“I thought you had honor! You dare hold me hostage, tourture me, and still plan to reach our core and destroy us all?!”

Mathew tilted the spear that was planted firmly in the leader’s foot. “I never said I had honor, but glad you think so. I want information. Since you can apparently feel pain for a zombie, I’ll keep poking you until I either feel like I’m satisfied with what you tell me, or I feel like you have nothing left to tell me.”

“Typical human. Grouping my kind with the possessed. Just kill me and move on. I won’t tell you anything.”

Mathew smiled, “You already did. The System called this a Lost Souls Dungeon. I take it your kind is known as such. What’s the difference between Necromancy undead and your kind?”

“Tch.” The man said, not wanting to answer.

Mathew shrugged and pulled his spear out to stab it into his other foot. “I have plenty of time here.” He half lied. “How long until another patrol comes to see you like this? How long till a patrol that is strong enough to fight me shows up? I didn’t even fight you myself and you were easily on the backfoot while fighting two of my summons. What does that mean when I fight them properly?”

He didn’t care if the man believed him or not. All he needed was to have the man think he was telling the truth. In reality, he did push himself in that fight. Not to the fullest, but enough that he was already worried for the true boss of this Dungeon.

“Why are you here? To kill all of us?” The lost soul asked.

“I am here for safety from the hordes that show up out there.” Mathew pointed up toward the portal he came through. “How much are you aware of here? What does The System let you know?”

“Why should I tell you? You deserve nothing!”

Mathew rolled his eyes, he pulled out his spear and used the tip to cut him on an exposed part of his arm. He never done something like this, torturing someone. “I am fighting for my life here, just like you are. I’m willing to negotiate and come to an agreement, but I am not leaving this Dungeon.”

The man shook his head, “Just hurry up and kill me already.”

“No.” Mathew said, looking at him intently. He pulled out his knife, and held it to the man’s forearm. He didn’t expect to get much out of this undead, or rather not undead. Either way, he was going to keep trying.

“I want to know. Is there a chance your leader will just let me stay here, or surrender?”

“Never! We won’t let an unhonorable murderer like you stay here.”

Mathew frowned. “Okay, what about payment? Surely enough money, or rather UC will make even the mountains in this dungeon move.”

The man looked up at Mathew, “As I already said. We would never negotiate with the likes of you.”

Mathew knew he wouldn’t share actual important information. Their numbers, location of the Dungeon Core, or anything useful to him. He gave it one last mental thought.

“Last chance. Tell me something, and I’ll let you live. Something worth the risk of you finding help, and warning the rest of your people that I am coming.”

“Ha! They already know you are here. Nothing will matter, our people-” Mathew sliced the man’s throat, silencing him, and killing him. There was no blood, just death.

Mathew shook his head, annoyed. “Wasteful.”

“Umm. Mathew.” Cherry asked, seeming almost afraid. “Did you have to tourture him like that?”

Mathew looked over at her. “He made that choice himself. I had no problems letting him live. He chose to stay loyal to his people. Something I respect. Not enough to let him live, and risk my own safety.”

Agnox seemed indifferent about the situation. Cherry just slowly nodded, “Okay.”

Mathew looked over his gear, and picked up the serrated blade. “No point in letting free things go to waste.” He went to put the sword in one of his bags, but found it full. He frowned. “Cherry come here, put this sword in your bag. Try to not mix it up with the medical supplies please.” She hesitantly took it, and did what she was asked to do.

Mathew looked at the second mountain. “I feel like every valley will have a checkpoint of some sort. How about we rest for a few minutes, recover our mana, then get moving.”

Half an hour later, they were climbing the second mountain. Mathew experimented with fighting. Finding that he could kill them without destroying the head. Piercing their heart also killed them instantly. They didn’t bleed, which was odd. He couldn’t use his dagger to that advantage. So, he kept to his spear, using the long reaching power as an advantage.

The second mountain had four groups of Lost Souls. The third was ten strong, while the others had less than that each.

Mathew tried to search for another bridge in the next valley, but found nothing. It reminded him of the Golem Dungeon. He had to fight through four smaller challenges to reach the end of the Dungeon and the boss.

The difference in the two tiers of Dungeon wasn’t very apparent. The Golems were actually more of a problem than the monsters in this Dungeon. It could be due to their size, or maybe that these were more like humans than rock robots.

But, Mathew suspected there would be problems the deeper he went in. After all, this was just the start.

He hated himself for thinking that. As everyone descended the mountain and came to the valley, Mathew saw a second bridge. Standing on it were two figures. Both looked feminine. The one on the left had her hair braided, and carried a staff. The staff itself was green and had a lime colored crystal on the top.

The other figure had a high tech looking rifle. Mathew thought it was odd to only have two fighters, and have both appear as ranged attackers. Yet, he knew how looks could be deceiving. He himself could fight adequately in a melee fight.

He stood at the end of the bridge, “I suppose you two are the next fighters? Maybe you will be more understanding than the previous person.” Mathew didn’t want to fight them. Not because he was against fighting, it was because fighting them would be more effort he would have to expend. So, he was going to try a new tactic.

He pulled upon his Axiom of Resistance and tried to push it outward toward them. Something he’s only done a few times, more so by accident than on purpose when combined with his [Conest] skill. “Stand down, and you won’t die. I just want to claim the core, and send you all home. I took out your first guard without trouble. How can you two be any different when there were twenty at the last one!”

The gun woman visibly reacted by taking a step back, while the staff wielder didn’t even flinch.

“Hmm. So you do have an Axiom that can be used outwardly, interestingly.” The staff woman said. She smiled lightly. “Good. Maybe you will be fun to fight. We are the twin sisters who have yet to lose any sort of battle. However, you are right, we don’t want to die, nor fight to the death.”

Mathew didn’t move, nor change his facial expressions. He kept a stern look. “I doubt you are going to just let me walk by you.”

The gun woman refocused herself. “Nope! However, if you beat us in a challenge, you can walk on by, no battle needed.”

“That is, unless you want to try and fight us. We promise you, you will lose. You are outnumbered.” The staff woman said, with a sinister emphasis.

Mathew looked around. “Seems to me it’s two to seven.”

They both laughed. “You keep thinking that, Human. You want to face us in a challenge of skill, or of might? The previous group of humans tried to fight us directly. Let their death be a warning to you.”

Mathew glanced at their weapons, and assumed any challenge involving ranged shooting he could win. He can control his [Mana Bolt] easily. If he used an Axiom as well for more control, nothing would be missed by him.

“What’s the challenge?” He asked. “I’m not accepting anything until I know what we are doing.”

“It’s simple. You have to beat us both at a skill we are best at. For instance, you will have to beat me in a targeting match. As for my sister, you have to prove you are stronger.”

Mathew did not like the sound of that. “What are the rules for both?”

“You sure ask a lot of questions for a murdering human.” The staff woman commented before continuing reluctantly. “With me, you have to hit a target more accurately than I can out of three shots. For my sister, you have to wrestle her without using weapons or offensive techniques. Only pure might.”

With lips pressed together tightly, Mathew thought it over. The first challenge he had full faith he could win. The second…an idea came to him. “No time limit on either of them, correct? Also, define offensive techniques. Would a skill that amplified my ability to perform a task easier count? Such as utility powers, or even a spell that can amplify my speed?”

“There is a time limit for the first one, not the second. The second one starts when you are both ready, but you can’t leave once you start. Otherwise, we will outright attack you.”

Mathew nodded, and agreed. “I accept.”

The gun woman made a weird movement with her hand as if pushing downward and shouted with excitement. “Finally!”

The staff woman gestured to the bridge and then upstream. “There is a target. Hit as close to the center as you can, then I will fire. We will alternate. Also, you can only use a range weapon. Feel free to use any spell, if you have one.”

Mathew was about to show off, using [Mana Bolt] and fire it dead center to the target, but stopped. “Why is it this easy? Shoot a target accurately, and a wrestling contest? I can use any spell, support skill, anything I want to help me win so I don’t have to risk injury in a fight. Something isn’t right.”

“Why the hesitation? I said there was a time limit.” The staff woman said. “Take your first shot.”

Mathew looked at her, then nodded. He looked over at Cherry, “Give me your staff.” She threw it toward him, almost missing. Mathew had to step closer to catch it before it hit the ground.

“Sorry!”

He ignored her, and looked toward the target. It was further away than he expected. Easily reaching thousands of feet away. It was a small dot to his vision. If he wanted to, he could stack his Piercing Axiom on top of his sight and use his control of [Mana Bolt] to nail center shots easily.

But, he won’t. Instead, he took aim and slowed down his breathing and focused. Both his [Staves] and [Mana Bolt] spell were apprentice rank. He was confident in his aim, enough that he would use the basic spell through the staff.

He took a deep breath, keeping himself calm and focused. Everytime he had ever attacked at range like this, was always in battle, but always closer. He fired his shot, and heard a *ding*. He couldn’t tell how close it was to the center.

“Good aim, that was the second ring that is one ring away from the bullseye and the outside ring. My turn.”

She aimed her own staff, taking considerably less time than he did, and fired without effort. Mathew heard the *ding* again. “I hit the outer edge, but still in the bullseye circle. I’m in the lead.”

Mathew didn’t feel any lies from her. “How can you tell?”

“I’ll bring the target closer once we are done shooting, to show who was the most accurate. I suggest you don’t hold back. It would be a shame if you lost in the first challenge.”

He knew what she was trying to do, but wouldn’t let them get what they wanted. This was a challenge to see the limits of those who came this far. The first fight was combat prowess, this was a test of capabilities. If he showed too much, they would know too much. Showed too little, and he risked losing.

Finding a balance was key. Mathew took aim a second time, and decided to use his Axiom of Piercing on his eyes, sharpening his vision. The far away target became easier to see. He could calculate exactly where to aim, and how the bolt would travel. He cleared his mind and fired. *Ding*.

“That was closer to the center than my previous one. My turn.” She took aim. Another *ding*. “Inner first ring. I’m still in the lead. You better hope you do better, or you will end up dead. A shame really, if you didn’t tourture my friend, I might be going easy on you. I would have even let you leave still, since there is no way you can win now.”

Mathew wasn’t bothered by her words. In fact, she gave him a piece of ammo to use against her. He had one last shot, and planned to make it count. Both literally, and metaphorically.

Without missing a beat, he took aim just like his previous shot, and fired.

“A final excellent shot. You hit the center. Allow me to win this, so we can kill you.” She went to fire, taking aim.

As she did so Mathew leaned closer to her ear. Just as she was about to fire Mathew spoke in a low whisper. “I know what you are trying to do, trick me into showing my powers. It won’t work. Besides, your friend was weak and honorless. He didn’t even exhaust any of my trump cards. That’s what he was there to do right? Find a weakness in those attacking your home?”

She fired when he said ‘weak’. The staff woman’s face broke. Mathew didn’t need her to tell him she missed. The lack of a *ding* was all the proof he needed.

He turned to the other sister. “We are to fight next right? How do we know who wins?”

The gun woman had been quiet this entire time. She looked at her sister, “What did you say to her? She never misses!”

“I pointed out that I knew what you were doing. Trying to figure out my skill set. Sadly for her, she failed, just like the previous person. Just like you will.”

Mathew wanted to rile up the second woman. In a fair fight, he wouldn’t win. Which is why he was resorting to tricks he used in the courtroom. Even in a world of magic where the strong get stronger, mental manipulation and trickery still worked. People had emotions. Even if they seemed to act like undead.

“You spineless coward. You think we would stoop to such tricks? That’s it, get over here, I’m going to rip you to shreds!”

“No! We have to follow the rules!” The staff woman said urgently, stopping the gun woman from fighting. She turned to Mathew. “First person to pin the other wins.”

“Give me a moment to get ready, please.” Mathew asked. He turned to his summons and knelt down to whisper to them. “When I give the signal, Agnox, you and Jeffery come in and help me. Try and not scratch her too much Jeff. I don’t want them to call foul because you scratched them.”

Cherry’s eyes went wide. “That’s cheating” She said in a harsh whisper.

Mathew pushed the staff into Cherry’s hands, as he wanted them to think he was giving it to her the entire time. “Not against the rules. Summons are not an offensive spell. At least those two are not. They can perform other duties, such as helping me in a contest of strength. If they call foul, so be it. I can’t win against her in an even fight. Plus, I can’t show off too much. Which is why I’m not using Pink Aura either.” Mathew changed the name of the buffing spell, in hopes Cherry understood.

He rose up, and turned to the others. “I’m ready.”

In a flash, the woman ran over to Mathew and went to grapple him. He was ready and met her hands with his own. They were locked in a struggle. One that Mathew felt he was slightly losing.

He fully expected her to be far stronger than he was. He had 277 Strength. He knew he was stronger than any human ever has been in history. Yet, compared to Zachary, he was still weak. Compared to this Lost Soul? It was almost an even match.

She pushed harder, a hint of power surging through her. Mathew realized she was using some sort of power to increase her strength. “Now!”

Agnox and Jeffery both ran over. Agnox flew behind her, and grabbed at her waist while Jeffery leaned into Mathew to help push her over.

“Cheater!” The staff woman yelled. The woman he was in a grapple with just started to yell intensely as she was now in a three versus one

Mathew laughed. “You said I can use anything that isn’t an offensive technique. Summons are not an offensive power directly. No direct damage, just helping me out. No different than using a buffing power, or using an Axiom. Never said outright I couldn’t use them.”

With the extra help, it was easy to knock her to the ground. Instantly both Mathew and Jeffery fell on top of her, pinning her there. “And that, I believe, is a win for me.”

“Get off me! Cheater!” The gun woman shouted.

Mathew did so, and stepped back, in case they tried to fight him directly. He watched them both carefully.

“It seems you are quick-witted to find such a loophole in our rules.” The staff woman said carefully. Her words were chosen, as if she thought over each one before saying it. “Regrettably, you have earned the right to pass through here.”

Mathew nodded slowly, waiting for some sort of last minute trick. He then walked across the bridge with his summons. Before moving further, he glanced back at them one last time. When he saw neither of them do anything but watch him, he started his climb of the third mountain.