Chapter 118 – The Pulsating Thing
Chapter 118
The Pulsating Thing
Date : Day 21 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
They arrived at the main tunnel, the air thick with something wrong. The stone walls seemed to press inward, and even the ambient moisture clung to skin with an unpleasant film.
Fiona stopped in the middle of the main tunnel, her gaze fixed on the pulsating archway ahead. The runes glowed with a pale light—too rhythmic, too deliberate, like a heartbeat that didn't belong to anything living. Her face settled into a grim mask of displeasure.
"Dungeon. Less than half a day walk from town."
She exhaled sharply.
"Fuck!"
She shook her head, her expression darkening further.
"I just hope this dungeon isn't Gold-ranked. Iron, copper, and Bronze are easily managed. But Silver or above?"
Her jaw tightened.
"That would fuck us up."
Fiona gritted her teeth.
Ina beside her didn't even try to correct the profanity anymore. Her cat ears flattened against her head, her tail going still. Those large amber eyes locked onto the pulsating archway, unblinking.
Rick and Helga also stood in silence. They had seen many dungeons as a scouting party, but newly discovered dungeons always carried a different weight.
Meanwhile, Robert and Fris murmured among themselves, their voices low as they discussed rune combinations.
Hyoren watched the portal, a question formed in his mind. He leaned closer to Elise, keeping his voice low enough that only she could hear.
"Why can't they just leave it alone? If it's so dangerous, why not wall it up and pretend it's not there?"
Elise shook her head, her expression serious.
"It doesn't work that way, Hyoren. Dungeons are like living things. If they're not properly 'pruned'… If adventurers don't go in and cull the monster population… They can become too crowded. The dungeon's internal ecosystem becomes unstable."
She paused, choosing her words carefully. Her pointed ears twitched slightly.
"And if the dungeon deems its own internal population too much, or if it's been left alone for too long... it will eject the excess monsters instantly."
Hyoren's eyes widened. The image formed unbidden in his mind—a horde of monsters pouring from the tunnel mouth like water from a broken dam.
"Oh right. Monster Flood?"
He touched the back of his neck.
"I remember discussing this with Ina before..."
Elise gave a small, weak smile.
"Yes. Monster Flood."
He looked at the pulsating archway, then at the grim-faced Guild Master and Ina. The stakes had just become much clearer—and much higher.
A thought taking shape in his mind.
So the dungeon really does work like a video game or a fantasy novel.
He turned to Elise again.
"So, Monster Flood happens if the dungeon isn't pruned. An adventurer's role is more than just getting loot. They're..."
He paused, searching for the right word.
"...pest control. To safely contain the dungeon."
A small, proud smile appeared on Elise's face. She turned to him fully, her emerald eyes glittering.
"Exactly. You see the pattern quickly."
A hint of warmth entered her voice.
"That's why there's always a Dungeon Town near a major dungeon. Harvengald, for example. It exists solely to properly manage the dungeon… to provide a base for adventurers, and to act as a buffer if something goes wrong."
She gestured around the Old Quarry main tunnel.
"And I'm sure the Guild will transform this quarry into some kind of small town, too. A guild branch, an inn, a merchant store... it's inevitable."
Her eyes returned to Hyoren, and something shifted in her expression—a flicker of consideration.
"Given time, and if the dungeon proves profitable, this dungeon town might become bigger than Akela itself."
Hyoren nodded slowly, absorbing the information. The implications settled into place—a town growing around a dungeon, the economy, the adventurers, the infrastructure.
Fiona processed her grim feeling for a moment longer, then turned to face them. Ina followed suit, her tail resuming its slow, thoughtful swishing.
Fiona's voice cut through the tense silence.
"Time to work."
Her tone left no room for argument.
"Rick, Helga, and the Freedom Party…”
Her eyes wandered towards them.
“...you're on perimeter and camp setup. Robert, Fris…
She gestured over two runic specialist.
“...begin your analysis. No one enters the dungeon until I have your all-clear."
They nodded in unison.
"Yes, Guild Master Fiona."
They moved immediately. A professional unit—each member already knew their role.
Hyoren and Elise took position near the entrance of the main tunnel, their eyes fixed on the narrow passage leading outside. They stood guard—watching for any threat that might slip through and disturb the operation.
Behind them, the sounds of preparation continued—quiet clinks of equipment, the soft hum of magic tools, and the low murmur of two specialists setting up their workspace.
Meanwhile, Rick and Helga began setting the Ward Stones. They moved with practiced efficiency, pulling the heavy stones from their packs.
Four stones—placed in a wide square around the main tunnel.
A low hum followed, vibrating around them. Then, a shimmering, translucent barrier flickered into existence.
Near the pulsating archway, Robert and Fris had already set up their workspace. They pulled a small desk from a storage bag, draped an inscribed cloth over it, and arranged their tools with practiced precision—thick tomes, glowing orbs, a peculiar magnifying device, and other instruments Hyoren couldn't even begin to identify.
They worked in intense silence. Faces lit by the soft glow of their equipment.
Fris carefully copied down each rune onto paper, her handwriting precise and methodical. Robert examined the archway through his instruments, adjusting angles and focus with meticulous care.
Fris called Robert after finding peculiar runes, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Isn't this rune supposed to mean this, Robert?"
Robert looked at the rune she pointed and shook his head. His finger traces the curvature of the rune.
"No. Use the magnifier—the curve here is more pronounced. That changes the meaning. It should be this, according to the Runic Encyclopedia."
"Ah..."
Fris adjusted her glasses.
"I missed that curve."
She nodded, then picked up an orb and examined another section on the pulsating archway more closely. She spent some times studying more runes until the orb's glow intensified where it passed near certain runes.
"Hey, Robert... look at this."
Her voice dropped lower.
"Something's off."
Robert set aside his book and got closer to Fris again. He took the magnifier tools and squinting through it.
"...You're right."
A brief pause. His eyebrows furrowed.
"This is strange."
Their quiet exchange carried faintly through the tunnel. But no one interrupted. The rest of the team kept their distance—maintaining the perimeter, preparing the camp, and leaving the specialists to their work.
Ina set up the camp with practiced efficiency.
From her storage bag, she produced bedrolls, a wide dining table, a compact stove, and neatly arranged kitchenware. A magic lamp cast a bright light to illuminate the dark room, while a water orb placed within reach. Without wasting time, she began preparing a simple meal—the smell of heating broth soon mixing with the tunnel's stale air.
Fiona stood a short distance away—still as a statue, arms crossed. Her eyes remained fixed on the two specialists.
Waiting.
For a result that could come at any moment.
The air grew tense, but controlled. Professional. Focused. They stood at the edge of the unknown—a threshold to something unseen. And Robert and Fris were the only bridge across it.
***
The hours crawled by. Outside the main tunnel, the twin suns of Kresneger had already set. But inside—nothing changed. The steady glow of their magic lamps kept the darkness at bay, casting long shadows along the stone walls. The dungeon's archway continued its slow pulse, a heartbeat of pale light that never faltered.
Robert and Fris remained absorbed in their work, studying the runes with unwavering focus. Their heads bent together over papers and glowing instruments. Occasionally one would mutter something to the other, pointing at a particular curve or symbol. They scratched notes, cross-referenced thick tomes, and examined the archway through their magnifying devices. The scratch of pen against paper became a steady rhythm.
Ina busied herself with preparing a meal. She moved with efficient grace, pulling ingredients from her storage bag. Vegetables, dried meat, seasonings. The compact stove hummed with magical heat. Soon the smell of cooking broth began to spread through the tunnel, cutting through the stale air. It was warm. Comforting. A small piece of normalcy in an otherwise strange environment.
Helga and Rick rotated shifts with Hyoren and Elise, keeping watch on the passage leading outside. It was likely unnecessary. The quarry and its surroundings were eerily quiet—almost too quiet. But complacency was dangerous.
Just as Ina finished cooking the stew in a large pot, a sudden cheer broke the silence.
Robert and Fris had straightened, their faces tired but satisfied. The sound echoed through the tunnel, startling everyone.
Fris straightened and set her notes aside. The papers rustled as she organized them into a neat stack. She rubbed her eyes, blinking away the strain of hours of focused work.
"We're done, Guild Master Fiona."
Robert lowered his glowing orb and placed his magnifying tools aside.
"We've obtained our preliminary findings."
Fiona—who had stood motionless for hours—turned sharply toward them. Her boots scraped against stone. Her posture shifted, the stillness replaced by sudden alertness.
Her gaze flicked briefly to Ina, then back to the two specialists. The pot of stew sat ready behind her.
She gave a firm nod.
"Good work."
Then she raised her voice. It carried through the tunnel, cutting through the quiet hum of magical equipment.
"Helga. Rick. Hyoren. Elise."
Her eyes swept across the group.
"Gather up. We'll hear the report after we eat."
A brief pause. Her expression softened. Just slightly.
"You've all earned it."
Her tone remained sharp—commanding as ever—but beneath it, there was a quiet understanding. They were tired. And hungry.
The long hours had taken their toll.
***
Everyone gathered around the dining table. Ina had already set up chairs for them, arranging everything in neat formation.
They took their seats as she began serving a simple meal—stew and bread, warm and comforting after the long hours. The smell of cooked meat and herbs filled the small area, mixing with the stale quarry air. It was a welcome contrast. The rich aroma cut through the lingering wrongness that clung to the tunnel walls.
When she placed his meal in front of Hyoren, steam rising from the thick broth, he looked up at her. The firelight caught the amber of her eyes, making them glow.
"Thank you, Ina. It smells delicious."
Ina smiled, her large amber eyes gleaming with quiet delight. She straightened up, tail swaying gently behind her. The playful curl returned to her lips.
"Thanks."
She tilted her head slightly, ears perking forward.
"Want me to cook for you every day?"
Elise’s voice came out in a sharp hiss before Hyoren could even respond.
“Ina… Please…”
Ina giggled, clearly amused, and simply continued serving the others.
Her tail swished behind her, quick and playful.
Hyoren let out a small, wry smile. He reached out slightly, trying to calm Elise before she could say anything more. His hand found her shoulder, fingers pressing gently against the fabric of her mantle.
She tensed for a moment beneath his touch. Then her shoulders relaxed. The tension in her frame melted away, and she let out a quiet breath.
They ate quickly, and mostly in silence.
The quiet was only broken by the clink of spoons against bowls and the occasional crackle from the magic lamp. The warmth of the food spread through tired bodies. Someone let out a soft sigh of contentment. The broth was thick, the bread crusty on the outside but soft within—perfect for soaking up the last of the stew.
Hyoren scooped the stew. The meat was tender, the vegetables soft but not mushy. Different from Elise's cooking—but just as good in its own way. The seasoning was lighter, more herbs than spices. He found himself enjoying it more than he expected.
Even knowing Ina had been teasing, a small part of him wondered if he really wouldn't mind eating this every day. Unbeknownst to him, growing fondness toward Ina continued to grow. Or he know it, just didn’t want to admit it.
Across from him, Rick and Helga ate with mechanical efficiency—soldiers' habits. Robert and Fris picked at their food, minds clearly still on their analysis. Their eyes occasionally drifted toward the pulsating archway in the distance. Fiona ate without tasting, her jaw tight, her gaze distant.
The meal continued.
And when the last spoon clinked against an empty bowl, Fiona leaned forward, resting her chin on her clasped hands atop the table. Her eyes swept across the group, measuring them.
"Alright. Now that you're all fed..."
Her eyes shifted to the two specialists.
"Let's hear the report."
Robert took a steadying breath.
"We've completed our analysis of the runes. This is our preliminary finding."
He looked at Fris, signaling for her to fetch the report.
Fris stood, walked over to their workstation near the pulsating archway, and returned with a stack of notes. Her footsteps echoed in the tunnel. She handed one to Robert, keeping another for herself.
She turned to address the group, holding the papers like a shield against her chest.
"There are two parts."
She held up two fingers.
"Good news... and bad news."
The two exchanged a brief glance. Something unspoken passed between them—a shared weight of knowledge. Then they looked back at Fiona.
Waiting.
Fiona grunted. Her fingers drummed against the table once.
"Good news first."
Robert nodded and began. His voice was steady, clinical. The voice of a man delivering facts, not opinions.
"The dungeon's official classification appears to be Bronze-tier."
A collective breath of relief spread through the group. Some shoulders sagged. Elise's ears perked up slightly. Even the air in the tunnel seemed to shift—lighter, less oppressive.
Even Fiona's rigid posture eased slightly. Her arms uncrossed from her chest, falling to the table.
"The average monster level indicated by the archway aligns with Bronze-tier dungeon... roughly Level 10 to 20 for early floor."
Robert consulted his notes, tracing a line with his finger.
"The terrain is primarily labyrinths. Straightforward corridors and chambers. Minimal signs of complex trap systems."
He hesitated slightly, adjusting his glasses again. The light caught the lenses.
"It's... unusually clean in design."
Fiona nodded slowly. Her expression remained guarded, but some of the tension left her jaw.
"Good."
She exhaled through her nose.
"Bronze-tier is manageable."
Robert raised a hand, his expression darkening. The shadow from the lamp made the lines on his face deeper. More pronounced.
"But... here's the problem."
The room stilled. Ina's tail went rigid behind her.
"The depth of the dungeon."
He signaled Fris to continue the explanation.
She took her notes, adjusted her glass, and started her report.
"This dungeon depth was far deeper than a standard Bronze-tier dungeon. It's closer to what we'd expect from a Silver-tier dungeon. Bronze-tier usually stops at floor 20. In some case, 30 at most. But... the runes in the archway show this dungeon has over 30 floors."
A beat of silence. The pulsating archway seemed to glow brighter in the quiet.
"We'll need to verify through the starting room's internal rune to understand the correct number."
He tapped his papers.
"But that's the gist."
Fiona's earlier relief vanished. Her expression tightened into a familiar scowl. Her jaw worked silently for a moment, grinding teeth together.
"Fucking hell..."
She let out a sharp breath.
"Of course there's a complication."
She rubbed her temples, fingers pressing into the skin. Her eyes closed. The lines around them seemed deeper now.
"A Bronze-tier dungeon with Silver-tier depth."
Ina let out a quiet sigh. Her tail drooped slightly behind her. The usual playfulness was gone from her posture.
"Language, Guildmas."
But her usual warning had lost all its power. The words came out automatic. A habit rather than a true objection.
Fiona ignored her. She stood, her decision already made. The chair scraped against stone as she pushed it back. The sound echoed through the tunnel.
"You've all done well."
She looked at Robert and Fris, giving them a nod.
"Robert. Fris."
Her gaze swept across the group—taking in their fatigue. The shadows under their eyes. The way some of them had started to sag in their chairs. The exhaustion written in the set of their shoulders.
"We rest here tonight."
A pause. Her eyes moved toward the pulsating archway, its pale glow casting long shadows across her face.
"At first light..."
She turned toward it fully, squaring her shoulders.
"We enter the dungeon."
***
As the team settled in for their mandated rest, Hyoren and Elise moved to a quiet corner, away from the others. They brought their own sleeping bag and slipped inside together.
The fabric rustled softly as they shifted. The exhaustion was palpable, but so was the need to decompress and process everything. The long march, the hours of waiting, the tension of the unknown dungeon—it all pressed down on them.
They lay close, hugging each other inside the sleeping bag. Elise rested her head on Hyoren's shoulder, her arms draped over him beneath the covers. Her breath was warm against his neck.
Hyoren spoke first, keeping his voice low. The words barely carried beyond the sleeping bag.
"So, a Bronze-tier dungeon. Monsters ranging from level ten to twenty."
He stared at the ceiling of the tunnel.
"That's... good, right? It's within our capabilities."
Elise looked up at him and smiled. Her voice was soft, almost a murmur.
"Very good. Bronze-tier is the perfect training ground. The early floors are manageable, and the difficulty increases gradually."
She shifted slightly, getting more comfortable.
"It lets a party adapt and learn as they go."
Her fingers traced a small pattern on his chest. Almost absent-mindedly.
"It's one of the best tiers to really hone our skills. Not too hard, but still enough to push us."
She paused briefly. Her ears twitched slightly.
"And starting at level ten is perfect for us. You're still level nine."
Her finger stopped its tracing.
"We can dive steadily while raising our level."
Hyoren nodded. His gaze drifted toward the faintly pulsating archway in the distance. The pale glow seemed to breathe—slow, rhythmic, patient. Then his eyes returned to Elise. The memory of what had happened here surfaced again. Unbidden. Unwelcome.
"That's good."
He let out a small chuckle.
"This place was a nightmare for us... but now it might become a good place to train."
His hand moved unconsciously, tracing the bracelet made of scar on Elise's left wrist.
The jagged mark was rough under his fingertips. A quiet reminder of what had happened in this Old Quarry tunnel—of Hifoppe, of the blade, of her falling, bloodied, hands severed, wide gash on her torso, dimming eyes. The same place. Now something else–a place to become stronger.
"Talk about irony."
Elise giggled softly. Her emerald eyes glimmered in the dim light. The magic lamp nearby cast soft shadows across her face.
"You're right."
She raised her left arm slightly. The jagged scar caught the glow of the magic lamps scattered around. Then she smiled again—gentle, but firm.
"Enough about the past. We should face forward, Hyoren."
She lowered her arm and settled back against his chest. Her warmth seeped through the fabric.
Hyoren smiled back and nodded. His fingers lingered on her wrist for a moment longer before pulling away.
"Alright. Tell me more about Bronze-tier dungeons, Elise."
She shifted slightly, settling more comfortably against him. Her silver hair spilled across his shoulder.
"Bronze-tier dungeons rarely have the kind of nasty, complex traps you'd see in Silver-tier or above."
Her voice was drowsy now. Relaxed.
"It's more about monster encounters than avoiding something that could kill you instantly."
She paused. Her expression grew thoughtful.
"The labyrinth terrain is also a plus. It gives you space to maneuver, to create chokepoints, to control the flow of enemies, to avoid being overwhelmed."
A small smile touched her lips.
"And treasure chests are more common in labyrinth-type dungeons compared to field-type ones..."
Her voice trailed off. Her gaze drifted to the pulsating archway in the distance. The glow pulsed.
"...but the bad news."
Her expression grew more serious. The smile faded.
"The abnormal depth... I'm not sure what it means."
Hyoren followed her gaze to the pulsating archway
"Fiona called it a complication..."
Elise looked back at him. Her emerald eyes were steady. Alert.
"It means we can't afford to be complacent."
She pulled back slightly, enough to meet his gaze properly.
"We have to be ready for anything."
Hyoren nodded.
His mind began to turn—running through possibilities, threats, outcomes. Unknown variables. Unseen dangers. Things he failed to account for. Just like before. His grip around Elise tightened slightly—almost unconsciously.
He could still see it–the blade, the blood, her collapsing in front of him, his hesitation, his fear of the backlash. The moment everything stopped. The moment he almost lost her.
He shook his head lightly, trying to dispel the memory. The motion was small. Almost imperceptible.
Then, at the edge of his vision, he noticed Ina moving around the camp, dimming the magic lamps one by one. The tunnel grew darker. Softer. The shadows deepened, but the archway's glow remained—constant.
When she caught his gaze, she paused. Her tail swayed once behind her. She gave a small wave. A soft smile.
Her lips moved silently.
Sleep well, Hyoren.
Then—she blew him a kiss. A playful gesture. The same teasing warmth from dinner. And she turned, heading back toward Fiona's side to rest.
Elise, already settled against his shoulder, didn't notice. Her breathing had grown slow.
Hyoren stilled for a moment. Ina's gesture just now, adding to moment from dinner moment, it moved something inside him. He felt a new feeling in his heart–warm, gentle. It was a positive feeling, it made his chest tighten.
Elise was here. Trusting him. Loving him. And he–felt something from such a simple gesture from the Cat-clan Beastkin.
His jaw clenched faintly.
No. This needs to be stopped. I already have Elise.
He pulled Elise closer instead, grounding himself in her warmth—something real, something certain. His lover. The person who chose him. The person he chose.
He pressed a soft kiss against her forehead. Her hair smelled faintly of the stew she had helped prepare.
"Good night, Elise."
She shifted, snuggling closer into him. Her arm tightened around his waist.
A faint smile formed on her lips.
"Night... Hyoren."
Their eyes closed. The tension in their bodies began to unwind. Slowly. Piece by piece.
The dungeon archway continued to pulse with its pale glow in the distance. The dimmed lamps softened the space—turning what once felt eerie into something almost calm. The shadows no longer seemed threatening. Just present. Part of the background.
One by one, the camp fell into quiet rest. Protected by the square of Ward Stones. The barrier hummed faintly—a low, constant vibration that barely registered. Exhaustion finally claiming them after the long march and hours of tension.
And in a quiet corner of the Old Quarry's main tunnel—the steady and rhythmic breathing of a dark-haired man and a silver-haired woman could be heard.