“We stick together this time,” Ashkar said firmly, his voice breaking the silence that had settled over the group during the few seconds it took to scan the layout of this area.
Kaiden took a deep breath, surveying their surroundings in more detail. The walls and floors were the same as before—smooth, featureless stone—but this time, the area was crisscrossed with entrances leading into a labyrinth. Some openings branched off into multiple paths right from the start, creating a tangled web of possibilities. It was daunting, and they hadn’t even stepped inside yet.
The logic was clear. With so many routes, splitting up would be foolish. If one group found the portal, there would be almost no way to guide the others to it.
The mercenary shrugged, as if the decision didn’t matter to him either way. Zinnia, on the other hand, let out a dramatic sigh, crossing her arms with an exaggerated pout. “Fine,” she said, her voice tinged with mock annoyance. She glanced over at Kaiden with a mischievous look that seemed to say, We’ll have our alone time later.
Kaiden felt a shiver run down his spine, doing his best to avoid meeting her gaze. He was grateful to be sticking with the group—more than grateful, actually. Despite his best efforts to stay composed, he knew the fear was there, simmering just beneath the surface.
The truth had hit him hard the night before. Once he’d returned to his room at the tavern, the adrenaline from the day’s battles had worn off, and the reality of how close he’d come to death crashed down on him like a tidal wave. Three times. He’d barely escaped death three times.
Kaiden was positive that anyone else of his rank wouldn’t have made it through. His constitution, combined with Regeneration and Healing Touch, had been the deciding factor. Even with Ashkar’s shields and the grapeberry, he was convinced someone else in his position would have died many times over. I barely survived, he thought grimly, his chest tightening at the memories.
Kaiden cast a hopeful glance at Ashkar, wondering if the swordsman might have another fruit to spare. If he did, he wasn’t offering it, and with the group sticking together now, Kaiden suspected Ashkar simply didn’t think it was necessary. Either way, Kaiden wasn’t about to ask. He had no idea if the fruit was something trivial or incredibly costly.
As for Zinnia, the thought of asking her didn’t even cross his mind. If she had any, he knew better than to request one—he could already imagine her smug grin as she added it to his ever-growing tab.
“Formations, let’s go,” Ashkar said, his commanding tone snapping Kaiden out of his thoughts.
The mercenary nodded and took the lead, choosing a path seemingly at random. Without a word, the others fell into step behind him, the labyrinth swallowing them whole.
They didn’t have to wait long for the first enemies to appear.
Snakes, Kaiden thought, his stomach tightening as he spotted a trio slithering down a nearby path. These weren’t ordinary snakes—they were enormous, each one stretching 25 to 30 feet long, their bodies as thick as tree trunks. Their scales were dark, almost black, and appeared smooth to the touch.
Kaiden gulped, his imagination running wild as he pictured one of them coiling around him, squeezing the life out of him. They were likely constrictors due to their size, although with that size, it didn’t seem like they’d even need to bother. They could just as easily swallow someone whole, like popping a piece of candy into their mouths.
Zinnia, noticing Kaiden’s bewildered look, said the name aloud for his benefit. “Duskcoilers,” she said with a grin. It was clear the veteran divers, Ashkar and the mercenary, already knew what these creatures were and didn’t need an introduction.
“Duskcoilers?” Kaiden repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, though he kept his shields up, already preparing for the worst.
“They’re not as strong as the wyrms, but don’t let that fool you,” Zinnia said, calmly. “They’re quick, and they’ll wrap around you before you even realize what’s happening. If they latch on, it’s over no matter how strong you are.”
Kaiden’s grip on his shields tightened as the Duskcoilers slithered closer, their predatory eyes focusing on their prey.
“Oh,” Zinnia added lightheartedly, with a small, almost playful smile, “not to mention the venom. Can’t forget about that.”
Kaiden’s eyebrows shot up. Why the fuck do these things need venom? he questioned silently, his grip tightening on his shields.
“Zinnia,” Ashkar said sharply, not even glancing back at her.
“Okay,” Zinnia replied in a sing-song voice, already charging her staff as if she’d anticipated his command. A crackling chain lightning attack arced from her staff, connecting with all three duskcoilers. The serpents writhed, momentarily stunned and faintly smoking, but all still very much alive.
Ashkar and the mercenary wasted no time. The swordsman veered toward the left flank while the mercenary barreled straight into the center, engaging the first snake head-on.
Kaiden’s jaw dropped as he watched Ashkar close in on the duskcoiler to the left. With one swift, almost effortless stroke, he lopped the snake’s head clean off. How the hell did his sword do that? Kaiden thought, stunned. The thing’s neck—or body, or whatever you call it—is so massive. How’s that possible? Yet there it was, the severed head thudding to the ground.
The mercenary impressed him as well. Despite the duskcoilers’ size and speed, the man kept pace, meeting their attacks head-on without faltering. He absorbed bashes from the two remaining snakes as if they were minor inconveniences, his sheer strength standing in stark contrast to Kaiden’s own. If that were me, I woulda been sent flying like a kite in a storm, Kaiden thought grimly.
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The mercenary even managed to land a few strikes, his weapon biting into the thick scales and drawing blood. The serpents hissed angrily, their glowing eyes flaring with rage.
Then Ashkar moved to the next snake. With the same precision and ease as before, his blade cleaved through its neck as though slicing into something far smaller and weaker. Moments later, the final serpent met the same fate, its head separated from its body with an almost casual grace.
Kaiden stood frozen, awe mingling with disbelief as he watched Ashkar handle creatures that had looked so insurmountable just moments ago.
The monsters began dissolving into mist, and Kaiden activated Arcane Vision to see if they’d leave anything behind. “Nothing,” he muttered to himself.
Wordlessly, the group continued down the twisting, turning paths of the maze, their steps echoing faintly in the corridors. It seemed like they had no idea where the correct route lay, and Kaiden couldn’t shake the sense that they were hopelessly lost. Along the way, they encountered more monsters, all large snakes. Zinnia made sure to call out each new variant they encountered, her calm and playful voice a contrast to the tension that filled the air.
Thankfully, Kaiden hadn’t been attacked once. Still, he stayed vigilant, his shields at the ready. They’d been navigating the maze for nearly 24 hours, and exhaustion weighed heavily on him. Stasis Veil helped by suppressing hunger and the need for a bathroom, but it didn’t stop the creeping fatigue that came with constantly moving and nonstop battles. The adrenaline and Regeneration helped, but nothing could substitute rest. He was sure, the others weren’t feeling the fatigue like he was, their attribute points could keep the exhaustion at bay much longer than he could.
Another corridor brought them to yet another dead end. This time, it was the final straw for the mercenary, who let out a roar of frustration and threw his shield to the ground with a loud clang. “Fucking again!” he bellowed, his voice echoing angrily.
Zinnia looked as unbothered as ever, her expression cool and collected. Ashkar’s serious gaze didn’t waver.
“What do you think you’re doing, merc?” Ashkar said, his voice sharp.
The mercenary turned on him, his face twisted with anger. “I’ve had it with this fucking maze! And stop calling me merc!’ I have a name—it’s Boork!”
Ashkar’s expression didn’t change. “We have no choice but to get through this together. Pick up your shield and let’s go,” he said, his voice lowering with each word until the final command came out like a blade pressed to the mercenary’s throat.
Boork hesitated, glaring at Ashkar, but he knew better than to start a fight. There was no way he could win. Grumbling under his breath, he picked up his shield. “We just need a new strategy is all,” he muttered. “We’re just wandering aimlessly at this point.”
“You’re not using a dungeon compass?” Ashkar said darkly, his tone implying there would be consequences if the answer was no.
“Of course I am!” Boork snapped. “But we’re still lost. I don’t think it’s working.”
“It’s working, you imbecile,” Ashkar shot back. “It just doesn’t show the correct path—only the direction.”
Zinnia, smiling slightly, cut in, likely more for Kaiden’s benefit. “Sometimes the opposite direction leads to a shorter path, but a compass won’t tell you that.”
Interesting, Kaiden thought, piecing together the mechanics. He’d never heard of a dungeon compass before, but it wasn’t hard to figure out. It likely pointed toward the portal for the next area. The first two floors hadn’t needed one, as the circular design made it impossible to get lost—left or right would take you to the same place. Still, a compass could show the fastest route even on a circular map, so why hadn’t they used it earlier?
Curious, Kaiden walked closer to Zinnia. “Why didn’t we use the compass on the earlier areas?”
Zinnia grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I can tell you, but it’ll cost you.”
Kaiden frowned. “Uh, never mind, then,” he said, turning to walk away.
“Wait,” Zinnia called after him with a chuckle. “I’m just kidding.”
“Oh.” Kaiden blinked, perking up.
Zinnia continued, “Dungeons are supposed to be challenges. Using a dungeon compass could be seen as cheating, and there’s a downside to it.”
Kaiden tilted his head, waiting for the answer.
“If you use a compass,” Zinnia explained, “you forfeit the boss loot on the current floor. Plus, there’s a chance it’ll reduce the reward you get at the end of the dungeon.”
Kaiden’s eyes widened. That was a massive penalty. No wonder they hadn’t used it earlier. He could see it being useful as a desperate last resort, but otherwise, the trade-off wasn’t worth it. Surviving is one thing, and if you need to get to the next floor no matter what, then it could be worth it, he thought grimly.
Kaiden continued, “How does it work? I haven’t seen the mer—Boork using a compass.”
Boork and Ashkar, having finally stopped arguing, resumed walking at the front. Zinnia and Kaiden trailed slightly behind, continuing their conversation.
“It’s a skill you get from a dungeon title,” Zinnia explained. “Before you activate the skill, you get a warning prompt about the downside to using it. I think you earn it around your 20th dungeon or so.”
“Why does it take so long to get such a useful title?”
“Because you don’t really need it in earlier dungeons,” Zinnia replied. “Those are mostly linear and easy to navigate. Even the ones that aren’t won’t take very long. Things change with higher level dungeons though. I’ve been in dungeons where completing one floor took days—that’s when you’ll need it.”
Kaiden gulped at the thought but nodded. “Thank you.” He was learning a lot of valuable information, and while there seemed to be an endless amount to know about dungeons, it never overwhelmed him. In fact, he enjoyed absorbing every detail he could. No doubt, Mindforge was happy about it too.
“Anytime,” Zinnia said with a bright smile.
The group pressed on, battling a few more groups of Duskcoilers and other snake variants. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the end of the area. A glowing portal stood ahead, its familiar swirling light signaling the exit. Kaiden could’ve sworn he saw a glimmer of a tear in Boork’s eye as relief washed over his face.
“Finally!” Boork exclaimed, hurrying toward the portal without hesitation.
Kaiden tensed, instincts kicking in. Falling behind the group, he raised his shields and activated Arcane Vision. Nothing invisible, he confirmed silently, though he didn’t lower his guard.
Zinnia noticed Kaiden drop back and furrowed her brows. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?” Kaiden replied, glancing at her. “I’m getting ready for the boss fight.”
Zinnia blinked, then chuckled. “What boss fight?”
Now it was Kaiden’s turn to look confused. “The one at the end of the area?”
Zinnia shook her head with a grin. “I told you already—no boss loot on the floor means no boss. Let’s go.”
“No boss?” Kaiden muttered, still processing. He didn’t realize that no boss loot meant no boss at all. That’s definitely a plus to using the dungeon compass, he thought, relaxing slightly. If the party were too injured to handle a boss, avoiding the fight and getting a chance to rest up was a huge advantage and well worth the loss of loot.
Speaking of rest, Kaiden’s body ached with exhaustion, and he desperately hoped the next area was a recess floor. Without much choice, he followed the others and stepped through the portal.
The moment he emerged on the other side, his eyes widened.
“What the hell is this?”