They did not waste time waiting for the enemy forces to approach. Instead, they fell back to the second floor. Clearing the immediate area had been simple, and there were no monsters left to impede their retreat. It was slightly embarrassing to have rushed ahead of the other advance groups, only to end up needing their help, but pushing their luck any further would have been reckless.
Nes exhaled heavily, his voice low and sharp. "Maybe we could have handled it. If someone hadn't rushed us ahead without a real plan."
Fayde narrowed his eyes but kept his tone even. "We moved carefully until the situation changed. We made the right call."
Reia let out a soft sigh. "Enough. Arguing about it now is pointless."
Allein glanced at her brother with mild irritation. "You can question his decisions later. We need to stay focused."
Nes gave a low grunt but said nothing more, leaning against a nearby boulder as they continued forward.
The tension between them faded back into a wary, watchful silence.
The second floor was relatively safe by this point. Other adventuring parties had been working methodically through the dungeon, clearing out the monsters that Fayde's group had bypassed. The decision to rush ahead had been their own, driven by a desire for Fayde to grow stronger quickly. Still, they had been careful not to clear too much. The magic crystals retrieved from monsters were valuable, and if too many disappeared, it would draw unwanted suspicion.
What they had encountered on the third floor had been unexpected. The floor's compact layout had made it much more dangerous than the first or second.
Now that they had returned to safer ground, Fayde led them a little farther from the passage leading down. He was not entirely sure whether monsters could move between floors, but considering the invasion force that had attacked earlier, it was safer not to take chances. He would have preferred to move even farther, but they were all tired and needed rest. If any monsters did come through, the Beastkin in their party would sense them in time for a retreat.
Fayde turned to Tris. "After a short break, I need you to find the other advance parties and bring them here. Tell them there is a large force of monsters near the third-floor entrance, and we need to work together."
He felt a little guilty working her so hard after the battles they had just fought, but it was necessary.
"It's fine, I can go now," Tris said simply, and before Fayde could argue, she had already taken off at a run.
"Take this time to rest," Fayde said to the others.
They sat down in the grass. The second floor of the dungeon resembled the world outside, a vast expanse of rolling fields broken by small hills and scattered trees. It even had a working day and night cycle, though the sun and stars above were merely magical illusions. The sheer scale and complexity of it still amazed Fayde.
He turned to Reia, curious. "What do you think created these dungeons? It's incredible that all of this exists underground."
Reia thought for a moment. "No one really knows. There are theories, but nothing confirmed."
Allein, who had been listening quietly, joined in.
"I do not know much about the dungeons either," she admitted. "Even among the Beastkin, it is a mystery."
They spoke quietly while they rested, keeping their voices low, until Tris returned, leading a group of adventurers.
Fayde stood and gave her an approving nod. "Looks like you found someone. Good job, Tris."
The newcomers approached quickly. It was a large party, seven strong, with a balanced mix of armored warriors and lightly equipped scouts. One member even wore the distinctive robes of a magic caster.
They seemed capable, which Fayde found reassuring.
Their leader, a heavily armored man carrying a polished iron shield, stepped forward with a wide grin.
"Thanks for calling us," he said warmly. "We are 'Iron Will.' I am Yorrick."
The others quickly introduced themselves in turn.
Yorrick's grin widened when he turned back to Fayde. "The 'Void Walkers,' huh? I have heard a lot about you. You must be Fayde, the hero of the battle of Enrain!"
Fayde rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little awkward at the title. "We just did our part."
Yorrick laughed heartily. "Modest too. Good. We will need that kind of level headedness for what comes next."
Fayde gave a sheepish shrug. "I do not really deserve that title. All I did was warn the town."
"Hah! No need to be modest," Yorrick said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You came up with the strategy that won the battle too. A lot of people owe you their lives."
Before Fayde could reply, Tris stepped forward. "Sorry to interrupt, but this was the only group I was able to find. The others might still be further away or back at the caravan on the first floor."
"Thanks, Tris. You did great," Fayde said. He turned back to Yorrick's party. "Why don't you all come sit down so we can discuss the situation?"
It was fortunate that Tris had encountered Iron Will. They looked like a strong group. Having two heavily armored tanks would be a huge advantage. The lizardmen's crude spears would struggle to pierce iron plate, giving them a solid front line.
Yorrick and his party moved over and joined Fayde's group. Most sat down in the grass, though Yorrick and another armored warrior, Grant, remained standing. Fayde rose to his feet as well, out of courtesy. Heavy armor was not built for comfort, after all.
As they gathered, Yorrick spoke up. "You made it to the third floor already, huh? Not bad. We were making our way there ourselves. Passed by another advance party on our way here. They took some injuries and were heading back up to rest. Most of the other adventurers should be coming down soon to help with the cleanup."
Fayde nodded thoughtfully. "Then it's just us for now. I think that should be enough. There is a large group of monsters near the third-floor entrance. We fought a few groups, but when a larger force appeared, we pulled back. With twelve of us, we should be able to handle it."
"How large are we talking?" Yorrick asked.
"I can only estimate," Fayde said. "Maybe forty or fifty at most. Mostly lizardmen with spears and shortbows. We have not seen any heavy infantry yet, but there might be a shaman or two mixed in. Tris only got a quick look."
Yorrick grunted, absorbing the information. "Alright. Then we will need to be smart about this. Grant and I can take the front line. Our armor will hold against most of what they can throw."
He gestured to his party. "The rest of Iron Will are lighter fighters. We have a good magic caster too. Hersall is solid with elemental attacks and defensive spells."
"Our group has plenty of firepower too," Fayde added. "Allein and Reia can hit them with Fireball before they even reach us."
At the mention of two fireball-capable casters, a few of the Iron Will members let out impressed sounds.
"You have two that can cast Fireball? That's no small thing," Yorrick said. "Is that the power of the Beastkin bloodline? We are lucky just to have Hersall, and even he can only cast Intermediate magic."
One of his party members added, "I saw your black flames during the battle at Enrain too, and you can use your magic without chants! Only the most capable of magic users can do that. No wonder your group is famous."
The praise made Fayde uncomfortable. Most of the adventurers around him were only a few years younger, but their admiration still caught him off guard.
After they settled down again, Fayde continued explaining the plan. "After the initial Fireball barrage, Allein, Reia, and your caster will continue to hit them with magic. We have good ranged attackers too. If our front line holds, we should be able to cut down their numbers quickly."
He crouched and traced a rough sketch of the third floor's terrain on the ground. "The ruins limit mobility. Most paths are narrow. They can only advance about ten abreast. Yorrick and Grant will hold the center. The rest of us will protect the flanks."
The adventurers listened carefully, nodding along. They were experienced enough to understand without needing every detail spelled out.
Once the plan was finalized, the group rested briefly before setting out again.
Tris scouted ahead while the others moved cautiously through the ruins. She returned after about thirty minutes, her breathing even but quick.
"The monsters are still near where we fought earlier," she reported. "They are picking through the corpses we left behind. They have a crude perimeter set up, but no major defenses. I could not get an exact count, but I found a good place to engage them."
Fayde nodded. "That is enough. Our plan stays the same. Let's move."
The two tanks, Yorrick and Grant, took the center. The lighter fighters flanked them, positioned slightly behind. The idea was to let the enemy crash into the armored core, then deal with any that tried to slip around the sides.
Fayde could have acted as a tank too, using his Void Flames to protect himself. But for now, he preferred to hold back. There was no need to reveal too much of his true strength unless the situation demanded it.
The group moved slowly. The heavy armor made stealth difficult, but there was no rush. It was better to stay quiet and let the mages prepare.
Tris led them to the spot she had chosen. It was a narrow passage hemmed in by the ruins of collapsed buildings. Perfect for bottling up the enemy forces. If the lizardmen wanted to flank them, they would have to split up and lose momentum, which worked to Fayde's advantage.
Once they were in position, Fayde turned to Allein and Reia. "Start preparing your spells. We need to lure them into this passage."
He looked at Tris next. "That will be your job. Can you handle it?"
Tris gave a confident nod. "No problem."
"Good. Head out now. Wait about five minutes before leading them here."
Tris sprinted off, disappearing into the crumbling ruins.
The rest of the group settled into position. Fayde readied his sword, channeling Void Flames along the blade. The black fire flickered and hissed, making the weapon seem almost alive.
He had already used this technique during the battle of Enrain. To others, it would just look like another strange elemental enhancement. Thankfully, most adventurers chalked his magic up to an unusual but understandable quirk.
Five minutes passed quickly.
From down the corridor, they caught sight of Tris, sprinting back toward them, her short sword drawn.
"They're coming!" she called as she neared the formation.
Fayde took a deep breath, steadying himself as he raised his blade.
The battle was about to begin.
A couple of lizardmen had chased after Tris but stopped short when they spotted the group's defensive line. One of them raised a horn and blew a sharp, piercing note. Another horn answered nearby. Within moments, the sound of a large force marching and growling filled the air, echoing through the ruins.
The enemy soon came into view, turning a corner about thirty meters down the passageway.
Yorrick called out over his shoulder, "Hersall, throw up a defensive barrier after the initial bombardment. They have archers, so we are counting on you to block their shots."
The lizardmen numbers continued to swell as more of them came into view, easily surpassing Fayde's earlier estimate. There had to be sixty or seventy of them, with spearmen leading the front ranks, archers positioned behind, and a lizardman shaman moving among them.
Fayde's expression tightened. "Now, Allein, Reia!"
Two massive Fireballs roared through the air and slammed into the enemy formation. The explosions tore through the front ranks, sending bodies and debris flying. The sudden assault broke their formation and left them scrambling.
Without wasting the advantage, the group began to advance at a steady pace. Fayde, Allein, and Reia unleashed a barrage of magical attacks, cutting down enemies before they could regroup. The initial blast had devastated the spearmen, but the enemy archers were still dangerous.
The lizardmen loosed a volley of arrows, but Hersall raised a shimmering barrier just in time. Arrows clattered harmlessly against it, piling up on the ground. Fayde knew the barrier would not last long; it drained magical power quickly.
The heavy armored tanks, Yorrick and Grant, braced at the front of the formation. The surviving lizardmen slammed into them, but the two held their ground, halting the enemy's momentum. Elemental attacks from the enemy shaman flashed toward them, only to be blocked by the defensive magic.
"Push forward!" Fayde shouted. "Cut through the spearmen. Focus magic attacks on the archers. Take out the shaman if you can."
Fayde fought to keep the lizardmen at bay, throwing bursts of Void Flame at any target he could reach. A clear shot at the shaman had yet to present itself. It was fortunate their initial strike had taken out so many of the enemy infantry, or the battle would have been far more difficult.
The last of the spearmen finally fell just as Hersall's barrier shattered. A stray arrow caught Hersall in the shoulder, knocking him down. Two other members of Iron Will were also hit, falling heavily to the ground.
"Yorrick, Grant, fall back and shield the wounded!" Fayde ordered. "The rest of you, with me!"
With the front lines broken, the path to the archers lay open. Fayde led the charge without hesitation. He hurled Void Flames ahead of him, striking down lizardmen as he ran. His sword, burning with black fire, cleaved through an archer who tried to flee.
Reia loosed a barrage of Flame Arrows, striking down the lizardman shaman before it could retreat. Nes rushed into the midst of the archers, spinning his spear with deadly precision and cutting down three in rapid succession. Tris and the remaining adventurers followed close behind, overwhelming the disorganized enemy.
The lizardmen archers, vulnerable in close combat, were no match for the combined assault and quickly fell.
"Reia, Allein, heal the wounded, now!" Fayde commanded, still catching his breath.
He wanted to collapse right there on the battlefield, but forced himself to stay focused. The injured needed healing immediately. Thankfully, none of their group had been killed, though several had taken serious wounds. Fayde himself had an arrow lodged in his arm which had to be removed through gritted teeth.
Once the healing spells were cast and the wounded stabilized, they regrouped among the bodies.
"Man, that was rough," Yorrick said, pulling off his helmet and wiping sweat from his brow.
"Yeah," Fayde agreed. "I am just glad no one died."
"If it were not for your companions' healing magic, we would have lost people," Yorrick said, glancing toward Reia and Allein.
"Don't worry about it. We all fought hard."
Yorrick chuckled and shook his head. "Even so, thanks. We will not be able to keep going for now. What about you?"
Fayde looked at his party. They were tired but not broken. A short rest would be enough to keep moving forward.
"Once we are sure the area is secure, we are heading down to the next floor."
Yorrick laughed. "You guys are crazy. You should at least go back to rest. The dungeon will still be here tomorrow."
"You are probably right," Fayde said, smiling faintly. "But we will be careful. If it gets too risky, we will pull back."
There was a deeper reason he wanted to press on. Fayde knew that at the bottom of every dungeon was a Dungeon Core, a massive crystal of immense power. That was the true reason he had come here.
Yorrick gave him a look but said nothing more. "Well, good luck down there."
After a brief rest and a few exchanged words, Yorrick and his group departed toward the second floor, leaving Fayde and his companions to prepare for what awaited them below.
Fayde watched them go, the ruins around him settling into silence once more.