95
Mistress Vizzingbelle waited for everyone to cluster together in the Dungeon Hall.
There was no need for her to raise her voice to be heard.
Everyone was already nervous and the mood was somber. No one had forgotten that they’d been told some of them would die in this next dungeon.
Cerena and her team stood close to Milo’s team.
Belt and Selma chatted amiably, but there was a tense feeling of dread from the large man. As though he expected not to see her again.
“The dungeon is set on a timer,” Mistress Vizzingbelle announced.
“The exit will not spawn for three days, and will spawn at a random point on the map. This will force you to explore and clear out as much as you can to prepare for the portal’s arrival.
Remember that it is not advisable to avoid combat, as local enemy numbers will increase over the days.
If you do not fight, you will find it very difficult to reach the portal. ”
Milo heard another team sigh at that.
He guessed that was going to be their tactic. And now she’d just shot it down.
“You all have food for one day,” she continued. “So you will also need to hunt and scavenge if you wish to eat. The bosses are on timers, so there is also no way to complete this dungeon faster than anyone else.”
Half the room looked at Tania, who just grinned back at them.
Mistress Vizzingbelle had also glanced at her, a small smirk toying with her lips.
“This is not a test of your ability to kill. Nor a test of your speed. It is instead a test of your ability to survive in a place surrounded by enemies.” She paused.
“This level is dangerous. More so than many others. It is why it is not made available to you in your first year. By now, you will all have discovered skills and spells which you have honed. Remember these things. You will need them. Some of you will not survive. This may seem cruel, but life is not a game.”
Milo almost chuckled at that.
From what the golems and the Prime had told him, the dungeons were a game.
The dungeon pad, which he’d viewed for hours the night before, was very clearly designed to make each level fun and exciting. The dwarves had an exotic sense of fun, he thought.
He’d also begun to suspect this was the real reason the fortress was full of traps.
Not to discourage visitors, but for fun.
“Do not be complacent,” Mistress Vizzingbelle told them.
Her gaze again settled on Tania. “Your successes until now have been minor. This marks the first of many tests which will stretch your abilities to their limits. Be cautious. Be intelligent. And, above all, be bold. Now, I will give you a few minutes to speak to other teams. Then I will start calling your names. Please be prepared.”
She stepped down from the platform and started to talk to Master Haddrow, who stood by. The two teachers looked more serious than usual, which made Milo nervous.
Cerena followed his gaze. “Well, that didn’t make me wet myself at all.”
“Me neither,” Milo said with a heavy sigh.
He wondered what he could tell her which might help.
He already knew a lot about the level thanks to the pad which had allowed him to check the settings and rules for it.
He also could have changed them, but didn’t want to alert the Tinkers.
He had a feeling they wouldn’t like cheating.
“I expect there’ll be waves now and then. ”
“Sounds like it,” Cerena said morosely.
“I don’t think any of the bosses will have waves, though,” he said, trying to sound thoughtful. “This is about enduring one thing after another. Not overwhelming odds.”
“I hope not.” She glanced to where Selma and Belt were talking. Belt reached out and took Selma’s hand. They shook. “Stay safe, Milo.”
“You too,” he said, offering his hand. Cerena took it with a smile. “Tania created a set of rules. She talks about them sometimes. One of them I think is important for this level. Be patient. Don’t rush. Use Jassie to snipe where possible.”
“Thanks,” she said, not taking offense at his instruction. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Sorry,” he said. Then he let go of her hand and scratched at his head. “Maybe I’m just worried.”
“Why would you be worried? You’ll still be first out somehow.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “It’ll be mostly luck this time. Some of us might get a portal spawn right on top of us.”
“Ooh, I hope that’s us,” Jassie said, moving to stand next to Cerena. “It’d save walking.”
“You’re too lazy,” Cerena growled. “That’s why you like your rifle so much. So you can lay down on the ground a lot.”
“Guilty,” Jassie admitted. She smiled at Milo. “Perks of the job, right?”
“Right,” he said, smiling back. He noticed she was carrying the rifle he’d modded for her. He nodded at it. “I hope it comes in useful.”
“If it doesn’t, I’ll shoot you with it when I get back.”
“Fair enough.”
“Alright everyone,” Mistress Vizzingbelle called. “Please head towards the Portal when your team leader’s name is called. Sylvia Sablecloth.”
Milo turned to see Sylvia striding towards the portal.
She looked nervous. Without Gus, she’d had to find another person to join her team. Luckily, she was able to poach someone else who was unhappy with their original team.
Shuffling among teams wasn’t unusual as personalities clashed.
Even Cerena’s team didn’t yet have a permanent fourth member. Their current fourth person was still hanging back with some other friends who Cerena thought were going to poach him soon.
As Sylvia passed, Milo couldn’t stop from reaching out to catch her arm.
“Good luck,” he told her.
She caught his eye and nodded. “Thanks, Milo.”
They watched her go. Cerena shook her head and hefted her pack. “I feel sorry for her. It’ll be tough for them. They haven’t trained together for long.”
“They’ll be fine,” he said. “Sylvia’s smart.”
“I hope so. She’s had a hard enough time as it is with Gussy.”
“Yeah.” He felt another spark of guilt in his heart.
Tania took his hand, and he looked to her with a smile.
“Cerena Fenwington,” Mistress Vizzingbelle called.
“That’s us,” Belt grumbled. He shot Milo a grin. “We’ll beat you out this time.”
“Good luck with that,” Tania snorted.
“Just come out safely,” Milo said.
The big man tossed him a casual salute. “You too.”
Mila took Milo’s other hand as they disappeared into the portal. Mistress Vizzingbelle cleared her throat, and a few more teams entered.
“Milo Mooney.”
“Well,” he said, pulling his hands loose so he could scoop up his heavy pack. “Our turn now.”
Slinging it over his shoulders, he plodded towards the portal. It felt like he was heading to his doom, and he couldn’t shake the fear tugging at him. While he’d done his best to create tactics to fight golems, this wasn’t going to be easy.
Every fight would be draining, he thought.
“Try not to die,” Master Haddrow said to Mila as they approached. “You’re not a bad student.”
“You’re not a bad teacher,” she returned calmly. “But you did give me homework which I need to hand in on the day we get back. I don’t suppose I can get an extension?”
He snickered at her. “Not on your life.”
“What if I’m late?”
“Then you fail,” he shrugged. “Not my fault if you’re too lazy to show up.”
She rolled her eyes, then followed Milo into the portal.
The shock of a sudden change in environment made them all pause.
The light was sharp and blinding for a moment. According to the pad, it would be hot and humid for their stay. Torrential rain on the third day just to mess with them.
They stood in the middle of a dwarven ruin. It looked to be after a heavy battle.
Nearby walls were scorched and had been blasted to pieces. Buildings had collapsed into themselves.
Smoke rolled over the ruin, thick and red.
A forest encircled the city. It was in there that they’d have to hunt, but it was sparsely populated. Mostly with boars who were aggressive and prone to charging attacks.
And insects.
Lots of insects.
The good news was they had enough food for one day. The Academy had given them that much in rations. Which made Milo’s stomach groan. Rations were bland and close to inedible. Also dry.
He had a flask strapped to his pack, but it only had enough water for a few mouthfuls. They’d need to find more.
Well.
He would. His golems didn’t need anything.
The heat wouldn’t bother them. The insects wouldn’t bother them. The lack of food and water wouldn’t bother them.
He tried not to sigh.
It was unfair, in a way. Surely, as their maker, he should be more comfortable?
Looking around, he spotted the small building he’d selected to be the first point of rest. From the map he’d been studying the previous night, it had looked the most secure.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s move out.”
Mila lifted her mana rifle and fiddled with the scope as they took their first steps.
Steps that were silent.
Quiet.
Creating a deceptively peaceful mood.
Which was broken by a loud crash as a massive golem, tall and gleaming with dwarven bronze, smashed through a nearby wall. Its heavy spherical head turned towards them. Three bright shining red gems flared with rage, and it let out a long violent metallic shriek as it started charging towards them.
One arm lifted.
A flash of metal as something unfolded between its fingers.
And then the frighteningly familiar sound of a buzz saw screamed towards Milo’s head.