Grand Game 237: Compounding Enemies (Patreon)

You have entered sector 109 of the Endless Dungeon. This sector is level 5 of 5 of the Guardian Tower.

I landed in a sprawl, but rose quickly to my feet and spun around, ready to fend off any threats.

But I was alone.

After a tense moment of waiting for something—anything—to jump out at me, I relaxed.

I’d made it.

I’d reached the final level of the dungeon. Sheathing ebonheart—which had reappeared in my hand—I turned about to study my surroundings.

I was in a verdant plain under a bright blue sky. Vegetation—plants, bushes, and shrubbery—of a type I didn’t recognize surrounded me on all sides. The ground underfoot was soft and loamy. And wet grass rose to my knees.

Yet, as normal as the landscape appeared, I suspected it was anything but.

For one, it was deadly silent. No birds called; no insects buzzed. For another there was no wind. Nor sun either. Just as startling, the dungeon exit stood to my right—undefended and welcoming. Its message seemed clear: I could leave if I wanted to.

I wouldn’t do that, of course. Not until I’d gotten what I’d come for.

I turned to my left. An expanse of white marble walls lay in that direction. They’d been set in a square forming an enclosed compound, but its walls were too high for me to see within.

Entry into the compound was provided by the glittering door, set in the wall facing me, and while it was sealed, it beckoned in clear invitation. That is where I’m meant to go. It bore further investigation, but not just yet.

Turning my attention inwards, I considered the waiting Game messages.

You have reached level 127!

My passage through the previous level had been so swift that I’d barely gained experience or skills. Still, killing the boss had netted me two levels, and I didn’t hesitate in reinvesting in Mind.

Your Mind has increased to rank 71.

Another, more interesting message was also waiting.

You have acquired all four pieces of the guardian amulet of elements. Do you wish to combine the pieces?

I replied in the affirmative, prompting another response from the Game.

Congratulations, Michael! You have created the artifact: guardian amulet of elements. This item grants the bearer +15% resistance to fire, earth, water, and fire magic.

Looking down at my chest, I saw the four amulets I’d collected had disappeared. In their place, was another: a medallion with four precious stones.

I smiled in satisfaction. Assembling the artifact had taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, more than I’d bargained on. And I could only hope it was worth all the effort in the end.

Swiveling to my right, I approached the nether portal—cautiously—lest it held some undetected threat. The eerie surroundings had me on edge and I feared the worst. But when I closed to within three yards of the gateway, a Game message arrived that soothed my worries.

You have entered a safe zone.

“Ah,” I breathed. I’d been afraid the portal might be trapped or that it was a cleverly disguised illusion. But it was truly what it appeared.

After assuring myself that the portal was functional, I glanced behind it and found the rebirth well. So, both resurrection point and retreat are in easy reach. I didn’t know what to make of that fact, though. Was the Game encouraging me to leave or stay?

I shrugged. It didn’t matter, I knew my own mind already. Swiveling about, I faced the walled compound.

Time to see what this level is all about.

~~~

Thirty minutes later, I completed my slow circuit around the outside of the compound. Each wall was roughly fifty yards long and except for the first one, had no windows or entrances of any kind.

The walls themselves were smooth and polished, and when I ran my fingers along one, it  set my hand tingling. I didn’t sense any traps or wards in the vicinity, but the tingle was warning enough that the compound’s protections were more than just physical in nature.

Beyond the compound, the rampant vegetation extended to the horizon. I declined to delve into their depths, though. After my time in the tundra, I’d had just about enough of wandering through endless plains, even if these appeared more pleasant.

Returning to the first wall, I approached the glittering entrance. The door was made entirely from translucent crystal. It caught the ambient light—whose source I’d yet to identify—and reflected it back, giving it its sparkling appearance.

Taking care not to touch the door, I pushed my face right up next to it and peered through. Inside the compound I could just about make out hundreds of blurry shapes—which was odd, because my mindsight didn’t register anything.

Frowning, I leaned back. Were they constructs? It seemed the most reasonable explanation. I turned my attention back to the door. I would find out soon enough.

The door had no handle or keyhole, but in its center was a circular shaped groove. Knowing what I knew already of the dungeon and seeing that the indentation’s size matched the amulet’s medallion exactly, I was certain how to unlock the door.

But what awaited me inside once I did that, that I did not know.

I glanced at the brightly lit surroundings. There weren’t any shadows about, and it had not escaped my attention that the sky had neither brightened nor darkened since I’d arrived. And with no sun in evidence, I was fairly sure it wouldn’t.

That made waiting for any sort of nightfall pointless.

Best get this done now, then.

Drawing on my psi and stamina, I cast my buffs. Then I drew ebonheart. I left my second blade sheathed; it was too blunt to be effective anymore. Lastly, I fitted the medallion in the groove.

Key detected. Assessing artifact’s validity…

…

…

Key has not been used previously. Access granted.

Opening the final chamber of Guardian Tower.

Note, this amulet may not be used to unseal this chamber again.

The door began to slide back, smooth and silent. Removing the amulet, I danced to the side and ducked behind the right wall.

There, I waited.

The door retracted fully, but nothing emerged, not even the least whisper of sound. Mindsight was empty too. Hmm. Now what?

Tightening my grip about ebonheart, I peeked around the wall.

Little by little, the compound’s interior came into view. The ground was the same spongy soil and knee-high grass. Alas, there was no shrubbery.

There were no buildings or any other structures either. Only… marble statues.

The statues were clumped together in the  center of the compound, haphazardly strewn amongst the grass. Some stood tall, others lay flat, and many looked like they’d fallen over.

But despite their poor care, each sculpture was incredibly lifelike. Not only that, they were familiar too. Fire slugs, ratmen, yeti, and wyvern: there were multiple statues of each—all frozen mid-motion in warlike poses.

On the left wall was another sculpture—notable for the fact that it stood alone.

Just like the others, it too was made from marble. But that was the only similarity it shared with the rest. For one, it was humanlike in appearance. For another, it was tall, stretching almost the full height of the compound’s walls. And where the expressions of the other statues were violent and angry, its own face was calm. Serene.

That wasn’t the only reason the lonely sculpture had captured my attention, however. I’d seen the statue’s like before—outside the entrance to every one of the city’s public dungeons.

I bit my lip. The sculpture had to be decorative, but what was it doing here? Unable to come up with an answer, but not considering the giant statue a threat, I swept my gaze across its fellows in the middle of the compound.

They definitely weren’t natural. Reaching out, I analyzed the closest statue.

The response was… nothing.

I wasn’t reassured. Suspecting a trap, I scanned the compound again using every ability and sense available to me, but once more I didn’t pick up anything amiss.

Huh. That just means the trap is well-concealed.

I still had to enter the compound, though. But perhaps I could do so with some degree of stealth. The grass was just about high enough to make that feasible.

I glanced down at my white fur armor. I will have to do something about all this white, though. Retreating a few steps from the entrance, I picked up a handful of loamy soil.

The fur should soak up the—

Door to the final chamber sealing in 5 seconds...

My head jerked up in shock at the Game message. It couldn’t mean what I thought it meant, could it?

4 seconds...

3 seconds…

Not good, I thought. Not bloody good, at all.

Flinging aside the dirt in my hand, I dashed through the gates a second before they closed.