and endurance couldn’t stand against the changes adding 25,000 class levels, attributes, abilities, and skills I was going to get. Darkness embraced him

As I came to, I saw that my sight was flooded with Prompts with a flashing red one drawing my attention.

“What in the hell, just happened Adam?” Abi asked

I ignored her and pulled up the flashing red prompt;

Warning Adamantadine Tower is under attack!

“No time Abi. Please go through the prompts and set up a list of interesting things you think I should look at. Also, if you see anything that could help me with whatever is happening back at the tower, do not hesitate to speak up” I said quickly as I opened the door, stepped back into my college room, and used Teleport to go to my place of power. I paid the 475 mana without a thought. Just before I vanished with a pop.