This is the party in the first chapter! they will have screen time, but not that much. Yes, their role is really important!
Check the comment section for pict!
***
Landon slowly opened his eyes, the light hurting them, and he covered his face with his hand.
His peaceful wake-up was quickly disturbed by a kick from someone who shouted, "Move quickly! Don't you see the queue?"
The man in a brown robe had his face covered, concealing his identity. Landon's blue eyes wandered to the screen above him, displaying the number 210 in red.
"Oi!" The robed man aimed another kick, but Landon dodged it as he stood up.
"Calm down, you don't need to use violence!" he protested, rolling his eyes as he walked toward the giant door in front of him. The big hall was illuminated by mysterious light emanating from the ceiling, even though they were still in the dungeon.
The robed man was one of the "dungeon slaves," mysterious humans who worked in the dungeon foyer—the place before the first floor.
Landon disheveled his blue hair, searching for his party who seemed to have woken up first and been kicked out by that rude man. He found a room beside him without a door, and as he entered, a woman stood in his way.
Her short white hair and pointed long ears were striking, especially with her green short cape covering her chest and her black inner short dress. She wore black short boots that made her appear taller.
"You're late!" she pouted. "I'm hungry, you know!"
Landon scratched his head, chuckling. "Haha, sorry. You know the queue to revive the dungeon dwellers, right?"
"She's right, Maelyrra. There were 500 of them when I was revived," the woman behind her interjected.
She was taller than Maelyrra, wearing a white long mermaid dress that fit her sexy body, showcasing her ample breasts and ass, especially with the black corset at her waist.
The white cape behind her added elegance to her attire. Her black wavy hair and eyes made her even more beautiful.
"Well, you're right, Ismene. But I am really hungry," Maelyrra complained, rubbing her grumbling stomach.
"You'll be fat at this point," Ismene teased, smacking her ass, which earned her a glare from Maelyrra.
"She's right, let's go to the first floor to eat!" said the short man (a dwarf) with brown curly hair and a beard, stomping his ax on the ground. His black eyes shone with excitement.
"Sorry, Osson, but I need to take my shield and claymore. Where are they again?" Landon inquired, still seeming disoriented.
"WHAT! YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT WITH YOU BEFORE LEAVING THE HALL OF MIRACLE!" the three of them shouted at Landon, making his ears ring as he apologized profusely.
After retrieving his shield and claymore from the Hall of Miracles, Landon rejoined his party before they continued walking down the hallway to the first floor.
"Honestly, why are all of you still in this dungeon?" Ismene asked, frustration evident on her face.
"What do you mean? We practically live here now," Landon replied, finishing the last of his bread.
"You know that you can't do that, right? We need to finish this dungeon before you guys become lost souls." She looked them over from head to toe, clearly judging them.
"Hmm... Everyone will die eventually. Becoming a lost soul isn't that bad," Osson chimed in, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.
"Right? We don't have any place to call home anymore. This is our place, Ismene," Landon said, his eyes reflecting the sadness as he gazed down the hallway.
"Ermm... I'm sorry... I just wanted to fulfill my dream," Ismene murmured, guilt creeping into her voice.
Not all humans or parties wandering the dungeon had a place to call home. Some had lost their homes to monsters or demons, while others were criminals. That's why they were called 'dungeon dwellers.'
"Everything we need is inside the dungeon, so there's no reason to go back to the outside world!" Maelyrra declared, holding her staff high and looking pleased.
"But don't worry, we will be the ones to clear this dungeon! We already promised you!" She put her arm around Ismene's neck, making her smile.
"Right? Akh!" Landon turned around and stumbled, falling on top of a woman who had fainted.
"Wahhh! I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, bowing profusely as he stood up, but the woman didn't respond.
All his party members looked on, curious and worried, at the woman in armor lying on the ground.
The woman was beautiful with long, wavy red hair. Her armor covered her chest, while her lower part was a long red dress. She looked as if her face had been carved with great care.
"A corpse?" Landon wondered aloud.
"Wow, look at this armor. The steel is incredible," Osson remarked, his eyes shining as he knocked on the armor.
"Hey! That's impolite, Osson, and that's her breast, you dumbass!" Maelyrra scolded, grabbing his hair and making him flinch.
"Wait, is this the suspicious woman who keeps wandering the dungeon foyer?" Ismene suddenly exclaimed, recalling the poster she had seen in one of the hallways about this particular woman.
"Really? Dang. Come on, Landon. Just leave her here. She's a weirdo," Maelyrra urged, grabbing his hand to help him stand up.
However, the woman opened her eyes. Her crimson gaze was menacing, making the party step back. Her aura was intimidating.
They readied their weapons as the woman woke from her slumber. She massaged her temple, then slumped back to the ground.
"He-help... I am hungry..." she whispered weakly. "I-I'm n-not eating for... A week..." she said, crawling toward them like a corpse, her face pale and lips dried.
The party exchanged confused glances, silently asking each other if they had any leftover bread or crackers.
"Err... I have crackers but... She is scary," Maelyrra admitted, pulling out the last cracker from her pouch.
"Give it to her! Just throw it at her!" Ismene whispered.
Maelyrra nodded and dropped the crackers on the ground. The woman's eyes sharpened as she crawled quickly like a spider to the cracker and devoured it.
The party members stepped back, startled and scared.
"W-why are we scared? We made it to the 14th boss! We are strong, haha!" Landon said awkwardly, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Right! What are we scared of!" Maelyrra added, laughing awkwardly.
But when they saw the woman chomp the cracker with her pointed teeth like a shark, her menacing eyes looking at them like they were the next meat and disheveled hair, they gulped. There was no way they would pass her.
"Let's... Let's just go to the teleportation gate and teleport to the second floor, everyone!" Landon suggested, turning back, too scared to pass the woman.
There were many freaks in the dungeon even the whole cult. Of course, there must be cannibals lurking in this dungeon too. That woman might be one of them.
But something grabbed his foot. It was the woman, still pale with a black aura emanating from her, looking like a ghost as she crawled with her hands.
"Don't leave me!"
"AAAAAAA----"
All the party members screamed in terror.