It did not take a couple of years for me to acquire the requisite experience that I needed to advance to Tier Eight. It really should have, but once I decided to make a push for advancement, I found myself progressing quite swiftly.

It was partly because I stopped caring about using the fights as training sessions. Instead, I focused on maximizing my lethality.

I’d previously largely ignored my most effective spells and techniques in an attempt to remain well-rounded. Shifting away from that approach, I started fighting like a true Time Mage and stopped worrying so much about being a generalist.

I was only able to fight this way because I could recover between fights – something I hadn’t been able to do during the Trial.

Some creatures – especially the humanoid ones – were able to resist my offensive Time spells to some degree. That meant nothing when I targeted myself with an overpowered Haste spell, but I still made a point of neutralizing those individuals first whenever I encountered them.

An exceptional Time affinity and training on how to use it really was an unfair advantage, especially when I was able to enhance such spells with a sliver of Arcane mana. I could understand why some people might develop an inferiority complex when comparing themselves to Time Mages.

Still, I had no plans to completely give up the other methods of fighting that I’d been using for the last few decades. There was a time and place for everything. It was hardly my fault that Time magic had a place in most fights.

With a sigh, I considered the time I’d spent in the dungeon. I’d been climbing for roughly thirty-seven years by this point. That equated to just under seven and a half years on the outside.

Amie had only just turned twelve years old, which meant I had about three more years before I needed to be on Hadier. Given the variation in time dilation between the two worlds, I’d need to leave within fourteen local years to ensure I wouldn’t miss her awakening ceremony.

I didn’t see Zavira taking another decade to get through the last two levels of the tier, so I wasn’t really worried about promising to wait for her.

If anything, we might take a few years so Zavira could get a feel for the floor before we departed.

In all honesty, I doubted Zavira would ever return to the dungeon after she left. Even so, the knowledge of what to expect on the eighth floor would be valuable. Further, it would allow me to shave a few more years off the backside of my climb.

While a part of me was anxious to return to my family, another part was anxious about returning to my family.

I’d been gone for so long… even if it didn’t feel quite so long to them. I felt like I’d changed in so many small ways. The seventh floor alone had brought a huge shift in my perception, given how isolated I’d been and how often I’d needed to kill other challengers.

Would my family and friends recognize me once the barrier between us was removed?

Would they understand if I described my experiences, or would they consider me a murderer and want nothing to do with me?

That uncertainty was why I’d always downplayed the negative aspects of the dungeon, and I never mentioned needing to kill other challengers.

I shook my head and finalized my apartment clearance with the dungeon golem. It wasn’t strictly necessary, considering the dungeon’s near omniscience within its domain, but I figured the courtesy didn’t hurt.

“I can’t believe you actually said I wasn’t holding you back,” Zavira pouted from beside me. “It’s going to take me four or five years to get through the last level, and you did it in less than two!”

“It’s the addition of Arcane,” I insisted with a grin. “Seriously, I wouldn’t have been able to kill that quickly before.”

I wasn’t even lying. Even if I’d used the same approach, the results wouldn’t have been as effective without the addition of Arcane mana.

“Sure, sure,” Zavira said sarcastically. Her eyes didn’t match the tone of her voice. They looked far sadder than I expected.

I patted Zavira’s shoulder lightly.

“Well, we’ve already exchanged gifts,” I said as I stepped through the automatic doors leading outside. “I’ll message you often – probably more than once a month. Don’t be surprised if you get, like, twenty-five messages when the next exchange happens.”

The Smith’s lips curled slightly. “I’ll probably do the same,” she admitted. “I think it’ll be different, knowing you’re still in the dungeon. Writing people back home always feels a little forced since they don’t really get it.”

I nodded in understanding before pausing at the base of the arrival platform. I could have headed back into the labyrinth and challenged another boss, but that seemed risky, given the time limit.

After exchanging a hug, I stepped onto the platform and walked to the portal. With one last wave goodbye, I reached for the swirling mass of visible mana and selected my next destination: the Eighth Floor.

= = =

Welcome to the 8th Floor of the Realm Dungeon!

There are changes to the rules on this floor:

There are no longer safe zones. However, the restriction on violence still applies to the portal platform and within any dungeon structure under the control of a dungeon golem.

You may NOT shelter or loiter within dungeon structures. Violations will result in punitive action.

Do not restrict another challenger’s access to the kiosk.

You may leave the dungeon at any time using one of the portals.

You may re-enter the dungeon one time. This authorization does not expire and cannot be transferred.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

*Note: Items brought back into the dungeon cannot exceed your tier*

You have been temporarily rendered infertile. Children are not allowed in the dungeon beyond the seventh floor.

Upon reaching Tier Nine, you have 100 hours to exit the floor. Failure to comply will result in ejection from the dungeon.

Ascend swiftly, Challenger!

I wondered what the dungeon would do if someone tried to enter the eighth floor with a juvenile. It was supposed to be possible if the kid wasn’t awakened. There had to be a warning message if someone tried.

What kind of problems would something like that cause for someone who’d already tiered up and suddenly couldn’t take their child along with them? Granted, it probably wasn’t much of a problem at this level, but still!

It was certainly a notable change.

Another noteworthy change was the sudden (temporary) sterilization of challengers.

That seemed to come totally out of the blue… but looking around, I got an inkling why such a control might have been implemented.

The notification had mentioned there were no more safe zones, and that fact was made readily apparent by the trio of lupine creatures prowling around the platform.

They didn’t try climbing the slightly elevated area, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t.

Wary, I followed the raised walkway connecting the arrival platform and the familiar covered market housing the dungeon’s Trading Post.

It was small, perhaps about a quarter of the size of the last floor’s covered market. Only the dungeon golem’s stand was present. There weren’t even any challengers present.

“Greetings, new arrival! I see you’ve recently made your way through the dungeon,” the golem said jovially. It was always a little weird to interact with the very sapient-seeming constructs. “I have several items that might benefit you should you decide to remain on the floor. In case you haven’t already noticed, this floor is quite a bit different than those preceding it.”

“I see that,” I replied before glancing at the growing number of wolf-like creatures pacing just outside the threshold. “What do you recommend?”

The golem seemed to inflate at the question. I doubted many challengers bothered asking for advice.

“Well, it seems you are an Enchanter of some repute within the dungeon, so most of my normal recommendations probably don’t apply. For example, I assume you’ve already crafted several weapons.”

I tilted my head in agreement.

“And, you’ll certainly need reliable shelter, but given the challenges on the seventh floor, I imagine you’ve already got that handled,” the golem said knowingly.

I nodded again and retrieved my latest pod from my ring. “I’ll probably make a new one now that I’m Tier Eight, but this is what I used on the previous floor.”

The golem examined the item with an interested look. “This will probably suffice as long as you remain on the lower moon. The wards should be sufficient for now. However, I would not explore the upper moon until you upgrade.”

I tilted my head. “Moons?”

“Oh yes,” the golem said with a grin. “This floor is comprised of two moons. The lower moon has creatures ranging from low to high-Tier Eight, while the upper moon houses those at peak tier and the floor bosses. The bridge connecting the two moons can be found at the northernmost peak of the lower moon. For reference, we are currently at the southernmost tip of the lower moon.”

I inhaled deeply. It looked like I might get to test teleporting or creating portals between two celestial bodies soon.

“Are there portals between zones?”

“No. Not the way you’re imagining,” the golem said solemnly. “There are several Trading Posts scattered throughout the sister moons, each of which leads to the same place. By that,” it clarified, “I mean if you enter another Trading Post, you will always be here. When you exit, you will return to the area from which you entered.”

“So, no quick methods of transportation?”

“That should hardly matter to a Space Mage, I would think,” the golem replied.

“And the portal is connected to each Trading Post?” I asked, glancing toward the glowing portal nearby.

“The portal is connected to this Trading Post. The others are mere illusions that lead here. If you enter one on the upper moon, you will arrive here the same as someone who enters one of the Trading Posts on the lower moon. This facility connects to the portal, so if you decide to leave, you need only find a Trading Post.”

I nodded thoughtfully. I was pretty sure I understood, though I’d have to visit a couple of other facilities to be sure.

“Is there a Hot Spring on this floor?” I asked.

“There is, but you’ll have to discover it,” the golem said, not giving anything away.

“What about a Trial?”

“Again, you’ll need to discover it for yourself,” the golem said with amusement before its countenance shifted. “Would you like to buy or sell anything today? I’m afraid we are reaching the limit of your time within the Trading Post without a transaction.”

I quickly considered my inventory, both internal and within the rings I carried. I couldn’t think of anything in particular that I might need right away aside from information.

“I think I’m good for now,” I said hesitantly. “I’ll come back once I have a better idea of what I need.”

I could feel the golem’s artificial eyes watching as I exited the covered pavilion. I didn’t bother to hold back and immediately cast Haste and rushed the nearby creatures. Removing the pair of batons I’d used most frequently over the last couple of years, it didn’t take long for the last of the defenseless creatures to fall.

Not seeing any noticeable differences between the four cardinal directions, I put my back toward the Trading Post and started walking.

I wanted to get as much exploration done as possible before Zavira joined me in a few years.

= = =

“You need to start heading south soon,” Lisa warned me as I cast Cleanse to remove the blood and grime from my spear.

Shaking my head at how fast time had passed – a huge change from my perception on previous floors – I collected my kills and oriented myself.

Teleporting across two moons wasn’t something that I could do in a single jump, even with a beacon at my target location. I wasn’t sure if it was dungeon interference or an aspect of interplanetary teleportation, but something about crossing the space between the moons made my skill fail every time.

I was inclined to think it was a matter of dungeon fuckery, but until I could test it outside the dungeon, I couldn’t know for sure.

Of course, I could have just built a physical portal since I’d been trained in such enchantments, but it wasn’t worth the time and materials for something that I could manage with a couple of chained teleports.

I appeared near the mid-point between the two moons, standing atop the lightly glowing bridge that connected the two moons. The bridge was not without dangers – likely by design – but those were easily avoided as long as I moved quickly.

I normally would have taken the time to kill everything nearby since the materials from the bridge-dwelling creatures were quite valuable, but I didn’t want to be late.

After taking a few steps forward – just enough to cross the invisible midpoint on the bridge – I teleported again. This time, I appeared just outside the arrival platform.

Zavira had let me know she was getting close to tiering up in her last message, and since she already knew about the monthly challenger market – something I’d only learned about after a couple of months on the floor – she’d coordinated her arrival for the next one.

Conveniently, it coincided with the monthly message exchange, making it easy to keep up with.

After glancing at the empty arrival platform, I stepped into the Trading Post. Several challengers were already present, a few of whom I’d traded with on more than one occasion.

The monthly market was the only day of the month that the dungeon’s loitering rules were relaxed, allowing challengers to trade and socialize for a few short hours every month.

Somehow, those hours did more to satisfy my minor need for social interaction than weeks spent in town on the seventh floor had. Maybe it had to do with how nice everyone was on the eighth floor? Nobody had even tried attacking me yet!

I suspected their friendliness had more to do with my status as a tri-affinity mage than anything, though I didn’t let myself dwell on the theory. Regardless of why, the other challengers were still nice, and positive interactions went a long way.

The portal rippled, drawing my attention just before Zavira stepped through.

“Oh! A newbie!” someone exclaimed. “She sure has good timing!”

Only paying half a mind to the comments behind me, I headed toward the portal with an eager smile.

Four years was both a long time and hardly any time at all. Either way, I was looking forward to spending some time with my closest friend before we left the dungeon.