“Okay. Anyone know how long we have been in here?” Jensen asked. They had travelled all the way down to floor five.

“Ugh. Yeah, floor threes’ cave maze we managed to clear in a few days. The second cave maze as well. So, a total of one week. This one we have been in for a week. So, we have been in the dungeon three weeks. We will need to leave soon.” Mateo answered as they rested for a few minutes.

“The first two floors only had moles and worms. I don’t think I saw any above level 20. Now I don’t think I have seen anything below level 20. It is getting hard for sure. Auna, you have made it to level 26, right?” Chloe asked for confirmation.

“Yes, you guys are higher levels though!” Auna answered. “We should be able to find the stairs soon, I am sorry my skill is not reliable here.”

“Don’t worry. Many adventures say navigation skills don’t work in maze floors.” Bruno said shrugging.

“Thanks for the reassurance.” Auna nodded urging everyone to continue. They only had a few more days before they would have to go back. “I really do not want to put a door here.”

“My moon, us four other fairy born understand. Being underground is not a happy experience for us. That is most likely why we completed the other caves so fast. However, the next floor might be a cave as well.” Jensen answered after they had defeated a level 30 goblin. It stunk so much.

“I’m sorry for you guys.” Meredith spoke as she wiped blood of her staff. In such close quarters she had been using it more as a blunt weapon than a staff.

“Thanks, really.” Auna nodded at her as they continued.

“Another one?” Jensen moaned. They had defeated a whole hoard of level 30 goblins over the few days since they last stopped. They would need to stop again soon. Healing moon and the other healing skills in their group was not enough. The mental stat also made it easier for them to push through. Everyone had experienced significant gains in their health and mental strength stats just from the sheer will of pushing forwards.

“No one our ages should be fighting such strong foes.” Meredith groaned as they continued down their chosen path.

“Most kids our age are level 10 maybe level 15. From just jobs and educational skills. To gain so many levels just from killing monsters is ridiculous.” Chole said as she dragged her mace.

“What about kids who are 12, don’t they go into dungeons?” Auna asked.

“They do yes, but they usually fight monsters lower levelled than them. Most people prefer fighting things five levels below them, minimum. We have been fighting things higher levelled than us. We are crazy people.” Meredith answered to everyone else nodding.

“Well, do we gain more experience for fighting higher levelled monsters?” Auna asked curious. They had not had many classes on this topic as they just started basic combat classes. They like most children were prepped for monster fights from ages 10 to 12.

“It is theorised that yes, we gain more experience. Though it is not very studied. Only a few people are dumb enough to do it. Of those people that are that dumb, usually they have a curse of some kind.” Meredith continued.

“What do you mean? Why does a curse matter?” Auna asked.

“Most curses do make gaining levels or experience harder in some manner.” Meredith answered with a shrug. “You would think you would know this. Sheesh.”

“Sorry, I thought I was unique in my suffering.” Rolling her eyes Auna added. “Aside from that wild boy.” To which Jensen laughed nodding roughly.

“Yeah, not too unique in that way. Most people who can gain levels at the normal rate prefer to do so. Aside from people who would fall behind the average person in their field, many do not want to risk their life.” Meredith groaned. “When are we going to finish this floor! I want a bath.”

“Well. Maybe pay more attention?” Jensen laughed as he pointed to the stairway to the sixth level.

“Oh, my gods! YES!” Meredith basically pushed everyone to the stairs.

“Should we rest on the stairs? It is rare a monster enters them?” Diego said as he sat down once, they were halfway down. He had been carrying Ciela, he gently rested her on his lap leaning back.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Thank you for carrying her so far.” Auna sat down beside him, everyone else sat down too. Meredith sat down, even in her eagerness to head down.

“Of course, she is your baby sister.” Diego rubbed her back gently as he closed his eyes. “Jensen is my brother, and he is infatuated with you. So, caring for Ciela is a given.”

“I really do appreciate it. This is a lot for a child of 8 years.” Auna sighed closing her eyes.

“It is hard for children of ten years.” Chloe laughed as she spread herself out on a step, they were more than wide enough for her to use as a bed.

“You can say that again. These two are going to get us killed, or kidnapped at some point.” Mateo lay down beside Chloe with a huge smile.

“That is why we are trying to become ridiculously strong.” Jensen giggled as he stretched out as well.

They slept for nearly ten hours before continuing down the stairs once again. This time Auna put Ciela on her back. She was awake but not ready to walk. Auna did not feel right making Theo or Willow hold her. They had carried each child a lot during this dungeon crawl at different times, due to them pushing forward so hard.

“I see light I think.” Auna said as they reached the sixth floor.

“Okay, this is getting stupid.” Meredith sighed as they walked around the sixth floor. It was a floor with a small empty village. Instead of fields though there were mines scattered around a few mountains surrounding the village. It seemed the village had been built in the hollow of a mountain rich with many different ore types. There was no noticeable way to leave the hollow, the level really consisted of a place to mine ore that had no business existing in the same mine.

“Really? Another temple like structure with a podium.” Jensen said. They had explored the whole village. There was nothing of note in it. Only a few hundred homes, a few forges, and other needed buildings for mining and processing ore.

“That is very odd.” Auna sighed. “I so vote not actually mining I hate being underground.”

“We second that.” A triplet raised their hand.

“I have no use for the caves either.” Ciela yawned still a bit tired.

“I am not doing it either.” Meredith groaned still trying to brush off the dirt on her clothes.

“Me either.” Chloe crossed her arms over her chest.

That had all the children in fits of laughter.

“Shall we head home?” Auna asked happy to leave the quiet mining village.

“Sure, are we heading to the new Bloodwave villa? We only have a few days left before the party, right?” Chloe asked. She had been invited by the King as part of the group. He had been watching closely to their official dungeon dives they kept as a farce. Chloe was hailed as a crazy prodigy.

“Sure, Ciela really needs to rest.” Auna went to the podium, there was no reason to build a door. It seemed the dungeon would allow them to easily travel to the empty villages anyway.

As they all gathered near it, the dungeons’ voice rang out.

“Congratulations! You are the first team to complete the first five floors uncovering the ‘Ore mine village’. You each will be given the reward for this once you travel to the lobby. May you continue to progress.”

“Holy shit! Isn’t this rare? Not all dungeons have progression rewards!” Meredith was bouncing on her feet. “Though some rewards are very bad, like one dungeon gave out a curse for its’ reward. The poor people had to enter a dungeon for at least five hours a week. One got sick and died due to the curse.”

“Meredith don’t say that! Most are just enhancers or items.” Chloe rolled her eyes.

“Shall we head to the lobby?” Auna laughed as she took Ciela into her arms. The dungeon had woken her.

“Reward has been given. You must consume before exiting.” The voice of the dungeon spoke as each person was given a small stone.

Auna used her moon appraisal skill on the small stone. “A small mana stone, once consumed the individuals will gain 200 points to their mana pool/stat.”

“You have to be kidding, this for only five levels?” Mateo downed his without a second thought. “We should push forwards.”

“Now, now we can’t do that. Look how hard we struggled this last run. We should instead improve our stats. Even if we stop earning experience from kills, we can increase our stats.” Auna pointed out as she ate her stone as well. One big gulp.

“I agree. Sorry I was a bit over excited. Though now we all have bigger mana pools we could improve other stats more and use our magic more.” Mateo stretched looking at his status screen. Everyone took a moment to do so. Even the tamed monsters had been given a stone. They were a part of the team. Now Auna had 280 points in her mana pool.

“I am amazed though. An instant improvement of 200 points in our mana? I already feel stronger. I wonder, what ten-year-old has this much raw magical power? This is so stupid.” Jensen sighed deeply. “What a cheat of a dungeon. Has Mr. Voice come back yet?”

“No, still quiet. I think that new blessing that weird child gave us all is keeping the madness away. That means Mr. Voice is just on narration mode. I still don’t understand how you boys got the blessing though.” Auna shrugged. She missed Mr. Voice.

“I guess that is reasonable. I hope he comes back soon. Maybe he would know why this dungeon is such a cheat. Maybe try praying?” Jensen suggested.

“I should.” Auna nodded. She too was curious as to why this dungeon was such a cheat for them.

They left their dungeon. Heading through the moon door to the new Bloodwave villa. It had been constructed in haste, from an old noble home in the capital. It was not publicly known where it was yet.

Auna carried Ciela in her arms through the door as Jensen brought up the rear. Ciela was peacefully humming in her arms, too excited to be tired.

“Welcome, we thought you would be arriving soon.” Edward smiled as he saw the children walk into the study. It was obvious they had been escorted by a staff member. “What happened to you!” He came running up to the children picking Meredith up in his arms.

“I’m fine dad!” Meredith tried to get out of his arms. “We cleared six floors! I’m level 33!”

“Really?” Edward swung her around happily. As Marybeth tended to the rest of the children.

“Good job kids. I bet you are all tired. Time to bathe, and head to bed.” Marybeth gently took Ciela from Auna and led them all to the separate baths for the girls and boys.