==========

  [Sebastien]

  Walking into the guild building was a familiar sight and Sebastien felt that nostalgia rise up within him. He sighed in relief after a hard journey back, and strode forwards with long strides to the desk.

  “Sebastien Baralise to see the guild master.” He said to the woman at the desk.

  “One moment sir.” She replied, getting up and walking to the back. She returned shortly. “He’ll see you now.”

  “Thank you, Jess,” Sebastien said, reading her name off her name tag. She blushed, but Sebastien had already walked past and was pushing the door open.

  “Sebastien!” the old man behind the office desk said loudly and cheerfully, getting up to hug him. “Another boring death dungeon I expect, Sigurd wrong, was he?” the guild master asked.

  “No, quite the opposite I’m afraid. I have to agree with him and say this might be the most unusual dungeon I have ever been inside. Even more unusual considering it was so new.”

  “Odd, what do you mean?” the guild master replied.

  “Well, the huge caverns for starters, then there’s the fact that it’s filled with life, most dungeons are barren and bare except for the monsters and traps, but this one is not. It has bugs and insects and birds and mammals. It’s strange, like a full ecosystem.”

  “A realm beneath, if you will” Jenna added, butting in from beside him.

  “Yes, that describes it well, like a whole new world hidden just beneath your feet. A realm within the mountain. Bizarre.” He continued.

  “Add that to the fact that we couldn’t get to the bottom on the first run, and had to pull back. No idea if there’s one more floor, five more or a hundred more.”

  “Wait, you couldn’t get to the bottom?” the guild master asked, disbelievingly.

  “No, we ran through our healing potions too quickly and then a trick caught us by surprise and Jenna took a big hit. Without any potions we had to pull back. It was touch and go to be honest. If Sigurd hadn’t had a high tier healing potion back at his home, we probably would have lost her.”

  “Shit, really?” he asked. Sebastien nodded. “And what did you think of Sigurd?”

  “Solid guy, reliable, sensible and a damned good delver. I think we’re going to go back to the dungeon with the guild and ask him to delve with us, at least until we reach the bottom. It was a lot of fun and a great way to get stronger. Good loot too.”

  Sebastien and the guild master kept talking for a good while, the others pitching in their observations when required and soon night fell.

  ==========

  [Dungeon]

  I had just finished placating Memphis, which involved lots of rewards and compromises as well as accepting that I would be pranked and toyed with forever, when I was interrupted once again by the good group. Though this time they stayed for only a short while investigating the first floor. Presumably they were looking for the boys that my trees had wiped out, I thought, as they investigated the floor. Then they killed my eagle and left.

  Rude, I thought to myself.

  Curiously, not long later, 15 bodies were chucked through my entrance for some reason. Dissolving them I received a large influx of mana which was nice, but not enough to level me up. Though to my great surprise and joy, a few were still alive enough that, when they expired, I received points for having them die inside the dungeon. In total out of 15 people I managed to get 2489 points which was certainly a good enough gift to forgive them coming in and murdering my eagle. In fact, it had won them my favour. If only a little bit.

  Placing the balefire wisp cluster boss into the fire floor, I was just finishing up the last touches to the fire floors when I was interrupted by a notification.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  ~~Congratulations, you have been named as “The Realm Beneath” by the adventurers that have challenged your depths. No longer an unknown dungeon you have a name. Keep improving and soon adventurers from all the lands will hear of you. – 5000 dungeon points.~~

  Whilst I was looking over my ‘Crystal’ tab marvelling at my name I was interrupted again.

  ~~Congratulations, you have been awarded a title “Bizarre” by the adventurers that have challenged your depth. No longer a mediocre dungeon, you have something that sets you apart. Keep improving and be ‘Bizarre’, Soon adventurers from all the lands will hear of you. – 5000 dungeon points.~~

  A name, and a title, and an increase of rating. Things were looking good for me, although Memphis would undoubtedly be displeased that I had acquired a good name. The title Bizarre was slightly hurtful, I was awesome, not weird, but then I just decided to take it to mean that I was significantly better than anyone had seen before, more inventive. Yes, that must be it, I thought to myself.

  ==========

  [Marrok]

  The dungeon had been lucrative for the last few months, no other people had found it, three teams were set-up, rotating between delving, training and hunting. The new generation of children had been born and were growing fast. By this time next year, they would be delving too. Goblins grew fast, pests they were called by the other races, but Marrok thought that was a good thing. Plenty of warriors to raid and kill with.

  Marrok was happy with the state of the tribe. Forroll had fully joined him as second to chief, showing her intellect and ruthlessness in putting down challengers. The dungeon had done wonders for her confidence and Marrok was happy to have her sharing his bed.

  The tribe was happy with the move to the mountain slopes, and though it was cold, it was less exposed than their previous camp and there was plenty of game to hunt. The dungeon would skyrocket them in terms of strength and soon it would be time to raid the villages.

  Marrok himself could feel the change coming, he was strong enough now, he was sure of it, he could feel the moulting coming. None in the tribe had seen it happen before but there was an itchiness under his skin that was pervading and relentless. Soon, he would be hob, and truly worthy of leading all the goblins of the Avalt to greatness.

  ==========

  [Sigurd]

  It had been three months with no word from the guild, when Sigurd heard the unmistakable rumble of a moving army. Though not an invading one, but just the moving goliath that was the guild with their carts and horses and supplies. They had brought enough building material for five full buildings, including a guild house, a training yard, an inn, a storage building and a guard house.

  When a new dungeon was found they went to all ends to make sure it was set up right and Sigurd was damned glad to see them. It had got boring around here, and there was only so much work you could do on a garden.

  He had thought about going up to the dungeon again, but had decided to wait, there was no need, and he had no supplies left. It wouldn’t be long before there was an apothecary and church set up as well as a brewer’s guild and a tavern. Then he could really get to work. He would be smart about it.

  It hadn’t been all waiting though. He had been training hard, getting back into shape and John having managed to get over the recent tragedy had convinced him to let him join the training. The boy was determined to delve, avenge his friends by killing some monsters, and though John knew it, Sigurd had told him, that the dungeon wasn’t responsible, it hadn’t made any difference.

  John was nowhere near strong enough to get to the bottom floors though, so Sigurd felt there was no risk of him going down the dungeon killer route. By the time he was strong enough, the rage would have petered out and he would have fallen back in love with dungeons again. That was what Sigurd was expecting.

  It would take years of delving for the mana and experience to harden the mind and strengthen the body enough for him to get there. It was why adventurers were feared and respected. When you could outlift the strongest normal man with one arm you tended to garner a certain level of respect. No, John was no danger to the dungeon, and the training had already started to mellow him out a bit.

  Sigurd waved, his heart lightening as Jenna and the others stepped off the back of the cart and wandered over to say hello. “Sigurd” she yelled, running over to hug him.

  “Hello Jenna. Hi everyone” He replied happily. “The guild made it then.”

  “Yep, turns out you weren’t lying, your, village is going to be pretty rich with the money from the find coming in.”

  Sigurd laughed. “I’m sure the villagers will appreciate it, I’m more concerned with when we’re next going in, I want to beat those ice floors. It’s been torture looking up at the peaks and resisting. Assuming you are happy for me to join you?” He asked hopefully.

  “How about next Tuesday, once the guild has started to establish, and we can organise some of the supplies. I’ll need to map out the first few floors in more detail for the guild too.” Sebastien replied, acknowledging him.

  Yes, thought Sigurd happily.

  “Sounds good, now how’s a bed and a meal sound? Better than the cots everyone else will be sleeping on?” He asked, offering his home again.

  “Thank God, you’re a star Sigurd,” Lorelei replied, moaning at the thought of a nice bed.

  They all laughed happily as they wandered back to his house.

  “Friar” Sigurd said, nodding to the man dressed in the stereotypical robes of the church. He nodded back.