Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

After warming up and letting off some steam, they left for the abyss and entered the dungeon Team 3 had previously entered. This time, the whole crew entered through the gate the size of a mouse hole.

Everyone stayed still for a moment, witnessing the gravity of the place. It was like they entered a plane of darkness, yet they could see the ceiling high, high above them thanks to various items and skills. They had been to many dungeons, but this one was the first that resembled the great fantastic places they knew from movies and media.

Next, a giant snake appeared in the hallways, so big that she looked like a normal snake, compared to the colossal surrounding. Python, despite only being lv.133, far behind Puffles, was his strongest and currently biggest golem.

The reason for her lower level was actually because she was the rebirth of a deity. This was why she didn't have an inborn path like Puffles or Tatzel and also couldn't choose one, but had to grow like a deity. Like Angelique, she needed to find a cult and believers to gain strength. Seth planned to instate her as a guardian of the Tree Stations, once they were finished in this place.

For now, everyone boarded their serpentine bullet train. Since Python was like an armored transporter, they would have a much easier time crossing the long hallways that were riddled with pests that could slow them down, if they rode their individual mounts. Big Momma on the other hand could simply waltz through them.

"How long do you think it will take to reach the staircase?" Mike asked Lydia inside the massive snake.

Lydia looked outside through the gaps in Python's massive armor plates. Her and her party had taken days to cross the hallway, but they had also fought their way through and entered the rooms to gather experience.

"At this pace? Maybe a day, or less," she gave a rough estimation.

"You guys should try to sleep a little. Once we reach the stairs, things will get hectic," Duhu advised.

Once they reached the stairs, the raiding party would split up. One group would go down the stairs, the other would go up. Lydia's group had no flying mounts when they entered last, so there were two ways things could go.

Either flying was locked for intruders in this dungeon, similar to how it was in the dungeon Seth visited, then they would have to climb the stairs like before. Or they were able to fly, in that case, hell was about to break loose. The blacksmith had brought all his flying units with him. They would completely eliminate the obstacle of the stairs. They would simply be able to fly up or down to the floor they wanted to visit.

…

~We have arrived,~ a deep feminine voice echoed through their heads and woke many of them up.

It was roughly 16h after Lydia's estimation, that Python reached the flight of stairs that made it look like they entered a twisted range of table mountains. On one side, the steps rose into the sky, to a point of dim light far above. On the other side, they descended into the darkness far below.

~I can fly here just fine,~ the ivicer informed him from high up above.

Seth had summoned the nightmare centipede to test whether flying was blocked, but he was flying loop in the air above their heads just fine. Next brought out Vegr, his golem Griffin, and one of the massive dragonfly golems he made from the bodies they looted from the Hive. Neither of them had any problems flying.

"Good, everyone get in your groups, we will be setting off shortly," the blacksmith announced as more and more giant dragonflies with mantis sickles appeared from Legion.

They had already decided on the teams beforehand. Lydia's Team 3 and Yulecat's Fur would be going downstairs with Seth, while Monique's Team 1 and Jonah's new Team 4 would be going upstairs. To improve their power, they added Wolfram, and Asterion to the team going up, while Seth brought Ceres with him.

The teams were made based on what they knew of the dungeon and their guesses. The floors below led to a crypt and were probably full of dark creatures and undead. Fire, Lightning, and Light magic were the most effective against them, while others like Evee and Mina would be stronger in that environment.

Upstairs seemed to be full of living and maybe more and more skilled and armored opponents. Elemental advantage was not as important which was why it was made up mostly of heavy hitters. Monique's team, with some of their strongest, and Jonah's new team made up of Duhu, Bement, Archer, and Ellen.

Since Jonah's team was still fresh and not complete, Seth added a few more people to the team going up. It was also because they only had one dedicated healer. Although Lynri had proven to be their strongest healer, she was still alone. The blacksmith thought it would relieve her burden a little since more strong people meant fewer injuries.

"Well, then. Good luck everyone!" Seth called out and the teams got on the way.

Seth and Mina sat on Vegr and Drejtim, the Griffin golems, while the others flew on dragonflies. Puffly was a little grumpy since Seth chose the golem over him, but he calmed down when he explained that he needed Puffles and Ceres to protect the group while they were in the air. Nobody knew what exactly would appear on the actual floors below and none of them were experienced in aerial combat.

Fortunately, when traveling through the air their descent to the next lower floor was too short for anything to happen. Nothing had changed about the darkness, but it had gotten a little colder. The door before them resembled the ones that lined the hallway above. It was a massive wooden door, dilapidated, hanging slightly crooked in its frame, and standing ajar.

"I can really feel a dark force in this place. It's very subdued, but its clearly detectable compared to the floor above," Evee suddenly commented, confirming their suspicions.

"The entrance floor looks like it had been abandoned for ages, the next floor up hold colossi that are something like civilians or barbarians... Then what would these floors hold?" Lydia pondered.

She and her team had not looked into these floors, they had used the place a few floors lower where the guards would stop following as an exploit to pull and kill guards. At that time, it was faster than exploring the floors.

"Right, you didn't look into these last time. I guess we will find out together?" Seth said cheerful.

Since the door stood slightly ajar, they entered through the slit that extended all the way to the top of the door, it was like entering a gorge, but with wooden cliff sides...

They were greeted by utter silence and darkness behind the door. As they stay still and stared into that hallway, Mike and Mina suddenly reacted.

"There is a light scent of rot, alcohol, and medicine in this place," Mike commented.

"It smells like disease and death, too," Mina added concerned.

As their resident expert in weaponizing diseases, she was their authority in this subject. This meant they had to expect more than just some rattling skeletons. However, the hallway was empty.

" I guess we have to enter the rooms?" Lydia said hesitantly.

Riding their mounts they quickly reached the door. Staying in a simple formation, Seth and Tekar in the front, then the vanguard, then the rearguard, they walked through the gap under the door.

What greeted them on the other side was darkness.

Seth recognized this phenomenon from what Lydia had described. This was not the lack of light, but some kind of black fog blocking their sight. Still, they could recognize giant hills in the distance.

"Should we go further?" Tekar whispered to Seth.

As if woken through Tekar's thoughtless question, eyes the color of yellow puss opened. The hills had eyes! And they suddenly started moving, too.