Brianna and Nox encountered giant serpents as they approached the throne room. Areas with them often featured gorgon statues too. The dungeon lord’s strategy appeared to have invested a lot of resources into trapping intruders with Mind Magic. The serpents tried to distract them so their half-human-half-snakes companions could come to life and trap the pair in illusions.
Unfortunately for them, Brianna’s martial abilities and ancestral magic proved enough to keep them at bay. She turned herself into a maelstrom of axes and conjured chains. Nox imagined a decent enchanted weapon or two would turn her into a battlefield terror. He stood back with Otis, sniping. The familiar and he had no trouble keeping the statues within their line of sight, ensuring none turned to their flesh forms.
Wall carvings along the way gave the pair pause. They featured runes Nox had never encountered before, elegant carvings featuring beautiful women, snakes, and several creatures who were a bit of both. Some artwork showed lotuses. Others showed couples locked in amorous activity, and then some featured scenes of horror.
“It tells a story,” Brianna said. While Nox took a break to study the runes and, hopefully, uncover some of the dungeons’ secrets, she took a step back to go around the rooms and inspect the artwork. She pointed at a section depicting a man and woman. The artist had gone to great lengths to depict the latter’s beauty with sharp features, elegant curves, and generous endowments. Meanwhile, waves and sea beasts surrounded the man. He wore a crown that looked like coral and carried a trident. “He seduced her.”
Brianna moved on to another panel featuring a second woman. The artist made her look sterner than the first and gave her a spear. “This one got jealous and cursed the first even though she wasn’t the guilty party, turning her into the thing.” She redirected his attention to the carving of a monster. As Nox stared at it, he saw similarities between it and the first woman. Beauty lay under the hair of snakes and serpent eyes. At first glance, he thought it was a creature with a human head, breasts, arms, and a serpent body. Now, he realized, she either had snakes wrapped around most of her body or wore their skins. “It's a sad story. Really. An innocent forced to live as a monster just because a being of higher power lusted for her.”
“Observant,” Nox commented. “I’m guessing the cursed woman is the upcoming boss or dungeon lord.”
“She is either a boss or there is no dungeon lord,” Brianna said.
“What? How can you be sure?”
Brianna diverted his attention to an intricate circular pattern divided into three sections. One appeared brighter and more prominent than the others. At its center sat the carving of a head surrounded by curling snakes. The other two wedges of the circle had their unique patterns and also featured a unique central emblem. One featured a winged serpent while the other was the first one made of snakes.
“This is a map. Three sections. Three bosses. They’re in balance and support each other, acting as separate entities but, at the end of the day, part of a whole.” Nox stared at Brianna dumbfounded as she spoke. Her size and demeanor didn’t match the insightful person he saw now. He reminded himself not to be so quick to judge. She had enrolled and kept her position at Woodson University without a rich family backing her. Brianna kept her position with nothing but hard work, wits and ingenuity. Her cheeks reddened, and she spoke swiftly, her original style of speech sneaking in. “Wall painting and carvings are how the tribes leave messages and stories for one another in the Artic Wastes, ye see. Caves and shelters around the Arctic Wastes’ hot springs and the green pockets are brimming with ‘em. Most people don’t pay attention to them anymore, but my grandfather always liked to go over the same pieces, looking for new details and uncovering their stories.”
“I’m sorry, Brianna,” Nox said.
“What for?” The woman appeared surprised.
“I contracted you with the hopes of studying your tattoos, getting martial training, and perhaps being a bodyguard for myself or my fiancee,” Nox answered. The Aether Warrior had won his respect, and he believed he owed her honesty and an apology.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“I thought ye hired me so the likes of Kurosaki Hinata would leave ye alone,” Brianna replied. “It’s alright. I know what things are like and know better than to take it personally. Things would be different if it were the Intermediate course, but in Advanced, everyone has known each other for years and been on multiple delves together. Breaking into such groups is a challenge. I don’t expect to just walk into one. But I appreciate yer candor.” She returned her attention to the art on the wall. Brianna smiled and stood up straighter. The exchange appeared to have brightened her mood. “So, does this give you an idea of what we might be up against?”
“I think you were right about there being no dungeon lord,” Nox said. He took a step back and studied the art. He pointed at the centerpiece of each section of the map. “Each of these represents one of the Gorgon Sisters. They’re not quite gods but immortals—or two of them at least. I suspect this might come into play when conquering the dungeon.
“In the stories, they moved with the speed of serpents, and eye contact turned their victims into stone. I don’t remember the sisters’ individual names, but one was known for her intelligence. This might relate to arcane ability like the Mind Magic we’ve experienced thus far.” Nox tapped the head surrounded by curling snakes. Another was known for her agility and wide strides. She’s probably the stealthy one of the group. I wouldn’t be surprised if she uses poisons.” He pointed at the winged snake and then the fist. “The last sister is probably the dumb brute of the family.”
“I would’ve preferred facing the brute,” Brianna stated. “I shine in upfront confrontations and standing toe to toe with my opponents.”
“Well, we’ve got what we got. Your amulet should protect you from any mind magic. Just remember not to look our opponent in the eye.”
Crystalize Essence and the amulets made the final fight prior to the boss’ lair trivial. The Gorgon Sister’s primary tool—Mind Magic—proved useless against the pair so they took out the mindless snakes that knew to do nothing but attack and then got rid of the gorgon statues. Both worried about the beasts sneaking up on them from the rear while they challenged the boss.
The wall carvings helped the pair keep track of their progress through the dungeon. When they approached a circular room with heavy wooden doors, they knew the time to fight the boss had come. Nox topped up his quiver and pouch with essence glass projectiles and pellets. Then, both took mana and stamina pills to restore themselves to full strength.
Crystalize Essence | Essence Animation
65/132 | 17/29
Essence Shaping | Arrow
25/56 | 6/13
Temporal Sphere | Spatial Manipulation
218/225 | 16/17
Spatial Familiar | Spatial Storage
40/34 | 17/18
Since he completed the Manipulation planet, Nox’s old star and planets had recovered to almost half their maximum mana. Teasing mana away from the Temporal Sphere and restoring the rest took less effort. He suspected taming the time would get him the rest of the way to his destination. Nox wanted to get back to growing Crystalize Essence as soon as possible. Once its maximum mana reached one hundred and fifty, he would push the Temporal Sphere to ascend to Expert rank.
The pair entered the boss room expecting minions and powerful attacks. Instead, they found a statue garden. Humans, beasts and gorgons littered the circular room. A circular platform made of foot-thick discs stood in the middle of the room. They grew smaller in height, and an empty throne sat on top.
Nox instructed Otis to climb to the ceiling and scan for the boss. His eagle eye would also ensure the lesser gorgons would remain statues. Curiosity got the best of him and he poked the statue closest to the entrance. Much to his surprise, it was soft, unlike the gorgon statues. Nox’s finger came away dirty.
“Hel’s tit.” Brianna hissed and rubbed the statue until much of the grey dust disappeared. A real person stood underneath. They were shriveled and didn’t react when she shook them or waved her hand in front of their eyes. “Is this petrification?”
“Certainly looks like it,” Nox replied. “They’re dehydrated and malnourished. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re stuck in a waking dream and kept alive with magic.”
“But why?” Brianna asked.
“Dungeon Lords need mana not born of their creations to sustain themselves. We don’t see the issue on the continent anymore, but there was a time when apprentice mages were regularly abducted to be turned into mana batteries.”
“So this is a mana farm?”
“I wouldn’t use such a crass description,” a melodious voice said. It had a sultry, alluring nature to it. “They came to throw their lives away and found an immortal paradise. Everything has a price.”
“Keep your eyes low,” Nox told Brianna. “She’s going to use stealth attacks.”
“That’s mean,” the gorgon continued. “I don’t want to fight. I’d rather not hurt you at all. Just join my garden. We’ll have a lovely time together. I promise.”