Joseph had one rule going into this dungeon.
"Nobody gets separated."
Because if there was one thing every dungeon-crawling story, game, or experience had taught him, it was that splitting up was the fastest way to die.
And as their self-declared strategist, he was not about to let that happen.
The trio had arrived at the dungeon entrance earlier in the day—a set of ancient ruins half-buried in the earth, with weathered stone pillars and a gaping stairway leading into the darkness below.
The entrance was surrounded by overgrown vines and eerie carvings, worn away by time.
Lily shivered. "It looks… spooky."
Kara grinned. "Looks awesome."
Joseph rolled his eyes. "Looks like something that wants to kill us."
They hadn't gone inside yet—Joseph refused to rush in blind. Instead, they spent the afternoon scouting the area, checking for signs of other adventurers, monster activity, and any weird magical traps.
The result?
No traps outside (which was a relief). No signs of other adventurers (meaning first dibs on loot!). The ruins had an unnatural chill to them, like the air itself was stale.
Joseph didn't like it.
But if there weren't any immediate red flags, it meant they had a decent chance.
After gathering around a makeshift campfire near the ruins, Joseph laid out the plan.
"We stay together. At all times. No running ahead, no wandering off."
Kara smirked. "You act like I have bad survival instincts."
Joseph stared at her. Hard.
"…Fine," she sighed. "I won't do anything too reckless."
Joseph continued. "Lily, you stay between us at all times. We need you alive if things go south."
Lily nodded eagerly. "Got it, Boss!"
"We also track our path to make sure we can find the exit easily." Joseph pulled out a piece of chalk. "We'll mark the walls as we go. No getting lost."
Kara snorted. "You really overthink everything."
Joseph narrowed his eyes. "You ever hear stories about dungeons eating adventurers alive?"
Kara paused. "…Point taken."
Joseph leaned forward. "This isn't like rat hunting or herb gathering. Dungeons are serious. We go in prepared, we come out rich. We go in stupid, we don't come out at all."
The firelight flickered between them as his words sank in.
Step 3: The Campfire Meal
With the plan settled, they turned their attention to food.
Joseph had splurged a little at the market earlier, buying some actual ingredients for once.
Their meal?
Simple roasted meat (actual flavor!) Bread that wasn't stale. A bit of dried fruit (because Lily insisted on "balanced meals")
As they ate, the atmosphere lightened.
Kara leaned back, hands behind her head. "So, Boss, think we'll find some legendary treasure in there?"
Joseph scoffed. "I'd settle for something worth money."
Lily giggled. "Maybe you'll find a sword that's not secondhand!"
Joseph rolled his eyes. "Maybe. But let's try to survive first, yeah?"
As the fire crackled and the stars twinkled overhead, the three adventurers sat together, sharing food, jokes, and the unspoken anticipation of what lay ahead.
Tomorrow, they would enter the dungeon.
The next morning, Joseph, Kara, and Lily stood at the entrance of the dungeon, staring down into the dark abyss before them.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Joseph took a deep breath. "Alright. We stick to the plan. We move carefully, stay together, and—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Kara interrupted, grinning. "Let's go already!"
Joseph gave her a hard glare. "This is exactly how people die in horror movies."
The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped. The air was heavy, stale, like it hadn't been disturbed in years.
The stone walls were covered in ancient carvings, some too worn to read, others depicting figures holding weapons, facing creatures with glowing eyes.
The tunnel led to a wide chamber, dimly lit by glowing blue crystals embedded in the walls.
Lily shivered. "It's so quiet…"
Joseph nodded. "Yeah. And I don't like it."
For the first hour, everything went surprisingly well.
They fought a few slimes, which were annoying yet easy enough—even Joseph managed to take them down with his short sword.
Lily's healing magic came in handy, even if it was just minor scrapes and bruises.
They even found some loot—a couple of silver coins and a rusty dagger that Kara called "pure garbage" but Joseph still shoved in his bag.
For once, things were going their way.
Joseph should have known better.
At the far end of the chamber, a lone wooden chest sat near the wall.
Joseph immediately got suspicious.
A single treasure chest, placed way too conveniently in an ancient dungeon?
Yeah, no. That was suspicious as hell.
"Kara, don't even think about touching that."
Too late.
Before Joseph could stop her, Kara stomped right up to the chest, grinning like an idiot.
"Finally! Real loot!" she said, reaching for the lid.
Joseph's soul left his body.
"KARA, NO!"
The moment Kara touched the chest, it shuddered violently.
And then—
The chest sprouted tentacle-like tendrils, a massive mouth full of sharp teeth, and latched onto her arm.
Kara's eyes went wide. "Oh."
Then—"OH GODS, IT'S BITING ME!"
Joseph stared, utterly dumbfounded.
"She—she actually fell for it."
Lily screamed. "IT'S A MIMIC!"
Joseph's brain short-circuited. He had told her not to touch it. He literally just said it.
And yet—here they were.
Kara, mid-wrestling a very aggressive chest-monster, trying to punch it in its toothy face while it held onto her like a hungry leech.
Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This reckless bitch," he muttered to himself. "Unbelievable."
Kara kept struggling, yelling, "SOMEONE HELP ME!"
Joseph drew his sword. "Oh, now you want my help?!"
Lily panicked. "Boss, do something!"
Joseph facepalmed in frustration. "Alright, fine. Hold still, Kara."
"IT'S LITERALLY EATING ME; I CAN'T HOLD STILL!"
Joseph ignored her complaints and swung his sword, slashing at the mimic's side.
The creature screeched, loosening its grip just enough for Kara to yank herself free.
She stumbled back, gasping. "GAH! GROSS! I THINK IT LICKED ME!"
Joseph was too busy fighting for his life to process that.
The mimic lunged at him next, its tendrils whipping out. Joseph dodged to the side, barely avoiding getting grabbed.
"Kara, want to actually punch something useful now?!" he shouted.
Kara grinned brightly. "Oh, I've been waiting for this."
She dashed forward and delivered a devastating right hook straight to the mimic's "face."
Crunch.
The mimic shuddered, let out a final screech, and collapsed.
Joseph stood there, panting.
Then he turned to Kara.
"…What the hell was that?!"
Kara grinned sheepishly. "Okay, so maybe I should've checked first."
Joseph rubbed his temples. "You think?!"
Lily sighed in relief. "At least we're okay…"
Joseph stared at Kara.
Then at the dead mimic.
Then back at Kara.
"Do not touch any more chests. I mean it."
Kara crossed her arms. "Now you're just being paranoid."
Joseph glared. "DO. NOT. TOUCH. THE. CHESTS."
Kara exhaled and pouted. "Fine, fine."
Joseph let out a long sigh. This dungeon was going to kill him.
And not because of the monsters.
Because of his own damn teammates.