The tenth room was empty.

-anyone can see something? - asked Lucius?

-I think doors look different - said Cipac - they now have columns supporting something like a roof.

They were there indeed, and looked strange. They were rectangular and with teeth on the front side just like the grooves on the walls in the first room.

-they are definitely part of a trap - agree Lucis - Iason time for you.

-I was starting to worry you forgot about me - he laughed and took a sword to check the tile before him. Trap sprung immediately. All roofs start slowly descend threatening to cut off way in and out. The good thing was that the doors on the right side opened too. However Dungeon Mistress wasnt that kind to just let them run across the room. Some mechanism under the floor started tilting randomly tiles and from the gap were pushed up three foot long blades.

-fucking shit. This is serious - said Iason - I think that I can lead us.

-everyone ready? - asked the guild master, and everyone confirms - go! - he commands.

-don’t step in the middle of the tile, but where they touch each other, and exactly where I stepped - Iason explained the plan and step forward to show a path through the room. After him goes Nonisa , then Cipac who was watched by Paoli. Next was Mori, watched by Nurmela, and the last pair was Iefer and Guild Master. Iason guided them through the room swiftly. There were few close calls, but everyone was watching each other and they reacted immediately. In the corridor behind the block of iron that cut off their return route, they found a small chest with a single silver coin.

-that was fun - smiled relieved Iason - however I don’t recommend this room without a proper scout or someone experienced.

-true. Anyway we need to move forward - said Lucius.

-room twelve, so only one more and we are done - said Mori seeing on floor next to entrance number twelve.

-looks that way. However what the fuck is this room? - said Nurmela. This room was completely different from others. It was about twice as big compared to the previous rooms. The entrance ends on a narrow platform, just enough for one person. The platform leads to four barrels stretched across the room. It looks like you need to cross them to move cranks for something. There was a fifth crank in the middle where doors to the next room were, but there wasn't a visible path there. And besides platforms and barrels everything was submerged in water.

-those barrels are so polished that you can slip any moment - said Paoli touching one of the barrels.

-Iason or Paoli, you both should be good for that. One of you should try to run across and let us see what will happen when you move one of the cranks - Guild Master decided.

-on it - said Iason.

-I wanted to be first - Paoli pretended to be offended.

-I have a feeling that you will be running anyway - said Lucius.

-time for run - smiled Iason. He concentrated on all of his skills who could help him and spring forward. With just a few long steps he was on the other side - let see what will happen when I spin you a little - he said, grabbing the handle of the crank. After a few rotations from the water rise pillar. It was looking that with three more there will be a path to the doors on the opposite side. However, when Iason let loose the crank it started spinning in the opposite direction and pillar star sinking - not good - he said catching it once again - I think I’m stuck here. I need to keep holding this crank - he shouts.

-so my turn - smiled Paoli.

-and I will go as third one. Who goes as fourth one?

-I will go - said Nonisa - Nurmela has too much armour for swimming.

-thanks - said dwarven woman.

Paoli and Lucius ran without problem. Both of them have skills helping them walking on loose sand of desert and this was a similar situation. But Nonisa doesn't have anything like that. She had average agility and high dexterity so she was hoping it would be enough. When she was around in the middle she slipped. Somehow she managed to land on four on the barrel. However she wasn't safe, barrel start rotating.

-fuck! - Nonisa said before landed in water. Thankfully the water was high only to har waist.

-maybe I will try? Water is not that deep - said Nurmela after helping the sorceress out of the water.

-I have a better idea - she answered a little angry. After a few moments of concentration she shouts - freeze! - her spell froze the barrel and water right next to it - I think I need a moment to catch breath. Can you try to run across? - she asked Nurmela.

-sure thing - laughed a dwarven woman. The ice made the barrel unmovable and her boots with iron sole was great for going on ice.

When the bridge in the middle was ready, the sorceress and support team got on the other side. Nonisa turned the last crank and a shelf emerged from the wall, along which the remaining adventurers could pass. In the small chest was five silver coins.

-five silver, nice thing - smiled Iason.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

-it's a fair price for pushing me into the water - said Nonisa.

-how is your mana? - asked Lucius.

-not bad. But for at least half an hour I can’t cast anything big.

-understood. You should use your mana carefully. Today it should be alright, however when there will be more floors it could become a problem - said lucius.

-right. I know, I was just a little pissed off - she sighed with embarrassment.

-anyone needs some rest? - Guild Master asked.

-lets see what is in the last room. If something there is crazy we can rest for a few moments and think - proposed Nurmela, and all agree with her.

However on the other side of the doors there wasn’t room. There were stairs.

-where is the thirteenth room? - asked Paoli.

-let me see - answered Mori. She took off the sketch of the probable layout of the floor. It looked rectangular, but the entrance and exit were on opposite corners. After the first room was a row of three rooms, then five and again three, and finally last one - according to numeration we assumed that the shrine in the center wasn't counted - she pointed at numbers of explored rooms, and indeed it looks that way.

-but now it looks like the Dungeon mistress counted it - said Iason.

-maybe. However, it’s disrespectful to count the god shrine as the last one. It should be first.

-right. Especially it’s her patron - added Nurmela.

-so. There is one extra room. Right? -asked Paoli and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

-wait until all rooms will be explored - said Guild Master - and with my suspicion about this floor it could take a few days.

-what suspicion? - asked Cipac.

-Dungeon Mistress made a sort of gambling game. Every time someone tries to explore this floor, different doors will be opened.

-clever. In a week we will know every trap and how to deal with them. But you never will know which traps you get - Iason understood immediately.

-exactly - confirm Lucius - anyway let's see how the last floor looks. The traps weren't bad, but they wouldn't stop anyone.

When they enter the last floor they stopped stooned. It was a vast cavern with the illusion of a cloudy sky. They were on an island. In front of them was a marshy jungle and in muddy water were swimming crocodiles and there weren't any bridges. There even wasn't a path through the jungle and all of their skill screams to them to run.

-hello? - asked Naomi, breaking their stupor.

-good day Dungeon Mistress - said Guild Master.

-everything alright?

-yes. However, we were surprised with your last floor.

-I overdid it?

-but in a good way, well for you anyway. For those who will try to enter this jungle I will pray to gods that their death will be swift, or at least painless.

-ok. However I prefer that they will just run away.

-smart one could do that. However, there are some really stupid people who could try it anyway.

-I know - sighted naomi - anyway, and my first floor? How was it?

-very good, a little difficult for the first time. However, after few runs we will find a solution how to deal with them.

-nice. I know that traps are a one time solution. I need more floors. I think in a week I will have one.

-that fast comparing historical records from other dungeons.

-You forget that I was visited by sun elves and they spent one week exploring my first floor.

-true. Two weeks then. Yes, that sounds similar to other dungeons.

-anyway, I think you can be a little tired after the run, and the rest of the people aboveground are waiting for you all - Naomi said seeing how stiff and uncomfortable adventurers were in her presence or because of the floor. Maybe even both. That was a new and strange feeling for Naomi. Until now it was she who wanted to run away from people.

-some rest is advisable and people are waiting indeed - nod Guild Master - good day Dungeon Mistress.

-good day to you all - Naomi smiled and waved to adventurers and all went to the return circle.

-they are here! - shouts one of the adventurers seeing first team back

Immediately all adventurers drop whatever they were doing and run to hear what the Guild Master had to say.

-first thing. We weren't able to explore the floor in full. It looks like Dungeon Mistress makes it sort of like a gambling game. Everytime you enter, different doors to the next room will open. The next team will be debriefed before they run. We will go with this routine until all of you will at least have two runs. In the meantime we will be preparing a written description of each room. The second, traps are mundane, however Dungeon Mistress were very creative and you should expect anything. Third. You can use the return ring from the final floor, however don’t try to enter the jungle, even going near water is a sure way to die. It is best to go directly to the return ring. You will see for yourself. That is all for now. First and second team with me to the guild tent - Guild Master commanded.

Explanations and coping notes for the next team took almost an hour. However, no one complained. Those men and women were carefully selected. They had reputation and experience shown through their skills and level. All understand that every information was needed for success, regardless if it means to just survive expeditions, or find some rare treasure. The entrance to the tent was open so others listened too. After talks, the next team goes to explore the first floor.

Commander of paladins and both grand priests stay to ask him some other questions.

-Guild Master can you describe the last floor with some more details? - asked knight - I don’t want to disrespect the assessment but until I and my team will go there this afternoon I need to know as much as possible.

-no problem - Lucius shakes his head - actually it could be a good thing. I realize that the second team lacks good herbalists. Someone with knowledge about poisons will help.

-I will find someone - nod commander.

-like I said earlier. The core room is hidden in the jungle. There are few issues to overcome. First muddy water with crocodiles and who knows what else under the surface. Even sharp rocks are dangerous and there are a lot of predatory animals living in the waters. In theory you can freeze water to cross it, however you will lose a few good mages for that. Another thing is the shape and how big the cavern is. Because of illusion it was impossible to properly guess that. Where is the core room? In the middle? In the end? little to the right or left? There wasn't any path, just a solid wall of plants. You enter and without special skills you will be lost. All plants and summoned creatures are deadly. I'm not an expert however I have simple skills that help with assessing how dangerous something is. They were screaming at me to run away. I have suspicion that the Dungeon Mistress collected literally all the deadliest plants and animals she could. I suppose you can try to collect dozens of fire mages to try to burn it. However, everything there is wet and I'm sure there will be wasps, or something worse. And finally champion of the floor. We don’t see him, it could be anything.

-understood Guild Master - commander simply said. He served ten years in the north. It was double the usual time needed for every paladin to serve. Because of that he saw many terrifying things. After the Guild Master description he suspects that he will add one more thing to his list.