Rosha pouts a little, but she does end up admitting their situation is a bit different from Peter. So, after a little more faffing about, the group turns around and leaves the dungeon. Though without the fights, it only takes them a quarter hour to get back. Of course, they were “leaving early” no matter how you slice it so the people monitoring the exit paid extra attention to them until they noticed the group only had three people.

  For a full group, especially one that didn’t look to hurt or winded, that either meant talent or knowing when to turn back. Though with only three people all the watchers just assumed they turned around early after hitting a tough spot or some such. Rosha felt annoyed at this reaction, but Courtney had made sure to warn her not to speak up.

  While their stares right now were annoying, the crowds clamoring and offers would be doubly so if they knew the group was just done early with the first three floors. It wasn’t that they were particularly strong compared to the best teams that come through the area.

  Rather, the fact that they did only have three in their team would seem to point towards them not having a good backing. How a strong team normally worked was a few in the group were the kids with some kind of backing, while the rest of the slots were filled by hangerons and support. In fact, if Rosha had wanted a full team, her family had at least ten people in this town for her to use as needed. As it is though, the three of them are happy with the current group dynamics.

  So with Rosha showing great, if somewhat unwilling, self-control, the party makes it their inn. Of course, it isn’t any specific meal time, but being an inn in a town like this, there is food ready at any time of the day, morning or night. The night one is actually somewhat special as even in places with dungeons and a lot of magical lighting, places still tend to close. This town has the chupacabras and so late night customers aren’t the rarest thing.

  Though they don’t have the widest selection of greens available. Not that Lily particularly notices as the occasional leaf from Jason’s portable planter spices things up more than enough for her. A little bit of residual power in a plant is more than enough to give it a kick when compared to normal plants.

  Satisfied that Lily would be satisfied, Jason turns to Rosha and Courtney, “So how do you want to play it tomorrow? While we do have enough time that we could let it reset, I don’t see a reason to. After all, we’re all capped at the moment and even if our teamwork isn’t perfect, it isn’t going to get better fighting monsters on the first three floors.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Rosha shrugs, “The floors have been boring so far. Will it get exciting soon?”

  Courtney sighs, “Boring is good. It means we are going in and getting out safely. Though we should be getting into the ‘interesting’ parts soon enough.

  “Even if the fourth floor isn’t too much of a change, the fifth is the arena floor. That will at least be a change of pace.”

  Rosha raises an eyebrow, “The only enemy is those tardigroids. How are you going to tell me it will get more exciting?”

  Jason laughs, “So far we’ve just seen normal ones.”

  Courtney nods, “What Jason said. As of yet, we have not experienced any variants. All that has been changing is their basic shapes. Weird from our perspective, but it is sort of their thing. As for variants, they can pop up on the fourth, but the fifth floor is sure to have some for the arena.”

  Rosha, “And just how arena-ry is the arena? I didn’t really think about it before, but I’m not exactly doing much stick in a boxing ring.”

  Courtney shrugs, “Less literal arena and more of a big cavern where the only way to leave before winning is the way you came in. The exit that leads deeper into the dungeon has a force field of some sort that blocks it till you win.

  “Thank goodness it doesn’t block the way out anymore while the fights are going on. That was a thing for a good long while after the dungeon first showed up. Not that a non-stop arena made the dungeon too hard. It was just a sudden difficulty spike and a newb killer.”

  Doyle, “So I’m thinking tomorrow we take care of floor four and five before calling it a day. Then for floors six and onward we can camp out in the dungeon.”

  Rosha frowns, “I thought we weren’t camping out in the dungeon?”

  Courtney nods, “For the early floors we aren’t. It will take us less than an hour to leave when we reach the end of the fifth floor. That is mostly because it is an arena and so while big, is only a single room. After floor six, the time to get out will quickly rise.

  “It isn’t the same for every dungeon, but they tend to have points at which the floor size massively increases compared to the last floor. For this dungeon that happens on the sixth floor.”

  Rosha, “So what, there are dungeons out there hundreds of floors deep with five break plus monsters wandering around kingdom size pieces of land?”

  Courtney smiles, “Why yes, yes there is. For good reason, too. After a certain point, battles at full power can cause massive amounts of destruction and so fighting in a tiny cave won’t give either side a good judge of their attacks.”

  Jason snorts, “I personally don’t approve of that sort of nonsense.”

  Courtney raises an eyebrow, “You don’t approve of a dragon using their fire breath to cover miles and miles with a sun-like inferno? Of attacks capable of clearing an entire battlefield of lesser troops?”

  Jason nods, “A complete waste!”

  If you liked what you read, consider supporting me on , checking out all of my other stories, and joining me over on my ! Your support is what lets me keep writing so don't forget to rate, review, follow, and favorite!

  And if you just want to keep reading ? The patreon has 2 free chapters you can read right now. Besides that, there are hundreds of chapters available to the various patreon tiers!

  My other stories: , ,