Rune walked into the next chamber of this floor of the dungeon, it was identical to the one he had just been in.
[Law of the Second Room: No weapons]
[Win without using any weapons. Any use of armaments will forfeit the current challenge and impose a 24 hour lockout.]
[Know this: for every person who follows the rules, there is at least one who does not.]
Another copy of Rune started to form, just like in the previous room. Standing in the middle of the chamber, naked, wearing nothing but boxers and an empty leg pouch.
"HA… ha… hahaha. No weapons? Can't cheat now, can ya, buddy."
The copy just stood there.
Rune cracked his neck. "This one's going to be fun. I have a lot of new things I want to try with element. You are going to be my test subject."
Rune activated Shadow Reflexes and shadow sprawled across his body. The copy did the same.
He sent shadow tethers toward the copy. It mirrored his actions, both of them jumping out of the way of the tethers.
At the same time both Rune's vanished, triggering Shadow Step to get next to the other one.
They both just swapped places. Rune tilted his head at the copy, who then returned the same look, as if both were saying, 'Did we really just do that?'
They ran at each other at full speed. What happened next was a blur. Fueled by shadow enhancing their speed and movement, both unleashed a flurry of blows at the other, none landing.
This was exactly what Rune wanted. He wanted the copy in close.
A whirlwind of shadow started to form around them both, just like the wind that the Crown members had used on him.
[New Skill: Shadow Squall Registered]
[Element Power increasing… +5]
"Ha! Something that I made, something not remembered. That is a first."
The whirlwind swirled around them both, blades of shadow cutting into the copy, blood splurting into the air.
While the same would have normally happened to Rune, the hardening potion was still in effect, the shadow glanced off of his stone like body.
The copy jumped back, finding itself bound by tethers that Rune had waiting for it.
"If I call you predictable, is that self degradation?"
He raised his hand in the air as a rod of light formed and arced through it.
"This is another thing I learned from the Crown thugs."
He hurled it straight at the copy. It drove itself straight through its body, jamming into the ground before exploding.
[New Skill: Spear of Light Registered]
[Element Power increasing… +5]
Rune walked over to the copy, who was kneeling on the ground, bound by shadow, barely holding itself together, an expression of anger and rage across its face.
"I would normally say something here, but to be honest, I know exactly how you are feeling. Or I should say, I know how I would feel in your situation."
With one more decisive strike, Rune punched the copy in the face, the last of the orange liquid on his hand exploding as it returned to dust.
"That one was as satisfying as the no element one."
Rune knew that even if the copy had weapons, it still would not have won, for he never even brought out his skill that couldn't be mirrored, the wolves. They were the living parts of element made manifest. The copy had no soul to call on to replicate them.
[Element Power increasing… +5]
[Physical Power increasing… +5]
[Floor four access granted]
Light enveloped Rune as he was taken back to the dungeon entrance.
Standing upon the wheel, a new wedge was lit up.
This one was more straightforward than the others, with crude blocked shapes that could only be described as a set of scales.
"Lexan, god of law, binding order."
The words slipped out of Rune's mouth before he added,
"The one who loved wearing nothing but his underwear."
He looked around again to make sure Memories of the World would not take over.
"Hate to recall a joke, but had to make sure."
[Memories of the World Activating]
"Damnit!"
The room faded out as memory took over. A blonde, ponytailed man sat behind a desk, scribbling into a large book.
"Lex! Why are you working so late? The others are already at dinner waiting for us."
"Just need two more minutes, Ambrel. I am finishing up the laws of the world. Would not want to get gravity wrong, you know," he joked.
"Alright, man… wait, why are you working without your clothes again?"
"This is more comfortable. You should try it. We could both show up to dinner in our underwear. I am sure your fiancée would love that."
"She is your sister, Lex."
"Yeah, yeah." He waved it off, then changed his tone. "Joking aside, are you sure about this? You are giving the races a powerful drive for honor and competition. That kind of hunger can turn into conflict."
"That is why the dungeons exist," Ambrel replied. "They give that drive somewhere to go. Trials they can face without turning on one another." He gestured as if laying pieces into place. "Each race earns qualifications. They compare them. Bragging rights instead of battlefields."
He turned his gaze outward, voice steady as he continued. "And then there is the Colosseum of the Eternal. A place where competition becomes spectacle. Events between races. Victory and loss without permanent death."
Lex studied him. "You really think that will be enough to keep the peace?"
Ambrel did not hesitate. "I know it will. And it has to." He looked back, expression firm. "The dungeons need a reason to exist. For the sake of the failsafe."
"Have you told the others about the failsafe?"
"No. So far, only you. None of them would understand."
The memory faded back to the dungeon entrance.
"Yes! I was right. That god did like being naked."
"Perv god! I bet every single floor of his in the dungeons can be solved by going in with no equipment. I am calling it now."
Rune thought about all the other information, the concept of whatever this failsafe was, and the possibility of that being the thing he was chasing.
To him, it was just another puzzle and keyword on top of the pile he was storing up, and he chose to ignore it for now, because dwelling on things like that would cause him to go crazy in this world.