Chapter 14: The First Run
Rachel, Argos, Mike, Brandon, and Milly had been through many dungeons together. Over the years, they'd faced countless trials, and through teamwork and grit, they had climbed the ranks, reaching B-Class as an adventuring party. Confidence came naturally to them now, having survived so many dangerous encounters. The idea of a beginner-level dungeon barely registered as a challenge. The only reason they even bothered to sign up for such a low-level dungeon was the slim chance they’d discover new items to sell for profit.
Not that they needed the money. The loot they regularly scored from higher-level dungeons provided them with more than enough to live comfortably. This run was supposed to be an easy day, a break from the grueling difficulty of the higher-tier dungeons. A quick, profitable "vacation."
As they entered the dungeon, their lighthearted mood faltered. They came to a sudden stop, all eyes fixed on the strange sight before them. In the center of the large entrance hall were mine carts, sitting behind a checkered starting line, tracks snaking deeper into the dungeon. The setup was jarringly different from anything they'd encountered before.
The heavy stone door behind them lowered slowly with a resounding thud, sealing them inside. The party stood frozen, confusion etched on their faces as they tried to make sense of the bizarre scene. Off to the left, they noticed another chamber, dimly lit and vast, but their attention kept returning to the mine carts.
"What the hell is this? Are they serious? We're supposed to take this dungeon seriously?" Milly's voice dripped with annoyance.
"I told you this baby dungeon was a bad idea. We should've stuck to ones we knew would give us better loot," Argos grumbled, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Now we’re stuck exploring this joke, hoping for anything worthwhile."
"Come on, guys," Mike cut in, trying to defuse the frustration. "There's still a chance we could find something valuable. How often do you get to be the first group to go through a dungeon? We couldn’t pass that up."
"This is stupid," Rachel muttered, crossing her arms. "I bet it’s just copper coins and low-level potions. I should’ve listened to Cheryl when she said you were crazy for dragging us here."
"Cheryl’s not even a real adventurer, Rachel," Brandon retorted, rolling his eyes. "But she might be right this time. This place doesn’t look like it’s worth the time it took to build it."
"Enough whining," Brandon said, exasperated. "Let’s just get this over with. What are we supposed to do, anyway?"
"There's some kind of instructions over here," Mike said, pointing toward a plaque set into the stone wall.
"Instructions? For a dungeon?" Brandon scoffed. "That’s a first."
Mike read aloud: “Climb into the carts and push the lever forward or backward to move. The timer starts when you cross the starting line. Navigate the dungeon along the tracks and cross the finish line five times to complete the dungeon. Watch for traps and monsters along the way. Track switches are located throughout to change lanes and avoid traps. Finish the race as fast as you can to claim the prize.”
Milly groaned audibly. "Gods, it's not even a real dungeon—it's a wagon ride! This is even dumber than I thought."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Riding a merry-go-round five times for a prize sounds like a walk in the park," Mike said, his patience wearing thin. "Let’s just get it over with. What’s the worst that could happen?"
They each reluctantly climbed into one of the carts, their grumbling mixing with the eerie silence that hung in the dungeon. A large magical display hung in the air, counting down from three to zero. When the word "GO" flashed in front of them, they pushed the levers forward, jolting the carts into motion as they crossed the starting line and began rolling deeper into the dungeon.
The tracks descended into a slight decline, increasing the speed of their carts as they entered the first room. At first glance, it seemed uneventful—until the traps activated.
"This is kinda nice. No walking..." Rachel began, but her voice was cut short by the sudden whir of spinning blades erupting from the walls. Milly, who had been sitting in the leftmost cart, never had a chance. The blade struck her with precision, decapitating her instantly. Blood sprayed from her neck, covering the others as the body slumped forward, still trapped in the moving cart.
Rachel screamed in horror, her hands trembling as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Milly’s lifeless body slid in the cart beside her as the others instinctively ducked to avoid the blades.
"What the fuck was that?!" Argos yelled, wiping the blood from his face, panic rising in his chest.
"Seven hells, this dungeon is deadlier than it looks!" Mike shouted back, his heart racing as the adrenaline kicked in. "Stay alert! Watch for more traps!"
"MILLY!" Rachel screamed, tears in her eyes as she glanced over at her friend’s limp form.
Before anyone could react further, a barrage of arrows shot from the walls. Rachel barely had time to register the incoming danger before several arrows pierced her back. Her body jerked violently before slumping over the edge of the cart.
"Shit! Heal her, Mike!" Argos cried, ducking as more arrows embedded into the sides of the cart.
Mike attempted to cast healing magic, but the glow from his hands fizzled out as he realized the horrible truth. "She’s already dead!"
The remaining three sped through the room, barely aware of their surroundings as they tried to recover from the carnage. But the dungeon wasn’t finished with them yet. The track beneath Brandon’s cart collapsed, and both he and the cart plunged into a pit, his screams ending abruptly as he was impaled on the spikes below.
Mike and Argos could only stare in shock, their bodies trembling with fear. Tears welled in their eyes, but their carts moved relentlessly forward into the second room. High above, Rustwing Gargoyles perched ominously on ledges, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent. They screeched as they swooped down, claws outstretched to meet the adventurers.
"Here they come!" Argos shouted, trying to shield himself from the onslaught as the gargoyles slashed at them, talons scraping against the carts with a metallic screech.
Before they could regain their composure, massive swinging axes descended from the ceiling in front of them, their sharp edges gleaming in the dim light. Argos and Mike gripped their levers, trying desperately to time their movements to avoid the deadly blades. But the axes were faster.
Argos screamed as the first axe cleaved through him, splitting his body in two. The halves of his corpse fell away, leaving a bloody trail behind the cart.
Mike, leaning too far back, managed to avoid the first axe but wasn’t so lucky with the second. The blade swung down, slicing off both his arms in a swift motion. Blood spurted from the stumps, painting the inside of the cart red. Before he could react, the third axe caught him square in the back of the head, splitting his skull clean in half. His lifeless body slumped into the growing pool of blood at his feet.
The dungeon fell eerily silent, save for the rhythmic clacking of the carts as they rolled onward, past the slaughter and into the unknown. The once-confident adventurers lay dead in the dungeon as it began to consume their bodies.