Dungeon Bound Read online

  I’ll need to practice that. If Gromp wasn’t so oblivious, he’d have noticed the flickering.

  “Whatcha waiting for, Boss? The sooner you go, the sooner I can go,” Cuix said, drawing his attention back from his concealed spellcasting.

  Attack him now!

  Gabriel released his spell construct at the same time. He shuddered as a decent chunk of mana left his body to fuel the spell. The drain on his mana pool was noticeable, but nowhere near as bad as he’d expected.

  I must have a lot more mana now if a spell that powerful didn’t fatigue me.

  He wasn’t sure if Cuix would obey orders, but she lunged forward with the other two, spear at the ready, and stabbed the posturing rapist. The three goblins blurred as they moved, still glowing as his spell settled into them.

  Gromp’s large eyes grew impossibly wide as three spears pierced into his muscular abdomen.

  “Couldn’t we have waited until he mounted me first?” Cuix whined, even as she thrust her spear into him again and twisted, eliciting a pained lowing from the bleeding minotaur.

  Gromp bellowed again, ripping one of the spears from his gut. The mighty beast hurled it, and the still attached goblin, across the hall, forcing Gabriel to duck to avoid being knocked down.

  Gabriel cursed his lack of experience casting under pressure and restarted the attack spell he’d just begun.

  He’s bleeding heavily, Cuix just needs to keep the bastard distracted for a few seconds so I can finish a spell.

  Mentally conveying his orders, Gabriel reformed the Aetheric Lance spell he was working on. It was one of the most basic and efficient attack spells. They taught it to every student at the Academy. Casting it required fewer glyphs than any other attack spell, while the simplistic nature of it allowed for a wide range of customization.

  Teaching such an easy to use spell makes it easier for the army to call up mages to provide fire support. I guess it works pretty well for killing lusty monsters too.

  He didn’t bother to suppress the spell circle this time. Instead, he focused on maximizing the power harnessed for the spell. The glyphs formed quicker than ever before, the surprise almost causing him to let the spell slip away.

  Busy concentrating, he was only vaguely aware of the remaining two goblins perforating the massive monster with their crude weapons.

  The sound of splintering wood echoed through the room at the same time he finished channeling mana into his spell. Gabriel glanced back to the fight. Cuix was the only goblin still standing, though her spear was a two-foot stick, the sharp end now held in the minotaur’s hand.

  Mentally commanding the female goblin to duck, he released the spell, watching its progress as it homed in on his foe through the Weave. Gromp roared, reaching out to swat the glowing energy lance.

  Since when is my Aetheric Lance purple?

  He winced as the giant beast got its hand in front of the missile, worried that he’d failed to drop the monster.

  Shit, without the goblins to run interference, I won’t get another spell off.

  Gabriel’s jaw dropped, and he stared mutely as the magic projectile punched straight through one meaty hand and sank deep into the bovine face.

  Then Gromp’s head exploded.

  Blood, bone, and fur flew through the air, splattering gore across the entire room. Gabriel raised his hands too late to shield his face. Instead, he got liberally coated in the dead minotaur’s brain matter.

  Headless, the monster’s corpse remained upright for several seconds before tipping over and crashing down with a sick squishing that triggered a geyser of blood.

  While Gabriel traced the glyphs to cast a cleaning spell, removing most of the gore, he watched as Cuix rushed over and started poking the creature’s flaccid member.

  Please don’t.

  She poked it a few more times, then turned away dejectedly and moved to assist the other goblins. Both males looked battered and stunned, but it only took her a few moments to get them back up and gather their spears.

  Gabriel swallowed hard and asked the question he couldn’t get off his mind. “You three don’t want to… eat it?”

  “No, Boss, we’s full. Maybe come for a bite on the way back up. If you don’t kill something even tastier.” She rubbed her belly contentedly, reminding him she’d gorged on his corpse a few hours earlier.

  He gagged but choked back the acid in his throat. “Good to know.”

  Cuix shook her head sadly. “Though, you is never gonna get any good monsters if you keep murdering them like that, Boss Guy.”

  “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind,” he said before gesturing back out. “For now, let’s try going down another floor. It doesn’t seem likely we’ll find anyone else here.”

  Come to think of it, if he ate all the other inhabitants on this floor, or mounted them to death, why didn’t he just go to another floor in search of more victims?

  The goblins nodded, Cuix still looking glum, and then retook the lead.

  It confirmed his initial suspicions when they spent another ten minutes hunting down the next staircase and found only more bones. With the goblins still in front, Gabriel followed them down a winding staircase. This time they found an open doorway, but the stairs continued to descend past the opening.

  Someone had etched strange pictographs along the edges of the large entrance, but he didn’t recognize any of them.

  “Don’t like the smell in there, Boss,” Cuix muttered.

  Not sure what to think of her simple comment, Gabriel stepped closer and took a deep breath. Then he gagged.

  Yeah, that smells too much like cow manure and something… else. Don’t think I want anything to do with that at the moment. I’ve seen more than enough giant minotaur dick for one day. Though, it’s a little odd she doesn’t want to hunt down another one.

  “Let’s skip that one for now,” he said.

  Cuix nodded and rushed passed the opening.

  When they reached the next descent, Gabriel stared in surprise at a well-crafted wood door with thick iron reinforcements. Sinister runes surrounded it, carved into the stone frame.

  Now, this looks a lot more like what they talked about in the old stories.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Gabriel spent several minutes studying the runes before relaxing, confident they were harmless. He let the goblins continue to lead as they advanced into the seventh floor. They hadn’t complained too much so far, and he figured they’d at least be useful as a meat shield.

  Still a little surprised at how well they did against Gromp.

  Looking around, he studied the coarse stone walls. Unlike the previous floors, a thick layer of dust covered everything. Everywhere, except for a three-foot path in the center of each hall. Each track was smooth and clean, but only down the middle. Dust piled thick across the floor to either side.

  It definitely feels more dangerous down here, not sure if it’s because of the path, or just how long we’ve gone without encountering anyone.

  “Too quiet, Boss,” Cuix whispered, having fallen back and pressed up against his leg.

  “What do you mean?” he asked, annoyance starting to bleed into his words.

  Her small yellow eyes darted about the passage. “There’re no bugs or rats or other creepy crawlies around at all.”

  “There are… wait, you can hear bugs crawling around?” he asked incredulously.

  How the hells can their hearing be that good?

  “Oh yeah, easy to track crawlies. They try to hide in wood or cracks in walls, but we hunt them down and get full bellies,” she said, a thin trail of drool escaping her mouth.

  Shit, I bet Meri doesn’t feed them at all, does she? Which explains why they ate me.

  “You aren’t gonna make us share our creepy crawlies with you, is you, most super Boss Guy?” she asked, her bulging eyes glistening.

  Gabriel shook his head. Vigorously. “No, you have my permission to eat any ‘creepy crawlies’ you find, without showing them to me at all.
But what was that about there being no bugs down here? Were they around on the fifth floor?”

  She nodded, her unkempt black hair flailing about her head. Cuix visibly struggled to explain her thoughts. “This place smells like not death, but no life neither.”

  “Right, thanks for the warning.”

  Her face brightened, and she nodded again. “Anytime, Boss.”

  I guess positive reinforcement goes a long way with goblins.

  The female goblin sped up and rejoined her squad, small hands pushing at their backs to propel them forward.

  He chuckled. Looks like Cuix wants a meat shield too.

  They kept to the main hall, peering down each side passage, even opening the few well-crafted wood doors, but none ever seemed more inviting. The same strange path cut through the dust in each hallway, but the rooms were undisturbed, thick dust coating every surface.

  Gabriel kept his senses sharp, straining to detect whatever monster lived on this seemingly abandoned floor.

  Even the minotaur upstairs left plenty of bones and shit around. The only thing I’ve seen on this floor is dust.

  The broad stone passage led them to a pair of massive wooden doors, which were already open. Stepping inside, Gabriel spotted the same wide path through the dust. It looked like someone had swept, or dragged, something along the floor. But whoever made the tracks hadn’t stayed to the center of the large room.

  One goblin flinched and thrust his small spear forward, emitting a high-pitched war cry.

  “What are you…” Gabriel said, then stopped as the tiny warrior’s target came into view at the edge of their flickering lantern light.

  “That’s just a statue. Not a golem, trust me,” Gabriel said, shaking his head and thinking back to that last battle before Estrial betrayed him. The moment he did, the pain and despair washed back into his mind, threatening to drown him in dark, swirling emotions.

  This is not the time to be reliving that nightmare. You already got one do-over. Don’t get distracted and screw up again. Focus on what’s in front of you.

  He shook his head and noticed his dark hair whipping about. It was longer than he’d had before he died, and he wasn’t sure what to think about it yet.

  Could cut it back, or try tying it up for a bit?

  By the time Gabriel got his mind back on the present, he realized they’d passed several similar statues. As he glanced around, he counted twelve intact ones, all of them of humanoid females. The detail on each sculpture was incredible; the women depicted as lifelike beauties.

  They’re all feline beastkin. I see several of the almost human nyatari and even more of the ones with pronounced muzzles.

  The sound of water spraying stone interrupted his inspection of the closest statuary. He glanced around, looking for the source. It only took a moment for him to realize it was coming from behind him. Where he realized the goblins now were.

  When did they get behind me?

  A large pool of urine was spreading around the green trio. The smell of it struck Gabriel a nearly physical blow, and he coughed before covering his mouth and nose with one hand and turning away. Whatever rebuke he was preparing vanished from his mind when he heard more sounds.

  Slithering, hissing sounds.

  Listening intently, he heard something rubbing against the stone floor. Something large, and it was getting closer. A sudden wave of intense pressure washed over him. Flinching at the spine-tingling sensation, he split his attention between resisting the urge to flee and trying to identify the feeling.

  It’s similar to Estrial’s aura when casting. But stronger. More lethal. Powerful monsters emit spiritual pressure strong enough to sense, right?

  A sickening splat sounded behind him, like a mud ball thrown against a wagon, and he almost turned back to see what the goblins had done.

  “Don’t worry, Big Boss Guy. We tell Gem Lady that you die very brave-like against the stone death. Tell her you only wet yourself a bit before dying,” Cuix cried out, her voice coming from farther back down the hall.

  Shit.

  Whatever was moving toward him was close enough he could hear it breathing, and he focused his mind on a defensive spell.

  Need to get a shield up before whatever that is strikes.

  The first syllables of a barrier spell were on the tip of his tongue when the shadows shifted between two statues. Gabriel fell back, eyes widening as he realized just how close the hidden monster was. His hands landed in something wet, but he couldn’t bother with that. Instead, his eyes locked on to the massive serpentine shape, just barely concealed by the darkness.

  “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!” he babbled as he scrambled back, butt dragging across the slick stone.

  “Greetingsss, adventurer,” a seductive female voice called out. “Pleassse, do not russsh to leave on my account.”

  Gabriel averted his gaze from the approaching monster, having added up the impossibly lifelike statues and the reptilian woman nearing him.

  Gorgon!

  Just when he expected the creature to strike, the rustling of scales across stone stopped. Dozens of snakes began hissing all at once, almost tricking him into glancing at the woman, but he squeezed his eyes shut so tight he thought they might pop.

  “How curiousss, you are not an adventurer at all,” the voice, a soothing soprano, hissed softly. The other hissing sounds vanished as she spoke.

  “Uh, no, I’m not an adventurer. At least not anymore. I’m here to re—” he said, voice vanishing when the cacophonous hissing started back up.

  “Oh dear, I mussst look sssuch a fright! Pleassse wait here until I return,” she said in a sudden, polite rush.

  He remained frozen in place, listening as the slithering sounds moved farther away.

  ***

  It felt like several minutes after the noise faded before Gabriel could breathe again. And several more before he dared move.

  The powerful aura he’d sensed as the monster approached earlier had lifted even before she left. In its absence, he started to wonder if he’d imagined the whole experience. Hesitantly, he cracked one eye open a sliver and glanced around the dark, eerie room.

  What good is it to only glimpse a gorgon? You’d still be just as dead, you fool.

  Cackling madly at his ridiculous behavior, he opened both eyes and looked around. All he saw were beastkin statues, flickering shadows, and a damaged lantern sitting in a pool of urine.

  Oh, and look, one of the goblins shit himself. Do they not wear anything under their armor?

  A rhythmic clicking sound caught his attention. He turned toward the source of the noise and soon spotted a figure approaching.

  A female silhouette was becoming more distinct with each click of her high-heeled shoes. The sharp sound made Gabriel briefly wonder why a woman would walk around this deep in the dungeon wearing such heels. Then he remembered that Estrial wore heels. The enchantment to reduce the stress and make them stable was commonplace among wealthy ladies.

  But why would a… oh shit, that’s the gorgon?

  “Ah, what good manners you have, my dear Dungeon Master,” a vibrant voice called out when she stopped just outside of the lantern’s illumination.

  “Uh, thanks?” he said uncertainly, too focused on whether he should shut his eyes again, or accept the inevitable and let her turn him into another statue.

  Then again, all the petrified people here are catgirls, so maybe she doesn’t petrify everyone? That, or she takes the other statues somewhere else.

  The shadowy female cleared her throat politely, drawing his attention back to her presence.

  “Right, sorry about that. I’ve had a bizarre week.” He swallowed and then continued. “Anyway, I’m curious about your intentions.”

  She giggled, the tinkling laughter pleasant to his ears, and he reevaluated the hidden woman.

  Perhaps she’s not a gorgon? Could she be an eccentric adventurer who lived in the dungeon?

  “I assure you, my intentions are hono
rable, as long as you comport yourself with dignity,” she said, sounding amused.

  Then she stepped into the dim light and revealed herself.

  Gabriel’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening as he stared at the feminine goddess standing before him.

  With her heels, she was just shy of six feet. An elegant white gown hugged her slender form, accenting modest curves while emphasizing her sleek muscles and narrow waist. Long greenish-black hair pulled back in glossy dreadlocks seemed to shift in the nonexistent breeze as Gabriel drank in her beauty.

  Try as he might, he couldn’t resist the temptation to keep staring as his eyes tracked up and down her body. Letting his gaze linger on her flawless face, he marveled at the contrast of vibrant greens and soft white. Her emerald eyes and dark-green lips enhanced and were, in turn, enhanced by pale porcelain skin that carried the faintest hint of green along high cheekbones.

  She let out a breath he hadn’t realized she was holding and then shifted about as if posing for him. That shook Gabriel out of his stupor, and he felt his face flush as he tried to surreptitiously adjust his first post-death erection. He wasn’t very successful, no surprise considering he wore nothing but the ass-hair robe.

  Should have forced that stupid Core to make me some underwear. And pants.

  She flashed a charming smile, brilliant white teeth gleaming as she took another step closer.

  Were those fangs?

  “I imagine you have questions for me. I certainly have questions for you, but I suggest we retire to somewhere more comfortable before we chat. Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?” the woman asked, arching a thin, dark-green eyebrow.

  “Sure, that sounds great.”

  “Wonderful. It is so rare that I get a chance to entertain proper guests,” she said, still smiling. Then she glanced at one of the beastkin statues, and her smile vanished.