The morning in Orario began noisily before the Dungeon entrance. Merchants yelled prices for used equipment, blacksmiths offered quick repairs, and groups of adventurers gathered to review formations before descending.
One of these groups drew attention not for their discipline, but for their noise.
— Alright, let's review it again. — said a tall man with short hair and light stubble. His leather armor was worn but well-maintained, and the sword strapped to his back had seen many battles. — I'm going in front with Daren. Wedge formation. The archer stays in the middle, protected. And I want your eyes wide open on the return trip.
— Relax, boss. — replied a second adventurer, younger but with the same exaggerated confidence. He twirled his spear between his fingers as if it were a natural extension of his arm. — With me in the vanguard, no monster will get close.
The archer, a thin young man with sharp features, carrying a bow in his hand and a quiver on his back, spoke. — As long as you guys don't block my line of sight, the rest is on me.
While exchanging instructions, one of them looked over his shoulder and laughed.
— What about the mascot? No trouble from her, right? — he said, pointing his chin at the small figure behind the group.
Some chuckled quietly. Others just shook their heads, as if she wasn't even worth commenting on.
Liliruca tightened the straps of her backpack and lowered her gaze.
It wasn't the first time she had heard that, nor would it be the last.
'Mascot... pack mule... does nothing ever changes?'
Liliruca stood one step back, her fingers dug into the straps of the backpack as if afraid to let go. She looked at the group ahead, each one laughing or adjusting their gear, far too sure of themselves. All taking up too much space.
'Daren... always upfront, always playing the leader.' Her gaze hardened on the stubbled man. 'He can't even tie his own boots and has the nerve to call me useless. He constantly steals my valis as if I'm not entitled to anything... then disappears, spending it all on cheap liquor. Bastard.'
Her gaze slid to the young man with the spear, his steps too light, his confidence overflowing.
'Kerren. The little hero.' The name came with disgust. 'He let a monster pass just to see me fall, then save the day. As if I were dead weight... I almost didn't make it back in one piece. They didn't even stop. I crawled back, bleeding with the load on my back, and still had to spend everything on medicine. Coward.'
Her eyes narrowed at the archer, who was adjusting his quiver like a trophy.
'Milo. Arrows flying crooked, always missing. Always wasting. Then he says it's my fault, that I didn't retrieve them properly. Of course, it's never his aim... it's always the supporter. Always me. Scum.'
Finally, the easy smile of Seth. The worst of them all.
'Seth. Thief of body and soul. He even stole from his own companions and blamed me. And they believed him. They always believe him. As if it were natural... as if I truly were the guilty one.' Her throat burned. 'I steal too, of course, I do. But I never leave traces. Never. They spend everything on drinks, on drugs, on whores... they don't even remember where the valis went. And yet, I'm the one who carries the blame.'
She pressed her lips until they hurt.
She didn't need to remember everything in detail, the stifled laughter, the shoves, the unfair splits, the perpetually condescending tone... it was enough to fill her chest with bitterness.
'It's not that I forget what they did. It's that I pretend not to hear until I'm tired. But holding onto it hurts just the same.'
Liliruca took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to respond to the mockery. It wasn't worth it today. Not yet.
'Lili will end this. Not today, but one day. Lili will get everything on her own.'
The next thought came almost as a whisper: the hidden chest in the corner of the Guild's warehouse. Ninety thousand Valis, counting each coin as if it were pure air. Just a little more and...
'...and then Lili will leave. Forever. From the Soma Familia, from this city, from this end of the world called Orario. If possible, even from the country. Lili will find a place far from adventurers, far from all of them. A worthy place, a happy place. A place she deserves.'
The grip on the backpack straps seemed to loosen for a moment, as the image of the future shone within her mind. A future all her own, far from eyes that underestimate her, far from cruel laughter, far from people who treated her like nothing.
PA!
Daren slapped his thigh and raised his voice, firm and authoritative.
— Alright, everyone! Did you check everything? Weapons, potions, gear? Then let's go! No more stalling! — He looked everyone up and down, confirming with a quick gesture that they were all ready. — Maintain formation, don't lose focus, and above all, nobody screws up.
He took a deep breath, raised his sword, and pointed it at the Dungeon entrance.
— This is where it begins. Let's head down, and no messing around. Understood?
The group mumbled confirmations and moved toward the dark portal, their steps firm on the stone floor. Liliruca followed them, heart pounding, gripping the backpack straps.
'It's not worth caring now... just one more step, and Lili will move forward.'
The cold wind from the Dungeon entrance made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. A dark world full of dangers awaited them, and it was finally time to descend.
...
The flames of the magical lamps attached to their waists illuminated the misty corridors of the Dungeon. The group advanced in formation, the sound of boots, spears, and metal echoing off the cold stone.
That's when the first scream rang out.
— SKRIIIIEEEEEHHHH!!!
Two creatures leaped from the shadows of the side wall, with short, twisted bat wings beating the air like torn leather.
Their skin was a vibrant red, eyes glowing an unhealthy yellow. Each one had small horns on its forehead and a long tail, ending in a heart-shaped tip that vibrated like a whip about to snap.
— They're Imps, prepare yourselves! — Daren raised his sword, stepping back.
Two more Imps appeared from the ceiling, detaching from the stones like clumsy bats. The darkness seemed to spit out their presence, and within seconds the group was surrounded by four of those small but furious demons.
— They're fast! — Kerren swallowed hard, the spear trembling in his hands.
One of the Imps lunged straight at him, claws extended. The metallic clash echoed when the spear tip intercepted it, but the creature spun in the air and dug its nails into the young man's shoulder. Blood gushed instantly.
— AAAARGH! — Kerren screamed, falling to his knees.
— Hold on, damn it! — Daren roared, arcing his sword against the demon. The blade barely grazed it, eliciting a piercing shriek from the monster as it retreated.
Another Imp flew low, aiming for Seth's legs. The rogue rolled to the side quickly, but the tail whipped the air and struck his calf. The flesh throbbed, and a dark bruise immediately appeared.
— Son of a—! — Seth tried to react, pulling his dagger, but another was already diving toward him.
Milo's arrows whizzed through the air, but one, two, three missed their targets, snapping against the stone.
— They're too quick, I can't aim! — he vociferated, pulling another arrow, hands trembling.
— Shut up and keep shooting! — Daren roared, dodging another blow.
The corridor turned into a chaos of screams, metal, and wings tearing the air. The smell of blood mixed with the Imps' sour stench made everything even more suffocating.
Liliruca retreated further and further toward the wall, her hands clutching her backpack. Her eyes darted from side to side, her heart hammering in her chest. The creatures' roars and her companions' cries of pain seemed to blend into an infernal symphony.
An Imp dove at Daren, attempting to bite his neck. He raised his arm to protect himself, and the teeth sank deep into his leather bracer. Daren roared, trying to strike the creature that wouldn't let go.
Kerren, though wounded, mustered his strength and charged another Imp, the spear tip piercing the creature's abdomen. A spout of black blood splashed onto his face, burning like acid.
— Aaaagh! Damn it, it burns! — He dropped the spear and desperately rubbed his face.
The imp, still impaled, thrashed about, letting out piercing squeals.
It was then that Seth advanced, plunging his dagger into the creature's eye. The body shuddered and finally fell dead, but the rotten stench it exuded made everyone cough.
— One down! — Seth said, spitting on the ground, more to convince himself than to encourage the others.
The other three did not retreat. On the contrary, their eyes shone even brighter, as if the death of their comrade had only whetted their hunger.
— Hold the line! — Daren roared, finally tearing off the Imp that was biting his arm and decapitating it with a heavy blow. Blood gushed onto the floor, flowing down to Liliruca's feet.
Her heart nearly stopped. Her instinct screamed to run, but she couldn't, if she ran, she would be killed in some other way later.
Milo pulled the bowstring one more time, aiming better this time. The arrow flew true and pierced an Imp's wing, throwing it off balance in the air.
— Hah! I hit it! Suck it, son of a bitch! — he shouted, exultant.
The creature howled and charged anyway, now focusing on him. Milo paled, trying to nock another arrow, but he didn't have time.
The heart-shaped tail wrapped around his throat, pulling him forward.
— Aaarghk! Stoph—! — he choked, eyes wide.
Daren spun his sword, slicing the tail in half. The Imp retreated, howling, and Kerren, even half-blinded by the burns, grabbed the fallen spear and thrust it upward. The monster struggled until it slumped to the floor, inert.
Only one remained.
It spun in the air, screeching, as if trying to gauge the survivors. Seth and Daren advanced together, one on each side. The creature dodged, agile, scratching and whipping, but the numerical difference was too much.
Perhaps realizing it couldn't win, the Imp beat its wings in retreat, but not before slashing its own arm with its claws. A jet of black blood sprayed in an arc.
— Argh!!! My eyes!!! — Seth screamed, dropping his dagger and falling to his knees, frantically rubbing his face.
The liquid burned like boiling oil, spreading an acidic smell through the corridor. Daren tried to turn his face, but some of the splatter still caught his cheek, leaving the skin raw.
— You bastard! — he growled, but it was too late. The last Imp disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind only the echo of its squeals.
The group gasped, injured, bloodied, exhausted.
Daren spat on the ground and pointed his sword backward, without looking. — Lili! Go! Gather the spoils, now!
— Y-yes, sir!
She gave a little start. Her legs were still trembling, but there was no room to hesitate. She ran to the bodies of the fallen Imps.
But something was wrong. The floor began to soften beneath the carcass, which started to sink as if it were in water. That common phenomenon from before, the Dungeon recycling its remains, but now greatly accelerated.
— No... no, no, no! — Lili threw herself onto the ground, her small hands frantically trying to tear something out.
With the help of a knife and all her strength, she only managed to rip out the Mana Stone, red, round, and glowing. Everything else vanished before her eyes.
She looked around and realized that while she was looting one body, another had already disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
She bit her lips, her expression a mix of anger, resignation, and acceptance. She knew what happened next.
— I... I only got this... — she said softly, holding out the small stone.
The silence that followed was heavier than the Imps' screams.
Daren spun around to face her, his face stained with blood and acid. His eyes were pure rage. — ONE stone? Only ONE?!
He advanced with heavy steps, his sword still dripping black blood. Before she could move away, the kick struck her stomach.
— Ugh! — Lili fell onto her side, the air knocked from her body.
— We almost die out here, and you hand me ONE piece of shit stone?! — Daren yelled, spitting the words like venom.
Seth, still rubbing his eyes, let out a bitter laugh. — This useless Pallum is never good for anything... always the same story.
Kerren, even wounded and with a burned face, spat on the ground, looking at her with contempt. — We're carrying dead weight. If it weren't for her backpack, I would have left this rat on the surface.
Milo, still pale from the choking, added in a hoarse voice: — You'd better check again, boss, I bet she's hiding something. Anyone could pull out more than that.
— That's it, isn't it?! — Daren grabbed Lili by the collar and lifted her with one hand, her feet flailing in the air. — You think you can hide loot from us, you miserable thief?!
— N-no, I swear... I only got this... only this... — she gasped, struggling to breathe, her eyes tearing up.
The answer was a punch. His fist slammed across her cheek like a sledgehammer, throwing her back to the ground. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
'It hurts...' she thought, curled up, her hands covering her face. 'It hurts so much... but... just a little more. Just a little more and...'
The second kick came to her arm, sending her backpack tumbling sideways, scattering a few trinkets. She hugged her body, trying to protect herself, not daring to scream. Screaming only made it worse.
— Gather that junk and hurry up! — Daren roared, spitting on the ground. — We don't have time to waste on a hindrance like you!
They moved away, still cursing and laughing, leaving Lili lying on the cold floor.
She took a deep breath, her chest burning, her face throbbing. Slowly, she crawled to her backpack and gathered every fallen item, one by one, as if she were collecting pieces of her own dignity.
'Just a little more...' she thought, swallowing the blood that streamed from her mouth. 'Just a little more and Lili will leave. No matter how much it hurts. No matter how much they humiliate me. No matter how much they kick me. I will endure. Because soon, soon... all of this will end.'
Her gaze flickered in the Dungeon's darkness for an instant. It wasn't hope, it was obstinacy.