Core of Knowledge

Then, the remaining monsters turned towards Crytalis and screeched at the [Hunter]. It was a sound full of rage and pain. Then, the monsters charged.

[Taunting Shout].

Bran immediately activated his Skill, and the monsters turned in mid-charge to converge on him. The [Shield Warrior] swung his shield at the first monster that reached him and knocked it down near Saverio before swinging his axe at another monster which had leapt at him. The swing split the monster in two in mid-flight.

Saverio jumped at the monster Bran knocked down to finish it off while Crytalis fired off a series of arrows at the charging monsters. Two more monsters were dropped by the [Hunter]. However, the monsters were released from the taunting skill due to their attacks, and several of the monsters had turned away from Bran. One of the monsters leapt at Crytalis.

Lukalla stepped in front of the [Hunter] and knocked the monster with her staff. In one smooth move, the [Wizard] pointed her staff downwards at the monster and released a stream of fire. It cried pitifully as it died. The Forevers ignored the cries, adventurers could not show mercy to monsters, and went on the attack.

The Forevers were a party that had worked together for years, and their experience told. Each member of the party covered each other, and no one faced a monster without someone as backup. It was too much for the monster. Within moments, the fight was over, and all the monsters lay dead on the ground.

The monsters never had a chance.

The Forevers took a breath, got back into formation, and waited for the second wave of monsters. After minutes of waiting, Bran raised a fist and the party finally relaxed. They were puzzled, and surprised that the fight was over.

“Well, that’s new. Another thing not in the report.” Saverio grumbled as he kicked at one of the dead monsters.

“Oh! You have objections? Was that too easy for you? Do you prefer to fight a Boss creature?” Bran sneered.

“Must be the puzzle.” Lukalla said, before the two could get into their usual back and forth.

Crytalis thought for a moment, before giving her a nod. “Make sense. The Boss came out because no member of the exploration team completed a puzzle. We completed one, so we got these monsters instead.”

“An easier fight if you complete a puzzle, the Guild will want to hear of this.” Bran said before adding a question. “Doesn’t that mean adventurers must fight no matter what? That doesn’t sound like a Trick Dungeon.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Lukalla agreed. “There must be some mechanics to the floor. Some sort of tier system? Maybe there won’t be a fight if everyone in the party completes their puzzle?”

“Not that it matters. These monsters are easy. Most adventurer parties would be able to beat them without too many problems.” Saverio said.

“It matters if we want the treasure.” Lukalla said with a sigh. “If the dungeon core requires all members to complete their puzzle, that means we only partially completed the room. Which means…?”

“The scroll.” Bran groaned.

Everyone groaned. Everyone agreed with Lukalla’a assessment, and it was not good news. All the adventurers heard of the Skill Scroll given by the dungeon, and everyone wanted one. It would be a huge problem for the adventurers if the requirement was total completion of the puzzles. Very few adventuring parties would be able to do that. A rumbling sound prevented the party from discussing the matter further. Crytalis turned to see a boulder moving sideways, revealing a narrow passage.

At least that was in the report.

The Forevers waited for the boulder to stop moving before going down the passage. Lukalla raised her staff and the tip of it glowed as the boulder slide back into place behind them. The Forevers went down the winding passage and saw the chest after a short walk.

“A three-gold bet that the dungeon will call us ‘losers’ for failing to complete all the puzzles.” Saverio asked in a light tone.

“I’ll take that bet. We did complete one of them, so that should mean something.” Bran immediately accepted.

“Aren’t you the one who called our [Wizard] an idiot for failing to follow the plan?”

“She is an idiot. Don’t give me that look, elf, you are! You should had followed the plan.” Bran admonished Lukalla before turning back the [Thief]. “But she did complete the puzzle, so it is not a total failure on our part. That stupid banner probably would not appear.”

Crytalis smiled at that. The Guild reported that the dungeon core was so disappointed with the exploration team’s failure to complete the puzzles that it gave the team a small figure holding a ‘Loser’ banner. An ironic consolation prize that delighted the adventurers and the figure now had a place of honour at the Viaggia Adventurer Guild.

Every adventurer loves a dungeon core with a sense of humour.

“So, you are willing to take my bet even though you think she is an idiot for completing the puzzle?” Saverio asked incredulously.

“She is an idiot for not following the plan, not for completing the puzzle. Besides, that is that, and gold is gold. Are we having a bet or not?” Bran huffed.

“Fine. Get my gold ready, dwarf.”

Without giving Bran the chance of a comeback, Saverio approached the chest. The [Thief] carefully looked at it before deciding that it did not hold any traps. He flipped the chest open, and nothing popped out.

No figure, no banner, nothing!

Saverio cursed, Bran hollered and demanded his gold as Crytalis approached the chest. He looked in, and his eyes widened when he saw the treasure. He reached down and picked it up. It was a thin book, well-made with the strangest title for a book he had ever read.

“A book? We got a book? Well, books are expensive so it’s not a total loss. What’s the title?” Bran asked with a tone that showed some of his disappointment.

Crytalis turned the cover of the book towards his party and told them.

“[Storyteller]: Come Into My World.”