Chapter 22: Dungeon

It was a decent travel to the dungeon out in the north, it took a couple of hours to get there but it hopefully would be worth it.

I don't know if finding the dungeon would be as easy as the one we found awhile ago with that guy Rin in it. Dungeons in the forest aren't always the most obvious to find since they are surrounded by bushes, trees, big rocks, and hell they could even be hidden by magic.

Back when I first played this game I remember looking for a dungeon in a forest as well but it took me hours to find it. Just to see it was hidden behind a giant mound of dirt with rocks surrounding the mound.

"Hey I'm going to cast something that'll scan the area. If we're lucky it'll pick something up." Says Hiroko as she starts doing a gesture with her hand.

As she says that I can see some sort of light ping across the area. The fact that I can see that really says a lot about the system I was given when coming into this world.

Remembering what Rin had said before when I saw him in Winzel made me realize that I do need to trust in the system more as well as using it more. I haven't touched it as much as I should in a long time.

Level Check!

"Currently you're level 315. Congratulations you've jumped significantly since you last checked." Says a voice.

Hmm that is true, last time I checked I think it was level 285 not 315. I'm wondering what it takes to level up now since it hasn't given any signs on how to do it.

"You say a lot of smart things kid but you can't understand something simple like this?" Says Lazarus before asking the question.

"What do you mean?" I respond with another question.

"As this is something I know little of, some of your memory has been shared with me through our bond as a vessel. I've noticed when you fought all those guys something kept showing up in your vision but you didn't seem to see it." Answers Lazarus.

He's right, I didn't focus on it very much back then but now it all is starting to make more sense. I tried to focus more on this world as a real thing rather than looking at it through the system it gave me.

I'll need to start paying more attention so I can become stronger.

"Hey something showed up. It's a bit this way." Says Hiroko while heading behind a strange formation in the side of a nearby cliff.

It seems maybe her magic did find something in the area which means we got to be close to finding this damn place.

Mika follows where he saw Hiroko go and is greeted by a strange opening within the cliff side.

"I'm surprised this worked. Shit." I say while looking at the opening.

"I would like to say my magic is good with this stuff so time to head inside." Responds Hiroko while grabbing Mika's arm.

A strange feeling passed through me this time upon entering the dungeon and I couldn't figure out what it was.

"Hey did it feel weird entering the dungeon?"I ask while looking ahead.

"Yes it did, we should be careful." Answers Hiroko as she let's go of Mika's arm.

Sight.

The surrounding area shows nothing out of the ordinary but the walls seem to be strange compared to normal dungeons. There also seems to be a series of floors within the dungeon with different beings on each.

Now with that information I have to make sure to avoid the unnecessary enemies so we can focus on finding the scout.

"Mika we might have to go through this like a normal dungeon, the vibe here is strange." Says Hiroko while scanning the surroundings.

"Yeah I think that really is the option." I reply.

We don't have many options here since this seems to be an active dungeon which means we have to at least complete the first floor. Damn this shit is always a pain in the ass but it should lead us to this scout one way or another.

"The first floor isn't too bad, just looking around it should take finding a secret lever to reach the second since no enemies are present." Says Hiroko.

Mechanical floors always meant there was a way to get out without fighting so we needed to find a button or lever. That's good that she figured it out so quick.

"Perfect. Now to find the lever or button to head to the second level." I Respond.

The first hour goes by and nothing is found by Mika or Hiroko until suddenly the sound of something activating can be heard.

Click!

"You hear that?" I Ask while looking around.

"Yes over there." Answers Hiroko while pointing towards the wall in the distance.

"It seems we got our way off this floor but the exit didn't open. Guess we have to go forward." I say while walking towards the open wall.

We both followed the door and suddenly it was like we were on another floor.

The floor had goblins and some sort of wolves here but I don't know if that's all just yet.

"Be ready, we got enemies on the floor." I say as I pull out my sword.

The goblins looked towards us almost immediately when they heard me speak to Hiroko. I didn't expect to be seeing goblins so soon again but this will be quick.

The chattering of the goblins in their tongue indicated it was time for them to attack and they began to charge at the two of them.

Pause.

"45 seconds remaining." Says a voice.

As time pauses Mika goes in to slash the first demon then the second. Taking off the head of the second one while shoving the sword through the third ones chest.

"20 seconds remain." Says the voice.

Blood will be spilled everywhere after time resumes but that'll be the thrill of this whole thing.

Resume.

"Time resuming." Says the voice.

Splat!! Thud!!

Two other goblins remained and a few wolves as well, that wasn't going to mean very much between the two of us combined.

"Shatter." Says Hiroko as rocks come out the ceiling.

The rocks come out the ceiling and crush the remaining goblins and two of the wolves.

"Watch out!" I Shout as I block the final wolf's attack.

Force.

Splat!!!

The wolf gets sent flying and hits the wall before falling to the floor. I would feel bad but these things are determined to kill no matter what in these dungeons.

Within a moment or two of the mobs being killed a strange sound could be heard within the floor.

"Am I crazy or did you hear something else too?" I asks while looking into the dark part of the floor.

"Roarrrrrrr!" Screams a creature in the darkness.

Suddenly a strange beast comes out and it's got the body of an ogre and the head of a lizard, one of the strangest combinations that I've ever seen.

"I don't suppose you have any ideas do you?" Responds Hiroko with another question.

"Not yet I don't." I Say while holding my sword.

The creature starts to get closer then Hiroko readys a spell once more.

"Ice Shatter." Says Hiroko as Ice forms above the creature.

The ice begins to fall onto the creatures head but it doesn't seem to do that much damage as it hits the thing. The creature looks over at Hiroko after that and begins to charge.

Force.

The wind and pressure sends the creature back a bit while keeping it from charging at Hiroko.

"Roarrrrrrrr!!!!" Screams the creature.

This is going to be a pain in the ass, I don't wanna use a powerful skill that'll damage me again just against a creature. My sword should be powerful enough, maybe pause will work again.

Pause.

"20 seconds remaining." Says the voice.

Mika charges in and quickly begins slashing away at the creature, not long after he slices off the arm of the thing.

"Time resuming." Says the voice.

Drip. Splatter.

"Grarrrrrrr!!" Screams the creature in pain.

That's definitely the kind of damage I needed to do to this damn thing.

"Alright I'll hit it with another spell, get back!" Shouts Hiroko as she begins to chant.