The next day I was adjusting a pair of gauntlets on my arms making sure the leather straps would keep it in place. I was fully dressed in light leathers that were soft yet durable in a way I wasn't able to create with my brain solution. Making a mental note to visit the tanners when I got back, I strapped a bag to my waist to hold my gear making sure that my quill and now we're still within reaching distance.
There was actually a training dungeon built under this fortress that housed weaker monsters and traps to get one used to the environment and to enhance team tactics. Going down there by myself I needed a long-ranged weapon, and a short-ranged one so my karambit and now we're both taken as well as a light buckler that wouldn't hinder his movements.
Making my way through the hallway many people noticed my outfit and were curious to see how far I could go into the training dungeon as many people knew who I was now. Accidents happened in the dungeon all the time, and very rarely did someone die in there, but the wild beasts were still beasts. Injuries were very common so I had a decent supply of healing balms.
When I got to the entrance William was sitting on a stone waiting for me, with a slight wave I walked over to him.
"I've always wondered if this is a man made dungeon, do you know anything about this William?" I stood at the stairwell going down into the depths of the fortress.
"Actually from what I've been told this fortress was built on top of a low-class dungeon hundreds of years ago. No one knows what class it is right now, but considering that only a few people use it, it couldn't have grown that big." William was dressed in a battlemage outfit, mainly consisting of a robe with leather patches sewn in to allow some protection in vital areas.
Most mages prefer to stay back unless they are trained as warriors as well, the arena battles try to get rid of that habit by forcing them into close quarters. This has made most people in this fortress rather unique as they don't stay back and rain down spells, which obviously has its disadvantages.
"Why so many items though? We're only going down there for a few hours to help train you right?" He didn't even have a bag on him, much less the small mountain of supplies that I had.
"Haven't you heard, 'A true sorcerer plans for everything!' These are all supplies for in case the worst happens."
"A Sorcerer huh? I've never heard of one of those before. The saying does have a similar ring to one that I've heard though, 'An unprepared dragon is stabbed in the ass.'" William said seriously which made me burst out laughing.
"So I guess an unprepared mage should protect their ass?" I had a smile on my face that only grew wider as William shook his head, mad that I ruined his proverb.
"Have you been on dungeon crawls before?"
"Why would we need to crawl through the dungeon?" William looked confused before realization dawned on his face, "Oh you mean have I ever went into a dungeon? Yes I have, though I have never completed one."
"Wouldn't the end goal of going into a dungeon be to complete it?"
William shook his head a bit, then got up from the stone making his way to the entrance. "Each floor to a dungeon is increasingly hard. Someone who can clear out the whole first floor of a dungeon might not even be able to take a step in the next floor.
Only a handful of dungeons have been completely cleared and clearing them brought disaster to everyone around the dungeon. The monsters got more aggressive, the levels of the monsters started climbing as well. Elders believe that the core of the dungeon felt threatened by someone's presence and built more defenses around itself."
"That's perfect then, we just need to completely nap this dungeon and see what it has to offer, level it up then use the dungeon for higher level exploration."
"There's no point, the dungeons usually have the same rewards even after upgrading for several years. Eventually the rewards get better but that would mean more work for the same resources for a long time. Many people are content with what the dungeons provide currently." William smiles a bit warily. "Not many risk their rewards now in hope for something better in the future."
"And that's why humans stay stagnate for long periods of time. Let's see how far we can go before we have to turn back." I started down the steps to the dungeon which seemed to be made of well maintained stone defending to the first layer of it.
"The first floor is filled with what they call goblin rejects, basically ones that were kicked out of villages for being too weak for the second floor." William took the lead with a small ball of light in his hand, though I could see clearly in this underground area.
"Ah, before we go forward into this dungeon I have to tell you. I have a summoned familiar." I wasn't sure if that was common in this world but I would be relying on William for the next year as part of my raiding group to train myself.
"A summon? They are usually fairly weak, but if you want to train it here then this is the perfect environment. Monsters usually have increased growth rates in dungeons." William seemed to be interested, but wasn't shocked, so I figured summoned monsters weren't that uncommon.
"Morningstar, it's time for us to practice together!" A black shadow landed beside me with its gaze focused on William as two tentacles slowly waved in the air in a threatening manner. "He's a friend, don't attack."
William has taken a few steps back, expecting something like a rabbit or puppy like most adventures had not some sort of eldritch horror. It's eyes seemed almost hungry as it stared at William before turning away and rubbing it's head against my leg like a loving pet.
"It's a named creature, and evolved once." I could see his face turning more pale as I said that. "Are summoned creatures not common? I heard beast masters used them all the time."
"Beast masters aren't that uncommon no, but what the hell did you feed this thing, it doesn't seem like a regular beast at all."
"Alchemical potions mostly, corrosive shadow property ones that I could get my hands on." A sigh of relief cane quickly from William.
"It's an alchemical beast, no wonder it looks so strange. Probably evolved from a small pack animal like a dog or something. Makes sense." William rationalized it for me so I nodded happily, it seemed like I could bring out Morningstar more often.
"Now, like every adventure game I've played starts out, 'Let's hunt some goblins!'" I called out cheerfully.