Tia, Zal, and the barely functional Ellen pressed onward, their path lit by the faint glow of blue crystals embedded in the walls. The further they ventured, the more unsettling the dungeon became.
Zal led the way, his movements fluid despite the heavy crafted backpack he carried on his back—Ellen's temporary "body." Though Ellen was tucked away inside the backpack, her presence was ever-present as she communicated through Zal's voice module, her robotic tones coming out in his deep voice. It was jarring at first, but by now, Tia had grown accustomed to hearing Ellen through him.
They faced several monsters native to the lower stratum of the dungeon. Mantidoxes—large insectoid creatures with razor-sharp claws—emerged from the dark, their multi-faceted eyes gleaming. The sight of them sent a shiver down Tia's spine. She knew the horrors these creatures could inflict if they managed to swarm their prey.
Before she could react, Zal stepped forward, his metallic body a blur of motion. With a single punch, he obliterated the first Mantidox, the force of the blow sending shards of its exoskeleton flying. Another swift kick reduced the second to little more than a pile of twitching limbs. The battle was over in seconds.
Tia stood frozen, staring in disbelief. She had known Zal was strong—stronger than any human—but seeing him effortlessly destroy the Mantidoxes was something else entirely.
"Gee, you're one heck of a unit, aren't you, Mr. Zal? Being able to smash through those monsters like nothing…"
"What do you mean? These things are only D- to E-level threats," Zal said, his voice calm, but with a subtle mechanical undercurrent that hinted at Ellen's presence. "No big deal."
Tia shook her head, still trying to process what she had just seen. "No, no, no, that's not the point," she said, stepping closer. "The threat levels are there so Rovers like me don't end up fighting something we can't handle. Mantidoxes are more than enough of a challenge for someone at my rank. They swarm their prey and tear them apart."
Zal responded with a slight chuckle, his voice crackling slightly. "True. But we've only been dealing with juveniles."
Tia blinked, taken aback. "Wait, what?"
"The adults are much larger—around the size of a bull," Zal said through Ellen's control, his voice turning serious. "They're classified as B-level threats. You definitely don't want to run into one of those."
Tia paled slightly. She had read the bestiary countless times, but there was no mention of adult Mantidoxes being that large. "You're kidding…"
"I wish I was," Zal said with a grim chuckle. "Even with my strength, I'd rather not deal with something like that."
Ellen explained through Zal's voice module, "It is understandable that you do not know about Adult Mantidoxes. It is not published in the Rovers' bestiary as its presence is still questionable. The Vectors who went down here and found them designated them as B-rank in terms of threat level. Of course, the data provided was according to the standards of the Rover Guild, but it was rejected because they needed a Rover to witness the said monster to verify the level of threat."
"Oh, I heard something like that. It is mentioned in the book of Rovers, I think. We also had experienced Rovers taught us how to verify the threat level of monsters."
"Heh, sticking to their rules, I see."
The group pressed on, navigating through the twisting passages of the dungeon. Eventually, they came across a long, wide staircase leading upward. The stone steps stretched into the shadows, disappearing into the distance. Zal stopped at the base of the stairs and glanced at the glowing crystal in his palm, which served as a map.
"So, Ellen," Zal said, his voice modulating slightly as Ellen spoke through him. "We sure this is the right path? Or are we about to walk right into a Mantidox nest?"
Ellen's voice came through, flat but confident. "I've been processing your sensory data and recalibrating our path, Zal. This is the correct route out of the dungeon. However, we may encounter more hostile creatures before we reach the middle stratum."
Zal let out a playful sigh. "Guess I'll have to trust your calculations then."
Ellen's voice flickered with a hint of sarcasm. "Do you no longer trust me, Zal? Waah… Waah… Waah…"
"That's not the issue here. And hey, stop with the flat cries, will you?"
Tia giggled at their dynamic. Even in their dire situation, the banter between Zal and Ellen never failed to amuse her. Despite Ellen's current state—reduced to little more than a voice inside Zal's body—she retained her sharp wit.
As they began their ascent up the staircase, the air grew colder, the weight of the dungeon pressing down on them. After what felt like an eternity of climbing, they finally reached the middle stratum. The atmosphere changed dramatically—the narrow corridors gave way to what seemed like the ruins of an abandoned castle. Tall, crumbling walls surrounded them, and dim blue light filtered through cracks in the ceiling, casting long shadows on the floor.
Tia craned her neck to look up, spotting the spiraling staircase continuing far above them. It stretched on endlessly, disappearing into the upper reaches of the dungeon. She sighed, feeling the exhaustion creeping into her limbs. "Gosh, I really hope my legs can handle this."
Ellen's voice chimed in through Zal's speakers. "It would be inefficient to exhaust yourself by attempting to ascend the entire staircase in one go. I recommend we rest at various intervals to maintain optimal performance."
Zal let out a chuckle. "Gotta love how Ellen sugarcoats things, right?"
Tia smiled despite her fatigue. "She's not wrong, though. I'll need breaks if we're going to make it all the way out."
They continued their climb, taking Ellen's advice and resting on the wide platforms between the spiraling stairs. Despite the occasional rest, Tia couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them from the shadows. The middle stratum was too quiet, too still. Her instincts screamed at her to stay on guard.
"Mr. Zal," Tia whispered.
"Hm?"
"Do you think something's following us?"
"Huh…" Zal's eyes flicked to the shadows. "Not that my scanners pick up any sign of life."
"Is that so… It's just too eerily quiet. Something doesn't feel right…"
"Paranoia starting to pick up the pace on you, huh. Don't worry, you can stay right behind me if anything pops up."
Ellen's voice took over again, more analytical. "While my sensors haven't identified any immediate threats, it is possible that we are being observed by entities hiding beyond our visual range. Caution is advised."
"Ellen's right," Zal resounded. "There might juuust be one or two critters lurking in the darkness. It is in our best interest to stay cautious."
Tia nodded, her hand tightening around her polearm. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. There was no turning back now.
They resumed their climb, pushing through the eerie stillness of the castle-like chamber. Each step brought them closer to the surface, but the oppressive weight of the dungeon still bore down on them. As they approached yet another platform, the staircase spiraled upward into the dim shadows once more.
"Oh boy. That's even longer than the last one. We're gonna need to steel ourselves," Zal glanced back at Tia. "You good kid?"
"Ugh…" Tia's eyes briefly lost their light. "How far does the stair go?"
"Hey, cheer up! Look at the bright side. At the end of this climb, we might find ourselves already close to the upper layer. Only a matter of time before we reach the surface."
Tia shook her head, tapping her cheeks. Her face regained the energetic smile almost instantly.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," the girl clenched her fist. "No use losing spirit now!"
"Great! Let's get going, then."
Zal and Tia continued their ascent up the spiraling staircase, each step echoing softly against the cold stone walls. The path wound endlessly upward, the dim light barely revealing the stairs ahead. Tia halted after a few more steps, breathing heavily, her hand on the wall for balance.
"I need a break," she muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. Zal glanced back, nodding as he leaned against the knee-height stone wall beside her.
"Take a moment. We've been climbing for ages," Zal said, stretching his arms.
As they rested, a strange gust of wind rushed down the staircase, causing both of them to shiver. It wasn't just a normal breeze—there was something unnatural about the way it flowed.
Zal frowned, his senses sharp. "Where's that wind coming from?"
Ellen's voice hummed softly in his ear. "Winged Serpents. Their wind magic often stirs currents in places like this."
Tia looked up, concerned. "I've heard rumors about those creatures... but aren't they ruled by something far more terrifying in these parts? The, um…" she hesitated, "the Zephyrbane." Her voice dropped, almost a whisper, as if saying the name might summon it.
Zal raised an eyebrow. "The Zephyrbane? Sounds pleasant," he joked, trying to lift the mood. "We're about to meet some otherworldly flying snakes, huh?"
Tia didn't smile. "It's no joke. If the wind is any sign, we might be running into its offspring."
As they pressed on, the gusts became stronger, more frequent. Tia held onto her cloak, her steps cautious. Ellen's voice chimed again, this time with urgency. "Several life forms... descending. Fast."
Zal reacted immediately. "Get down!" he barked, pulling Tia behind the knee-height wall. Both of them ducked just as the creatures zoomed past in a blur of wings and scales. The air buzzed with the sound of their passage, leaving the two travelers momentarily stunned.
Zal exhaled, shaking his head. "That wasn't funny. And the last thing we need is running into their mother…"
His words trailed off as his eyes drifted downward—right into the glowing, predatory gaze of the Zephyrbane itself. It was clinging to the wall just a few meters below them, its massive serpentine body winding around the structure, its wings bristling with energy.
Tia's hand shot out, grabbing Zal's robe in a panic. "Z-Zal..."
The creature let out a bone-chilling screech, its cry so loud that Tia had to cover her ears. Zal winced and made a face, "Loud as a broken microphone," he muttered.
Ellen, unimpressed, quipped in her flat tone, "Is this what they mean by not jinxing it?"
"Now's really not the time, Ellen!" Zal snapped, his voice tight as the creature lunged upward, claws outstretched to snatch them.
Zal moved with reflexive speed, narrowly dodging its grasp. The monster's talons scraped against his robe, tearing the fabric, but where it struck his metallic skin, it sparked harmlessly. Tia shrieked as the creature whipped its tail, nearly knocking her off balance.
As the beast reared back for another strike, Zal found himself instinctively reaching for Tia's spear, which was strapped across her back. Without a second thought, he grabbed it and spun, thrusting it toward the serpent just as its claws slashed forward again. The sharp tip of the spear found its mark, sinking deep into the serpent's side.
With a powerful push, Zal drove the spear further, forcing the creature off the wall. Sparks flew as the beast lost its grip and plummeted, screeching as it fell into the dark void below.
"Get on your feet, we're moving!" Zal shouted, tossing the spear back to Tia as they bolted up the stairs.
They ran, but the creature wasn't gone for long. The sound of wind intensified beneath them, and Zal could see the shadow of the Zephyrbane rising again. Its speed was blinding, far quicker than before, and even with his heightened senses, tracking its movement was nearly impossible.
Tia's breath caught as she spotted a small opening in the wall. "Mr. Zal, there! We can take cover inside that passage!"
Ellen agreed. "Even you can't keep deflecting its attacks forever, Zal. You're durable, but not invincible. We need a new plan."
Zal paused for a heartbeat, watching as the Zephyrbane closed in at an impossible speed. A wild idea sparked in his mind. A grin slowly spread across his face as he looked at the winged serpent.
"No," Zal said firmly. "We're not hiding."
Tia stared at him, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. "What do you mean we're not—"
Zal's grin widened. "We're going to ride it."