He stared at the notification. It also suggested they could take on the first floor again. If the second was too hard for Graq, they could always take on the first floor. The Rat Lord had been too real and with too much backstory to just be a respawning monster. Graq himself was a testimony that Dhaz the Rat Lord was not just any random dungeon boss, but a sapient creature tricked into serving the dungeon. That begged the question, what would replace him? Would it no longer be a primarily rat themed dungeon? He had killed everything that moved in there.

  It didn’t matter. Not right now at least. They could worry about what the dungeon did after they killed it off and leveled up enough to escape the cloud tiger.

  Jin-woo clicked ‘Yes’. The darkness reacted, churning faster.

  His hand sunk into the darkness. He followed willingly. That familiar feeling surrounded him, almost suffocating as it squeezed him tight. A few seconds. Then it spat him out into the dungeon proper. Unceremoniously.

  The floor was slick. He slipped and stumbled, fighting to keep his balance. It took a few seconds of windmilling arms and hyperfocus to find some balance in a wide stance. His legs shook as he looked down at the ice on the floor. It ended just a few feet away, like it was designed to drop them to the ground during entrance.

  “Ah!” Graq appeared out of the doorway. He slammed into Jin-woo, sending both to the ground in a tumbling mess. Their limbs tangled. Graq stepped on Jin-woo’s face as he used it as a stepping stone to come out the other side standing.

  Graq let out a relieved breath. “Not as bad as last time! I was expecting to land face first.”

  Jin-woo groaned as he struggled to get up. He wasn’t worried about what had happened, instead rushing to open his pack and search for the healing potion. It had been wrapped up in a ton of cloth, but he was still worried about it. It wasn’t a question if he would end up in ‘Crimson Madness’, but rather how many times and when. The healing potion was his one get out of jail free card, mostly to save Graq than himself.

  A tension escaped his taunt shoulders when he unwrapped the bundle that was the single healing potion and found it safe and sound. It was probably the most valuable thing they had.

  “Jin-woo…?”

  He looked up.

  “I think we have company!”

  Jin-woo shot up to his feet. He grabbed his free spear on the way up. He caught red eyes that stalked forward from the distant darkness of the tunnel. Three hideous things on two feet stepped forward. Carefully approaching. Foam and spit dripped from large fangs. Only a loin cloth to hide the wrinkly, pus, and wart covered skin. They were shades of gray and splotches of dirty brown.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He could see stitches all along their bodies. Hunched backs.

  They carried different weapons in each hand. One a spear, the other an axe, and the last a club. Their blades and edges were all stone. Primitive and savage.

  [HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED]

  [CLASSIFICATION: Savage Ratkin (De-Evolved) - (F+) Ranked Enemy]

  [WARNING: Multiple adaptations detected - Physical/Mental alterations present]

  [THREAT ASSESSMENT: Calculating...]

  Graq stared for a long time, the monsters staring back. He seemed incapable of accepting what was in front of him. Still as calm waters.

  “Graq?” Jin-woo prodded. Worried the ratkin had turned into a dungeon mob. That was a worry in the back of his head that he never voiced.

  “Brothers. What have they done to you all?”

  Graq had begun to whisper to himself. A prayer. Jin-woo chose to ignore it. It felt wrong to interrupt or listen into what was being said. Instead, he focused on their surroundings proper. His analytical mind taking in the makeup of the tunnel and preparing battle plans and areas to keep away from.

  The tunnel was much like the first dungeon. As though someone copy and pasted the design every dozen or so stones. But there were differences. Rough hewn and large stones made up the ground level. Smooth stones on the walls of the tunnel. It was wide enough for four of him to stand comfortably in.

  Patches of ice, just as slick as the one they were standing on, reflected the lights of the torches. Jin-woo had his own torches from the first dungeon, but had chosen not to bring them. They burned endlessly and refused to be turned off. Neither one of them had a free hand to constantly hold one or risk setting fire to all their belongings.

  He looked up. Ice stalactites hung from the ceiling threatening to fall and smash their heads in. There were pipes up there that dripped water that had no sound when contacting the ground. Another oddity he noted quickly. Jin-woo’s notes had become a source of headaches when he kept scrolling.

  The monsters barked at them.

  Jin-woo frowned at their lack of aggression. Red eyes and foaming from the mouth should have been the tell for a distinct lack of safety parameters. Charging headlong into the sharp point of his spear. Instead, they approached with hesitant steps.

  “Graq,” Jin-woo said. He noticed Graq had finished whatever prayer he was saying. “Get behind me. Just like we practiced. Attack if there is an opening. And don’t blast me with your skill!”

  Graq didn’t respond but followed orders anyway. He got behind Jin-woo’s massive frame. Jaw set and eyes burning.

  Jin-woo stepped forward to get them out of the ice patch and onto better ground. They didn’t have any good footwear to fight the lack of friction. Just more clothes they turned into shoes. Another of his party members skilled work they had been relying on. Graq wasn’t just brains after all.

  He felt his new earth skills activate the moment the monsters got into range. A large radius that seemed larger than the notifications had suggested. ‘WatchfulStride’ seemed like a great passive skill, but he had been hoping for much more when he first saw Graq’s new ability. To say he was disappointed would have been a lie.

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