Perplexed by the mention of being a dungeon guide and the unfolding revelation of Greg's mysterious past, Bones agreed to answer the questions. Greg began sharing his enigmatic story, recounting fragments of memories shrouded in darkness, fields of gray, and dead trees. The journey brought him to the present, employed as a dungeon guide by the Goldenforge guild due to his unique traits.
As Greg disclosed details of his past, including an attack by bandits and the loss of his family, Bones expressed genuine sympathy. Greg, however, was motivated by a deeper question - why he couldn't remember everything - and sought Bones's help in unraveling this mystery. Bones, feeling the weight of Greg's uncertainty, admitted, “I don’t know where you are from or why you don’t remember. I’m not in the same position as you; when I came to, I also didn’t know where I was, but my memory serves me well. It didn’t take long to find out where I was, and I remember everything there is to remember about myself."
“How intriguing,” Greg remarked, smoothly transitioning to the practicalities of the role Bones was about to assume. Greg assured him that the party consisted of seasoned dungeon explorers and advised Bones to follow their lead. He also mentioned the likelihood of Bones handling traps and triggering hidden mechanisms. For loot distribution, he directed him to inquire with the party leader, Bradford, during the pre-dungeon meeting the next day.
Greg then opened the floor for questions. Bones, aware of the limited time and relevance, decided to keep his inquiries focused. He responded with a witty remark, prompting laughter from Greg, before asking, “First, how did you find a job as a guide at the guild?”
Greg explained that his suitability for the role stemmed from his unique traits, immunity to poison and bleeding, which Bones shared. Despite lacking particular skills beyond those applicable in dungeons, Greg's non-threatening nature made him a fit for the job. He revealed that adventurers often outleveled him, and unfortunately, he occasionally became the target of bullying. Bones absorbed this information, gaining insights into the challenges Greg faced in his role as a dungeon guide.
Bones delved into his next set of questions, seeking clarification on the monsters within the dungeon, with a particular focus on vampires. When he mistakenly referred to a creature as a "wolf-man" during an unrelated inquiry, Greg corrected him, revealing the proper term to be "Werewolf." As the conversation unfolded, Bones gained valuable insights, confirming information he had gathered from his earlier visit to the library.
As their meeting progressed, Bones continued sipping on his coffee while Greg opted for the occasional swig of a mana potion, explaining that it helped him maintain mental clarity. Bones, acknowledging his own affinity for mana potions, found common ground with Greg despite their differing reasons for consuming the magical elixir. Having taken the last sip of his coffee, Bones rose to settle the bill. Grateful for the meeting and Greg's generous offer, he expressed a desire to reconvene after the dungeon expedition. Greg reciprocated the sentiment, conveying his fascination with Bones. With the bill settled, Bones made his way back to the inn.
As soon as he departed, Greg's demeanor underwent a subtle transformation. His posture became more composed as he ordered a cup of coffee and reclined in his chair, crossing his legs. Uttering, "How intriguing indeed. I can't wait for us to meet again, Mr. Jones," Greg shifted his attention to the waiter who had been discreetly eavesdropping on his soliloquy.
"Your coffee, sir," the waiter stammered, placing the cup on the table.
"Indeed it is," Greg replied with an enigmatic smile, leaving the waiter somewhat perplexed.
The following morning, Bones had a rendezvous with the party leader, Bradford Kowl, in the town square. Bradford introduced himself and escorted Bones to a nearby tavern where the rest of the team awaited. The early hour ensured the tavern's emptiness, making it an ideal setting for their discussion.
As Bones and Bradford conversed, the mention of the Kowl name triggered a recollection for Bones. He remembered Commander Jacob Kowl, who led the subjugation in the Quarry. Bradford clarified that Jacob was the eldest of the three brothers and, like him and Cal, a fellow member of the Goldenforge guild. In fact, all four members in the party were guildmates. Despite feeling like the odd one out as an undead, Bones was warmly welcomed by the party, especially because of his shared undead nature with Greg.
After the introductions, the party gathered for a round of drinks. Bradford, the Knight in training, was level forty-nine, his younger brother Cal specialized in Geomancy, was level forty-seven, the battlemage Edward was level forty-five, and the only female member, Katrina, and a Shadow Dancer, stood at level forty-eight.
As Bones summarized his skills and background, he couldn't help but wonder about the party's acceptance of an undead member. Prompting the question, he asked, "How come you don't mind an undead in your party?"
Bradford's response was pragmatic. He saw the advantages of having an undead member, especially one like Greg, whose expertise lay in traps and guiding. To Bradford, the undead nature meant added resilience, giving special importance to immunities to poison and bleeding . When Bones expressed his own capabilities, particularly in bone manipulation, he cautiously inquired if that would pose a problem.
Bradford reassured him, emphasizing the value of having diverse skills in the party. However, he jokingly added that if Bones ever came at him with the intent to kill, he'd have to bash his head in. This light-hearted comment was followed by laughter, and Bradford encouraged Bones to relax. As they prepared to discuss dungeon strategies, Bradford openly asked if Bones was comfortable being paid in mana stones, indicating that loot rights would go to other party members. Bones agreed, expressing that his primary motivation was the experience gained from the dungeon rather than material rewards.
Stolen novel; please report.
As the party continued discussing various strategies and sharing previous dungeon experiences, Bones couldn't resist interjecting with a question about whether the dungeon had been cleared before. The party's attention shifted to him, and Cal inquired if Greg had provided any information about the current stage. Bones admitted that he forgot to ask Greg for details.
The party shared that they had cleared the first three stages last month but had to leave before completing the entire dungeon. Today's plan was to tackle the fourth stage and defeat the dungeon's boss. Bones was relieved to skip the lower-level monsters and focus on a more challenging section.
During the equipment inspection, Bradford noticed Bones staring at a ring on his index finger, prompting Bones to apologize. Made of gold, the ring had a precious emerald stone embedded at the top, deeply carved intricate patterns and a single rune etched inside the stone. Bradford dismissed the apology, explaining that the ring was a recent addition after their previous fifth member, Edwin, lost his life in a dungeon a few months ago. He then recounted the events surrounding Edwin's death, momentarily silencing the room.
Bones expressed sympathy for bringing up the topic but couldn't contain his surprise upon learning that the team had been exploring dungeons for years. Bradford got back to the topic of the ring, and explained that the rune inside the stone was a spell that, when activated, would cast Greater Heal, a third-tier spell, on the user in a near-death situation.
"The ring is bound to me and would activate near death, so don't get any ideas!" He teased Bones, who asked what would happen if the ring failed to activate in time. Bradford explained the spell would still be cast on his dead body to no effect. "The spell would consume all the mana stored within the stone, and the stone would break and crumble afterward, leaving a nice-looking but useless ring." He chuckled and could tell Bones was intrigued.
"The spell is a one-time cast and would only be used in an emergency, which could be today, next year, or never. Unlike the healing potion, healing spells greatly increase health regeneration but more importantly, a great portion of wounds and injuries would instantly heal, possibly saving me from certain death. If you are interested in spells, talk to Cal." Bradford said, and Bones glanced at the younger brother, flirting with an uninterested Katrina.
“That’s alright,” Bones replied, not wanting to diminish Cal’s efforts and expressed his desire to learn more about the equipment. Compared to his shop-bought, the party member’s equipment looked to be of a higher grade. Bradford called out to Cal and Katrina, and had them go over the details of their upcoming expedition with him leaving Edward to elaborate on the importance of investing in top-notch gear for dungeon exploration. Each member having gear tailored specifically for them added a layer of specialization and effectiveness. As he spoke, Bones marveled at the level of craftsmanship and magical infusion evident in their gear. The subtle glow of enchanted items and the faint hum of magical energies made it clear that this party took their profession seriously and valued the significance of their equipment in facing the challenges of the dungeon.
Once the detailed discussion about gear concluded, Bradford rejoined the conversation. He reiterated the importance of teamwork and coordination in the upcoming dungeon run. The party leader emphasized that communication was key, especially in the unpredictable and treacherous environment they were about to face. With the meeting coming to an end, the party finished their drinks and after ensuring they were in peak condition for the dungeon exploration, they made their way to the entrance of the dungeon.
The guards scrutinized the party as they approached the foreboding entrance, their eyes keenly observing every movement. Bradford, the party leader, handed a list containing information on each member to one of the guards. After a thorough check, the guard confirmed everything was in order, and the gate slowly creaked open, revealing steps that descended into the darkness below.
Bradford gestured for the party to follow. Together they entered the dungeon's initial chamber, where the atmosphere became more oppressive and the air filled with a palpable sense of danger. Bones, despite being undead, could feel the weight of the environment, an eerie reminder that even the undead could sense the unnatural forces at play.
There was only one way forward, and that was through the ominous tunnel. Bradford led the way, his experience evident in the cautious steps he took. As they walked, the flickering magical torches flared to life, revealing their location to be somewhere underground, and casted dancing shadows on the cavern walls, creating an eerie play of light that seemed to conspire with the shadows to conceal unseen dangers.
The journey through the underground tunnels was treacherous, each step echoing in the darkness. The air was thick with an unsettling mixture of magic and the musty scent of decay. As Bones and his party ventured deeper, the tunnels twisted and turned, revealing the ominous presence of Giant Vampire Bats hanging from the cavern ceiling and Crimson Spiders, with their venomous bites and deceptively unassuming appearance, skittered along the cavern floor. Their webs, almost invisible in the shadows, posed an additional threat as the party navigated the rocky formation. The massive wingspans created a haunting silhouette against the dimly lit backdrop. The air was punctuated with the unsettling flutter of wings, and the party had to remain vigilant to avoid the sudden attacks from these bloodthirsty creatures. Bones watched the party move with a practiced efficiency, dispatching Giant Vampire Bats and the skittering arachnids with a combination of martial prowess and magical abilities.
The tunnels eventually opened into expansive dark forest. The gnarled trees, draped in shadows, seemed to reach out with ghostly fingers. The occasional rustle of leaves hinted at movements in the shadows, keeping the party on edge. The forest floor was shrouded in mist, obscuring the ground and adding an ethereal quality to the surroundings. Chilling shrieks echoed through the dense canopy, signaling the presence of unseen predators lurking in the woods. As the mist thickened, the party found themselves surrounded by Ghouls emerging from the darkness. The pallid creatures, with hollow eyes and an insatiable hunger for life, advanced with eerie determination. Bones and his companions readied their weapons, ready to face this new threat. The atmosphere became charged with tension, the air heavy with anticipation as the party prepared for a battle against the relentless swarm of undead creatures.