The Dungeon of Insectoid Depths

He had prepared well before the others, his equipment perfectly adjusted: a full suit of abyssal serpent leather armor, supple but durable, and an enchanted sword with a slightly blue blade, glinting faintly in the early morning light. He looked at himself in the mirror for a moment, then silently left his room.

He got up and, for lack of anything better, went to speak to Julie. They'd never really spoken before, but Kyle was desperate for something to do. The conversation began awkwardly, punctuated by awkward silences, until Julie brought up the topic of the upcoming mission: the dungeon.

"You really know your stuff," she said, genuinely impressed. "It's obvious you've prepared well for this mission."

"Look, your teammates are coming."

"Thanks for the chat, Julie. I really enjoyed it."

"Me too. Good luck out there, Kyle."

"Already suited up?" Tristan asked amusedly. "Won't you at least give us time to eat before we go to war?"

"Okay," Kyle replied simply with a small smile.

"Nothing important," he said with a shrug, before sitting down

Lys, opposite him, looked away. She seemed uncomfortable, probably thinking back to their exchange the day before. Kyle, for his part, was casting discreet glances at her without daring to say a word.

"You two, is there a problem?" Tristan asked, perplexed.

"Forget it," Elena interjected with a sigh.

Soon, the last two members of the team joined them. The group was finally complete.

Tristan stood up, adopting a more solemn tone.

"Today's the big day. A cart is waiting for us outside. The dungeon is in the forest, near the capital. The trip will take about two hours."

Elena took out a small bag decorated with a magic seal.

"We've got everything planned: this bag contains enough supplies to last a week, just in case."

But Kyle was already no longer listening. His mind was elsewhere, entirely focused on the dungeon, on the adventure, on the unknown that awaited him.

When the meal was over, the group left the guild. The cart, harnessed and ready, awaited them in front of the large gates.

They climbed aboard, their hearts pounding, their eyes shining.

The adventure had begun.

The journey to the forest had passed in a calm but anticipation-filled atmosphere. At the front of the cart, Tristan and Elena guided the horses, their voices occasionally mingling with the hooves hitting the ground. In the back, Kyle, Lys, Anne, and Iris took advantage of the ride to chat... or at least, to try.

Iris, sitting next to Kyle, said with a smile,

"This is a first for us, isn't it?"

"Yes," Kyle replied, nodding. "And I'm really looking forward to it."

Her eyes shone with excitement. The slightest sound in the forest seemed mysterious, almost magical.

Lys, sitting next to Anne, kept her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on the landscape. She hadn't said a word since leaving. Anne, worried, leaned towards her.

"Are you okay?" We haven't heard from you yet today.

Iris, teasing, said slyly,

"I think it's because of Kyle..."

Kyle blinked, said ironically.

"Huh? What did he do?"

"Nothing... yet," Iris replied, laughing softly.

An amused silence fell. Anne, curious, started the conversation again:

"I'm so excited to see what this dungeon is like. I wonder what kind it will be... underground, a temple, a labyrinth?"

"I understand," Kyle said. "I've read a lot about it, but seeing one in real life will be nothing like it. It's... exciting."

The conversation revolved around theories, ancient ruins, mythical monsters, and vicious traps, until the cart abruptly stopped. Tristan turned from the front.

"We're here," he announced. "The entrance is a little further on, we'll have to continue on foot."

The group dismounted, their excitement rising. They advanced through the bushes and trees, then, after a few minutes of walking, it appeared.

The entrance to the dungeon.

A huge stone door, embedded in a cliff, loomed before them. Ancient inscriptions, covered in moss and strange symbols, adorned the surface. It emanated an ancient, almost palpable mana. A slight vibration in the air made his skin tingle.

Kyle stood frozen for a moment.

"So this is it... a dungeon."

Tristan approached cautiously. He placed his hand on the cold stone, closed his eyes, and slowly breathed his mana into it. Immediately, the symbols lit up in a soft blue glow. The earth vibrated slightly, and the heavy door began to open with a dull rumble.

Elena and Anne exchanged a glance before saying simultaneously,

"That means we're definitely the first to enter."

Tristan turned toward them, a confident smile on his lips.

"Let's go." 

After each member of the group had passed through the portal, one by one, they found themselves in a dungeon-like setting: a dark, damp corridor, typical of dungeons of this type.

The formation was clear: Anne, Tristan, and Kyle at the front; Elena, Lys, and Iris in support and logistics at the rear. A palpable tension hung in the air.

It was Elena who broke the silence:

"Something's coming... Be ready, everyone."

Kyle raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"I wonder what the mobs will be like here. I hope they're original, at least..."

But before he could finish his sentence, a group of disgusting creatures appeared in the corridor: large, writhing larvae with sharp fangs.

"Voracious Larvelyns," Anne recognized, her gaze hardening.

 "Giant fly larvae," Iris specified. "Be careful of their acidity."

Tristan didn't wait a moment. His sword ignited, tracing an arc of fire that pulverized the swarm in an instant.

"Couldn't you leave some for the others?" Kyle joked, mock-outraged.

Once the monsters were eradicated, their bodies vanished, leaving only glowing crystals behind. Tristan explained,

"Dungeon monsters sometimes leave these crystals behind. They're worth a lot, especially for crafting magic catalysts and other magical items."

"We already know that," Kyle replied with a smile. "It's very cliché..."

And that was how the first level was cleared.

 Level 1: Vermin and Larvae.     

Larvelyn the Voracious (Fly Larvae).    

 Oeuf-Foison (Crawling Eggs).    

 Mordacarians (Bite-Bitter Mites)

Lys and Iris methodically noted every monster and trap they encountered. At the end of the corridor, a magic circle shone on the floor.

"This is the entrance to the next level," said Tristan.

"I have a feeling the creatures in this dungeon are nothing more than insectoid beings," concluded Iris seriously.

"That's what I think too," confirmed Elena.

"Well, at least it's original," said Kyle wryly. "I'm tired of the usual goblins, orcs, and golems."

Tristan added gravely:

"The deeper we go, the harder it gets. Don't slack off." 

And with confident steps, they positioned themselves on the magic circle. The light engulfed them.

As soon as they arrived, they were attacked by a colony of Warrior Ants.

Elena fired several arrows, Anne used her Puncture technique, sending a wave that swept through the enemy ranks. Tristan and Kyle took over in close combat, their duo combining fire and lightning. Iris finished off the survivors with a Fireball.

"I haven't been of any use yet," Lys growled.

"Hey, are you talking now?" Iris teased.

"You're our healer, your role is crucial," Elena reassured her.

Lys lowered her eyes.

"I know... but I also want to prove my worth."

Her gaze flicked discreetly towards Kyle.

Elena and Iris exchanged a knowing glance. They understood.

List of monsters encountered:

Level 2 – Small Predators

Warrior Ants (Warrior Ants)

Sipbloods (Life-sucking Mosquitoes)

Swarm of Snarls (Harassing Midges)

Stone Lice (Stone Lice)

Their advance continued. The group descended to level 8, easily fending off waves of insects, although fatigue was beginning to set in.

 Insectoid Deeps Dungeon – Level Overview

Level 3 – Pests

Scurablattes (Running Cockroaches)

Piquejumpers (Jumping Fleas)

Thripshades (Invisible Thrips)

Level 4 – Small Social Insects

Abeillards (Stinging Bees)

Furies Guêpales (Aggressive Wasps)

Tertimors (Destructive Termites)

Level 5 – Secretive Predators

Punambras (Night Bugs)

Oreillacs (Strangling Earwigs)

Phasmarans (Strange Stick Insects)

Level 6 – Giant Locusts and Grasshoppers

Criquetitanes (Pest Locusts)

Sautéblades (Lacerating Grasshoppers)

Level 7 – Chanters and Deadly Dancers

Stridugrills (Stridding Crickets)

Hypnosa Cicadas (Hypnotic Cicadas)

Level 8 – Armored Scarabs and Beetles

Scarabrex (Armored Beetles)

Hannetombes (Chewing Cockchafers)

Chrysoxydes (Corrosive Leaf Beetles)

Gendarpyres (Explosive Firebugs)

Exhausted, the group took a rest. They settled down near the magic circle.

"This area is safe," Tristan assured him. "No monster can cross this circle."

"Are you sure?" Anne asked. "It wouldn't seem so, but I still have energy to spare."

Kyle, however, still craved danger. But out of respect for his comrades, he kept his desires to himself.

 Meanwhile, Elena revealed the rewards collected so far.

Dungeon Rewards

Common Materials.

Crackling Elytron: Hard shell, for light armor.Chitinous Claw: Ideal for jewelry or simple weapons. Translucent Wing: Serves as a light alchemical component.Diluted Venom: Useful in alchemy or light poisoning.Carapace Fragment: Reinforcement for equipment. Glue Silk: Used in traps or bindings. Insectoid Eye: Alchemical catalyst.

Rare Materials 

Concentrated Toxic Gland: For powerful poisons. Chitinous Adrenaline Core: Increases speed or reflexes. Acid Blood: Dissolves metals, powerful for potions. Reinforced Stinger: Natural blade, forged into a dagger. Lunar Silk: Durable, used for cloaks or magical armor.Crystalline Claw: Precision weapon or weapon component. Prismatic Shell: Magical reflections, highly sought after.

The campfire crackled gently. Everyone caught their breath, unaware that the dungeon's true trials were only just beginning...

After their rest and a good meal, the group set off again towards the ninth level.

This level was eerily quiet. No monsters appeared at first, which put everyone on their guard.

"Don't let your guard down," Tristan warned. "It's much too quiet..."

No sooner had he said this than a gigantic creature appeared as if from nowhere. In a split second, it pounced on Tristan and Anne, seriously injuring them. Although they had sensed its presence, they didn't have time to react.

 With Tristan and Anne on the ground, only Kyle, on the front line, remained capable of fighting.

"I'll take care of this," he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

It was then that the creature fully revealed itself: a Mantisceleris, a giant praying mantis, with a slender body and razor-sharp blades. Its speed was inhuman.

Lys, without wasting a second, began tending to the wounded while Kyle rushed forward to meet the enemy.

The Mantisceleris's blows were dazzling, both sharp and nearly impossible to anticipate. Kyle dodged narrowly, but his smile remained intact.

"Bad draw for you..." he hissed at the creature.

He activated the Veil of Nothingness. Around him, the world seemed to slow down. Kyle now saw the attacks as if they were floating in the air.

With an elegant charge, he dodged beneath the enemy's blades, raised his sword, and with a single, precise blow... decapitated the beast.

 But to his astonishment, the decapitated body of the Mantisceleris moved again. With a final spasm, the insect struck Kyle, knocking him backward. He coughed up blood but remained standing.

He unleashed a black light from his blade, shouting,

"Black Lightning!"

The weapon, enveloped in dark lightning, slammed down on the creature, cleaving it completely. This time, it remained motionless.

Lys rushed to heal Kyle, her face worried. He gave her a tired but genuine smile.

"Thanks, Lys."

Tristan and Anne, now back on their feet, came over too.

"Sorry, Kyle. We let our guard down."

"It's nothing," he replied with a chuckle. "At least I got a good fight."

After this harrowing confrontation, the group took a moment to breathe and recover.

 Once their strength had returned, they cautiously resumed their progress.

As at the beginning of the ninth level, no monster appeared on the horizon. The heavy silence reminded them that calm was never synonymous with safety.

Suddenly, the sound of whirring wings echoed through the darkness of the corridor.

Without the slightest hesitation, and to prevent further tragedy, Elena drew her bow and fired in the direction of the sound.

"Up there!" she shouted.

She had aimed correctly. A winged creature, hit hard, slowly collapsed to the ground. It was an Aerorachnes, a gigantic venomous dragonfly. Weakened, it didn't have time to retaliate. Iris, focused, eliminated it with a single preformation spell.

A sigh of relief escaped the group. And that's when they discovered a magic circle engraved on the ground, indicating the exit to the tenth level.

Iris, who until then had maintained a cautious attitude by staying back, drew a preliminary conclusion:

"The ninth level was all about ambush... Predatory Mantises and Dragonflies."

She noted in her notebook:

Level 9 – Predatory Mantises and Dragonflies

Mantisceleris (Swift Praying Mantises)

Aerorachnes (Poisonous Dragonflies)

The adventure continued, but this time, it took a more difficult turn. With each level, the enemies became more cunning, more numerous, and much more dangerous.

The fights continued, and so did the injuries. Lys had to intervene on numerous occasions to heal her companions, her magic becoming an essential pillar of their survival.

 It was on Level 13, as their steps grew heavier and their faces lined with fatigue, that Tristan spoke:

"We absolutely have to take a break this time. Even if we're close to the exit."

For once, Kyle nodded without question.

"Affirmative."

Iris's notes on the levels explored:

Level 10 – Strange Butterflies and Moths

Papilltox (Poisonous Butterflies)

Phalames (Soul-sucking Moths)

Level 11 – Light and Dark Creatures

Luxillants (Blinding Glow-worms)

Darkcushions (Giant mosquito cousins, aggressive)

Level 12 – Fortified Social Insects

Queen Antmorta (Queen ant, manipulates her soldiers)

Buzzers (Bumblebees that generate destructive sound waves)

Level 13 – Camouflaged Predators

Arachneaqua (Water spiders capable of spinning invisible webs)

Cigaliths (Stone cicadas, immobile until attacked)

So Camped just a few meters from the circle leading to level 14, Iris and Elena settled down by the fire and took stock of their descent.

"So far," said Iris, "each level is structured by a theme: speed, venom, camouflage..."

"And above all," murmured Elena, "we can never let our guard down. Not even for a second."

After the break, the group reached level 14.

Rested and alert, they expected to find the usual long corridors... but there was only a huge room. No, a cave.

"That's so weird..." commented Kyle.

"That means there's only one monster on this level," guessed Elena.

"And if it dies, the magic circle will appear," concluded Tristan.

 That's when they saw it: a colossus at the back of the room. A true six-legged titan.

Level 14 – Evolved Beetles

Rhinobehaemor (Behemoth Rhinoceros Beetle)

Elena fired several arrows, but they bounced off without effect.

"His exoskeleton is ultra-resistant," she growled. "Your turn, front row!"

Tristan and Anne launched a combined attack: Tristan ignited his sword, Anne used the piercing technique. Result? No effect.

Kyle then appeared out of nowhere, launching his Black Lightning. It only made a slight dent in the monster's shell.

"Apparently, he really wants to add a bit of a challenge to his story," Kyle joked with a smile.

As the beetle raised its leg to crush it, Lys erected a protective barrier at the last minute.

"Thanks, Lys."

"It's nothing..."

"It's resistant to fire," Tristan concluded.

"But it doesn't like lightning," Kyle noted.

Anne then planted her spear in the ground, triggering a new Fracture ability: a crevasse opened under the beetle, immobilizing it.

 Elena used magic to fire lightning arrows, Iris used the thunder spell, and Kyle concentrated his Black Shard until it made the air vibrate.

The three of them managed to take down the Rhinobearum.

The magic circle around level 15 appeared.

From there, things got tougher.

Level 15 was a challenge; even the weakest enemies required the participation of the entire group.

Injuries were becoming frequent. Lys had to intervene again and again to heal and protect.

Everyone played their part, but those who stayed behind ultimately proved to be the most decisive:

Lys, protector and healer

Elena, scout and trap detector

Iris, support magician and monster recorder

Levels Completed:

Level 15 – Supreme Mantises and Dragonflies

Mantis Imperia (Imperial Praying Mantis)

Libellugon (Dragonfly)

Level 16 – Dark and Toxic Creatures

Pyroformyx (Fiery Red Ant)

Vampstigra (Vampiric Tiger Mosquito)

Tsetsenos (Nightmare Tsetse Flies)

Level 17 – Ultimate Social Insects

Thanatiqa Swarm (Death Swarm)

Espruche (Thinking Hive)

Level 18 – Mythical Insectoid Creatures

Abeillarche (Giant Carpenter Bee)

Guêpassis (Colossal Mason Wasp)

Papilchaos (Chaos White)

Arriving at the Circle magic leading to level 19, Kyle raised his hand.

"Okay... that's enough!" he said. "I like adventure, but I'm not a masochist."

Tristan jokingly replied,

"I thought you'd be the last one to want to turn back."

Anne and Iris confirmed that they thought so too.

And added that they were starting to get tired too.

Elena recalled that Guild Master Edward had said this dungeon wasn't very big.

"I'm not going to risk my life just for insect-themed loot," Kyle grumbled. "I'll have an artifact, but if it's a scepter that summons cockroaches when you shake it, no thanks."

"There could be sacred items too," Lys added.

"There, now everyone's motivated except me..." Kyle sighed. "So I'm the only one lucid enough to know when to stop."

After listening to Kyle, Tristan decides to take a break.

"We'll stop here for today," he says.

"Rest and eat before continuing."

The group sets up a makeshift camp: something to eat, relax, and recover a minimum of energy. Then, once ready, they activate the magic circle and are teleported to level 19.

As on level 14, they find only one room, a huge hall, lit by a strange, radiant purple light. And at the bottom... it appears.

A gigantic creature, half insect, half ghost, floating slightly above the ground:

Luciombre, the Radiant Firefly, their second area boss.

Tristan quickly orders:

"Battle position! Anne, Kyle, forward!"

The three charge straight towards the creature.

 Kyle sends out his black lightning, Tristan unleashes flames, Anne unleashes a pure piercing energy attack.

But nothing. No effect. Not even a scratch.

"She can take it all..." Anne murmurs worriedly. "She's not afraid of fire, lightning, or magical attacks..."

Before they can think further, the monster spits out a dark cloud.

"Sacred barrier!" Lys shouts.

She raises her arms and raises a wall of light to protect them.

In the back, Elena fires arrow after arrow: flaming, electrified... none of them hit.

Iris fires a series of spells: fire, lightning, ice... all of them pierce Shadowfire like wind.

Tristan grits his teeth.

"Kyle was right... We should have stopped there."

The group wavers. And then, a light pierces the darkness.

 Lys casts an offensive blessing: Holy Spear, spikes of pure holy light that finally strike the creature and draw a cry from it. It is wounded!

Buoyed by hope again, everyone coordinates a strategy: Lys attacks again and again, the others distract.

But very quickly, she exhausts herself.

And falls to her knees, in tears:

"I'm sorry... I'm too weak..."

Tristan turns to her, grave:

"No. I'm the one who should apologize. If I hadn't been so arrogant..."

At that moment, Shadowfire charges toward Anne.

"Watch out!"

Tristan pushes her just in time, receiving the attack instead. He collapses.

Lys, panicking, wants to heal him, but she can't attack and heal at the same time.

Kyle watches the scene and sighs ironically:

"Well... It seems he's leaving me no choice."

He sheathes his sword.

 "It was nice while it lasted... the hero of an isekai story, a genius swordsman."

Then, he extends his hand.

"Force Field!"

A protective sphere of lightning surrounds Anne and Tristan. He turns to Lys:

"Heal him. Elena, Iris, protect Lys!"

Before the group's surprised eyes, Kyle advances alone towards Shadowfire.

"Flash!"

A blinding flash bursts from his fingers.

The creature recoils: it's sensitive to light!

"Oh? Interesting... What about darkness? Dark Link!"

Dark chains encircle the creature. It is immobilized.

"Perfect. You're not intangible... That makes things easier for me."

Kyle raises his hand again.

"Dark Veil!" »

A black mist materializes and surrounds the creature, dealing massive damage like a physical attack.

But Shadowfire retaliates with a dark cloud. The cloud engulfs Kyle. Everyone holds their breath.

When the mist clears... Kyle is still there.

"Surprise," he says. "I don't fear the darkness."

He reaches out... a sword of light forms.

He charges forward, without stopping, taking advantage of his immunity to darkness. Blow after blow, he pierces the enemy.

Shadowfire finally collapses before him.

Silence. The group is stunned, shocked by Kyle's power.

He turns to them with a small smile:

"And there you have it... Now, I guess this is the moment when we discover the protagonist's true identity. I've always loved big reveal scenes."