After confirming the plan with the rest of my team, I continued down the hall, feeling for more hidden rooms as I went.

I made another few turns without finding any other obvious seams, before finding an opening on the left side of the hall that led to a set of descending stairs.

"You think going down by yourself is the best idea?"

No, but I would like to gather as much information as possible before I return.

Infusing Mana into my cloak to increase the sensitivity of my senses, the orb of fire hovering in front of me illuminated the passage a few paces further.

At the bottom, I could make out a similar hallway to the one I was currently in. It curved sharply to the left, seemingly doubling back toward the front of the temple.

Steeling myself, I placed my foot on the first step. I gasped as my foot continued through the stone and I fell forward through the illusionary stone.

I hit the ground several feet below, rolling with the fall. With little time to react, I hit the floor hard, as the wind was taken from my lungs with the impact.

I heard a grinding noise above me as I groaned, quickly returning to my feet.

Looking back up to the previous level, the hall had been sealed off by a stone slab with Runes carved into its surface.

"Well, this was dumb."

I'm not going to argue there.

Brushing the dust off my armor, I examined the Runes that I could make out, only recognizing two.

The first was a durability Rune, meant to prevent physical damage. The second was more worrying, as it was some sort of defense Rune.

Probably not going to be able to break through it without triggering some type of security system.

"That's probably a safe bet."

What do you think I should do? I asked, keeping my attention focused on the new passageway, listening for any approaching noises.

"First, I would let your team know. So they don't get worried. Then I would try digging through the stone around the blockage. You've already proved that the stone can be damaged."

I thought about the hole I had accidentally created in the floor above during my unconscious rampage.

That's not a bad idea.

"Of course it's not, it was my idea."

Smirking at her, I examined the smooth walls around the Enchanted stone, finding it comparable to the stone of the previous floor.

“Isamaar, I need you to let everyone know that I’m going to be behind a bit. I got trapped in a lower floor. I’m going to try to dig out but it will take some time.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. There is an enchanted door that shut behind me, so I’m going to go around it.”

“Don’t go any further on your own, I’ll let everyone know.”

“I don’t plan on it,” I said, cutting off communication and extending my Unguis.

Scratching a talon into the stone wall off to the side of the door, the Mana sunk into the stone rather easily.

“This may take a while.”

Yeah, it’s like digging with a spoon. I don’t want to use my Mana Sphere though, if I am going to need to fight as soon as I get out.

Carving out a foothold in the stone, I stepped into it and began another a few feet higher up, slowly gaining height to get closer to the previous floor.

A scraping sound from behind caught my attention. I turned quickly, only to see the empty hall.

You heard that, right?

“Yes.”

Pushing the orb of fire further away with a thought, the light pushed back the darkness. Still, there was nothing in the corridor with me. Before I turned back to my task, a rasping female voice cut through the eerie silence.

“Why have you assaulted my home?”

I froze in place, my eyes darting around, searching for the source of the question.

“Hello?” I asked hesitantly.

A tendril similar to the Numlique’s curled around the bend in the hall, snaking along and heaving a large, grotesque body around the corner.

The body was identical to the previous creatures I had encountered, with the main difference being the fiery orange mane surrounding the emaciated face, now a deep crimson and braided in intricate twists. At the end of each braid were small bones of different creatures, including what appeared to be small rat skulls.

“Ugh, it’s hideous,” Mel commented.

I couldn’t disagree. The mane of hair being pulled back gave me an unobstructed view of its monstrous features.

The creature made it fully around the corner, standing at the height of Fras, it stared down at me with obvious contempt.

“Why have you come here?” It asked again.

I Identified it quickly, thinking of a response.

[Getra Queen- Level 78 (Novice)]

“She’s not attacking immediately,” Mel said. “You may be able to talk to her.”

Stepping down to the floor, I faced the queen directly, giving a slight bow.

“I apologize, I did not mean to intrude.”

The queen snarled but did not move closer.

“You break into my home, kill my children, and expect me to believe you came here by accident?”

Confused, I answered cautiously. “It was not my intention to disrespect your home. We have simply come to do a job.”

The queen took a step towards me, her feet covered in wriggling growths that dug into the stone floor.

“To exterminate us?” She hissed.

“No!” I said quickly, holding my hands up in a defensive position. Noticing my talons stil extended, I dismissed them and tried to clarify. “We are just trying to restore the Altars at the top of the temple.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Why would you want to do that?” She asked.

The genuine confusion in her voice caught me off guard. Remembering Isamaar’s warning about discussing the Dungeon with its occupants, I decided to stay somewhat vague.

“My group and I can’t leave here until we restore the Relics to their places on their Altars.”

“Under who’s command?” Her voice grew sharper as her eyes narrowed into slits.

I paused unsure of what response would be acceptable to the monster.

What do I tell her?

She took another scraping step forward.

“Tell her that you are here to restore the temple for the Hranda,” Mel said.

As she said that the image of an aquatic race of humanoids popped into my head. Each with blue and green skin and webbed fingers, with two sets of wings protruding from their backs. The image was from the same Beastiary as the description of the Numliques and was a tribal deity worshipped by the indigenous people of Jrak.

“I’m here under the direct order of the Hranda,” I said quickly.

The queen stopped abruptly mid-stride.

“The Holy ones-,” she cut off, shutting her fang-filled mouth, and prostrating herself. “My apologies honored messenger. I did not mean to offend, please forgive me.”

I heard a telepathic message coming in from Trennel, confusion clear in his tone.

“Is this you?”

“Is what me?”

“The creatures stopped chasing us. They are just standing there.”

“Don’t attack them. Make your way back to the entrance. I found the queen and she is sapient. I have an idea but I’m not sure how well it will work. Regroup and wait for me to contact you again.”

The queen looked up to meet my eye. “What can this one do for you, Master?”

I looked to Mel out of the corner of my eye for guidance.

“Information is probably best, right?” She said, shrugging.

“Can you tell me why the Relics were taken in the first place?” I asked, addressing the queen.

“Of course Master. But-” Her jaw shifted uneasily as she hesitated. “Were you not informed?”

“You need to act as high and mighty as possible, or her suspicion will outweigh her reverence,” Mel said.

“I do not ask for clarification from my betters. A mindset you would do well to adopt,” I said, raising my chin, giving my best impression of a noble.

“Of course, Master.” The queen lowered her head once more. “Where would you like me to begin?”

“From the beginning.”

“As I’m sure you know, this land used to be the Trempet Sea, directly underneath the floating city of the Juraand Clan. Those who worshipped the Holy ones and built this temple when it soared among the clouds and heavenly beings.”

I nodded along, gesturing for her to continue.

“When they were revealed as traitors and heretics, the Holy ones set the task upon my ancestors to remove and watch over the Relics that they had gifted the lower races for protection from the sea. We were honored with the responsibility of keeping the treasures safe and the privilege of exterminating the blasphemous traitors.” The queen snarled the last bit, anger seeping into her tone.

“Once the Relics were removed from the Altars, the powerful magic of the Holy ones ceased, causing the sea to disappear and the temple to fall to its terrestrial resting place. We have stayed here to fulfill our duties and keep this holy ground free of the traitorous scum.”

An idea formed, though I did not know if it would be effective.

“I have come to relieve you of this burden and reward you for your service to the Holy ones. We are to return the temple to its former glory and reinstate it as a place of worship, fit for those of such high esteem.”

“Truly?” The queen's grotesque face formed what I could only assume was a grin as she visibly brightened. “The Holy ones wish for the temple to be used once more?”

“Yes, they have sent us to restore it. You will be required to continue your post here, maintaining its glory and overseeing its defense.”

“It would be the honor of my kin to do this.” She answered immediately. “What do you require of me, Honored one?”

“Please return the Relics to the roof and wait for further instruction. I must regroup with my team, and we will meet you there.”

“As you wish, Master.”

The queen bowed and turned to leave before I stopped her. “The door if you wouldn’t mind.”

“My apologies,” she said humbly, reaching out a tendril of her deformed body into a nearby wall panel.

I heard a click, as the slab began rising back up into the ceiling above.

I watched as she hurried around the bend and out of sight.

It can’t be that easy right?

“Are you going to complain about not having to fight her while cornered and alone?” Mel asked as I jumped through the upper floor, jogging back towards the entrance.

No, I’m just shocked I guess. It’s not what I imagined a Dungeon to be. I didn’t expect to be able to trick a floor boss into doing the work for us.

“Well, it is only the first floor of a pretty low-tier Dungeon. I’m sure there is more than one way to succeed in the objective.”

I kept my pace while thinking about our options. Within a few minutes, I was back at the top of the stairs at the entrance to the temple.

I saw Isamaar at the bottom of the steps waiting for me.

“How far away are you?” I asked Trennel over our connection.

“A few more minutes.”

“I’ve just made it out. Where at the creatures?”

“They all climbed back to the top of the temple,” he answered.

“Okay, we will wait for you here.”

I walked down to meet Isamaar.

True to his word, the rest of the team broke through the treeline to the east. They each had small injuries but nothing that looked too serious.

“What happened?” Trennel asked as they got closer.

Deciding this was a conversation worth keeping private I answered over the telepathic communication, speaking to the entire group.

“I convinced the queen that I was under orders from a group known as the Hranda, beings these creatures worshipped as deities. I managed to have her collect the missing Relics and bring them to the roof, where we can place them in their respective Altars.”

“That’s it?” Fras asked, astonished.

“These creatures will still be here though,” Kira said, perturbed. “That doesn’t fix anything. The Dungeon still needs to be cleared.”

“It may not change the Mana levels of the Dungeon, but it will allow us to proceed quicker to the final floor, which is where the most effective cleansing will take place, lass,” Isamaar tried to reassure her.

“That’s not the point. How long will it take to get there? Weeks? We’re here now and this could help people immediately.”

“Not only that, but I don’t think we should pass up this much Experience. This could be several levels for each of us,” I said, voicing my thoughts.

Kira looked taken aback at my agreement, even if it was for a different reason.

“You still want to fight?” Fras asked.

“I think we should, yes.”

“How would you do that if you have them collecting the Relics?” Trennel asked. “Wouldn’t they just destroy the Relics when they realize you mean to kill them?”

“I thought of that, I plan on placing a warping anchor nearby, and after I gain possession of the Relics, I will teleport away to a safe distance.”

“What about the Altars? What if they destroy those?” Fras asked.

“Well I-,” I paused. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Didn’t you say the queen was sapient? Doesn’t it kind of seem wrong to betray her after making a deal with them?” Trennel asked, sheepishly.

“The same thought had crossed my mind, but this is just a Dungeon. She is just an illusion. A culmination of complicated magical structures, however realistic.”

He didn’t seem convinced but didn’t comment further.

“I’m not the only one on this team though,” I said addressing all of them. “We’ll put it up for a vote. Those who want to stay and gain the Experience and those who want to end this quickly and move on.”

I looked to Isamaar first. “You’re thoughts?”

“I believe we should move on. I will be content with the rewards given for completing the tasks.”

“Fras?”

“An easy win is a win either way. We already found a small fortune in crystals just on our way here.”

“Kira?”

“We need to kill them all before we leave,” she said firmly.

I turned towards Trennel.

“It doesn’t feel right. Maybe we should just continue on, and deal with the Dungeon as a whole rather than worrying about each individual floor.”

“It looks like Kira and I are outvoted. We’ll move forward with the current plan. Finish the floor and continue to the next.”

Kira’s face was twisted in displeasure, but she remained silent.

Out loud I spoke to the group. “Take a break, heal yourselves, and try to find anything else of value in the area before we head back in. We will reenter the temple in ten minutes.”