Max set the Kraxtal Weaving study aside for now. He had pushed himself hard the past three days, trying to wrap his mind around complex equations and advanced physics. But for today, he decided it was enough. His head was full, and he needed a break and a video game won't cut it.
And he had the best idea to both loosen up, and best make use of his time.
Max stepped out of his mountain house, the cool, crisp air of the clearing surrounding him. He paused for a moment, appreciating the peaceful landscape. The mountain range stretched out before him, and the soft rustling of the trees added a sense of calm.
He pulled out the green arm-sized key out of his space ring. This key was a dungeon reward from Xrak, it could open a Legacy dungeon, one that could either contain nothing or immense wealth.
There was no way to know until he used it, but Max had a gambling problem so he obviously wouldn't leave the key unused for long.
"huh, hopefully it won't be useless."
Max held the key out in front of him. The moment he focused on it, the air around him rippled, and a large rift appeared in the space beside him.
A massive door, made of dark wood and intricately carved with runes and symbols, materialized. It looked like the work of skilled dwarven craftsmanship.
The door itself was imposing, standing twice as tall as Max, its surface covered in ancient designs that seemed to glow faintly.
"huh, dwarves!"
With the hope of meeting a new race and maybe getting a new customer for his smuggling company, Max stepped forward and grabbed the handle.
The door opened smoothly as he pushed it inward. The moment he passed through, he felt a change in the air.
Max was curious by the fact that he didn't feel the side effects of the usual teleportation, still he focused on the important matter at hand scanning his surrounding.
He found himself standing on the edge of a small, floating city. The ground beneath him was made of cobblestone streets, lined with towering buildings crafted from stone and wood. The architecture was delicate yet sturdy, resembling what one might imagine an elven city to look like.
The roofs of the buildings were steep and angular, adorned with intricate carvings that suggested both elegance and longevity. Despite its grandeur, there was a certain tranquility in the design.
Looking up there was sunlight but no sun in the sky, switching his gaze to the edge Max noticed that the City seems to be suspended in deep space.
The place looks like a high ranking dungeon so Max was cautious even though he knew that there were no danger inside a Legacy dungeon.
But as Max surveyed the surroundings, something was immediately off. The city was eerily silent. There were no sounds, nothing at all not even a breeze.
'No survivors I assume.' Legacy dungeons only form from destroyed dungeon worlds, in such places it isn't likely to find survivors, and Max's first Legacy dungeon was one of the exceptions.
As he started exploring his footsteps echoed in the silence as he wandered deeper into the city. The buildings, despite their impressive craftsmanship, had an abandoned air about them. Some windows were cracked, and vines crept up the sides of the walls, yet there was no sign of decay.
In the center of the city, a massive tree stood, its trunk wide and imposing. Its branches stretched outward, but there was no foliage. The bark was a deep brown, almost black, and the tree exuded an ancient presence, as if it had witnessed the rise and fall of generations.
After a quick scan of the tree Max was disappointed.
"Dead! And the wood is useless."
Max flew up, observing the empty streets and buildings from the air.
From above, the layout was clear. The city was circular, with the large tree in the center, and the streets radiated outward from it, connecting to various structures. Some buildings were taller, while others were smaller, possibly housing or marketplaces.
"enough exploring and let's start looting."
Max let his pets out, as they flew in all direction like a bunch of hungry scavengers.