After leaving the large corridor, we made our way back to the trap that had served as a hidden passage to the boss room. Our steps were slow, each of us feeling the weight of the battle we'd just survived. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the exhaustion from the fight was setting in. Despite our victory, our bodies ached from the relentless combat, every muscle protesting with each movement.

The echoes of the dungeon seemed louder now as we navigated the winding hallways. The tension had finally loosened, but we couldn't help but feel a sense of relief mixed with the physical toll. We had taken down the boss, a formidable foe that had tested every ounce of our strength and strategy, but now we were paying the price.

As we reached the familiar trapdoor that marked the passage back, a quiet cheer went up between us. Though we were tired, the feeling of triumph over our opponent helped ease the aches. With a final glance at the darkened hallway behind us, we stepped through the hidden passage, eager to get back to the surface and find rest, knowing we had conquered the dungeon at last.

Until we started to hear footsteps coming our way.

At first, it was faint—a soft tapping echoing through the stone corridors. But it grew louder, unmistakable and deliberate. We all froze, exchanging wary glances. The dungeon, for all its secrets and traps, had seemed eerily quiet just moments ago, but now the sound of approaching footsteps cut through the silence like a blade.

"Stop," Gwendoline whispered, her voice low but firm. Her sharp instincts had saved us more times than we could count, and we trusted her judgement implicitly.

We froze in place, holding our breath as the footsteps drew nearer. They weren’t the hurried, panicked steps of someone fleeing—they were slow, methodical, as though the person knew exactly where they were going. The air seemed to thicken with tension once more.

Until they finally made their presence known. Before them were four adventurers. Five human adventurers. I used my appraisal skill on them to see what classes they are. A Paladin, Sage, Monk, and a Bard.

"Monsters!" The Paladin yells, "on your guard team!" As they got into formation, Gwendoline recoils

"Monsters? Are you blind? We're not monsters, we're clearly people. My sister and I are Zephyrs", pointing to Solomon, "that's a Necrophyte," Pointing to me, "that's a Netherworlder," lastly pointing to Kemo, "And that's a Beastkin, see no monsters"

"Oh...I see" The Paladin spoke , "So just a bunch of Demons" they scoff.

"I never met humans before but you're definitely souring the mood" Gwendoline said.

"What are a bunch of demons doing in the dungeon" the Bard spoke

"None of your fucking business" Constantia replied.

"Same goes back to you four" Gwen points, "What are a bunch of humans doing in Netherworlder territory."

The atmosphere grew tense as Gwendoline's sharp retort hung in the air. The Paladin, still in a defensive stance, clenched his sword tighter, eyes narrowing at the mix of surprise and suspicion that crossed his face. "Netherworlder territory?" he repeated, the word seemingly foreign to him, though it was clear that his warrior instincts kept him on edge.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The Monk, a lithe figure with eyes like hawks, glanced back at their group, silently calculating their options. Her fingers twitched near her gauntlet weapons, and though she said nothing, her body language screamed readiness.

The Bard, ever the talker, stepped forward slightly, his lute bow slung over his back. "We’re not here for a fight, demons. We’ve got no interest in bloodshed if we can avoid it," he said, his tone placating, though tinged with condescension. "We simply wanted to see what was causing the disturbance in this dungeon. It's our job as adventurers."

"Disturbance?" Solomon’s voice cut through the conversation, dry and sharp. "You mean our victory? You’re welcome, by the way. It’s not easy taking down that boss."

"Victory, huh, you kids took down the boss?" The Sage, who had been silent up until now, adjusted his glasses and leaned on his staff. "I’d wager you weren’t the only ones aiming for the real threat. But I’m guessing you’re not here just for the treasure, are you?"

The tension between both groups was palpable. Every one of the adventurers had a hand on their weapons or spellcasting implements, ready for any sudden movements, but no one made the first aggressive move.

Constantia, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. "So, if you’re just here for a fight, we can give you one," she said, her voice cold and threatening, though her posture was one of fatigue. "But if you’re here to ask questions, I’d suggest you make them quick."

For a moment, there was silence, the only sound being the faint echoes of the dungeon. Finally, the Bard nodded, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. "No need to escalate things. We were just curious. It’s not every day you find a group like you in a place like this."

"You're in netherworlder territory, of course you'd find a party like ours" Gwen spoke irritably.

The Monk’s eyes flicked between the members of the opposing party, assessing their strength and resolve. She spoke quietly, her voice a low growl. "We came here for a reason. Just like you. Though our paths differ."

"Yeah, well, that reason doesn’t include fighting you," Gwendoline retorted, her hand now resting on the hilt of her sword, though it remained sheathed. "But don't mistake our passiveness for weakness."

The Paladin raised his sword, though it was more of a gesture than a direct threat. "We don’t have time for your games. The dungeon is ours to clear. Get out of the way, or we’ll make you."

Gwen’s eyes narrowed, her expression one of hard resolve. "This dungeon doesn’t belong to you nor anyone," she replied coolly, her gaze locking onto the Paladin’s. "You’d do well to remember that. Now, unless you’re here to make trouble, I suggest you leave us be. You might find things… more difficult if you don’t." She bluffed, clearly the dungeon put much strain on her body.

The Sage sighed, shaking his head. "Enough. of this" He raised a hand, signaling for calm. "We can’t afford to waste time with these demons. We’ll leave you to your business, but be warned: this dungeon has a lot more than just a boss. There’s something else, something dangerous, lurking deeper within. It’s not something you want to deal with."

Gwendoline raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous? If it's not the boss, then you’ve already failed, haven’t you?"

"We haven’t failed," the Paladin interjected sharply. "We’re just gathering information. But if you’d rather ignore the warning…" His eyes flicked over his team. "Then be our guest."

The Monk snorted, clearly unimpressed by the exchange.

With that, the tension seemed to break. The adventurers hesitated for just a moment longer, and then, wordlessly, they turned and began walking away, their footsteps echoing down the winding corridor.

Solomon shook her head, looking at the retreating figures. "Humans. Always so sure of themselves, even when they’re out of their depth. Even in this world, humans are scum."

Kemo, who had been quiet throughout the entire exchange, finally spoke, her voice low but thoughtful. "Do you think they’re telling the truth?"

Gwendoline gave a small shrug, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe. But whatever it is, we’ve already fought through the worst of it. We’ll deal with whatever else comes our way. Together."

The dungeon felt eerily still again as the adventurers disappeared from sight. The lingering tension was still there, but it was easier to breathe now. Whatever the humans were up to, it didn’t concern them for the moment.

"As the eldest kid here, I'll have to report this to my mom and she'll report it to father. Something is definitely going down...and with that, they exit the dungeon and make their way home to Vasheen...