The walk up to the cliff face wasn't too difficult since the last time Horace and MC visited. Joint efforts between the city-states made great use of investments to improve the infrastructures in the areas with instabilities. The rope bridges, for example, never used to be in the area. Witch's Falls was more akin to a training centre for platform training.

It was a beautiful area with the last remnants of the sun's warming rays reflecting against the upwards-flowing waterfall. It silently loomed upwards; no water drops fell down as it stormed up the cliff faces. A malty smell was in the air, as if it was the perfect addition for beer making. One day the group would figure out where it leads off to, but for now there's a trip down memory lane to attend.

"We got our asses handed to us here back in the day." MC pointed to Pincher Prats, pinching their crabby pincers at anything and everything, including their own. Jaggedy Jaguanas, scuttled around rocks, stopping only to take a taste of the air with long, blue tongues. "I want revenge for the level seven ass kickings." MC punched his fists together, making a clanging sound as the trio wandered towards the critters.

"It's OUR OWN FAULT for trying to do this without a FULL PARTY,"

"Yeah, but we hadn't been this way before at the time either. It was still the early days after all."

"I RECKON WE COULD handle the dungeon. I want to SEE WHAT Dillee is like IN one."

"Could be a laugh. What difficulty was it by here?"

The pair continued walking as Horace tried to think about it. A Pincher Prat crawled up along the rocky cliff, bubbling at the mouth, and its chitinous pointy legs tapped away, giving its position the entire time. Lurking in the background, it followed the trio along the dusty paths towards the first rope bridge of the falls.

'SCEE' 'SCEE' It shouted as it tried to sneak attack MC from behind; it was met with a leafy fist swinging in the air casually, and 'SCEEeeee' rang out as it went crashing back down to the waters below.

"Did you HEAR SOMETHING?"

"Just the waterfall and the sea and whatever that tapping sound was. Seems to have disappeared just now."

"ZZZ, leafy zzz lampings"

"First time I've heard him sleep talk. Bless his pongy socks."

"AYE… I remembered that THE dungeon is a TWO STAR. What do you think? SHALL WE JUMP in?"

MC was optimistic until he remembered how Green-top-pass went recently. He wasn't particularly thrilled about getting put in a dangerous position when the party stood at half the usual number by his side. Jeez, what if the dungeon goes to hell like the pass did? We got totally screwed over there; it's making me sweat just thinking about it. MC felt the clamminess rush to his forehead, and wiping at it, a small, wet patch on his gloves were met by his eyes.

A two-star dungeon wasn't worth much at this stage in their adventuring career. But still, he wanted to be the sole owner of his own custom-built title, "The non-sent dungeon beater." And of course, it's a brilliant opportunity to see how Dillee handles dungeon encounters.

"Alright, let's do this. to the base of the falls we go~"

***

Horace led the way as they descended down steps built into the rocks and scrambled across to the cliffside. They could feel the force of the waves as they crashed up, occasionally splashing sweet water around and on them.

I can really feel the burn from all this moving around lately. Thank the stars I can benefit from gear; I'd be fucked without this help. This burning sensation from pulling myself up and down is draining my strength; I can't do this for long.

"It's not even far away; there are just so many damn obstacles to get there. Kinda funny they stuck a two-star dungeon down there of all places."

"AYE, but most GO THERE, through the far side stairs,"

"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" said no one ever

The bookie Dai was rolling around on the floor outside the dungeon. A felidhan of sorts, though it had a tail and a lack of hands, being replaced with paws. It was one of the few bookies that preferred to not stay around in its statue form. It noticed the trio's presence as they wandered closer.

"Oh… I, the bookie, Daiiii. Ask of ye. mjow. Dare ye face the two-star dungeon Murphy's Grunty Gauntlet?"

"WE'RE NOT EVEN that close. DOES IT JUST KNOW that we are gonna go in there?"

"The bookies are weird… I can't quite tell what they are, to be honest, but I'm going to say it seemed to know."

"What say ye, adventurers?"

Looking at Horace for confirmation, a nod came his way and MC stepped up, "We dare to face the dungeon."

"Mjow~ The gates shall open~"

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The bookie conjured a pulley and lever. It wasn't even connected to anything, but as they pulled down on it, the rock covering the entrance began to dissipate.

"I hope you fare well inside, adventurers."

Nodding to Horace, they walked inside. The lights in the dungeon lit up one by one, slowly revealing a long stretch of hallway and a door at the other end. "Who authorised putting office lights in a place like this? It's not exactly a fitting sight for a risky location."

"Ha, I didn't even notice THAT."

"Well, that was a fine nap. Wait... Where are we now, sirs? There's a strange feeling in the air."

Dillee looked around, sniffing at walls and the floor. "Strange energies about this place. An ancient, powerful energy, I would say."

"This is a dungeon, Dil. Murphy's Grunty Gauntlet. That's probably why it feels different to the outside world."

"I see, sirs. What are we doing in here? Is there precious loot at the other end? A hearty stack of HFC?"

"Nah. HE WANTS A TITLE, AND we want to see how you fare inside."

"Oh? Well, I hope I shall not disappoint either of you! Let me at them!"

The trio stepped forward; the gaps in the floor along the hallways began to open. Four metal barriers began to rise up, starting from the back. A number had been marked on the further barrier away, 'Four'; then the next was 'three', 'two' and 'one'.

You may proceed through to the first station of the dungeon

Dillee changed into his vegeflostrosity form and awaited what to do next. "We've never done this one, bud; it's a wave of monsters and a leader in each section." Dillee turned and let out a "Ruff"

"Oh, and there may be traps, so STAY focused." Horace followed up with. Dillee responded with a growl and took his first step to the hallway.

A portal erupted in the barrier, and small humanoids began to fall out and line up as if they had military training. A slightly bigger one armed with a whip lashed it in the air. It broke the sound barrier with a SNAP-SNAP.

"The SMALL ONES ARE called Blobs, and the BIG ONE is a Blib."

"Damn, that one's a bit kinky; watch out for that zinger."

"HA. But WHAT IF whips and chains excite me?"

"You're turning into your mum, lad."

"FUCK YOU, NO, I'M NOT."

"THAT STATEMENT SAYS OTHERWISE, zing-zing!"

*

Dillee gave them no time to rest as the wave of humanoids charged in; they began wailing at him with smacks and grabbing hold, trying to pin him down. His gargantuan strength overwhelmed and steamrollered through the Blobs towards the Blib. 'WHOPAH' and 'WHACHA' rang out as it whipped at him.

RUFF Dillee barked as he swung his leafy leg around, whipping the entirety of the mobs into the wall, killing them in one shot.

Proceed to the next stage

"Well done, buddy!" MC shouted at Dillee. Happy to hear the praise, Dillee turned around, panting and slobbering away.

"Lead the way, amigo. Be super cool if you can beat 'em in go again!"

Following Dillee as the next group of blobs and blibs appeared, he jumped straight into the group, bouncing them up in the air from the impact. Dillee swung his fist back, blasting them in one large arc at the barrier.

*

Meanwhile, In the heavenly realm dungeon monitoring station… Phahl watched footage as MC and his two companions stormed their way through the hallways. "What an interesting fellow they've picked up,"

"Did you say something, sir?"

"No technician. And stay quiet; I'm just thinking aloud."

Understood, sir

"I heard that."

FUCK!

"Hmm. Let's fiddle about with this a little."

Phahl began to type away at the command console, punching in various 1s and 0s, and a system message began to form in the air.

Dillee and Horace stopped moving and seemed to be staring into space.

Dillee whined, rotating his head side to side. Horace seemed to stare into space. "What's up, you two?" MC asked with concern in his voice. "A system MESSAGE appeared."

"Would you LIKE TO adjust the DIFFICULTY to suit the party? Click "YES" or "no.".

"Hell no. Green-top was a mess when that happened!"

"THAT'S what I thought too. But it won't let ME click the "no" option?"

MC watched as Horace and Dillee both punched at the air, looking like a pair of crazies.

Sneak attack was super effective! If only I were that mean. MC thought as he pretended to backstab his companions in jest.

"Guess I'll have to CLICK YES then?" The dungeon began to shake. Rumble rumble

"The heavenly realm appears to be pursuing reckless ideals as of late."

Silence in the air; the shaking stopped too.

Horace remained frozen, hand still outstretched. Dillee was unaffected by the sudden change as a dark tear appeared above the three.

"Tofla!? What are you doing here?"

Dillee walked over to MC as he spoke with the swirling dark tear hovering beside him.

"How come this one's not affected?"

"Never you mind that. One of the G.I.T.'s, they attempted to shift the difficulty to four stars."

"Oh shit!"

"I would not use that particular phrasing, but I understand the need to. You and your companions do not deserve to suffer at their hands again so soon."

"Was it them that caused the problem before?"

"Sadly, yes, it was. Serilia was the culprit, in fact. Wanting to intentionally cause YOU harm. It appears she has a strong disdain for you still, after all these years."

"Doesn't hold on to a grudge much, eh?"

Dillee wanted to know more about the tear, but Tofla had already predicted his actions. "Not now, young sapling. Loyalty to your companion is admirable, however. MC, he will be invaluable to your travels. Look after him."

Tofla reverted the dungeon change, sending a notification to the dungeon monitoring station.

Phahl had already left, and the technicians were too annoyed to want to look it up.

Disappearing back to their domain, the dungeon returned to normal.

"Hey!? What the HELL just happened!?"

"I asked Dil; he doesn't know either. Do you, buddy?"

Shaking his head to say no, Dillee returned to the barrier.

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