Zero and Will went to the entrance of the dungeon and was greeted by its dark, seemed unending cave-like hall. Just like the entrance of a large mineshaft, there were no doors or anything that will prevent people from entering it. This raised a question in Zero's head - 'How are the monsters inside not able to escape?' To all his knowledge, there were still no monsters that originated inside this dungeon that had ever escaped and attacked people in the city.
The answer was given to him later by Will as she gave him a bit more information; especially about the history of the dungeon itself.
Created by the gods themselves, the dungeon consumes the excess mana from the earth, creating the living monsters that roams inside it. This is also the exact reason why once the monsters inside get killed, they leave mana crystals, which then can be used to make potions, weapons, armors, and especially, it can also provide the same functions as electricity - and these creatures are considered as parts of the dungeon itself, hence, they die when they leave outside.
The dungeon is a treasure hold. And even in the hundreds of years since adventurers have ventured them, there was still no one who ever reach its top, indicating that there is still something even greater that can be achieved from it.
With the two guards allowing the two of them to past, they went inside - seeing the dark purple walls of the spacious floor. And conveniently enough, these walls produce dim light that is lighting up everything, leaving no shadow behind.
[ Woah... so this is the dungeon, huh...? ] Will grasps in amazement, seeing the sight for the very first time. But since Zero is already familiar with the sight of the floors of any dungeons he had entered before, he just casually entered without much of a reaction.
In games, the most common dungeons will have even walls that are either made of bricks or any kind of valuable and processed stones. But no, this particular dungeon is the most basic one; with uneven, wide, spacious walls; a tall ceiling, and a seemingly unending horizon that's covered in a light, smoking fog.
[ So, what will be our enemies, Zero? ] Will calls to him in her usual 'very' casual mannerism. And she drew her personalized rapier and swipes it into the air to practice.
[ Floor one's supposed to only have kobolds... Didn't we ask the guards earlier? ]
[ Sorry, I didn't listen... I was too excited. ]
[ Excited with what? Aren't you already accustomed to fighting off monsters outside the city? ]
[ That's not what I mean... ] she tirelessly replied as she shrugs her shoulders down and asks another question.
[ Kobolds, huh...? What's in floor two, then? ]
[ Antlions and Drillers. ]
[ Hmm... Those monsters are pretty weak... ]
[ Well, we still need to past them to get to the floors above. ]
[ I guess we really just need to try our best enduring killing off these weaklings. Thinking about it... with the two of us, we'll be able to easily past floors. Umu! Zero! Let's do our best! ]
[ Right~ right... ] as he agrees to her enthusiasm, he also drew his sword, and they began to move.
And after just a few minutes, they encountered their first enemy: a single kobold, barely escaping their visions.
The kobolds are one of the three weakest monsters, only after the slimes and goblins. They have a miniature but humanoid appearance with a blend of lizards. Having to stand on two legs, they have short scaly tails protruding on their backsides and two large hands with four fingers for holding their weapons.
But unlike the kobolds that lead small civilizations on the swamps outside human cities, these particular kobolds, that are created by the dungeon, lacks intelligence by comparison.
[ Okay, Zero, you deal with it. ] seeing the sight of the weak monster, she immediately spoke as if she was giving an order to a knight under her. And Zero could only retort -
[ Huh...? Since when did you the one to order me!? ]
[ What? I can't let my weapon be dirtied by such a weak monster... You deal with it. ]
( This idiot... ) facepalming, he lowered his readied weapon.
[ Why did I even bring you with me...? ]
[ Hey, don't talk behind my back. ]
Ignoring her, he immediately disposed of the single enemy, without giving it a single second to retaliate or escape. And on its death, it turned into blackened ash, leaving a small crystal on the floor. Zear picks it up with his mouth and handed it to Zero very casually.
The mana crystal was about the same size as a single grain of rice. It was so small that it barely holds on his finger. But despite its small size, it is very easily visible as it shines of bluish color in a way diamonds will reflect light.
( So that's how it works, huh? ) he mutters as he puts the crystal, not in his [VoidSpace], but on the small pouch on his waist. After, he went to Will, with her greeting him with an odd smile.
[ Isn't your pet useful? ] she spoke as she looks at Zear, and Zear also made a delighted sound to her compliment. But, Zero himself just ignored her and looks at her rapier that's now resting again on her waist.
[ Will... Are you planning to make me fight alone? ]
[ Hu-huh!? What are you talking about? Of course, I'll help! ]
[ How about you deal with the next enemy we encounter? ]
[ Wa-wait...! All the monsters on this floor are too weak! I won't dirty my weapon with them! ] she shouted in denial with much seriousness. And finally, Zero wasn't able to take it anymore and finally confronted her.
[ There's no point of you coming with me if you do not help... ] he stares directly at her eyes and spoke.
[ What do you mean? ]
[ I'm saying that I shouldn't have taken you with me. ]
And as if time itself has stopped. Will stares back at him with empty eyes - full of shock.
[ You-you aren't serious, right...? ] stuttering, she asks.
[ I'm dead serious. ]
It was a matter of pride. Even if it was better if he could get the XPs only for himself, he can't allow her to order him around like he was her servant. If she does not do anything, then it will look like that she's using him for her own gain. Though, if she was a woman with no ability to defend herself, Zero will volunteer himself to kill the enemies for her, but she was a tomboy who can defend herself, no, she's a sadist who harasses and beats up people who she doesn't like.
Crossing his arms, he waited for her to reply. He looks at her, and...
[ O-oi! What are you! ]
Her body shaking, her face blushing, her eyes wet, she looks back at Zero. Like a little girl who loses her toy, she holds herself back from crying - or at least that's what Zero is anticipating as he looks at her current state.
[ Fi-Fine! If that is what you want! I'll do everything myself! ]
[ Huh...? ]
~~~
And so, they continue to move forward; reaching the 10th floor with just a few minutes. With the vastness of each floor, Zero just couldn't believe that they were able to reach their current location in such a short time.
But of course, there was a specific reason for how they were able to accomplish this feat.
( Oi! Oi! Oi! )
A slow sliding sweat appeared on Zero's forehead as he watches Will's rampage in front of him. With her eyes red and with her long ponytailed hair swinging like a snake, she rushes her rapier to the enemies, cutting them up like butter on a heated knife - leaving a long trail of mana crystals on her path which Zear desperately tries to collect, going back and forth to Zero's pouch and then back on the ground to pick them up, filling the pouch up to its brim.
( At this rate, she's the only one who'll benefit from this! ) she had already defeated hundreds of enemies on her path, even kill-stealing monsters other adventurers they meet were dealing with. She was a mad unstoppable monster, with a glare of her eyes even scarier than the monsters themselves. She was the same as when he fought her on the duel.
[ He-Hey... Will... Isn't that already enough? I'll handle the rest from here on out... ] he tries to get her attention as she again goes ahead on her own the second she finishes the bunch of the skeleton enemies she just recently shreds.
And to his call, she looks back, still with the flaming glare on her eyes.
*Gulp...
He could feel the aura of her menace fill the entire floor, creating pressure that almost works the same way as his DraconicAura.
[ I take my word back... You're very much helpful... It's good to have you around. ] with his words forced to please her, he tries to calm her down. Hoping she would get back to normal. And just as what he intended to accomplish...
[ Do you mean it...? ]
[ Yes... ]
[ Re... ] it was a murmur at first, but then...
[ Really!? ] she receives him with delight. Her glaring eyes turn to sparkles and her long hair swings in contentment.
[ Hehe... It's just as expected for someone such as my self... You must be glad, Zero! ] she laughs as she holds her rapier on top of her shoulder.
[ Sure, I am... ] not by the fact that she's of help, but that she turns back to normal.