This really is an endless dungeon, Tromell said laughing joyfully.

Tromell’s battle hammer smashed into the head of a Critchen which fell to the ground rolling. In the same motion it landed on its feet and grew three times its size.

Ho ho, Tromell giggled, special ability

“Seismic bash” He said

Oh come on you really are a beast, Cygwin screamed I almost had this one.

She appeared out of the shadows clutching two silver blades. The battle raged around her as she walked furiously over to the giant

Watch out, shouted a stern female voice.

Two Critchen pounced to attack with open maws ready to tear the diminutive Cygwin in pieces.

How many times do I have to tell you..

..”Shadow step” she says…

Cygwin the nearby shadows sinks irise up to on the ground as the two beasts jump through empty space one inadvertently slashing the other.

…Don’t..

She smacks his thigh

..take..

She stomps on his left foot

..my..

Tromell steps back as she swings again

..KILLS.

The sound of beasts fighting each other can be heard behind her as the two Critchen that attempted to attack her were tearing each other apart.

Still in a battle here, Kessler warned

Sorry Kes, they both said

Turning back to the battle Tromell charged three of the beasts that were circling the group but not attacking. A slashing attack bit into his shoulder spraying blood on the ground.

We have a live one here, Tromell bellowed

This beast was clearly tougher than the rest. It touted a full silver mane, black powerful scales and long sharp claws. Tromell’s arm could barely hold his battle hammer as blood continued to gush.

Heal, he said sternly, now

Hearing that the beasts moved to converge on him as the battle raged on multiple fronts.

Sorry, sorry… you never ask for heals and I’m trying to help Sorath, Roman said.

Apologize later, Tromell said as he kicked a yellow scaled Critchen as another bit down into the now numb arm.

Full heal, Roman screamed as he ran, seeing the black scaled beast turn to him rushing past Tromell. A white light emanated from Tromell’s wounds. Immediately gaining feeling and strength back in his arm he slams the Critchen biting him into the other that he was fending off. A whine came from the two after the powerful blow. Using a quickness his size would not seem to allow Tromell’s leapt, tackling the black scaled beast barely moments before it caught Roman.

It has an injury in its neck, that’s the only weak point, Roman said panting.

Tromell grabbed its neck in a headlock ignoring the attacks from its claws as his wounds healed immediately after he gained them. Romans energy waned just as the lead Critchen died.

An echoing sound of handclapping could be heard as the last breaths of the beast sounded. Looking up from under the Critchen Tromell saw Cygwin sitting on another carcass with Sorath standing next to his wife with their arms wrapped around each other’s waists. Bending and looting the beasts was an ebony skinned man dressed in black and gold, the colors of the kingdom of the mountains. He silently goes about his work as the festive mood happens around him.

Very funny.. very funny, Tromell said. You could’ve helped a little. Did you see the size of that one?

That was the biggest Critchen I’ve seen, I wonder if it’s this dungeon. Sorath said. Have any of you noticed that the beasts here are a bit stronger and smarter than a normal A-rank dungeon should be?

This dungeon is the crown jewel of Sepatal. The difficulty is unmatched by others of its kind. People have spent years here and still no one has made it to an end point. There is something I have been feeling in the atmosphere through our time delving into this space. A voice that creeped even the bravest of them out said

Argh, Sorath jumped startled as the voice began. Jamba what have I told you? He said

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Kessler, failing to hold in her laugh, spoke up, Sorath stop being a spoiled sport, she said. We all love how you scream whenever Jamba sneaks up on you. Look, even Roman is laughing and we all know he rarely gets any jokes.

Hey, Roman said

Ha, that is funny because it’s true. Tromell said, dropping the beast in the pile and nudging Cygwin who nodded along.

HEY, Roman said, turning in their direction.

Either way Jamba you are a summoner not a rogue. Quit sneaking around!! Sorath said half jokingly. Ok what we actually need to decide is what to do with this. He pulled a Critchen cub from the ground behind him. It was a cuter, miniature version of the leader. Instead of a full mane it had scruffy fur and its scales were pinkish but turning black in places.

This would explain why those three were reluctant to attack. Roman, Jamba, any historical references to beast babies in dungeons? Or really anywhere?

Not that I know of, Roman said. Let me have it, I’ll take it to the scribes in this area and we can study it. It’s a shame this is our last floor. What other finds would we come across?

Your father would kill us if we made you late for your coronation. No putting that off and no.. I will not have a bunch of scribes poking, prodding and dissecting this baby. Sorath said

But it’s a beast, and studying it will only take a few weeks. Six months tops, to study its patterns of growth, maybe two years. He said with passion in his eyes. Besides, father has more years left, so the king won’t kill him. Will it?

Kessler grabbed the cub from his arms. I guess that is our answer. We are taking him home, aren’t we?

I mean if that is what you want, sure we can, Sorath said with a grin.

And how long did you plan that? Kessler said while nuzzling the nose of the beast.

Oh..hey Jamba what loot do we have, Sorath said changing the subject.

Jamba, Kessler said in a sweet voice. When did my loving husband decide to keep this adorable beast?

She continued nuzzling the beast as if she were not in the middle of a conversation.

He told me about it during the battle and asked me to hide the beast. Jamba said. He seemed quite confident he could manipulate you into giving in.

Would it kill you to keep a secret or lie a little? Sorath said deflated.

Klevens do not lie Sorath, we spoke about this when you asked me to keep the secret of you losing your wedding ring. Jamba said confused

Sorath groaned as he facepalmed. I’ll be right over here, he pointed to the far wall.

An hour later the party finally finished looting all the beasts. Sorath looked over the pile in awe. He would have never imagined this haul just from the third floor of a dungeon. Now he understood why the Kingdom charged so much for groups to delve this place. He now regretted that they would not have more time to explore as the group was paid by the kingdom of Kyreb to take their soon to be monarch, his friend Roman, on a dungeon dive to build up his experience points.

Roman would never have come on this trip if he were not forced by the current king and his officials. He was C-rank when Sorath met him ten years ago and was still C-rank now. Roman loved his books and experiments and really wanted to be a scribe but the order of his birth didn’t allow for that. Instead he spent his time evading his trainers and reading books. Sorath met him while he and Kessler had snuck into the kings crypt in pursuit of a lead. Sorath was a little distracted with a stuck clasp on Kesslers outfit when they mistakenly rolled over Romans hiding space. During the two years he and Kessler spent in Kyreb the trio grew from fast friends to an inseparable group. Kessler was the only one that was able to get Roman to train, with the least amount of complaining, so the king loved that. He set them up in a luxury home near the palace. Sorath was a listening ear and lab partner, in secret, for Romans crazy experiments.

On this trip though Roman grew a full rank. This would make the transition to king just a little easier for him as the automatic rank jump that comes with the role could be terror on the body.

Sorath thought about the F-ranker he knew as a youth who ascended the throne unexpectedly. The abrupt jump to A-rank caused his body to distort in unnatural ways. He would never forget the sound of breaking and rebuilding bones. The screaming seemed to go on for hours and what was worse an entire audience was there to welcome their new king. King Abjen had stayed unconscious for almost a month.

Roman explained that a human body is not made for that type of shock. The transformation touches even the smallest part of the cells that make up person’s body. Humans by design are really only safely able to handle gradual growth. Sorath remembered that lecture as it was when he mastered sleeping with his eyes open.

I want the club, Tromell said, interrupting Sorath’s muzing.

Sorath lifted the black Alcamite club marveling at the smooth surface. The weight of the weapon gave even his enhanced strength problems but the throbbing feeling that told of its power was intoxicating.

Jamba what is this? He asked

A voice from his left startled him as Jamba answered

My analysis ability identifies this as Horrors End. The abilities it holds are Krakkens blow. this multiples the bearers strength during five swings per day. There is a cooldown period of twelve hours. It also has a slight heal over time passive gift. That is all I can see as this does not resonate with your build.

Tromell plucked the club out of Sorath’s hands as Jamba was finishing his description.

Thank you, he said clutching the club like it was a child.

Now that is interesting, Jamba said

After moments of silence Jamba went back to browsing the loot.

“What” Sorath said flustered. “What is interesting?”

Looking up from a curved sword Jamba replied absentmindedly.

When Tromell grabbed the club it became a legendary item. Instead of the five time strength multiplier it is now constant. The healing also went from a slight heal over time to a steady heal for all wounds. It also showed that it was previously owned by a berserker named Trill and can bind to the bearers system account. It also cannot be lost or stolen.

Sorath’s mouth dropped as he looked at Tromell practically skipped around the rest of the loot not even glancing at any of the other items. His shoulders dropped as Jamba confirmed that was the strongest item in the pile. Everything went blurry as the others made their choices.

Distracted as he was Sorath just missed the push that came from behind sending him into a black portal that suddenly opened directly in front of him. He heard muffled shouts as he landed with a crash