WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS?!?

Justin and his party sit around a camp fire at the entrance of a cave. The Dungeon entrance is ominous as it looks over the three. A light barely visible fog slowly rolls from it and out. The three occasionally glance at it nervously.

"God I can't wait to shut that thing down. It is giving me goosebumps." Derrick finally says nervously. "So how do we shut it down anyways?"

"Well," Justin answers hesitantly. "The last one I cleared I had to complete it three times in a row. That isn't the hard part though..."

"Uhhh...what is?"

"It gets harder after every completion. The monster levels go up by one after each run"

"How does that even work? Are they the same monsters? They don't die after you kill them the first time?" Cera asks.

"Ummm....Well about that. I have a theory."

The other two lean in to listen curiously.

"I doubt it's widely known since so few have completed a Dungeon. But I swear the first time is different"

Derrick snickers. "Oh I've heard the FIRST Time is different too."

Justin glares at him then grins. "Obviously not what I'm talking about. But the monsters are....more alive. The boss in the first run I did even seemed to understand what was going on. He mentioned something about the Void. That's the "God" my Paladin class is suppose to be devoted to. But after that...it was like...they were just copies. He just kept repeating the same lines over and over again. Like a video game boss or something."

"That IS wierd." Cera replies.

"Yeah I think the first time that you attack a Dungeon it's real live monsters. Sentients. But after you kill them and clear the Dungeon the system just copies them. But like it's a basic copy. It ups the level by one. To be honest after the first run it's easier in some ways. The monsters seem dumber. They have the same patterns."

"Interesting. But what does that have to do with us." Derrick asks.

"I'm not sure. But...the first time I fought the boss he said something. He said...that the Void would set "us" free. I think there is some kind of hidden conflict going on we aren't aware of. The system is against...someone or something else. And that something else is trying to get free."

All three of them shiver at the thought of being between two such powerful forces.

"I don't know," Justin finally states. "Short term it doesn't affect us. We just keep moving and getting stronger. I have a feeling eventually. All these mysteries will be revealed."

"Mmm..."Derrick grunts noncommitedly. "Maybe"

"So it's about 3 in the afternoon. We ought to have enough time to make a run at it." Justin slaps his hands and gets up. "What do you say?"

"Let's do it." Surprisingly it's Cera who replies first.

Justin is curious at how she does. He already got to see a mage in action with a few elemtal spells and couldn't wait to see more. The three strap on their weapons and check their supply of potions and gear. When they are satisfied they head to the entrance. Justin takes lead with his shield raised. Derrick is on his side just a step back and Cera is a few steps behind them.

[WARNING: You have entered FOGGY DUNGEON. Level parameter is 20.]

"What a creative name," Derrick snorts.

All three of them chuckle and advance forward. only a few minutes later and they finally see their first monster. A hideous, bloated thing awaits them. A "humanoid" creature standing on two feet. It has hairless dark skin and wings on its back similar to drawings of demons that Justin had seen. But the similarities end there. It's entire body is disproportionate. It's left arm stunted and curled up uselessly, its right longer than its knees and ending in a single rasor sharp point. It's legs a gigantic mass of bulging and muscular. Veins so large he can see the from 20 ft away line it's entire body. It's mouth hangs down to its chest loosely and filled with gnarled and mismatched teeth.

[EXPERIMENTAL HORROR LVL 20]

The three hesitate at the sheer disgust they feel from this thing. The moment it sees them it screams a hair raising, blood curdling scream and it bolts for them. It's loose mouth swings from side to side. It fails its good arm as it runs and it's wings flap uselessly at random speeds.

Justin raises his shield, and at the last moment just before the creature makes contact he activates Shield Bash.

The monstrosity is slammed by his shield but is only thrown back a few feet. Derrick swings his huge two-handed sword Almost immediately after it stumbles back. It manages to lean back just enough that the massive sword just manages to part open a cut from its collar down to its stomach. It's scream hitches even higher in pitch and it suddenly straight kicks Derrick. It's foot slams into his chest sending him flying backwards. A pure bolt of electricity sears past Justin's shoulder and literally burns a hole through the monsters shoulder. It doesn't stop though, making to kick towards Derrick again.

Justin's Void Strike shears its leg off Just before it slams down on Derricks fallen form. He twirls is blade flowing into a slanted strike and disembowels the creatures stomach. It crashes down onto the ground.

"USE FIRE!!" Justin screams to Cera.

Without hesitation a gushing torrent of flame flows from an outstretched hand and covers its flailing body. The scent of charred rotten meat fills the tunnel. It's scream somehow getting even louder and higher. Justin offers a hand to Derrick hauling him up and the party regroup backing up and resetting their position. The flames finally cut off, leaving Cera panting from mana loss.

The creature stays on the ground though. Screaming and flailing wildly. The flames on its skin refusing to die down as they eat away at its flesh. It lunges up with vengeance in its solid white eyes and it dives at Justin. It manages to grab hold of his legs and sends him tumbling to the ground before he can react. There is a few moments as he desperately pushes and twists trying his best to get it off. But he can't. As he watches in almost slow motion it rears its spiked arm up and plunges it toward him. It's head suddenly splits from its shoulder as a silver blur passes through its neck. It's body slumps lifeless to the floor.

"Jesus...CHRIST!" Derrick swears kicking the creature hard and away from Justin. "WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE THINGS?!?"