>Dungeon entrance detected.

>Location: Bottom of cave.

>Cave type: Expanded well, large enough for T.A.D. but too narrow for P.A.A.D. or landing. Rappelling is also an option due to stone remnants.

>Dungeon level estimate: 3-4. Rat and underground type monster based with some toxic and biohazard elements present in the air. Gas mask attachments required.

>Mana crystal density: Medium.

“Roger that Artemis. T.A.D. selected as insertion method for rapid insertion and so we have the thrusters to exfil if needed. Loadout: Medium armor with heavy filtered masks and night vision. No power augmentation due to lacking additional power sources for now, let’s save the extra we have for emergencies. Weapon loadout will be me with a shotgun, light handgun, two frag grenades, three incendiary grenades, and saber. John equipped with a medium assault rifle, light handgun, his favorite hatchet, two frag grenades, and explosive charges. Have those charges be remote detonated, concussive, minimal fire, and rock friendly adhesive.”

>Loadouts confirmed. Prepping armor pods and dispensing weapons. Do you want your standard pump, semi-auto, or other type of shotgun?

“Classic pump. This is also a shock-and-awe mission.”

>Confirmed. Loadouts ready. Please step in pods and prepare for drop.

“Roger that. HEY JOHN! Pods are ready we are doin’ a freefall!” Jack yelled out as he got out of his chair with a spin and jogged over to one of the four pods lining the wall. They were sent to a low-risk fantasy world so the team was reduced to the company minimum of two delvers. Gotta have the buddy system after all!

The two men climbed into the cylindrical pods before the doors slammed shut in front of them. On the inside of the doors on retractable arms was their armor. Medium tier combat armor with a slick olive drab paintjob with a few cosmetic choices. Jack had an awesome set of teeth painted onto his mask with flames painted on his boots. Sure, the foot paintjob was partially covered by the auxiliary thruster modules right now, but those would be providing their own flames soon. The masks had two optical clusters hidden behind a slit of clear artificial sapphire designed to be all too similar to troopers of the storm belonging to a certain sci-fi empire. So close in fact a cease-and-desist letter had been sent over the design causing a new version to be made from a certain mouse filled company.

Jack “paid” the right people so he got the cooler version for this new world of course. Even the rat’s copyright lawyers couldn’t reach him in this dimension. If it was going to be a design he wore often he wanted to look as cool as possible. Plus, the new models had filter issues anyway thanks to the quick redesign restricting airflow.

He finished putting on his gear and watched the HUD display the status check for all his stuff as the armor racks retracted before sliding out his weapons. A good ol’ M-690 pump action shotgun designed after the classic Mossberg 590 sat in the middle. Hyper reliable and since it was a simple 12-gauge pump it was also one of the most flexible weapons in their arsenal! Beside it sat a standard brick-esque semi-auto 9mm as a backup and the rest of the weapons. There was a belt full of different ammo types for his shotgun with two mags for his handgun and a holster just beside them on his right hip. The handgun had one mag beside it to be loaded into it right away. He slipped on the belt, loaded the handgun, then slid the pistol into its holster. Once he was done, he grabbed the shotgun and loaded it up with buckshot before clicking it against a magnetic holder on his back.

It was time.

He grabbed onto the handles on the sides of the pod before putting his feet onto two small platforms on the bottom. He felt a push as his supply pack was attached to his back beside the shotgun. No hiss and rush of air? Good, seals were functional.

>Please standby for drop. Scans of world complete: Air has a higher oxygen content but is devoid of most toxins. High mana concentration in the air but is thruster rune compatible. Long range scanners detect European dark age, early renaissance technology with an abundance of natural woods. Draconic being also detected in distant mountains. More standard fantasy confirmed.

Drop zone confirmed clear.

Please prepare for drop.

He listened to the computer’s analysis and smiled. Perfect, he was in his element! He looked down as the bottom of the pod slid open revealing a world of trees with cute little streams cutting through them. Right below them was a gaping stone maw that was FAR too big to be a normal well. Still, it was a dungeon now and those tended to… alter things around them.

beep.

He took a deep breath. He wanted adventure away from the sprawls and wastelands, and he was going to get it. Sure, there was probably not going to be a return trip for a VERY long time, if ever, but fuck it! Fantasy world over sci-fi hellscape any day. Besides: He had nothing to return to. Never really did.

Beep.

The job was simple: Find magic crystals, send them back. Improve local life if possible. Sure, the latter was for the big boys to get their big tax write offs and PR, but he didn’t mind being the hero. Just like in the stories he grew up with, loved, and dreamed of one day being in.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

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He lifted himself up using the handles and the platforms he had been standing on slid away. He took a deep breath, released the handles, and let himself fall. He plunged through the hole and crossed his arms over his chest as he fell from the ship. He looked up at the D.T.S. “Truck-kun” as he fell through the sky.

This was it!

He looked over to John who had his armor painted up in old school camo from those ancient war movies. They looked at each other and gave a simple nod before looking down. They used their huds to guide themselves towards the massive hole. Soon the view of trees and sky became stone as they started to plummet down the hole deeper and deeper into the abyss. Once they were near the bottom they felt their stomachs go from their throats to their feet as their thrusters kicked in automatically to keep them from splattering on the ground.

The hole echoed with the roar of the jets as their descent was slowed by magical fire shot out from their boots before they slowly felt the hot stone beneath their boots. They both took deep breaths as they looked at each other before giving a thumbs-up. They made it safe and sound.

“Fuck John. That was a bit wilder than the sims.” Jack called out still laughing a little as the rush of adrenaline swirled through his mind. His eyes looking at the walls of what had once been a well and anything else he could check out.

“That was because we picked a hole to jump down rather than a nice field or a swamp. Although I prefer the field after that one time.” John called back before he looked around the hole as well. A few old ropes and chains lined the wall of the cave showing that other adventurers had come down before. Good.

“Fuck you! I thought we wouldn’t talk about the swamp incident again!” Jack yelled out before getting his shotgun out from behind his back. Armed and ready he walked towards the entrance to the large cave.

“It’s okay fireball!” John called out with a laugh as he got out his rifle and chambered a round. The heavy ca-CHACK of the large calibre assault rifle echoing up the well and into the cave.

“Fuuuuck youuuuuu!”

They made their way into the cave at a decent pace. The view of their new world bathed in a beautiful blue glow thanks to their high-end night vision built into their helmets once the light from the top of the well faded away. The cave echoed as they thudded along at quite a brisk pace thanks to the servos and more within their armor helping every move they made. Sure, it was not TRUE power armor, but it was more than enough to help them run along the inside of the cave.

“So. This is it huh? Our new world?” John finally said looking around the walls as his new reality slowly sank in.

“Yup. Judging by the S.H.U.D. it’s an HP based one, fantasy, and hopefully not grimdark. No radio signals and a high amount of magical energy according to the readings.” Jack called back as he paused to peek down a small side hole, only to start back up jogging alongside John once he saw nothing.

“Just like you wanted. Huh?”

“Yup. Looks like we will get those crystals to power up your family’s block too. Give them a comfier life just how you wanted.”

John chuckled and checked his rifle. “Always said I was willing to sacrifice everything for em’. Never thought it would be quite this way. Hell, earlier that meant probably going back in a casket and them getting the benefits.”

Jack let out a sigh and held up a hand to make them stop before turning around to John. The helmets hid faces, but Jack was already talented at tilting his head to mimic emotions. “Look man. I know this is still… rough. But you had your brother and sister and their kids to help out. With this they will be living a much better life guaranteed. Remember how I said I wanted to just leave the world?”

John’s own helmet turned to look at his partner. “Yeah. I remember the chat saying you were the hardest working in the academy. Determined to get your own pick of a dimension.”

Jack nodded his head and casually leaned against a wall. “Yeah. ‘Cause I had nothing. Nada. Zippedy-do-dah-day back there. I wanted to get away, and this is me getting away.” His hand swung down the cave before chuckling. “Alright, probably not the BEST example, but still!”

John chuckled, shaking his head a little at what he was hearing. “Ah, you are one of the escapists then. What ya doing with your money then?”

“Your sister!” Jack shot back with a laugh and started to jog again.

“What the- what the fuck do you mean by that!?” John yelled back before running after him.

“Simple. You got two siblings.” Jack held up two fingers to help illustrate his talking points as they jogged along. A bit faster since Jack didn’t want to find out if John had calmed down from his admittedly poor choice of phrasing.

“Between us there are two benefit packages. You can give yours to your bro and I give mine to your sis. Mine is a bit bigger due to how I performed in the academy and she has one more kid than your bro. All works out.”

John stopped, staring at Jack. “What the fuck man? I mean seriously? Why?” He asked unable to believe what he was hearing.

Jack stopped a bit further down the cave before spinning to face his partner. “Why the fuck not? Your sis needs it bad. You only really have enough to make your bro’s life easy, and like hell I am letting my paycheck go to one of those shit charities just so the company can get a tax write off. Does more good this way.” He explained with a shrug.

“Besides. The way you described Mitch made him sound like he was a great guy. Dude like that deserves to rest easy knowing his wife and kid was taken care of. Now let’s get some magical crystals! Sooner we send some in the sooner paychecks go out and the sooner those sweet-sweet education savings accounts can be made!”

They nodded to each other and soon started to walk further into the cave. The sounds of their heavy boots only slightly muffled by various systems echoed down the stone hole. They knew when they found the entrance to the dungeon when their magical energy readings spiked and was quickly followed by the “decorations” of skeletons, a torch or two, and various other odds and ends starting to show up.

That, and their first monster encounter.