he way the dungeon looked reminded Frenley a lot of the tutorial dungeon. The cold and moldy air filled his lungs. The stone bricks that make the walls and floor are old and tattered. The torches are not on, and darkness consumes the hallways and rooms. But his sight is not impaired at all. Mia walked in the front, shield pressed tightly against her body and sword hanging low.
Frenley, on the other hand, was focusing more on his left hand than his right one. Feeling the weight of the tree effigy. The old knife marks that made up its details. The sweat and feelings of the crafter compress into the small shape that hangs from a hemp rope. Frenley peeks behind to see that Risa's brown eyes are looking at every shape and shadow. Her staff was a bit off to the side; her hands were tight around it. Her knuckles were turning white.
‘Hey Ailice. If they are a million dreamers, how come we haven't seen anyone since the expedition started?’
‘It is a bit complicated to explain… But the ins and outs of how this works do not matter. All actions are taken in an individual timeline. The only time timelines merge is when a raid is unlocked. Such an event will require the help of various dreamers.’
‘Huh, interesting..’
Frenley pulled his attention from his mind and focused again on the large hallway in front of them. The eerie quiet of the hallways put him on edge, and judging from his company, he was not the only one. It didn't take long for the hallway to open up into a rectangular room. To the side of the room, next to the wall, is a large metal coffin. The room had two exits, one leading to what seemed to be a larger circular room, guarded by two human stone statues, each holding what could only be described as scythes with teeth. While the other exit seems to lead to another hallway
Frenley couldn't help but think that getting hit by such a weapon is bound to hurt and leave behind an ugly wound. Before the party could take any more steps into the room. Risa spoke softly.
“Those are the golems I was talking about. They may look like statues, but trust me, once you get close to them, they wake up and slash you to pieces.”
“Talking from experience, Risa?”
“Sadly, yes”
“Alright, let's hit the same statue with our spells. Maybe it will take it down, while Mia holds down the other statue, and then we kill it.”
“Sounds as good as any plan. Will be trusting you two.”
Mia said as she rolled her shoulders. She got into position, her stance wide to withstand the force that would come at her. Feet planted on the ground, shield at the ready, and sword behind her. Risa and Frenley got into position behind Mia, and both of them pointed their magic weapon at the right statue. Risa looked up at Frenley with her soft brown eyes. Frenley held the position for a few seconds. Making sure he was aiming at the golem’s large chest. He pointed to his chest with his right hand, and the kitsune nodded.
“Now!”
A shard of pale moonlight came from the head of Risa's staff; it flew straight and hit the golem right on the chest. The golem took a step back, its stone chest cracking, and dust fell out of the wound like blood. The other golem woke up and charged at the party, its heavy steps echoing through the room, breaking weaker stone bricks under its weight. Frenley shoots his magic at the still recovering golem. His multicolored magic shot penetrated the open wound.
Freezing it over, slowing the golem. While still not dead, it was at death's door. Frenley rushes from behind Mia as she tanks the second golem scythe attack.
“Risa, help Mia! I will finish this one off!”
“On it!”
It didn't take Frenley long to reach the wounded frozen golem. With a soft touch to his sword, the weapon became enchanted with magic. Fren delivers a piercing attack at the open wound. Breaking through the weakened stone and breaking something inside the golem. As it started to crumble down. The fey turn around and charge at the remaining golem. Who seems to have taken a hit from the girls. Its left side was crumbling down, and by the time Frenley got behind it, its fate was sealed.
Frenley struck the neck of the creature, cutting through the stone and decapitating it like he was cutting rotten flesh. The golem's head falls to the floor and crashes into a million pieces. Fren sighs in relief as he takes a look at his party members. Neither of them seems to be hurt, which was a win in his books.
“Good to see everyone is in one piece.”
“Gosh, that was scary. I don't want to imagine what that weapon will do to me if it hits.”
“Trust me, you don't want to know.”
“Hey Risa, did you explore that circular room?” Fren said, pointing to the room behind him with his thumb.
“No, I didn't, I could not take on the two golems by myself. So I explore the hallway. In there, we mostly have to deal with a singular golem. But he is in a very annoying spot.”
“Annoying how?”
“He is in the only safe spot when dealing with the trap, and the bastard is quick. Goated me three separate times before I gave up.”
“Alright, Mia, if you do us the honors.”
“My pleasure”
“Be careful, Mia, there may be another golem in that room hiding.”
Risa said as she took her spot behind Frenley, who walked two steps behind Mia. Mia walked with careful steps; her shield was close to her large chest. Her sword was resting on top of the shield. The tall, tan woman stopped just at the edge of the new room. She swallowed a mouthful of saliva before she took her first step into the room. Then her second, then her third.
“Clear”
Mia said as she looked all around the circular room. Shelves were carved into the stone walls, each shelf holding what seemed to be books, potions, gold, and other small trinkets. Frenley entered once Mia said it was clear, the silver-haired kitsune not far behind. Risa went towards one of the shelves with books, poking at them to make sure they were safe. Before grabbing one and reading it.
Frenley looked at some of the potions, but with no idea what each of them does, he didn't grab any.
“Looks like an empty room to me, loves.”
Mia said as she relaxed her hands and shoulders.
“Yeah, this book doesn't really contain important information. It seems to contain random pieces of info. Like the baker's wife is a whore, the herbalist has the best chicken roast, and useless info an old man would write in his diary.”
Risa placed the book back in its spot. Frenley scratches the back of his neck.
“Well, they can't all be winners. I am sure another room like this would actually have important information. Got to explore every nook and cranny of this place.”
“You sound like the kind of guy who does all the side quests. before moving to the main stuff.”
“Of course,” Frenley said as he looked at the smug tan woman. “Don't tell me you're one of those people who only do the main missions and only do side stuff if they need to level up.”
“You hit the bull's eye.”
“My opinion of you has decreased.”
Mia covered her mouth with her hand as she started to laugh. Risa's pink lips raise softly into a small smile. Frenley shook his head and covered his mouth. Trying to stop himself from smiling but failing spectacularly. He gave up as he brushed his hair back.
“Alright, let's get going.”
Frenley went up to the edge of the room, putting his arm out. Mia walked past him with a soft smile.
“What a gentleman.”
Risa walked behind the tall woman, nodding to him. Frenley moved behind them, taking his spot between Risa and Mia. The trio walked down the hall that shot off the rectangular room. They were greeted by much of the same. Till a fork in the hallway appears, well, calling it a fork is doing it a great service. A hallway split off to the left, but if they continue down this hallway. They will reach a dead end, with a large standing metal coffin. The lid seems to have fallen off a long time ago, judging by the mold and dust.
Inside the coffin is a dead body, where the last thing remaining is the white skeleton. The skeleton seems to be stuck in the coffin by two golden nails stuck into its eyesocket. Gold coins were scattered across the floor. The trio tries their best to ignore the skeleton, but it feels like it is looking at them, the golden nails serving as eyes. Their reflection shines off the polished metal.
“Fucking creepy”
Mia said as she looked at the skeleton from the corner of her eye.
“Don't focus on it; we must now focus on the trap.” Risa's words echo in their eyes, forcing them to look at her. “The trap seems to be some kind of flamethrower. It breathes fire every five seconds. There is a small hiding place in the middle. But it is also guarded by another one of the golems, this one is armed with two daggers and is fast. One of us got to fight it and push it into the fire.”
Frenley rested his back against the wall as he waited for the kitsune to finish talking.
“The fire only starts once we get close to the hallway. So be careful.”
“Why didn't your teleportation spell lure the monster into the fire?”
“Because it only teleports me a few steps backward, and by the time I do, the fire is already on me, and the monster is smart enough not to get in the fire.”
“Gotcha..well, I offer myself for this job.”
“You sure love?”
Frenley shrugged his shoulders as he looked at the tall, tan woman.
“You won't be able to deal enough damage to it, and Risa already tried and failed before.”
Mia sighs in defeat, kicking a loose rock in the ground as she crosses her arms.
“Alright..your words make sense.”
Risa moved close to Frenley as she spoke, patting his shoulder.
“The golem is at the edge of the hidden place; it will come at you quickly and fast. So keep your eyes open. Also, try not to get burned.”
“No promises, but thanks for the info. Now, let's get this going.”
Frenley started walking down the hallway, leaving the two girls behind. Just like Risa said, once he got close, the flames came out of the hallway. A sea of red and orange flames came out of the hallway, hitting the wall right in front of it. Burning away the weak and old stone bricks. After a few seconds of the fire burning, it stops, and like an arrow shot from a bow, Frenley turns into the hallway and starts running.
The hallway was long; at the very end, a large square room with a large mechanical construction in its center. The machine was shaped like a dragon, with a metal tube protruding from its mouth. There was no place to hide, other than the small hiding area in the middle of the hallway. The stones all around him were hot. The uncomfortable heat enveloped him, making him sweat. His clothes were sticking to his body like they were a straitjacket.
Frenley ran down the hallway as fast as his legs could take him, his eyes never leaving the metal tube as it started to heat up. The warm air heated up his lungs as he ran as fast as he could to the hiding place. Frenley readied his left hand as he got closer. The five seconds passed as the dragon started to spill more flames down the hallway.
The wall of fire pushes boiling air into Frenley's face and lungs. His insides felt like they were burning alive; the water that kept his eyes moist was drying up. He even felt his eyebrows spark from the heat. Frenley jumped into the hiding hole right as the fire wall consumed the hallway. The scorching heat cooks his clothes and armor. His skin was becoming cooked as blisters formed under his flowing robes and armor. Frenley bit his lip to not scream in pain at the burns.
Without wasting a second, Frenley cast Season bolt at the two stone daggers that were coming up to his face. Magic meets stone as an explosion happens. Stone pieces flew into Fren's face, dust getting into his dry eyes. Frenley pushes his sword deep into the stone to hold himself in place. The golem was pushed back to the back of the room. Its hands were breaking apart, its daggers breaking into small pieces. Frenley pushed his sword deeper into the stone as he shot another magic bolt at the golem.
This time, hiding it in the left hip. Causing the monster to dip to the side. Frenley pulled out his sword and rushed the monster right as the fire died down. Like a lumberjack hitting a tree trunk, Fren attacks the wounded side of the monster. Cutting into the weak stone flesh and cutting the monster in half. Its top half falls to the ground and crumbles into a million pieces. The bottom half stays stuck in place, and with a sigh of relief, Frenley pushes his hair backward.
“I can see why Risa had trouble with this… from here on is uncharted territory.”