djarcher

The people of the alpha plane have made it their hobby to enter the dungeons of other worlds and conquer them. Naturally not everyone is happy with this as dark undercurrents begin to work against the conquerors.

As some people die in the dungeons they are made an offer. To give up their humanity in order to live on. 
Guy, a veteran carrier, is one of them, he can't bear to leave his family alone and accepts. From then on he must fight in the dungeons but as a monster while simultaneously continuing his life in the alpha plane in the shape of a human.
Jade, an elite adventurer, also accepts the offer but her intent is solely to get revenge on those who killed her and make humanity suffer for her life.
Monica, a little girl not native to the alpha plane is pulled into the happenings due to her childish innocence.

Counter Dungeon-Delving

I take a long look at the ferryman. He's old but doesn't look like he's past his prime. His body stands on the boat like a mountain. Tall, unyielding, and immovable are the three words that flash through my mind.


This ferryman, likely the Charon mentioned by Hades earlier, gives me an indescribable feeling. His expression is kept perfectly neutral like he's seen it all. A long brown robe covers his body but his muscular arms that hold the pole he uses to guide the boat. 


"Welcome aboard, young friend. I shall be your guide through both death and life of this great labyrinth."


A low husky voice that sounds unhurried and detached. No worldly emotions are carried by his voice only stillness. I feel a shiver run down my back at his last few words bit get on the boat before I have the time to think it over.


<That's Charon. Hades used everything he had to summon him during the last fight with the paragons. We can't be sure but he may actually be the figure described in the myths.>


Hold up. Styx as in the river that grants you invulnerability? Why would anyone want to be ferried over that?


I vaguely remember there being something about a heel.


<Yes, because not only does the river Styx not have the ability to make you completely invulnerable it even makes one place more vulnerable. Sure they have Apollo blessing the arrow as a convenient excuse for its lethality but no god's blessing is that strong.>


So it doesn't make you invulnerable after all?


Can you freely decide on the place and its size?


That sounds complicated. I guess there is no easy way to become invincible.


While Navi and I have been chatting Charon has begun to move the boat. Before is space is torn open and we enter the tear. We reemerge in an enormous workshop hewn into a cave of red stone. The dark purplish fog below the boat eases us into a small pond at the edge of the workshop.


At first glance, it looks like fish are swimming in the pond but as I look at them again I realize that they are mechanical constructs made to look like koi fish. The boat hits the end of the pond and Charon ties it to a beam that must have been placed there for that exact purpose.


"Step down for now, young friend. Daedalus will provide you with further instructions and clearer objectives to fulfill. I'll wait here for you to return."


I step down from the boat and walk towards the workbenches filled with blueprints and half-built constructs. As I advance the ceiling opens up revealing a large glowing orb. The artificial sun lights up the entire room and is part of a peculiar event. 


From a large metal box at the other end of the workshop, a row of small human dolls continuously emerges. They fly one after another with small wings on their backs in a curve towards the sun. However, as they get closer to the sun their wings burn and they crash down into a set of grinding gears that tear them apart completely.


The process never ends. New dolls are continuously sent out by the metal box only to have their wings burned before they plummet into the shredding gears below. 


From behind a row of bookshelves, I hear the sound of shuffling footsteps. Moments later a lean guy appears from behind those shelves and looks at me in annoyance.


"Look what the cat dragged in. Does Hades have nothing better to do than to pile more work onto my back?"


<That's Daedalus, the great inventor from Greek mythology. He built the labyrinth where the minotaur was kept. Hades used dungeon points to summon his soul from the underworld and made him the architect of the great labyrinth of death. Safe to say Daedalus didn't enjoy the position he was forced to fill.>


Oh, great. And he is supposed to give me an in detail briefing?


In the dungeon of Hades (2)