4. Beasts of Myth

As the party enters the dungeon, they are attacked by the creatures of myth. These creatures appear in the form of giant foxes, teeth the length of a long sword, and a muscular body so heavy, it can destroy any wall with one attack, but combined with lightning quick reflexes they proved a most challenging foe to the hunters of old. However, this party of adventurers are descendants of those who could wipe out an entire colony of the feared Fang Fox, armed with the weapons passed down to them, they make quick work of the creatures and proceed to the lower levels.

"These things get stronger the deeper we go, do you think we can continue to the remaining floors, Freyja?"

Freyja slices a fang fox in half before replying.

"Giving up already, Wilter? That's not something I expected to hear you say. I don't care about the rest of you, but I'm just getting started!"

She rushes towards the hordes of creatures and slices them with frightening efficiency, the others follow her lead. Slowly the numbers dwindle until the last one on the twentieth floor has been slain. The party take a few minutes to recover from the endless onslaught of the fang foxes. While catching their breath, they exchange information about their experience with the creatures. Wilter speaks first.

"I must say, those fang foxes were tough. If not for our skills and weapons, we would've had a harder time dealing with them. I wonder how the remaining floors will treat us. It doesn't matter though, with a group like you guys, we can accomplish anything working together. Let's continue until we clear this dungeon and after that as well."

Cheers are heard from the other members; Freyja prepares to speak.

"During our fight with those creatures, I learned a lot about my limitations and how much I'm capable of. To be honest, as we moved deeper into this dungeon, I found it more difficult to maintain my magic power, and I had to prevent myself from passing out. But thanks to all of you being there, I was able to push past my boundaries. Thank you."

Henry sits quietly, a blush covers his face as he speaks.

"That was a terrifying experience, I can't believe our ancestors defeated them so easily, and here I am trembling like a fool. But for some reason, I feel calm. I don't know if it's because I have all of you looking out for me, or, if it's because I stood my ground against those abominations and took a lot of them down. Either way, I'm happy to have met all of you."

He hides his face in his arms when he finishes. Greigore sits quietly, not betraying any thought.

"Me--Greigore happy--to have--comrades-- like you. Th-th-th thank you--for accepting--me--into your-- party. I--will give--my--life-- to defend-- all-- of---you. I--best tank-- in this-- world."

Smiles and cheers are shared between the adventurers as they prepare to move deeper into this unknown dungeon.

On the hundredth floor of the dungeon, Tartarus stand guard over the final chamber. One of his soldiers came running to him with news.

"Lord Tartarus! I bring concerning news."

"Speak, that I may hear it!"

"Yes, my lord. The group of adventurers that entered the dungeon have already made it to the twentieth floor and are proceeding further down."

Tartarus sits in silence, not saying a word. Then, like a roaring lion he speaks."

"SOLDIERS!!! Do not be alarmed by this news, there is no chance of them making it past the remaining floors. If by chance they make it deeper, we will personally intervene to stop them at all costs. But only when they reach the eightieth level will we make our moves. In the meantime, assume battle positions and prepare for an assault on my order."

All his soldiers salute him before preparing to attack the party of adventurers. Little does he know about a room on the seventieth floor that contains a beast so powerful, not even the gods could kill it.

On the seventieth floor, Benjamine Bloodgrave waits patiently for his release from the shackles that bind him.

"Hey, Shadow. Do you feel that?"

"Indeed. There is a powerful party of adventurers that are making their way into the deeper parts of the dungeon. You might be lucky enough for them to reach this floor soon and free you from captivity."

"That may be true, but I don't want to reveal my true identity until I have seen them and what they're capable of."

"If they turn out to be enemies?"

"I will simply kill them like I did with everyone else all those millennia ago."

"I hope for their sakes, they are allies."

Benjamine closes his eyes and waits for them to arrive. On the twenty-fifth floor, Wilter and his party battle a new type of beast, this time hordes of deformed and mutilated undead capable of casting basic magic and hand-to-hand fighting. It proves very difficult for the party to advance faster. Greigore stops the advancing creatures while the others catch their breath. Wilter looks at Freyja before speaking.

"I don't think now is the time to hold back anymore. If you want us to survive, you're going to have to use your magic. I know you don't like using it, but we don't have a choice in this situation. Even Greigore is weakening from the endless attacks. Please Freyja. For our safety and the sake of our goal, use your magic."

Freyja closes her eyes as she begins talking in a foreign speech. A heavy mist gathers around her, infused with a mix of forest and dark magic. She condenses it into orbs of pure energy before shouting.

"GREIGORE, MOVE!!! DARK FORREST GATLING!!"

Greigore moves out of the way as a multitude of orbs fire into the undead, disintegrating them immediately. With the help of her spell, the party can push forward and proceed to the lower levels. After what feels like hours of fighting, the group collapse onto the ground, battling to catch their breath. Freyja moves to a secluded corner and begins throwing up.

"I think you pushed her a bit too far Wilter. Her magic power is almost depleted, unless you have a bag full of medicine and potions, we won't be able to proceed further."

Wilter smiles as he reaches for a brown sack he has been carrying since entering the dungeon. The sack contains an assortment of medicine and potions to help with recovery.

"I never enter a place without being prepared for the worst-case scenario. Here, these are for you and Greigore."

He tosses two bottles of medicine to Henry and Greigore. When they finish the bottles, their power is instantly restored to full capacity, making them feel great again. Wilter approaches Freyja with two bottles in hand and gives them to her.

"Sorry for making you do that; I know your magic was running low, but I couldn't think of another way to go deeper."

"It's fine so long as you are ok with bearing the consequences of your actions. What floor do you suppose we're on?"

Wilter looks around trying to find an answer. He stumbles upon a marking on the wall indicating they're on the Sixtieth floor. To his surprise, Wilter can't make any sense of it.

"This is strange. We were originally on the twenty-fifth floor and moved deeper but how did we make that jump from floor twenty-five to sixty? I've never heard of this ever happening."

He returns to the group and explains what he has discovered, leaving everyone at a loss for words. Unable to understand what has happened, the party prepares to go lower into the dungeon. On the sixty-first floor, they encounter an enemy they have never seen before, Gargoyles. Giant bat-like creatures, with twisted horns and mange all over their lice and insect infested bodies. The smell is so overpowering that all their rations turn into Mold. Henry begins to panic.

"How the hell are we supposed to face these things? Are they even creatures of myth?"

"Relax, Henry. There might be a way to stop them, but it will require your assistance."

"Really Wilter?"

"Yes. We will imbue your arrows with fire magic and use them to defeat these abominations. I can't guarantee this will work, but we must try."

Henry thinks for a while and steels his resolve.

"I will do whatever it takes to make sure we clear this dungeon, leader."

Wilter smiles and begins firing orders to Greigore and Freyja.

"Greigore! I need you to protect Henry at all costs until we are ready."

"Yes-- leader."

Greigore erects a powerful barrier around Henry.

"Freyja! I need you to imbue Henrys arrows with fire magic, I think it's the only way we can kill these things."

"On it."

Freyja arrives next to Henry with one step and begins imbuing his arrows with fire magic.

"Henry. Listen to me carefully. These arrows will require you to imbue them with a fraction of your magic power to make them explode after hitting the target. I know you can do it. You're the descendant of the high rank archers after all."

Henry focuses and calms his mind. When he is ready to fire the first arrow, he mumbles the words.

"Catch a light."

The arrow hits a gargoyle, making it burst into intense flames before falling to the ground, dead. Henry smiles as he continues firing while the party moves forward. Back on the seventieth floor, Benjamine smiles wryly.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you, Benjamine?"

"I most certainly did. After sensing a familiar magic wave, I decided to help them advance faster because I would like to see who they really are."

"You never cease to surprise me, Benjamine."

"I guess that comes with being human, changing our minds because of an old memory. I don't see it changing in the distant future."

"Indeed. But still hide who you are until the situation calls for your real identity."

Benjamine smiles as he waits patiently.

In the lowest level, the same messenger returns with more news about the adventurers.

"Lord Tartarus. The party of humans has already made it to the sixty-fifth floor, and they show no signs of slowing down."

"Very well. Soldiers, prepare to defend the last twenty floors with your life. Leave these humans with nothing as you take away all they have."

A loud cheer fills the lowest floor as Tartarus and his soldiers prepare for battle.