Chapter 38: Dungeon Conquest
Conquering dungeons was mandatory for every soldier and adventurer. If dungeons were left unchecked, they would mature and cause a dungeon break—an event where monsters escape from the dungeon and wreak havoc on their surroundings. The incident where Elysia was created as a lich was a direct result of such a break.
The time required for a dungeon to mature varied. Some took several months, while others took years. However, the longer it took for a dungeon to mature, the stronger its monsters typically became.
This particular dungeon was discovered only a few days ago by a scout from Quantora village. Marissa had then ordered Cecile and her team to subjugate it. Since the dungeon was still young, there shouldn’t have been any particularly strong monsters inside. However, Cecile and her team were only level eighteen. Opponents that would be trivial for real knights and soldiers still posed a significant challenge to them without Hiro’s enhancements.
The dungeon entrance was located deep within a forest, marked by a set of man-made stairs that bored deep into the ground conspicuously in the middle of a clearing. A clear sign that a dungeon had formed. Through Rebecca’s mana eyes, Hiro could see the dungeon drawing in magical energy from its surroundings.
After double-checking their equipment and supplies, the group stepped down the stairs and into the dungeon.
Like most dungeons, this one was filled with winding caves and branching paths. Guttural growls echoed from the depths, signaling the presence of nearby monsters. Soon, several wolf-like creatures emerged—grotesque beings with five gaping mouths spread across their bodies and heads. Rows of razor-sharp fangs jutted out from every orifice. Some were feasting on the remains of their own fallen kin.
Hiro could only describe these monsters as abominations, something straight out of a horror movie.
"Cecile!" Rebecca commanded.
They had been together as a party long enough that Cecile knew exactly what Rebecca meant just from the way she called her name.
"On it. I’ll try to kite them!" Cecile braced herself, holding her buckler and blue sword at the ready. Beside her, Nana stood poised with her new bow.
The battle quickly became a struggle. Their group clearly lacked a dedicated vanguard apart from Cecile. She managed to keep three hounds busy, skillfully evading their lunges while keeping them focused on her. However, three more were still on the loose. They soon targeted Nana and Elysia.