Micro understood Ura's words completely the first time he felt every part of his body attacked by the violent energy. It would be impossible to fuel his countless cells individually in such a short time, but his body already knew how to heal itself.

“I just need... to give it... what it needs...” Micro grunted as he adapted to the painful sensation, but he resisted the urge to consciously react to the energy which dissolved his outermost layer of skin.

“There...”

He sighed with relief as he let his mind go blank, focusing only on the exit on the opposite side of the room. Blue and Trill had already passed through the next door, but he felt no anxiety.

With his mind unburdened by his tendency to concentrate single mindedly on his task, he found the process of supplying the damaged parts of his body as natural as breathing had become. He came to feel less like he was forcing energy into his cells and more like he was delivering what they craved. His effort was then dedicated entirely to providing energy to his skin, allowing it to heal as it was damaged, until he found himself standing in a comfortable room next to Blue and Trill.

“Oh, that's it?” Micro said as he looked around.

The room looked almost identical to the dungeon's first room, and another doorway waited across from where the three of them stood.

“The fun isn't over yet.” Trill sighed.

“Being a cultivator is getting tedious.”

“Glad you made it in one piece.” Blue added, looking up at Micro.

“Shall we continue?” Micro asked as his skin returned to normal.

“Yes, please.” Blue replied, leading the way.

“Let's get this over with sooner than later.”

~

The second room felt no different from the first as Micro slowly made his way through it, but he noticed one difference in the room itself.

“That was twice as long.” Micro panted as he passed through the doorway to the next rest area.

“Do they get even longer? That was exhausting...”

“I took a look. The next one is a lot shorter.” Blue replied.

“But it's even more tedious.”

“Really?” Micro asked.

Micro approached the open door to the next room and reached through the door. However, he recoiled in pain and was surprised when his skin suddenly hardened.

“That's cold!” Micro shouted.

“It's the same trick.” Blue sighed.

“But you'll need to work a bit faster.”

“I see...” Micro replied, placing his hand back through the door.

He endured the pain for a moment, then increased the amount of energy flowing to his hand. His hardened skin began to fall away like snow as warm skin grew beneath it.

“I feel a little bad for Ura...” Micro said as he grew accustomed to the new pace of healing.

“Why?” Blue asked.

“We're making a lot of dust in her dungeon. She’ll have to clean it up later...” Micro explained.

“Ugh...” Blue rolled her eyes.

“Let this end!”

She jumped into the room with a small grunt, and began her pained trek to the next door, followed shortly behind by Trill, and then by Micro.

“It's actually pretty easy when you let your body do most of the work.” Micro happily announced as he entered the next rest area.

“I don't know why you dislike it so much. It tickles after a while.”

“I may mistake you for a basilisk, young Micro.” Ura's voice suddenly rang out.

“Oh, hello again.” Micro said as he turned around to see her standing behind him. Her amber glow was refreshing to his eye in the dark room.

“What do you mean?”

“You've come to understand the value of pride and the utility of renewal.” Ura nodded.

“You live the duality of one who values their vessel but lacks attachment to it.”

“Sometimes old parts need to be replaced.” Micro shrugged.

“I've gone through more tires than I could count. Although, if I ever needed a new engine…”

“You're always talking about how much you love your tires, but you replace them that often?!” Blue gasped.

“My lights burn out sometimes too, and a pothole made a mess of my muffler once...” Micro explained, counting the parts he could remember having replaced with his fingers.

“I really can't count all the parts I've been through. But that's just life, for a truck.”

“Huh...” Blue replied, nodding slowly.

“I guess that makes sense.”

“Isn't this kind of easy though?” Micro asked Ura after thinking for a moment.

“The instinct to protect one's vessel is what ultimately dooms many prideful cultivators who challenge this trial. Alas, it is possible to value that which is expendable.” Ura replied.

“You may enjoy a Jade Serpent Art Dungeon, should you find the time. I think you would enjoy the company of the Dark Jade Serpent Dungeon's youngest guardian very much.”

“I'm sure I'll go there one day.” Micro replied with a smile.

“I'm a little busy now though.”

“Indeed, don't let me keep you.” Ura bowed, then surprised Micro by shedding her feminine form and slithering into the shadows in the form of a giant snake.

“Let's go.” Micro said to Blue and Trill, who nodded.

The three cultivators continued through several more rooms without issue. Some rooms felt cold, some felt hot, and others felt purely uncomfortable, but the three walked through them all at a steady pace. Not much time had passed since their trial began, and Micro wondered how many more rooms there could be. However, they eventually came to a room unlike any they had seen in the dungeon.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Isn't this sort of... nice?” Blue said with an eyebrow raised.

The room didn't appear dungeon-like in any way. It was small enough to be mistaken for an ordinary room in any mundane house, decorated with several upholstered chairs, paintings on the walls, a fire burning in a brick fireplace, and three people sitting at a dinner table. All three people glowed with an amber aura, and Micro quickly recognized Ura.

“Good work, child.” Ura waved to him from the table. The other two people turned to face him, revealing two boyish faces with surprised expressions.

“These are my children.”

“Dungeon guardians have kids?” Micro asked in surprise.

“We often do.” Ura chuckled.

“Though perhaps our offspring may not be considered children in the mortal sense. They are creations of mine, and they will take my place one day if need be.”

“It's nice to meet you both.” Micro said while joining them at the table. Blue and Trill quietly walked over soon after. Trill retreated into Micro's pocket, while Blue remained warily upon Micro's shoulder.

“What is this place?”

“It is a hobby of mine.” Ura replied.

“I may have peered into the mortal realm a time or two for inspiration. We would normally greet you in a grander chamber, but this feels more suitable, given the nature of our three guests.”

“First time a soul from another realm has wandered through here.” One of the boys said.

“Why isn't he attacking us?”

“Attack you?” Micro asked.

“Most cultivators attack us when they show up.” The other boy replied.

“They think we'll give them extra Core Cards if they win.”

“Do you?” Micro asked.

“Well, none have won so far.” He answered.

“But we only have two cards to offer anyway.”

“Can I have them?” Micro asked excitedly.

“Of course.” The first brother replied.

“You did well.”

Three sets of two Amber Core Cards suddenly materialized on the table in front of Micro. He picked up the two nearest to him and smiled.

“I guess this is the Fire Serpent Art Card.” He said while looking at it closely.

“But is there a reason to master this one if I already have the Water Serpent Card?”

“Pfft!” Ura's sons both began to laugh.

Micro looked to Ura, who smiled kindly.

“To fully master an art, you must of course acquire each and every elemental variation at every level, though I can understand your confusion.” She explained with a soft voice.

“Your Turtle Art only makes use of energy of the fire element, for example. Imagine how much stronger it would be if it used every elemental force...”

“What?!” Micro gasped.

“But cultivators have so much trouble mastering a single card!”

“They do seem to have grown weaker recently...” Ura lamented.

“My creator would be saddened to see what progress your world had previously made reversed in such a way.”

“Cultivators used to be stronger?” Micro asked.

“That's a difficult question to answer.” Ura said.

“But their potential is certainly no less than it was. I would like to see more like you appear. Are you a sect leader, by any chance?”

“No.” Micro replied.

“That's a shame.” Ura sighed.

“Do consider becoming one. Your disciples would be most welcome here.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” Micro said, smiling awkwardly as he picked up the rest of the cards.

“Are all dungeon guardians this friendly, by the way? I was under the impression that they were dangerous places where people die...”

“Lower level dungeons like this were designed for children.” Ura said with a sad expression.

“We prepared many young souls for the trials of ascension... But it is true that many have died here. It is not our privilege to save those who risk their lives. We guard the integrity of the dungeons which our creator bestowed upon this world.”

“Do you think any dungeons might lead to my original world?” Micro asked, though he appeared unhopeful.

“You will find your way there one day, I'm sure.” Ura replied.

“But the only road there will be the one you forge yourself.”

“I guess I'll get back to work on that now...” Micro said with a bitter smile.

“Thanks for everything, Ura.”

THe boys both waved at Micro and the pixies, though one of them suddenly turned his head with an expression of surprise.

“Huh…” he mumbled, seeming to stare into empty space.

“The other guest is awake.

“Don't be a stranger if you stumble upon my portal again.” Ura said with a wink. She then waved her hand and a warm glow enveloped Micro and his two passengers.

“Oh?” Micro blurted out as the amber glow gave way to an uncomfortably thick fog.

“Oh, right. The fog. I wonder what happened to that gob-”

“Let's try climbing up, this time.” Blue advised him, grabbing her two Core Cards out of the collection in his hand before returning to his shoulder. Trill tentatively collected his own before retreating to Micro’s pocket.

“I forgot about climbing!” Micro shouted.

“Hands really are useful...”

~

Climbing out of the crevice was more difficult than climbing up the side of Kel's mountain while blinded by fog, but he was happy to see that the fog had started to clear in the woods when he finally returned. With his energy under control, he looked ahead and soon found his group.

“Lena!” He called out as he approached.

“I'm back!”

“Where did you run off to?” She asked with a frustrated tone.

“The goblins were yet another tedious event.”

“I was delayed after pushing a goblin down a hole.” Micro replied apologetically.

“Did you kill it?” Lena asked. The crowd of non-cultivators suddenly quieted as their conversation went on. Micro noticed the mangled bodies of several more goblins laying around the group.

“No, I don't think so.” Micro replied.

“Where is it then?!” Lena asked with a heavy sigh.

“I left it behind in a dungeon.” Micro answered quickly, pulling his two new Core Cards out of storage to show Lena.

“I’m not sure what happened to it, but we got these from a nice lady named Ura!”

Lena only stared blankly at him for a moment, as though she had given up searching for the words which escaped her. Eventually, she simply turned around and gestured to the group to follow her, and the journey continued.

“I wonder what this second card is...” Micro wondered while walking behind the group.

“Oh, that's nothing special.” Blue replied.

“It makes you venomous.”

“What?!” Micro gasped.

“I don't want to poison people!”

“I mean, you'd have to bite them for it to work.” Blue shrugged.

“I guess it might be convenient if your hands are full. Oh well. I guess I'll just master it alone. You're losing your lead!”

“I'm not sure when I'll use it, but I should probably master it.” Micro sighed.

“I need to master all of them anyways.”

“You aren't using the Charm Skill much, by the way.” Blue added.

“Any reason why not?”

“You've been using it?” Micro asked.

“It's convenient, as far as skills go.” Blue replied.

“I'm naturally as charming as any pixie, but the skill helps me draw less attention. My grace and beauty have been known to distract others.”

“So that's why nobody seems to mind you all of a sudden.” Micro said, looking ahead at the crowd.

“People tend to react a lot more when they meet you.”

“Why don't you try it?” Blue asked.

“How will I know if it's working?”

“Try greeting one of those jerks over there without the skill active.” Blue pointed to an old man to the right of the group.

Micro nodded, then approached the man and introduced himself, but the man's reaction was unsurprising. He humbly bowed his head while mumbling about honour and gratitude before disappearing into the crowd.

“That’s about right.” Blue whispered.

“Now try it with the skill active.”

Micro did as he was instructed, feeling a warm sensation rise up from his chest in the process, then approached an old woman to introduce himself. This time, he was surprised to find he was greeted back, and the old lady began to speak of her family and her home to the west. Micro thanked her for her stories after a moment, and she happily returned to her friends.

“A skill that makes people relax...!” Micro whispered excitedly to Blue.

“This might be my favourite skill so far!”

As Micro revelled in his new skill, Lena suddenly appeared behind him with a more irritated expression than usual.

“Be careful where you use that skill, Micro.” She said sternly.

“You'd be killed the second you activate it in any sect I know of.”

“Oh, good to know.” Micro nodded, deactivating his skill right away.

“By the way...” Blue interjected, drawing a sigh from Lena.

“You'll be wanting to veer that way for a little bit. I don't like what I see up ahead.”

“Bandits…?” Micro asked, his face suddenly turning pale. He gripped his shoulder as if it had started to ache.

“Nope.” Blue replied, disregarding his anxiety.

“Just some wildlife, among other things.”

“I'd also like to avoid any further distractions.” Lena nodded curtly.

“Very well.”