After the shift, I heard them approaching, and sure enough, there they were. The first one I noticed had bright red hair, messy and wild, almost reflecting the vibrant energy in his green eyes. He looked about my age, or the age I look like—or maybe younger—but his face carried a spark of mischief, a casual confidence in the way he walked. His outfit was practical, made for movement, with gloves that looked like they'd seen plenty of work. There was an adventurer's flair to his whole look, like he'd been through enough trials to wear the lifestyle comfortably. He smiled wide at me, his expression almost daring me to ask what kind of trouble he'd been up to.
The second man, however, couldn’t have been more different. He was tall, dressed in eccentric clothes that felt completely out of place. His sharp suit was adorned with intricate embroidery and patterns, and a wide-brimmed hat with a feather topped off the ensemble. His long, dark hair and caricaturey posture made him look more like a magician than a dungeon explorer. Even the way he moved seemed delicate, careful, as if he was meant for parlors and ballrooms, not the harsh realities of the world we stood in. His eyes were calm, almost too composed, like he had all the time in the world.
It struck me as odd how differently they fit into the scene. The red-haired one, Licht, at least looked like he somewhat belonged here, as if he could blend into the shifting chaos of the world’s underbelly. But the other? His name, Orion, matched his extravagant outfit; he seemed plucked from some entirely different plane. I couldn’t help but smile at the contrast as I sized them up.
“I know this one,” I said, pointing to Orion with a smirk before shifting my hand toward Licht. “And I can easily guess who this one is. But still, mind introducing yourselves for him?” I jerked my thumb back toward the monolith behind me. “I’m sure he's curious as to who you two are.”
At the mention of "him," their gazes left me and locked onto the monolith. Its surface began to glow faintly, and as it did, a voice echoed—not in the air, but in our minds. It was peculiar, not a sound in the traditional sense, but a feeling of words, as if spoken in their own voices.
---
Echo-32: Dungeon Master 08 is right. I won't mind a little introduction.
---
I was used to it by now, unphased by the voice's direct approach. But the two of them? Their expressions betrayed confusion—not about who was speaking, but how they were supposed to handle a voice in their minds without any sound. The first to recover was Orion, who adjusted his stance, sweeping into a low bow that matched his eccentric outfit.
“I am Dungeon Master 02,” he began, his voice as dramatic as his clothes. I had encountered him a couple of times before. He was one of Dungeon Master 07's inseparable protégés, along with the latest-born Dungeon Master. The fact that he was here without Dungeon Master 07 suggested good news to me—it confirmed an answer I had been heavily expecting. "The name I was given was Orion..." It seemed like he wanted to add something more but chose not to.
Then the red-haired one spoke up, standing with a casualness that matched his grin. “I am Dungeon Master 05, though in Fiendfell I go by Licht. Officially, I’m an adventurer.”
Despite being an adventurer myself, I had never met this particular Dungeon Master. And it wasn’t for lack of opportunity over the past 150 years. It was simply that I had been issued a clear order not to initiate contact with him by Dungeon Master 07, so this was really our first meeting. As Licht spoke, the voice returned, resonating in our minds again, waking the boy I was holding in my arms.
---
Echo-32: Since you've introduced yourselves, I believe it’s only fair I do the same. But you all already know who I am.
---
The voice, though emotionless, always carried the risk of sounding condescending. But I had grown used to interpreting Dungeon Master 00’s will; I could almost imagine him chuckling as he said those words. The two young men, however, were left stiff, their gazes still fixed on the monolith—on Echo-32, the room's Dungeon Guardian, and the vessel through which Dungeon Master 00, one of the first, was communicating with us.
Sensing their unease, I decided to break the tension. "Since everyone’s introducing themselves, I might as well join in too." I adjusted the child in my arms, making sure he could now look at our guests. “I am Dungeon Master 08, but out there, you can call me Arianna. I’m many things, but I think you all mostly know me as an adventurer, maybe even a king, though not anymore. Lately, I’ve been more known as Kingslayer, which is partly why I’m here. But still, that’s me.”
At this point, I shifted the child in my arms so that he was fully presented to them. Despite waking up, he made no fuss, just stared at them with mellow, curious eyes. “This little cutie here, I believe, is the reason you're here,” I said, pointing at Orion. “This is Dungeon Master 10, the fifth incarnation of him. I’ve chosen a new name for him. From here on out, out there, you may call him Julian. Lovely name, don’t you think?”
Both Dungeon Masters looked at him with expressions I couldn’t quite place—confused, maybe even lost. At first, I thought they might have forgotten that I had found a way to control the spawning of us Dungeon Masters through [Greed and Resurgence], but the fact that they didn’t question it made me realize it wasn’t the case. Knowing Dungeon Master 07, he would have briefed them thoroughly on this. It was just one of those things he was meticulous about.
The duo nodded, and to my mild surprise, asked a question that I had expected them to voice much earlier. Dungeon Master 02, after glancing around, finally spoke on behalf of both of them.
"Where is Dungeon Master 09?"
"And Dungeon Master 13?" the other added quickly.
Those were perfectly reasonable questions. They were led to believe that the two would be here, so it was only natural for them to wonder where they had gone. I couldn’t fault them for that.
"They’re not here." I simply responded.
"Not here?" they echoed, both frowning now.
"Not anymore," I clarified. "Dungeon Master 09 went to Quel'thalas first, and Dungeon Master 13 followed him shortly after returning from the land of men, where he was sent to inform Dungeon Master 07 of what happened there."
At this, I briefly lowered my gaze to the small Dungeon Master resting in my arms. Our eyes met, and I gave him a slight smile. He was quiet, but I knew, like me, he wanted to speak. To introduce himself, like we all did. But for all his titles, he was still a recently born infant. Speech was beyond his grasp. Sure, he could make noises when he wanted something, which he often did, but now? Now, he held back, why? There could only be one answer.
Hehehe, trying to keep up appearances, aren’t we? There’s no shame in being a baby.
Beside those of us directly involved, Dungeon Master 09 and I were the first to learn of the events in Quel'thalas. When Dungeon Master 10 died, he spawned here beside Dungeon Master 00, allowing me to learn of what had unfolded in the land of the elves, and how their attempt to secure an authority had failed—leading to Dungeon Master 10's death.
Given the complex position I found myself in, I couldn’t leave this dungeon unless absolutely necessary. So I sent Dungeon Master 09 to assess the situation there first. About a month later, Dungeon Master 13, also involved in the mess, joined me. After having him secure a new vessel for the vessel-less Dungeon Master 10, I sent him to inform Dungeon Master 07 of the situation and forwarded some “suggestions” on how to handle the matter.
Once Dungeon Master 13 returned from his mission, I had him join Dungeon Master 09 in Quel'thalas. He’d be of more use there than waiting around with me. In total, it’s been around four months since I managed to give Dungeon Master 10 a new vessel, and about two and a half since Dungeon Master 07 was informed of the news. Though it felt like a long time, I had to acknowledge that it was an improvement in organization compared to what it used to be.
But looking at the duo in front of me, their frowns deepened, clearly disapproving of my unexpected maneuver.
"A problem?" I asked with a smile.
"We weren’t told about this," Orion said.
"Yes, we thought we were going to meet with you four. five, if you count Dungeon Master 00," the other chimed in.
I could almost picture Dungeon Master 07 in my mind at that moment. These two were his protégés, after all. Despite appearances, they were a lot like him—or perhaps it was more accurate to say they learned it from him.
"That was the plan," I conceded, standing up. "But adjustments had to be made for the circumstances. We will meet them both in Quel'thalas."
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"Assuming, of course, that Dungeon Master 07 agreed to my proposal." I turned to them, seeking confirmation. "He did agree, didn’t he?"
Dungeon Master 02 responded, "He did. Dungeon Master 07 entrusted you with the duty to retrieve the newly discovered authority."
Of course, he did. I knew Dungeon Master 07 well enough to know he would have wanted to handle this personally, especially after the failed first attempt. But considering his current position and everything he had to manage in the land of men, he couldn’t afford to refuse my proposal to handle this myself. He likely questioned whether it was a good idea, but in the end, he had no choice but to concede.
"Well then, gentlemen," I said, walking up to Dungeon Master 02 namely Orion and carefully handing him the infant Dungeon Master 10. He seemed awkward with the child in his arms, much to my amusement.
Watching them, I came to a slightly sad realization. Turning to the monolith behind us, I spoke, "I’m sure you would’ve loved to catch up with them longer, Dungeon Master 00, but I’ll have to snatch them away for now."
The light vibrated softly from the monolith, filling the air around us.
---
Echo-32: Do not worry about me. I understand how urgent this is. I am already thankful to have seen them at all. Besides, I have had my fill of Dungeon Master company for the past several decades.
---
"You make it sound like we bored you," I replied, smirking.
---
Echo-32: Trust me, not at all. But do visit when you have the time.
---
"Don’t worry, we will. Once I’m done with everything, I’ll come back here. One way or another."
The voice was silent for a moment before it echoed again, softer this time.
---
Echo-32: I see I look forward to that... Now then, I will teleport you three near the entrance.
---
Without another word, the surroundings shifted. The eerie, lugubrious atmosphere of the mausoleum was replaced by a humid, green, moss-scented environment. Just as Dungeon Master 00 said, we had been teleported near the entrance.
A few dozen steps later, we were out of the dungeon's domain, standing once again in Fiendfell. I hadn’t seen this place for nearly half a century. Taking a deep breath, I found myself in a nostalgic and surprisingly optimistic mood.
Casting a glance at the two Dungeon Masters beside me, I lingered on Orion, who still awkwardly held Dungeon Master 10.
"Are you sure you can make this journey alone?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice. Despite his power and skills, I couldn’t help but worry. This part of the land of men was dangerous—monstrous, even. Some considered it worse than the underworld itself, which lay on the other side of the mountain chain, home to the demon race.
"It’s a long way from here to civilization," I added.
"If that’s what you’re concerned about, don’t be," Orion replied confidently. "It is true the journey is long, but Dungeon Master 05 and I set up staves along the way. I’ll be making the journey in segments. Twelve, to be precise. Once I reach civilization, I can travel the rest of the way by more conventional means."
That explanation put me at ease, at least somewhat.
"I see. Then I leave Dungeon Master 10 to you," I said, reaffirming why he had been chosen for this task.
Dungeon Master 10, in his current state, could not be part of our mission to recover the authority. As much as he might’ve wanted revenge on what killed him, he was still too young—barely three months into his new vessel. He needed to be brought somewhere safe to grow into a fully functional being again.
I lowered my gaze to him, the infant Dungeon Master. He couldn’t speak, but I knew exactly what he wanted from me. Gently stroking his cheek, I murmured, "It might take some time, but I’ll uphold justice for you and for 'him.' And I will recover that authority. Leave it to me. In exchange, I want you to be a good boy. I've given you the name Julian—this is the second name I’ve given you. Don’t make me rename you a third time, okay?"
I nodded as Dungeon Master 10 silently responded with a small nod of his own. "Good boy," I said, gently patting his head before stepping back. It was time to leave him in the care of Dungeon Master 02, which, in this case, meant leaving him with Dungeon Master 07. He would provide a safe place for the little one to grow, as he should.
Exchanging a silent nod with Orion, I watched as he reached into the air. Instantly, a notification blinked in the corner of my vision:
A small rift formed in the air, and Dungeon Master 02 casually pulled out a long, elegant wand. He raised it, pointing the tip skyward.
The gem at the wand’s end began to glow, casting an ethereal light. Four layered magic circles appeared, one after another, as if they were opening a rift through the very fabric of space itself. Orion looked over at us and gave a small nod. "Well," he said with a slight grin, "Good luck to you two."
His words lingered for only a second before the next series of notifications appeared:
Before I could process it all, he and Dungeon Master 10 disappeared, vanishing into thin air as the rift sealed itself shut.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where they had vanished, feeling a slight pang of envy. I wish I had unlocked spatial skills like that, I sighed inwardly. But, well, there was no point in dwelling on it.
I turned toward Dungeon Master 05, my new traveling companion. "We should get going too," I declared. He nodded, but as he did, a sudden thought struck me. "Wait, do you have a skill that allows you to fly?"
The red-haired Dungeon Master shook his head.
"I see..." I muttered. "Considering your class, that was a stupid question."
Naturally, if he couldn’t fly, we’d have to find another way. Conventional methods of travel were out of the question. A journey to the land of elves by horse would take months, not to mention we’d have to cross the sea. Flying was our only real option, especially for me, considering I couldn't afford to set foot in human lands—not with my status as a wanted fugitive. Kingslayer, I reminded myself bitterly.
Then, another realization hit me. I turned toward Dungeon Master 05. "With everything that happened, I forgot to ask—did the fish take the bait?"
"Bait?" He looked confused at first, and for a moment, I feared Dungeon Master 07 hadn't told him about one of my plans or to be exact—demand. But then a look of understanding crossed his face, and I felt relief. "Ah, yes. Dungeon Master 07 told me that he left the land of men just a week before we came here."
A smile crept across my lips. "I see, that’s good news. It gives us all the more reason to hurry. We can’t let our fish escape with our bait."
I took a few steps forward and raised my hand to the sky. I’m not sure exactly where she is, I thought, but she should be nearby.
A series of magic circles materialized above my outstretched arm, each one layering over the other like a tower. A sharp crack echoed through the air as a beam of ice shot into the sky. I held it for about thirty seconds, and by the time I let go, the surrounding forest had frozen solid. Snowflakes danced down, the ground shimmering with ice as entire trees stood trapped in a crystalline frost.
I turned to Dungeon Master 05, who stood there, bewildered by my display. I was about to offer an explanation when a sound from above made me pause. The sky, now tinged with a strange, pale hue from my ice magic, had shifted in color. Amidst the clouds, a silhouette appeared, growing larger as it descended. The figure swooped through the sky, diving toward us before pulling up at the last second.
It flew overhead in wide circles, and then, with a roar that shook the earth, the creature began its descent. For a minute, it circled above, gradually lowering itself until, with a deafening crash, it landed. Trees bent and snapped under its weight, and the ground trembled beneath its mighty form.
The beast approached—a massive red-scaled wyvern, wings spread wide and horns crowning its head. I reached up, but even with my height, I could only pat halfway up its massive maw. It had grown so much in my absence.
"Goddess, you’ve gotten fat, Veilleuse-19," I teased, smiling up at my loyal mount.
The wyvern let out a low growl, its hot breath making me wince at the scent. "Alright, alright, you’ve just grown large. If you prefer that," I laughed, patting her side.
She roared again, this time more like a rumbling purr, and I moved toward her wing. Veilleuse-19 obligingly lowered herself to the ground, letting me climb onto her back.
I glanced at Dungeon Master 05, who hadn’t moved from his spot, staring in awe at the creature. His eyes were wide, filled with child-like wonder, and it took him a moment to notice me watching him.
"Sire, our ride has arrived," I called, motioning toward the wyvern’s back.
He blinked in surprise, then hurried over, hesitating only slightly before climbing up behind me. Once he was on, I could see the unease etched on his face. He’s probably wondering how the hell he’s going to stay on.
Back when Veilleuse-19 was a more reasonably sized wyvern, about the length of five horses, I’d used a saddle and reins to ride her. But she’d quickly outgrown that. Now, I had to rely on another method.
I activated a skill, and semi-ethereal chains materialized from my arm, wrapping around me and anchoring me to the wyvern’s back like a wake surfer tethered to a boat.
"Taking off is usually the roughest part," I warned him. "I’d recommend you hold on tight."
"Hold on to what?!" he asked, glancing around in a mild panic.
I gave him a silent stare, and the realization dawned on him. Reluctantly, he grabbed onto me, doing his best to keep his distance. But as I urged Veilleuse-19 forward, he clung tighter, unable to maintain his composure as the wyvern began to run, crashing through trees without a care.
"Well, here we go!" I called out as Veilleuse-19 roared and launched into the air. The ascent was slow but steady, despite her enormous size. Behind me, Dungeon Master 05’s scream echoed through the forest below as he held on for dear life. I couldn’t help but laugh, exhilarated by the feeling of flight and his reaction.
As we ascended higher, the wyvern’s climb steepened, and his grip tightened even more. We broke through the clouds, and I glanced back at him—drenched and trembling, but alive. I felt a slight twinge of guilt, but it vanished when I saw him using a skill to dry himself off. Instead, I steered Veilleuse-19 to the left, guiding her over the mountain chain.
Ahead of us lay the path to the Underworld, the quickest—and safest—route to Quel’thalas, the land of the elves.