Entering the Dungeon
Morning arrived, and the sun's warm glow was all over the town as Lila woke up brimming with excitement. Today was the day. Her first dungeon. She wasted no time and immediately got to work, listing everything they might need for their expedition. Potions, food, torches, rope, weapons, extra clothes, she made sure to account for every possibility. After organizing the list, she allocated the team's budget, ensuring they wouldn't overspend but also wouldn't miss anything essential. Satisfied with her plan, she headed out to meet the others at the guild.
As she walked into the bustling guild hall, she saw her team already gathered at their usual table. Drakar sat with his arms crossed, his piercing gaze scanning the guild. Adrian and Doran were deep in conversation, while Sera was flipping through a book, probably reading about dungeons again. Lila clapped her hands together. "Alright, listen up, everyone! I've planned out what we need and how we'll spend our budget." She laid out her notes on the table, explaining everything in detail. Little by little, everyone gave their input. Adrian suggested adding extra antidotes in case they encountered venomous monsters. Doran recommended reinforced ropes, just in case the terrain inside was difficult. Sera proposed buying some fire-based items, as they could be useful against certain creatures.
After an hour of discussion, the plan was finalized. All that remained was buying the necessary supplies and preparing for departure. Just as they were about to head out, the doors of the guild swung open, and in walked Zora, carrying a large tray filled with breakfast. "I figured you all would be too busy planning to eat," he said with a chuckle, setting the food down. Everyone happily dug in, and the conversation continued as they ate.
Adrian, as usual, couldn't stay on one topic for long. "Hey, have you guys heard about the different types of dungeons?" he asked, his eyes shining with curiosity. Lila sighed. "Adrian, can we focus on our dungeon first?" "But it's interesting!" Adrian insisted. "There are elemental dungeons, cursed dungeons, labyrinths, and even legendary dungeons!" Sera raised an eyebrow. "Legendary dungeons?" "Yeah! And the one of the most famous one is the Uncrowned Dungeon!" Adrian's enthusiasm skyrocketed.
At that moment, Zora, who had been calmly sipping his tea, suddenly choked and spit it out in shock. Adrian didn't notice and continued excitedly. "The Uncrowned Dungeon is said to be the most dangerous dungeon in history. It has never been conquered, and its master is none other than Zortheus, The Uncrowned King of Dungeons!" Zora stiffened, quickly hiding his face behind his cup. He could feel his heart pounding. Lila tilted her head. "You're really obsessed with this dungeon, aren't you?" Adrian nodded rapidly. "Of course! He's an absolute legend! Even my grandfather's team once faced Zortheus, but they were completely overwhelmed! I bet Zortheus doesn't even remember that battle."
Without thinking, Zora muttered, "No, he hasn't forgotten." Silence. Adrian squinted at him. "And how do you know that?" Zora's mind raced. He had just made a mistake. He quickly tried to cover it up. "Uh… well, people say that Zortheus remembers every battle he's fought. That's why he's so strong!" Adrian, being the easygoing person he was, simply nodded in excitement. "That makes so much sense! You know a lot, Zora! What else have you heard?" Zora waved his hands. "Come on now, calm down. Weren't you guys discussing your dungeon quest?" That seemed to distract Adrian enough, and Zora let out a mental sigh of relief. I need to be more careful… he thought to himself. With breakfast done, the group left the guild and set out to buy their supplies.
---
By the time afternoon arrived, they were ready to depart. Standing by the town gates, Lila turned to Zora. "We'll be back soon, Papa!" Zora smiled warmly. "Take care, all of you. Stay safe." The team waved goodbye and began their journey toward the Dungeon of the Black Wolf. Their destination lay deep within a dense forest. A small camp had been set up near the dungeon by the guild, serving as a rest stop and medical station for adventurers. Reaching it before midnight was crucial, not only to rest but also to avoid getting lost. The camp kept its lights dim to avoid attracting monsters, so if they missed their deadline, navigating through the dark forest would be dangerous.
After several hours of walking, they arrived at the edge of the forest, where a guild checkpoint was stationed. There, they received maps, additional instructions, and safety guidelines in case they got lost. They also had to sign some paperwork, which Lila found particularly annoying. "Ugh! Why is there so much paperwork?!" she groaned, rubbing her temples. Adrian chuckled. "It's for our own safety, as well as the forest's. Can't have adventurers running in blindly and causing chaos." As they walked deeper into the forest, Adrian began explaining more about the creatures they would likely face in the dungeon.
"First, there are Horned Wolves, they travel in packs and are fast. Then there are Blue Bears, strong but slow. Leaf Snakes, they blend in with the surroundings, so we have to watch our step. And finally, Sting Bees, they attack in swarms, so fire magic will be useful against them." The journey went smoothly, and before nightfall, they arrived at the camp near the dungeon. The team quickly set up their tents, had a simple dinner, and got some rest for the big day ahead.
---
Morning came, and the anticipation was at its peak. Everyone geared up, making sure their weapons and supplies were ready. The cool morning air was filled with excitement and nervousness. Finally, they stood before the dungeon's entrance, a massive stone archway covered in ancient carvings, leading into a dark abyss. The ground seemed to hum with hidden energy. Lila took a deep breath, raised her fist, and shouted, "Alright, everyone, let's gooo!" With that, the team stepped forward, entering the dungeon for their first true adventure.