Tommy had seen it all before. The Parasite Dungeon, that dark, damp cavern of shifting spores and grotesque mushroom creatures, had become second nature to him. He'd run it countless times—over and over again—each time honing his understanding of the creatures that inhabited it. He knew exactly how the Parasites moved, how they attacked, and the tricky little patterns they followed. He knew where they would pop up, when they'd swarm, and what the best strategies were to avoid getting overwhelmed. If there was one thing Tommy had mastered, it was this dungeon.
Now, as a guide, he was prepared to pass on that knowledge.
Today, he was leading a new team into the dungeon. A group of fresh adventurers, each bright-eyed and nervous, had gathered in the Adventurer's Marketplace earlier that morning. They were all new to this world of dungeons and monsters, their faces full of excitement but also fear. This was their first real raid, and it would be Tommy's job to make sure they survived it.
Tommy greeted them all at the entrance to the Parasite Dungeon, his face calm, his posture relaxed. They were all watching him, unsure what to expect from the mysterious "Glitch," the adventurer who had been guiding newbies for the past few weeks.
"Alright, listen up," Tommy said, raising his hand to quiet them. "This is a beginner's dungeon, so it won't be too hard, but that doesn't mean you can slack off. I've done this dungeon more times than I can count, so if you follow my lead, you'll make it out alive. If you don't, well…" He let the sentence hang for a moment, his voice low but firm. "You won't last long."
"Says the systemless adventurer" A young lad with red hair muttered under his breath.
He didn't say it to scare them. He was just being realistic. The dungeon was no joke, and even though it was classified as "beginner," there were still dangers lurking at every turn.
Tommy glanced over at each of the adventurers in his team: two women, a man, and a young guy who was already cracking his knuckles and showing off a bit of his newly awakened strength. The youngest of them was Clinton Everscorch, a brash, arrogant-looking adventurer with fiery red hair and an aura of confidence. Tommy could tell right away that Clinton wasn't like the others. He had the look of someone who thought he was better than everyone else, someone who had no time for caution or patience.
But that didn't matter. Tommy would deal with Clinton, just like he always did with unruly rookies. His main job was to make sure they all made it out alive, and that meant teaching them how to fight the Parasites effectively.
"Alright," Tommy continued, his tone now focused, "we're going to stick together. Parasites are tricky—they're fast, they swarm, and they're aggressive. The moment we step in there, you'll start seeing them pop up, but they won't be the main problem until we reach the heart of the dungeon. That's when we need to be on our toes. When we move, we move as a team. No one runs off, got it?"
The group nodded, some of them looking more nervous than others, but Tommy could tell they were all ready to give it a shot.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward, leading them through the dungeon portal. The familiar swirl of energy enveloped them, and as they emerged on the other side, they were greeted by the dark, humid air of the Parasite Dungeon. The ground beneath their feet was slick with moisture, and the walls were covered in the pulsating mushrooms that gave the place its name.
"Stay close," Tommy ordered, his voice sharp. "Watch your step. Don't touch the mushrooms—they're poisonous if you break them. And remember: Parasites can appear anywhere, at any time."
Tommy took point, moving with practiced ease through the twisting passages. As expected, the first few Parasites appeared after only a few minutes, emerging from cracks in the walls and scuttling across the floor like oversized, walking fungi. The group tensed, but Tommy waved them forward.
"Focus on the ones that charge at us. Don't waste energy on the ones that hang back. We're not here for a slaughter. Just stay defensive, and we'll get through this."
The adventurers followed his lead, but Tommy could see the uncertainty in their eyes. The fight was basic—quick stabs and slashes, keeping the Parasites at bay without overextending. But Tommy's leadership was already making a difference. He called out instructions, directing the group's movements and making sure no one got surrounded.
The Parasites seemed to know they were being hunted. They swarmed from every direction, but Tommy had long since learned the rhythm of their attacks. Every time a new wave came, Tommy anticipated where they would strike first. With each new wave, Tommy felt more confident, more sure of himself. He was doing this, guiding them through it, like he had done countless times before.
At one point, Clinton stepped forward with a fireball crackling in his palm. "Watch this," he sneered, aiming it at a Parasite charging toward the group. The fireball exploded on contact, sending a burst of flame through the creature and incinerating it instantly.
"Nice," Tommy said, though the praise was subdued. "But don't get too cocky. Fire's useful, but it can burn the rest of us if you're not careful."
Clinton shrugged, clearly not listening. "I know what I'm doing, Glitch" he muttered under his breath, not looking Tommy's way.
Tommy didn't have time to argue. There were more Parasites to deal with.
As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the number of monsters increased, but so did their coordination. Tommy was impressed by how well the group was holding together. Even Clinton—despite his arrogance—was starting to work in sync with the others, casting fireballs and using his magic to take down Parasites from a distance.
By the time they reached the end of the dungeon, Tommy was breathing heavily but satisfied. The group had fought their way through dozens of Parasites, and they were still intact.
"Nice work guys. You all did well for your first raid"
They had reached the cavern that marked the dungeon's final stretch, where they expected the usual quiet conclusion. Tommy was already preparing his speech about finishing up the raid and heading home when something unexpected happened.
The ground began to tremble. A low, rumbling sound echoed through the cavern, and suddenly, the mushrooms on the walls began to glow. Tommy's eyes widened as the sound grew louder, and the walls shifted, revealing a massive creature—larger than any Parasite they had encountered before—emerging from the shadows. It was a mutated version of the Parasites, its body a pulsating mass of fungi and sinew, its many eyes glowing with an eerie, unnatural light.
Tommy froze.
This wasn't supposed to happen. There was never a boss in a beginner's dungeon. No one had ever reported a boss before. This was something new—something dangerous.
"What the hell is that?" one of the adventurers gasped.
"A boss," Tommy said, his voice tight with disbelief. "But… that's not supposed to be here."
He took a step forward, trying to regain control of the situation. "Everyone, focus! Don't panic! We need to take it down together, hit its weak points and—"
Before he could finish, Clinton stepped forward. His eyes narrowed as he raised his hand, gathering a fiery sphere of magic into his palm.
"I've got this," he sneered, already casting a fireball the size of a boulder.
Tommy's eyes widened. "Wait! No—don't—"
But it was too late. Clinton hurled the fireball directly at the mutated Parasite, and with a roar, it collided with the creature's mass, sending up a burst of flame and smoke.
The Parasite shrieked in agony, and within moments, it crumpled to the ground, defeated in a single attack. The group stood in stunned silence as the mutated Parasite vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving behind only a pile of glowing cores.
Clinton's chest swelled with pride as he lowered his hand, the remnants of his magic crackling at his fingertips.
"See? Told you I could handle it," he said, a smirk spreading across his face.
The other adventurers gawked at him, their eyes filled with awe. "That was amazing!" one of them exclaimed.
Tommy stood in the background, watching. He had led them through the dungeon, guided them, kept them safe… but it was Clinton who had stolen the spotlight with his flashy display of magic. The others crowded around Clinton, praising his strength and his talent, all but forgetting Tommy's role in the raid.
What could he say? Power always overshadowed knowledge.
Tommy didn't let it show, but deep down, a part of him felt a twinge of frustration. He had been the one to teach them, the one who had kept them alive through every twist and turn. But in the end, it was Clinton's raw power that had earned the admiration of the group.
As they made their way back to the Marketplace, Tommy was quiet, his mind swirling. He had led them well, and they'd made it through. But it seemed the world cared more about the flash of magic than the strength of experience.
What could he do? In the end, he was just the guide—the one behind the scenes.