Less than an hour later, the two parties stood outside a cylindrical, six-story tower. The thing couldn’t be more than a hundred feet wide, and reached about three-quarters of the way to the top of the criss-crossing arches that formed the ceiling of the maze around the Hanging Garden. Like the pillars themselves, dozens of glowing roots grew along the exterior of the stone building, flowing in an out of the curved windows where they found them.

“Architecture is different than Fallen Reach,” Hiral noted. “More design and decoration. Even the windows look like they once had sculpting on the sills. Any idea who built this?” His question was directed at Romin, and the Bonder gave a small shrug.

“It’s been here longer than we have,” Romin said. “It’s become a piece of our traditions. Part rite of passage, part necessity. If you continue down that path,” he pointed opposite where they’d come in, “you’ll find an E-Rank zone. It’s where most of us who fight learn about our classes. Once we’re strong enough to deal with the monsters there, we come to the Ascender’s Tower here to challenge the E-Rank dungeon. After that, it’s where we grow the most in strength.”

“Do you have to worry about the Enemy out there?” Wule asked.

Romin shook his head. “The area is mostly underground. Caves and the occasional canyon, but even those are usually covered by overhanging cliff faces. It’s only when we go beyond them, or risk entering the savanna, we need to worry. Attempts at expansion beyond the Hanging Garden have all met with disaster.”

“What happened?” Seeyela asked.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Romin admitted. “The savanna is a dangerous place, but we’ve had B-Rank groups leave the Hanging Garden. Some because they wanted to learn more about the Enemy and what our role was supposed to be. Some to search for the other races, like yourselves. Some to even search for the island we supposedly crashed down on.”

“What happened to them?”

“We never heard from them again,” Romin said. “None of them.”

“Maybe they made it?” Yanily suggested. “To wherever they were going. Or they could still be out there.”

“They could be,” Romin admitted. “But for none of them to ever contact us again? It’s more likely they and their companions were killed. The Pack Leaders – those are what we call our leadership – strongly encourage against parties striking out. It’s… restrictive, but necessary. We need our strong fighters to man the wall.”

“The one separating you from the savanna?” Hiral asked.

“Yes,” Romin said. “The attack of the Chimeras was unique in its ferocity – and the type of monsters – but the fact we were attacked was not so unusual. Predators constantly find their way through the maze, which is why we have the wall at all. We’ve been able to handle most assaults with less problems, but it’s a constant struggle.”

“Do you have any idea where the Bonder island is?” Hiral asked. “Your people have been here, what, thousands of rotations – years – now?”

“The island has become more myth than fact at this point,” Romin said. “Nobody knows where it is – or even which direction. What records we have from the founding of the Hanging Garden are sketchy at best. The island fell. My ancestors ran and found shelter here. There is no description of how far or how long. Just that they arrived.

“There are some early stories of them going to look for other survivors, but it quickly became about surviving themselves. Luckily, there was the E-Rank zone nearby, and they discovered this dungeon.” Romin pointed again to the tower in front of them. “Without those two things, I doubt they would have become strong enough to survive for me to be born.”

“I’m sure there’s a lot more to it than that,” Hiral said. “Almost six-thousand years of history? In a way, I can’t even picture it. That’s so long it’s hard to wrap my head around…” he trailed off.

“Hiral?” Seena asked.

“That’s a long time,” Hiral said quietly.

“Uh oh. He’s repeating himself,” Yanily said.

“It’s a very long time,” Left said, and Hiral looked up to find a familiar, concerned look on the double’s face.

“Okay, what’s going on you two?” Seeyela asked, and both parties moved from staring at the tower to looking at Hiral and Left.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Hiral said. “Not when we have a number telling us how long it’s been since Fallen Reach went up. At least, an approximate number. Romin, does almost six-thousand years sound about right to you? How long your people have been in the Hanging Garden?”

“It seems far too long when you say it,” Romin said. “It must be much less than that. Why would it matter?”

“Don’t… take this the wrong way,” Hiral started slowly. “But, if your people have been here for six-thousand years, why aren’t things more advanced? It’s the same thing on Fallen Reach, and the Grower island. If we’ve been up there for that long, why does it feel like we haven’t progressed at all from the time when the islands launched?”

“And, worse,” Left added. “Why haven’t we ever asked that question?”

“Romin, when did those B-Rank groups leave? How long ago?” Hiral asked the Bonder. “Recently? As in, within the lifespan of somebody still alive.”

“Yes,” Romin said slowly.

“And before them, did anybody go?” Hiral asked.

“I… don’t know.”

“It’s the same for us,” Hiral went on. “Except we occasionally have somebody trying to go to the surface to harvest quills. It goes poorly, and we give up. Just like that.

“Yes, the surface is very dangerous – and we know why, now – but…”

“But,” Left continued as Hiral fell into thought. “Why haven’t either the Makers or Growers really tried to settle on the surface? Why hasn’t our society or magic progressed past the bare minimum? Our PIMs have gotten stronger, on an individual level, but overall? We’ve stagnated.”

“That… is kind of odd, now that you mention it,” Seena said, and Hiral could feel the others sharing looks through his sensory domain. “What does it mean?”

Hiral didn’t answer for several seconds, and when he finally did, it was with little more than a shrug. “I don’t know. The question is too big. And the fact – like Left said – we haven’t even asked that question is even more troubling. Romin,” he went on, turning back to the Bonder. “After we complete the raid zone, I’ve got some Academic friends. Uh, it’s one of the Maker classes that focuses on learning. Can you and I connect them with any record keepers from your people?

“Maybe get some of the Growers in on it too. Try to figure out what’s going on here. It’s not something we can figure out right now – I’m not sure how much it even matters – and we’ve got other things we need to prioritize.”

“I don’t know who you should talk to,” Romin said. “But I can find out.”

“Same here,” Seena said. “Grandmother will know who.”

“Great,” Hiral said, shaking his head to try to rid it of the troubling thoughts. “For now, let’s just focus on the dungeons in front of us.”

“Yes,” Nivian said. “Shall we?”

In reply – after a shake of her own head – Seena stepped forward and tapped Nivian on the shoulder. “Lead the way.”

The tank’s eyes narrowed at her. “Did Romin tell you it would be dangerous or something?”

“Nah. Just for old time’s sake. Thought you might miss it.”

Nivian smiled, and it was good to see the familiar expression on the man’s face, despite the pale skin and blue-flames in his eyes. “Follow me.”

With that, the tank led the way into the first floor of the tower. Similar to the dungeons Hiral had entered before, the entrance had runic script along the frame, and a familiar shiver passed over his skin as he went in. Now, though, with his growing experience with runes and their Edicts, it was clear the runes weren’t the same.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Something about the script had been altered. Weakened. It wasn’t like when he’d reduced the potency of the Rune of Separation by writing it messy on his reforge of the Blight’s Mercy. No, this was more like an attempt to alter it.

Dr. PIMP had mentioned during Hiral’s dream that the Enemy hunted things that used their runes. Could this be an attempt to avoid that?

Ugh. Too many questions today. Just focus on the dungeon.

Putting another thing out of his mind – that he knew he’d just go back to questioning later – Hiral turned his attention to the room in front of him. Off to the right was the expected dungeon interface, with a staircase leading up to the next floor curved against the wall nearby. On the opposite side of the room, the area looked to have been set up for parties who were running the dungeons. Cookpots, sectioned off areas for sleeping, and even supplies for people who needed them, were laid out in an orderly fashion.

At the moment, two groups were using the space, and almost twenty heads – companions included – turned to look as Nivian and the others entered. Hands quickly went to weapons before Romin stepped ahead of the others, a tiny Wallop at his side.

“Romin?” one of the men asked, standing up with a tiny snake draped across his shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“Biv, good to see you,” Romin said. “How are your injuries?”

The man reflexively put his hand to his left arm. “All better. Thanks to what you did. I’m… sorry about the others. It was because you protected us.”

Romin shook his head as he walked up to the other man. He nodded at each of the others, who also came over to greet him, though a few sets of eyes still traveled to Nivian and Seena’s parties.

“I know you’ll do the same thing – if it’s needed – after you Rank up,” Romin said. “I don’t know if you remember Nivian and his party,” Romin turned to gesture at the undead group, Finotol included. “They were the ones who came to rescue us, and Wule is the one who healed your arm.”

At his name being mentioned, the healer looked up from the book in his hands to give a small wave.

Biv, the apparent spokesperson for the two Bonder groups, nodded when he saw Wule. “I… don’t remember much of it. I’m sorry. But, if what Romin says is true, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Wule said. “You took a nasty knock on the head, so I’m not surprised it’s all a bit fuzzy.”

“What are you even still doing here?” Romin asked Biv. “After everything that happened, I’d expect you to be back at the Hanging Garden, recovering.”

Biv looked back at the others, and Hiral could tell what he was going to say even before he opened his mouth.

“It’s exactly because of what happened,” Biv said. “It showed us we can’t afford to sit around. We need to get stronger to protect ourselves. To protect others, like you did. Your party – your friends – died because we weren’t strong enough…”

“No,” Romin said, immediately interrupting. “You don’t have to carry that guilt. It’s not your fault. Yes, get stronger, but don’t take risks when you’re not recovered because you think you need to rush.”

“We’re recovered,” Biv said. “Surprisingly so.”

Romin looked back to Wule, as if he wanted confirmation.

“Physically, they should be fine,” Wule said.

“You should still take a break,” Romin said to Biv.

“And what about you?” Biv asked back, a bit of defiance creeping into his voice. Even the snake on his shoulder lifted itself up to hiss like it was saying ‘yeah!’.

Romin looked back and forth between the two groups like he was trying to come up with a good response. He didn’t succeed. “I’m just like you,” he finally said to Biv. “Finotol too. We’re going back in with these groups. She’s joined Nivian’s group, while I’m with Seena and the others. You wouldn’t have met them, but maybe you heard about the battle on the wall? They’re the group that saved the city there.”

“Was it really one group that did all that?” Biv asked quietly, the others listening in closely.

“One group,” Romin said. “Or so I’m told. I haven’t seen them in action myself, but Burs assures me they’re strong.”

At that, Biv and the others shared a knowing look. “Are you… are you going to try the B-Rank dungeon?”

“After we clear the others, yes, I believe that’s the goal,” Romin said.

“You bet we are,” Seena said. “My group and Nivian’s both are going to give it a shot.”

“Can we come up to the fourth floor when you go in?” Biv asked. “To be there if it happens.”

“I… don’t see why not,” Romin said. “But you’ll just be sitting outside, waiting.”

“That’s fine,” Biv said quickly, the others behind him nodding. “Even if you only get partway, you can tell us all about it!”

“Okay…” Romin said.

“Great! Then, uh, we’ll let you get to it,” Biv said, taking a step back and ushering the others to give Romin some space. “We’ll follow you up when you go.”

“Don’t get too comfy, then,” Seeyela said. “We won’t be in this one long.”

“On that note,” Seena said. “Romin, can you come over here? Something I want to discuss with everybody before we go in.”

“Sure,” Romin said, then turned back to Biv. “I guess I’ll talk to you soon.”

“They seem pretty confident,” Biv said in a whisper, likely low enough for anybody other than Hiral and Romin to hear him. “You think it’ll be that smooth?”

“We’ll see,” Romin said just as quietly. Then he turned and jogged over to where the others gathered around the dungeon interface.

“Smash time?” Bash asked, the Troblins eyes on the crystal in the interface like he really wanted to swipe.

“Soon,” Nivian said. “Seena?”

“Okay folks, we,” Seena pointed between herself, Yanily, Seeyela, and Hiral, “ran a lower-level dungeon before we came this way. We also got an achievement for running it quickly.”

“In under five minutes,” Hiral filled in. “The achievement was called Speed Run, and… here, let me share the ability we got from it.” A thought, and a glowing yellow window appeared in the air for the two groups to see.

Class Modification: Momentum

Class Modification: Momentum: Receive stacking increased experience for defeating enemies without taking a break from combat.

Note: Every 15 seconds of continuous combat results in a 1% bonus to experience.

Note (2): Bonus experience caps at 50%, and applies to ALL experience gained since the beginning of Momentum’s activation.

Note (3): Taking a break of 15 seconds or longer between fights results in Momentum resetting.

“It’s an amazing ability,” Seena said. “We got huge amounts of bonus experience from the Siege because of this.”

“That would explain why you four are between level nine or ten,” Nivian said. “While the rest of us are barely level three.”

“Exactly,” Seena said.

“Bunch of cheaters,” Gran. “Boy cheater, girlie cheater, knucklehead cheater, and Seeyela cheater.”

“How come she gets a name?” Yanily asked. “And calling Hiral a knucklehead isn’t very nice.”

“Back on topic,” Seena reeled them all right back in right away. “With how Romin described the C-Rank dungeon, you all definitely want this. So, we need to run this E-Rank dungeon fast. Romin gave me a bit of a rundown on it, but can you share with the others?”

“Absolutely,” Romin said. “This E-Rank dungeon is called A Quaint Farm…”

“That’s… not ominous,” Yanily said, clearly as surprised as Hiral was at the name.

“It’s fitting, actually,” Romin said. “As an E-Rank dungeon, it’s relatively introductory. And while it’s High-E, it’s doable by a solid Mid-E group. The only dungeon of the tower that’s consistently doable by a Mid-Rank group, I might add.”

“Smash?” Bash asked Nivian, still staring at the interface.

“Soon, Bash,” Wule said, pulling the Troblin’s hand away from where it was sneaking towards the crystal.

“Continue,” Nivian said to Romin.

“There are three enemy types within the dungeon, though you only ever have to fight one at a time,” Romin said. “It starts with wolves from the forest. Defeat enough small packs, and the first Mid-Boss – The Alpha – will come to attack. The other option is to go into the forest and hunt The Alpha before killing off the waves, but it will have more defenders.”

“One place we can shave some time off,” Seena said. “After the wolves?”

“From there, we will need to move to the nearby field, where the scarecrows there have been enchanted to attack. For them, there are twenty in the field, and one of them – at random – is the next Mid-Boss. It’s the Creeping Jeeper. Sometimes you’ll find it on the first scarecrow you engage, sometimes on the last.”

“Any tricks to picking the right one?” Yanily asked.

“None,” Romin said.

“Are they all active when you get to the field?” Wule asked.

“No. You have to attack each scarecrow to get them to come to life,” Romin explained. “It makes it more manageable for new groups.”

“Will area of effect of spells trigger them all?” Seena asked, and Hiral had to chuckle as he imagined her on a very flammable field.

“If it’s big enough,” Romin said.

“Oh, it will be,” she chuckled. “After them?”

“The final wave is bandits that will come down the main road after the scarecrows are dealt with. The Boss of the group is the Bandit Leader, though he has a powerful mage with him. It was the mage who was responsible for animating the scarecrows, but the bandits won’t appear until the Mid-Boss is defeated.”

“Do we have to kill anything other than the Bandit Leader?” Seeyela asked.

Romin shook his head. “For experience, we often kill the minor waves of bandits that come first – three at a time – then move on to the mage and his guards. After they’re taken care of, we move to the Bandit Leader, and the dungeon ends when he dies, no matter how many others are left.”

“Then that’s our plan, folks,” Seena said.

“Wolf, scarecrow, and bandit,” Nivian agreed. “We can split up to pick them off as they spawn, with most people waiting in the field to deal with the randomness of the scarecrows. Igwanda, going to send you to deal with the wolf. Wule, take Bash, Politet, and Finotol to the field. I’ll handle the bandits. Romin, where will the Bandit Leader appear?”

“There’s a single road leading to the farm,” Romin said. “If you travel away from the farm, you’ll come to a fork, a mountain with a crescent peak directly ahead in the distance between the two roads. The Boss will spawn at that fork. It’s maybe a thousand feet out from the farm’s fence.”

“I’ll take care of that, then,” Nivian said.

“What about us, Boss?” Yanily asked.

“You can enjoy the farm,” Seeyela said. “I’ve got this one.”

“Shouldn’t we…?” Romin started.

“Nope, this one is mine,” Seeyela said, then looked at her sister. “No objections, right?”

Seena chuckled. “Only if you don’t get the achievement for them.”

“Oh, I’ll get it. Won’t be as slow as somebody else clearing a low-rank zone.”

“Hey now,” Hiral said. “We spent most of that time chatting…”

“Smash?!” Bash asked, clearly impatient at all the aforementioned chatting.

Nivian looked at Seena, and she just nodded.

“After you,” she said.

“Time to smash,” Nivian said, and Wule let go of Bash’s hand.

The little Troblin waved his hand over the crystal. “Smash! Smash! Enter Dungeon to smash!”

And with his little chant, a blue portal appeared.