As the downpour of the storming rain hammered against the roof of the wide snake scale-textured disc floating above the group, Chronia crouched down by the barrier potion net covering the sinkhole to the magic dungeon. Chronia quietly stared into the sinkhole before rising to her feet and turning to the group with a smirk on her face.

"Based on what I'm sensing... I can only guess the magic dungeon is a D or C rank," Chronia stated. Nolazir quietly stared at Chronia with a neutral expression.

"But what about the boss?" Nolazir asked with a monochromatic tone of voice. Chronia raised an eyebrow and scratched her cheek as she glanced back at the sinkhole.

"I don't follow...," Chronia uttered, closing her eyes and humming as she tried to figure out what Nolair was trying to say. In perfect sync, Onix and Malfaroth placed their hands on their chins and deeply hummed.

"If I had to guess, she's implying the dungeon is not what it seems," Malfaroth and Onix stated in unison. The duo stared at each of before aggressively smirking.

"I think I can handle the-," The duo said in sync again before stopping midsentence. Chronia and Lily shook their heads as Onix and Malfaroth continued to say the same things whenever they spoke. Chronia hung her head low as the group's focus became more and more unfocused from trying to get into the magic dungeon.

"Perhaps I should go back and get Ruiria to...," Chronia thought as she began to trail off when she saw a bubble forming on the barrier potion. She crouched down to the bubble as it rose to the surface of the barrier potion net.

"What's this about?". Chronia reached out to poke the bubble but, before she could, the bubble split open. The bubble rapidly expanded, morphing into a larger sphere which swiftly encased Chronia. Chronia perplexedly blinked, slowly spinning around to an upside-down orientation as if she were in zero gravity. The bubble popped off the net with a crunchy metalic pop, alerting the others before the bubble zipped upward and dived bombed into the sinkhole. Other than Onix who amusedly sighed, the others went silent and blinked at the sinkhole.

"Never a dull moment with those two around," Onix remarked smugly while the others were still piecing together what had happened.

By the magic dungeon's towering stone door, faint clacking noises echoed through the hallways of the magic dungeon, making the gem ant residents cry out with crystalline chinks. Luthera picked up a black makeshift horse chess piece and placed it over the last non-king white chess piece. Zalroth stared at the chessboard and defeatedly sighed at seeing the state of the game.

"At least The Zalroth managed to last longer this time," Luthera stated with a neutral voice.

"Survived would be a more accurate word," Zalroth uttered before a lime/teal blur crashed into the chessboard, flinging the broken chess pieces in every direction. The duo glanced down at the chessboard crasher to see a dazed Chronia lying on the broken chessboard. Chronia groaned and rubbed her shoulder while pressing her hand into her shoulder. Chronia eventually opened her eyes and nervously chuckled after locking eyes with Zalroth.

"Don't mind me," Chronia uttered before she sat up and rubbed the back of her head, "Totally didn't mean to drop in like that.". Chronia hopped to her feet while Luthera held the top half of the black queen chess piece. Chronia glanced to her feet before slowly backing up from the destroyed chessboard and chess pieces scattered around the area.

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"Erm... whoopsie," Chronia muttered worriedly, "Sorry for ruining your game.". Zalroth amusedly rolled his eyes at Chronia's antsy nervousness and rose to his feet before raising a hand to Chronia. Chronia swivelled her head towards Zalroth as her pupils dilated before she was flicked on the nose by Zalroth.

"Hey!" Chronia mumbled as she rubbed her nose.

"Don't worry about the game, I wasn't going to win this time anyway," Zalroth remarked before Chronia huffed and crossed her arms.

"Guess that means I saved you from your losing streak, huh?" Chronia said poutingly before lightly nudging Zalroth in his side.

"But, speaking of chess, why are you playing chess in the middle of this magic dungeon?" Chronia asked as she tapped her chin.

"We couldn't figure out how to solve the puzzle-," Zalroth said before stopping at seeing the towering door was not only open but the door's iron golems were crouched around the group, staring down at them with unwavering intrigue. Zalroth silently stared back at the golems before he heavily exhaled.

"How long have they been there?" Zalroth uttered.

"Since One won the first game?" Luthera stated, causing Zalroth to groan.

"And why didn't you say anything?".

"Because The Zalroth seemed more interested in winning the chess game?" Luthera stated neutrally while tilting her head to the side. Zalroth silently rubbed the spot on his head where one of his kitsune ears would be while Chronia faintly snickered. Zalroth rolled his eyes and handed the sign with the riddle to Chronia. Chronia inspected the riddle before nodding her head.

"If I had to guess, the hallway through the large doors is a trap, and the correct way is below us," Chronia stated before Luthera raised the key in her hand, making the golems rise to their feet, and one of them scooped up Zalroth and Chronia. Luthera marched across the area with the golems slowly walking behind her while carrying Zalroth and Chronia on its shoulders. Luthera stopped her march and waved the key around as the golem not carrying anyone marched ahead of Luthera. Luthera waved her arms around like an aircraft marshaller guiding a plane as she orchestrated the golem into a specific spot. She raised her arms into the air, and the golem crouched down while raising a fist.

"Now punch-o!" Luthera exclaimed with a neutral voice while slamming her arm downwards, with the eyes of the golem lighting up in response. The golem hurled its fist directly to the ground before it, smashing straight through it and kicking up dust. The dust surged past Luthera, making her cough, before it was blasted away from a wave of wind mana by Zalroth jumping down to the group with Chronia in his arms. Chronia hopped out of Zalroth's arms, and the two hurried over to Luthera. The trio poked their head over the newly made hole and stared at the goldish floor a few feet down.

"The boss room~," Luthera said before she sat down and began carving a rock with her fingers. Chronia glanced at Luthera and scratched her head.

"Aren't you coming with?" Chronia asked amusedly.

"Negative. Master only told One to find the boss room and make it accessible," Luthera stated before returning to her rock carving. Chronia watched Luthera carve the rock using her fingers with ease. Chronia waved a hand in front of Luthera's face, but Luthera's focus didn't budge, making Chronia sigh in defeat.

"Guess it's just us then," Chronia remarked before turning to Zalroth. Within a split second, Chronia coated her body with a veil of glowing teal/lime qi before turning into a blur and speed-blitzed Zalroth to jump onto his back. The qi dispersed from her body as she wrapped her arms around his neck, making Zalroth arch backwards and gag from behind as he choked.

"Do you mind!?" Zalroth said with agitation in his voice.

"Not my fault you're hiding my portable bed from me," Chronia said with a pout before intensely staring at the back of Zalroth's head in an attempt to make him reveal his kitsune tails. Zalroth rolled his eyes before taking a step forward and dropped into the hole in the ground.

"Ruuddeee-," Chronia said angerly as her voice trailed off and quieted as the duo plummeted to the boss room> Lutherea amused smirked as she scratched the middle of her chest and huffed up pale cyan qi while the gem ants' crystalline chimes bellowed throughout the magic dungeon.