The Chaos Manor (3)

How does one prove themselves?

"By clearing a dungeon solo."

Victoria stood still, her dark eyes locked on Ava's pulsing form as the words lingered in the air between them. The playful, light tone with which Ava had said, "By clearing a dungeon solo," seemed to echo in her ears, its casualness at odds with the weight of the task.

A dungeon. Alone.

For a moment, Victoria felt the unfamiliar sensation of shock creeping in, something she had grown far too accustomed to since her arrival at this strange manor. But this was different. A dungeon? Her mind flashed back to the life she had left behind, the world where such things existed only in stories, in fantasy books, and video games. And yet, here she was, being told to "clear" one as if it were a simple matter.

Her brow furrowed, and her thoughts raced.

How was this real?

Dungeons… monsters… Were these elements not confined to the imagination of Lit-RPG authors and artists?

It had been years since those genres had transformed the entertainment industry in her old world. Games, web novels, and even television shows—each media outlet seized upon the fascination with alternate worlds, levels, and dungeons. Victoria herself had once dismissed the trend as mere escapism for the masses.

But now? Here?

Her own life had taken a turn so absurdly fantastical that she was standing in a magical Manor, receiving what felt like a job assignment from a glowing, sentient ball of shadow and purple light.

She shook her head. Focus.

"How?"

Victoria asked, voice steady though her mind was still digesting the information.

"What rank or level is this dungeon?"

Ava's form shimmered, flickers of purple light swirling lazily around her as if she found Victoria's question amusing.

"Don't worry so much. It's only Level 1," she replied with that ever-present lightness.

"You'll be facing slimes."

Slimes.

Victoria blinked. It felt like the ground beneath her feet was about to give way from sheer absurdity. Her mind was already racing through the implications of what Ava had just said. Slimes—creatures often regarded as the weakest, most basic enemies in games. And yet, despite their supposed simplicity, there was an undercurrent to Ava's words that made her wary. Nothing was ever as simple as it appeared.

But still… slimes?

It was almost too much to take seriously.

Ava continued, her voice taking on a faintly mischievous tone.

"But don't think it's all for nothing. You'll be equipped with your own personal system, complete with extra quests that will allow you to earn points. Points that you can use later on, of course. Think of them as... investments for your future."

Victoria's expression remained impassive, though her mind had already latched onto the important parts of what Ava had just said. System. Quests. Points. She processed the words quickly, her calculating nature kicking into gear.

"System? Like some sort of interactive interface?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as she considered the idea.

Ava's light flickered with amusement.

"You'll see. It will all be made clear when you reach the dungeon's entrance."

Victoria was pensive, her mind swirling with questions.

A system with quests and points?

It sounded like the mechanics of a game, but she knew better than to take things at face value. Whatever this system was, it had to be connected to the power that pulsed through the Chaos Manor. It had to be something substantial, something that could shape her destiny here. Knowledge was power, and Victoria needed every scrap of information she could get before stepping into this unknown realm.

The more she thought about it, the more the familiar itch of ambition stirred within her. If this "system" truly offered points and quests as rewards, then the opportunities for leverage could be endless. She had clawed her way to the top before—no matter what strange mechanics or rules this new world operated on, she would do it again.

Still, she needed more information before blindly charging ahead.

"And what else will I be equipped with?"

She asked, her voice steady. There was no way she would venture into any challenge without first knowing what tools she had at her disposal.

Ava's smoky form hovered for a moment before giving a vague response, her voice lilting as she replied, "Everything you need will be provided… in your system." The way she said it was teasing, as if she enjoyed keeping Victoria in the dark.

"Once you get to the dungeon entrance, all will be revealed."

Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind calculating as always. There was clearly more that Ava wasn't telling her, but she had no leverage here. Not yet, at least. There would be time later to bargain, to negotiate once she had something to offer. For now, proving herself was the only option on the table.

"And how do I get to this dungeon?"

Victoria asked, the final piece of information she needed before she could fully prepare herself.

Ava's pulsing light grew brighter for a moment, and then she floated a little further ahead, her voice light with amusement.

"No need to worry about that. Just follow me, and I'll take care of the rest… for now."

For now.

Victoria's sharp mind didn't miss the weight of those last two words. Ava knew more than she was letting on, and Victoria could sense it in every cryptic response the shadowy figure gave. But she also knew that without proving her worth, without earning her place in this strange and powerful world, Ava would never reveal everything. Information had to be earned. And that meant stepping into the unknown and conquering whatever challenge awaited her.

She followed Ava down the corridor, her thoughts still swirling as she glanced at the various chambers they passed. The manor was vast, its labyrinthine hallways leading to places she couldn't even begin to comprehend. Some rooms were hidden behind swirling mist, their entrances shrouded, while others—like the Library of Chaos or the Elemental Manipulation Chamber—gleamed faintly, as though calling to her. But that exploration would have to wait.

Ava floated ahead, leading her to an imposing gateway, unlike anything Victoria had ever seen. The portal was enormous, its edges adorned with intricate symbols that seemed to hum with a power that resonated deep within her bones. The air around the gateway shimmered, the energy within it crackling as if it barely contained the chaos it was linked to.

"This," Ava said, her voice soft now, almost reverent, "is the Portal Gateway. It will take you to the dungeon."

The portal hummed louder, its swirling interior reflecting no light, only a deep, shifting darkness that stretched beyond the frame.

"This is safe, controlled travel between dimensions and planes," Ava added, her voice growing faintly amused again, "but don't get too comfortable. Things may not always be so simple."

Victoria didn't respond right away. Her eyes remained fixed on the gateway before her, taking in every detail, every nuance of the energy swirling within it. A gateway to other dimensions, she thought. The scope of the power she was about to step into was far beyond anything she had ever encountered in her old world. And I'm meant to conquer it.

The thought stirred something deeper inside her. She had faced challenges before—had risen to power in a world filled with competitors, betrayal, and ambition. But this… this was different. It wasn't just about control. It was about mastery over forces she had only glimpsed in her wildest dreams.

Victoria turned to Ava, her dark eyes filled with determination. She had always thrived in the face of adversity, and had always known how to bend situations to her will. And now, with a new realm of possibilities in front of her, she would do it again. She would not fail.

Ava's light flickered, her form brightening as if she sensed the shift in Victoria's mindset. "Good luck," Ava said, her voice almost teasing but with an undercurrent of something more serious.

Victoria didn't hesitate. She gave Ava a long, piercing look before stepping toward the portal, her posture straight, her expression one of unflinching resolve. This was her moment. The challenges, the mysteries, the risks—they were all part of the price for power. And Victoria Ringstone had never balked at a price she deemed worth paying.

Without another word, she walked through the gateway, ready to face whatever awaited her on the other side.

——

The entrance to the dungeon loomed ahead, carved into the side of a rocky cliff, dark and foreboding. Standing guard before it, a massive stone figure towered over the path. Its form was humanoid, sculpted from a jagged black rock that gleamed faintly in the dim light of the dungeon's entrance. Though its expressionless face was weathered from time, there was an unmistakable air of vigilance in the way it stood—immobile, yet imposing.

The stone guardian's eyes were hollow, dark voids that seemed to stare unblinking into the distance, a silent warning to any who dared approach. Layers of moss and creeping vines had claimed parts of its form, but the guardian's intimidating posture remained unyielding, its broad shoulders and clenched fists carved with runes that faintly glowed beneath the surface. The gateway behind it shimmered faintly, a thin mist swirling just beyond the threshold. It was a threshold that few would pass unchallenged.

Inside, the dungeon sprawled out like an intricate web, with floors that descended deep into the earth, each one containing a different terrain. The walls were made of damp stone, their surfaces glistening with moisture, while glowing crystals jutted out at odd angles, casting a strange, flickering light across the chamber. The air was heavy with a musty scent, mingled with the strange, almost metallic tang of magic.

Along the floors, various resources were scattered—moss-covered stones, clumps of ore, and shimmering pools of liquid that pulsed faintly with a soft glow. These pools were more than just ordinary water, though their purpose remained unclear. Magical plants sprouted in odd corners, their leaves twitching slightly as if responding to an unseen breeze. Beneath the surface of the earth, there was power—ancient and untapped, waiting to be claimed by those bold enough to venture deeper.

The dungeon itself was alive, not with creatures of flesh and bone, but with slimes. They oozed from the cracks in the stone, their gelatinous forms moving with an unsettling grace. Each type of slime was distinct, their colors shifting with every step. Some were pale blue and translucent, their bodies faintly glowing in the dark; others were darker, with swirling shades of green, their forms denser and more aggressive. A faint squelching sound filled the air as they moved, their bodies leaving slick trails along the ground.

And deeper still, in the farthest chamber of the dungeon, something stirred. The final chamber was quiet, too quiet, the air thick and oppressive. In the shadows, the hulking form of the dungeon's final boss remained dormant, its massive body half-submerged in the muck of the chamber floor. Its skin, slick and dark, blended into the surrounding shadows, making it almost invisible.

But then, a ripple of turbulence passed through the air, barely perceptible, but enough. The creature's eyes snapped open, glowing red-like embers ignited by the stirrings of magic.

It had been awakened.