Lewd Dungeon, page 31
Thinking quickly, he threw one hand forward, activating the auto-grappler in the armor to quickly pull himself back to the central platform. Landing in a crouch, he then rolled to the side as one of the monk’s hands passed through the space his head had just been. Quickly regaining his feet as Ashera forced the succubus back once again, he said, “Don’t forget the flame blasts. Damage isn’t too bad, but they have a knockback! Remember your grapples!”
That was the last real surprise out of the fight. The two defenders tried their best, and worked well together, but now that they were paying attention to the flame blasts, there was only one way that this fight would go, unless they got cocky and made foolish mistakes. Like he almost did just before.
The fight felt as though it lasted hours, but was truly more like minutes. Of course, a fight that actually lasted more than a few seconds, when you got to the higher levels, was impressive in its own right. Typically, a battle would be decided within the first few blows. One mistake, or lucky strike, started a sequence that was difficult to recover from. It was only in mage-duels or actual battlefields that you saw combat lasting for any appreciable length of time. To draw out a fight this long, while under-leveled and outnumbered? Balgurg had to respect the skill of his lord’s servants.
When it was finally over, he took a knee as Lyrei went about healing everyone, and their armor’s self-repair functions went to work, using the ambient mana to undo the dents and burn damage the suits had taken during the fight. Other than the previous fights against the Darkwater Invoker on the third floor, and the Magelord and Stormlord pair on the first floor, this was the most damage they’d taken so far in the dungeon. Which, to be fair, made sense, since the floors were supposed to get more difficult as they went deeper.
Once they were all healed and rested, with armor fully repaired and MP and HP both at full, Balgurg looked around at his pets. “So, thoughts?”
Ena frowned. “Obviously, given the level disparity, the outcome was a foregone conclusion, once you took out the forces on those balconies. However, we all forgot about the fireblasts, and you would have likely died, Master, if not for the grapple in the armor. Once we knew that trick, though, it was mostly just wearing them down. We probably could have finished faster, if we were willing to take more risks.”
Lyrei frowned. “That would have been far too risky. You could see it in some of the skills they used. Their attacks were all designed to either cause damage despite armor, or to impose a knockback effect. It only takes one good hammer blow to the knee to set you up for a second attack that will send you over the side. And with the blades in that pit, going over the side is potentially deadly.”
Ashera nodded. “There’s also the fact that we would have to assume that the ‘hidden condition’ for the fight holds true here, as well. If all of us went over the side before we defeated them or sent them over, then we would be sent back to the start of the level, to do it again. And I doubt the dungeon would just raise anyone killed in the encounter from the dead. So, we’d be getting weaker and weaker each time.”
Ratha came over from where the loot chest was. “Well, the loot is Rare-grade. Solid upgrades for someone fighting through the dungeon closer to their level. There’s a shield, here, that would easily see someone through to Level 40 or 42 of Tier 2, for instance. Since the bosses were Tier 2, Level 36, that’s a good piece of gear.”
Balgurg raised an eyebrow. “Are they soulbound?”
“No, though there is an option to bind them once you’ve used them.”
Balgurg nodded. Soulbound or ‘bound when equipped’ items were common once you got higher in levels. It is part of what kept low-level adventurers from just using powerful gear that another adventurer happened to find in a dungeon. More importantly, when some of the high-level monsters used disarming or other attacks to strip your gear away, it meant that those items could not be used against you, which was a concern when you fought sapient creatures (whether they were in a dungeon or not).
The fact that these pieces were ‘bound when equipped’ meant that they could be sold, and whoever was the first to equip the items would be the only one who could use them until that person died, or a ritual was performed to transfer the binding. That second method was not commonly used, for obvious reasons. Even when it was an old warrior passing on a family blade to their child, unless there was some sort of limiter on the weapon, then it would be more a curse than a boon. If the child came to rely upon the sword that was overpowered for their level, their skills would not develop correctly, and eventually they would be undone by someone who had actually put in the work.
Hence, why the ritual was usually only done when the younger adventurer was approaching the level range where they could make use of the weapon, or in the case of scaling items, which adjusted their power to fit the level of their wielder. Of course, a scaling weapon was always powerful, but the level scaling meant that it only became overpowering if combined with the wielder’s own abilities in some way that made it so. Still, just the security of having a piece of gear that you never had to worry about replacing, and would always be useful for your adventuring career? There was a reason why scaling items were so expensive, when they were found in the System Shop, or local Auction Houses.
He shook his head to clear those thoughts away. “Right, the next floor is another swamp level, right? What have we heard of it?”
Ashera answered immediately. “Lizardfolk hunting in packs. You need to find three idols to Lord Kuronoth in the swamp, and get them to the door to open the way to the boss fight. There is a Lewd Lizardfolk Warrior as a miniboss, though he is probably a Tier 2 class now, and a Lewd Lizardfolk Chieftain and Shaman as the bosses. Also probably Tier 2. We’ll need full seals the entire time, even you, Master, since the Shaman is female.”
Lyrei nodded. “And I can pray to Lord Kuronoth, to show us the path to the first of the idols. After that, Ena can use her mage knowledge to track the connection between it and the other two. That’s the way most groups handle it, unless they are opposed to the Lord.”
“More fools, they, then, for coming here if that’s the case,” Balgurg nodded. “Very well. We should count on the lizardfolk having weapons that can harm us, at the very least. We’ll rest another five minutes, and then head out.”
Chapter 320 – Preparing
Balgurg nearly stumbled as he stepped out of the portal. The fight through the fifth floor had been difficult, but mainly because they were forced to play karhn-and-rathek games the entire way. The packs of lizardfolk were organized, and they were skilled. Too skilled for them to simply ignore, or face them as they came. So, the entire ‘swamp’ section of the floor had been an exercise in stalking and counter-stalking, all while trying to follow the trail to get the idols needed to move further into the level.
That kind of activity was draining mentally, as well as physically. And when the packs had finally found them by the doors to the boss room, the fighting was intense enough that they’d had to rest before continuing. Not just to heal and recover their strength, but so that the holes in their armor could be repaired.
After the bosses, who were a Level 42 Blessed Shaman and Warlord and their retinue, they’d been forced to recover yet again. The bosses were closer to their level, now, and their weapons were capable of harming them. It had been a hard fight, and the only reason none of them were injured badly enough to require extensive healing was because of their skill, and their equipment.
Stepping onto the sixth floor, however, was a different experience. Without even needing to ask, he felt the change, as all magics except for attack and healing magics were locked down by the dungeon law. His armor was heavier, as well, with all its enchantments disabled. Just as he’d been told.
He could hear the grumbling of his pets as they came out of the portal behind him. Even knowing it was coming, suddenly having all one’s magic items stop working was never an ‘ideal’ situation. Especially when you were used to having a certain degree of reinforcement and support magic in the mix. Oh, the armor still functioned as nonmagical armor, but only the technological parts of its other functions still worked right now.
“Ooh, I was wondering when you lot would get here!”
Balgurg turned his head, and saw the dais the Adventurer’s Guild mentioned in their report. The one which allowed magic items and spells to be used freely, in contrast to the rest of the floor. And, as expected, a Succubus was standing there, completely naked. Of course, even without her being protected by the Lord’s settings on this floor, one could argue that a succubus was at their most dangerous when they had nothing on.
He nodded to her as he approached the dais. “So, you are the guide, then? In Lord Kuronoth’s name, tell us all you are allowed to about this floor, so that we might give thanks to the Lord.”
“Ooh, I’d heard that you were a respectful sort. That makes everything so much more fun. Well, as you have no doubt noticed, your items and spells will not work on this floor, other than damaging and healing spells. Not until the final puzzle is solved, and the boss room unlocked. For that reason, there is no miniboss or sub-boss on this floor.
“However, while the Master may wish to keep things fair, you have chosen a more dangerous path than others who come this way. The Vurlocks in the water will be numerous, and they’ll be tough fights, especially if you are forced to move between areas of Airy Water to keep from drowning. That much, the Master expects you to clear with little trouble, especially given the show you’ve put on so far.
“Your first task will be to secure entry to the Temple itself, out in the middle of the water. As I am sure you’ve heard, there are multiple ways to do that. First, you might dive in the waters, contending with Vurlocks to find the pieces of the key you need. Or you might sacrifice a piece of gear, or take a curse upon yourself, lasting for the duration of the floor. There is also the option of commanding one of your pets to mount the statue of the Master atop the Temple and ride until she brings herself to completion no less than seven times, as there are six of you, but, at least, all of you being followers of the Master means none of you would need to open your wrists during the process. Any of those four methods will grant you the key needed to continue forward.”
Balgurg frowned beneath his helmet. While paying homage to the Lord was one thing, he knew himself well. He was far too possessive of his slaves, his horde, to allow that. And sacrificing items or taking curses were a poor choice. They would need to fight the fishmen in the water.
“Your second task, once you’ve entered the pyramid, will be to open the way. A puzzle will open a gate, leading down, and a lever will drain the water. Down and down, through the pyramid, until you get to the bottom floor. There, one must either complete the test of poison, or hit the correct button upon the console all the way back at the top of the pyramid.”
He nodded at the succubus’s words. That matched what he had heard from the Adventurer’s Guild. He also knew that, despite the local custom for ‘green’ meaning ‘go’, or having positive connotations, while ‘red’ meant ‘stop’, and was seen as bad, these customs were turned on their head in the Water Temple, as red would open the way forward, while green would attempt to kill the person pressing the button, and consign everyone below to death by drowning. Not the way he’d prefer to go out.
“However,” she continued, causing Balgurg to put aside those thoughts for the moment. “Because of the difficulty level you have picked, there is an additional stricture upon those who enter the pyramid. Shadows will be moving through the pyramid. Not undead creatures, but actual projections of shadow, impervious to attack and ignoring all defense.
“These shadows will move about at random, but will be inexorably drawn towards those who stay in one spot for too long. Fortunately, the Master has not given these shadows the ability to damage anyone. Instead, if one should be grabbed by the shadows, then the entire party will be warped to the start of the floor, and be forced to start the entire process over again, from the beginning. On the fifth failed attempt, you will be cast out from the dungeon, and returned to the entrance hall upon the surface. The only penalty for this fifth failure is that the failure will be announced to all in Swamptown, and you will not be able to reenter the dungeon for one week of local time.”
“That is new,” Ena said, forgetting her place for a moment. Not that Balgurg blamed her. This kind of restriction was clearly designed as a check against teams which used the strategy of leaving one member above while the rest continued down through the pyramid, forcing everyone to be on guard, the whole time. It was a simple trick, but effective nonetheless.
The succubus just chuckled, and said, “When the button on the console is pressed, or the test of poison passed, the shadows will disperse, and trouble you no more on this delve into the Master’s dungeon. Then, you need only complete the unlocking of the final chamber, and the boss and his companions will be there, six to match your six. And though you both serve the same god, the boss will not hesitate to attempt and take your lives, should you prove unworthy of going further into the dungeon.
“However, should you manage to open the pyramid, and then work your way to the bottom, before unlocking the final seal, and then overcome the boss waiting for you there, then you shall be rewarded with more than just loot commensurate with your deeds. For, after this floor comes one of rest, where one of the Master’s slaves ensures that the hearth is warm and food is ready upon the table. There, you may rest, and regain your strength. There, you may muster your courage, for the horrors that lie beyond.”
Balgurg nodded. “Thank you, fellow servant of the Lord. Your information matches that we have from doing our due diligence in researching the dungeon before we delved, but confirmation is welcome, as is the revelation of those things which have been added in this version of the dungeon. This would be a far harder task without that information.”
“Oh, why can’t all the big, strong men that come in here be as polite as you? Though I admit that the ones who are trying to fight against the Master are a lot more fun to watch, as they inevitably end up hurting their own chances with their struggles, having someone simply showing respect and proper gratitude is such a change. Only thing better would be if you were bending me over this railing, big boy.”
“Hah!” Balgurg laughed in a moment of mirth. “While I appreciate the offer, I am not so foolish as to go draining my stamina right before engaging in a test of endurance, as this floor looks to be. I know the beauty of my pets might give the impression that I can be led around by the balls, but I do not give in to such temptations when in a dungeon. Especially not when facing a demoness known for her abilities to seduce men and force them into compromising situations.”
“Aww! Too bad. Master makes sure I keep fed, but there is something different about mortals from outside the dungeon. Like the difference between someone making sweet iced tea by just pouring in some sugar and stirring it in, or someone who has it down to an art, and knows the sugar needs to go in while the tea is hot, and you stir in while adding some more water.”
Balgurg paused. “I have not heard of this drink.”
“Ooh! You should definitely try some, when you get out of the dungeon. I have a couple people up in Swamptown that I meet with on my days off, and they treat me to all kinds of local foods. Apparently, how one drinks tea changes drastically depending on the region of the world. How cool is that? Of course, such diversity is natural, considering that the System’s absence divided everyone for so long, but it is still fascinating to see all the little cultural differences!”
Lyrei chuckled. “So, you’ve learned all this from talking with adventurers here, and on the surface?”
“Oh,” the succubus laughed. “No, most of it I found using the Internet. These humans put all kinds of information out there, just waiting for anyone to come along and look it up. Really pretty impressive, with how much is out there. And it makes you wonder, if this is what they let out publicly, how many juicy secrets do they keep hidden? Oh, if I wasn’t bound to this dungeon, I’d definitely be making this planet a prime place to study for my next degree.”
Balgurg shook his head. “All right, enough of that. We have work that we need to be getting to. Everyone, give me a test fire of your weapons, pointed somewhere well away from the guide or anything else important. That will tell us what weapons we can rely on underwater. When that’s done, switch out into the mana-null armor, and rig your breathing apparatuses.”
“Mana-null?”
Balgurg looked over at the succubus. “While a planet cut off from the System is rare, areas where magic is suppressed, whether due to natural conditions or dungeon laws, are not. The Mana-null armor is a lighter-weight suit of armor designed to still provide some protection, but without any magical augmentation. We also have a set of Arcane armor, for areas where technology is similarly disrupted.”
“Ah, I see. Well, if you make it to the end, you might consider speaking with any sellers you’re on good terms with. I’m sure they’d find a heady market for such things here on Earth.”
