EPILGOUE

 

“Aren’t we overqualified to take on this dungeon exploration quest?” A man fully equipped with adventurer’s gear drags his legs forward with a sullen face.

The terrain and atmosphere of the place did make it feel like a strong monster could show up at any time. Then again, they were in a dungeon, so they just couldn’t afford to be careless inside there.

“We can take a rest if you like?” Another of his teammate, the leader of his party stopped and said while gazing around and not finding anything dangerous. He seemed to be relaxed as well.

“You know I am not really complaining about that. Our Saber-tooth party has recently made it to C-rank and while we could have gone for bigger games. We are here stuck inside this shithole.” The person continues with his stretch of complaints and waves his spear in empty air showing how bored and restless he was becoming.

“Careful with that! The dungeon has just newly appeared two weeks ago according to the guild’s report. It could be that we just got lucky and there are no strong monsters.” A third member of the party spoke.

Just then the scout of the party returns with an exhausted expression.

“Did you find something?” The team looks at him, hoping they could finally get to do something worthwhile.

He shakes his head slowly, “Nothing that would surprise us. I told you it’s just a regular dungeon.”

“But there have been reports of several adventurers going missing after entering this dungeon and the guild was not expecting a dungeon to appear here either.”

The adventurer’s guild was the highest authority to take control of all the dungeons and see to it that it does not cause problems for the common people. Only in special cases the noble’s and the army’s help were issued like a stampede or the dungeon core disaster.

It was also the guild’s duty to see that monsters did not appear on the land and that the dungeon cores are destroyed if they absorb too much latent energy from the earth.

According to the current theory, dungeons were formed as a result of the latent energy that amalgamated in one place and the birth of the dungeon’s core takes place in form of a labyrinth in all shapes, sizes, nature, and terrain.

A dungeon could be in a cave, underwater, inside a volcano, or in another dimension, but those were really rare and appeared only once in a decade.

The guild was also responsible for regulating adventurers to keep in check that the dungeon core does not exceed its threshold by killing the monsters inside and making the core spend its energy. In return, the adventurers keep the settlements safe and they also reap the benefits of the items they get from monster harvesting.

Adventurers’ jobs too had evolved in a great many folds as some took on jobs to kill the monsters, and some worked to harvest them. Some were more interested in research or ore mining inside, and there were still others who were happy helping around towns and taking care of the threats from the forest. Even mercenaries took the help of the adventurer’s guild to get more job opportunities.

“I told you it’s just an ordinary dungeon and even if we defeated all the monsters here we can make ten times of that in a higher-difficulty dungeon.” The scout also looked tired.

“But is it really…?” The mage of the party heads to the wall and after touching it he felt something weird. As if some kind of special force ran through them and it made him feel uneasy. As if he was being overpowered by someone’s presence he could not even get close to.

“You already know how newbies enter new dungeons for glory without gaining experience of how to handle monsters and get hurt after that. Then they just disappear never to show their failure and a broken jaw again.” The man laughs and the other joins him.

“But we couldn’t really deny the request since it came from the guild itself and that too from one of the six greatest Guild Masters, Hillard Glorgersk himself.” The leader of the party had already taken on the job request so he couldn’t refuse it as it will appear as a bad record on their name.

“Isn’t he just an ancient old man? Maybe the old age finally got to him and he is just growing senile now.”

“Don’t say like that… From what I have heard he is a half-orc and a half-human who was born right after the Great War ended and the True Hero disappeared. That time when the Gods left the world for good, the havoc of all the monsters was set loose on us. Times were rough, and people who protected others were none other than adventurers and were praised for their work. And even at that time, he was considered one of the strongest.” The mage of the party talks about the Guild Master as if he was some kind of a legend himself.

“We all have heard that popular story. But right now, I don’t think I can handle the boredom. I say let’s explore only the half and report back to the guild that we found nothing worrisome. And all the disappearances were the rookies running back to their mommy’s home.”

“Ok, I think we can do that. Half is far enough. It won’t be good if we completed the dungeon and the lower-level adventurers would start complaining.” The leader of the party agreed. Till now they had only encountered run-of-the-mill monsters like killer ants, some Midas Wolves, and goblins that anyone could have defeated and there was nothing unusual to be seen happening right then.

Though their large numbers could be overwhelming but not something they could not handle.

The party continues now with haste to clear all the floors. After moving through a few floors and reconning.

“For a new dungeon aren’t there a bit too many floors?”

“Who cares, as long as I can crush them all!” All the party members were excited since they would get to go home early.

“It's taking longer than expected, has the number of monsters suddenly gone up since we tried to go down? I think we are as far as the middle of it.”

“Okay then. If killing them won’t work let’s rush to the next floor and look for a rest point.” The leader announced making a way for his party to the next floor with his magical sword attack. The air pressure released cuts all the monsters in their way and the five of them head to the next floor.

“….”

“What happened move?”

Suddenly the mage of the party who entered the next floor first stops abruptly.

“Are they what I think they appear to be?” The mage of the group points his finger upwards and everyone’s gazes follow. All of them for a moment rubbed their eyes or blinked multiple times to make sure they were not dreaming.

“…Magitite ore!” The leader of the party gasps.

The top ceiling was adored with beautiful long blue crystals glowing deeply. The space was also unusually larger than the floors they had been to. As if the whole dungeon had suddenly grown while they were still inside.

“There are so many of them. I have never seen them so long and beautifully shining?”

“Hey did we just now hit the jackpot… And all of this belongs to us.”

“We wouldn’t have to work our butts off now and can get anything we want we ever dreamed of. We are gonna be the talk of the whole nation and all the ladies will be falling for me.”

The party suddenly starts to celebrate their good fortune. Magitite ore could have been said to be the greatest treasure of the dungeon aside from the dungeon cores and rare monsters that have magic crystals. The glow they give would give a rough estimate of their purity.

“What’s wrong?” The team leader looked at the mage who seems somewhat undecided.

“Hey, we didn’t see any of them until now. Right?”

“Of course. Magitite Ore is not something you just see fallen around. Even the most dangerous dungeons have very few sites. Are you not happy with what we found here?”

“It's not that. Usually, the magitite ores are found at places with the highest magical concentration. And this is a new dungeon. Something is really wrong about all of this.”

“Hey, I can’t understand your magic theory crap. Do you really have to be so suspecting of everything?”

“It's not that. If it is really a newly formed dungeon and we have not found any strong monsters then how can there be so many Magitite crystals? It doesn’t makes sense.

Now you mention, it is strange. Normally with so many Magitite crystals, this could have been a hell dungeon we should definitely keep ourselves away from.”

“Whatever! You two can keep on thinking. I am heading to see if I can break a few of them and that nobody else comes and claim our treasure. The one who reaches there, at last, will get the lesser cut.” Saying that the man starts running ahead with his spear raised high with fervor.

“Hey don’t go with a head start yourself.” The other two scold him and run behind.

You are reading story When I Got Reincarnated As A Spider With My Goddess at novel35.com

“These guys why do they have to always act like children? Com… ba” Suddenly the leader of the party stuttered while saying.

He looks around and he sees a grim expression on his mage’s face.

“Did you feel that…. too.” The leader seemed to be losing ground as if he just could not stand straight.

“Come back….guys…” The mage again calls out and suddenly bends on the ground. An invisible external force made him kneel on the ground. The leader resists but eventually he gives in too.

“Hey, why are you two kneeling there….” The man turns back and calls the other three out.

“Run…run. Something is wrong.” The mage calls out again. He had already begun to cry as he could feel that overwhelming power again. This time much stronger and with the anger, it lashed out at him.

“What could be wrong here? This place could be a rest point there are no monsters here. See… he…re…”

Suddenly the man’s voice vanished. More like his head vanished from his neck.

The others froze too and stopped running and could not believe what had transpired in that fraction of second.

In the darkest vestiges of this dungeon, there was something extraordinary. Something dangerous. That moved so fast none could see it. And it took one of their friends’ lives right in front of them.

The remaining four wanted to scream. They wanted to run away. And they cried for it but they just could not. Tears smeared through their eyes and they felt nauseated. The cool light from the ores gave them the sickly feeling of cold death.

Something was still lurking and moving around right on this very floor which they haven't noticed till now.

The four could now definitely feel it since it had decided to show itself. The very proof was the corpse of their friend lying in the middle with a missing head. The nasty stench from the pool of blood sickened their minds.

“Haa…haaa…haaaa…. Are you hungry?” The laughter of an unknown mysterious girl broke the silence in their minds. They look around and find no one. And then they realized it came from above. But there was nothing but a ceiling.

“It's… like a god’s will. We have somehow angered them and now we are all doomed.” The mage spoke. His hands trembled on the magic staff he was holding.

“…. Let’s try to make a run. Before that thing comes again.” After the leader had realized that they could move again he stands up trying to pull his mage partner along with him.

The other two in front tries to do the same…. And then something moved again. This time the sound was more pronounced. It moved slowly but steadily around them. Encircling like a hunter watching his prey from all sides.

And then it appears in front, from the shadows it had been hiding in.

A colossal monstrosity. That’s what it was.

And like death, it stared right into their eyes.

“…A basilisk.” The mage screamed.

“Isn’t it a dungeon boss monster from high-tier dungeons? What is one of them doing here on the middle floor.” The leader’s voice plummeted as his neck was overwhelmed with what he was seeing.

A horrifying monster with dark scales, the creature was a violent and bloodthirsty beast of titanic size and had unusual hollow eyes. They possessed incredible strength and durability befitting of a boss monster. They are resistant to a majority of spells. Putting them in a class of catastrophic monsters alone.

And then after they had eyed each other enough, with tremendous speed it lunges on one of the human food in front. Its forked tongue lashes out and swipes clean the head off again. This time gulping the whole body in one move.

“Ahhhh….” The mage screams again and so does the third team member in front after seeing their party member eaten.

“We cannot fight it.” He speaks and out of nowhere a second basilisk lunges from the side and finishes him off.

A third basilisk drags his body into the light as well and with its oblique eyes gazes at the mage and the team leader.

The team leader who was trying to stand until then falls back in despair.

“Why are there three of them now? Don’t come any close. Go away! Go away!” The team leader’s and the mage’s horrifying scream fills the dungeon.

The three basilisks with distasteful looks gaze at their prey and moving their bodies in a zig-zag manner they consume all the voices back into the darkness.

***

 

Afterword

Hello there, this is NOEL ELITIA.

It’s been a start for another year and somehow we have managed for the seventh volume to give it a successful release.

I still consider myself new at this and trying my best that you enjoy the journey which our characters have set on. This time I tried to move things bit fast and bring it one step closer to the point where we can finally see Sachi(Alicia) and Athena reunite. I am really grateful for those who have waited this long to see this happen and still continues to read my novel with the same intensity and fun they started it with.

This volume aimed at getting Alicia’s party complete and now she also has a princess on her side. I hope you all liked princess Arya, and if she reminded you of another famous character from one of my favorite series. Then she is the inspiration for it.

I’m not sure if this volume betrayed your expectations or fulfilled them, but I’ll be glad so long as you derived some amount of enjoyment from it. In my mind, this work of mine is meant to be a simple, fun read with a slant towards comedy and a romantic approach towards magical fights.

I know I have ended the volume at an unexpected point and the arrival of a new danger is eminent. I think it is going to be the greatest threat till now Alicia would ever face. But maybe that’s what all of them keep saying because Alicia is the best.

But what the next volume brings to your plate is going to be very different and might break all the notions and what you have thought you knew of this world.

While Alicia will have to make the choice to tread into the danger herself. There is also something that I need to tell you. Something I hadn’t planned of. And yet I will be writing it….

An unexpected encounter of two beings that shouldn’t have been possible. Something not even the author(yeah, me) ever thought of and yet it is going to change everything that happens in this world from now on.

Guess who two of this character would be one. Have you thought. Did you make a guess. So, the first name is Alicia, and well the second you should try to guess yourself. Don’t leave everything on me.  ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄

I’m not sure if you guys liked a particularly strong character like Arya who is always in control of herself and knows what she is doing. But... as long as you enjoyed it, I’m happy.

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