Max stood in the center of a arena carved from stone. The seats were empty but the actual arena was filled with metal training dummies. They looked similar to the automatons that helped run the village but there functions were much more simple.
They were only capable of basic combat.
While the cost wasn't much, destroying a wooden dummy every time he attacked would eventually add up. He purchased 10 of these advance training dummies and spent a good amount on them because they were faster, stronger, and most importantly, given a few hours they would repair themselves.
Max stood on one side of the arena, on the other, the 10 training dummies.
Someone from earth may consider it strange that he was preparing to fight while wearing a suit. But Max wasn't concerned. He had his suits magical enchanted. They were an armor that was several steps above leather and they had also been spelled to not restrict his movements.
"Begin." He said.
7 training dummies wielding spears and swords charged at him while the 3 that remained drew back their bows.
Max sprinted forward and then vanished. He appeared behind a dummy. His fist smashed into its neck as his other hand followed up with a slash.
He stepped to the side to dodge a sword and then stomped.
The stone floor rippled like a wave causing several dummies to stumble.
He jumped and lashed out with a kick towards the nearest standing target.
*Wham*
The dummy toppled backwards but he pressed forward and hammered his fist down into its chest.
A spear was coming at him from either side when he vanished. He appeared behind another dummy sending it to the floor. He felt an arrow slam into his back and cursed.
He threw his arm towards the archers as 3 stone spears launched from the ground and pinned the dummies to the wall.
He then leapt over 2 dummies that charged at him.
Stabbing out his hand, he cleaved an arm off the nearest dummy. He then threw another kick.
It didn't take long before the rest of the dummies were in pieces.
When he finished, he heard a soft clapping and found Anna sitting in the first row of the arena.
"That was very good." She said with a smile.
Max returned her smile but shook his head. "They are still to weak and not on my level. A few hits and they go down. I was struck a few times but it won't even leave a bruise."
Anna thought for a moment and then spoke. "Then you will just have to pursue perfection until you find something better."
Max agreed with that statement.
"What brings you down to the lower floors?" He asked.
"The first level was finally completed." She said.
"Really! That's great. I should get ready then." He paused when she shook her head.
"It sounds like they are going to hold off on going to the second floor because they won with luck and not skill."
"Ah, I guess I still have some time then."
Anna nodded in agreement.
"Who was it?"
"Rod, Dirk, Lana, and Rod's family."
That made sense to Max. "They do have the most experience."
"I just wanted to let you know." She said. "And it is getting late." She added.
Max smiled. "Then let's head home." He grabbed her hand and the pair disappeared from the floor.
It was the next morning while Max and Anna were enjoying breakfast while looking over the garden when an automaton delivered a message.
"What does it say?" Anna asked while Max read over the note.
"The monitoring room are requesting my presence. Want to join?"
"Sure. Let's get dressed." Anna said.
She entered the room and shed her robe. Walking to the closet she picked out something she knew max would like and quickly got dressed while he ditched his sweatpants and put on a suit.
Anna smile when she walked out of the closet and saw that her husbands eyes were almost popping out of his head.
Today she wore something that would be seen often back in Max's home world.
She stood on black heels with black pantyhose and wore a tight dark navy business skirt and jacket over a white blouse.
She even tied up her hair and wore a pair of fake glasses.
"Wow." Max managed to say.
"Do you like?" She asked while slowly spinning around.
He nodded with a big smile. "You look like a sexy executive."
She smirked at him. "Come on, let's go." Max happily followed her to the monitoring room under the village.
A gnome wearing thick glasses sat before a series of monitors.
"Boss, you asked us to notify you if we ever saw anything that was out of the ordinary."
"What have you found?"
"Dwarves. 2 of them."
Max took a closer look. That was definitely out of the ordinary. Yes, he had dwarves working in the dungeon, but this was dwarves entering his dungeon. It was surprising because he had learned that not many from other races lived in the area.
///
2 stout dwarves with thick beards entered the dungeon. they each carried a pack that was almost as big as themselves.
"Gibble, have you ever seen a dungeon like this?" Said one of the dwarves while looking at the night sky.
"Can't say I have Hammer. Look there is a sign."
Both dwarves moved over to read.
First they checked their buffs.
"Wow, is this real. We will revive?"
"That's what the system say Hammer."
"Can we trust it?"
Gibble nodded. "It would be one thing if the sign said we could revive, but this is the system registering an actual buff."
"True, true, let's look at the dungeon information tab."
{The King of Halia heard rumors of an ancient evil awakening in the west. When he asked for volunteers to find out if these rumors were fact or fiction you agreed. Thus, you began your long journey to the west. After traveling for several weeks, you finally left the kings domain as you ventured further into the continent of Chrysus. After beginning to feel sleepy you decided to take a nap in the middle of a wide open plain.}
"Is this some sort of backstory?" Hammer asked.
"That is what it looks like."
"Look, it appears there is another sign near the forest." Hammer pointed out.
"Then let's go read it."
The dwarves chatted while they walked. "Why would someone fall asleep in the middle of a field. It is strange."
When the pair read the next sign they looked at the forest again.
"I think the idea is that we were pulled into the Fey Lands when we fell asleep."
"That is what it looks like brother."
"My Hammer fears no Fey."
"And my Axe fears none either. Let's go."
With that, both Dwarves slapped on sturdy helmets and charged into the woods.
They didn't make it very far.
Neither brother could resist the call of the fairies.
"I can't watch." Anna said as the fairies led the dwarves to a spike pit.
She wasn't exactly squeamish, it was just a bit embarrassing for the dwarves.
The jerked awake and found themselves in the hospital.
"What happened?" Gibble asked.
"How would I know?" Hammer replied.
"Did we die?"
Hammer didn't get to answer. He was silenced when an automaton rolled into the room.
"You were both entranced by fairies and fell into a trapped pit where you meet your demise."
"So beautiful." Gibble said while jumping out of bed and inspecting the metalwork machine.
Hammer was right next to his brother. "I have never seen runes like this before."
The automaton who was being poked and prodded responded with the only skill Max had let them learn.
It bonked them both on the head, achieving a 5 second stun. The machine backed up and spoke in its mechanical voice. "Please keep your hands to yourselves."
When the stun wore off both dwarves had the decency to look ashamed.
"Sorry miss, my brother and I have never seen workmanship as exquisite as you. It is truly fascinating."
The machine scanned both and found they were in good health. It than began its script in which it described the dungeon and how things worked in the village. Once it finished, the automaton asked if they had any questions.
"You mean to tell me that we are in a dungeon that has its own city where everyone is basically immortal?"
"Incorrect, you can die from old age."
"Gibble, do you know what this means?"
"We don't have to worry about accidents in the shop."
"Not just that." Hammer said. "I bet the guy who runs this place is rich."
Both dwarves looked at each other with pleased smiles on their faces before turning back to the machine.
"Is it possible to set up a meeting with this Mr. Clarkson?"
"I will inform the boss. If he wishes to see you, that is his decision."