The group of adventurers passed through the arched stone doorway, with me tucked away in Herold's bag. The passage opened into a tunnel that spiraled downwards, leading to a staircase that vanished into the gloom. Ryder put away his sword and drew his halberd and Max switched out his long two-headed axe for a shorter one. It was just the right size to navigate the dim stairway, yet long enough to strike at any lurking monster that might attempt to ascend. "Before we head down, Herald I want you to set up a life security teleport on everyone, to send them here if their health bar goes down to twenty percent."
"Twenty percent, can't we make it five percent or something?" said Max.
"I'm not taking any chances, what if one of us has a status ailment and they're forced to treat themselves before the rest of us can get to them?"
"I agree with Ryder, we're just checking out the dungeon for now anyway. We can come back later if we need to."
"Everyone hold perfectly still so that I can link your items to your body, so you won't lose anything if you are teleported to the entrance.
[Attention! Your life signature has been linked to a portal to the dungeon entrance at twenty percent and your items have been liked to your body by the mage, Herald.]
As the torches illuminated the walls, Ryder forged ahead, followed closely by Max, Misty, Herald, and Valen. I was grateful to be further back in the line, allowing me the chance to quietly slip away if necessary.
"Hey Misty, it's time to bulk up and get strong," Max said.
"I'd really appreciate it if we could avoid discussing my ability to buff myself. It's not something I'm comfortable talking about, and I'd rather save my mana for when it's truly necessary," said Misty.
As the adventurer party moved forward, their footsteps echoed ominously in the flickering torchlight, casting shadows that made it feel as though they were entering the gaping maw of a massive beast.
"We must strive to minimize our clamor, as I seek to catch the faintest sound of the enemy," Ryder whispered.
They soon heard the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs, and glowing yellow eyes peeked around the corner. The torchlight cast an eerie glow on those eyes, highlighting a mouth filled with sharp, menacing teeth. Ryder thrust his weapon at the creature, but it was swifter than he had anticipated, dodging his attack and sprinting toward the others with a loud hiss. Max swung his short axe at the creature as it ran toward him, and it was only after he defeated it that they realized what had been lurking in the shadows. It was a small dark green goblin dressed in ragged brown cloth, with piercing yellow eyes, long, jagged teeth, and sharp claws. A greenish-yellow foam dripped from its mouth, and its expression was hauntingly vacant.
"Though I am not acquainted with this specific goblin breed, it is apparent that they exude a status condition from the liquid seeping from this creature's mouth, and they are quite swift. Do you have in your possession a means to counteract such ailments, in the event that one of us becomes afflicted?" said Ryder.
I looked at the monster that had run up the stairs and a shiver went up my spine. Did all the monsters in this world have to be so hideous?
[Ding! A New Goal has emerged for you, future Dark Lord! Your initiation involves obliterating all ten levels of the Tyro Dungeon. After that, you can lounge around as the supreme dungeon master, delighting in the chaos of thwarting those bothersome heroes. How thrillingly mundane!]
What if I don't want to beat this dungeon?
[Defeating all ten levels of the Tyro Dungeon and becoming the new dungeon boss has been chosen as your first step toward becoming the Dark Lord, compliance is required.]
What if I don't feel like complying?
[Ah, the sweet taste of reality! You'll be downgraded to a standard bat, courtesy of the Dark Lord system. Kiss your humanity, smarts, and memories goodbye. Welcome to your new bat existence, which should last a thrilling two decades—unless, of course, you get gobbled up by something with sharper teeth. How delightful!]
So follow the goals that lead to becoming a Dark Lord or turn into a real bat?
[Spot on! But fear not, at the grand finale, you'll have the thrilling option to either reign as the Dark Lord or shuffle back to your snooze-fest of a life. What a nail-biter!]
Are all the goals mandatory or only the ones leading to the Dark Lord?
[The only objectives that count are the ones that will crown you as the Dark Lord. Everything else is merely a whimsical suggestion for your midlife crisis or my amusement.]
Sweet, I've got a system in place, but the dude behind it is a real piece of work. It seems I'm destined to become a Dark Lord—whatever that involves! But come on, how is a bat supposed to tackle ten levels of a dungeon, claim the title of dungeon boss, and then face off against a horde of heroes?
The first order of business is to scout out a solid spot to lay low and level up while the adventurers are busy fighting hoards.
The tunnel just seemed to go down deeper and deeper, while the air became colder and the adventurers became more uneasy.
They found themselves in a room where the walls swelled and curved, crafted from enormous stone bricks and adorned with arched doorways. Crystals emerged from the stones, casting a spectral glow in shades of dull green and eerie blue. Vines crept from the walls, saturating the air with the scent of damp moss and the decay of fallen leaves. Their footsteps echoed in a haunting symphony, reverberating against the rounded surfaces. The chamber was a mere fifteen feet wide, its shadows deepened by torches that flickered like the last breaths of the forgotten.
Ryder snatched a torch from the wall, its flickering flame casting a dim, orange glow. The moment the light touched the creeping vines, they recoiled as if stung, revealing their true nature—more serpentine than botanical. "Beware the night-creeper vines! Everyone, take a torch; these creatures feast on flesh but cower before the flames," Herald warned, his staff igniting with a pale yellow radiance that pushed back the shadows. The room unfolded before them, revealing a corridor that led to an arched chamber beyond. Two doorways flanked the sides, each sealed by rusted metal grates. In the center lay a vast, empty firepit, a remnant of warmth long extinguished. They approached the grates, peering into the first room, where a few crates and barrels lay in disarray. The second room held a bubbling pool of water, its surface shimmering under the stone rim, flowing into a narrow, hidden passage. They moved toward the far door, glancing through the crack at its base, revealing a sprawling chamber filled with crumbling archways and staircases leading into the depths of a forgotten civilization. Glowing mushrooms dotted the ground, while more vines clung to the walls, and crystals jutted from the bricks, casting an eerie luminescence.
"The next chamber appears to be the principal room of this first level; we shall make our encampment here for the night. Herald, please raise a barrier to safeguard us, and we shall take turns keeping watch. I shall go and inspect the pool of water, which seems to be intended for bathing. Once I have completed my examination, we ought to establish our camp and begin preparing our sustenance. However, our immediate priority, after erecting the barrier, is to light a fire to fend off the vines and provide us with warmth," said Ryder.
The group shuffled back to the ancient firepit, their shadows dancing ominously as they gathered the dry wood Max had stashed within his space ring. With the flickering torches in hand, they set to work igniting the wood. Yet, from the darkened walls, the vines slithered closer, emitting unsettling creaks that echoed like ghostly whispers, only to recoil in terror from the encroaching light. The firepit's stone ring loomed five feet thick. One of the outer bricks bore a crack, a dark hole, but the ring remained steadfast, cloaked in an unsettling stillness and the ashes from long cold fires.
"These plants are truly unsettling," Valen whispered, her torchlight dancing across the twisted forms, offering Herald a clearer view as he chanted his spell. "I can't help but wonder what would happen if one of those vines catches us."
"Should the night-creeper vine catch you, it will ensnare you in its sinister grasp, sharp thorns piercing your skin as it constricts tighter. The air will grow heavy, suffocating you as the thorns dig deeper, injecting a numbing agent that leaves you motionless. As your blood spills forth, the vine will drink deeply, transforming your essence into magnificent white flowers, their iridescent petals shimmering with an otherworldly glow. These flowers, each a monstrous three feet wide, will unleash a cloud of spores, while your lifeless body is pulled beneath the soil, serving as a grotesque fertilizer for the new vines that will rise from your remains," said Herald as he sketched an incantation upon the ground, he wielded a hefty piece of chalk infused with dried herbs.
"Oh, how utterly reassuring," Valen said.
"It was meant to be informative, not comforting," said Herald.
"Valen, refrain from distracting Herald; we require his focus to complete the incantation. Join Max in examining those crates and barrels, and do not neglect to bring torches along," said Ryder.
"Ugh, as if I could forget the torches after what Herald just told me! That's just not happening," Valen huffed, crossing her arms.
"Consequently, it had the impact I aimed for; I might have just averted a tragedy for you," Herald said.
"I'm going to have nightmares for a month," said Valen while grabbing hold of Max's arm with one hand and a torch with the other, she walked toward the other room with the grate.
As everyone began to scatter in different directions, I found my way into a crack in the stone surrounding the fire pit. My original plan was to soar up to the ceiling and tuck myself away in a shadowy corner, but those vicious vines put a stop to that idea. I spotted a crack in the outer brick, and just beneath it, a hidden brick was missing. Thankfully, the flickering fire nearby kept the area warm, so I didn't have to worry about the cold or those creeping vines trying to make a meal out of me. The space created by the missing brick was just right for me to settle in comfortably, and the narrow crack was small enough to keep me hidden from prying eyes. For the first time since I arrived in this world, I felt a sense of safety, and I knew this was the perfect moment to evolve before the adventurer party dismantled their protective barrier and extinguished the fire.
I'm ready to evolve.
[Well, well, look who took their sweet time! Your body is about to hit the snooze button while you figure out your evolutionary future. That charming fang of yours? It's getting a toxic twist. Just a friendly reminder: you'll be out for six hours, and waking up prematurely could spell disaster for your evolution. So, do yourself a favor and find a nice, safe spot to hibernate and spare me the whining if your grand evolution ends up being a spectacular train wreck.]
Coming Next Time: A.B.N.O.R.M.A.L.C.Y
Is it time to go home yet? I don't want to evolve into a grotesque monster!