Chapter — Dungeon Crawl (Why Is It Always Like This?)
The dungeon gate shimmered like a bad decision.
C-Rank Dungeon — "Stoneveil Catacombs."
Multiple rooms. Traps. Monsters. "Recommended for coordinated teams."
Lucien stared at the entrance.
"…Last chance to back out," he said. "We can still pretend this was a sightseeing trip."
Kael stepped forward immediately. "Move."
Bron followed, hammer on shoulder. "Stone smells old. Good dungeon."
Elarion adjusted her cloak. "I brought healing seeds."
Seraphine smiled. "I brought enthusiasm."
Lucien sighed. "I regret everything."
ROOM 1 — SKELETONS (OBLIGATORY)
The moment they stepped inside—
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Skeletons rose from the ground, weapons rattling.
Lucien snapped his fingers. "Alright, warm-up mobs. Kael—"
Kael was already gone.
CRIMSON DECLARATION
Red aura flared as Kael cleaved through three skeletons in one swing.
Lucien blinked. "…I was going to say 'go easy.'"
Elarion sighed. "He never does."
Seraphine dashed forward, claws flashing, crushing skulls with elegant brutality.
Bron smashed one skeleton into gravel.
Lucien looked around.
"…Do I participate or supervise?"
A skeleton lunged at him.
Lucien calmly stepped aside and tapped it with a compressed blue flame flick.
It disintegrated.
Everyone froze.
Lucien coughed. "Uh. Environmental reaction."
Kael squinted. "That wasn't ice."
Lucien pointed behind him. "More skeletons!"
There were no more skeletons.
ROOM 2 — TRAPS (WHY ALWAYS TRAPS)
A long stone hallway.
Runes glowed faintly.
Lucien raised a hand. "Stop. Trap corridor."
Everyone stopped.
Bron nodded approvingly. "Smart human."
Lucien stepped forward carefully, eyes scanning.
Click.
A spear shot out of the wall.
Lucien leaned slightly.
Missed by a hair.
"…Calculated," he said.
Seraphine smiled. "You didn't detect it."
"I detected the concept of danger," Lucien replied.
Elarion activated a wind spell, triggering the rest of the traps safely.
Kael crossed his arms. "Useless hallway."
Lucien glared. "Not everyone has dragon bones."
ROOM 3 — SWARM MONSTERS
Dozens of stone crawlers poured from cracks.
Lucien clapped his hands. "Formation—"
Bron planted himself in front. "Wall."
Elarion boosted him with nature mana.
Seraphine blurred through the swarm like a nightmare.
Kael activated Tyrant's Advance, carving a path straight through.
Lucien stood in the middle, pointing dramatically.
"Yes. Yes. Very good. Murder efficiently."
A crawler jumped at him.
Lucien reflexively released a pulse of blue flame aura.
The monster froze mid-air… then collapsed.
Silence.
Elarion stared. "That was fire."
Lucien nodded seriously. "Cold fire."
Seraphine laughed. "You're terrible at lying."
BOSS ROOM — STONE SENTINEL
A massive golem rose, runes blazing.
C-Rank Boss Identified.
Kael grinned. "Mine."
Lucien raised a finger. "Don't overdo—"
BLOOD CROWN DESCENT
Kael's aura spiked. A faint red crown shimmered above his head.
He struck.
The golem shattered in two hits.
Everyone stared.
Lucien slowly clapped. "Wonderful. Very balanced."
Bron nodded. "Good sword."
Elarion frowned. "That was excessive."
Seraphine tilted her head. "Hot."
Kael turned away. "…You're still stronger."
Lucien smiled. "Not today."
THE PROBLEM
The floor cracked.
Mana surged.
A hidden stairway spiraled downward.
Dungeon text appeared.
WARNING:
Hidden Floor Detected
Difficulty: Unknown
Everyone looked at Lucien.
Lucien raised his hands. "This is not my fault."
Seraphine stepped onto the stairs. "It absolutely is."
Elarion sighed. "We can't leave it."
Bron grinned. "Artifacts."
Kael cracked his neck. "Good."
Lucien stared at the stairs, then laughed.
"Of course. I rank up once and unlock bonus suffering."
He stepped forward.
"Alright. Hidden floor it is."
The stairs sealed behind them.
Darkness swallowed the party.
Lucien's voice echoed:
"…Next time, I'm pretending to be normal."
No one believed him.