The Dungeon Awakens [Chapter 17]

"Ahem, ahem. The lord is out for an adventure and shall return shortly. But may I inquire, who are you, my lady?" 

"Oh, me? I am the Goblin Queen, formerly the wife of the Goblin King. Now it is my solemn duty to serve my new lord. Alas, he is away on his quest," she replied, a hint of melancholy lacing her voice.

"Why do you seem so different from the other goblins?" he asked, intrigued.

"Ah, that is simply due to my unique gifts—my charm, if you will. It is this very skill that allows me to communicate with you. My beauty, my eloquence, and my intellect far exceed those of anyone else here. The previous king was a fool, but the moment I laid eyes upon my new lord, I found myself lost in daydreams of him. Aah, my lord!" Her voice trailed off, filled with longing.

"Lucas, are you witnessing what I am witnessing?" 

"Yes, boss. Our lord is indeed a very fortunate man," Lucas replied, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Hello, Alzeria! I have returned with good news! I have defeated the Goblin King and am now the official ruler of the Goblin Village. Soon, I shall vanquish that wretched foe and conquer other kingdoms. I will summon the four dragons, so you can be freed from this statue. This is the life you entrusted to me, and I intend to honor that trust. Although it's amusing that you remain silent, I assure you it won't last for long," i laughed.

As he sat before the statue, conversing with it, he recognized the absurdity of his actions. "I know I must seem like a madman, but it's merely a way to keep you company. I can't bear the thought of you feeling lonely."

Suddenly, a proclamation filled the air: **NOTICE: THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS HAS DECIDED THAT WITHIN THREE MONTHS, GODDESS ALZERIA AND HER KINGDOM WILL PERISH. YOU HAVE 90 DAYS TO SUMMON THE FOUR DRAGONS! THANK YOU.**

"What? Ninety days? Or else I will be killed? At least grant me nine years! I don't even know how to summon a single dragon! Stupid council! What the hell? Thank you, my ass!" My frustration boiled over, and i felt the weight of impending doom settle upon me.

The days of enjoyment had come to an abrupt halt. The countdown had begun, and trouble seemed to follow me like a shadow. "Okay, think now. Am I strong enough to defeat that guy?"

"Ah, I don't think so. I lack sufficient information about that punk. What should I do?" as i was thinking suddenly a thought appeared in my head.

"The dungeon! Yes, the dungeon that has recently appeared! I need to clear it to level up quickly," he declared, a spark of determination igniting within him.

He attempted to reach out to the guildmaster through telepathy, a bond that allowed master and servant to communicate effortlessly. "Hello, Guildmaster, are you listening to me?"

"Master, yes, I am here," came the immediate reply.

"Good. I am heading into a dungeon, so it may take me several days to return. Please don't worry about me, and inform everyone that you are in charge during my absence, okay?"

"Master, why the sudden decision to enter a dungeon?" the guildmaster inquired, concern evident in his tone.

"I'll explain the details later, but I need you to trust me on this," 

"As you command, master. But remember, the dungeon you are entering is not a regular one. From what you've described, I suspect it is a rare dungeon where multiple boss monsters can be seen. Please be safe. If you wish, we can accompany you."

"I know, but Wooble is not with you, and it would take too long for you to arrive at the dungeon. I can't wait any longer. While I am gone, it is your responsibility to train the goblins for the upcoming battle and gather intel about the stone guy,"

"As you wish, master," the guildmaster replied, his voice steady.

"Good. Take care!" 

With that, I mounted Wooble and rode toward the entrance of the dungeon. Nervousness coursed through my veins. I have yet to recover from the previous battle, but fate had thrust this path upon me. The situation had become dire; if i did not accelerate my progress, it would mean doom for me, Alzeria, and everyone i cared about. 

As I rode, a whirlwind of thoughts consumed me. What kind of monsters would i face? How strong would they be? Would i be able to defeat them? The anticipation was palpable as i finally arrived at the gate.

"Lucas, gather everyone. Master has sent an important message!" he shouted, urgency in his voice.

"Okay, boss. As you say, I will inform everyone for the urgent meeting," Lucas replied, his expression shifting to one of determination. 

"Okay, Wooble, stay at the gate. I'll be back soon," I instructed, my voice firm yet reassuring. "Protect the gate for me. If I sense any danger, I'll send you a signal. Then you must run straight to the village and bring the Guildmaster and the others with you, alright?"

Wooble's eyes glimmered with concern, but he nodded in agreement, his resolve evident despite the worry etched on his face. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a quick embrace, feeling the warmth of his presence bolster my courage. With a final glance back, I turned and ventured into the depths of the dungeon, my heart racing with a mix of trepidation and excitement.

"Alright, let's do this," I whispered to myself, determination coursing through my veins.

As I crossed the threshold into the dungeon, the ground beneath me trembled violently, as if the very earth was alive and responding to my presence. In a sudden, terrifying moment, a cascade of boulders tumbled down, sealing the entrance behind me with a thunderous crash.

"Ahh! Why do I feel like this dungeon was specifically waiting for me?" I muttered, unease creeping into my thoughts.

But as I ventured further into the cave, my initial apprehension began to fade. To my astonishment, the darkness that typically enveloped dungeons was replaced by a radiant glow. Crystals of every hue sparkled around me, casting vibrant reflections that danced upon the walls. I had never seen such magnificent crystals before; they shimmered like stars in the night sky. When I reached out to touch one, its surface felt smooth and cool, yet it was harder than diamond.

"Perhaps these crystals have absorbed the magical energy of the dungeon, transforming it into this breathtaking spectacle," I pondered aloud, a sense of wonder igniting my imagination. "This material could be incredibly valuable for our guild!"

As I continued my exploration, I soon spotted a staircase leading upward. However, my excitement was quickly dashed when I noticed the formidable guardian of the stairs: a giant snake sleeping there, its scales a deep shade of purple, glimmering ominously in the crystalline light. Its long fangs gleamed like daggers, and I could see the sinewy muscles rippling beneath its tough exterior. 

"Well, it seems my first challenge awaits," I mused, steeling myself for the encounter. "No turning back now."

The snake lay coiled, its massive form seemingly asleep. An idea sparked in my mind, and a mischievous grin spread across my face. "Why not surprise him with a little wake-up call?" I chuckled to myself. With stealthy grace, I crept closer, grasping its tail. With a swift motion, I slammed its head into the ground, the impact echoing through the chamber.

"Wake up, snakey!" I taunted, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.

"Kwhaaaa!" the creature roared in surprise, its eyes snapping open to glare at me with fury.

"Did I wake you up? Sorry, but I need to get to the castle!" I quipped, adrenaline racing through my veins.

The snake responded by spitting venom in my direction. I leaped to the side just in time, watching in awe as the stone floor melted where the poison landed. 

"Wow! Your venom is more dangerous than Gloom's poison," I exclaimed, impressed despite the danger.

Without warning, the snake lunged at me, its massive head darting forward. I braced myself, gripping one of its fangs as we entered a fierce battle of strength. We pushed against each other, but its powerful tail suddenly whipped around, slamming into my gut and sending me crashing into the wall.

"AAHHH! Stupid snake!" I groaned, trying to catch my breath.

As the serpent slithered toward me, I kicked it in the side with all my might. I dodged another attack, racing toward its tail. With a burst of energy, I grabbed hold of it, swinging the massive creature around and slamming it into the wall where I had just been thrown.

"Hah! How's that?" I laughed triumphantly, but my victory was short-lived as the snake burrowed into the ground, disappearing from sight.

"Huh, that's cheating! Where will it come up next?" I wondered aloud, scanning the area anxiously.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, the snake erupted from the ground behind me, delivering a crushing headbutt that sent me sprawling face-first into the dirt.

"What the—?!" I gasped, choking on the dust.

Before I could recover, the serpent wrapped its tail around me, constricting tightly. 

"Ahh! Not this again! I'm so tired of tails!" I wheezed, struggling to break free.

Desperation surged within me, and I activated my skill, Leer. The sudden surge of power allowed me to escape its grasp, gasping for air as I stumbled backward.

"I should really thank Wooble for this," I thought, grateful for the timely assistance his skill had provided me twice now.

But the snake was relentless, once again disappearing into the ground. "Why does it keep doing that?" I fumed, frustration mounting as I tried to anticipate its next move. 

Just then, it reappeared beneath my feet, its enormous maw wide open, ready to swallow me whole.

"What the—?!" I shouted in shock, my heart racing as I realized I was about to become the snake's next meal. 

In that moment, all I could think was, "This is not how I imagined my day would go!"

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A/N:  I hope you are enjoying it. please show some love so that i would know you guys are reading.