"It's the first time I'm seeing you guys," Abe said, his gaze moving between the group of strangers.
Alice chuckled softly, her playful smile catching Abe off guard. "Oh, that's because we hardly ever come to Stargaze City to explore these bridges."
"Wait," Abe's brow furrowed. "There are more cities other than Stargaze?"
Alice tilted her head, clearly amused. "Of course there are. You didn't know?"
"I thought Stargaze was the last city with people," Abe replied, his tone laced with disbelief.
Alice shook her head with a laugh. "Nope, not even close. There are twelve cities in total, and, well... Stargaze is the worst one."
Abe blinked in surprise. "The worst? Seriously?"
"Yup," Alice said confidently.
"So, what city are you from?" Abe asked, glancing between the group again.
"I'm from Oracle," Alice answered, gesturing to the others. "And so are these three. Oh, and Sarah's my younger sister, by the way."
Abe studied the two of them closely and nodded. "That makes sense. I was wondering why you both look so much alike."
Before Alice could respond, John, who had been scanning the area, called out. "Hey, there's a door up ahead!"
He hurried forward, his excitement evident as he reached the large, ornate door at the end of the corridor. Abe and the others followed behind him quickly.
The door creaked open, revealing a brightly lit, expansive area beyond.
A booming voice echoed through the space. "Welcome to the tenth floor."
"Tenth? But we were just on the first floor!" Abe exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.
John smirked knowingly. "Like I said, the dungeon shifts. It's never straightforward here."
Alice stepped forward, her playful tone gone. "Stay focused, you guys. Dungeons can turn deadly when you least expect it."
The tenth floor was stunning, almost surreal. Vibrant greenery covered the landscape, with shimmering streams weaving between patches of luminous flowers that glowed faintly. Towering trees stretched high above, their leaves glittering like crystal in the soft light. The air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers.
"This is... beautiful," Abe murmured in awe.
Alice narrowed her eyes. "Beautiful, but dangerous. This floor is home to human-eating plants and giant wolves. Don't let your guard down."
Abe gulped, gripping his sword tighter. "Great. Just great."
John, already ahead, scanned the surroundings carefully. "Stick together. We need to find the next door and get off this floor as soon as possible."
A low growl rumbled in the distance, making Abe's blood run cold. His grip tightened around his weapon.
"Well," Abe muttered nervously, "here we go again."
End of Chapter 5