image [https://imgur.com/OPqa1cZ.png]

Nina looked at the floating map. It should be… there. The trees parted to reveal a large cracked open crystal dome, weeds and small scraggly trees growing off of it. Nina paused to consider it. Another ancient structure with architecture that didn’t quite fit the surrounding area. Luka’s explanation that a great magical tragedy was the cause of Dungeons did seem plausible, but how would it then cause an endless wellspring of resources? She didn’t know enough about magic, but even it must be coming from somewhere. Or maybe it defied physics entirely and could create energy infinitely. Luka stood at her side, looking at it with an unreadable expression. Well, he was trying to be unreadable, but Nina could tell he was tightly controlling his anxiety and panic. Likely both the cause and the containment of those feelings were his desire to protect her. Very good. She smiled at Luka. “So we can hunker down in the Dungeon for at least a week with our provisions. I’m hopeful that Monsters may have carved pathways out of the dungeon, since you mentioned that they would sometimes take up residence in them.” Luka nodded. “Yes… that is possible. Dungeons have been known to have secret exits or paths out, but it is dangerous to rely on that.” Nina smiled. “Oh! The book does say there are tunnels branching away from the interior of the Dungeon, so we should be good!” Luka looked tired. “The Cursed book..”

Gregor stumbled up, panting. He was slick with sweat and Nina wondered if he was going to have a heart attack right here. I guess if you aren’t in good shape, and put no points into Physical, then hiking for hours would be tough. She smiled at him softly. “Hey Gregor, you okay? Ready for the next part of the plan?” He looked at her with wild eyes. “Okay?? PLAN?? You mean diving headfirst into a magical blender in order to escape the oncoming INFERNO??” She felt some bits of spittle fly out of his mouth and land on her arm. She gave a goofy half smile, and shrugged apologetically. “I think the blender is the better bet, if that helps?” She was beginning to get a better sense of her Charisma, and tried to gently push her calming desires his way. There was no sign of it at work, but he did swipe his hands over his face a few times, before dully nodding. “Okay. Well. Let’s do this. What’s the level for this dungeon.” She knew it was a level fifteen Dungeon, but she looked at Luka. “Can you tell?” Luka stared at it, frowning.

“Somewhere between level twelve to level sixteen.” He looked at the two Heroes with him. “I believe Samantha is now level Nine, correct?” She nodded. He glanced at Gregor. “And you are level five.” Luka shook his head slightly. “Well. That should still be fine. I am level Thirty Two. Although my stats are not as powerful as even a level twenty Chosen Hero, it should still be enough for this dungeon.” Gregor had gone pale, and Nina noticed his teeth were slightly chattering. If they didn’t go in soon he was going to lose his nerve and run off or something equally frustrating. His ability to die twice a day and come back with memories was too powerful and exploitable to lose. She punched the air, startling him. “OhhhhKAY! LET’S DO THIS!!” She grabbed Luka and Gregor’s hands and ran forward towards the opening of the Dungeon. “Wait wait Samantha!” She managed to get them both inside before Luka gently extracted his hand from hers. “Please, I may be strong but anyone can be overwhelmed if they are taken unaware. Let us go slowly. Ready your bow. Gregor, don’t use your limited attacks unless you need to, but please have them ready. If I need the backup I will tell you.” Gregor nodded quickly, his face pale and beaded with sweat.

Samantha blushed and rubbed her arm. “Sorrry… I got a little excited!” She kept up the sheepish expression as she glanced around the descending hallway. Gently sloping glasslike floor stretched forward into darkness. This Dungeon had a wider hall than the previous one she had explored, and everything that she could see was made of the same Crystalline material. She attempted to pick up what looked like a loose piece and found it to be securely attached to the ground. She somehow knew from the feel of it that none of them would be able to pry it loose. She reached out with her mind to Etemenanki [I’m ready for another trade.] She felt the Book stir. She didn’t trust it, and was almost certain it could see more of her mind than she wished, but it was truly a useful tool. [Of course! Of course of course, how may I help?] She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, following slowly after Luka down the hallway. [I’m going to trade you my Light stat for as much ability as you can give me concerning communicating with and understanding monsters. Understand? I want to be able to talk to them, understand them, and have all the necessary requirements to use my Charisma and powers of persuasion on them.] She felt a moment of stillness from the book before it responded. [I uh I can do that, I think. It’s not a monster tamer skill or anything, but you WILL Be able to converse with monsters that have at least low human level intelligence. This is… not really supposed to be allowed, by the way.] She grinned sweetly, her mental tone cold and commanding. [Do it.]. She felt a ripping sensation inside and restrained her body's desire to gasp. Then her mind shattered.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

She could not see, hear, or feel. She attempted to stay still and breathe calmly, her eyes closed. This was a moment of massive weakness, and she had to restrain any outward sign. She heard a far away muffled voice, almost definitely Luka’s, as he asked her something. She was certain it was something like “Samantha, are you okay?” She nodded her head slowly. It felt as if shards of glass were being mixed roughly into her brain by a thorned stick. She breathed in and out slowly and calmly, using all her willpower to bring up a hand, hopefully communicating a “one minute please.” The pain reverberated down her spine with every breath, but sparks of something interesting were happening. She felt a depth to her language, to her knowledge. The Goblins they had seen, their body language had contained meaning totally opaque before. They had been talking as they had rushed forward, some of them calling out for their family as Luka struck them down. Incredible. The darkness faded slowly from her eyes, Luka looking at her with mild concern. Nina was amazed blood hadn’t been leaking out of her eyes, nose, and mouth. She smiled at him as her head continued to pulse and throb with intense pain. “Ah, sorry, I was talking with the book. It looks like there is a possible exit, or at least a path that could lead out a few levels down. Pretty lucky!” She grinned happily at him, the meager light from his armor stabbing into his eyes. He nodded his head once. “That should be doable. Dungeons greatly increase in difficulty as you descend, and I would not trust my abilities against the lowest levels.” He motioned and they continued to move slowly forward. The pain was subsiding. [Uh… sorry about that!] [Sorry about what.] [The… intense pain? I didn’t realize it would be so much!] [I figured something like that would happen.] [... Ok…!] Nina focused her attention back to the Crystal tunnel. The book would sometimes talk to her like it was a person, annoyingly.

Luka suddenly held up his left hand, slowly raising his sword with his other. “Monsters ahead.” Nina withdrew an arrow and held it loosely against the string of her bow. Ahead small shapes shifted, and then suddenly screamed and rushed forward. They were tiny furry creatures, almost like some kind of rat monkey things. She pulled and loosed, an arrow thunking solidly into the chest of one of them, before Luka’s sword swept around. She didn’t bother using her new knowledge. The sounds they made sounded like the squeals of pigs, and she felt that they weren’t much more intelligent. She heard another gasping sound behind her, and quickly turned. Gregor was hyperventilating as he backed up against the wall, slowly pushing back the way they came. No time for that. She leapt forward, gripping his wrist. “Hey! We need to find a way to get you some experience!” His eyes frantically looked at her. “I… I don’t…” She thought fast. “I know Luka said to hold back with your lightning skill, but at the next enemy lets have you hit it first, then Luka will move in, okay?” He was clearly going to shake his head emphatically “NO”, so she pushed on. “Great!! You’re doing so great Gregor, thank you for helping us!” He smiled sickly. “You… You’re welcome…”

She gently, but firmly, led him forward. Luka was glancing idly through the small furry creatures. “Nothing here, but not surprising.” She smiled, her eyes also sweeping over them. “Okay! Onwards! Luka, let’s have Gregor walk at your side, he can dive back if he needs to, but let's have him zap a few monsters okay?” Luka nodded as Gregor joined him. Small trembles were running up and down his body. She found herself annoyed at how poor his bodily control was. They started to walk forward again, and Nina noticed a large crystalline door to the side. “Luka, let’s-” Gregor slammed up against her, and she quickly reached down to grab a short blade. “Gregor what??” His eyes were wild. “Died died died do NOT open that door!!”

Ah. He had wet himself.

It was getting on her.