Chapter 24-

I arrived back at the cave with my new fox companion and a dead deer that the spider killed earlier. But when I arrived at the entrance, I saw that the cave itself was gone.

All that remained was the stone where the entrance used to be.

'So much for a place to stay?' I thought to myself.

I didn't like speaking, due to my injury and how it stings when I do.

I still had the Divine Cloth on my face, since I needed it to stop the bleeding and hopefully regrow my lips. But so far it only stopped the bleeding.

'I really hope that this isn't permanent?'

Seeing that my old base was no longer here, I decided to look for another place to rest at.

---

---

After finding a nice spot near the spider nest, I built a small campfire and started roasting parts of the deer over the flames.

While they cooked, I started working on turning a couple of animal hides into a new cloak. Since I set my old one on fire, I didn't have anything to protect myself from the cold.

While I was working on the cloak, the fox pup was eating some of the deer organs that I tossed aside.

"So uat should I call you?"

(So what should I call you?)

The little fox didn't turn away from it's meal and kept eating.

I knew that it was a boy fox, so I started thinking about a name for it. Then one came to my head.

"... Uhat ahout Lux?”

(... What about Lux?)

The fox stopped eating and looked at me with some blood on it's lip.

"Ny harents nether let ne hah a dog uhen I uas younger. Hut ish I did get one, I'd huodadly nane it Lux? It's also easy to say in nie condition."

(My parents never let me have a dog when I was younger. But if I did get one, I'd probably name it Lux? It's also easier to say in my condition.)

Then the fox walked over and laid down next to me.

'I guess he's fine with it?'

After eating, I used my new cloak as a blanket and slept near the campfire.

****

For the next two months while I was recovering, I started gathering supplies for the trip to the next floor. Most of it consisted of homemade beef, venison, and rabbit jerky. This was because there wasn’t anything else to gather.

I hunted the animals by using earth runes to shoot small rock shards at them like a hunting rifle.

The cutest times when I hunted, was when Lux 'helped' by dragging the dead bunnies after I killed them.

I was really enjoying having the fox around. It helped with the solitude and I had fun watching Lux run around.

After I fully recovered, I went back down to the spider nest and looked around. When I passed by the woman's body, I saw that her body completely turned into ice and froze to the ground.

'...'

I then walked past her and continued searching around the cavern, while Lux just growled at the frozen body and followed after me.

There wasn't much stuff inside the cavern, but I did remember that she had a nest in the ceiling.

"Uait here." I said to Lux.

I then used the Toad Hook to climb up to the cave ceiling and into the nest. The webs were frozen, so it was like I was climbing inside a giant glass vase.

I found some items when I got inside. I found some robes and what looked like a damascus sickle.

"So she did hath clothes!"

I then grabbed all of the items and tossed them out of the nest, then made my way down.

When I got down, I saw Lux sniffing the robes. I then picked up one of the robes and put it on.

I didn't care if these were hers or if it looked weird on me. This place was cold and I lost my last good shirt in the fight with that woman.

The robe was blue and black and it looked like it was made of silk. I'm pretty sure it was spider silk, since it would've made sense.

I then rolled up the sleeves on the robe, then ripped the other robes into strips of cloth. I then wrapped them on my arms, legs, and torso for warmth.

When I was done I looked at myself and felt silly.

I looked like I'm trying to cosplay as a martial artist from some weird anime. But I didn't care, since I needed the warmth.

"Hou do I look?" I asked, seeing that Lux was staring at me.

The fox pup just tilted his head, then started biting his rear.

"That huad, huh?"

(That bad, huh?)

I then picked up the sickle to inspect it.

It definitely looked like it was made of damascus steel and it had a silver handle. Since I spent two years working at a blacksmith, I could tell that this sickle could be useful on both crops and as a weapon.

'Huh? Why didn't she use this in our fight?' I asked myself.

I gave the sickle a few practice swings, then tucked it in my belt and walked back to the frozen corpse. I then crouched down next to it and took out my dagger.

I glanced down at the heart that was inside her chest, then sighed.

'There’s so many things wrong with what I’m about to do.’

I then start chipping away at the frozen corpse, trying to free the heart inside it.

‘This better not mess with my sanity or anything like that?’

After freeing the heart from the corpse, I made my way to the door.

---

Then after placing the heart into the slot, I looked down at Lux.

He had grown a little since we first met. But so far he’s only able to hunt rabbits and other small animals on his own.

During these two months Lux also started to slowly understand what I was saying, despite my missing lips and ghoulish sounding voice.

(So, are you ready for any possible dangers that lurk within the next floor?)

Lux then happily barked.

(There could be a chance that we could both die?)

Lux then happily barked again.

(It might be in a hot area, like a desert or a volcanic wasteland? So we might die from just being there?)

Lux then barked again.

‘... I’m talking to a fox. I don’t know if this is just because I’m lonely, or it’s just because I’ve been down here for too long?’

I then felt my face and made sure that the Divine Cloth wasn’t loose on my face.

Despite two months of having it on my face, the Divine Cloth wasn’t able to regrow new lips.

‘Guess it only keeps you alive, but can’t regrow limbs or body parts. Need to be careful about that when I’m on the next floor?'

Once when the door fully opened, both Lux and I made our way down the steps.

As we were making our way down, I noticed that Lux was having difficulty walking down the stairs.

This was probably because he never encountered stairs? So he didn't know how to climb down them.

(Want me to carry you?)

Lux just stopped and looked at me.

I then picked him up and placed him on top of my backpack.

It was large enough so he could stand on it and he didn't seem to mind it.

So I then kept making my way down the stairs and soon arrived at the thirteenth floor.

Once when I entered the floor, I saw that it was another night time floor. But this one had a starlit sky and a moon floating above another snowy forest. But this one had only a small layer of snow.

(Wow, I almost forgot what the night sky looked like? Pretty amazing, right?) I said, looking back at a defensive Lux.

He had his head lowered and he was growling at the moon.

(What, is this the first time you’ve ever seen the moon?)

Lux then jumped off and ran into some bushes.

(What, you need to use ‘the little fox room’?)

I then heard Lux barking at something past the bushes.

Hearing this, I immediately ran towards where the sound was coming from.

(Lux! What’s wrong, Is it a hunter?!)

I then passed by the bushes and entered a clearing in the forest. There I saw Lux barking at an obelisk, which was in front of a large heavy fog.

(Huh? What’s this?)

I then walked over to it to get a closer look.

The obelisk was made of solid iron and there was some writing on it.

[Dear Traveler, I see that you’ve been making your way through the dungeon that I’ve made to imprison The Banished One.

I’ve been watching your journey through my dungeon and I’ve watched as you’ve faced every hunter that came after you. And I have to say... I’m not impressed.]

(Wow... thanks a lot.) I said to myself.

[But I can’t ignore your skills and the fact that you’ve made it this far. So I’ve come up with a little bet to make with you and that you can’t really say no to this, due to this being a message.

Then again, there really isn’t any point to even mention that last part. Even this part where I explain that. And now I’m just writing unneeded parts in this message.

Oh, right! I need to explain the bet.

I have altered the rest of the dungeon and made it so you only have to deal with three trials. Three trials that would let me see if you’re worthy of getting out of here.

Know that I would be watching you and I’ll be judging your actions. So don’t die or anything like that? You might even get a reward if I find your actions deserving enough?

-The Maker]

After I finished reading the message, Lux tugged at the bottom of my pants. I then crouch down and give him a little scratch behind the ears.

(Guess someone really wants to test me, huh?)

I then let out a long sigh and stood up.

‘Guess I have to deal with some trials now? Wonder what those would be?’

Then the fog behind the obelisk parted and gave me a clear view of the valley behind the fog.

A valley of grassland, large amber colored crystals, and a gigantic crystal. A crystal with a large strange creature inside.

‘Well… now I know where the hunter is. Good to know, I guess?’

I then called Lux over and made my way down into the valley.

As I was passing by the crystals, I saw that they had a slight glow and provided light in the dark.

But I kept turning my attention to the creature trapped inside the crystal in the distance. I couldn't help but look at it, since it wasn’t hidden and that it was easy to spot in the distance.

Surrounding the imprisoned creature there was steam coming up from the ground and that also caught my attention.

'I wonder if that's part of the trial?'

I kept walking around the forest and couldn't help but notice the lack of animals in the area.

Normally there would be some animals wandering around, but there wasn't a single one in sight.

'Well it looks like this could either be part of the trial, or-’

I then heard something that caught my attention.

I heard the sound of water splashing. So I walked towards the source of the sound and readied my sickle.

‘Please let it be something good?’ I repeated over and over in my head.

I noticed a few ponds up ahead. But it wasn’t until I reached the ponds, where I was able to see what was inside them and it almost made my jaw drop.

When Lux approached the ponds, he started barking and poking the water with one of his paws.

Under the water’s surface, there were a bunch of small shrimps crawling around.

When I saw this, I could help but feel excited.

(Yes! Finally something different!) I shouted out, startling Lux in the process.

---

---

I had gathered a few of the shrimps and tossed them into the pot to cook.

Despite having some food packed, I couldn't help but want to try something other than dried or roasted meat. Even though there were some mushrooms, berries, and what looked like herbs growing around the pond, I didn't know if they were safe or not and I didn't want to test my luck.

(Are you excited for this?) I asked Lux.

He just sat there and scratched an ear with his hind leg.

After letting the shrimps boil for a while, I used a long stick to stab them and pull them out of the hot water.

After letting them cool down, I placed a couple of them on a piece of bark and set it down for Lux. After sniffing it, he then placed a paw on one and bit off it's head.

After he started eating, I picked one of the shrimps up and started pealing the shell off of it.

'Man, I wish that I had some seasoning or ingredients to make a decent meal out of this. But I guess this will do?' I thought to myself.

My mouth watered when I thought about the many different shrimp dishes I could've had if I wasn't inside this dungeon.

I then picked up the shrimp meat and tossed it into my mouth.

"..."

I felt a tear run down the side of my face, since it's been a while since I've eaten anything else besides animal meat and dried peaches.

'It's been so long since I've eaten anything like this.' I thought to myself as I started peeling another shrimp.

But then I heard the sound of a stick snapping. I immediately placed my plate aside and pulled out my sickle. But when I turned to look at what made the sound, I was met with an unexpected visitor.

‘Wait, what?’

I was met face-to-face with a person in a full suit of armor, who came out from a clearing in the forest.