The new dungeon map was twice the size of Warren's.
Gideon unfurled it across the strategy room table. Five floors drawn in detail. Blue ink marking flooded sections.
More skull markers than Warren. A lot more.
"E-Rank assignment," Gideon announced. "The Drowned Catacombs."
Kenji studied the map. "Five floors. Warren was three."
"Correct. Significant escalation."
Hiroshi read the specifications while the others talked. Undead enemies. Skeletons Level 6-8. Risen Level 10-12. Wraiths Level 12-14.
And at the bottom: Revenant Lord. Level 18.
Boss four levels higher than the Goblin Chief.
Party levels displayed on the board beside the map.
Kenji: Level 12 Aria: Level 11 Marcus: Level 12 Hiroshi: Level 7
"Recommended party level is 10-15," Gideon said. "Your average is 10.5."
He included Hiroshi in the calculation without comment.
Aria read the enemy composition section. "Undead. Skeletons, Risen, Wraiths."
Marcus looked up from his copy. "Wraiths... immune to physical attacks?"
"Completely." Gideon pointed to the relevant line. "Sword, club, spear—none of it works on incorporeal undead. Only magic, holy weapons, or divine abilities."
"Then my role changes."
"Significantly. Your [Holy Smite] becomes critical offensive capability against Wraiths."
Kenji tapped the blue-inked sections. "Flooded areas. What's the water depth?"
"Three to six feet depending on location. Floors 2, 3, and 4 have partially submerged corridors."
"Undead don't breathe," Gideon said. "They can hold positions underwater indefinitely. You cannot."
Classic water dungeon trap, Enemies pre-positioned in flooded corridors. Ambush when you're swimming. Can't fight effectively underwater.
Kenji said with confidence. "This is just a bit harder than Warren."
"Significantly harder." Aria's tone was clinical. "Different enemy types, environmental hazards, five floors versus three, higher boss level."
"We've gotten stronger too."
"True. But the gap between F-Rank and E-Rank isn't linear."
Gideon delivered the final stat. "Previous clear rate: fourteen parties in thirty years. Warren's clear rate in the same period was forty-seven."
Silence.
"Okay," Kenji said slowly. "Harder than I thought."
Fourteen clears in thirty years. Less than one every two years. This dungeon killed people. A lot of people.
"Departure in two days," Gideon said. "Study the undead bestiary. Understand what you're fighting."
"Already begun," Aria said.
"I'll pray for divine strength," Marcus added.
"Dismissed."
The others filed out. Hiroshi lingered, tracing the flooded sections with his finger. He counted the skull markers again.
How many deaths weren't marked? How many parties went in and never came back with enough survivors to file a report?
Most deaths concentrated on Floors 3 and 4. Flooded sections plus undead. Can't breathe or fight effectively, enemies waiting in ambush below the waterline.
Same pattern as Warren's eastern tunnel. Environmental hazard plus enemies positioned to exploit it.
"Hiroshi."
He looked up. Gideon stood in the doorway, watching him.
"You're studying the death markers."
"Trying to learn from them."
"Smart. Gideon stepped back into the room. "What do you see?"
Hiroshi pointed to Floor 3. "Five deaths here. All in the western corridor. That's not random. There's something specific about that location."
"Correct. Narrow passage, waist-deep water, multiple side chambers. Perfect ambush point. Risen hide in the chambers, wait for parties to pass, then attack from behind while Wraiths block forward progress."
"And Floor 4?"
"Six deaths. The flooded chapel. Chest-deep water, poor visibility."
Hiroshi absorbed this. "You've been inside."
"Three times in my younger days. Lost people each time." Gideon's expression didn't change, but something in his voice hardened. "The Drowned Catacombs doesn't forgive mistakes. It doesn't give second chances. You go in prepared or you don't come out."
"Then why send us? We're barely at the minimum level."
Gideon moved to the map, his finger tracing the same paths Hiroshi had studied. "Perfect preparation doesn't exist. You train, you plan, you execute. Some die anyway. That's the reality."
"Encouraging."
"I'm not here to encourage. I'm here to prepare you for what's coming." He met Hiroshi's eyes. "The Church approved this assignment. Bishop personally signed off."
"I understand," Hiroshi said quietly.
"Do you?" Gideon studied him. "Because understanding means accepting you might not survive. It means going in anyway. Can you do that?"
"I don't have a choice."
"Everyone has a choice. You can refuse. Take the consequences. Whatever punishment they assign. But you'd be alive."
Hiroshi looked at the map again.
"No," he said. "I can't refuse."
"Why not?"
"Because if I refuse this, they'll just send me somewhere worse. Keep pushing until I either die or prove I'm worth keeping alive. Running doesn't help."
Gideon nodded slowly. "Smart answer. Depressing, but smart." He moved toward the door again. "Sleep well. And when you go in, remember what you learned in Warren. Dungeons are cruel, but they're consistent. Learn the pattern, exploit the weaknesses and survive."
***
The corridor was nearly empty. Hiroshi walked toward his quarters.
Archbishop Dominus approached from the opposite direction.
"Hero Hiroshi. Well met."
"Your Eminence. Good evening."
"Preparing for the Catacombs, I hear."
"Diligently, sir. The undead bestiary is... extensive."
"Undead are different from goblins."
"The briefing was thorough. I feel prepared."
Dominus's smile was slight. "Confidence. Good. The Catacombs has history, though. Several heroes have found their final resting place within its depths."
"I'm aware. Fourteen successful clears in thirty years."
"Brave of you to face it nonetheless."
"The party is strong. I'll contribute what I can."
"Your contribution to Warren was... noted."
"I tried my best, Your Eminence. I hope to do the same in the Catacombs."
"The gods test all who enter. Some emerge transformed. Some do not emerge at all."
Hiroshi nodded seriously. "I understand. I trust in the process."
Dominus studied him.
"You seem remarkably... at peace. For someone facing the Catacombs."
"Worrying doesn't help. Better to focus on preparation."
"Wise. The Catacombs will reveal your true worth, Hero."
"I welcome the revelation, Your Eminence."
Dominus nodded and walked on.
Hiroshi held the smile. Held it. Held it.
Dominus turned the corner.
Smile dropped.
He continued to his quarters. Nodded to a passing servant.
"Good evening! Best of luck in the dungeon!"
"Thank you!"
Equipment laid out. Repaired armor, Warren damage patched, holes sealed but thin in places. Sword sharpened. Supply package. E-Rank allocation. Two health potions, antidotes.
Opened the System window.
Level: 7 HP: 120
Skills:
[Adaptive Evolution] — Unique [Sword Mastery Lv.1] [Shield Block Lv.1] [Combat Sense Lv.1] [Advanced Footwork Lv.1] [Weapon Reading Lv.1] [Parry Lv.1] [Combat Reading Lv.1] [Strike Timing Lv.1] [Impact Resistance Lv.2]
Curse: Expendable's Curse (hidden, -50% XP)
Opened the undead bestiary. Read tactical notes.
Skeletons: Basic. Physical attacks fine. Risen: Resist physical attack, need magic or fire. Wraiths: Immune to physical attack Revenant Lord: Boss. Level 18. Combination of all threats.
Wrote new tactical notes.