(Curator POV)
With the surprise half time ssireum match coming to a close, the surrounding foliage trembled with exuberance. As our humanoid viewers sat on their branched perches, erupted into whopping and cheering accompanied by their canine counter-parts yips of excitement.
The sudden ruckus caused our human guests to spring for cover in a panic, eliciting a wee giggle from our more mischievous inhabitants. I can’t blame them for being so rowdy, it was a match well fought with an underdog ending to boot!
Seeing our golden girls hurriedly, departing deeper into the dungeon. The fairies lifted themselves into the air flying towards the ceiling, creating little swing seats for themselves on the roof using their plant magic. Normally I would be apprehensive about everyone gathering in one place but, the glimmering scales radiating off the fairies provided the perfect camouflage for themselves and our other airborne denizens.
No one would notice a few more stars in the sky, right?
Soaring amongst the fae were transformed boggarts flying in their preferred forms, ascending to the stars as fairies or birds. As for the bogey beasts well, they’re spirits so they can fly or float into the sky as they please, but they stick out like a sore thumb when near the radiant faeries.
Oh well, even if those two did happen to spot a bogey beast, there wouldn't be much they could do about it anyways.
Sadly for the wolves and dokkaebi, they’ll just have to settle with entertaining our guests for the time being.
Now that everyone's settled in, the racers begin lining up at the starting line. Unlike the ground race, this one takes place over the course of both floors. Starting near the grand doors that seal the way to my core room. Racers will make headway along the left side of the dungeon dodging any obstacles in their path while passing through the numerous rings that extrude from the walls.
Then in a hairpin dive into the D.E.N, they will have to retrieve a handful of ash from... Well, I’ll skip the rundown, it looks like the race is about to start.
(Zhenya POV)
“Hey Freddie, doesn't it feel like these woods are... livelier than usual?” Following the trail left behind in the giant’s wake, we dove deeper into the shadowy depths.
“What gave you that idea, the unholy screeching or incessant howling? Lively doesn't even begin to cut it. Also, Freddie?” Unfortunately enough for us, the trail unceremoniously ended in the middle of nowhere, so it was back to stumbling through the thicket.
“I mean, it’s shorter than saying Fredrica. And I thought, you know since we’ve been adventuring together for the past few days...” With her face drenched in harsh shadows, it was hard to tell her expression. But she remained silent to my ramblings, trudging on bashing bushes and branches aside.
Oh well, if she’s not saying no.
Putting that aside, I wonder when the shadows on this floor turned so murky. It was different, darker, thickened to the point of semi-tangibility, creating a distinct line between it and the moonlight.
Actually even the moonlight’s acting stran-... “Eh- hum? Hey Freddie, look up.”
“Yeah, no, that doesn't sound right. Don’t call me that anym-”
Two pearlescent moons hung in the sky. One was the white-silver color that we were used to, while the other one was dyed a mysterious gold with dark hazy streaks orbiting it.
Uhhhhh, I’ve seen things in my time and, I can definitely say that’s not normal. And it might just be my eyes playing tricks on me but, I swear that the surface of the golden one is rippling.
“A floor event?” Fredrica rhetorically asked herself. But sensing my blank stare burrowing into her soul, she carried on clarifying. “An occurrence that changes a floor's properties. These ‘events’ vary a lot so I can’t say for sure. But my only guess is that this double moon event entails fewer monsters hounding us.”
Now that she mentions it, I haven't seen hide nor hair of any of the usual monsters since we arrived.
*BANG*
*WHOOOOOOOOOOO*
*AWOOOOOOOO*
A sudden loud bang chased shortly after by a ghastly wailing announced the descent of several dozen streaks of light beginning their race across the star-speckled night. “Shooting stars!”
Breathtaking. Each smoldering spark left scorching trails over their speckled canvas. Eating away at it while simultaneously casting the newly formed rifts in their bright molten gold. Weaving around each other intertwining in a fierce clash, exploding, parting, and restarting anew.
“Beautiful.” The words slipped from Fredrica’s mouth.
We watched mesmerized as the fierce stars battled each other until they dipped out of sight, obscured by the treetops.
Sighing a strangled breath of relief while taking in the soft breeze, I compose myself. Though my body still thrummed anxiously, the surreal occurrence had the voice's prints all over it. Even Fredrica who was knowledgeable about floor events was on edge after what we witnessed.
But the fact that there was blowing wind assured us that we weren't stuck in the voice's illusion again, but that also means that this golden moon is real.
Soon my nerves settled down, replaced with a hollow stillness now that all the commotions over. With nothing left to be seen or said we pressed on, still vigilant in case Fredrica's hunch proved wrong.
(Curator POV)
And they’re off!
A burning passion to win alight within their eyes, the racers smacked against each other just to get a leg up on their competition. Ehmm, the Prix council might need to rule out ramming tactics in the future, or at least get them to wear helmets and maybe knee pads.
Gathered around me, well the DP screen that was me right now, the crowd let out a torrent of cheers watching the action.
Dipping behind the tree line our intrepid racers managed to weasel their way into the D.E.N’s hole in the ground entrance. Well most did, the few who didn’t were doing their best impression of a lawn dart.
Snaking through, my proudly made ramshackled staircase. Entering the main lair of the Ember wolves, here they faced their first challenge. THE CUDDLE PILE!
Under the might of a wolf ton jumping at them, many an unsuspecting soul were crushed under the fluffy weight of good boys. Or licked. Some were licked into submission.
The few (un)lucky racers that remained skillfully dodged the fluffy onslaught, flew a lap around the den while picking up a pouch full of ash and escaping.
And just like that, nearly half of the contestants were dropped.
(Zhenya POV)
An uneventful while and a half later, the unholy screaming still hasn’t stopped. But there was this crunching sound that now belied it.
“Somethings here.” Fredrica said in hushed whispers slowly sinking herself into the bushes.
“You think it might be one of his brothers?” My question was immediately answered as we crept closer towards the sound.
The giant was much like the previous one. But instead of a broomstick for a leg, this one sported a singular giant eye and an unusual left arm that gleamed dully under the bright light of the moons.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Smacking down entire trees with its discolored arm, the giant gobbled up the fallen trunks like breadsticks. Nibbling on the leaf laden branches as an after-meal snack, the gross-eater dug up a handful of dirt to chase down its meal. Rinse and repeat.
“We should sneak around.” Fredrica proposed this plan knowing first hand how ridiculously strong these things were.
Crouched behind the bushes, we steadily shimmied our way around the feasting beast, only moving when it ate. Which was quite often, so really it was a quick and stress-less endeavor.
“Hold.” I softly whisper while putting my hand on Fredrica’s shoulder, a change in the atmosphere had me on edge. *Sniff* *Sniff*
“Crap pull back a bit, it might have smelled something off.”
“We should give it a wide berth and take the long way round.” Fredrica was already edging back into the denser parts of the woods.
“Yeah, I gotcha. You know for something so lumbering it’s unusually sharp.” Leaving the feasting giant to his wood-loaf and dirt shakes, we wasted no time scurrying back into the woods warm, itchy embrace.
And now we’re back to walking, the true dungeoneering experience... Haah, I hate not knowing whether or not I like things trying to kill me in this dungeon.
“MEAT!” Right, I think it’s better to chalk it up as a love-hate relationship. In any case, the one shouting for meat is definitely the giant we just circumvented.
Yep, there go the trees as it makes a beeline for us. Really makes me wonder if it did smell us and just wasn’t in the mood for human meat until now. Oh crap, we're the dessert.
Parting the trees like water, the giant ravenously charged at us, tears streaming down his face as he demanded meat.
Never seen a tree bend like that before. Actually, it reminds me of the trees in that weird painting a merchant was trying to sell to Pa one time.
(Curator POV)
Oof, looks like one eye is taking it pretty hard, the poor guy’s stress eating. Which is about as much as he usually eats just with fifty percent more sadness. Well, at least the duo is there to distract him from his inability to participate in the aerial race.
Speaking of which, the racers have reached the first floor and are rounding into the valley of flowers. Oh ho, this time they have to brave the combined might of the three little pigs and their arch-nemesis the Wolf!
Racers must swerve in between the myriad of intricately built brick walls that were strategically positioned throughout this section of the course. Everything seems ordinary, so what’s the kicker some may ask?
Well, that would be the First Floor Guardian affixed at center of the valley unleashing a devastating whirlwind.
Pushing against the various debris and wind pressure, many unfortunate contestants splattered against the cold, unyielding, uncaring yet comfortably stuffed full of hay brick wall. Oh yeah, I almost forgot why these poor saps are running into stick enforced walls in the first place.
Within the eye of the hurricane next to the First Floor Guardian, who was whistling each new windstorm to the tune of flight of the valkyries. Which was honestly very appropriate for the situation at hand. Let’s see where was I?
Oh yeah, next to him was a pile of uniquely colored flowers that contestants had to pick up.
Racing along the air streams, the tippy top of what the dungeon racing world had to offer broke into the raging windstorm in one fashion or another claiming their prize.
Speeding away, the talented few fluttered off to the next challenge.