From Real to Realm

The stairs slowly gave way to a gentle sloping rock-bed.

Thin streams trickled where the walls met the stone floor.

The air felt oppressive—like it wanted to close in and suffocate them.

“I knew the dungeon would be… something else,” Val said. “But this?”

Lucia nodded. “Not what I was expecting.”

“It’s only floor one, right?” Amarisse asked. “We didn’t somehow skip a few floors, right?”

Val shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

Finally, the floor leveled out into a four-way tunnel intersection.

“Four choices… which do we choose?” Mina asked.

Lucia and Amarisse shared a glance.

No one wanted to make the first choice.

Fuck it.

Val spun in a circle a few times before stopping, a little dizzy. “That one.”

Amarisse burst out laughing, but quickly covered her mouth.

“Not the most reliable way—but it works, I suppose,” Lucia said, sighing.

Mina was also covering her mouth, giggling.

Val just shrugged and took her spot on Amarisse’s right flank.

Mina would be covering the left flank while Lucia brought up the rear.

Traversing was slow going. As a group they decided to take their time and not rush too fast or push too far. The last thing they could afford was to run into a group of enemies on accident.

Squeak!

They all froze.

Squeak! Squeak!

Their eyes met—wide, alert, uncertain.

Slowly they worked their way to a corner and peeked around.

“Bramble Rats,” Lucia whispered. “Watch the tails especially—I’ve heard those thorns can shred armor.”

Squeak!

Everyone ducked behind the corner, hearts racing.

The rats were around the size of a full grown dog. Their tails were the biggest worry though. They curled like dead vines riddled with sharp thorns. Elongated claws and teeth were just as deadly, though.

“Alright,” Amarisse whispered. “Val and I will push forward together. Mina, try and get the flank. Lucia, stay back and watch our backs.”

“Right,” Lucia said, glancing back the way they came.

Mina nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

Val tried shaking herself loose. “Let’s get to it. I’d rather get the drop on them first.”

Everyone nodded to that sentiment.

This was it. Their first taste of combat within the dungeon.

Both Amarisse and Val rushed out from around the corner. Mina and Lucia stayed put, though.

SQUEAK?!

Val’s Halberd hit true as she thrust it forward through the closest Bramble Rat to them.

Amarisse slid between Val and another Bramble Rat, using her shield to block a tail attack from landing.

Crack!

“Good kill!” Amarisse yelled.

All eyes were on them—just as planned.

Mina was already darting around the wide left flank.

The next Bramble Rat barely had time to react as she jumped on top, jamming both daggers into its skull.

Two down, three to go!

“Fuck yeah, Mina!” Val cheered.

Another Bramble Rat lunged at Amarisse, claws and teeth scratching the front of her shield.

With a loud heave she slammed it to the ground, pinning it in place before skewering it with her longsword.

Two to go.

“Watch out!” Lucia yelled.

Val glanced over in time to see Mina being wrapped up by the tail of one of the rats.

Fuck!

She didn’t think—she just acted.

THUNK!

The rat was blown sideways by the sheer power in Val’s throw.

It thrashed for a few seconds before falling still as the Halberd stuck through its body.

One to go.

“Cover me!” she yelled.

Amarisse quickly slid in behind Val to guard her back. “I’ve got it!”

Val rushed to Mina, drawing the small knife she’d brought from home. “Stay still, hun. I’ll cut you free.”

Mina was already beginning to bleed from small cuts across anything that wasn’t protected with armor.

“My hero.” She smirked through the pain.

Val rolled her eyes as she quickly cut Mina free.

Once they were both up, she turned just in time to watch Amarisse behead the last rat. A long line of blood trailing the arc of her attack.

Everyone stood there.

Heavy breathing filled the air.

“Fuck yeah!” Lucia yelled, surprising Val. “That was awesome! You guys did so good!”

Val couldn’t stop smiling.

Their first fight.

They won.

Lucia ran up to Mina immediately looking her over. “You guys did amazing!”

Val walked over to the Bramble Rat skewered by her halberd and smirked.

We do have this.

She grabbed the haft, placed a foot on the body and yanked.

A sickening suction sound came with her halberd.

“Stay still,” Lucia fussed.

Mina rolled her eyes but did as she was told.

Val walked over as Lucia was healing a particularly deep gouge. “I hope that throw didn’t jerk you too hard. I panicked.”

Mina shrugged. “It did yank, but I get it. No clue what would have happened if you didn’t kill it fast. It’s okay.”

Amarisse smacked Val on the back. “Maybe let’s refrain from chucking our only weapon next time though? That could definitely backfire if you aren’t careful.” She grinned. “But good fucking job.”

As Lucia finished up healing Mina, Val and Amarisse dragged the bodies to the side.

“Hey, Lucia,” Val called out. “Anything worthwhile from these? Maybe the tails?”

Lucia didn’t respond at first but then stood, wiping her forehead. “I don’t know. But if I had to guess, the tails could be the only worthwhile part.”

Amarisse and Val shared a nod.

Together they cut off a couple of tails before tossing them in a bag tied to Amarisse’s waist.

“How are you on Mana?” Amarisse asked.

Lucia gave a so-so hand motion.

“Mina’s injuries weren’t that bad, I’m roughly at three-quarters right now. Hopefully I’ll regain some as we move.”

As a group, they began moving through the corridors once more.

This time, the air felt different—a quiet confidence.

They knew how to fight, had already won their first one.

But they weren’t dumb enough to get cocky just yet.

“AHH!”

Val, Amarisse, and Mina immediately whirled around.

Lucia was on the ground, a bundle of roots sprouting from the ground, slowly wrapping around her.

As they moved in to help, a second bundle launched like a ball—slamming into Val.

“F—fuck!”

When the bundle of roots collided with her it had reversed and wrapped around her.

Amarisse and Mina were already cutting at the roots on Lucia by the time they heard Val’s Halberd slam to the ground.

“Help her first!” Val yelled. “I’m okay!”

It was uncomfortable—and yeah, a little panic-inducing—but Val knew she was stronger than Lucia. Out of the two of them, she could fight back much easier.

For Mina and Amarisse it was slow going as they hacked through the roots.

Val noticed a glow coming from the roots near what looked to be a face.

“The green stone!” she yelled. “Try and destroy it!”

By the time she yelled though, Lucia was already free.

Mina slid to a stop beside her and immediately jabbed at the stone floating behind the “face”.

After a few hits, the stone cracked and broke.

All of the roots stilled, but kept Val tied up.

“This is giving me some ideas,” Mina said, winking.

“S—shut up and help me out,” Val huffed.

Mina just giggled as she started cutting Val free.

“Did you get hurt anywhere?” Lucia asked.

“My pride maybe,” Val replied, rolling her eyes.

Lucia giggled while Amarisse patted her back.

When Lucia was finished giggling at Val’s expense, she spoke up. “I’m pretty sure those are called Root Stalkers.”

Mina’s ears perked up. “I’ve heard of those!”

Lucia and Amarisse both turned to her, stunned.

“What? Do you really think I wouldn’t try and learn something before coming down here?”

Val smirked. “So what do they do?”

Mina finished pouting and answered, all smiles. “They’re an ambush type of monster down here. Not all that dangerous unless they wrap you up and can keep you wrapped up.”

It tracked with what Val and Lucia had just experienced.

Val gently patted Mina on the head. “I feel like I’m contributing the least here.”

Mina blushed but quickly shook her head, along with Lucia and Amarisse.

“Not true! You’re strong! And Amarisse needs someone who can watch her butt!”

Amarisse nodded. “A Tank is only as good as their party.”

Lucia nodded. “Exactly.”

Val sighed. “Alright, I’ll take you for your word.”

Lucia then handed Amarisse the small translucent green stone from her Root Stalker.

“Think it’ll be worth anything?” Amarisse asked.

Lucia shrugged again. “Here’s hoping, but we won’t know until we get back to the guild.”

Everyone took a few minutes to drink some water, double check gear, and prepare to continue.

During the down time Amarisse brought up a good question. “Do you think that slope we passed earlier leads to the second floor?”

Lucia stopped drinking her water, wiping her mouth. “It’s possible, but I don’t think we should push our luck. It might be a continuation of the first floor, but it’s too risky if we don’t know where it leads.”

Val chewed on the dried meat she brought. “I agree with Lucia.”

Mina also nodded. “Too risky.”

GRRRR!

Everyone froze at the sudden growling.

Slowly, each of them turned.

Down the corridor they came from, was a soft orange glow, a walking creature of flame.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Val said. “Please tell me that’s not an Alpha.”

Lucia shook her head as everyone slowly rose to their feet. “It’s not. Isn’t nearly as big, but it’s still an adult Emberfang Wolf. Still dangerous.”

Amarisse groaned. “Seriously? Is every delve supposed to be this active?”

Lucia shook her head. “Not usually, maybe we’re just unlucky.”

It was just a singular wolf walking slowly down the corridor.

Then two.

Then three.

Amarisse sighed. “Oh fuck… This is going to be tough.”

Slowly, as a group, they moved in together. Amarisse in front, Val on her right, and Mina on her left, with Lucia behind them.

“How much Mana do you have?” Val asked.

Lucia glanced at her. “Almost full, why?”

Val gritted her teeth. “We’re going to need it.”

The trio of wolves casually approached, slowly spreading out around the girls.

They stalked, low to the ground, sizing the girls up.

Each one was easily the size of a grown wolf from Earth. Their bodies were made of flames that licked at the ground around their obsidian claws. A matching dark black obsidian skull with hollow eyes stared back at them.

Each step left behind a small scorch mark.

Lucia whispered. “Why aren’t they attacking?”

Val was the one who answered. “Testing our composure, maybe? See if we’ll run?”

None of them knew for sure what was holding them back from attacking.

As two crossed in front of them, the third sat back—watching.

“Watch out!” Lucia yelled.

Within a second of seeing the third wolf, a ball of flame appeared at its mouth.

Luckily, with Lucia’s warning, the entire party was able to dodge the fireball as it flew past them.

The fireball slammed into the wall behind them, bursting into flame and blackening the stone.

Even though the fireball didn’t connect, it separated the girls and gave the wolves an opening.

Val was on one knee, holding back a flaming wolf with her Halberd’s haft.

It snarled at her as it tried biting down on the haft, small strings of magma leaking onto the ground around her feet.

Amarisse came out of nowhere, slamming into the Emberfang Wolf and giving Val a chance to recover.

“Don’t let them bite you!” Val warned. “They have magma or something for saliva!”

The warning wouldn’t matter if they didn’t end this fight fast.

As Val and Amarisse paired up, they shuffled backwards to group back up with Mina and Lucia.

“Anyone hurt?” Lucia asked.

After an echoed no, everyone got ready.

It was going to be a long fight. The games were over.

Immediately, Amarisse was forced to shove away a wolf that lunged at her.

Val thrust her halberd to intercept the one lunging at Lucia.

Two of the three were already getting involved, but the third one stalked back and forth, watching the fight.

“The third one isn’t attacking!” Lucia yelled. “Be careful!”

While the warning was nice, there was only so much they could do.

It was unlikely Mina could handle a one on one fight with the third one. She reminded Val of a rogue from games she played back on Earth—quick, shifty, able to get around an already occupied enemy.

If these three are this difficult to fight… how bad would an Alpha be?!

One of the wolves jumped, aiming to go over Val. “Oh no you fucking don’t!”

In a moment of clarity, Val swapped hand positions on her Halberd.

Then, with all her strength, she swept the blade from ceiling to floor, slamming the wolf onto the ground.

Bright magma-like blood oozed from the large gash as the wolf whimpered and tried standing.

Val swapped her grip again with a shit-eating grin.

But she wasn’t watching the third wolf.

Pain. A burning, searing pain.

A trio of seared claw marks tore through Val’s new leather armor, deep enough to gouge skin.

“Val!”

The panic in Lucia’s voice was enough to catch Mina and Amarisse’s attention.

Anger, that’s what pumped through their veins right now.

“Don’t you fucking drop on us now!” Amarisse yelled.

For the first time, Val saw Mina look truly pissed.

Val was okay, hurt, but okay. “I—I’m fine! Stay focused!”

The one she already attacked was hurting, badly. Even as it tried stalking closer to attack, more magma-like blood poured from the wound in its side.

After slashing Val, the third wolf retreated—still hunting for another opening.

Val spared a quick glance at Amarisse and Mina.

The duo were handling the second wolf well enough, magma-like blood leaking from multiple wounds on its body as well.

One on one, or in reality, one on two, Val was the only thing keeping their circle from collapsing right now.

If she went down, then Lucia would be at risk. Not to mention Mina and Amarisse’s backs as well.

Val winced as her side throbbed.

She didn’t have time to check her wound, not with the third wolf still circling.

The wolf across from her opened its mouth again.

Val wasn’t having that.

With a grunt she dashed forward, her arm wrapped around the Halberd as she thrust straight through the skull of the wolf.

The tip pierced clean through the obsidian skull.

It stood there, frozen for a few seconds before a large crack appeared from where her Halberd pierced through.

Then, more cracks.

Finally, with a puff of flame, the skull shattered to pieces, the fire-like body of the wolf dissipating altogether.

One down!

Val turned to face the third wolf—and it froze, watching her.

Two to go!

Val glanced over just in time to see Amarisse and Mina retaliate.

Amarisse backhanded the wolf with her shield, opening it up. With a yell she thrust her longsword through its collarbone.

Mina, aware that one was already dead, finally split off.

Val barely caught the flurry of stabs Mina delivered to the back legs of their wolf.

It whimpered loudly as its hind legs gave out.

The tide was turning. All Val needed to do, was keep her wolf occupied long enough for them to come help.

Val swiped at the wolf in front of her, but it jumped back.

You’re smarter than the others, aren’t you?

Val closed the distance and lunged at it, hoping to maybe land a hit.

It didn’t work.

Val lunged—and the air around the Emberfang Wolf shimmered.

Her Halberd hit the target, but there was nothing there.

A mirage-like visage faded as the toothy maw of the wolf bit down on the haft. Then it yanked her forward.

Val had two options, hold on and likely take a hit, or release her Halberd.

Her hands released her weapon as she rolled out of the way of a swipe that would’ve been… bad.

As she got to her feet, she already had the knife from home in her hand.

The wolf spat out her weapon, growling low as it got closer.

She braced herself, knife ready.

However, she didn’t need to use it.

“Get away from her!” Mina dashed in close, sliding on her knees slashing through both hind legs.

The wolf tried to turn around and bite at her, but Amarisse’s shield slammed into it. “Not today fuck face!”

Val’s halberd was still too close to risk going for it.

Instead, she stayed back and watched as Mina and Amarisse bullied the last wolf to death.

With the final wolf dead, there were three piles of ash left behind. Obsidian skulls peeked through the ashen piles, sockets hollow.

“Let me heal you,” Lucia said, sprinting over to Val.

Val caught her wrist. “It’s okay. It hurts, but the claw marks were seared when it landed.”

Lucia smacked Val’s hand away. “You said we were going to need my mana for healing, and now we do. So stop arguing and let me heal you.”

Amarisse and Mina chuckled and Val gave in.

“Alright, just enough to lessen the pain. Don’t use too much mana.”

Lucia rolled her eyes. “I’ll decide how much Mana I use.”

With the fight over, they decided to take a break here to give Lucia a little time to heal Val.

Mina and Amarisse took the time to look through what might be worth something.

Amarisse was the first one to pull one of the obsidian skulls from their ashen piles. Two of them were intact giving them a good look at the design. The skulls felt like obsidian, but weren't as heavy as one would expect. The eye sockets were hollow while the bottom jaw went slack. In the end she decided to tie them to her belt.

Mina was sifting through the ash when she stumbled upon some claws. Just like the skulls, they also felt like obsidian. They were much larger than normal wolves claws and more jagged as well. Mina took as many as she could find tossing them into a pouch on her hip. After that, she scooped some ash into vials as well.

“So what’s next? We’ve been down here for at least a few hours by now, right?” Amarisse asked.

“Well we can keep going, or we can head back now,” Lucia said. “I feel like we’ve had a good opportunity to see how we work together, and where our weaknesses are.”

Val raised an eyebrow. “Weaknesses?”

“HELP!”

Everyone whipped around, Val jumping to her feet with everyone else.

Nothing.

“Please! Someone!”

“Anyone?!”

“HELP!”

Val bolted. No one needed to be told—they followed.

“It’s not far!” she yelled. “Don’t worry! We’re coming!”

They ran for minutes. Silence.

“Damnit! Where the hell is she?!” Val asked, whipping her head around.

“We need to go!” Lucia said, grabbing Val’s shoulder and pointing.

Just above their heads, lingering near an open gap in the stone, was a small blue wisp.

Val gulped. “Is that what you warned us about?”

Lucia pulled Val along and began running back the way they came. “Yes! It’s a Soul Echo!”

As a group they rushed back the way they came, even as cries for help rang out behind them.

“Please don’t go!”

“Help me!”

“IT HURTS!”

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