Runeguard 037

The trip east was uneventful.

In fact, it was so quiet, I began to wonder where all the forest beasts and creatures had gone. Not that I minded. I spent most of the journey getting used to my new armor. 

I quickly learnt that while wearing the mountain of steel, even walking—the simplest of activities—consumed stamina. Thankfully, I had already invested heavily in the Essence of constitution and my stamina pool was quite substantial. Yet, I realized, until I increased both my strength and constitution much further, long, drawn-out battles would be my bane.

My companions spoke little too. Their thoughts, I assumed, were likely on what we would be facing in the dungeon.

Halfway through the journey, I broke the party’s self-imposed silence. “So,” I mused, “what was dying like?”

The Paragons stopped dead and swung around to pin me with unhappy gazes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“That’s a very morbid question,” Beth said with a scowl.

I shrugged. “I’m curious, that’s all.”

She frowned. “You’ll find out soon enough,” she sniffed before turning away and walking off. Clearly my question had touched a nerve.

The other Paragons followed after her, all except Gavin. The scar-faced youth stared at me in silence for a long while. Expecting him to make a joke at my expense, I moved on after the others.

“It was horrible,” Gavin whispered.

I stopped and turned back to face the youth. “What?” I asked.

“Death,” Gavin said, his eyes unfocused and staring off in the distance. “It was horrible. I could feel everything as the blade of that monster bit into me, as its axe hacked off my arm and punctured my heart.” His upper lip began to quiver. “The agony seemed to last forever. Even after the damn System rebirthed me, I was not free of the memory. Even now, I can still remember it all.”

Gavin’s words made me sorry that I asked. Staring at his pale and ashen face, I was reminded again of his youth. Ass that he was at times, the Paragon was still too young to be experiencing such things.

I walked back to him and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s over now and you survived,” I said. “As painful as the experience was, don’t forget you conquered death.”

Gavin blinked and refocused on me. “I suppose.”

“What happened after you died?” I asked, trying to take his mind off the painful topic.

“We respawned at the townhall,” he said. He looked at me. “Then we began searching for you, because Bayan didn’t want to give up. He didn’t want to give the System that satisfaction. He wanted to win.”

I squeezed Gavin’s shoulder. “And we will,” I assured him. “Come on, let’s catch up to the others.”

✵ ✵ ✵

Thirty minutes later, we reached the dungeon’s entrance, a deep pit in the ground. Like the Swampy Place, its entrance was marked with a stone plaque.

Bending down, I read the words inscribed on the stone: “Dungeon 1050-C: A Devil’s Playground.” It certainly sounded ominous.

I walked to the edge of the pit and glanced in. The sides of the hole plunged straight down into the earth and became shrouded in darkness after only a few feet. “How do we go in?” I asked looking around to see if one of them carried a rope.

“We jump,” Jorge said.

I glanced at him to see if he was joking. He didn’t look as if he was. My eyes darted from the air mage to the hole. Jump down that? I thought, suppressing a shudder.

Lauren laughed. “What’s wrong, Dace? You’re not scared, are you?”

I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could. “Nope.” I waved her forward. “After you.”

The blonde woman grinned, her look telling me she wasn’t buying my act. “Don’t mind if I do,” she said and hopped into the hole with a laugh that echoed for a scarily long time.

My heart rose in my mouth and my gaze whipped to the others. They were grinning too. Leaving me staring in shock, they followed on Lauren’s heels.

“Bloody hell,” I muttered once I was alone. These Paragons are all loony. “Adi, is this safe?”

“I have no idea, Dace.”

I sighed. Well, so much for help from that quarter. Screwing up my courage, I squeezed my eyes shut and jumped.

✵ ✵ ✵

Dungeon Notice 1050-C-06

Paragons + 1, welcome back to Dungeon 1050-C: The Devil’s Playground. You have re-entered the entry chamber of the first stage.

Expected creature levels: between level 10 and 18.

Current dungeon party size: 6.

Instance specific properties: first clearance bonus available, second attempt adjustments in effect.

I was still screaming when my feet touched down on solid ground again.

It had felt as if I had fallen miles through the earth, yet for all that, my landing was as gentle as a feather’s kiss. Opening my eyes, I found myself surrounded by five grinning faces.

I scowled. Ignoring the Paragons, I stomped to the door of the entry chamber. In passing, I noticed the room was almost an exact replica of the one in the Swampy Place dungeon. “What’s on the other side?” I asked.

“Imps,” Bayan said, coming up to my side. “Small flying buggers, they move fast and are nearly impervious to fire. But they can be taken down with a few well-placed lightning bolts. You should have no problem against them.”

I nodded and drew out my shield and battlehammer. “We ready?” I asked, glancing behind me. 

The other Paragons had gotten over their amusement and were arrayed in a single spread-out line at the rear of the room. 

“Go,” confirmed Bayan, placing himself next to Gavin.

I yanked open the door, and with my shield held defensively before me, placed myself in the doorway. Then waited.

And waited.

Huh?

I risked a quick glance back at Bayan. The Paragon leader was frowning. “That’s odd,” he said. “They swarmed through the first time.”

Turning forward again, I peeked over my shield. The corridor leading to the entry chamber was empty. 

Starkly empty.

I lowered my shield and stepped carefully into the passage, wary of a trap. But still no attack materialized. I ran my gaze over every stone and tile in sight but spotted not the least hint of danger.

I turned around to the others. “There is nothing here,” I said finally.

The Paragons entered the corridor with me. “Weird,” Jorge whispered. “Not that I have any complaints.”

I turned my own attention inwards. “Adi, you know what’s going on?”

“This is the Paragons’ second attempt at the dungeon. The instance has been adjusted accordingly.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?” I asked aloud.

“Previously cleared areas of the dungeon will not respawn. Additionally, there will be a penalty on all loot drops acquired on this dungeon run.”

“But—but—” I sputtered. “This is my first attempt!”

“Regardless, the System has detected that the party contains players from an earlier dungeon run. Given that, you will unfortunately incur the same loot penalties as the Paragons.”

I swallowed unhappily. “Well, damn.” 

I turned to look at the others. From their expressions, I guessed they had received the same unwelcome explanations from their administrators.

“So that’s what ‘second attempt adjustments’ meant,” Jorge muttered.

Bayan grimaced. “I apologize, Dace. It seems we have done you a disservice.”

I forced a shrug. “It’s not your fault. And we’re here now. We might as well make the best of the opportunity. And anyhow, it is not like we can leave.”

The guildmaster nodded. “Let’s move out, people.”

✵ ✵ ✵

The dungeon was silent as a tomb as we made our way from its first to third stage. We passed empty room after empty room, and as much as I tried to rein in my disappointment, I couldn’t help but feel slightly cheated.

Not only had I missed out on the loot chests from the first and second stages of the dungeon, but my reward from the final chest would be penalized as well.

“We’re truly sorry, Dace.”

I looked down to find Beth at my side. The Paragons had been keeping their distance as we worked our way through the dungeon. Leaving me to my misery, I suppose.

“It’s alright,” I said. “I’m a big boy. I can handle a little disappointment.” I sighed. “Besides, the truth is without your guild for company, I would likely not have entered the dungeon, anyway.”

“All the same, we’re sorry,” she said.

“Thank you,” I replied before falling silent.

We walked the rest of the way to the dungeon’s final chamber in companionable silence.

Dungeon Notice 1050-C-07

Paragons + 1, your party has reached the final chamber of Dungeon 1050-C. This area has not been cleared. 

I dismissed the System notice and looked at the others. We were standing in front of a set of barred metal doors. They were huge, rising far above my own height.

“What can I expect in there?” I asked.

“The dungeon’s boss is a level eighteen minotaur,” Jorge replied.

I winced and measured the height of the doors again. “It’s big?” I guessed.

“Very,” he said emphatically.

“Alright,” I said. “What other minions does the boss command?”

“None,” Bayan said.

“Which was a large part of the problem,” Jorge mumbled.

While I found the air mage’s comment curious, I didn’t pursue it further. “What else can you tell me about the boss?” I asked Bayan.

“The minotaur is quick on his feet. Much quicker than his size suggests, so be wary of him charging. On the other hand, his attacks are slow. You will see them coming well before they reach you.” Bayan paused. “But his axe packs a wallop.” He scrutinized my armor. “You may be able to survive a hit from it, but none of us managed even that much.”

“Got it,” I said. “Don’t let the puny mages get struck.”

Lauren grinned. “You better not, tank-boy.”

Despite the humor in her words, I could sense a measure of, if not fear, then concern, lurking behind her words. The Paragons were all on their last lives, after all.

I nodded reassuringly at Beth’s sister. “How well armored is it?” I asked.

“It isn’t,” Jorge said, “but we have no idea how tough its skin is to pierce.”

Hmm, hammer or sword? I wondered. I rubbed my chin thoughtfully while I considered my options. Eventually, I decided to keep both handy. 

Withdrawing the weapons from my inventory, I handed the warhammer to Bayan. “Here, can you hold this? I’ll give it a go with the sword first, but if that fails, I’ll swap to the hammer.”

Bayan nodded. 

“Alright, I expect I will be the only one doing damage,” I said.

“Not exactly,” Bayan said, gesturing to Gavin with his chin.

The youth, I saw, was drawing a longbow out of his inventory. Seeing my glance in his direction, Gavin explained, “After our failure yesterday, I purchased the perception Essence when we got back to town, but my archery skill still isn’t much to write home about. I’ll try to support you, but don’t expect much.” 

I nodded and looked at the rest of the Paragons. No one else had drawn a bow. “What will the rest of you be up to?”

“Lauren earned the life Essence when we completed the first dungeon,” Bayan said. “She will act as your primary healer.”

“Wow, that’s great,” I said, feeling no small measure of relief at that. I had not relished the thought of doing my own healing while trying to dodge the boss’ own attacks and holding his attention.

“Beth will buff your strength and damage,” the guildmaster continued. “She has divine Essence now.”

I looked at the red-haired woman wonderingly. Divine Essence? How does that work? I would have to question her about it later though, because Bayan was still speaking.

“… while Jorge will keep you hasted, buffing both your movement and attack speed.”

I whistled appreciatively. Despite not being able to attack the boss directly, the three Paragons would provide me with much more help than I expected.

I glanced at Bayan. “What about you?”

“I’m a charmer,” Bayan said.

I stared at him. “What? I never would have guessed,” I said, deadpan.

Smiles broke out amongst the others. “He doesn’t mean literally, you idiot,” Beth said with a roll of her eyes. “That’s his Class.”

“Ah,” I said, pretending to be enlightened, while not understanding in the least.

“I can dominate and charm enemies,” Bayan explained before I was forced to reveal my ignorance. “And while the boss’s magic resistance makes him immune to most mental assaults, I can still enrage him so that he remains focused on his closest target—you. That will hopefully keep him from charging the rest of us.”

“I see,” I said, finally understanding.

“Bayan’s Class is how we got through the rest of the dungeon without a tank,” Beth said. “We used the dungeon’s own critters against them. Bayan kept charming one to act as our meat-shield.”

“Oh?” I said. “Is that what I am now?”

Beth only grinned in response.

“Anyway, the tactic failed to work with the boss, because—” Jorge continued.

“Because he didn’t have any minions to dominate,” I finished for him. “I understand.” I hesitated. “There is perhaps something I should mention of my own abilities.”

The Paragons looked at me curiously.

“I also gained a Class in the first dungeon, and now I have a companion.” 

Beth tilted her head to the side. “A companion?”

I nodded. “A spirit guard more correctly.” I turned my attention inwards. “Night, show yourself to them, but don’t let them guess your true nature. Keep your form blurry.”

“As you wish, Dace,” the black dragon replied as she flowed out of me.

The Paragons gasped and stepped back.

“That’s her,” I said unnecessarily.

“Her?” Beth asked.

I glanced at the billowing cloud enclosing me. “Yes, she is the spirit of a wyvern.” 

“Ah,” Bayan said. “So, the rumors spreading around town are true. A wyvern did attack the Crows’ camp.” He glanced at Night. “Just not a living one.”

“Will your companion be able to help us against the minotaur?” Jorge asked, staring at Night’s spectral form in fascination.

“What do you think, Adi? Will Night’s petrifying gaze work on the boss?”

Adi was silent for a moment. “If the dungeon boss is level eighteen as the Paragons have stated, then no. As a lesser spell, Night’s petrifying gaze will only work on creatures up to level ten. The chances of her other abilities being effective are likewise low.”

My shoulders sagged slightly in disappointment. I had been somewhat hopeful that my companion’s magic could work where the others hadn’t. But it had been a slim hope to begin with. 

I refocused my attention on Jorge. “It’s unlikely.” I admitted. “Her own attacks are primarily magic, too, but I didn’t want any of you to be caught by surprise in case she made an appearance.”

They nodded, understanding what I meant.

“Alright, then,” I said, readying my weapons. “Now that we got all that settled, let’s get this done.”