They appeared at the outer portal at six PM, exactly, the sun still out. Lamuril didn't have to ask. Their faces said as much. After paying their taxes in Essence to the guard garrison that wasn't there at night, they got on the carriage.
"No card?" The elf finally asked when they were on the road.
"No. We killed all bosses. Five of them! With four hours to spare!" Nero protested.
"Maybe it was the slime. We didn't kill the final boss," Altia suggested.
"But it was a boss. It should've worked!"
Lamuril cleared his throat. "If I may suggest, master Bezzias had a contingency plan. There's a rank-I Dungeon one and a half hours away from here in the countryside. It's called 'The Water Tomb'. We are going there now."
Nero sighed. There was still a sliver of hope. Altia changed benches and left Bruce alone, sitting next to him.
"We did what we could. Either the card drops in the next Dungeon or it does not. Let's do our best and work hard."
"Yes. Let's," He replied curtly. He was blaming himself for letting the goat hit him.
"I can still taste ashes, did you know?" She teased him. Nero frowned. Altia shook him. "Hey, I'm joking! You did an awesome job clearing that Dungeon!"
They didn't speak for the next twenty minutes, the carriage shaking less than it should on the dirt road but raising a dust cloud just the same.
"What monsters are in that Dungeon, Lamuril?" He asked.
"Water goblins. That tomb was conquered by them and used as a staging spot for raids during centuries until it finally became a Dungeon. The monsters are spear goblins, blowgun goblins, and the boss is a goblin shaman."
At Rank-I, this Dungeon should not be hard. With all the trouble they went through in the Rank-II Dungeons, Nero wondered why that one wasn't included in their schedule. He asked exactly that to Lamuril.
"There are two problems with this Dungeon. First, it is too far. Three hours is one-eight of our allotted time. Second, there's little information on it, as people don't delve too often. It should be blue or yellow-grade now. It is an unknown risk, as compared to a known risk. Professor Bezzias was sure you could clear the first five Dungeons."
"I agree with him. Thanks, Lamuril."
"You're welcome."
Nero let the elf focus his attention on the road. He found his eyelids heavy. Altia clung to his arm and nibbled his ear to keep him awake.
"Are you sure you want to do this? I have a hunch that something went wrong and it is not our fault. We killed five different bosses in less than twenty-four hours."
He shook off his sleep. "We need to do this. There's more at stake than just a fancy Skill. I'll go with my mana bolt mage. It's a rank-I Dungeon. Small kids with zero in all Attributes should be able to do it."
Even if it were on the yellow rating, it wasn't that problematic. Rafflesia's Meadow was something entirely different. The difference between yellow and purple was greater than green to yellow and it was on the verge of another evolution. If it was to become rank-II or even orange, that was to be seen but 'on the verge of an evolution' for a dungeon meant decades to the outside world.
"Let's get some sleep then," Altia proposed. Nero agreed.
Lamuril woke them up. Nero looked around and it was already dark, and they were in a lightly forested area. He could see some hills around them and a shimmering portal near a pile of vine-covered strange rocks or maybe rubble.
"We are here. You have one hour and fifty minutes to clear this Dungeon."
"Thanks, Lamuril," Altia said.
Nero shuffled his Class cards, leaving the [Warrior] on top and the mana bolt [Mage] on the bottom, to make it easier to swap.
"Let's go!"
> Entering "The Water Tomb" - Rank-I Dungeon.
Nero noticed that the pile of rubble outside was the entrance to the tomb, collapsed. They were in the same valley as outside, but with a few major changes. First, the rubble was still standing, granting access to the tomb below, second, it was morning and the sun was shining although heavy rain clouds were above them, and third, the valley was flooded. The small hill they were on, impossible to notice where the carriage stopped was the only spot of dry land in a mile. Worse yet, the water wasn't still. There were eddies and whirlpools all around, screaming that it wasn't the kind of place you'd like to swim at. Bruce was clinging to Nero's leg, unwilling to get anywhere near the water.
"I guess the only way is down these stairs," Altia pointed.
"Yes, let me get the lantern started and we'll go."
Nero opened the Essence chamber of the lantern and put a fresh crystal in there. He turned on the device and they went down the stairs. The place smelled of mold and moist earth, and the sound of dripping water echoed in the distance. The steps were broken and treacherous. They had to go slow or risk falling down the stairs.
They were near the bottom when a gurgling voice shouted.
"Rawlrwarlrwarlrwarl!!!!"
A water goblin, or a person-shaped fish with arms and legs, to be more precise, was wielding a spear and attempting to look threatening. The critter was less than three feet tall and was skinny. Its scales looked diseased and rotten. Nero didn't hesitate and flung a mana bolt at the monster. The spell hit the monster and flung it a foot back. It was already dissolving when it hit the ground.
Bruce ran ahead and picked up the crystal and a card. Nero took both and checked. Five Essence, a level 1 monster.
They walked in the tunnels of the tomb, trying to avoid the drips of water from the roof and the flooded areas. The water goblins didn't have much chance against their magical onslaught but they couldn't waste time. After half an hour of fast-paced exploration and scores of fish monsters dead, they came to a larger tunnel that was flooded.
That was a literal bucket of cold water in their excitement. The water goblins were so weak Nero could kick one to death. But the sight of the underwater tunnel that obviously led to the boss drew a sigh from him.
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"That's why nobody comes here. The boss is underwater," Nero remarked.
"We need that kill. Let's dive and see what we can do."
Altia's rebuttal made Nero focus on finishing the job. Without much of a choice, they went into the water but Nero made a point of keeping their gear on, including the boots. Bruce complained a lot but ended up diving with them. Despite his reluctance to enter the water, the monstrous badger was an excellent swimmer. They moved ten meters underwater and saw light from some torches coming from above. Nero kicked the ground and rose to the surface, his shield over his head.
Some spears clattered over his defense and he raised his other hand, tossing mana bolts at the water goblins around him. He pulled Altia and Bruce ahead and reached the other half of the Dungeon. All the tunnels around them were flooded, with water at knee height. It forced them to slow down. The challenge of this Dungeon was the terrain. They couldn't move faster and several side-tunnels were completely underwater. Nero was sure Serena would have a field day, leading an army of charmed gargling and dead-eyed fish-people. At least this part of the Dungeon had torches for light.
Getting there was ninety percent of the effort, truly. Bruce was wading, his mood, terrible. Nero let one spearless spear-goblin for the badger's therapy session It wasn't pretty while it lasted but the shining water when the blood dissolved was.
They moved for another twenty minutes as fast as they could and started to hear drums. The water was around their waist by now. Nero looked ahead and saw a throne made of bones, decorated with fish fins with a large water goblin decorated in fangs and fetishes. Several other goblins circled him, ready to defend their shaman. Nero swapped his Classes and prepared. Altia felt the sparks and the heat before any light appeared in his hands.
"Oh, not again!" She sighed.
"[Fireball]!"
"Aaaaaughibbrgubugbugrguburgle!" The shaman sensed his impending doom and shot a green wisp of magic at Nero, shouting at his minions to engage. Both magical projectiles crossed each other, the glob of poisonous magic parried by Nero's shield and the fireball detonating against the throne.
> Compatible Boss Anima detected. Grade yellow, tier I. Energy absorbed above the threshold. Processing upgrade. Weighing Attribute strain.
>
> For defeating a foe eight times your level, you gained +3 Reason.
The cloud of steam blocked their sight. It cleared fast, the cold Dungeon condensing the vapor in minutes. Nero checked his clock before his Arbitrium. Fifteen minutes earlier.
"Bruce, go to the dry platform and don't touch the loot," Nero ordered.
"I got three points of Endurance," Altia said.
"Awesome. I got three Reason."
They waded and climbed the stairs. Nero counted fifteen faintly glowing crystals and a few cards. He picked up the three on the throne, checking them. The two [Egress] and a piece of equipment.
> [Circlet of Clear Air] - blue Equipment - Head. Requires level 3. Endurance +10. Willpower +10
>
> +2 Endurance
>
> +2 Reason
>
> +1 Perception
>
> +1 Charisma
>
> "The stones at the crown of the circlet are the hearts of elder elementals, air and water."
>
> Effect: Surrounds the wearer's head and hair in an invisible bubble of protective fresh air. Water, smoke, or any noxious fluids cannot pass through this bubble.
Altia noticed his shoulders slumping. Nero laughed but it was dry and weary, any sliver of mirth absent.
"No black?" She asked.
Nero turned around and smiled lovingly. "No. But it is a loving upgrade for you. Headgear."
Of all the equipment slots, neck was the second hardest to find, while headgear was so rare it was considered to be at least one grade above in trades.
Altia looked at the card but disregarded it. She came near him and hugged her husband. Her voice was heavy with worry, "Nero... What will we do? We didn't get the Skill."
They hugged. Bruce came and rubbed his snout on Nero's leg.
"Yes, but it was a gamble. We weren't sure it would drop or even how the universe would consider the twenty-four hours. We got loot, we got Accolades, we got equipment upgrades. What a hectic couple of days, right?"
She rested her head on his chest. "Yes. Quite an adventure. Shall we go home?"
"Summon your trophy first, my lady."
Altia took one of the [Permanency] and [Enchant +2] cards Bezzias gave them. She put them in this order along with the equipment card and activated them. A golden band of metal, with a blue and a cloudy white gems at the center, appeared in her hand. She put it on her head and felt a refreshing breeze clear the water from her head and hair. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
"How do I look?" She asked with a coy smile.
"Gorgeous as always.
> [Circlet of Clear Air +2] - Equipment - Head. Bound to Altia.
>
> +4 Endurance
>
> +4 Reason
>
> +3 Perception
>
> +3 Charisma
>
> Effect: Surrounds the wearer's head and hair in an invisible bubble of protective fresh air. Water, smoke, or any noxious fluids cannot pass through this bubble.
Nero folded his pavise shield back into a targe attached to his device, freeing his left hand. They slotted the [Egress] card and picked up Bruce.
"Home?" He asked.
"Home, definitely. We are spending the whole day tomorrow in bed," She smiled. "Sleeping!"
"Works for me."
They slept the whole way back. They woke up when the carriage was already in Bezzias' driveway. The sun was cresting the horizon and songbirds announced the birth of a new day. They shook their minds awake and found the three scholars waiting for them.
"Professors. Good morning," Nero stifled a yawn.
Altia sat up, knocking Bruce from her lap. "We're back!"
"Welcome back! We hope your adventure was fruitful!" Bezzias greeted them.
Nero looked away, ashamed. He faced their sponsor and confessed. "Yes, fruitful but not in the way we expected. We killed six bosses, cleared five Dungeons. We didn't obtain the card."
He saw no surprise in the faces of his senior [Gadgeteers]. Glom cleared the height from the ground to the open carriage's frame in a single bound.
"That's not a surprise, Nero," The squiig said. "We suspect foul play."
Altia held Bruce back. The predator wanted to sniff the round-eared prey that jumped near him.
"What do you mean, professor Glom?" She asked, worried.
Bezzias was the bearer of bad news. "Chrysopae and Holmes are missing since we left them two days ago. We think they too sought the black card, and they started half a day before us. They checked out several tier III pieces of equipment and consumables."
They felt betrayed. Holmes had sponsored their expedition. What reason he had to snatch the black Skill? He couldn't use it. He had...
"Does he have a unique Class?" Nero asked.
Tinkwezilsky answered. "No, unless he found how to remove a Class. It's impossible, so no. He is a [Rogue], [Explorer], and [Archeologist]."
"And a damned betrayer," Altia cursed. "It all makes sense now!"
She jumped down from the carriage and said very unladylike words that made the gathered men blush. Then she spoke coherently again.
"I didn't understand why they put Serena inside that Dungeon. They were out of the city walls, it was easy to abscond the princess in the countryside. Take her back home. They didn't. Why? I've been asking this ever since we met her in Rafflesia's Meadow."
"Yes, and they risked too much for her. They weren't even subjects of Coriander," Nero added. "People died. A lot of people died because of that."
"And it caused a schism between the guilds, the Lyceum, and the Kingdom," Bezzias said.
"Serena wasn't hidden in the Dungeon. She was locked away in there," Altia continued. "Because it is a tier-I Dungeon. She can't level up above ten."
That was the piece of the puzzle that was missing in Nero's head. He slammed his fist against his palm. "She has four purple Skills, all of them require level twenty. And they are considered national treasures for the nereids of Coriander."
Altia nodded. She continued their brainstorm. "Exactly. She can't equip these Skills if she remains in there. And she told us that Coriander would find the Skills if they were sold anywhere. Also, she was certain she would be killed if she returned home."
"And back in the vault, Holmes reacted badly when I said the flavor text of her Skill. He punched me."
It was Bezzias turn to add something. "We were thinking what their motivation to rescue Serena was. It wasn't loyalty nor honor, neither justice. The only two things left are power and money."
Tinkwezilsky snickered. "Yes, I bet Coriander would pay a mighty bounty for the return of these cards. Dozens of millions. They trapped the lass in the Dungeon to gain time to negotiate."
Altia's face was pale. She shuddered. "Serena is in danger. We need to get her out now!"
"The guard at Rafflesia's will capture her if she leaves. Holmes is counting on that, I bet," Bezzias stated.
Nero removed his Class cards and moved the [Gadgeteer] to the active spot at the bottom. He put them back. He closed his eyes and put the Class Skills and his enhanced Reason to work. The discussion went a bit more, the three professors inflamed at the ironic lack of ethics from a member of the ethics committee. Then the young man opened his eyes.
"Okay. We are getting her out now. I got a plan. We need some things from the lab. Professor Bezzias, could I get some sheet metal and other common parts?"
He explained his plan. The scholars nodded.
"That might work," The bat-kin and gnome said at the same time.
Glom was the one to put them in motion. "We need to hurry or Holmes will try something. Let's go, gentleman! We got a gadget to build and a princess to rescue!"