Chapter 39: A New Race

Brent’s core pulsed with excitement as the stone doors to The Dungeon of Golem’s Gambit rumbled open once more. This wasn’t just another dungeon run; today marked the debut of the new game room, staging area, and—most importantly—the highly anticipated second floor. Word had spread far and wide, and the crowd outside buzzed with eager adventurers ready to test their mettle against the expanded dungeon.

Inside, the newly designed waiting area gleamed with polished stone floors and walls adorned with glowing runes that pulsed faintly, giving the space a warm, inviting glow. Brent’s minions had outdone themselves; the arcade-style game room was bustling with activity even before the first group entered the dungeon proper.

"Ferron, how are we looking?" Brent asked, his core glowing with pride.

"Everything’s running like a well-oiled machine, boss," Ferron replied, standing beside the exchange counter, Golem’s Gambit Rewards. Behind the counter, shelves displayed various items, from small trinkets to gleaming weapons, each labeled with the number of tokens required for purchase. The counter itself was manned by a jovial mechanical golem named Tradez, who clinked with every movement and greeted adventurers with a cheery, metallic voice.

Among the first group of adventurers to step inside was a diverse team known as The Silver Flame. At their helm was Jay, a towering half-troll mage whose psionic powers flickered faintly in his glowing blue eyes. His presence was commanding, his staff glowing faintly with arcane energy. His team followed close behind: a spry, elven rogue named Lirien, a human knight clad in gleaming silver armor named Tomas, a dwarven cleric named Baldric, and a gnomish artificer named Tink.

Jay’s deep voice rumbled as he surveyed the room. "Well, this is... different. I was expecting traps right out of the gate."

"Same," Lirien muttered, her keen eyes scanning the game room. "But this looks... fun?"

Tomas chuckled. "Fun? In a dungeon? Now that’s new."

The group wandered through the game room, their curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar sights. Baldric stopped at the shuffleboard, his bushy eyebrows raised as he examined the intricate glowing runes etched into the board's surface.

"What's this, then? Some kind o’ wizard’s game?" he asked.

Tink, ever the tinkerer, hopped up to inspect the mechanism. "Looks like you slide these disks across the board and try to land them in scoring zones. But those runes... they shift the scoring zones mid-game! Brilliant!"

Lirien, always one for dexterity challenges, grabbed a disk. "Let’s see if I’ve got the touch." With a flick of her wrist, she slid the disk forward, only for it to veer sharply as the runes shifted. It landed in a low-scoring zone. "What?!"

Jay smirked. "Looks like even a rogue can’t cheat physics."

Meanwhile, Tomas and Baldric examined the primitive bowling alley. A squat, stubby golem diligently reset the pins after each throw, grumbling in a gravelly voice about "adventurer messes."

"This feels... wrong," Tomas muttered as he hefted a smooth black ball. "Hurling this thing when there’s no enemy to hit?"

"You’ll live," Baldric said with a laugh. "It’s a game, lad. Have some fun."

Jay’s attention was drawn to Golem’s Gambit Rewards, where Tradez waved a metallic hand. "Welcome, esteemed adventurers! Trade your tokens here for prizes of value and renown!"

"What kind of prizes?" Jay asked, narrowing his glowing eyes.

Tradez gestured grandly to the shelves. "From enchanted daggers to restorative potions, and even rare schematics for the enterprising artificer! Complete the dungeon, earn your tokens, and exchange them for rewards."

Tink’s eyes lit up. "Schematics? Oh, I like this place already."

Jay turned to his team. "This is smart. Incentivizes repeat visits. But let’s not get too comfortable. We’ve got a dungeon to conquer."

After exploring the game room, the group moved to the staging area. Two large, rune-inscribed doors dominated the room, each flanked by glowing pedestals. One door led to the first floor, while the other housed a portal to the second. Above the second door, a sign read: Adventurers, prepare for a new challenge.

The group entered the second staging room, where a projection flared to life. A spectral figure resembling Ferron appeared, arms crossed and speaking in a deep, gruff voice.

"Welcome to the second level of The Dungeon of Golem’s Gambit. This floor features Mechanized Carts, specially designed to test your wits and reflexes. Each cart is equipped with two pedals: one to accelerate and one to brake. Steering is handled by the wheel before you. Your objective is to navigate the course, avoid traps, and survive until the end. May the fastest and the cleverest prevail."

The projection fizzled out, and the adventurers exchanged glances.

"Mechanized carts?" Lirien asked, skepticism lacing her voice.

Jay nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like we’re in for a ride—literally."

As the portal hummed to life, Jay led his team toward it. The blue glow of the portal reflected off his staff as he turned to address his team. "Alright, listen up. This is uncharted territory. Stay sharp, work together, and remember—this is a dungeon, not a game. Don’t get distracted by the novelty."

"Speak for yourself," Baldric quipped, rolling his eyes. "I’m here to survive and maybe enjoy a game or two."

The team stepped through the portal, their figures disappearing into the light as they embarked on their first run through the second floor of The Dungeon of Golem’s Gambit. Behind them, the hum of excitement in the waiting area grew louder as the next group of adventurers eagerly awaited their turn.

As Jay and his team stepped through the shimmering portal, they found themselves in a spacious cavern illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the ceiling. In the center of the room sat five peculiar contraptions, each looking like a cross between a small chariot and a sturdy wagon. The metal frames gleamed under the crystal light, and soft pink orbs hummed faintly in the back of each vehicle.

“What in the name of the gods are those ?” Baldric asked, his thick eyebrows climbing into his hairline.

“They look like wagons,” Tomas said, stepping closer, “but… smaller. And no horses.”

Lirien crouched by one, inspecting the pedals and the steering wheel. “This looks... complicated.”

Jay stepped forward, his glowing blue eyes narrowing. “These must be the Mechanized Carts the projection mentioned. Let’s figure out how they work.”

Tink climbed into one, his tiny legs barely reaching the pedals. “It’s got a wheel for steering, two foot levers, and... what’s this?” He poked at a lever on the side, and the cart jolted forward an inch, causing him to yelp. “Oh, oh, this thing moves !”

Jay sighed, rubbing his temple. “Alright, team. Everyone pick a cart. We need to figure this out before the countdown starts.”

As the team clambered into their respective carts, a magical countdown appeared in the air above the room. The numbers glowed, counting down from ten.

“Ten seconds? That’s not nearly enough time to figure this out!” Jay barked, his large frame barely fitting in the cart.

Stolen novel; please report.

Tomas gripped the steering wheel like it was a sword hilt. “How hard can it be? Just push the pedals and steer, right?”

“Which pedal does what, though?” Baldric asked, his feet awkwardly pressing both pedals at once. The cart rocked back and forth like a jittery animal.

“Eight… Seven…”

“I think this one makes it go,” Lirien said, tapping the right pedal. Her cart lunged forward, slamming into Jay’s before bouncing back.

“Watch it!” Jay growled, gripping his cart’s steering wheel.

“Five… Four…”

Tink had already spun his wheel left and right, testing the mechanics. “It’s simple! You just—whoa!” His cart spun in place as he accidentally floored the gas pedal, nearly tipping over.

“Three… Two…”

Jay muttered a string of curses under his breath. “Just stay calm and—”

“One!”

The magical countdown vanished with a loud ding , and the carts jolted to life. The team collectively pressed their gas pedals, sending their vehicles lurching forward like drunken golems.

Jay’s cart veered wildly to the left, slamming into the cavern wall with a loud clang . “Damn it! How do you steer this thing?”

Baldric’s cart wobbled back and forth, his feet stomping on both pedals in confusion. “Why does it stop when I press this one? And why does it go when I press the other?”

“You’re pressing the stop, you dolt!” Lirien shouted, expertly swerving around him—only to oversteer and crash into Tomas, whose cart spun in a slow circle.

“This is madness!” Tomas yelled, trying to straighten his wheel as his cart lazily drifted toward Jay. “Jay, look out!”

Jay barely had time to react before Tomas’s cart bumped into his, spinning them both in opposite directions. “Get a grip, Tomas!”

“Don’t blame me! These things have a mind of their own!”

Meanwhile, Tink had taken off like a rocket, his cart zipping erratically across the cavern. “I think I’ve got it—nope! Nope, definitely don’t have it!” He swerved to avoid a collision with Lirien, only to skid sideways and scrape against the cavern wall, sparks flying.

Lirien gritted her teeth, yanking her steering wheel to correct her path. “This is why rogues don’t drive!”

After several chaotic minutes of bumping into walls—and each other—the team slowly began to get the hang of their carts. Jay took a deep breath and eased up on the gas pedal, steering cautiously. “Okay... okay... I think I’ve got it.”

“Same,” Lirien called, though her cart still wobbled slightly as she adjusted. “This wheel thing is touchy.”

Baldric, now firmly grasping the concept of gas and brake, chuckled as his cart moved forward in a straight line. “Ah, there we go! This isn’t so bad after all.”

Tink zipped past them, his tiny hands gripping the wheel tightly. “This is amazing ! Why don’t all wagons work like this?”

Tomas, still looking a bit pale, managed to stabilize his cart. “I think I preferred the minecarts... but I can do this.”

Jay pulled up beside them, his voice steady. “Good. Everyone ready? Because I have a feeling the real challenge starts when we hit the track.”

The team exchanged nervous but determined glances, their confidence bolstered by their newfound control over the mysterious Mechanized Carts.

Jay grinned, his psionic energy crackling faintly. “Let’s show this dungeon what we’re made of.”

The magical gates at the far end of the cavern began to rise, revealing the twisting, perilous track ahead. The Silver Flame took one last deep breath before pressing their gas pedals in unison, hurtling forward into the unknown.

In the Core Room, Brent hovered eagerly, his Dungeon Vision fixed on the staging area where Jay and his team had just entered. Emil stood at his side, arms crossed, observing the adventurers with an expression of mild amusement.

Brent’s Core pulsed brightly as the team approached the Mechanized Carts. “Oh, this is going to be good. They’ve probably never seen anything like these before. Look at the big one—he’s staring at the cart like it owes him money.”

Emil tilted his head, his mechanical joints creaking softly. “To be fair, Brent, these adventurers come from a world of wooden wagons and enchanted sleds. The idea of a self-propelled vehicle is likely as foreign to them as flying castles are to you.”

Brent let out a soft hum. “Flying castles sound awesome, though. Can we get one of those next?”

“Focus, Brent,” Emil said, suppressing a chuckle.

On the screen, the half-troll mage crouched awkwardly by the side of his cart, examining it as if it might bite him. The other members of the Silver Flame were equally baffled. Baldric, the stout human fighter, poked at the steering wheel with his sword, while Lirien, the elven rogue, appeared to be inspecting the pedals with exaggerated suspicion.

“Do you think they’ll figure out the controls?” Brent asked, his tone halfway between concern and amusement.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Emil replied. “Look at that one. He’s treating the steering wheel like a shield. And the elf's probably trying to figure out how to disarm the ‘trap.’”

Brent’s Core glowed brighter as a laugh escaped him. “Oh man, this is better than I imagined. Did you see the knight just climb into the wrong cart entirely? And the big guy—he’s... wait, is he trying to cast a spell on it?”

Sure enough, Jay had placed both hands on the hood of his cart, muttering an incantation with a furrowed brow. The air around him shimmered faintly before fizzling out.

“Ah, yes,” Emil said, deadpan. “The age-old spell of Make This Thing Work. Very effective against new technology.”

Brent let out a booming laugh. “Emil, I don’t care what you say, this is the best entertainment I’ve had since... well, since forever.”

On the Dungeon Vision, the chaos continued to unfold. Baldric finally climbed into his cart, only to slam his knee into the steering column with a loud thud. He yelped and glared at the offending object as if it had attacked him. Meanwhile, Lirien tapped the gas pedal lightly and sent her cart lurching forward into Tomas’s, eliciting a startled yell from the cleric.

“Is she trying to ram him off the track already?” Brent asked between laughs.

“Unlikely,” Emil replied. “She probably thinks the pedal was some sort of trap trigger.”

Jay, now seated in his cart, pushed the gas pedal all the way down. The cart roared to life and shot forward, only to collide with the wall in front of him. The half-troll flailed as the cart shuddered to a stop.

“That’s gotta hurt,” Brent winced. “Do you think he’s regretting being the leader yet?”

Emil raised an eyebrow. “If he isn’t now, he will be once he realizes there’s a whole dungeon course waiting for them.”

Lirien, undeterred by her earlier collision, began experimenting with the pedals again, causing her cart to jerk erratically forward and backward. Tomas, still recovering from the bump, was sent spinning when her cart clipped his once more.

“Okay, this is getting ridiculous,” Brent said, his Core flickering with laughter. “They’re like newborn deer on a frozen lake.”

“An apt comparison,” Emil agreed. “Though I imagine the deer would at least stick to running in a straight line.”

Finally, after several more minutes of bumping into walls, each other, and occasionally themselves, the team began to get a handle on the controls. Jay managed to maneuver his cart into position, albeit with a few more scrapes along the side. Baldric muttered something about “cursed contraptions” as he wobbled his way into place. Lirien looked far too pleased with herself for figuring out how to drive in circles without hitting anything.

“Hey, they’re actually getting the hang of it,” Brent said, sounding almost disappointed. “I was kind of hoping for a few more wipeouts.”

“They’ll still have plenty of opportunities for that once they’re on the track,” Emil said. “If they thought the staging area was a challenge, wait until they encounter the traps.”

Brent’s Core glowed with excitement as he zoomed out to view the entire course. The Silver Flame were lined up at the starting gate, their carts idling as they awaited the signal to begin.

“This is it, Emil,” Brent said, his voice practically buzzing. “The first official run of the second floor. Let’s see what these adventurers are made of.”

“I imagine the answer will be a mix of determination and poor decision-making,” Emil quipped.

Brent laughed again, his energy crackling with anticipation. “Here we go! Let the chaos begin!”