I blinked several times, hardly believing what I was seeing. They said it would be realistic, but this realism has blown me away. I could hear my own breathing, feel the texture under my hands. I started laughing, sheer joy overwhelming me. I spun around the room in a daze, just taking in my surroundings. I was in a dark grey room, the texture felt like granite but was hard as steel.

Congratulations! You've equipped the unique class Wanderer

For being the first person to claim a unique class you gain 200 Fame

For claiming the Wanderer class, Forsaken by the Gods, you cannot gain Fame.

You have equipped the title 'Forsaken by the Gods'

This title causes the following effects:

Cannot interact with an players, and most NPC's. Gods seek your death. You start with max Infamy.

This title cannot be removed.

You have discovered a unique location!

???

A mandatory Quest has been accepted!

Wrath of Cronus

Reach Cronus, located in the deepest part of ???

Sucess: ???

Failure: Impossible

Well, ok then. Seems I have no choice in what’s happening. Must come with the class. I looked around. The room was completely empty, except for something in the corner of the room. I headed over to identify it.

When I got there, I gasped. Half in surprise, half in shock. It was a skeleton. Bone white, as if it’s been there for centuries. Next to it lay a book with a soft glow. Everything else he once held seemed to have disintegrated. It was a wonder the book hadn’t as well. I’ve heard of this before, how touching a really old book can cause it to break up. Perhaps I should wait.

I turned around to check the rest of the room. The only other thing I found was an exit. It went straight ahead and seemed to open up into an area. I should head there first. I should-

Oh fuck it.

I head back over and pick up the book. If the damn thing disintegrates, then that’s that. Suddenly, the soft glow of the book turned bright and a loud thum could be heard. I panicked, quickly throwing the book away, but it wouldn’t let go of my hand. I cursed my curiosity, hoping I don’t get killed for it.

Unfortunately, what happened was much worse. The book suddenly collapsed into itself, making a small glowing ball of light. This ball went at lightning speed into my head. I felt it reach my brain and dissolve itself into it. Pain seared through my mind. I collapsed, loud screams reverberating around the room. I blacked out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please let this work. This is my last ditch effort. I won’t be leaving this place alive, but I hope this reaches the next idiot that makes it into here. I made it back to floor 1. Unfortunately, the Beast that’s hunting me won’t stop. It’ll reach me here soon, so I need to give you as much information as possible.

This is a dungeon and it’s called Tartarus. I accidently happened upon it while scouting for my Guild. Unfortunately, once you’re in here you can’t leave. Any attempts to leave just puts you back at the starting point. My best guess is completing the dungeon allows you to leave, but even that might not be the case. Oh shit, I can hear it.

Listen, I was a scout so I spent my time learning about the dungeon. I can’t fight, but hopefully you can. You’re situated on the first floor. I’ve mapped out the first 10 floors, along with the beasts situated in them. I wasn’t able to map out any further, but using some skills I was able to determine some small factors. There’s 100 floors in total. Every 10 floors is a boss, and the half of that holds a smaller boss. Even in the 10 floors I’ve seen, I explored very little. This place is horrifying, I get chills whenever I scout. Something’s not right about this place.

Oh god, it’s here. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t go further then you are ready for. This isn’t a natural dungeon. It was made by someone, or something. It’s not meant to let you progress. It’s meant to kill you. As fast as possible. I hope you make it further than I did. Good lu- ARGHH!-

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My eyes snap open. I flail about in a panic, the images all too real. I never saw the beast, but the screams he made are going to haunt me for a long time. Perhaps choosing this class wasn’t the best option. I start to calm myself down as I realise I’m safe.

You’ve learnt more about this unique location!

Tartarus (dungeon)

Tartarus has 100 Levels.

Tartarus cannot be left until it's completed.

While in Tartarus, attempts at leaving respawn you at your starting location. This includes death.

Okay, so that’s a lot of useful information. I quickly pull up my hand in a salute.

[Luna]: You will not be forgotten, fallen comrade. I hope you rest well.

I walk away grimly. Reaching the exit, I look through. There’s a straight hallway, leading into some sort of open area. The important thing, however, is that in this hallway is a multitude of rat-like creatures. Looking closer, I realise that they aren’t like rats. They are rats. Hmm. I inspect them closer, noticing that they seem to be walking around aimlessly. However, on further inspection, they seem to be walking as if in a drunken stupor. Odd.

Congratulations! From continuous attempts at identifying a creature you have gained the identification skill!

Identification: Lv1 (0%)

By observing creatures, you can learn information about them. Amount learned depends on creature, and level of skill.

I quickly test it out. “Identify,” I command as I look at one of the rats. A window suddenly pops up.

Small Rat

Lv 2

Well, that’s mostly useless. Guess I’ll have to identify some more. I tread lightly as I walk a bit further into the room. Hopefully they’re passive creatures. I wait a bit to check, and sure enough none of them makes a move. It’s probably safe. I start identifying every rat I can see, attempting to raise my identification so I can learn more. A bit of trial and error told me that you can only gain experience from identifying something once. After identifying over 30 times, I get a popup.

Identification is now Lv2 (3%)

Identification has improved! Can now learn more.

Levelling skills up seems to be more significant in this game than most other games. I quickly identify the rat again.

Small Rat (passive)

This rat has become stronger from taking in the ambient energy around it, but it’s reduced them to an instinctive state, being barely able to function.

Lv 2

Health: 50/50

Stamina: 24/24

Rage: 8/8

Skills: ???

So that’s why they’re acting drunk. They’re barely able to walk. Well, let’s get some fight experience. I open up my inventory and pull out my sword. Grinning, I slam it down onto one of the rats.

-0 (50/50)

Right. My swords useless. Suddenly the rat glows, barreling into me at a ridiculous speed. I try and defend, but it overwhelms me and slams me into the wall…

And I wake up in the starting room. That shitty rat just one-shot me. COME ON. I GOT ONE-SHOT BY A LEVEL 2 RAT. I sigh, dejectedly picking myself up off the ground. Apparently I do no damage. However, the game wouldn’t throw me in here if I wasn’t able to do damage. I have to think of a way to beat the rat. I walk back to the hallway when a thought occurs to me. I sue identify on one of the rats.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Small Rat (passive)

This rat has become stronger from taking in the ambient energy around it, but it’s reduced them to an instinctive state, being barely able to function.

Lv 2

Health: 50/50

Stamina: 24/24

Rage: 8/8

Skills:

Magic Barrel ~ Gathers magical energy, using it to launch itself at an incredible speed into its enemy.

Damage: 50

Cost: 2 Rage

So identification works off of experience as well. That’s good. Now that I’ve got that figured out, time to check my stat page.

Status Plate

Luna

Female

Race:

Draconite

Level:

1

Fame:

0

Class:

Wanderer

Infamy:

9999

Experience:

0%

Health:

20/20

Health Regeneration:

0

Stamina:

20/20

Stamina Regeneration:

0

???:

???

??? Regeneration:

???

Strength:

0

Vitality:

0

Might:

0

Endurance:

0

Dexterity:

0

Resistance:

0

Agility:

0

Defence:

0

Intelligence:

0

Sense:

0

Wisdom:

0

Luck:

0

Titles

Forsaken by the Gods

Status Effects

None

Skills

Passive

Active

Celestial Understanding: MAX

Adaptive Body: MAX

Zero Start: MAX

Identification: Lv2

Ah, this race really does make things hard. It’s really good at the same time however. Normally I wouldn’t be able to handle the situations coming at me so well. Celestial Understanding really is amazing. Hopefully Adaptive Body shows its merits later.

??? Would like to offer you a deal. Listen to the offer?

Yes

No

Surprised, I hesitate. Perhaps I shouldn’t. Curiosity, however, inevitably gets to me and I say yes. Something appears in front of me. No ‘poof’, no magic. Just one moment there was nothing, and then suddenly there was something. This something turns out to be a human hidden by a dark cloak that covers him from top to bottom.

[???]: GREETINGS MORTAL, MY NAME IS LUCIFER AND I HAVE COME TO OFFER A DEAL THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH OF US!

I winced, my ears ringing from the volume. Noticing my expression, he relents a bit while laughing.

[???]: Sorry, sorry. I’ve got to make an impression you know? I usually deal with tough customers.

I nod my head, still befuddled. I quickly use identify to try and garner some information, but I get very little back.

Lucifer (Passive)

Lv ???

[Lucifer]: My name’s Lucifer. I offer a deal that may benefit the both of us.

[Luna]: What deal?

[Lucifer]: I’m known as a ‘Shadow Merchant’. We’re a group of merchants that specialize in serving one person at a time, until either the contract is revoked or they are dead. We help those who the Gods have forsaken.

[Luna]: What are the benefits of this contract?

[Lucifer]: Plenty. Those Forsaken by the Gods can no longer trade, sell or buy things from players and merchants.

[Luna]: So you’re my only option, then.

[Lucifer]: Yes, but don’t worry. If we charged exuberant prices, neither side would ever gain anything. I will trade anything you recover of value with an equal amount in Shadow Coins.

[Luna:] Shadow coins? What’s that?

[Lucifer]: Coins that can be used to buy anything you wish from my store. As long as you have the amount needed, of course.

[Luna]: Right, and I’m guessing they’re entirely useless outside of your shop.

[Lucifer]: You’re a quick one! I like you already. Yes, that is correct. That way, we both gain from this contract. So, will you enter into the contract with me?

Accept the contract?

Yes

No

I laugh and quickly accept the contract, it’s a great deal and we both know it. The second I say yes, Lucifer starts grinning.

[Lucifer]: Thank you for your future patronage. To celebrate, I’m going to give you a tip. The next room holds the Key.

[Luna]: What do you mean? Isn’t that a little vague.

I blink. He’s gone. He disappeared just as suddenly as he appeared. Great tip. Well, there’s nothing I can do besides going to the next room. Hopefully things will become clear when I reach it. Something glinted in my vision. I turned to see what it was, and found a crystal at the place where Lucifer once was. Identify.

Shadow Contract

This crystal validates the Contract between the Shadow Merchant Lucifer and the player Luna.

That’s it? How anti-climactic. Speaking of which, how the hell am I supposed to call Lucifer when I need him. Ah well, I’ll think of that when the time comes. Time to head to that room he mentioned.