Chapter 16

A New Monster

When Gen awoke she went downstairs and was greeted by a boisterous celebration. It appeared that Clive’s Team had cleared the Boss room and was back in the inn to celebrate. Byron was behind the small corner table they had set up. And he waved Gen over.

“Clive’s team was keen to sell their herbs but you were asleep, I gave them a similar deal to Felandira’s group. But they wanted to trade the Mana Potions for Stamina since they didn’t need them.” Byron explained.

“That sounds alright to me.” Gen sat next to him. “Did you get your nap in yet?”

“No. I've been waiting for it. I was afraid it would happen while I was at the shop.”

“Yeah, we will probably want to make sure we don’t take this sort of potion at the same time in the future.” Gen sighed, “An hour in the middle of the day doesn't sound so bad if it's just one of us but both can be risky."

Checking the map Gen noted that Throm’s group was already in the dungeon proceeding to the first room. “It looks like the adventurers are stress-testing the dungeon now that Clint’s team can fully clear the boss.”

“What do you mean?” Byron asked

“They are trying to see how many runs they can get out of the dungeon in a single day. I don't particularly like it but it's good information to have.”

“Is it bad for the dungeon or something?” Byron said concerned.

“Not really.” Gen paused. “Actually it can be good, but it's still risky.” Gen continued when Byron didn’t interrupt. “With only a few teams they will get tired. possibly make mistakes. It could get someone killed. A death in the dungeon is a massive influx of mana and AP.”

“But we don't want to kill anyone,” Byron hesitated, “Right?”

“No, our mandate is to grow the dungeons so adventurers can grow. Not Feed the adventurers to the dungeons."

Relieved Byron yawned, “That's good. Did you see the notification about the new Monster?"

Sharply Gen grabbed Byron's shoulder. "You. Bed. Now."

Byron had a confused look on his face till he realized that was his first yawn. He quickly scurried up the stairs to bed.

Curious about the Notification she had put to the side, she looked at it now.

Congratulations, a new monster crystal has been fully formed.

Warning: Blood contamination. Blood spilled on forming monster crystals can have unknown and possibly disastrous or wondrous effects.

The Monster crystal formed is a Minotaur crystal. Your dungeon may now spawn minotaurs.

Warning: Blood Contamination has altered the Minotaur crystal. It is now a Mini-Taur crystal. Your dungeon may no longer spawn minotaurs.

Your dungeon can now spawn Mini-Taurs.

Gen was astounded. “What the heck is a Mini-taur?” She had never heard of this sort of event happening. She knew she would have to tell the guild about this but without a Scrying Stone, she would have to wait till the representative came. As she thought about that she realized there was more to read.

Congratulations! Your dungeon has a Unique monster that is the first of its kind. It may be promoted to a Boss-type monster with enhanced capabilities. Note: The standard version of this monster will still be available.

“That just raises further questions!” Most dungeons don't have anything designated as an actual “Boss” just the strongest monster they can possibly throw at adventurers. True Boss monsters are usually found in older dungeons, but their origins are unknown. Or unknown to lower rank Keepers perhaps? Gen had a lot to look into, but while Byron was asleep and the adventurers were in the dungeon, as well as her being needed to be available at her potion stand… it would just have to wait.

* * *

Throm leaned against the wall as the team mopped up the first room's goblins. “Alright, part of our evaluation is to assess changes to the dungeon. Did anyone notice changes in the first room?"

"There are 5 goblin's here instead of the 4 we originally fought," Fairlin said.

"But one of the 4 we had was a rare mob. Do rare mobs replace a mob or usually add on to groups?" Maggie asked.

"Good question." Throm smiled. "They typically add on though sometimes it is hard to tell. But the other teams entered after we did and they had 3 goblins in the first room. So we can assume ours was an additional monster."

"That's a 66% increase in mob numbers." Riveriara pointed out. " is that too much?

"Maybe, but I don't think so." Reginald mused, "All of the teams came in with 6 people but only 5 fought. The increase is large but it only puts the numbers on an equal playing field."

"Well, let's get the handle to the boss room and move on." Tiffany started walking across the room towards the waterfall rest area. "I want to check out the new side passage we heard about."

The group moved into the next room and searched it from top to bottom but quickly grew frustrated.

"Where is it!?" Reginald exclaimed. "The other groups said they found the knob in this room just like last time."

"Things can sometimes change quickly, you can’t always count on accurate information. If everyone is rested up, why don't we explore further and see if anything else has changed? The movement of a key item like this indicates a possible large change in the dungeon.”

“How large?” Tiffany began to shift nervously.

“With a small dungeon it could be everything, but the difficulty shouldn't spike too much. With large dungeons, it can be a small but dangerous change.” Throm assured her.

The group moved along the main hall toward the puzzle room and found the branching path where they expected it, avoiding the pit trap along the way.

“Same so far.” Reginald said, “Do we keep going to the boss room or take the side path?”

Maggie spoke up from the back of the group. “Well if I were a betting lady I would say the door handle was moved to a more protected location. The puzzle room is unlikely. I say we explore the new path.”

The group nodded as Tiffany took point. She quickly found the first trap that the others had mentioned. “Small floor trap. It’s supposed to throw up a nauseating cloud.” She marked it with sand and continued.

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“Sounds like the dungeon nicked your style.” Reginald teased Tiffany

She gave him a flat look. “I highly doubt it, that venom needs to get into the bloodstream, not the lungs.”

Throm chucked. “It's not unheard of for dungeons to recreate facsimiles of things that happen in their depths. In fact, it's quite common in the beginner and advanced tiers. It's as if the dungeon is feeling itself out, trying to discover its style.”

“Stop distracting me, I'm trying to keep us all-” CLICK Tiffany looked down and saw her foot had pressed down on a small trap. “Oh shit!” As she uttered those words a small orb rocketed into the air dispersing orange gas about the group.

Throm quickly batted the orb down the path they had come spreading the gas behind the group aiding in dissipating the gas, but forcing them forward deeper into the passage. After clearing the gas they all began reaching into the corners of the hall. Once they recovered they found themselves at the far end of the hall only 10 feet before the turn.

“No turning back now,” Fairlin said.

“Everyone quiet, and I'll see if the rest of the path is clear,” Tiffany grumbled, and no one said a word as she got to work. She found 3 more traps before the end of the passage. “What sadistic god did this? A few traps that force us to run forward if we want to advance and then more to trap us in the tunnel?” She said while marking them with sand.

“Heh, I've seen worse.” Throm chucked.

“Who wants to peek around the corner?” Riveriara asked.

“I’ll do it.” Reginald volunteered, as he approached the corner. Looking around he observed a massive rectangular room. In the room were rows of beds lining the walls. Milling about the room were 4 goblins and 1 mountain goblin. Reginald nearly gasped as he retreated back to the group to report.

“The mountain goblins are here? Then what's in the boss room?” Maggie asked wearily.

“I am assuming something more dangerous,” Fairlin said

“But that's one of the bosses.”

“The dungeon is getting stronger,” Throm stated. “Yesterday's boss is just today's average monster.”

“There’s only 1 and a handful of goblins…” Riveriara said.

“I can probably root some of them and we can take out the mountain goblin,” Maggie suggested.

“That could work. Reginald and I can take down the mountain goblin, and you three can watch for any strays.” Fairlin said.

A short while later Fairlin and Reginald went running around the corner and into the room. Maggie stepped out behind them and carefully aimed her entanglement spell.

Goblins 2, 3, and 4 are Bound by Entangling Roots.

Riveriara stepped up beside maggie and loosed an arrow at one of the free goblins.

Riveriara Shoots Goblin 1 for 25 Damage.

Seeing her target still standing she spent her stamina to fire again.

Riveriara Shoots Goblin 1 for 20 Damage

Goblin 1 is dead.

As the arrows flew, Fairlin and Reginald advanced upon the Mountain goblin Basher. Reginald ducked low and to the side grazing the beast's leg. But it seemed only to annoy the creature.

Reginald strikes Goblin Basher for 5 Damage.

Fairlin took up his stance on the goblin’s other side, throwing out several quick japs, forcing it to turn its back on Reginald. The goblin, ignoring the small blow from Reginald, blocked each of Fairlins strikes with its club and open hand. But the blows were a mere decoy for Reginald to prepare. He lined up a blow to the goblin's lower side and thrust. The sword bit deep but must have hit something hard as it was forced out leaving a gash in the side rather than the impaling wound Reginald hoped for.

Reginald Strikes Goblin Basher for 30 Damage.

This broke the goblins' attention away from Fairlin as it turned and clutched at its side screeching in pain. With the quick turn, the creature was able to bring the club around and crack it across Reginald’s face, sending the rich lad sprawling.

Goblin Basher Strikes Reginald for 35 Damage.

Reginald is knocked prone.

Now with his own opening Fairlin took the time to wind up for a heavy hit rather than his typical quick blows. Laying a hammer blow across the back of the skull of the goblin forced the burly creature to its knees

Fairlin Strikes Goblin Basher for 45 Damage.

Goblin Basher is stunned for 3 seconds.

Fairlin’s second blow finished the goblin

Goblin Basher is dead.

As Reginald stood and looked about the room. He could see the rest of the team had dealt with the remaining goblins without issue.

“Maybe we should get you a shield,” Maggie said to Reginald as she looked at his raw face that was surely going to bruise darkly.

“Or a helmet.” Added Tiffany.

“Yeah…” squeaked Reginald as he reached for a healing potion.

“So a bunch of beds and chests at the end of them.” Maggie said, “Do you think the goblins were guarding the handle here?”

“Seems as likely as anyplace. Let's begin looking.” Riveriara said.

Many empty chests and disappointed faces later Tiffany found the boss door handle under a mattress. “I feel like I just robbed an old lady. Or a kid.” She said as she stowed the handle.

"I can't believe all these chests… and nothing in them!?" Reginald was obviously peeved.

"You already got loot from the Goblins." Throm pointed out.

"Whatever, let's see what's going on in the boss room." And he strutted out of the room back towards the puzzle room.

The group made it through the puzzle room as they had previously and were disappointed it hadn't changed but grabbed the chest on the way through all the same.

The last hallway had changed. The walls that had once been rough caves looked like proper quarried stone blocks and many more torches lit up the passage. At even intervals along both sides, small alcoves could be seen, though there didn't appear to be anything inside the small openings.

"We should proceed with caution," Tiffany said as she began to search the hall for traps.

"Right, don't let our trap finder get distracted now, everyone quiet," Reginald ordered unnecessarily.

After a few minutes of searching, Tiffany found a pressure plate. "Last time the trigger was on the wall for the boulder. This may not be the same trap." She marked it and moved forward.

As she approached the first pair of alcoves she cautiously shined a light into each. They were as they appeared to be; a semicircle set off to the side as if waiting for a bust or sculpture to be placed inside. The same as you might see in a museum or aristocratic estate.

Methodically working down the hall Tiffany found a pressure plate somewhere on the floor just before each set of alcoves. It wasn't completely uniform; the plates were of varying sizes. Some were set along the walls, others in the center of the hall. When she reached the spot just before the last pair of alcoves she couldn't find the pressure plate that she was convinced was there.

"Where is it!?" Tiffany grumbled as she searched the area for the 10th time

"Maybe it's not there?" Suggested Maggie. "We are close to the end of the hall, maybe the traps end here."

"But then why have a last set of alcoves?! It's a pattern why break it now." Tiffany threw up her hands, "Fine we can keep moving."

As she passed the alcoves she saw it a small depression in the ground on the other side just where she would have placed her foot. Seeing Tiffany freeze, her foot in mid-air, the rest of the team froze as well.

"What's up Tiffany?" Fairlin asked.

Low and quiet Tiffany replied, "That son of a bitch."

"Who?"

"The dungeon. This whole hallway was a trap!"

"Yes we saw the pressure plates you marked," Reginald said.

"No, it was A trap, a singular trap. A trap for me. A trap of a false sense of security." Tiffany explained, "I was so sure I had found everything and didn't find what I expected so I thought I was done. Then I would carelessly step forward onto this plate."

"Hmm," Throm stroked his beard. "Seems like this dungeon just got more dangerous."

"I agree," Tiffany said. "If we weren't all around levels 4-5 and closer to 2 or 3 we wouldn't have made it this far. I would have triggered this trap."

"I will make sure to note deceptive trap placement in the guild information when we start allowing new adventurers in here," Throm said reassuringly.

"Do you think we are doing more harm than good?" Meggan asked.

"How so?"

"Well, the dungeon appears to be adapting to us, a higher level group than what will typically be coming in here. Are we setting the dungeon's defenses too high for newbies?"

"That is something of great debate the guild masters always like to argue about." Throm smiled "but so far it has been determined low-level adventurers shouldn't be clearing dungeons on their first attempt. They need to learn when to back down and not become overconfident. You all had privileged training being guild apprentices, you know your limits. This is intended so the local farm boy can get that same experience and knowledge, and use it to grow to become an Adventurer or Hero if he chooses that path.

"Heroes are a myth," Reginald scoffed.

"Perhaps," Throm nodded "But it is said they only appear when there is a great need of them. Training our adventures well may be the reason why we don't see them anymore."

"A-HEM!" Tiffany nearly shouted, "Can we have a philosophical discussion about this after we see what's in the boss room? I'll even buy the drinks at the Inn." She was standing at the other end of the hall. Tapping her foot, she had searched the rest of the hall for traps while they were distracted. Several additional pressure plates had been outlined as well.