Centuries ago, a great chasm tore through the land, a scar etched into the landscape that mirrored the destruction humanity had faced. But amidst the rubble, a seed of hope took root. Slowly, painstakingly, a new civilization arose within the very karst that once bore witness to the destruction, becoming a vibrant passage to a world unseen.
Outside the Association building, Acharya was waiting for Ale in the rookie outfit provided by the Association.
"Are you ready?"
"I had to wait an hour for you."
"pfft! Stop lying. Anyways, I had to go pick up medicine balls and an aid kit for us."
"I almost forgot about it. Thanks for having my back, bro."
"So, what's the plan?"
"These local buses can take us to the end of the Karst opening, then we have to walk downhill for 4 hours to reach the dungeon opening."
" So we have to find somewhere to spend the night."
"With our budget, I am not sure, maybe we can sleep in the open, it should be safe inside the town."
"If you are ready, let's head out..."
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Venturing deep into the Karst, they finally reached the dungeon entrance. The air vibrated with the presence of others gathered around a monstrous portal – not of stone or metal, but a shimmering expanse that hung on the sunken cave wall like a painted tapestry. As they stepped through, a strange, viscous sensation enveloped them, akin to pushing through a mass of thick gelatinous substance. Then, with a sudden shift, their bodies fully transitioned, greeted by the crisp touch of afternoon air, the undeniable sign that they were now within the dungeon's grasp.
"What? I expected better... this looks like a common human settlement."
"Well, we have to descend deeper if you want to see something different."
"Oh, right, floors 1-3 are 95% humans."
"Good thing at our level, we can explore till the fifth floor."
"Ale, let's check out the town square."
.
.
.
"Oi Ale, these people got cool-looking equipment for someone on the first floor."
"Yeah, they probably got sponsored."
"Benefits of having family members in positions or renowned guilds."
"Ah, what are your plans about joining a guild?"
"I don't know, maybe we can explore and see if we find something worthwhile."
They strolled through the town square, a vibrant heart bustling with activity. Fancy shops lined the perimeter, their windows a dazzling display of goods, equipment, and magical items catering to every conceivable need. As the light began to fade, casting long shadows, they found a quiet corner in a nearby park to share the food they'd brought. Later, guided by the fading light, they found a secluded spot at the park's edge and fell asleep under the deepening night sky.
Life in the dungeon stands in stark contrast to the relative peace of Earth. Here, the threat is ever-present. Unlike the surface, where adventurers patrol and regular culling ensures relative safety from creatures that might emerge from infrequent rifts or heavily guarded portals, life in a dungeon is a constant struggle for survival.
Ale's eyes snap open. A faint rustling sound, like a creature in the dark, had disturbed his sleep. He reacts instinctively, a dagger flying from his hand in the direction of the sound. "Acharya!" he hissed.
Acharya startles awake, his eyes widen at the sight: a thug, his hand gripping Ale's stolen bag, a short sword held defensively. The glint of steel against the faint moonlight caught the dagger mid-air, deflecting it with a clang. The dagger clatters to the ground, but Acharya is already in motion, rolling towards his bow, his fingers finding the familiar wood. He draws, aims, and releases the arrow, screaming through the night air.
The thug twists, dodging with a hair's breadth. The arrow grazes his shirt, the small rip a stark contrast against the dark fabric. As Acharya's shot echoes, Ale surges forward, his hand moving in a complex gesture. An almost invisible wire, as thin as a spider's silk but strong as steel, snaps taut between his hand and the fallen dagger. The dagger leaps into his grasp. The thug, regaining his balance, swings his short sword in a wide arc.
But Ale is faster, sliding between the thug's legs, the dagger a blur in his hand. He hurls it towards the thug's face as he performs a spinning sweep at the thug's legs from behind him. As the thug struggles to avoid the dagger, another arrow from Acharya's bow whizzes through the air, striking the thug's short sword. The weapon flies from his grasp with a dull clang.
Ale jumps and snatches the dagger from the air after the thug dodges and falls from the sweep. With practiced precision, he moves in a tight circle, the wire securing the downed thug, leaving him tangled and helpless. As the thug looks up, his eyes widen. Acharya stands over him, the arrow notched, the bowstring drawn taut, aiming directly at his head.
They efficiently secured the thug, their actions drawing the attention of a town guard. The guard, in turn, wasted no time scolding them, delivering a stern lecture on the perils of the dungeon. "Human rule doesn't guarantee your safety here," he stressed, his voice stern. After he was done, he left, escorting the thug away.
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The forest, a contradictory realm of both clamor and hush, resonated with the dance between the hunter and the hunted. Our young adventurers moved with predatory grace, tracking their quarry. Ale surged forward, chasing a beast that resembled a muscular boar, its lion-like mane a striking reddish-gold. The boar tore through the undergrowth, crashing through bushes and weaving between trees, "coming your way." High in the branches, silhouetted against the dappled light, Acharya, suspended in the branches like a spider, drawing his bowstring taut, loosed his shot.
"OIIINKKKK!!!"
"Nice shot."
"Let's get it ready and load it up."
"Where did we leave the cart?"
"It was in that direction. Wait, I'll go bring it."
.
.
.
"ALE!!!"
As soon as he heard the sound, Ale rushed towards it, knowing it couldn't be a good sign.
"Freaking spawn of a swamp lizard, thugs again."
Last night's encounter, though challenging, offered the advantage of a 1v2 situation and the potential for town guard intervention. However, deep within the jungle, the stakes have escalated. They are now truly isolated, their survival depending solely on their untested abilities.
Thug 1: "Why don't you leave the loot for us and leave?"
Thug 2: "What do you say, kiddo?"
Acharya walked directly into a trap. The five thugs had been lying in wait, patiently anticipating his return and the moment he'd let down his guard.
"Let them have it, we can always hunt again."
A wave of frustration washes over Acharya, his jaw tightening at the sight of the thugs claiming their hard-earned spoils, but he knew any resistance would be futile. They back away slowly, the thugs staying on high alert, their gaze following their every move.
"Ale, we can't let them have it."
Ale whispers, "I know, we need to wait for the right moment. I just wanted to gain some distance so we could reposition and strike."
"If you are ready, let's do this."
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As they were about to reach the location where they last saw their cart.
"Did you hear that, climb up the tree and stay put?"
A big shadow rushed through the tree, WOOOOoosssh! WOOOOooSH! WOOooSSH!
CRACK!!! *sound of a fallen branch breaking*
Thug 4: "Those kids don't know when to give up, huh?"
Meanwhile, other thugs were busy checking the loot and discussing how to allocate it.
WOOOOooosssh!
THUD!
A headless corpse falls to the ground with its head nowhere to be seen.
Thug 3: "What the hell is going on? On Guard!"
WOOSSshh! CLANK!
Through the trees, Ale and Acharya watched as the ambush unfolded. A thug barely managed to deflect the attack. A creature of nightmare: a five-foot-tall, wolf-like being with livid blue fur patterned with eerie white markings. Its teeth, large and gleaming like a sabertooth's fangs, ripped through the air as it lunged at the struggling thug.
"What should we do? It is probably lured by the smell of the quarry we've collected."
"We can't take it down. We can either help those thugs, beat that wolf, and kill them after, or the other way around."
"I think cleaning the thugs would be way easier than killing that livid dire wolf."
"Let that wolf injure them more before we help. Get ready to shoot."
The wolf's other paw lashed out, the thug stumbled, then went flying, slamming into a tree trunk with a sickening Thud. Two other thugs flank the beast; they lunge simultaneously, blades flashing, and manage to each slash its hind limb with a decent-sized cut. The wolf spins, a growl ripping from its throat, claws scrabbling for a hit, but they back up and dodge. As the creature regains its footing, a thug near the cart surges forward, thrusting his weapon towards its exposed flank. He lands the blow, but the wolf's powerful hind legs lash out, sending him soaring backward a few meters. The monster turns its attention to the thug on its right, who manages to block the attack. The thug on the left seizes the opening, slicing the wolf's left front leg. Seizing the opportunity, the right thug pivots, aiming for the beast's neck, managing a shallow but significant gash. The two thugs who had been thrown earlier rejoin the desperate brawl. The scene devolves into a chaotic exchange of blocks, claws, and slashes, a frantic dance of survival with no quarter given.
"Looks like we need to interfere. Cover me."
Ale leaps down from the tree, adrenaline coursing through him. The air crackles with the ozone tang of his skill; "Thunder Strike!" A blinding flash and a deafening crack of thunder rip through the air as he vanishes with a streak of light and reappears, blurring between the thugs. He spins with each strike, taking them down with clean, efficient movements. Before Ale can draw breath, the wolf pounces, teeth bared. "Piercing Gale!" A bolt of wind comes spinning and slams into the wolf, propelling the wolf backward with brutal force. Ale lunges and incapacitates the wolf's front left leg. Acharya's bow twangs, five arrows glide in rapid succession, and three strike the wolf in vital areas. The last two arrows find the final thug, dropping him with a heavy thud. A dark bloom spread across the ground where the thug fell, a macabre counterpoint to the fading light.
Cold sweat runs down their back, while their hands shake uncontrollably and their legs tremble. Heart pounding, their faces pale, they abruptly turn, a sudden need for air overwhelming them. As their stomachs tie themself in knots, seeking refuge from the sudden turmoil. They squeeze their eyes shut, trying to make the world disappear, but the panic remains, a relentless beast clawing its way up their throat. They let it out...
Breathing heavily, "I thought we would just do our quest and return".
"Grown adults stealing quarry from two kids, I guess this is what being in a dungeon is all about."
"Hopefully, we never have to do it again."
"You wish... Don't feel sorry, they deserved it; The wolf was going to kill them anyway. We just made their suffering easier."
"Justifying your action..."
"Shut up, you idiot."
Their stomachs settled, leaving a hollow ache. Straining, they hoisted the fresh kill onto the cart, the dead weight testing their tired muscles. The scent of blood and sweat lingered in the air as they secured their haul and turned towards the town. The flickering lamplight beckoned, a welcome sight after the harsh realities of the hunt. Their shoulders slumped, but they pushed onward, their eyes fixed on the distant lights of town, eager to find respite and prepare for whatever the morrow holds.