Thrash landed in a vibrant green field, the format of the room almost exactly the same as it had been on his last descent. Pierre followed a moment later, clutching his stomach and groaning as the portal spat him out. Thrash inhaled deeply, the fresh air flooding into his lungs just as it had before, crisp and cool. He couldn’t help but savour the moment, relishing the feeling of freedom. The irony wasn’t lost on him - this dungeon was, to his dismay, his only escape.

I really need to purchase the window upgrade next, he thought, glancing longingly at the blue sky above, a gentle breeze swimming across his skin. He missed it so damn much. He could feel Mush tremble in response before she even spoke.

BEDROOM.

Hush, Mush, Thrash requested. The bedroom will come.

I HAVE SUSPENDED MY BELIEF, she shouted back. AND I HAVE SET UP A PIGGY BANK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEPOSIT ANY GOLD?

Stop shouting, Mush! And no, stop asking!

Pierre made a gurgling sound behind him, doubled over and still clutching his stomach. Thrash turned, surprised. He’d never felt that way after coming through the portal - perhaps his body had just gotten used to it throughout the years.

Illogical assumption, Mush said. Your body has recently changed dramatically.

You’re clearly in an argumentative mood, aren't you?

Thrash exhaled, moving to Pierre. ‘How are you doing, buddy?’ he asked, scanning the field. Trees surrounded them, with a clearing on the opposite side. ‘Last time, a bunch of Oakenslugs showed up here, so be careful. If you see them, I want you to run and avoid them.’

Pierre sniffed and stood, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. ‘Can’t get used to that.’

Mush, how does experience work in a party? And loot? Thrash asked, staying alert but listening for a response.

Party members will share experience equally, she explained. Right now, with your Party all the Time bonus, you will gain an additional 5%. Loot, however, is first-come, first-serve. As you level up your dungeon, more perks will unlock.

Thrash relayed the information to Pierre, who nodded thoughtfully. He looked like he was about to ask a question when suddenly, the ground exploded behind them. Thrash winced at the noise and spun around as the first Oakenslug of the day erupted from the earth and landed with a heavy thump before them, muddy chunks of earth splattering across the sea of grass. A quick inspection told him it was a Level 2, with 50 health points - it would take about five quick strikes to defeat. In a flash, he drew Sigrid, shoved Pierre to safety, and lunged at the slug, slashing in rapid succession. He moved so quickly that the notifications blurred together above the creature.

‘Stop, daddy, stop!’ Sigrid moaned. ‘Daddy, stop!’

14 damage points dealt.

14 damage points dealt.

0 health remaining.

‘Oh, daddy,’ Sigrid grunted.

The Oakenslug split cleanly in two, sliced through the middle. Slime lurched out and covered Thrash’s boots, but Pierre, standing at a distance, remained unscathed. He was, however, staring at the sword with his mouth agape, his eyes wide, and a faint smile tugging at his lips.

There was a moment of silence as Thrash watched his Weekly Challenge tracker update, signalling the first of the dozen required kills. Then, Pierre spoke. ‘Did yer sword just speak?’

‘Uh-huh,’ Thrash sighed. ‘It learns a new word at each level. So far, it knows ‘stop’ and ‘daddy’.’

‘The dungeon really is trying to embarrass yer,’ Pierre half-laughed, shielding his eyes from the sunlight above. ‘There’s nothing like that on me farm.’

Thrash smiled with him but remained alert. The last time he had faced a group of mobs in the dungeon, he had received a ‘Combat Over’ message after defeating the final Oakenslug.

An astute observation, Mush messaged him. How unexpected.

Before he could respond, his foresight had paid off, two more Oakenslugs bursting from the ground beside him. Thrash immediately rolled to create some distance from them, directing Pierre away from the centre of the field.

‘Move, Pierre, move!’

The soft grass cushioned Thrash’s feet as he leapt over the first mob, the second Oakenslug launching a Slime Burst attack toward them both. The slime collided with the slug he’d just cleared, inflicting 8 damage points. Thrash inwardly celebrated. He was starting to feel comfortable, his brain working quickly as he recognized their attack patterns.

‘Don’t stand still!’ Thrash shouted as he pierced the second slug’s tough, wooden skin, bringing it down to minimal health before ending its life. ‘They have a heavy charge attack!’

Pierre moved cautiously toward the portal, keeping a wary eye on the final slug. But Thrash, distracted for a second too long, didn’t see the slug already rushing at him. The words ‘Heavy Charge’ flashed boldly on his interface as the Oakenslug rammed into him. The rear of his head snapped against his back and his body twisted around the impact before he was flung into a thick tree trunk. A branch pierced his left leg, blood immediately spurting.

You have received 112 points of damage.

You have 20 health remaining.

‘Shit,’ Thrash gasped, the Oakenslug mere feet away. He sucked in air, desperate to stand before it charged again.

Dreadful, Mush said to him. You’re getting worse.

‘Not the time, Mush,’ he swore, grabbing fistfuls of grass and wrenching himself up, the skin of his punctured leg tearing with the movement. Pierre was watching, clutching his rusty pickaxe, hopping nervously.

‘On yer right! Pierre shouted, pointing.

Thrash dropped to the ground just in time, the Oakenslug speeding over his head and plummeting into the wall of trees behind him. A cloud of leaves fell, a few catching in Thrash’s long hair before fluttering away. He stood again, limping toward the dazed slug and thrashing it with his blade.

‘Oooh, daddy!’ Sigrid groaned, the blade dealing a whopping 15 damage. The slug writhed on the ground, spluttering, and then stilled - dead. Thrash collapsed beside it, closing his eyes. A bell rang, and a title appeared on his interface: ‘Combat Over’.

Your ‘Soulstone’ has activated.

You absorb up to 10% of your defeated opponent's base health.

You have received 6 points in health.

‘That looked like it hurt,’ Pierre said, rushing over to Thrash and kneeling beside him with an enormous smile. ‘Right, daddy?’

Thrash chuckled despite his injuries, his Passive Healing skill activating. ‘Don’t make me laugh.’

Pierre laughed nervously, sitting down and inspecting the Oakenslugs. ‘Yer almost looked professional.’

That’s far too generous, Mush noted, offering her opinion. Leagues away from the glory of Brigwell.

‘Thanks, Mush,’ Thrash whispered.

Pierre snorted. ‘That slug hit yer harder than I thought.’

Thrash groaned, sitting up and clapping the man on his shoulder. He felt his ribs click back into place, the cool air of the glade piercing his skin. ‘Sorry, Pierre. Mush talks to me in here,’ he said, tapping his head.

‘What did she say?’

‘That you were too generous,’ Thrash winced as his left leg clicked this time. ‘That I did not look professional.’

‘What does she know, hm?’ Pierre asked, satisfied that Thrash was okay. He pointed to the three slugs. ‘Mind if I inspect them? They’re gone now, aye?’

WHAT DO I KNOW? Mush exclaimed furiously. EXCUSE ME?

‘Yes, go for it,’ Thrash nodded, ignoring Mush's indignation. ‘We shouldn’t see any more here.’

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

‘That’s a lot of confidence,’ Pierre said, shaking his head as he approached the slugs. Thrash didn’t bother to inspect them; they were Pierre's to loot, and if he found something he personally liked, well, that could lead to a difficult conversation. It was better to let his patron take the lead.

‘Yer not what I expected,’ Pierre remarked, looting the first Oakenslug. Thrash’s quest tracker updated: Pierre received his first piece of slime. ‘This place were at the bottom of the list - like, the very, very bottom, see?’

Thrash appreciated the moment of rest, his health slowly ticking up. ‘How do you mean?’

Pierre shrugged, pausing for a second before continuing. ‘When yer sort from highest rank to lowest, yer dungeon was at the very bottom. I never had no training, see, the farm being left to me an’ all, so I thought the lowest rank would be the easiest.’

Thrash nodded, unsurprised. A lack of training was common for Adventurers - he remembered that much. Only those with family in the system or with extra-deep pockets could get into one of the training bases. But Pierre's other comment had caught his attention - he didn’t like the implication that Pierre knew about him before arriving here. He tried to dissect the man’s facial expressions, but came up short.

‘That’s a fair observation,’ Thrash said diplomatically. ‘But what about me? I’m not what you expected?’

Pierre looted the final slug, then sat down again beside Thrash. His Weekly Challenge updated to 3/12, and his Quest from Pierre now read 5/20.

‘Yer nice,’ Pierre said simply. ‘I was sent a preview, see, of the dungeons. Most masters look terrifying, especially to someone like me. I saw yer, and was impressed.’

Thrash blinked, taken aback. ‘I - I looked nice?’

There’s a first for everything.

Shut up, Mush.

‘Sure did,’ Pierre said, a slight flush creeping to his cheeks. ‘The other masters are downright scary - monstrous dwarves, frightening elves, and mighty large orcs or ogres. I couldn’t imagine them agreeing to a quest, see?’

He paused, seemingly flustered, and then continued. ‘It’s just rare that a human sits where yer sit, is all. It’s a comfort.’

Thrash felt an immediate appreciation for the man beside him. Warmth spread through his chest and up to his ears. He smiled, letting the sunshine bathe his skin, his health fully restored. He doubted he would have ever had a moment like this in his old life. This was new and different, and most of all, it felt good. It seemed that doing something for someone - without a promise of reciprocation - was actually quite rewarding. Thrash shuddered at the thought.

‘Well, thank you for giving us a chance,’ Thrash smiled, standing and offering his hand to Pierre. ‘I don’t need to know what you’re looting, but if you find a weapon, equip it. Last time I went further, bats attacked me.’

‘No weapons, sir,’ Pierre said. ‘Sorry.’

Thrash waved off his apology. ‘My health is full again now, so we should be good. Let's move on.’

They headed toward the opening in the trees, Thrash leading with Pierre close behind. Thrash wondered whether or not any of his old crew had been this calm and collaborative in a dungeon, or if they had all gotten along as well as he and Pierre seemed to. It was unlikely, based on what people had told him about his old personality. Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder.

They entered the first room and this time, it was empty, though the trees still looked like skinned walls, and the floor was dusty and muddy rather than mossy and green. Sunlight flickered through the heavy leaves, heavily reduced compared to the glade they’d just left.

‘Kick the floor, Pierre,’ Thrash requested.

Pierre obeyed, and a metallic clang sounded from below. He grunted in amusement, quickly clearing away the top layer of dirt with his boots. He found a solid, coppery-looking rock, looking up at Thrash. ‘Interesting.’

‘You mine that,’ Thrash said, ‘and I’ll check the other two rooms. If one’s a monster nest, we run into the next and down the stairs. Got it?’

Pierre nodded, already swinging his pickaxe. A progress bar appeared over his head.

Mining Progress: 8%

Hits Remaining: 12

Leaving him to it, Thrash wandered into the next room through a precise cut in the trees. The room was wide and tall, with a small wooden altar at its centre. The altar was about three feet tall, with runes carved delicately across. Thrash didn’t pretend to understand them as he approached, but they certainly looked worth investigating at some point in the future - if he could find them again. There was a dusty, leather-bound book sitting upon the stone. Thrash brushed a finger against it, the leather cool and smooth. A small claw imprint was embossed on the cover, dark and deep on the brown material.

‘Mush, I’ve got a book on an altar - any advice?’

Mush recommends that you pick it up.

‘I meant advice more specific than that, but whatever,’ Thrash grumbled, picking up the book.

Beasts of Burden

Item Rarity: Rare

Commiserations! You have been awarded the book ‘Beasts of Burden’.

They say that the mightiest of adventurers are only as strong as the beasts that carry their burdens - and no, that does not reference your mother.

From the nimblest creatures of the shadowy Caves of the Glade to the magical entities of the Depths of the Mystics, there is more to these beings than meets the eye.

Within these pages lies the knowledge to tame, command, and befriend them.

This book will teach you the ways of adopting and training beasts. Whether it's a ferocious predator to stand at your side in battle or a cute support animal to help you on those lonely nights, you will learn to unlock their potential.

No sleeping in the same bed, darling.

NOTICE: This book requires the ‘Pet Room’ upgrade within Dungeon Management.

NOTICE: If the ‘Pet Room’ upgrade is unavailable, it will now be unlocked to purchase.

A memory whirled through Thrash’s mind, a feeling of him riding alongside ferocious beasts, commanding creatures of both land and sea. It vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him shaking his head to clear it. He could absolutely use this. His hands trembled at the possibilities; the idea of another presence in his dungeon base was something he couldn't ignore.

You desire a new roommate? Mush asked, her tone brimming with fury.

No, Mush. A pet - big difference.

She harrumphed.

Pierre walked through the door. Thrash cursed under his breath. He’d promised everything to his patron, not to himself. But this reward seemed too personal - something specific to a Dungeon Master.

‘Can you read this, Pierre?’ Thrash asked immediately as the farmer approached, a smile playing on his lips. ‘Hold on - what did you find?’

Pierre produced a large golden rock, roughly the size of his fist. Thrash’s jaw dropped. ‘This is huge loot for floor one. Mush, are our odds good at the moment?’

Luck always has a hand in the dungeon, Mush said. But a lucky floor one often leads to a dreadful floor two. Be warned.

I wish I could’ve carried on after Sheila, then, Thrash mused.

You probably do, Mush agreed.

‘Wow,’ Thrash said to Pierre, quickly inspecting the item with his interface. However, since it was Pierre’s, the information was limited.

Glimmering Golden Stone

Item Rarity: Rare

‘Exciting,’ Thrash said. ‘Let's put it away and inspect it later. We should move quickly. Nice work!’

Pierre grinned wide, showing the gap in his teeth, then tucked the rock away before glancing at the book in Thrash’s hand. ‘It looks empty?’

Thrash shook his head, pleased that Pierre couldn’t read it. ‘No. It’s called Beasts of Burden. It seems specific to me. Come on - the stairs must be in the other room.’

They walked for a moment before Pierre spoke. ‘So, yer fought much?’

‘In my dungeons?’ Thrash asked as they entered the room Pierre had upturned with his pickaxe. ‘A little. The first was a colossal spider, Sheila. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. I was Level 1 and she was Level 5. She nearly killed me.’

Pierre shuddered. ‘I can deal with little ones, but the big ones… Yer a lucky man, to survive.’

Thrash grinned. ‘Sure am. I killed her with vomit.’

Pierre stopped in his tracks, staring incredulously. ‘’Scuse me?’

They had reached the final room: a small, grassy enclosure with a simple set of stairs leading down. They glowed golden, and just like last time, bold green words hovered above them in two variations: ‘Exit’ and ‘Proceed to Floor Two’.

‘That’s a story for another day,’ Thrash said. ‘Ready? This is the furthest that I’ve ever gone.’

Pierre shrugged. ‘Yer the boss.’

Thrash entered the stairway, portaling down to Floor Two. To his surprise, the entrance room was identical to the floor above. Pierre appeared beside him, burping uncomfortable, eyes wide and darting around the environment. A padded field of grass lay beneath their feet, tall wildflowers bunched together in shades of green, yellow, and purple. The sky flashed white, clouds rolling overhead, and tall, wide trees surrounded them. This time, Thrash noticed there were two ways out of the glade.

‘I can feel something,’ Pierre said, extending his hand in front of him as though pushing against a forcefield. ‘It feels… cold? Almost empty, see?’

Thrash could feel it too. It wasn’t quite the same as it had been with Sheila or the Level 5 bat, but it felt similar. ‘Okay - I need you to scout both routes ahead, Pierre. This is going to be a tough mob, and I don’t want you to get hurt.’

Pierre shook his head immediately. ‘No way yer leaving me, sir. No way, no way.’ He pulled out his pickaxe. Thrash felt warm butterflies in his stomach; an uncomfortable new addition.

You’ve never had a friend in your life, have you? Mush said.

‘Shut up, Mush,’ Thrash responded.

Pierre barely had time to turn his head before the temperature dropped further. A monstrous sizzling sound came from below their feet, black clouds forming directly above their heads. It was ominous and scary, the air electrifying, smells of burnt flesh rising around them. Thrash didn’t think - he grabbed Pierre’s hand and ran toward the edge of the glade, lifting the young man into the air in a comedic fashion. With a second to spare, the floor trembled and split, cracking and opening like the pits of hell awaited them. Thrash and Pierre found safety in the shade of a large tree, watching in horror as a grotesque creature emerged.

‘What the -’ Pierre started, his voice quivering. ‘There’s certainly nothing like this on me farm.’

Thrash covered their heads as a final roar echoed, shaking the entire room. The air rumbled and vibrated. Two large, yellow eyes appeared, attached to slimy tentacles, while the rounded shape of a slug’s head rose into view.

‘Do we run?’ Pierre whispered.

Thrash put a finger to his lips, inspecting the enormous slug.

Devilish Oakenslug: Level 6

Type: Slime Beast

Twisted by ancient magic, the Devilish Oakenslug is a warped, grotesque version of its smaller, lesser kin. Its bark has become as hard as ironwood, and its slime oozes with a corrosive, toxic sludge, capable of melting steel beams. Fully grown, this slug reaches the size of two adult humans and moves with surprising speed.

When it cries, cover your ears. When it gurgles, pray that it’s Mummy hiding around the corner - because if not, you’re fucked.

‘It seems to take a while to charge up,’ Thrash whispered. ‘Hold on, Pierre.’

Mush, is there any chance I’m beating this?

Without Brigwell? she asked, her tone serious. Unlikely. This beast has 220 health points. You currently attack for 13-15 damage, even with Mummy’s stat boost.

Mummy’s Tea Set’s stat boost, Mush, he corrected. Still, he looked at Pierre. ‘Lets run.’

Well, that decision was far too late, Mush said. Though I do approve of the outcome.

Thrash span to look at the exits - both openings were now shut tight. ‘Oh, shit. Damn it - sorry, Pierre. You might be helping me after all.’