The moment they were sucked into the tree, warm sticky gloom enveloped the party. Countless glimmering objects lit up the darkness. Like myriad stars, they scattered their soft lights, yet their glow was incomparable to the sunset. For a brief moment, most members found themselves blinded. As if a thick curtain had fallen, they were robbed of their most reliable sense - their vision.

Experienced and on guard, Raven first snapped to his senses. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and instinctively barked a command, "Defensive formation. Healer priority."

"To your right."

He heard Jeje's tense voice and unsheathed his sword. The blade was released with a metallic cold scrape. The sound broke through the darkness and drew the party's attention. Simultaneously, he used his right hand to reach out and grab Harumi. Just like the Cait Sith suggested, she was loitered a few steps to his right. His fingers precisely dug into her robe and he jerked his arm back.

"Wah!"

With a surprised cry, her small body was flung closer and she slammed into the broad back of a man. In her spooked and silly confusion, she heard the stamping of feet. The rest of the party moved swiftly. With no utterance, as if they had practiced it numerous times, they found their positions and formed a tight circle. Before long, she was surrounded and locked in a stronghold of flesh. She couldn't see anything, but she felt a bit warm. Their breaths colored her darkness.

Ding.

Drawn by the sense of comradeship, the AI joined too.

|Welcome to the Land of The Lustrous.

Seven-member party. Participants: Raven, Renata, Leo, Jeje, Harumi, Leticia, Maim.|

It was a pointless remark; a simple and obvious explanation. Yet, wrapped in the gloom, the genderless voice came out distorted and creepy. She shivered. Hidden behind the backs of her teammates, she heard them take their weapons, clench their grips, and prepare for an assault.

But not only Harumi was straining her ears. Raven was too. In the darkness, he smiled.

He was content. The team was a bit rough at the edges but they were well coordinated and calm. They moved fast and followed his orders. Everything else could settle with practice and time. And this exploration just happened to be the perfect practical opportunity. It could boost their cohesiveness as a team while providing them some needed experience and insights...

He caressed his scabbard and glanced toward Jeje. The Cait Sith wasn't a fighter but he was sharper than most. He was quick to assess the details, read between the lines, and provide timely assistance. He had a lot of potential and with some guidance, he could lead his own team. On the other hand, Maim's sense of presence could topple the stealth of a thief. He was so inconspicuous that Raven had forgotten about him until the AI's sudden reminder. The others didn't need to be mentioned...

The sole problem was Harumi. She was too flustered and constantly scared. She was an acquaintance from World of Oblivion, but she had joined them for less than a week before they switched to Euclex. Ultimately she could be seen as a newbie. Despite her healing talent being second to none, only time would show if she would grow or sink lower.

He used his Precog to sense for malice, shook his head indiscernible, and asked simply, "Details?"

As the leader, he felt a bit helpless.

Jeje and Leticia had their night vision. Renata posed powerful magical sense, while the angel race could detect life force. In comparison, in this kind of environment, he was like a fish out of the water. His Precog was too limited. The signals were vague and it reacted only to creatures bearing malice. Not all dangers were veiled in human emotions and thoughts. In the end, he could only use physical methods like shutting his eyes to accelerate pupil accommodation and prey for the best.

Even before Raven could urge him, Jeje's eyes had already lit. He scanned his surroundings and spoke consciously. "No visible enemies. An underground cavern. No, a tall and medium-wide corridor. It branches just like a maze. Numerous glowing crystals are embedded in the ceiling and walls. Soil and stone flooring. Flat and dry, as far as I see." He deliberately held back some speculations, afraid of influencing the leader's judgment.

"Don't let your guard down. Wait a few minutes for our eyes to get used to the darker environment. Those without vision keep them close in the meantime. Then-"

Ding

Raven's words were interrupted by a melodious sound, followed by an incessant string of system notifications.

| Minimap function disabled.|

| Chat function disabled.|

| Trade function disabled.|

| Connection to the outside world disabled.|

| Free dungeon exit disabled.|

| Pain levels increased from the standard to 47%.|

| Forced exit upon death. Death penalty 1 hour (Euclex time)|

| In case of a deliberate Log Out the whole party will be deemed dead. Everyone will be forced out of the dungeon and will be subjected to a thrice-increased penalty. The protection time will be lifted and the Land of the Lustrous's precise coordinates will be exposed.|

When the last word sang through the air, he softly exhaled. The AI answered most of his questions, but the answers were not what he wanted to hear. Not in the least.

"Fuck!" Leo cursed loudly and stomped his feet in the dirt, raising small clouds of dust particles.

Bang

"Ouch. What the fuck?"

He felt something smooth and sturdy slap at his knees and nearly stumbled forward.

"Silence. Keep the bearish acts for the circus. It's not like we didn't expect the prohibitions. If you keep speaking so loudly, I can't promise that I won't end up hitting you with my staff." Renata rotated the rod in her hands and hissed with annoyance.

"You already did!"

Bang

"Fuck it. Ok, ok, man, you are like a bloody dictator. Stalin, Putin, Hitler, Renata... What a great lineup! No wonder you are so short and still single."

Bang

Another swing came from the dark and Leo pursed his lips shut. Outwardly he didn't dare to speak, but in his mind world, a colorful tongue and a lot of profanities diligently described the red-headed elf. He clenched his fists and imagined how he would give her a piece of his mind. He just had to wait until they finished this lame exploration. Just a bit more!

"Both of you. Shut it. Or the next round you won't be part of the roster." Raven finally adjusted his vision and opened his eyes.

After he saw the pair reluctantly nod, he turned to face Jeje and spoke, "With the minimap and the chat functions disabled, your insight was proven correct. The first floor is a labyrinth. Your job will be to keep an eye on the route and draw us a map. Use your personal terminal and make it detailed. I am open to advice regarding the terrain and anything that comes to your mind. Don't rush to engage in combat and stay beside Harumi. None of you two are permitted to die. This round depends on your efforts. Don't waste it."

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Got it." The Cait Sith nodded his head, rather deflated. He was a bit eager to improve his hand-to-hand skills.

Ignoring the cat's antics, Raven continued, "You all remember the plan. We aim for 16 hours of exploration, in which we cover as much distance as possible. If we crack up the labyrinth, that will be the best. However, without a bird's eye, it will be tricky to find the exit right off the bat. Don't let it dishearten you...

"The trade function is closed, so don't waste your supplies. Bear with small scratches and rely on Harumi for the heavier wounds. Yes, pay particular attention and don't venture alone. Without the chat, I can't have you get lost..."

He thought for a moment and deliberated on his next words. "Keep in mind the increased level of pain. Forty-seven percent is a lot and the first injury may pose a great shock. To negate this to a certain extent, I suggest that before we begin, we should inflict a knife wound on each other and get used to the newer sensations..."

"W- what? We will cut ourselves now?" The Angel jumped on her feet and tried to retreat only to bump into Leo. She bowed in apology and felt his large palm pet the top of her head. He spoke gently, "Calm down, kiddo. It's just a small cut."

To show her it wasn't a big deal, he directly pulled out a knife and sliced through his wrist. Yet, he used more force than expected. His skin was cut like a paper and the knife easily sliced through his muscles, veins, and even his artery. Instantly, the cut spurted a crimson fountain. The blood drew an arch and splashed Harumi's face.

The idea of a small illustration was good, but his execution was rather unfortunate. His actions backfired. Instead of relief, the girl felt terrified. She quickly ran back, her complexion drained of its color. Her teeth clattered and she shrank into a ball.

Bang

The staff came as a promise and slammed at his foot. Before he could cry out from the pain, Renata stretched her hand and pinched him in anger, "Buffon! What do you think you are doing? God, how can you be so tactless and stupid? Do you want Haru to faint?!"

Feeling a bit guilty, Leo pushed her away and grumbled under his breath. His voice lacked the previous energy. "Old hag. I was just-"

"Silence." Renata didn't let him finish his words and turned to placate the small healer. "It will be alright. Calm down and listen to this big beautiful sister."

She caressed Harumi's back, cleared her throat, and continued, "I hate to agree with these masochist fellows, but Raven is right. We all need to get used to the pain and you are not an exception. Although you will be safe in the middle, at times, we may not be able to provide you with cover. When that happens, injuries are hard to evade..."

Finding her words a bit lacking, she thought for a second and provided some praise, "You need to be strong. You are our team's healer. We believe in you and your skills. You are a good and reliable girl. Thus, we aren't afraid to leave our life in your hands. You just need to look at our backs, grip your hands tighter, and never halt healing. The vanguard's life depends on your job. No, you are the core of the whole exploration. Don't feel pressured. Just believe in yourself!"

Her voice was gentle, and while she spoke even Leo bit his tongue and kept silent.

Harumi looked up and was faced with a kind smile. After a moment or two, she nodded her head and said stuttering, "I- I understand. I will do well. I promise. I- I was just a bit spooked. Everything happened too fast. Yes, I need only a few seconds to prepare myself. I am not scared of pain. I can do it."

Renata nodded and her smile turned even brighter, "Good girl. You are brimming with talent. No one can do this job better than you. Now, go and heal that huge bear before he dies from the blood loss. If he dares to touch even a single hair of yours, this big sister will personally turn him into a meatpaste."

"Which of the injuries are you making her heal? The one I inflicted myself, or the blows that you gave me?" Leo barked unamused.

"Your stupidity takes utter priority. Unfortunately, even magic is not that miraculous to heal this hereditary disease..." Renata nudged at her glasses and urged the healer again. Then, watching Harumi trot over the shielder, she turned to face Raven, and whispered, "Leave her to me. You guys are too senseless to care for a fragile young flower."

"Enough with the metaphors. And I don't know who is the senseless one here. At least, we don't boldly proclaim our own beauty. Anyway, please do a good job. If Harumi bails out, we will have to throw our hands up and forgo clearing the dungeon. I suspect it won't be easy enough for a non-angel healer to cover her work."

Raven rubbed at his temples and proceeded with the cutting and healing lineup. When they were all done, he gave them the order and the exploration began.

Perhaps, because this was the first floor, most of the monsters were surprisingly weak. The variety was lacking as well. There were hordes of rat-like creatures and strange crystalline slugs.

What proved the most difficult was actually the terrain. The still and warm air ate their stamina. The closed and monotone gloom scratched and strained their nerves. And the labyrinth's expansive and complex design forced them to walk in large circles or bump into countless dead ends. Their supplies slowly but surely dwindled.

About three hours into the expedition, after they just had taken a short rest, Jeje's ears shook slightly and he narrowed his eyes.

"Halt!" He cried out and genuflected to touch the dirt on the ground. His fingers felt a tiny vibration. Jerking his head, he looked at his teammates, his lips dry. "Something is coming."

"I don't feel any malice, but keep your guard up." Raven shot a look at Renata, "What do you feel?"

"Nothing." The elf pursed her lips tightly. There were no spiritual fluctuations, or at least she couldn't detect them.

This could mean that either Jeje was nervous and overreacted, or the enemy bragged a great level of stealth. Both didn't make sense. The Cait Sith proved to be a walking and extremely accurate danger detector. Until now he did flawlessly. Meanwhile, a powerful monster with such skill would never expose itself by something like detectable trembles.

"Don't jump to conclusions." Raven read through her mind. He opened his mouth to say something, but Jeje spoke faster, "Incoming! Incoming! I can't determine their location?!"

Rumble

An arm shot out of the ground and grabbed Harumi's ankle, while another erupted from the wall to the left and quickly air in an attempt to strangle her neck.

Clang

Raven moved swiftly and used his sword to parry. His hands shook and he was pushed a step or two back. "All directions! Very powerful!" He was busy deflecting the incoming attacks and he couldn't talk lengthy.

Without any need for his prompt, Renata overtook his position, opened her mouth, and continued, "Beware of the floor, ceiling, and walls. The enemy is bizarre arms made of conjoined rocks. They don't possess mana, but their physical specs are enormous! Jeje and Haru huddle together and stay in the protective formation. The rest of us will deal with the hands."

While she spoke she moved quickly and ran to the healer. Her brain swirled and a spell slipped its confines. She hacked her staff at the hand grabbing the ankle, and a strong gust of wind pierced the rock.

Crack

As the rocks crumbled, Harumi sucked a deep breath. In the second or two it took for Renata to break through its clutch, the appendage's grip had shattered her bones. Albeit halved the pain was excruciating. Yet, she didn't cry out. Instead, she was surprisingly silent. Her eyes just flickered with a strange and sad glow resembling a reminisce as they reflected the descending chaos in her closest surroundings.

From all directions, countless new arms emerged and shot for the party.

Like a ghost, Main appeared and swung his pair of swords. With a scalpel precision, he deflected an arm, then went for another. Simultaneously, Leo's veins bulged and he issued a deafening roar. It seemed to scare the arms. They paused for a moment before half of them changed their aim and shot for his shield.

Bang

He pulled his shield closer and accepted their assault. As they rained on top of the silvery surface, his body stood firm. The only thing that betrayed the power they carried was the two dents under his feet and the shakes of the ground.

Raven wasn't idle as well. His shoes glimmered and he jumped all over the battlefield. His sword danced in the air, using the inertia and his owner's power and skills to change the direction of the incoming appendages. Although he wasn't strong enough to take them directly, he didn't need to do so. It was enough to parry and aim for the slim gaps between the conjoined structures.

A few teardrops silently rolled down Harumi's cheeks and she opened her mouth. The air expanded her chest, climbed to her throat, and bypassing her vocal cords slipped through her lips.

"Strong are the winds, but sturdy the forests...

powerful ground supports their roots~"

A beautiful melody with a low timbre inundated the air muting the noise. Her voice was contralto. It was the lowest female voice on the scale.

Unlike the high pitches, it flowed like a thick golden syrup, slow, viscous, and imbibed with something unspeakable. The words carried a mysterious weight unbefitting a seventeen-year-old girl. The melody empowered them further.

"Strong are the winds, but sturdy the forests...

lighting may strike, it won't burn them down~

Strong are the winds, but sturdy the forests...

centuries pass and help them grow high~

Strong are the winds, but sturdy the forests...

the mighties storms shall come to a halt~"