It was night time and Ren and Akio came upon a town that they book a inn to sleep at for the night as both of them drifted off to sleep.
The morning sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden hue over the small town. Ren and Akio moved through the bustling streets, their eyes drawn to a vendor hawking maps in the town square. The vendor's loud voice carried across the market.
"Dungeon maps! Get your dungeon maps here! Perfect for adventurers looking to test their skills!"
Ren's attention locked onto the word "dungeon." The excitement in his chest grew as he exchanged a glance with Akio. They hadn't yet tested themselves in a dungeon, and this could be the perfect opportunity. They approached the vendor, who immediately greeted them with a sly grin.
"Ah, young adventurers! Looking to make a name for yourselves? I've got just what you need—a map to a nearby E-rank dungeon. Perfect for getting your feet wet. Only 20 copper, and it could lead you to treasure!" The vendor's voice was dripping with enthusiasm, eager to make a sale.
Ren crossed his arms, considering the offer. Akio, however, nudged him. "What do you think? We could use the experience."
Ren nodded, handing over the coins. The vendor handed them the map with a flourish. "Good luck, boys. Just don't go too deep, or you might not make it back."
With supplies packed and map in hand, Ren and Akio set off. By midday, they reached the mouth of the dungeon—a dark, jagged cave set into the base of a small mountain. The entrance seemed to hum with a strange energy, making the air feel heavy. As they approached, they noticed a boy, likely in his mid-teens, standing near the entrance.
The boy glanced at them, revealing a blind eye clouded and scarred. He gave them a silent nod before turning back to stare into the darkness. Ren and Akio exchanged a look, but said nothing. They shrugged off the encounter and stepped into the dungeon, the cool air immediately chilling their skin as the darkness swallowed them.
---
The inside of the dungeon was a maze of narrow, winding corridors. Flickering torches provided faint light, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Their footsteps echoed ominously as they ventured deeper.
"This place gives me the creeps," Akio muttered, gripping his blade tightly.
Ren smirked, trying to shake off the unease. "Good. It means we're in the right place."
Not long after they descended, they encountered their first enemies: a small group of translucent slimes, their bodies glowing faintly in the dark. The slimes were slow but evasive, dodging Akio's initial flame bullet and Ren's slashes with surprising agility.
"Damn it, these things are slippery," Akio grumbled, firing another flame bullet and managing to hit one of the slimes. The creature shrieked as it melted into a pool of goo.
Ren clenched his sword, frustrated by his inability to land a hit. As one of the slimes wobbled away, Ren spotted a small pebble on the ground. An idea sparked in his mind. He picked up the stone, charging it with lightning magic, and hurled it at the slime. The pebble shot through the air, crackling with energy, and pierced the slime with a sharp zap. The creature shuddered before collapsing into a puddle.
Ren grinned. "Looks like that works."
They continued through the dungeon, battling their way through slimes and small groups of goblins. The first floor was mostly straightforward, filled with weak enemies that allowed them to test their skills. However, as they descended to the second floor, things began to change. The air grew hotter, and the walls seemed to glisten with moisture, as if the stone itself was sweating.
"What's with the heat?" Akio asked, wiping his brow.
Ren didn't answer, but his hand instinctively tightened around his sword as they moved further into the dungeon. They reached a large open chamber filled with more slimes—only this time, they were different. The slimes on this floor glowed with a deep red hue, radiating heat. Fire slimes.
Akio raised an eyebrow. "This is new."
The fire slimes moved faster than the ones they'd fought before. One of them lunged at Ren, spitting a ball of flame in his direction. He dodged, barely avoiding the blast. Akio retaliated with a flame bullet, but the fire slime absorbed the magic, growing larger.
"Okay, that's not going to work," Akio muttered, frustrated. He switched tactics, summoning his hand blade and slashing through one of the slimes. This time, the attack worked, and the creature exploded in a burst of flames, sending droplets of molten slime flying through the air.
Ren cursed as one of the droplets sizzled on his arm. "Careful! These things explode when they die."
They carefully picked their way through the fire slimes, using non-magical attacks to finish them off. But just as they began to feel like they had a handle on things, they reached the third floor—and the situation took a turn for the worse.
The air grew even thicker, almost oppressive, and the walls of the dungeon seemed to close in around them. The torches flickered erratically, casting eerie shadows that danced along the stone. The slimes here weren't just fire slimes—they were larger, more dangerous, and some of them pulsed with a strange energy.
Ren and Akio cautiously made their way deeper into the floor, their senses on high alert. Suddenly, a loud hiss echoed through the chamber. From the shadows, a slime with a glowing core appeared. It expanded and contracted rapidly, its body shaking violently.
"Ren!" Akio shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "That thing's going to explode!"
Without hesitation, Ren grabbed Akio's arm and pulled him back as the explosive slime launched itself toward them. The creature detonated with a deafening blast, sending shockwaves through the chamber. Ren and Akio barely managed to avoid the explosion, diving behind a rock for cover as shards of the creature's molten body splattered across the dungeon floor.
Panting, Ren peeked out from behind the rock. "What the hell was that?"
Akio shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow. "I don't know, but this dungeon is way more dangerous than we thought."
They shared a glance, knowing they couldn't afford to push any further without risking their lives. With a nod of understanding, they decided to retreat, heading back toward the entrance with a newfound respect for the dangers that lurked within the dungeon's depths.
As they made their way out, Ren couldn't shake the feeling that they had barely scratched the surface of what the dungeon had to offer. The creatures they'd faced were only the beginning, and he knew that if they wanted to survive, they'd need to grow stronger—much stronger.
"Next time," Ren muttered under his breath, clenching his fist. "We'll be ready."
Akio nodded in agreement, his eyes set with determination. The dungeon had tested them, but it had also given them a glimpse of the challenges they would face in the future. And as they left the cave, they both knew that their journey was only just beginning.