Backtracking once more, the two found themselves standing in front of the ‘Puzzle Room’. The floor splitted apart into multiple floating platforms, revealing the vast, endless sky below them. When Zeke stepped inside, a system panel appeared before him.
< Puzzle : Build-a-Bridge >
Objectives
Form a path in the middle to the other side with the floating platforms.
Obstacles
You cannot move a platform twice in a row.
Time Limit
None.
Requirements
None.
[More Info]
(If the puzzle’s objective is still unclear, please refer to the [More Info] tab. Once you’re ready, please press the [Start Puzzle] button.)
[Start Puzzle]
<<>>
“Eh…? Isn’t this pretty easy?” Circe peered her head over to read the description panel as they put their weapons inside the inventory, watching Zeke nonchalantly press the ‘Start Puzzle’ button at the very bottom of the screen.
[Puzzle Start!]
Another monitor replaced the other one, showing the digital bird’s eye view of the platforms ahead of them. Zeke experimentally moved one of the square icons, and the floating plates mirrored the gesture as expected. “Better if it’s easy, no? I’m not doing another math question.”
[ERROR!]
Zeke’s face contorted as a sudden notification blocked the screen, its body flashing red as if mocking him for his words earlier. “Fuck, I jinxed it.”
[An
[Added Obstacle: The player must answer a question before moving a platform. If the player answers incorrectly, the entire field resets and a random number of
“Maybe next time you should just shut up.” Circe spoke with a jesting grin on her face. As Zeke begrudgingly cleared the eerily red tabs in front of him, she noticed that the platform he’d moved before had hovered back to its original place, secured against the right most side.
“...” Despite knowing that she’d used the moment to belittle him, Zeke simply took the hit to his pride without a fight. Soon, a new panel appeared before him, containing their first question.
[Question #1: What is the chemical symbol for “Potassium permanganate”?]
[Answer]
Circe’s eyes narrowed as her brows knotted. ”What the fuck is potassium perma—perman—I can’t even read that.”
”Potassium permanganate,” as Zeke clicked on the ‘Answer’ button, an input panel and keyboard appeared in its place. “I know this one, it’s KMNO4.”
[KMNO4]
[Confirm your answer?]
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
[Yes]
[…]
[CORRECT! You can now move one platform.]
”I knew I can count on this nerd,” Circe’s lips twisted into a proud grin as she gave Zeke’s back a light tap. Despite the little force exerted, Zeke could still feel a small sting spread across his skin. Watching him move a block on the puzzle panel, Circe spoke. “Since we can only move one step at a time, shouldn’t we plan out what platform to start with first to minimize the amount of questions?”
[Next Question]
“You’re right,” Zeke nodded along with her words, eyes focusing on the screen ahead. “I’m moving this bottom right one just because there’s no other platforms in its way. If you’ve got any suggestions then I’m happy to take them.”
“What you’re doing now is fine,” Circe pointed at some of the other isolated squares on screen. “We can focus on moving these first.”
“Okay.” Zeke pressed on the ‘Next Question’ button, bringing up the quizz screen.
[Question #2: Who is the author of the poem “The Raven”?]
”Great, another easy one,” Zeke brought up the input screen before typing in the answer. “You should know this one too, Miss English Major.”
[Edgar Allan Poe]
[Confirm your answer?]
[Yes]
[…]
[CORRECT! You can now move one platform!]
Circe rolled her eyes. “I’m sure everyone knows this, the Raven is one of Edgar’s most famous works.”
“Right,” Zeke chuckled as he moved the other platforms on the puzzle screen, turning to see his movements reflected in reality. “Since the questions aren’t that hard, we’ll get through this in no time.”
.
.
.
[Question #12: What is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or energy to become more stable?]
”What the fuck, Zeke,” Circe stared in horror at the question proposed by the system. By then, Zeke had crouched on the ground while pressing his forehead against the side of his intertwined hands. From where she stood, she couldn’t see his expression. “You really shouldn’t have said anything. Why are the questions getting more ridiculous? And there’s still a few more platforms left.”
“…” Zeke reached out his index finger, slowly tapping on the ‘Answer’ button. As the input panel and keyboard appeared in front of him, he hesitantly typed his answer down. “Hey, if I get this wrong…You better not hit me.”
Circe shook her head. ”As if I can hit you, I can’t even guess the answer.”
[Covalent bonding]
Heavy silence pressed down on their shoulders, yet Zeke remained conflicted whether he should confirm his answer. After a whole minute of staring at the input screen, Zeke eventually decided to delete everything.
”You thought of something better?” Circe dropped down next to him, staring at his tightly knotted brows as he began typing a new answer, clear epiphany reflected in his narrowed eyes.
[Radioactive decay]
[Confirm answer?]
Zeke pursed his lips. ”I doubt it’s covalent bonding, since the question suggested that it’s only one atom becoming stable. So this has to be the answer.”
“Then go for it,” Circe crossed her arms. “I’m surprised that we got this far, considering that there was a whole math equation in the two previous questions.”
”Alright!” Zeke squeezed his eyes shut, tapping on the ‘Yes’ button.
[Yes]
[…]
[CORRECT! You can now move one platform!]
”Zeke…” Circe started as the corner of her mouth curled into a smirk. Seeing as Zeke still had his eyes closed, she forced out the most dejected tone she could. “You need to see this. C’mon, look at the panel.”
”…” Curiosity bubbled inside his chest, prompting Zeke to open one eye in anticipation. When he realized that he’d gotten the correct answer, he leaned backwards, letting himself fall against the grass. A giggle escaped his curled lips as he spoke, voice shaking. “Oh my fucking god, Circe, don’t scare me like that.”
By then, Circe had taken over the puzzle screen. She laughed while moving a block over to the half-built bridge, only two more blocks remained floating at the furthest edges. “My greatest apologies, Mister Genius, please get up and solve the next question.”
[Question #13: Which country has the most time zones?]
”France.” Circe answered instantly while Zeke barely rose from the ground. Swiping the keyboard from his side, she typed in the answer herself and confidentially submitted it.
[…]
[CORRECT! You can now move one platform!]
Zeke gave her a raised eyebrow. “Really, you know some of the most random things. Even the capital of Liechtenstein.”
Circe rolled her eyes. ”My brain tends to store only the random information I come across, and never the things I actually need to know.”
“Also,” Zeke spoke while he moved one of the platforms one block from its original position. “It’s kind of odd that it’s asking us about the facts on Earth, but Dungeon Regime exists on an entirely new planet with its own continents. I was expecting questions related to it, to be honest.”
”…” Circe looked at him with a frown. “And you keep pointing out some of the most random things. You’re making me think too much.”
“Isn’t that good? You usually don’t think about anything anyway.”
“Nice insult.” Circe lightly elbowed him.
”Thanks.” Zeke responded bluntly as he brought up the next question.
.
.
.
[
[A+ performance!]
[You’ve earned <100 DCs>]
[You’ve earned x1
With their rewards secured inside their inventory, the two of them headed inside the newly-opened tunnel. Emerging on the other side, the sight of a medieval-style market greeted them as soon as they entered.
”Oh, it’s a shop,” Circe mused as she walked further into the room, attention shifting between the two sections on either side. “We don’t really need anything from here though…maybe health potions and buffs?”
Zeke headed towards the ‘Weapons’ section, scanning each booth to see that the shop only had six displays, unlike the maximum ten he’d seen in the Tutorial Dungeon. “You need a new weapon, even if you're close to unlocking the requirement for the scythe. Getting one for the stats temporarily should be fine though.”
“Yeah, the stuff made outside doesn’t do anything,” Circe took out her sword, staring at its chipped edges with pity. “It can’t match up with my strength anymore, I’ve only used this one for a bit and it’s already chipping.”
”Right…” Zeke dragged one of the boxes nearby to sit on. “Then we can take our time here, I’m going to get some shut-eye, if you don’t mind.”
Circe smirked. “Used too much brain power, huh?”
“Yeah,” Zeke responded dully as he leaned against the vendor’s pole, closing his eyes. “If anything comes up, wake me.”