Pierre ate while Thrash reviewed his new achievements. Thrash’s irritation peaked at every ‘glurp’ and ‘gulp’, the Miners Delight proving to be a monumental favourite. Thrash still had no idea how - or where - Mush created these meals, but to question it would be pointless. The food was good, and it was the only job she continued to do without complaint.
Pierre chewed thoughtfully on a piece of meat. ‘Anything good?’
Thrash sniffed, body weak and tired, bringing up the first achievement on the list. ‘Just looking now.’
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘Better Luck Next Time!’
You have failed a patron’s quest.
So, you’ve failed a quest. What a shame. As long as it didn’t end in the deaths of everything around you… right? Right?
As it turns out, failing a quest teaches you a thing or two - most of all, how not to do it next time. Don’t worry, though, Mummy still thinks you’re a hero. A hero who occasionally murders their quest givers.
Reward: 50x Dungeon Experience Points
Thrash checked Dungeon Management. ‘I think we’ll have our rank back by the end of today.’
Mush buzzed with excitement. ‘Excellent! I will prepare the bedroom.’
Pierre snorted, spraying Miners Delight across the counter. ‘Sorry,’ he said, wiping it with a cuff. Thrash continued.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘Rambo’
You have killed your first adventurer.
Well, look at you, drawing first blood and taking down a real Adventurer. Say goodbye to swatting away mobs and critters - this time, it was someone real, someone who had parents, a family, and blood pumping through their veins. It’s a big step, right? Who knows who might come looking for revenge.
Enjoy the thrill while it lasts! Keep it close, edge it along, and you’ll erupt in satisfaction.
Reward: You have earned the title ‘Species Betrayer’
NOTE: Your attacks against Adventurers deal an additional 3% damage.
‘This will be handy if any more cultists come our way,’ Thrash said. In truth, he was thinking more along the lines of an attack from Doren, or Zorina, but the cultists were likely a more immediate threat. He passed the title description onto Pierre, who scratched at his ear upon listening.
‘Yer make it sound horrible, Mush,’ he said. ‘Yer don’t help in settling my mind.’
Mush buzzed, nonchalant. ‘I wasn’t trying to settle yer mind.’
Pierre’s head snapped towards her, and then back to Thrash, who had a small smile etched on his face. ‘Did yer robot just mock me?’
Thrash continued to grin. ‘It appears that you’re growing on Mush, my friend.’
Mush shuddered. ‘I hope that nothing grows on me, man-child.’
‘That’s unnecessary, Mush. The only thing growing on you is rust,’ Thrash answered, Pierre snorting.
Thrash paid for that with a thud against his head, Mush’s arm reaching down and smacking him. ‘God dammit, Mush,’ he growled. He looked at the next achievement.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘No Survivors’
You have killed 10x Adventurers in a single battle.
Who knew you had such a ruthless streak? In one fell swoop, you managed to kill over 10 Adventurers before combat was over. Look at you - a force to be feared! Make sure to wear protection and keep a weather eye on the horizon; you can’t get too comfortable - there’s always another person to kill.
Reward: Tattoo of the Damned
Effect: For every Adventurer killed, you receive 0.5% increase in Adventurer vs Adventurer combat.
Note: This tattoo updates automatically when an Adventurer is killed. Placement on the body is random.
Thrash frowned, inspecting the tattoo further. He couldn’t remember whether or not he’d had any before his time as a Dungeon Master, but his initial thought was to trash it immediately. He wasn’t all that enthusiastic about having a tattoo on his body. However, upon opening it, he accidentally managed to apply it to himself.
‘What the -’ he said, inspecting his body, pulling up sleeves and trouser legs. ‘Oh, shit. I think I just -’
Pierre barked a laugh, ordering Thrash to sit down. He withdrew an old spade, shiny and reflective, holding it up for Thrash to take. ‘Yer definitely scary now.’
Thrash took the spade, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Slowly, he moved it in front of his face. Beneath his left eye, just near the corner, was a number. It was written in numerals from his home planet, a small ‘14’ marked in a deep, crimson red.
‘Fuck,’ Thrash said, trailing a finger along the digits. He looked at Mush. ‘Thoughts?’
Brigwell had many tattoos. Mush loved his tattoos.
Thrash swore again, passing the makeshift mirror back to Pierre. ‘That was not on my agenda. I didn’t even know that Starr Galaxy had tattoos.’
Pierre raised a single brow, inspecting him. ‘Yer used to have a weird tattoo on yer forearm. Can’t quite remember it, but yer definitely had one.’
Thrash thought back, his memories refusing to show. ‘Huh. I’d forgotten.’
Pierre looked as though he wanted to ask more, but instead hurried Thrash along. ‘Come on, now. Yer need to sort yer dungeon rank. Get to it.’
Thrash nodded, reviewing the next three achievements in fairly rapid succession.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘May the Force be With You’
You have used your first spell.
You managed to cast your very first spell! Look at you, waving your hands around as though you’ve been doing this forever. Who knew you had it in you?
Casting your first spell is a big step. Just remember - spells can be flashy, but it’s not always about the size of the explosion - it’s about how you use it. It’s the motion of the ocean, baby.
Reward 1: Rune of Enhancement
Reward 2: 3x Advanced Mana Crystals
Thrash reviewed the rune. It was a decent item, allowing him to upgrade one of his spells via the crafting menu. He set it aside for later. The Advanced Mana Crystals weren’t too dissimilar to the basic version; these were just more effective for crafting items of a higher rank. He showed the two to Pierre, Mush having already peeked over his shoulder, and then moved on.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘A Thorn in Your Side’
You have defeated the Painswick King.
Well, well, well... You’ve done it! You faced the Painswick King and walked away victorious.
Every monster has a tale, and the Painswick King was no exception.
Mummy won’t bore you with the details, though.
His sharp attacks may have stung, but your determination turned his reign into a distant memory. Well done, darling.
Reward: 100x Dungeon Experience Points
Thrash let out a long, deep breath, sighing in relief. He must have been bringing the room down significantly because, as his tensions drained, the room around him seemed to brighten. Pierre looked more relaxed, and Mush chirped with renewed vigour. He checked Dungeon Management, smiled, and then looked at Mush.
‘We’re back to Rank E, right?’ he asked, once again showing Pierre the description of the achievement.
Mush nodded along, and Thrash almost punched the air. ‘Excellent. So, I just need to sort out that ratio and then we’ll be good.’ He glanced at Pierre, who had been checking his own interface. ‘I have an idea about that, by the way.’
‘Oh?’ Pierre responded, only half-listening. ‘Bear with me.’
Thrash nodded, the final achievement whirring on his screen.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘The Heart of Kings’
You have acquired the Heart of Damnation.
Crafted by hands that dabbled in forbidden sorcery, this heart is a double-edged sword. It dances on the line between life and death, promising the power to bring back those who have fallen in battle. But tread lightly! The very essence of this item is as volatile as a dragon with a toothache.
Mummy advises extreme caution: only wield this power if you’re prepared for the consequences. After all, with great power comes great responsibility
Reward: NONE! The Heart of Damnation is your reward.
Thrash let out another long breath. ‘Okay, that’s all. I’m done. I need a damn good rest.’
Pierre snapped back to attention, eyes darting towards Thrash. ‘Yer did well. I’d have fallen asleep hours ago. Yer need to sort yer bedroom, but what were yer thoughts on the ratio?’
‘Ah,’ Thrash nodded, opening up the Basic Merchant Center. He checked the NPC store first but found the items priced at 3 gold each. He loaded up the Vendor Exchange, finding the same items. Fortunately for him, they were as cheap as stone, going for a single gold piece. He grinned. ‘Mush, what are the rules on ratio abuse?’
Mush swerved, as though unsure she’d heard him. ‘The Orbites are quite clear that almost anything goes within the Starr Galaxy. However, they tend to be disagreeable if racial abuse is directed towards them. I would recommend racially abusing Pierre, a close friend, before moving on to larger targets.’
Thrash paused, and then barked out a laugh, staring at the robot with wide eyes. Pierre had also snorted, covering his face with a hand. ‘No, Mush. Ratio abuse - why would I even ask that?’
Mush growled, seemingly embarrassed. She banged into Thrash, swerving at his legs, and then sped away before he could hit her back. ‘Brigwell was assuredly abusive,’ she said. ‘Whether towards ratios or race.’
Thrash rolled his eyes. ‘Mush, can I complete one floor again, and again, and again, until I’ve made enough successful trips that my dungeon is back to normal?’
Mush buzzed. ‘No, man-child. Dungeon descents are limited to one per day, remember. Rank D will increase that to twice per day, but even then, you’ll be working for a week before it averages out. Don’t forget that you need a patron for it to count.’
Thrash felt his hope dwindle away, but Pierre clapped him on the back. ‘We can do one a day,’ he said. ‘Yer got a helping hand here.’
Thrash smiled at him, and then clapped his own hands, fighting away the sleepiness. ‘Right - never mind about that right now, anyway. Let's take a look at these upgrades, shall we?’
Pierre and Mush pushed closer beside him, both looking over his shoulders. He had granted Pierre access to view the Upgrade interface, while Mush watched on with interest.
Pierre grunted. ‘It’s similar to me own farm upgrades - prices and all.’
Thrash hadn’t considered similar upgrade trees for other professions, but he didn’t really need to. His own was more important. He scanned over the options before settling on his two primary considerations. His grin widened. ‘Okay, we have a total of 364 gold - no, 414 with Piere’s purchase - and to buy the Bedroom and Pet Room, we need 350. Do I do it?’
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
Mush was practically vibrating next to him, trembling like a firework ready to burst. ‘Mush approves!’
Pierre, however, adopted a more measured tone, shaking his head at the excited robot while a knowing smile crept across his face. ‘Yer best get started, friend.’
With a rush of adrenaline, Thrash confirmed the Bedroom Upgrade first. His interface erupted in a dazzling display of colours and notifications, white and gold showering his screen as an icon whirred, rolling around in his vision.
Commiserations! You have successfully upgraded Starr Eternal, Mines for the Everyday Hero!
Upgrade Choice: Bedroom
Thrash received an achievement for the purchase but swiped it away, highlighting the room’s benefits and sharing them with his small audience.
Bedroom Upgrade Benefits
Enhanced Rest: Experience a 20% increase in base health, strength, and intelligence after resting in a bedroom.
Improved Comfort: Gain a 20% boost to charisma when hosting guests.
NOTE: This applies to any instance in which a guest is visiting. 1x guest can stay overnight, allowing for early starts to dungeon descents.
Personal Sanctuary: Unlock a private space for relaxation and strategy planning, reducing stress, and improving overall performance in the field.
Thrash had a smile as wide as his cheeks would allow, and Pierre clapped him on the shoulder again. ‘Commiserations, yer have a bedroom!’
Mush beeped in surprise. ‘You are a fellow commiserator?’
Pierre winked at Thrash. ‘Me favourite celebrity does it all the time.’
Mush glowered, but when Pierre raised his brow and pointed at Mush, she caught on. Her body twisted to face Thrash. ‘Mummy is famous, man-child.’
Thrash pushed at Pierre, knowing that Mush would ride the celebrity train for as long as she could. ‘Dammit, Pierre,’ he said, though his smile didn’t waver. Just then, a sudden bang reverberated through the room, startling them all. The sound echoed ominously before the stone wall behind the counter shuddered. Slowly, a hidden opening materialised, directly opposite the partition, creaking as it revealed a small, dimly lit hall. Flickering candles cast soft shadows across the rough stone walls, the atmosphere mysterious and ominous.
‘Lets see what the fuss is about then, Mush,’ Thrash said, peeking down the hallway. Mush breezed on ahead of the two men, hovering at the end of the hall.
Thrash walked towards her, brushing his hands along the stone walls, finding them rough and damp. He walked fewer than ten paces before reaching the end, a single door standing to the left. On it, the word ‘Bedroom’ was engraved. Thrash’s heart raced with anticipation. This was more than just a room; it was the next step of his journey.
Mush squealed with delight, her circuits buzzing with excitement. ‘Bedroom! Bedroom!’
Pierre chuckled, shaking his head at the spectacle. ‘Let’s not keep her waiting, then.’
With a small nod, Thrash stepped forward. He pushed open the door, ready to embrace whatever awaited him inside. It creaked, the door heavy and the joints rusted, slowly revealing the space within. It was a small, stone room that felt like a historic relic. The air was cool and heavy, the faint scent of old wood and dusty bedding lingering. As he stepped through the door, his eyes were immediately drawn to the largest thing in the room: a hefty, stone bed topped with a thick mattress and draped in a faded quilt, its patterns worn yet comforting. It looked like something straight out of a grandmother’s retirement home. It was in the furthest corner of the room, opposite where they stood. The mattress sagged slightly in the middle, suggesting countless nights spent dreaming within its embrace.
Pierre clicked his tongue beside him. ‘I knew yer would choose granny-bedding.’
Thrash pushed the man aside, looking up at Mush. He was about to ask how to get a new mattress, with new bedding, but her robotic body was seemingly motionless, inspecting the room at every inch. She paused, beeped, and then moved further in, dashing to the four corners of the room, flying beneath the bed, and then moving back towards Thrash.
‘Brigwell used to keep many belongings in here,’ she said, voice low and distant. ‘It seems none remain.’
Thrash sniffed, patting her. ‘Did you expect to find something, Mush?’
She didn’t answer, but Thrash and Pierre shared a glance. Pierre mouthed ‘Brigwell?’, a questioning look on his face, and Thrash shrugged back. It dawned on him that her entire focus of unlocking the bedroom might have been explicitly to see or verify the fact that Brigwell was truly gone; or at the very least, to find something that had gone missing.
Pierre held out a cautious hand, patting the robot on her underbelly. She half-purred, unmoving. Thrash smirked. It was as though Pierre were on the farm, easing the mind of an upset rooster. It was quite a homely sight.
The bed sat in the far corner, to the right of his view. There were a pair of erected screens standing in the left corner, a partition between them. They were made from a grey fabric, the material thick and stretchy, long, spiral designs weaved across. They met in an L shape, hiding a copper bathtub within. Thrash walked over to it, eyes wide.
‘A bath, Mush?’ he questioned. ‘I’ve been washing my face with water from Mummy’s Tea Set!’
Pierre laughed, and Mush chirped, her voice ringing through the room. ‘Remember to wash behind your ears, and pull back your -’
Thrash cut her off, turning on one of the taps. It gushed hot water, steaming throughout the room. Until he felt the warmth, he hadn’t even considered just how cold his dungeon was, often causing him to shiver beneath his bedroll. He held a hand beneath the stream for as long as he could, burning his skin in the process. A small table sat beside the bathtub, a flickering candle resting on its edge, the flame dancing in the still air.
He peeked out of the partition, grinning wide. ‘This is nice, Mush. Very nice.’
Mush beeped in agreement.
Between the bathtub and the door, a stone fireplace awaited use, its hearth filled with ash and remnants of past fires, whispering tales of warmth and comfort. The room was begging for an armchair to sit in front of it, alongside a cabinet full of wine and whisky. There was a small basket beside it, heavy wooden logs filled to the brim. Thrash knelt beside it, removed one, and threw it into the fireplace. Without even needing his intent, the fire roared to life, igniting in an instant. Pierre whistled behind him, sitting down on the large rug that covered the majority of the open space, softening the chill of the stone floor, its patterns intricate yet worn down with time
‘This is nice,’ he said, patting the bouncy rug. ‘Suits yer.’
Thrash nodded, his heart swelling with an unfamiliar warmth. This room, as old and dusty as it was, felt like progress - and he needed progress most of all. He would be able to rest in peace, preparing for his days without the immediate danger that the main room offered.
Thrash moved toward the final item in the room; a heavy wooden chest resting at the foot of the large bed, its surface scarred with nicks and scratches. Thrash approached it, his curiosity piqued, but as he opened it, his satisfaction waned. The chest was empty. He sighed, not quite knowing what he had been expecting, and then sat beside it on the edge of the bed.
‘Mush, if I buy a window upgrade, does that add a window to each room, or just the base?’
‘A window will only be added to the base,’ Mush chimed. ‘The second bedroom upgrade will allow for further enhancements to this room.’
Pierre nodded from his spot on the floor. He looked far too comfortable. ‘Not bad, not bad.’
Thrash grinned again, bringing up his interface. ‘Mush, show me how to set the permissions - the only people allowed in this room are me, you, and Pierre.’
He considered adding Mary to the mix - just in case she ever needed to stop by and seek refuge - but decided against it. If she reached out again, he would reconsider, but until then, he was sure that she’d be sailing the seas for an eternity anyway. Mush completed the action for him, and Thrash quickly reviewed the achievement attributed to the upgrade.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘The Start of Something New’
You have purchased the Bedroom Upgrade.
You’ve successfully upgraded your dungeon and created a bedroom!
Upgrading your dungeon is essential for improving its rank and your happiness, but this isn’t a cartoon - we all know what bedrooms are really for, darling. It’s time to break free and start soaring, like a couple of teenage lovebirds.
Don’t lock the door. Mummy needs to keep your head in the game.
Reward: You can now proceed with ‘Bedroom Upgrade 2’
Reward 2: 150x Dungeon Experience Points
Thrash felt accomplished. His dungeon had regained a total of 300 experience points, ticking up far more quickly than he had imagined. With the Pet Room, he envisioned even more growth. He looked at his two companions. ‘I think we’re ready for the next upgrade.’
Pierre, now lying on the rug and enjoying the soft textures, sat up and looked over his shoulder at Thrash. ‘Go on, then.’
Thrash made his way through the Upgrade interface, quickly landing upon the Pet Room. It had very little in terms of additional details or description, but he figured it would do mostly what he wanted it to. Once again, he confirmed his choice, his interface showering more white and gold starts across his screen.
Commiserations! You have successfully upgraded Starr Eternal, Mines for the Everyday Hero!
Upgrade choice: Pet Room
Thrash’s achievement icon updated again, and Mush had already flown back through the door, a creaking, banging sound echoing from the new hallway. He cringed as another bang rattled, metal hitting stone. He checked the achievement before following her.
Commiserations! You have earned the achievement ‘Monsters Incorporated’
You have purchased the Pet Room Upgrade.
You’ve successfully upgraded your dungeon and created a Pet Room!
Having a pet in your life can be fulfilling. This, of course, depends entirely on your chosen pet. Puppies are cute. Velociraptors can be a pain in the arse.
Remember - feeding and training are ESSENTIAL! You’ll know that they’re happy when their tails wag. Mummy could always tell when you were happy; your front-facing tail wagged a LOT.
Reward: You can now proceed with ‘Pet Room Upgrade 2’
Reward 2: 5x Pet Treats
Reward 3: 150x Dungeon Experience Points
Thrash showed Pierre the description, before another crash sounded, so loud Pierre covered his ears and winced. ‘Good job yer don’t have neighbours.’
Thrash nodded in agreement. ‘It’s probably best that we catch up to her. She isn’t the most elegant of creatures.’
He moved out to the hall, once again noting another door. The hallway had extended, and led even further into the endless stone mountain. At the very end, a few paces down, a new door had appeared on his right. While he walked, he reviewed the upgrade benefits.
Pet Room Upgrade Benefits
Breed Pets: You now have the ability to breed pets. This can be done by hatching eggs, or gathering two of the same creature.
NOTE: This Pet Room allows for 3x Pets. Additional pet slots can be purchased. Additional pet slots will be created upon Pet Room Upgrade 2.
Grooming Spa: You can now groom your furry (or scaly) friends. This will provide a daily experience boost and temporarily increase their base statistics.
NOTE: 1x Pet can be groomed per day.
Pet Training: You now have the ability to train pets. Training pets can permanently increase base statistics and improve skills.
NOTE: 1x Pet can be trained per day.
Mush bounced in front of the new door, Thrash approaching and accidentally walkedstraight into her rear. She spun around, eyes on her display narrowing, and then prodded him back. ‘Mush is cautious regarding this new room.’
‘I know, Mush,’ Thrash said, as Pierre came up behind him. ‘Remember, though - you’re a natural mother.’
‘Yer instincts are spot on,’ Pierre added, grinning over Thrash’s shoulder. ‘And think - who would yer rather have raising animals, Mush? Do yer want Thrash to do it?’
Mush beeped, the noise harsh and sharp. ‘Absolutely not.’
Thrash rolled his eyes. ‘Thanks, Pierre.’
He pushed past Mush, slowly opening the door. As it swung away from him, he felt a strange thrill run through his body. The room beyond was unlike anything he had seen in the dungeon so far.
The first thing that struck him was the warmth. This space radiated a different kind of heat than a fireplace - gentler, as if the room itself was alive. He stepped inside, his boots landing softly on a marble floor. The shiny surface was a stark contrast to the cold, unyielding stone he was used to. It was still as cold as ice, but was singularly beautiful.
Against the far wall, he spotted the breeding area, glowing softly with the light of a handful of nearby candles. Three boxes were arranged neatly along a small table, each with an open top. Thrash walked over, finding small bird nests within each of them.
Thrash looked over to Pierre. ‘So, this is where they’ll hatch?’
Pierre followed him, inspecting the boxes intently. ‘Uh-huh. Yer got exactly the same set up as me. Yer hatch them here - no attention needed - and then the room will adapt, I reckon. Over there, likely.’
He pointed toward the left side of the room, where three cubicles stood with closed doors. Thrash opened the one nearest to him. The enclosure was white and empty. He couldn’t imagine how it would look upon hatching the egg, or what it might add as a priority for any other pet. He turned, yawning as he did.
Opposite him stood a large stone table, etched with animalistic runes. He inspected it, and a host of options appeared in his interface: ‘Shower’, ‘Brush’, ‘Sponge’, ‘Clippers’, and ‘Scissors’ were all listed, along with dozens of other options. He frowned, having no recollection of having to deal with anything like this before.
Looking around, confused, he asked, ‘Where’s the training room, Mush?’
She dashed toward the three stalls, surprisingly chipper. ‘Each room will act as housing and training.’
He nodded. A final, flashing notification appeared in his interface. He opened it up, new options appearing in his Vendor Exchange. His eyes widened. ‘Holy shit, Mush. Pierre, have you seen this?’
He shared his view with Pierre, who nodded. ‘Uh-huh. They’re expensive, though. Yer best option is looting them naturally, I reckon.’
Thrash explored the many, many pet items now available on the Vendor Exchange, including dozens of different egg types that he could hatch. However, as Pierre had rightly pointed out, each was far too expensive for him - and there weren’t any options in the standard NPC store. At the very top of the list, sorted from highest price to lowest, a Common Dragon Egg held the reins, listed at 10,000 gold pieces.
In spite of his tiredness, Thrash couldn't help but grin as he scrolled through the options, walking around the room and inspecting everything from the floor to the ceiling. The room felt like a momentary respite within the dungeon’s dark, gloomy atmosphere. If anything, the room represented new life - a sentiment reinforced by withdrawing the Goose Egg.
He moved toward the breeding area, Mush whizzing behind him. He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. ‘Mush, I’m going to place this egg. Are you sure you want to be involved? You’ve never shown much enthusiasm towards the Pet Room.’
He could feel Pierre grinning into the back of his head. Thrash felt like a parent himself, talking to Mush as though she were a jealous five year old. However, Mush beeped - almost enthusiastically. It was as though she were too cool to act invested.
‘Mush will sit upon the egg until it hatches,’ she informed, staring down at the speckled egg.
Thrash nodded, placing the egg within the hatchery. A notification appeared:
Hatchery 1
Current Egg: Goose Egg
Hatching Progress: 0%
Estimated Time Remaining: 24 hours
Pierre clapped his back once again. ‘Commiserations, friend.’
Mush buzzed in frustration. ‘You are stealing my vocabulary.’
Thrash’s mind whirled. Despite his exhaustion, he gave her a pointed look. ‘Hold on - are you admitting that you use that word to frustrate me?’
Mush nudged back. ‘Absolutely not. I have my own vocabulary, which is being adopted outside of my will.’
Pierre snorted. ‘I hope yer never shown on the Starr Galaxy network, then. Yer wouldn’t want thousands of people acting like yer, would yer?’
Thrash smiled, but his body was beginning to fail him. He was shattered beyond belief, his eyes struggling to stay open. He watched Mush as she lowered herself onto the box, acting like a mother hen. He nudged Pierre. ‘Will that actually help?’
Pierre nodded. ‘A warm body can increase hatching time by 50%. It sounds terrible, but I locked a hen right above my hatchery. Inspect it again.’
Thrash did. Instead of a 24 hour cooldown, the notification read ‘23 hours, 56 minutes remaining’.
Thrash chuckled, rubbing his eyes. ‘I need some sleep. The bed is all yours; I’ll grab the bedroll. We can start early tomorrow.’
Pierre shook his head. ‘Don’t yer worry. I’ll stick with Mush, and don’t yer dare offer the bedroll. I’ve been sleeping dreamily since I started - yer look like shit. Take a bath, and I’ll see yer in the morning.’
Thrash accepted, too tired to move. But then, his interface suddenly flickered to life, and a new name appeared in his messages. His energy temporarily jolted back, a wave of dread surging through him, panic clawing at his stomach, creeping up his throat, and threatening to choke him. He fought against the rising tide of anxiety, willing himself to breathe as the feeling began to subside.
1 second ago: Dungeons and Miners Association: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL DUNGEON MASTERS:
Attention, esteemed Dungeon Masters! Effective immediately, we wish to inform you that all dungeons must attain a minimum rank of 'C' or higher within the next three weeks. Your cooperation is essential to maintaining our standards of excellence and ensuring a thriving dungeon ecosystem. Thank you for your commitment to quality!
Thrash looked at Pierre, sharing the message, unable to speak. Pierre slowly read through, his eyes intensifying with each word. After a moment, he looked at Thrash, half smiling, half grimacing. ‘Well, shit,’ he said.
‘Uh-huh.’ Thrash yawned, too tired to care. He felt the message was entirely expected. ‘Another day, another problem. Night, guys.’
‘G’night, sir,’ Pierre waved.
‘GOODNIGHT, DUNGEON MASTER!’ Mush shouted.