I ate, savoring the thankfully unburnt Rock Snake. Though still bland, it was a vast improvement over the charcoal Clover had tried to feed me.

Halfway through my meal, Clover cleared her throat, peering over her book at the Rock Snake warily. “Are you sure that's cooked all the way through?”

I nodded, holding up a piece as an example. “Yes, as long as I keep turning it, It cooks evenly. Want to try?”

She grimaced. “Thanks, but no. I'm…particular about how my food is cooked. No offense, but I don't trust that.”

I shrugged and happily continued eating. “That's fine. I'll cook yours extra to make sure you're comfortable.”

I'd agree to almost anything to avoid getting poisoned again.

Time blurred as I finished the first Rock Snake and began cooking the second, keeping a close eye on the fire. When the second snake was done, I ate it while examining the room around us.

Between the trap scare, Clover almost getting eaten by spiders, and the spirits-forsaken room with the Adult Giant Spider, I hadn't had a chance to assess our surroundings. The room was plain, unlit torches lining the walls every few yards. We probably should have been lighting those as we finished each room, to prevent monsters from coming in from the surface…

Oh well, too late now.

Glancing over the corner I'd left the Deep Rat entrails in, I did a double take. They were gone.

They'd been tucked out of the way against the wall, but now, that spot was clear. We hadn't left anything alive to eat them…had we?

As if in response, something rustled in the shadows. Clover and I tensed, weapons in hand, but when I saw what had joined us, I sighed in relief. “It's fine, just a snail.”

It watched us, eye stalks swaying lightly, and a trail of slime marked a path behind it.

Clover set her mace down, eyeing the snail curiously. “It's nearly as tall as my knee…and what are those bulbs on its back?”

I looked closer, squinting against the dark cloaking the snail. Plant-like bulbs dotted its shell, tugging at a distant memory. The snail moved leisurely, unbothered by our presence, and when it slid closer, firelight bathing the bulbs, realization dawned. Excitement followed on its heels and I stood, approaching slowly. “Clover, we've been blessed to find one of the most useful creatures I've ever learned about.”

She frowned. “Why is it so useful? Their smell is so bad that no monsters want to deal with them.”

Indeed, a distinct garlic scent wafted through the air. My stomach growled. “It's a Bulbsnail, and the smell comes from the cloves along its back. There are dozens of different variants around Nexus. The fact we found this one is nothing short of miraculous! I've been dying for some flavoring on my food since I left Dawncrest.”

Shocked silence passed for a beat. Then her laugh echoed off the walls. “Only you would make such a big deal about food seasoning.” Amused fondness colored her tone and I shrugged, carefully plucking a bulb from the snail's shell.

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“Mock all you want; this will make dinner taste worlds better.”

The snail watched lazily as I took half the garlic and stepped back, nodding. I wouldn't risk taking more. If that's what kept monsters from attacking it, I didn't want to leave it defenseless, especially since it had done me a great favor.

Once I had my haul, I patted its shell and returned to the fire. “Do you think we can keep it, once we're finished here? It ate the Deep Rat entrails, so feeding it would be easy.”

Clover raised a brow. “It's a snail that eats meat…and you want to bring it along to use for cooking ingredients?”

I nodded. “Exactly.”

She shook her head, chuckling. “Sure, Darling. We can bring it along after we clear the dungeon.”

Beaming, I focused on the fire with renewed optimism. This was going to taste so much better!

The room settled into companionable silence, interrupted only by my appreciative hums. Garlic exploded across my tongue, transforming the flavor from palatable to delicious. If I could just find some pepper, it would be perfect. Maybe Starkfell would have a spice merchant…

With my meal done, I extinguished the fire, stowed the excess garlic, and offered the stick to the snail. “Dunno if you like cooked food, but there's still some leftover if you want it.”

The snail considered the stick before sliding over it. Taking that as acceptance, I turned back to Clover, who watched in amused silence. I shrugged, donning my armor and pack. “There's no reason to waste food if it'll eat the leftovers.”

She just shook her head, smile not fading. Letting the subject drop, I faced the door. “I'm ready when you are.”

She stowed her book. “Perfect. This will be floor three of five. Be prepared; the deeper we go, the harder the monsters will get.”

We cast our weapon enhancement spells and breezed through the blessedly empty spider room. A few burnt egg sacs lined the walls and I turned to Clover. “Did you torch those while I slept?”

She nodded, pushing through the corpses toward the staircase. “You're not a fan of creepy crawlies, and I don't mind them. Figured I'd spare you.”

Relief and appreciation warmed me. “Thanks. I'll return the favor if there are any monsters you hate.”

She shuddered. “If we run into giant snakes or centipedes, I'll take you up on that.” Under her breath, she added, “No legs or entirely too many–either way, it makes my skin crawl to consider.”

I noted that for later, pausing when I set foot on the third floor. The air felt heavier, almost suffocating. “Clover, wait. Something…isn't right here.”

She went silent, expression hard as we took in the room. Four walls, two doors, and several long-dead spiders against the far wall. The metal door on the right was torn off its hinges, the frame dented with deep claw marks gouged into one side. A chill worked down my spine.

The sheer amount of strength such a feat would take…

My grip on my sword tightened as I eyed the other door. The barricaded door.

A stone wall stretched nearly over the entirety of the opening and it was covered in deep gouges and scorch marks.

Clover examined it with a frown. “It's a spell. Whoever cast it trapped themselves in this room.”

Dread tightened into a hard ball in my stomach. “That's basically suicide in a dungeon… What could they have faced that made that preferable?”

Before she could respond, a thunderous explosion sounded from the next room. I jolted, sword at the ready, and Clover spun to face the racket as well.

“Brace yourself; something tells me we're about to find out.”

If the scorch marks on the walls were any indication, we were in for one hell of a fight.

Spirit, please watch over us through… whatever we're about to face.

A hum of power slid over my skin, offering comfort and relief. It tempered the unease in my gut and I took a breath, readying myself for the coming fight.

We weren't alone. No matter what came around that corner, we would make it out alive. Even if I had to use Retribution again, this wouldn't be the end.