Chapter 14: INTERLUDE – Nightmares & Tentacles – Part 1

There were five…

Heather walked silently in front of the other five champion candidates, afraid to make eye contact with them. They journeyed through the dungeon, each waiting eagerly to see who would be next to betray the others. The first to fall was Sophia, at the hands of Jason, he even ate her heart, but since then, the five of them had an uneasy truce. Heather fought against the few creatures that lurked in the darkness, all while keeping a close eye on her fellow candidates. They needed to level—No, she needed to level, but there weren’t enough monsters. Her mind ran rampant with paranoia. Who would break the truce first? Which one will try to kill me first?

As they continued their journey through the dungeon, Heather couldn’t shake off the dread lingering in the air. She felt like the walls were closing in on her, suffocating her with fear. The silence was only interrupted by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional growl of a dungeon monster. But even that was a rare sighting. Heather tried to focus on leveling up and the power that came with it, but she couldn’t help but wonder which one would try to kill her first. Who could she trust, Yua? Even if Yua seemed protective of her, Heather knew there could only be one survivor at the end.

Heather was constantly on edge, always looking over her shoulder and checking her back. She was afraid that one of the others would turn on her at any moment. She had no allies in the group, and she was isolated. Heather had been summoned into the body of a small, slender dark elf woman with flowing white hair. She was living her fantasy of being a mage in another world. Well, perhaps not the dark mage part. She knew that to survive, she would have to take a stand and fight for her life. Heather was determined to do whatever it took to emerge as the winner and leave the dungeon alive.

However, telling herself she would survive and win were lies she repeatedly told herself. She knew her days were numbered. She was weaker than the others and was aware that they would eventually figure out the truth. She had lied about her level, hoping that the others would falsely believe it to be suicide to attack her. It had worked so far, and she had managed to keep the others from turning on her. But she knew that it was only a matter of time before the truth was revealed, and she would be at the mercy of the others when the shaky alliance ended. Despite those fears, something felt different.

Heather was the first to reach the boss’s chamber, and as she approached the massive doors, she took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. The darkness seemed to be closing in on her, suffocating her with fear upon fear. Heather could feel something sinister lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. Heather couldn’t shake off the dread lingering in the air. She felt like they were being watched, like something was there with them. She couldn’t help but wonder what lay within the shadows.

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Yua's arrival was marked by her visible trembling, which was at odds with her mysterious and reserved demeanor. Despite her calm exterior, she was filled with doubt and fear as she stood outside the boss's chamber. Her tall stature gave her confidence, and as being summoned into a high elf body, her intelligence and Wisdom were natural traits. Yua quickly became known among the other candidates for her ability to think quickly in high-stress situations.

The air around them was thick with tension, and the darkness seemed to be closing in, making the atmosphere suffocating. As Yua approached the doors, the darkness grew even more oppressive, casting a shadow over her mind and spirit. A sinister presence lurked beyond the doors, ready to strike at any moment. The feeling of being watched was overwhelming, and Yua couldn't shake off the dread.

The dread surrounding Yua was almost palpable as she stood before the doors to the boss's chamber. The responsibility for the battle's outcome rested heavily on her shoulders and those of her fellow candidates, those who she knew would soon be her enemies. She was aware that their collective actions would determine the success or failure of the conflict.

As she took a deep breath and stepped into the unknown, Yua couldn't help but worry about the boys. She hoped that her determination and bravery would inspire Heather and that they would make it out of this situation together. Yua was ready to face her fears head-on and emerge victorious.

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Jason was third, and he was surprisingly calm. He quietly observed the others, trying to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Jason considered himself the smartest in the group and was confident he would find a way to outsmart the others. Without any doubt, he had every intention of betraying the group.

Jason was a tall, lanky man with a mischievous grin that was as quick with his wit as it was frightening. His needle-like teeth added to his already fearsome reputation as a cruel and evil assassin amongst the other four. If you asked, he would say he looked like a video game character from Mortal Kombat. In his mind, he saw himself as the ultimate dark champion, reveling in the tension and uncertainty between his party members. Jason eagerly anticipated the next one he would eliminate.

Jason was starting to feel uneasy despite his usual confidence and willingness to cause chaos. The massive doors seemed to emit an unknown danger, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different this time. Heather and he had already scouted out the toad. And yet something was gnawing at him in the back of his head. He shrugged it off. He was too excited, waiting in anticipation of murdering the others and eating their hearts after the boss.

Jason was a ruthless competitor and determined to come out on top. He was aware that the other candidates were plotting against each other. Still, Jason was confident in his ability to outwit them. He walked ahead of the group, his mind racing as he planned his next move. The upcoming boss battle was crucial, and Jason was determined to use it to his advantage. He watched as the other candidates were mentally preparing for the fight, but he held back, waiting for the right moment to strike. Just wait!

In the end, the choice was simple. Either they fight the boss together, or he could start murdering the others now, face the boss alone afterward, and surely lose. So here he was, waiting for the others to psych themselves up before they face the next boss together, and he’ll murder each one after. Jason couldn’t wait! He was determined to prove to the necromancers that summoned him that he was the ultimate dark champion. His heart raced with excitement. He knew after this battle would be his chance to eliminate his competitors and secure victory!

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Rob arrived next, feeling overwhelmed and scared. He was the youngest of the group at fifteen and wasn’t ready for this new world. He didn’t want to betray anyone, but he was uncertain if he could kill them in cold blood. Rob silently prayed for a miracle, hoping to leave the dungeon unscathed without blood coating his hands. Despite his fear, Rob had a formidable appearance, with a half-orc body, bulging muscles, and a scowl that commanded respect. Before being summoned, he was an avid gamer with aspirations of becoming a paladin, known for his unwavering devotion to justice and holy powers. However, he was trapped as a necromancer apprentice, much to his frustration.

Rob was plagued by dark thoughts as he stood outside the boss's chamber, with the massive doors to the boss’s chamber reminding him of the high stakes, as the truce would end if they failed to defeat the next boss. Jason's aspirations of killing everyone and becoming the dark champion filled Rob with disgust, but even more unsettling was that Jason was uncharacteristically quiet. Something felt off, and Rob couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Despite his fear, Rob held onto his sense of justice and morality, hoping it would guide him through the darkness.

As a backup plan, if his morality failed him, he had two undead goblins following him, ready to distract Jason and the boss while he made his escape. His primary goal was to leave this nightmare situation alive, and he was determined to see it through no matter the difficulty. The urge to run was strong, but Rob knew that Jason would not hesitate to eliminate him if he fled. So he braced himself, relying on his wits to guide him through the upcoming battle. Although he was not the paladin he once dreamed of becoming, he held onto that dream and remained steadfast in his resolve…lacking it may be.

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Jeremy had his soul placed inside a broad-shouldered beastkin with canine traits and a booming voice. He showed the potential to become a fearsome warrior among the five. He also had a protective nature, always striving to maintain peace among the group. Heather and Jason’s reconnaissance indicated that the boss was a massive red toad, and the battle would require all of them to work together as a team. However, Jeremy felt anxious as he stood outside the boss’s chamber despite his bravery in battle.

Jeremy was steadfast in his resolve to finish what they had started despite his reservations. He understood the gravity of the situation and realized that they had to fight the boss or risk the end of their agreement and the eventuality of them killing each other. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the battle, ready to tackle any obstacle. The boss’s chamber doors were massive and imposing, reminding Jeremy of the daunting task ahead. Nevertheless, he stood firm and resolute, committed to seeing it through. Though he had concerns, he was ready to fight the boss, no matter the cost!

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Finally, Heather and the other candidates marched through the larger-than-life doors to the boss chamber, eager for the battle. But what they encountered was not what they expected. Instead of the toad, they found a beautiful woman with silky white skin and long, flowing white hair in a matching silk dress that a few of them almost mistook for her skin. The woman was seated upon a colossal throne of slithering and writhing black tentacles. The woman gazed at them with hypnotic, glowing orange eyes as if made from molten iron. She looked like an angel with the gaze of a hungry demon wrapped up in the form of a gorgeous lifesize porcelain doll. They couldn’t help but notice the black gums beside porcelain white teeth as she smiled, only adding to the demonic aura she gave off as if unimaginable horrors were radiating from her.

The dim lighting of the room was only accentuated by the eerily glowing orange eyes of the woman on the throne. An overwhelming feeling of discomfort permeated the air, making it feel like they were inhaling a dense fog. Four of the five candidates cast uneasy glances at one another, their expressions reflecting the fear and uncertainty they all felt as they stood on shaky legs before the strange woman, bearing the full force of an ominous aura surrounding her.

She started whispering to herself, her words too soft to hear but still causing four of them to question her sanity. Suddenly, she pulled her demonic orange eyes away from them as she scrutinized her black nail polish, almost as if they were beneath her. They all confirmed that the unease and dread they had felt before entering had been coming from her and only grew as she continued murmuring to herself as if they weren’t there.

“Ugh, I HATE not being in control. I know, I know, but this is the best way to train to ditch system dependency. But, still, are you POSITIVE this way is better? Yes, everything outside this noob dungeon will OWN us if we don't get you some serious training! Just focus and pay attention to the sensations of what I’m doing."

“Suffer the eye of the seer, for none shall hide, [Appraisal].” Heather used that moment to breathe out quietly her spell chant and was horrified by what she saw. At tier one, it wasn’t powerful, but it at least showed her a monster’s race, class, and level.

Name: Blake Race: Black Pudding Class: Dungeon Monster Level: 20 Titles: [Hopeless Crusader]

“S-she’s a black pudding,” Heather uttered under her breath. Unfortunately for them, the others weren’t paying attention to her.

Heather was unfamiliar with black puddings, yet that didn’t faze her since she wasn’t familiar with too many of the other monsters and creatures this reality had to offer. However, the level of the black pudding seemed illogical to her. However, she had never encountered anyone or anything with a title, and that name caught her off guard. She wondered, Could it really be the same monster? How did it reach such a high level so fast?

Despite the fear and uncertainty that permeated the room, Jason was undaunted. He was ready to take on the battle and was determined to come out victorious while relishing the experience. With a determined gaze, he looked upon the strange woman’s body with hungry eyes, eager to take on the challenge and enjoy himself as he did it.

"Are you sure they’re seeing twenty? Yeah, I got this! Suppressing is a simple trick that even they could do if shown how. We don't want to scare 'em off before the fight even begins! Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right, but I feel like I’m cheating. That’s because you are!”

Yua’s ears were sharper than the others as she overheard pieces of the mad woman's whispers, but not enough to fully grasp the conversation she was having with herself. Her only conclusion, the woman was nuts!

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