"This sure feels bittersweet, huh? It's probably our last raid ever with you," Will sighed wistfully.
"Yeah, we won't have it nearly as easy once you move on. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. If we'd gotten too used to taking it easy during raids, it'd be tough to readjust," Mused Lector thoughtfully.
"True, while it does suck that we won't get to work with you anymore, it will be nice to get to do more during raids. You're strong enough to solo Mid Level raids with relative ease at this point, so we're only really here to meet the minimum requirements," Spoke up Elicia wryly.
"That doesn't mean we should slack off today, especially since we're tackling a rather rare type of Dungeon," Pointed out Ferna objectively.
"Yeah, they did teach us about these types of Dungeons at the Academy, but this'll be my first time seeing one in person," I nodded with a sense of intrigue and anticipation.
Today's the 16th of May, 2169, and I was currently on my way to my final raid with this party, and possibly the last Mid Level raid I ever go on.
But it wasn't a typical Mid Level Dungeon.
Normally, Dungeons appear in the form of tall towers split into a number of floors, but that's not always the case.
Some appear horizontally instead of vertically, so instead of towers, they're long, winding structures that you travel straight through instead of ascending.
While the number of Monsters tend to be the same as with regular Dungeons, they're spread out a lot more unevenly and without a clear pattern.
These horizontal Dungeons are called Irregular Dungeons, and there have been so few of them in history that not a whole lot is known about them.
We don't know why they form differently to regular Dungeons, or really anything else worth mentioning. Only sixteen Irregular Dungeons have appeared prior, this one makes seventeen.
Since they don't have multiple floors, the Threat Level is assessed by how long the structure is. If it's less than twelve and a half kilometers, it's a Low Level Dungeon, upto twenty-five kilometers is Mid Level, thirty-seven and a half or less is High Level, and anything above that and upto fifty kilometers is Critical Level.
There's never been a Calamity Level Irregular Dungeon before, but based on prior records, Irregular Dungeons have more or less the same difficulty level as their regular counterparts.
Some Hunters who've been in Irregular Dungeons have even said that they're easier than regular Dungeons because it's less effort to travel through, since you're moving forward instead of ascending upward.
So, based on past evidence, the only real difference between a regular Dungeon and an Irregular one is the shape.
"Is that it up ahead? Damn...how far does it go?" Spoke up Will in awe.
"Woah, I can't even see where it ends," I replied as I peered out the window.
Sure enough, the Dungeon was a hell of a lot shorter than any of the previous Dungeons I'd been in, but it was unbelievably long.
It wasn't a straight structure, more winding in shape, like a snake. And it seemed to stretch on almost endlessly, the other end of the structure was far out of sight.
"It's supposed to be about sixteen kilometers long, based on the estimates from the satellite imagery the Union recorded," Lector informed us.
"Damn, that's long. But that's about the same distance we cover in an average Mid Level Dungeon anyway, right?" Pointed out Elicia.
"Yes, that's true. In a regular Dungeon, each floor is about five hundred meters long on average, so sixteen kilometers is equivalent to around thirty-two floors," Nodded Ferna, as we came to a stop near the entrance of the Dungeon.
There was a pretty tall staircase leading up to the entrance, but other than that, it looked pretty much the same as the entrances to the other Dungeons I've been in.
The five of us got out of the vehicle and approached the entrance, heading up the stairs. I took out Desecrator, along with its new sheath, strapping it horizontally across the back of my belt, before latching my gun holster onto the left side of my belt.
"Here's hoping it isn't a swamp or a desert in there," I muttered apprehensively.
"If I had to pick, I'd definitely much rather go with desert over swamp. I'm useless in a swamp since everything's all damp and wet," Sighed Elicia, as we stepped through the portal-like force field over the entrance, entering the Dungeon.
"Ah, looks like a cave-type Dungeon, lucky us," Smiled Lector, as we walked in.
It was a bit dank, but the temperature was pleasantly cool, and it was definitely a hell of a lot drier than the swamp Dungeon.
Not that that's saying much, that place was absolutely drenched from start to finish.
Elicia certainly looks relieved, and the others look pretty pleased too.
The type and Threat Level of the Monsters aren't the only challenge posed by Dungeons, the terrain also makes a significant difference, as I've learned over the dozen or so raids I've been on.
We then got into formation and began venturing in, turning through the winding path ahead as we made our way deeper into the long, cavernous space.
"Hm? Hey, I'm sensing a presence up ahead. Just one," Called out Will.
Already? It usually takes a bit more walking before we run into Monsters. Also, except for the Boss Room, I've never encountered a lone Monster all by themselves, even just two on a single floor is rare in regular Dungeons, there's usually at least three.
"Be careful. Since the path winds so much and we aren't traveling in a straight line, it's hard to tell exactly how far we are from the Monster. It'll probably be more than just fifty meters," Pointed out Lector.
Yeah, he's right, good catch.
"Don't worry, I'll update you guys at ten meter intervals, I'll make sure you aren't taken by surprise," Responded Will with a thumbs up.
As we continued on, moving at a steady, cautious pace, it wasn't long before the Monster came into sight, perched on a jutted rock across the wall to the left.
It screeched threateningly as it spotted us, leaping off its perch and flying up into the air, narrowing its eyes at us.
It was a bird-like creature with a humanoid body, with feathered wings growing out where arms would be.
It had sharp talons at the end of its wings and on its feet, it had the head of a bird with a sharp, curved beak, and it was covered in vibrant, variously colored feathers, like a parrot.
"That's a Harpie, a Low Level," Lector informed me, as I stepped forward and drew my blade out.