Anika Kabat had never meant to become a Party Leader. It was probably why the other members of their party had voted for her. She found the position came with more worry and more work and the tiny amount of XP she gained as the party leveled probably didn’t balance the amount of hair she’d pulled out.

Mission reports. Mission assessments. Mission bids, when more than one party wanted to take the same one. But whether the mission was rat-men (or women), giant slugs which turned out to be larger than average slugs, or a basement filled with rats which turned out to be…rats, the Party got it done.

Mostly. They’d struggled to keep damage dealers, a [Ranger] who stayed three weeks and left in the night, a [Beserker] who almost created a full party wipe, and now she’d settled into accepting that the [Spinning Blade] fighter was probably looking for a party that made more money.

So when the Messenger bird landed on her arm saying there was a level fifteen dungeon, Anika did what she did best. She talked it over. “I don’t like this dungeon. I’ve run it several times and there’s something off about it.”

Benson, the [Mage], spoke before any of the rest. “I’ve been through it six times. The TriTerror’s dangerous if you don’t focus her down. We all know about the Winged Scorpions.”

“Davin?” Anika looked to their [Shield]. Above all, she trusted his judgement.

“I’ve handled the TriTerror twice. It’s not easy but it can be done. It can’t be done alone. We’ll need illusions. We’ll need damage above all. Focus down the snake head or it’ll poison.” Davin summoned his shield, a leathery brown shell crafted from a scorpion with teeth embedded in the edges. “This will block the bashes, but know this - if that middle head gets you, it’s over.”

Jotor, the [Rogue] raised his hand. The man simply refused to assert himself until Anika nodded to him. “There’s word the dungeon ranked up. [Rogues] have a quest to map dungeons. I’d really like that Quest.”

“Chen?” Anika was used to the [Huntress] being invisible. It wasn’t a Skill anymore, it was her native state.

“Poison the boss. Shoot it from so far away it has to charge,” Chen whispered, which was extremely creepy.

Anika tolerated the Huntress because she only occasionally stole loot and because Ben would be depressed if they kicked his lover out. “We need more damage. I’ve put out a Guild Notice. There’s a [Necromancer] with a Death mana aura and a [Flail Master].”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Flail. Anything but a Necro.” Ben spoke decisively. “Had a necro in my induction class. We knew before he did. All black. Ash under the eyes. Shaved his head when he didn’t even need to.”

Anika sent a bird. “He’ll meet us at the Dungeon.”

###

“Something is wrong,” Jotor said, thirty seconds after stepping through the Dungeon Door. “The layout doesn’t match what other [Rogues] have found. There’s entire sections no one has notes on. The monsters are five levels higher, at least one has a name.”

Annika had chosen to stay right where they were for a reason. The door hadn’t locked. “Can you complete the Quest without engaging? We can back out and give someone else the run.”

Jotor thought a moment. “Maybe. I’ll move fast.”

Long minutes passed.

As Party Leader, Annika had a general status for her members. Jotor’s revealed little while he was in stealth, but she winced as his health cratered. Probably a trap he hadn’t seen.

“Run!” his scream came. “Go east, keep going. Get to the farm house.”

Jotor burst out of stealth coming from the west. Anika knew better than to ignore his panic and already the adventureres sprinted. Far behind, a rumbling mass of brown fur roared.

“[Bearserker],” Jotor said through gasps. “The skulls should have been a giveaway. If we barricade ourselves in the farmhouse, I think we can wait until aggro drops.”

Now, Anika saw the farmhouse. Quaint. Rustic. Luring.

“Dangerous,” Davin shouted. “There’s poisonous snakes everywhere. Don’t stop. The snakes won’t kill you, that bear will.”

“[Ice Blast]” Ben screamed from inside the farmhouse. “More snakes.”

Like a whisper of leaves, Chen sprinted past Anika into the farmhouse. Her crossbow twanged over and over. “Don’t come in.”

“Don’t stay out!” Davin said, shoving Anika through the door. He flipped the table and barred the front door, then ran to wedge chairs under the back.

“Snakes up here. So many snakes,” Jotor said, backing down the stairs.

Chen shut and leaned against a cellar door. “Then you really don’t want to know what’s down there.”

The farmhouse shuddered, and a Bearserker roared as it tried to decide if the wooden building had offended it or not. The default was always yes, but even a rage-maddened bear had limits.

Annika held a finger to her mouth. She didn’t even breathe as the monster circled the farmhouse, snuffling, pushing against the back door. And at last, it lumbered away.

“I have good news and bad news,” Jotor said. “The good news is, it has left and we do not need to go into its cave. The bad news is that I am very poisoned.”

He held up an arm, where a green viper wriggled.

And then passed out.

Annika sighed as she triggered [Purify]. “I really hate this dungeon. We could have been killing rats. Or even a rat man—”

“Or woman,” Davin added. “What’s the call, Party Leader?”

“I need somewhere safe to [Purify] us. Then, we clear the farmhouse. If Jotor—or anyone else—goes near that [Bearserker], I’ll kick you from the party the moment we leave the dungeon, but we stay together. There’s always more XP if you run away.” She [Mended] Jotor so the rogue opened his eyes and sat up.

“I had the most terrible dream,” the rogue said.

A distant roar echoed through the dungeon, and even the hiss of verdant vipers ceased until it fell silent.

Jotor coughed and looked around nervously. “Correction. I am having the most terrible dream.”