Into the Dungeon

I adjusted the strap on my backpack, ensuring my sword was secure at my side and my shield rested comfortably on my back. Nyx lounged lazily in my shadow. The streets were beginning to stir as I approached the familiar steps of the Guild Hall. The air was crisp, the city buzzing with life as adventurers prepared for another day in the Dungeon.

As I stepped inside, the familiar hum of conversation and clinking of armor greeted me. Adventurers crowded the large hall, discussing quests, bounties, and upcoming expeditions. The massive notice board stood as a central hub of information, plastered with information about the two new monsters appearing in the dungeon as well as other information that I didn't really care about.

I scanned the room and spotted Eina. She was busy organizing papers at one of the reception desks, her eyes darting between forms as she helped a rather confused-looking adventurer. I waited patiently until she finished. 

"Amara!" she called, waving me over as she finished assisting the other adventurer. "You're back."

I approached with a nod. "Hey. Thought I'd check in before heading into the Dungeon."

Her eyes gleamed with approval as I told her I joined the Hestia Familia. "You joined a Familia!" she exclaimed, visibly pleased. "You actually took my advice!"

"I did." I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Joined the Hestia Familia this morning."

"That's wonderful." Relief softened her features. "I was worried you'd keep trying to get in alone. The Dungeon isn't kind to solo adventurers."

"I would have been fine."

Eina's gaze lingered on me thoughtfully, a hint of concern still present despite her smile. "You're heading into the Dungeon today?"

"Yeah."

She nodded worriedly but quickly slipped into her professional demeanor. "Alright, before you go, you should know—" She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "The potions you handed over for inspection… they should be ready for analysis by the time you finish your run. I'll have the results waiting when you return."

I stiffened slightly, remembering the way I'd been forced to surrender those potions. "Did... did anyone ask questions?"

Her expression softened. "Nothing serious. Just some standard inquiries. The Guild is... curious, but there's nothing suspicious on record, yet."

I relaxed. "Thanks, Eina."

"Be careful in there." Her voice carried genuine concern. "The first few floors might seem easy, but don't get careless."

I nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

With a final nod, I turned and left heading to the tower Dungeon entrance. I pressed onward, following the winding spiral staircase down. I had past adventures that were going up, I kept going down until at last I stepped onto the first floor. I paused, letting my eyes adjust to the dim, otherworldly glow that pulsed faintly from veins of crystal running through the walls. The air was cooler here, carrying a strange, metallic scent. 

Just as I took my first cautious step forward, a translucent screen flickered into view, hovering in midair. Its appearance nearly made me jump. The words that formed weren't the ones I wanted to see.

[Inventory Locked: No access to Storage within the Dungeon]

 Without it, I was stuck with what I carried on me, which at the moment was hardly anything. Just my sword, shield, and the simple white tunic-like outfit I'd worn into the Dungeon. Nothing else. No potions, no spare tools. A second message flashed into view:

[Quest Updated: Gather 10 Iron Ore, 10 Machalite Ore, and 10 Dragonite Ore. Summon a Monster. Failure to complete before leaving the Dungeon will result in penalties.]

I stared at the text. Gathering ore? With what tools? I didn't have a pickaxe. I hadn't even considered needing one. If I left empty-handed, I'd be penalized, and who knew what that meant?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. One step at a time. First, I needed to explore. Maybe I'd find what I needed as I went. Maybe a monster carried something I could use, monster drops were a thing, right?

Behind me, Nyx emerged from my shadow without needing a word. She glanced around warily, her feline eyes narrowing, wooden katana resting in her small paws. I managed a tight smile. "Well, Nyx," I muttered, keeping my voice low, "Looks like we're in for a challenge."

The silence didn't last long. We moved, looking around as we moved deeper into the first floor.

Movement flickered at the end of the corridor. I slowed my steps, raising my shield. My heart thudded in my chest, and I willed my senses to sharpen.

A pair of kobolds rounded the corner, sniffing the air, their lanky, wolf-like bodies stooped low. Their bristly fur and sharp claws caught the bluish glow of the crystals. They hadn't seen me yet. They seemed agitated, snarling at something behind them. Then one stepped forward, hefting a crude tool in its hand, an old, battered pick. Could I take it from them?

Nyx caught sight of them at the same time I did, her tail flicking, muscles tense. I nodded once, taking a careful step forward, hoping to close the distance quietly. I barely made it two paces before a pebble skittered under my sandal, making a tiny scraping sound.

Both kobolds snapped their heads my way, yellow eyes gleaming with malice. A low growl rolled through the corridor. They charged.

I raised my shield, bracing my feet. The first kobold lunged wildly, the pick raised overhead. I angled my shield, catching the downward swing with a deafening clang. The impact rattled my arm, nearly buckling my knees. These things were stronger than goblins, more vicious, more intent on tearing me apart. I pushed up and out, shoving the kobold off-balance, and swept my sword in a tight arc, aiming for its torso.

The blade bit into matted fur. The kobold hissed, twisting away before I could land a killing blow. It bled but remained on its feet, baring its teeth as it growled.

Nyx darted in from the side, wooden katana slicing at the second kobold's leg. The creature yelped, stumbling, and tried to backhand her with its claws. She ducked and lashed out again. Each of her strikes was quick but lacked the lethal edge of a proper blade I needed to get her a real blade.

The first kobold snarled and lunged again. I raised my sword, ready to parry, when something slammed into my ankle with surprising force. I staggered, nearly losing my balance. Instinctively, I looked down.

A large, beetle-like creature skittered at my feet. Its shell gleamed dull brown, segmented, and tough-looking. A Konchu. I remembered the new monsters adventurers had complained about. It rammed into my leg again, sending pain shooting up my calf. I kicked out, but the Konchu tucked into a tight ball and rolled away, only to circle back a heartbeat later.

"Damn it!" I hissed, trying to keep track of both Kobolds and the Konchu at the same time. The kobolds took advantage of my momentary distraction. The wounded one with the pick swung low, aiming at my legs. I leaped back, but not far enough—the metal edge scraped my shin, drawing blood. Heat flared through the wound, and I grit my teeth, forcing down a curse.

I needed to get control of this fight. With no potions to rely on, every hit would slow me down. The Konchu would keep pestering me until I crushed it or knocked it away. The second kobold snarled and tried to flank me, going for my right side while I focused on the first.

Nyx yowled, hurling herself at the second kobold's arm. She managed to draw its attention. The creature growled, swiping at her, missing by a hair's breadth. Good girl, keep it busy, I thought.

I focused on the kobold with the pick. If I could take it down quickly, maybe I could grab that pick and have a means to mine ore. I feinted a high slash, making it raise its guard. Then I pivoted, dropping low and slicing off its leg. A shriek echoed, and blood splattered against the stone. The kobold staggered, clutching its stump.

I braced my shield and charged forward, slamming its torso and knocking it onto its back. Before it could recover, I drove my sword down through its chest. It gurgled, then went limp, body dissolving into motes of light, leaving behind a few small magic stones and... yes, the pick. It clattered to the ground.

The second kobold howled with fury at the death of its ally. It lunged at me, claws out, going for my face. I raised my sword, batting its arm aside, but that left my midsection open. The kobold's other claw raked across my stomach. I hissed in pain as its rough nails dug shallow furrows in my flesh.

I recoiled, nearly slipping on loose gravel. The Konchu chose that moment to charge again, rolling into my heel. Off-balance, I stumbled to one knee. The kobold saw its chance and came in fast, teeth bared, ready to tear at my throat.

"Nyx!" I shouted. I didn't have time to see where she was, I could only hope.

A swift blur of black fur darted under the kobold's arm, Nyx's wooden blade cracking against its ribs with a sharp thwack. It startled the creature enough that it twisted mid-lunge. I brought my shield up, slamming it into the kobold's jaw. The creature staggered, and I surged up from my kneeling position, swinging my sword up as I jumped.

Steel met flesh. The kobold's eyes widened, a strangled cry escaping its throat before it, too, dissolved into shimmering fragments. My chest heaved, sweat trickling down my temples. I needed to finish off the Konchu.

That damned bug rolled at me again. This time, I was ready. I lowered my shield and angled it like a ramp, letting the Konchu's charge skim up the face of the shield. As it tried to scuttle over, I snapped the shield upward, flipping it onto its back. The Konchu flailed uselessly for a moment, legs scrabbling in the air. 

I swung my sword down, crushing its underbelly. Its shell cracked with a sickening crunch. The Konchu's body stiffened. I wiped sweat from my brow, adrenaline still thrumming in my veins.

Nyx padded up to my side, looking me over with concerned blue eyes. I forced a smile. "I'm fine," I managed, though my stomach and shin stung like hell. Without potions, I'd have to deal with these wounds the old-fashioned way, by enduring. 

The Konchu's body didn't dissolve like the kobolds. Instead, its corpse lay there, a football-sized bug. I knelt beside it, breathing heavily, still shaken from the scuffle. 

Nyx stood guard while I focused, summoning that dark, pulsing energy I'd felt before. I hovered my hand over the Konchu's still form, quieting my mind.

"Arise," I whispered, voice firm.

Shadowy mist swirled around my fingertips, flowing into the Konchu's remains. The creature jerked once, and then slowly, the shadow of the Konchu peeled away from its body like ink spreading across the ground. The shadow solidified and took on its familiar shape, sleeker, but unmistakably the same monster I'd just killed. Its shell gleamed with a dark luster, its legs settling into a readied stance.

My new shadow ally clicked its mandibles softly as if acknowledging me. Nyx tilted her head, curious, but made no move to stop it. I nodded in satisfaction. Another addition to my growing arsenal.

But I wasn't done yet. The original body still lay there, lifeless. I drew my sword, careful not to damage any resources, and began to carve into the creature's thick shell. There was no guide telling me what I'd get, but I had a hunch.

It wasn't pretty work. The shell made scraping sounds as I pried it open, the insides squelching as I fished around for usable parts. I worked pushing through the stink and mess. I pulled out the back hardened plating—a Konchu Shell. Perfect. Next, a strange sac of shimmering liquid, Monster Fluid, sticky and faintly glowing. A 2 Sharp Fang, would be useful for something. And, to my surprise, a small, perfectly smooth sphere of layered minerals, an Armor Sphere, something I recognized from Monster Hunter as a way to improve armor. Finding it inside the body of such a small creature was a stroke of luck.

I stored the items in my backpack, except for the Konchu Shell. That I held it in my hands for a moment, turning it over. Sturdy enough that I had to really work to break it. My stomach still burned from where that kobold had scratched me, and I had no real armor on my torso, just thin, white, Greek-style clothing. Light and airy, sure, but not at all protective.

A sudden idea popped into my head. I pressed the Konchu Shell against my chest, testing its curve and shape. It wouldn't cover everything perfectly, but it would provide some protection. The shell was convex and thick, like a chest plate. The Shadow Konchu hovered nearby, clicking softly, as if curious about what I was up to.

With a few strips of torn fabric from the bottom of my tunic, I fashioned a rough harness to strap the shell onto my chest. It sat awkwardly at first, but after some adjustments, it felt more stable. Now I had a makeshift chest guard, ugly and a bit uncomfortable, but the armor was armor. And if I could survive a hit or two better, it was worth it.

I looked down at my new shadow minion. "You," I said quietly. The Konchu's antennae twitched at the sound of my voice. "Stay close and keep an eye on the ground. If something tries to trip me up again, ram it first."

I doubted it understood my words, but I poured intent into them. The Shadow Konchu scuttled forward and climbed onto my chest plate, clinging upside down. I tensed for a second, unsure if that was safe. But it was small enough and light enough that it didn't feel too cumbersome. Fine, let it stay there if it wanted, its shell blending with the chest plate would make me even harder to harm from the front.

Nyx watched this with a bemused tilt of her head, then hopped up onto my shoulder, using it as a perch. Her tail flicked my cheek lightly.

I couldn't help but laugh under my breath. "We're a strange little band," I said. "A shadow cat, a bug-shield, and me."

Steeling myself, I started forward again, deeper into the corridors of the Dungeon's first floor. I moved cautiously, the faint pulse of crystal light guiding the way.