“Oh, shit.”

James looked at the vacant portal and dropped Ian. Ian looked over as well and his eyes went wide. James ran his hand through his hair as he took a few deep breaths. They acted as a few moments of relief as he tried to figure out what to do. His scattered thoughts were interrupted by Wes.

“What is going on?”

“I don’t know,” James said after a minute, “rest here while I check on something.”

James needed more time to think and figure things out. He needed more information and more importantly a way out instead of continuing down into further floors. James pushed his movement skills to the limit as he ran back towards the floor’s entrance. While running the space gave him time and room to panic and think.

“This shouldn’t be happening. I don’t know in what ways or why this has happened. We need to get out of here. I don’t like the new variations. If I don’t know how the dungeon has changed then I can’t control the dungeon. And more importantly I can't control the safety for the novices along with myself. I know that continuing down is a bad idea but may be the only way out. If I could get them to the safe zone on floor 20 then we could use my emergency return tokens. If we go any further I’m not sure if I can protect them. And I’m not sure if I can protect myself.’

James knew the outcome of his journey before he arrived, but he looked at the doorway anyway. It stood barren and empty. The way they had come had closed as soon as the last of them had entered the floor. The only way out was through the exit gate, which was closed at least on this floor, or by completing the dungeon. James looked around hoping to notice something, anything that might help him figure out why the dungeon had changed the way it had. He could only hope that he could leave through the 20th floor.

James dropped to the ground and looked up at the carved stone that made up the formal portal. To his senses, all the magic had been drained from the entrance. The left-over magic was now funneling towards the portal on the other side of the floor.

‘I need a real plan. We can’t stay here forever. Not with the supplies, we have now and even if we could the dungeon would just collapse the floor on us forcing us out. From the skills they have shown I know we can reach the 20th floor with some of my help along the way. If we have to go further then that’s another story. I need the return tokens to work on the 20th-floor safe zone or else we are fucked. We might be able to skirt past the drake with a few injuries if we’re lucky, but it can be vicious, especially for those who are unprepared. I would have to deal with the brunt of it while avoiding injury and wasting resources. But that is a problem for the future. I need to catalog my supplies before I head back. Then I can work on clearing the floors one piece at a time.’

James turned over his bag and dumped it out before sorting it out. He went through his stuff. First was his food and safety supplies which included rope, torches, extra clothes, and Firestarter along with a few small knives. Next was the items from the dungeon. One agility ring, one necklace of strength, and one non-magical one as well. Finally, there were some personal supplies for himself. Three vials of poison, meant for special circumstances perhaps such as this, could be used a dozen times. James looked over the items in disappointment.

‘Only the poisons and maybe the rope will be useful if we have to go much farther. If I have to I can hand out the items but that likely won’t create a large difference. For now, I will share them if things aren’t working out. I wish I had more supplies for the endurance floors. I can only hope that the dungeon will continue to be generous with its rewards.’

James packed up his bag knowing nothing he did could or would change the contents within without the luck of the dungeon. He prayed for a safe journey and ran.

James tensed when he saw the unchanged portal and the two people left waiting. Somewhat to his expectation, Ian had already left for the next floor.

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“When did they leave.”

“About five minutes after you left. I didn’t want to follow because I didn’t know what to expect,” said Naomi.

“Damn. Let's get going. Let’s hope that they got the correct map with the rest of their information.”

James took out his bow and had Naomi and Wes follow him in as they entered the 18th floor. The scene shifted as they passed through the portal. James turned around just to make sure and found the portal back deactivated. The floor had changed from open and dead to closed off and metallic.

A long hallway lit by the dungeon’s power extended forward for a bit until it branched into the many hallways of the minotaur maze.

“Which way should we go?” Wes asked.

“That is the question. We’ve got three ways and no information to go on yet. We could try and assume they know the way but the ‘right’ way won’t be clear for a few more turns. We will have to find one of the minotaurs to show us the way. We will have to hope that they can protect themselves or find us before it becomes a problem. For now, though we head right as it is most likely to be the right way for most variations of this maze.”

The pathway through the maze was consistent and empty. To keep a good pace James pointed out all the traps he saw along the way along with how to spot and disarm them. Together they took a few twists and turns and slowed when they heard sounds of stomping. In front of them near another turn-off point stood two axe-wielding minotaurs that stood almost as tall as the ceiling would allow. Horns stuck out from above their dark fur. They each wore some light armor that protected without hindering their movements as they marched toward James and the others.

“Wes get in front. Be careful of their swings from the side.”

James drew his string back with an arrow until it couldn’t be tightened anymore. The string whipped back after being pulled back launching the arrow forward at a speed that could barely be followed by the eye. The arrow launched at the first minotaur’s head. With a downward swing, it deflected the arrow downward but as it did, so the arrow moved unnaturally. With a hint of magic, the arrow dropped a few inches in height and impaled itself in the minotaur’s chest.

This confused the minotaur giving James a chance to fire a few of his more impactful shots. Between some of Naomi’s shots, he fired his more magical ones. Bursts of energy that was mostly fire and force struck the minotaur repeatedly. It slowed it down slightly, but most wounds only caused some bleeding and burnt fur.

The minotaur swung down on Wes rattling his shield. James took another shot this time at the minotaur’s foot which allowed Wes enough breathing room to block the axe coming towards his side. James charged up another shot and released it such that the minotaur’s axes were swinging down and unable to block. Wes was exhausted but the first minotaur collapsed. The piercing arrow had gone right through the monster’s head and into the chest of the one behind them. They were lucky that the hallways only allowed one at a time comfortably. BY having Wes block the path they were unable to double-team him effectively.

The second minotaur was actually smart enough to change its tactics a bit. It realized that the real threat was James who was hiding behind the small boy holding the shield. A few arrows from James and Naomi harmed its body to a mixture of small wounds or minor annoyances.

Wes grunted, his hands slipping, as he was pushed aside quite by the remaining minotaur. James fired one last shot before ducking under an axe.

“Naomi back away. Wes stay in front of her.”

James used this chance up close with the minotaur to stab it with a knife in a few known weak points in its legs. This opened an opportunity for James to slip behind the minotaur. He then created some more space between the two of them before anything more dangerous could happen to him.

The minotaur spun around to face James which left Naomi time and space to freely fire some arrows. Some of her arrows entered the minotaur an inch or so but only if they had been charged up. The rest only annoyed the monster and bounced off free of damage. The minotaur swung down and cut an arrow in half making sure James couldn’t pull the same tricks.

James switched up his tactics once the minotaur started charging. Instead of preparing more magical options, he launched repeated volleys of arrows. Many trios of arrows fired off in rapid succession. There were too many arrows for the minotaur to deal with at once. Arrows pelted the minotaur’s head, arms, and chest causing more bleeding.

James ducked and spun under the minotaur’s attacks. He leaned back and pushed forward with a dagger in his hand. James slipped his hand underneath the minotaur’s weapons and jabbed his knife up and into the minotaur’s chin. The minotaur paused and released a muttering of sounds as James twisted his knife.

The minotaur dropped dead at his feet.

“Let’s get going. These minotaurs have held us up more than I expected. In the future aim for their knees and neck if possible.”