Dungeon grounds on the horizon were closing on as we walked towards them. We walked through a path surrounded by fields on both sides. Soon we approached a woman sitting behind a table. This time I wasn’t nervous as my trust in my ring increased. Still, I let Rose speak for both of us.

She showed a blonde hair woman behind a table card and spoke, “Two persons. One regular and one D rank adventurer.”

A woman wrote something into a book before signalling for us to go in. We passed through the small gate in the wall surrounding a dungeon. In contrary to what I expected, there was some kind of glowing orange rift.

‘Uhh, this is much cooler than a random cave I was expecting.’

“Before we enter, we should form a party. I sent you an invite.”

Ding!

Party Request

First open information: Party is the lowest level system supported group. Party members will share XP and information about each other HP and MP. XP can be shared either equally or by merit. Party members will also take a 25+%(depends on skill levels of party leader) reduced damage from party members.

You obtained a party invitation from Rosemary Thorn do you wish to accept it?

Yes/No

‘I guess yes. But I have to make sure that we will share XP by merit. I refuse to let potential enemy leach from me’ I accepted even though I would like to go solo because I knew it would be helpful to have a guide for my first dungeon diving.

In a moment when I accepted the invitation, I could feel some kind of connection create between Rose and me. It was much weaker compared to what I felt when I tamed wolves.

I was already impatient, so I hurried Rose. “Let’s go already. I need XP and please make sure that the XP sharing merit.”

She simply nodded, grabbed me by hand and took me through the rift. I had no time to be surprised as the scenery around me changed instantly. I was standing in a corridor made of red bricks. Fire streamed from the ground from an occasional crack on the ground lightning up a corridor. The ambient temperature in this place was high, but my [Fire Resistance] negated most of it.

Soon a red lizard around a meter long rushed towards me. It stopped two meters from me, opened its mouth and spewed a stream of fire towards me. I sidestepped to avoid its attack. Flames flew by mi side, causing me to sweat even with my resistance. From a distance, I could hear the sound of fighting as Rose fought with the second lizard. Purple lighting formed around my fingers before flying towards the lizard. Flash came as I could see lizards bones for moments like under X-ray. I used my unevolved version of [Death Lightning] as its focused version wasn’t needed at this distance.

Ding!

System Announcement

You killed LV 14 [Lesser Red Salamander]

You obtained 193 XP

You obtained 400 CE

I glanced towards my party member as she just finished her Salamander with the heavily decorated black scythe she brought out of nowhere. No corpse remained of her salamander as it turned to dust.

It surprised me. ‘Ohh, I thought she was some kind of a caster. But it looks like dark arts are not exclusive for casters. At least her scythe reminded me to try the [Absorb Death] spell. ’

I approached the corpse of death salamander and put my hand on it before casting [Absorb Death]. Steam with a purple glow came out of a corpse and slowly flew towards me.

Ding!

System Announcement

First open read: Death Energy can be used as subside for mana. It has no natural regeneration. The only way to get is through absorption. The maximal capacity of death energy is equal to double of maximal mana capacity. This ratio can be improved with levels of [Necromancy] skill.

386 Death Energy absorbed

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Immediately after the announcement corpse of my salamander turned to dust too.

‘She probably absorbed something from the corpse of salamander she killed too as it turned to dust. Good to know.’

There was nothing to talk about, so we quietly walked deeper into the dungeon. The corridor we were walking through soon split into two directions.

“Right one is correct. I already explored the first floors of this dungeon before, so I know” Rose pointed to the right. I leaned behind the corner, checking if it was safe. There were three salamanders further in the corridor. Purple lightning crackled as a concentrated beam of [Focused Feath Ligtning] shoot towards the closest salamander. Salamander lit up for a moment and fell dead to the ground. At the same time, “[Spectral Throw]” Rose shouted as she swung her scythe through the air and a spectral copy of it flew towards the salamander, which partially dodged to the side. Spectral scythe tore through the side of it. Leaving rotten wound behind it as purple smoke flew out of a wound in the direction of Rose. The third salamander sprinted in our direction, full of hatred. Before it could reach us, another purple beam of lightning hit it. Rose speeded up as she glowing rushed towards the injured salamander. It immediately released its breath attacks. Only for it to be absorbed by some purple mint barrier around her. The next second, its head was decapitated before turning into dust.

Ding!

System Announcement

You killed LV 14 [Lesser Red Salamander]

You killed LV 15 [Lesser Red Salamander]

You obtained 401 XP

You obtained 853 CE

You are now level 12

After the fight, I absorbed death energy from the salamanders I killed before continuing. We walked for two minutes until the corridor opened into the hall with a high ceiling. There were three entrances in that room, and the walls were surrounded by a pit filled with fire. Tree meters tall golem made from rock covered in flames stood in the center of the room.

“Is this a boss?” I voiced my question aloud.

“No, these are Flame Stone Golems. They are dealing heavy damage and are pretty tough. However, their agility is low.”

I immediately identified one of them.

Ding!

Analyze Results

Name: None

Species: Flame Stone Golem

HP: 2560/2560

MP: 520/520

Level: 17

Basic Stats:

STR: 223

MAG: 52

AGI: 20

VIT: 256

Skills:

[Fire Resistance IV], [Ligting Resistance II], [Phisical Resistance III], [Magic Resistance I], [Water Weakness II], [Burning Fist II], [Fire Breath II]

Level of [Analize] increased to 2

I immediately fired [Focused Death Ligtning]. Golem didn’t even try to dodge as a beam of lightning hit its massive chest. Loud thundering noises echoed as it slowly walked towards us. Rose launched herself towards the golem-like a spring. “[Spectral Cut]!” her scythe glowed in mint colour as she swung her scythe towards its leg. It easily passed through its leg. Weird its leg stayed firmly in its place. Golem swung its burning first towards her, but in that time, she was already gone replicating her attack second time from another side. Meanwhile, I released regular [Death Ligtning] at its head. Cave flashed in purple as part of its head was chipped away. Golem stood on the place and kept swinging around, trying to swap Rose away. Remains of its mouth opened, and a stream of fire came out, hitting the ground under itself. Rose jumped out of direct hit and tanked the heatwave with her barrier. Another purple flash lightened the cave, and the golem finally fell apart.

Ding!

System Announcement

You killed LV 17 [Flame Stone Golem]

You obtained 119 XP (50%)

You obtained 570 CE

Level of [Astrapomancy] increased to 6

You learned passive skill [Ligning Resistance I] as a reward for reaching level 6 of [Astrapomancy]

I slowly walked towards a golems remains and activated [Absorb Death].

“Only two more rooms, and we will be at the boss room,” Rose announced.

I started to feel excitement at the thought of a boss fight.