TYPES

Forest fell silent once again after the brief briefing given before their departure. Soon after, the sound of footsteps could be heard, occasionally crunching over dry leaves, accompanied by the rustling of branches against their clothes as they passed through.

Then, about a kilometer from their starting point, the group began to enter a much denser part of the forest. The sunlight became increasingly difficult to penetrate through the thick canopy spread far above their heads.

Among them was Ennis. The woman walked at the front, with little Taffi following closely behind. Every now and then, Ennis glanced around, making sure nothing suspicious was moving among the bushes. Though the surroundings appeared calm and safe at first glance. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze swept across the area.

After a while, Ennis finally slowed her pace. Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead when a question suddenly slipped from her lips.

“How much do you know about dungeon types?” she asked.

Taffi, who had been busy observing the branches beside the path and the various insects perched on the leaves, immediately looked up. Her hair swayed gently as she paused to think for a moment.

“Isn’t every dungeon basically the same?” she replied, trying to remember the dungeons she had visited before.

Hearing such an innocent answer, Ennis slowly came to a stop.

The woman turned around and stared at Taffi with a blank expression.

Yet Taffi merely blinked.

For some reason, Ennis eventually let out a long sigh before deciding to continue walking.

“Well ... that was before the Demon King arrived,” she said, offering a slight correction.

Taffi blinked several times. Her head instinctively tilted to the side in confusion. “So ... they’re different now?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Ennis answered, “Very. Completely different.”

Her voice sounded more serious than before, making it clear that she was speaking from experience, especially considering what had happened ten years ago.

Dungeons located near densely populated areas began to grow much deeper. Their corridors became wider and more complex, while the monsters dwelling within them were no longer weak creatures merely waiting to be defeated.

They evolved, following humanity’s progress and, in some cases, even surpassing it.

Thus, dungeons began to develop ecosystems of their own.

Some dungeons had environments resembling forests. Others were filled with winding stone corridors, while some even contained entirely different regions on each layer. They became places that felt completely foreign, as though they had come from an entirely different dimension.

Back when humans had first begun to explore them, Mana Shards were primarily used as a source of energy for various concoctions and products. They could be found in all sorts of necessities, from fertilizer and gunpowder mixtures to other materials essential to human society.

Because Ennis explained everything in simple terms, Taffi quickly understood. So much so that she swallowed nervously.

“Then ... what happened to the dungeons?”

This time, Ennis did not answer immediately. Her gaze shifted toward the distance, where the trees were beginning to grow increasingly dense, while her thoughts drifted somewhere far away.

After a brief pause, the woman finally spoke. “They changed.”

Taffi tilted her head slightly. “Changed?”

Ennis nodded, continues to explain.

“…Before the demon king arrive dungeons were originally just places where Mana Shards could be found. The monsters inside them were dangerous, of course, but their strength was relatively stable. They didn't evolve beyond what humans had already come to expect from them.”

“That was how things remained for a long time. The monsters would grow stronger within certain limits, but they never truly evolved. Their abilities, their instincts, even the way they fought remained largely unchanged.”

Her expression gradually became more serious.

“But then the miasma appeared.” The words caused Taffi to fall silent. “And once it did, the monsters began to change as well. You should’ve realized during our encounter with the goblins & guerezzas, how they fought are different than they used to.”

Their footsteps carried them deeper into the increasingly dense forest, surrounded by towering trees and growing farther from the sunlight. The dungeon was now only a few kilometers away, but the terrain ahead had clearly begun to change.

The trees grew sparser in certain areas, while large moss-covered rocks began appearing along the path. The change in scenery gradually made the surroundings darker and more ominous as they continued onward.

“There are only two places where Mana Shards of particularly high quality can be obtained after processing: the deepest part of a dungeon ... and the dungeon's boss monster.”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

“That means the deeper you go, the more valuable the Shards become. And at the very bottom, the strongest source of them is usually the boss.”

Taffi's expression grew increasingly uneasy.

“The problem is, monsters like those used to be predictable. They were strong, but they had limits. Their fighting styles remained the same, and they didn't develop beyond what was naturally expected of them.”

Ennis's voice lowered.

“But ever since the miasma appeared, that's no longer the case.”

Her gaze hardened as she looked toward the forest ahead.

“Their strength isn't simply increasing. They're learning. Adapting. Changing the way they fight.”

Taffi's throat tightened.

Ennis remained silent for a moment. Then she nodded. “That's what I'm worried about. Because if the monsters at the deepest parts of the dungeon are evolving too ... then the boss monster may have changed as well.”

A brief silence followed.

“And if that's true,” Ennis continued, her expression turning grim, “the Mana Shards aren't the only thing waiting for us at the bottom.”

“So ... they all developed because of humans?” Taffi asked.

Ennis hummed briefly. “For the most part.” She then pointed ahead. “And the dungeon we’re heading to is one of them. We are in the territories of the ashen noble, ashen are considered large territories.”

Following the direction of her finger, Taffi turned toward the same location.

Beyond the trees, a massive cliff could be seen in the distance, with a dark opening carved into its center.

“That ...”

“Yeah. It’s right there. One of the dungeons located near us, and usually much more complicated,” Ennis continued. “Because of that, its success rate and chances of survival can’t be compared to those of an ordinary dungeon.”

Taffi nodded in understanding. “So we have to be more careful?”

Ennis gave a slight shake of her head. “It’s not just about being careful. Sometimes, forming a group is necessary just to make it out alive. Going in alone would be suicide.”

Hearing that, Taffi immediately swallowed nervously.

And for the first time, she began to understand that this journey was not simply about hunting Mana Shards. It was completely different from the days when she had still been a slave.

Meanwhile, Ennis slowed her pace again after making sure Taffi had understood everything she had explained. The little girl’s face had grown noticeably stiffer and more tense. Her gaze even shifted several times toward the dungeon drawing closer, as though the dark opening in the distance had suddenly become far more terrifying than before, ready to swallow them whole.

Ennis noticed the change as well.

She eventually stopped and turned to face Taffi. Without saying much, the woman extended her right hand and raised her pinky.

Taffi stared at the offered finger in confusion.

“What’s that, Milady?”

“A promise.”

“A promise?”

Ennis gave a small nod. Her expression remained calm, but there was a seriousness in her eyes this time that made it clear to Taffi that she meant every word.

“Once we’re inside, promise me that you’ll always do whatever I tell you to do.”

Taffi fell silent. She understood that this was not a request she could take lightly. Ennis rarely gave orders without a reason.

“If Milady tells me to do something, I have to do it?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I don’t understand why?”

“Especially if you don’t understand. That is, if you trust me.”

The brief answer made Taffi stare at Ennis’s pinky for several moments. Then, slowly, the little girl raised her own hand and confidently hooked her pinky around Ennis’s.

“All right. I promise. And I’ll always trust you, Milady,” she said seriously in her childish voice, her gaze shifting back and forth between their tightly linked pinkies and Ennis’s eyes.

Satisfied with the answer, Ennis then released their fingers and resumed walking.

“Good, then. I’m glad to hear that.”

Not long after, the two of them finally caught up with the group that had gone ahead earlier. Several people had stopped in an open area not far from the dungeon entrance. They appeared to be making their final preparations before entering.

Ennis and Taffi naturally joined them.

A man carrying an enormous backpack then approached them. The pack was so large that it nearly covered most of his back. Without saying much, he opened a compartment on the side and pulled out two objects shaped like masks.

“These are yours.”

He handed one mask to Ennis and the other to Taffi.

The two immediately put them on almost at the same time. Ennis made sure the straps behind her head were secured properly, while Taffi briefly tugged at the front of the mask, clearly uncomfortable with the way it rested over her face.

Once everyone had gathered, the man with the backpack looked around the area before finally addressing the group.

“So, how are we going to approach the dungeon?” he asked, scratching the back of his head. He clearly still seemed unsure. “I mean, the formation for entering the dungeon. I’m supposed to watch over the kid, right?”

His gaze shifted toward Taffi.

The little girl merely blinked from behind her mask before tilting her head upward to look at Ennis.

Meanwhile, the woman being watched remained silent, waiting for the next decision.

The man with the enormous backpack continued standing in front of Taffi, waiting for an answer. However, before any of the group members could respond, he simply shrugged.

“It’s not just the monsters we have to worry about.”

The words came out so casually, yet there was something deeply suspicious about them.

Ennis, standing not far from him, immediately shifted her attention toward their surroundings. Something about the air ahead had changed. The smell of wet earth mixed with a pungent, rotten stench that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Even from several dozen meters away, the dungeon entrance was already visible.

However, the sight before them was nothing like an ordinary dungeon entrance.

Dark-colored vines spread across the rocky surface, forming thick clusters that covered most of the area. Dense, grayish miasma seeped from between them, drifting slowly through the air like something alive.

Ennis was just about to warn the others when ...

SWOOT!

SWOOT!

SWOOT!

A series of arrows suddenly tore through the air.

Several humanoid figures hiding behind the vegetation jerked violently as arrows pierced their bodies. Their forms resembled humans, but their skin and flesh had become fused with roots and vines that grew wildly across their bodies.

“Enemies!”

The shout caused the entire group to move on instinct.

Amid the horde of creatures, Ennis caught sight of someone far more familiar.

The human they had seen earlier at the fortress gate had now become part of the monster horde. But that was not the only thing that troubled Ennis. The monsters they had encountered did not all come from the fortress. Some had once been ordinary humans who had dared to venture into the dungeon, only to become infected and transformed into monsters. Black veins spread beneath their skin like roots, creeping across their entire bodies, while strange vegetation had begun to grow over parts of their faces.

No wonder no one dares to explore the dungeon anymore!

Ennis’s serious gaze immediately hardened. On the other side, Nousa pulled her bowstring back once more.

SWOOT!

The next arrow shot straight toward one of the monsters attempting to break through from the right flank. At the same time, the man with the enormous backpack immediately pulled Taffi behind him.

“Stay behind me!” he ordered.

Taffi could only nod before her small body disappeared behind the man’s broad back.

And, of course, Ennis did not wait any longer. Without a command, she shot forward.

Her footsteps came to a halt right beside Nousa. Without a word, Ennis reached behind her back and grasped the hilt of her blood-forged sword, which she had kept in its full form ever since her increase in power. With a swift motion, she drew the massive blade, its crimson surface gleaming as it emerged from behind her back.

Ennis’s gaze locked onto the horde of monsters ahead. “Don’t let them get any closer.”

Nousa gave no verbal response. Her hands simply drew the bowstring back again, an arrow already nocked and ready to fly.

Beside her, Ennis gripped her massive sword with both hands. Tightly. Then, simultaneously, the two pushed off the ground and surged forward.

Nousa’s arrows swept through the rear ranks, while Ennis charged straight into the front, cutting down every monster that attempted to approach. The plant-like tendrils lashed toward her body, but the massive blade tore through them before they could even touch her skin.

Behind them, Taffi could only stare, her breath caught in her throat.

The dungeon that had previously sounded like nothing more than a place to hunt Mana Shards was now revealing its true nature.

And they had not even properly entered it yet.

Before long, the battle at the dungeon entrance finally subsided. It had not been particularly difficult. Especially for Ennis. If anything, it had been little more than a warm-up.

From a distance, the bodies of the infected plant monsters could be seen collapsing one after another onto the ground. The vines that had once writhed wildly now hung limp, no longer putting up even the slightest resistance, while the thick miasma still lingered around the dungeon entrance.

Ennis stood among the corpses, her greatsword still gripped tightly in her hand. She let out a slow breath before something strange caught her attention.

One of the monster's bodies lay sprawled across the ground, its back facing upward.

And … there was something attached to it.

Ennis slowly approached and crouched down.

Two dark-colored roots were embedded in the creature's back, burrowing into its body like additional veins. Unlike ordinary plant tendrils, these roots were much thicker, with a faint, almost imperceptible pulse running through them.

“What is this?”

Without the slightest hint of fear, Ennis touched one of them with her fingertip. The moment contact was made, a strange sensation spread across her skin.

It wasn't merely a plant.

The root was some kind of connection.

Realizing this, Ennis immediately raised her head and stared deeper into the dungeon. Something moved faintly behind the veil of miasma.

A Salamander.

The monster wasn't simply attacking them directly. Ennis realized that creatures of this type could use the roots to control the infected monsters while simultaneously receiving information from outside the dungeon.

In other words, their every movement might have been known from the very beginning.

“So that's how it works…” Ennis muttered, preparing to stand.

However, before she could fully straighten herself—

SWOOSH!

Something shot out from the direction of the dungeon at incredible speed.

A torrent of water tore through the air like a cannonball, blasting apart the ground along its path.

“WATCH OUT!”

In a split second, Ennis lunged toward the man carrying the large backpack. She grabbed hold of him and yanked him out of the way.

The two children nearby were pulled along with them.

BOOM!

The blast of water slammed into the ground in an instant. The impact was so powerful that fragments of stone flew in every direction. The resulting shockwave even sent the surrounding trees shaking violently.

The ground itself trembled as though an earthquake had struck.

With quick reflexes, Ennis twisted her body to shield the two children with her back.

Meanwhile, Nousa leaped in the opposite direction and took cover behind a large boulder just as a second attack struck the spot where she had been standing.

BOOM!

Another blast of high-pressure water tore through the area, gouging a massive crater into the ground. The sheer force of the impact left everyone stunned. Even the man with the backpack, who had already faced these monsters three times before, was visibly shaken. He immediately turned toward Ennis, his pupils widening as he realized the terrifying truth.

The monster he knew had evolved.

“What the .... that shot was bigger than before!”

Ennis didn't react, but her gaze and full attention were already fixed on the darkness of the dungeon.

From behind the veil of miasma came the sound of movement, growing closer with every passing second. The Salamander had most likely already detected their presence.

And now, they were no longer the hunters.

Unfortunately, they had become the prey.

“Tsk.” Ennis couldn't help but click her tongue.

Her mood worsened as the rumbling from within the dungeon grew louder.

She had only just raised her head when several shadows began moving behind the miasma that shrouded the entrance. One shadow became two. Two became five. Then more and more, until the entire area before them was filled with indistinct movements.

Ennis's eyes narrowed.

“It's not just one,” she muttered, never taking her eyes off something hurtling out from behind the mist.

SWOOOOOT!

BRAK!!!

A high-pressure stream of water tore through the air once again, slamming into a massive tree and ripping apart its bark. Splinters of wood were sent flying, scattering in every direction.

If the target had been a human—or any other living creature—their flesh would have been torn to pieces. Faced with such a sight, everyone froze in place.

And the first person to realize how foolish they were being was Ennis.

“Take cover!” she shouted, snapping everyone out of their stupor and urging them to move immediately.

The man with the large backpack quickly grabbed Taffi and pulled her away from the open area. The two children followed close behind, running for cover behind a sufficiently large tree trunk. Ennis herself moved toward a large boulder a few meters away.

Unfortunately, the first attack was not the only one.

SWOOT!

SWOOT!

SWOOT!

SWOOT!

Several more streams of water shot out from the direction of the dungeon, blasting apart anything caught in their path.

Ennis carefully peeked out from behind the boulder. After taking a closer look, she could finally see them more clearly.

White, mossy, slimy, Salamanders.

And not just one or two, but many.

A lot of them.

Their numbers were almost equal to those of the infected monsters they had just killed. Their small bodies moved among the plants creeping around the dungeon entrance, each one preparing for its next attack.

“The same number ...” Ennis muttered, unsurprised.

If those roots served as channels for information, then these Salamanders were most likely part of the same system.

As soon as she reached that conclusion, another attack came.

SWOOT!

A stream of water struck the ground near Ennis's feet.

BRAK!

In an instant, the boulder she was hiding behind shook violently.

She pressed herself closer against its surface with an annoyed hiss. Even without being hit directly, the pressure from the attack was already enough to make her skin sting.

On the other side, Nousa was taking cover behind another boulder positioned across from her. She occasionally peeked out, keeping an eye on the Salamanders' movements.

“We can't keep doing this!” her panicked voice rang out from a distance. “If all we do is dodge, we'll die sooner or later!”

Ennis couldn't disagree.

If they only kept evading, this would inevitably end in their deaths. So ... there was only one option.

And apparently, Nousa had come to the same conclusion.

Her gaze shifted toward the man carrying the large backpack.

“Hey!”

Hearing himself being called, the man raised his head.

“Give me the bag!”

The sudden command left him slightly confused. “This one?”

“Yes! Now!”

But before he could do anything, another attack shot toward them.

SWOOT!

The man instinctively ducked, inadvertently dropping into a crouch as he covered his head. His gaze then happened to fall upon the large bag strapped to his back.

Without wasting another second, he quickly unfastened the straps. “Alright! Catch!”

With all his strength, he swung the bag and sent it flying across the open area toward Nousa.

However, at that exact moment, the Salamanders' movements changed. They stopped firing their attacks at random. Their bodies suddenly began to swell.

Water swirled around their mouths, growing denser and faster. The pressure they generated was so intense that the ground itself began to tremble.

Ennis immediately noticed the change. “The next attack will be stronger!” she warned.

At the same time, Nousa saw it too. She quickly leaned forward and caught the bag thrown toward her. Her feet slammed against the ground to brace herself against its weight.

Once she had stabilized herself, she immediately opened the bag.

Inside were several arrows unlike the ones she had used before. Without much hesitation, Nousa grabbed several at once.

Her hands moved swiftly. One arrow was immediately nocked onto the bow, ready to be fired. Its tip appeared to have a special component packed with explosives.

“Good,” she muttered with a pleased grin.

She then drew the bowstring with precision, never taking her eyes off the Salamanders, who were also preparing to unleash another barrage of water.

The mist around them was visibly swirling from the pressure building in the air.

And that difference made Ennis's instincts scream that something was wrong.

If that attack were unleashed simultaneously, their cover might not be able to withstand it. Without saying much, Ennis immediately shouted a single name.

“Nousa!”

“I know!”

The bowstring was drawn even farther.

The moment the Salamanders opened their mouths and the pressure of the accumulated water reached its peak, ready to be fired—

SWOOT!

Nousa's arrow shot forward first. It pierced through the mist in a straight line, heading directly toward one of the Salamanders in the center of the group.

A fraction of a second later—

BOOOOOOM!

A tremendous explosion shook the entire area. Fire and smoke erupted in the middle of the swarm of Salamanders. A shockwave swept outward, striking the surrounding plants, trees, and rocks.

“Take cover!” Ennis shouted as she ducked behind the boulder.

On the other side, the man carrying the backpack pulled Taffi closer behind the tree. Nousa herself dropped behind the nearest cover.

Then ....

BOOM!

A second explosion followed as the water pressure the Salamanders had accumulated was released uncontrollably. Streams of water blasted in every direction, mixing with the flames from the exploding arrow.

The ground trembled violently. Leaves flew through the air, while fragments of plants and rocks were blasted apart and rained down over the surrounding area amid deafening explosions.

Taffi instinctively covered both ears and curled into herself. However, instead of focusing on her own safety, the girl was more worried about someone far stronger than herself.

“Milady!”

Ennis didn't answer.

All of her focus was fixed on the thick smoke beginning to obscure the dungeon entrance. Her vigilance would not waver until those damn monsters were nothing more than corpses.

Several seconds later, the series of explosions and thunderous impacts finally subsided. Smoke still billowed through the area, however, severely limiting their visibility. At this point, Ennis had no choice but to patiently wait for the smoke to clear.

Her sharp gaze pierced through the haze.

Had it worked? Or not? No one knew yet.

Finally, Ennis narrowed her eyes, trying to see through the thick smoke. Several shadows could still be seen moving behind it. Their numbers had been reduced considerably.

But not all of them were dead.

And those that remained were now emerging from the smoke more aggressively than before, as though the attack had only served to enrage them.

Ennis tightened her grip around the hilt of her greatsword. “Then, let's continue.” The woman's gaze sharpened.

This time, they, and especially Ennis, would not wait for the next attack. Now that she had identified their weakness, Ennis was ready to deliver the killing blow.

Thick smoke still hung in the air before them, obscuring much of the dungeon entrance, though it was beginning to thin. Even so, everyone could still smell the mixture of scorched earth, burned vegetation, and lingering miasma.

Small fragments of rock were still falling from the surrounding cliffs, shaken loose by the earlier water explosions.

And naturally, no one was crazy enough to move immediately. They all wanted to make sure another attack wasn't coming before leaving their current positions.

A few seconds later, the man carrying the large backpack slowly rose from behind the boulder. His hair was a mess, his clothes were covered in dust, and even part of his face was smeared with soot.

However, instead of looking worried, the man broke into a wide grin. He clenched both fists and pulled them toward himself in celebration.

“YESSS! That's it! How do you like my latest invention, huh?! Feel that, you damn lizards?!” he shouted, bursting into laughter.

Hearing his triumphant cry, the others couldn't help but smile in relief, except for Ennis, who merely stared at him flatly. She didn't seem surprised at all, unlike someone who was clearly celebrating the success of his own creation after getting free test subjects.

However, since his celebration was dragging on for far too long, Ennis immediately cut him off.

“That's enough.”

Unfortunately, instead of stopping, the man only laughed even harder.

“Ha! With results this good, I'm going to show it off for the next ten years!”

Nousa, who had arguably contributed the most to the victory, emerged from behind the boulder with her bow in hand. Without any particular reaction, she glanced at the now-open bag before looking at the several explosive arrows still inside.

“Quite effective,” she said simply. Objective. No flattery.

Yet those two words were more than enough to inflate the inventor's ego. “Of course! Great creations come from great creators!”

Taffi, who had also heard the man's loud, prideful declaration, finally stood up. Her head emerged from behind her hiding spot, her round eyes filled with admiration as she looked at him.

“You made them?”

“Yup.”

“Wow! They're really powerful!” Taffi praised, her eyes sparkling.

The man chuckled happily. He raised his chin arrogantly before replying. “Of course! But you have to use them properly!”

Ennis narrowed her eyes slightly. “Use them properly?”

The man immediately fell silent for a moment. Then he shrugged. “Yeah, well ... a little detail.”

Ennis chose not to pursue the matter any further as the man went right back to boasting. Ignoring him, she turned her attention toward the dungeon entrance.

The smoke was beginning to thin.

The Salamanders that had previously moved among the vegetation now lay motionless. Some of their bodies had been blown apart by the explosion, while the rest were buried beneath collapsed earth and roots.

There were no more streams of water. No more movement. Which meant only one thing.

“The path should be safe for now,” Nousa said.

Ennis nodded in agreement. “Then let's keep moving.”

With that decision made, the group began moving again, continuing their journey after being delayed by the Salamanders' rather explosive welcome.

The man with the backpack quickly picked it up and slung it over his shoulders. Taffi stayed close behind Ennis, while Nousa walked several steps ahead, making sure there were no other threats waiting for them.

They left the battlefield behind, completely unaware of what was happening far beneath their feet.

Among the enormous roots filling the dungeon, a faint pulse emerged.

Bum.

Bum.

Bum.

The roots that had previously appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary part of the dungeon's ecosystem suddenly began emitting a dim glow. The energy then traveled from one root to another, spreading through passageways invisible to human eyes.

Like the veins of some enormous creature connecting the entire dungeon.

Deep within the dungeon, the roots continued to shift. Far deeper. Until, after following their interconnected paths, they all eventually led to a single point.

A vast chamber hidden deep beneath the earth.

Deprived of sunlight, frozen beneath subzero temperatures, and filled with a sharp, fishy stench.

And in the center of that dark chamber, something moved.

Whatever dwelled within was so enormous that the ground trembled with every movement.

Yet that was hardly surprising.

The creature was colossal, standing over five meters in length, its body writhing among layers of tangled roots.

Its elongated body coiled like a gigantic serpent, yet much of it had fused with tree trunks, roots, and living foliage. Scales did not completely cover its body. Instead, pale green skin resembling plant matter stretched along its length, adorned with tendrils that moved as though guided by a will of their own.

From its back, ancient wooden branches rose like horns. Massive roots extended from its body and gripped the earth, making the creature appear as though it did not merely reside within the dungeon.

It was part of the dungeon itself.

Above its head, a gigantic reddish-purple flower slowly bloomed. Its petals unfolded one after another, resembling the opening of an enormous eye.

Its long neck gradually rose, revealing a head resembling that of an ancient dragon swallowed by a forest thousands of years ago. Several tendrils hung from its jaws, moving slowly in response to the flow of energy that had just arrived.

The information carried by the slain Salamanders had finally reached it.

Without showing much reaction, the creature merely gazed calmly toward the dark passage connecting its territory to the area where the intruders were.

It knew that a group of humans had entered its territory.

It also knew that they possessed weapons capable of producing massive explosions.

And there was no way it could have missed the information that they had slaughtered the guardians sent to intercept them.

Meanwhile, far above, Ennis and her group continued walking, completely unaware that the entire dungeon now knew of their presence.

They had been terribly mistaken to think that the battle had been nothing more than a warm welcome. Because from the moment the first Salamander fell, the dungeon had been given time to prepare for the next battle.

And at the end of that vast network of interconnected roots, the dungeon's ruler had received a complete report on the intruders.

All that remained was to wait.

Wait for those pitiful humans to walk straight into its trap on their own.