I am standing in a lush plain. The waist-high strands of grass are blowing in a gentle breeze, and the sky is a clear blue. In the distance—

[<ELISA>: Whatcha doin'?]

[<LUCIUS>: D-rank Promotion Exam. Delving a dungeon.]

[<ELISA>: Fun. Are you going to use your metal magic? *colander*]

Why a colander? I start walking through the grass, keeping low and my head on a swivel.

[<LUCIUS>: Probably not. I would like to keep my newfound abilities hidden for now—an advantage for later.]

[<ELISA>: When that later comes, remember what we discussed. The less you think about your intent, the easier it is to focus it. *confused face*]

[<ELISA>: It is counterintuitive, but it works. *thumbs up*]

[<LUCIUS>: I will keep that in mind.]

I encounter—

[<ELISA>: Anything exciting happening yet?]

[<LUCIUS>: I have encountered a beaten path inside the dungeon. Patrols.]

[<ELISA>: Not going to say what exactly is patrolling? *magnifying glass*]

[<LUCIUS>: Negative.]

[<ELISA>: Are my messages that annoying? I can stop if you'd like.]

[<LUCIUS>: No.]

[<LUCIUS>: I'm enjoying the company, Elisa. I was simply trying to build up suspense.]

[<ELISA>: *laugher* You should use emojis. Avoid a misunderstanding next time. *pointing at you*]

[<LUCIUS>: I'd rather not.]

[<ELISA>: *shrug* Suit yourself. *person shielding their eyes looking left and right* What's it look like in there?]

[<LUCIUS>: All things considered, the dungeon's environment is quite welcoming. Mild weather, and comfortable temperature. The vibrant greenery is painting a varied terrain in a blanket of life. Large plains and old forests are locked in a conflict of dominance, giving the fake world a touch of reality. The occasional river meanders through the plains and wanders into the trees.]

[<ELISA>: *eating popcorn*]

[<LUCIUS>: I am currently in one of those plains, crouching low and concealing myself in the tall grass. I am observing the patrol path, waiting for the next one to pass so I can gather information. As this is a high D-grade dungeon, I have chosen to appear as cautious in the beginning stages of the delve.]

[<LUCIUS>: The Guild attendant that is overseeing the exam has propelled himself in the air and is now hanging somewhat ominously overhead.]

[<ELISA>: What method is he using? *wagging finger* And no cheating. I want you to feel the mana. *blue fire*]

While I am waiting, I focus on attendant Tryss' approximate location, temporarily sequestering the information about his capabilities. The ambient mana of the dungeon is a slow and thick mess, mixing and sliding around. A blank slate of possibilities. Inside the molasses like ocean of mana, there is a hint of a disruption. I strain an intangible sense to its maximum, putting actual load on my mind. There is a slight glimmer, and I lose it immediately, breaking my concentration and leaving me mentally drained.

[<LUCIUS>: Most likely wind. I felt the air around him.]

[<LUCIUS>: Reintroducing the blocked information confirms that as correct. Is the feeling always this vague?]

[<ELISA>: *clapping* Good job.]

[<ELISA>: And to answer your question, yes.]

[<ELISA>: To elaborate a little bit, it gets easier to discern both the school and the type of spell, but the sensation does remain vague. *shrug*]

After a few minutes of waiting, I detect a few hikers.

[<LUCIUS>: I hear loud grunts in the distance.]

[<LUCIUS>: Metal banging on metal, and thumping footsteps compacting the dirt.]

[<LUCIUS>: Between the stalks of grass, I get a glimpse of five tall figures. They are armed with crude weapons and even cruder armor. Pieces of junk metal strapped together with frayed ropes, resting against bulging muscles. Light green skin, and searching eyes, betraying a spark of intelligence hidden behind a destructive maelstrom of unbridled violence.]

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[<ELISA>: *fireball* *orc face* *laughing*]

[<ELISA>: Did you draw this? It's kinda cute.]

[<LUCIUS>: The emoji pack was compiled from existing Earth media.]

[<ELISA>: *explosion* ???]

[<LUCIUS>: Have I forgotten to mention the 'Meta Universe Blueprint Theory (Trademarked)' to you?]

[<ELISA>: The fuck is that!]

[<ELISA>: And what do you mean 'Trademarked'!]

[<LUCIUS>: Best to leave it for an in-person meeting. You wouldn't want me distracted inside a dungeon?]

[<ELISA>: I hate you. *crying face*]

[<LUCIUS>: Now, now. There is no need for that. After I am finished with my delve, why don't I add some fiction material from Earth to your tablet. As a peace offering.]

[<ELISA>: *heart*]

[<LUCIUS>: Where were we...]

[<LUCIUS>: Ah, yes.]

[<LUCIUS>: I regard the patrol with some apprehension, weighing my options and how to proceed. As the orcs pass my location, failing to detect me, I let them gain some distance and commence to follow.]

[<ELISA>: Be careful.]

[<LUCIUS>: I assure you, I am not the one that should be careful.]

[<ELISA>: *frightened face* *laughter*]

[<LUCIUS>: The patrol is following the path through the plains. The simple dirt trail is, curiously, avoiding any woods, taking a significant detour when one might be encountered. Whenever the monsters get closer to the trees and the darkness their canopies create, each orc appears on edge, as if something might emerge and clamp its fangs around their necks.]

[<ELISA>: *giggle* I wonder if there's a twist? *eye roll*]

[<LUCIUS>: No spoilers.]

[<LUCIUS>: I take note of the orcs' behavior and also steer clear of the edge of the trees, keeping a close watch for any surprises.]

[<LUCIUS>: Eventually, the path starts to widen, and I begin to hear semi-animalistic shouts in the distance, accompanied by the banging of metal on metal, and flesh on flesh. With some variation.]

[<ELISA>: *burning building*?]

[<LUCIUS>: No {backseating} too.]

Before Elisa can ask, I send her a slightly simplified definition.

[<ELISA>: *person bouncing around in a room* You enjoy tormenting me, don't you?]

[<LUCIUS>: *thumbs up*]

[<LUCIUS>: I continue following the patrol, disengaging my pursuit at a safe distance and trying to find a vantage point for optimal reconnaissance.]

[<LUCIUS>: The village, or rather, encampment, if you can even call it that, consists of primitive shelters and burning fires. There are around a thousand orcs fighting, eating chunks of singed meat, or sleeping. Their accommodations are tents with a few more holes than is expected. Mostly there to give the illusion of shelter. Constructed out of furs and sticks, barely holding onto their shape.]

[<LUCIUS>: In the center of the camp is a much bigger tent with only a single hole in it. Maybe they forgot to put the rest in?]

[<ELISA>: *eye roll*]

[<LUCIUS>: So critical...]

[<LUCIUS>: I start to watch the collection of orcs for a bit, trying to count their numbers and estimate their fighting potential.]

[<LUCIUS>: I appear satisfied with what I've seen and stealthily start heading away.]

[<LUCIUS>: Once I reach the edge of the biggest forest, I climb the closest tree with a few effortless jumps and settle for a bit.]

[<LUCIUS>: Content that nothing has felt my presence, I start heading deeper in, carefully jumping from tree to tree, the density of the forest and the stature of each plant making the traversal trivial.]

[<LUCIUS>: After a bit of acrobatics, I spot something snaking through the forest floor. Another path. This one is narrow and partially obscured. One would need to pay attention or they'd miss it.]

[<LUCIUS>: I make myself comfortable in a tree with a particularly dense crown of leaves and wait once again.]

[<ELISA>: *tea* *biscuits*]

[<ELISA>: I'm going to guess...]

[<ELISA>: Wargs.]

[<ELISA>: While we wait for whatever critter you are stalking to make itself known, can't you at least give me a summary? *fireball*]

[<LUCIUS>: Since you asked so nicely.]

[<LUCIUS>: Isn't it strange that there were humans in my world and in this one? Two near identical biological lifeforms in two different universes? What are the odds of something like that happening.]

[<ELISA>: Convergent evolution? Elves and humans are pretty similar too. *human face* *elf face*]

[<LUCIUS>: You would think that, but we had elves in our world too.]

[<ELISA>: What! *head exploding*]

[<LUCIUS>: Not real elves, but in our fiction. And not only elves, most races and monsters had an analogue in my world. Even dungeons were a concept in entertainment media.]

[<ELISA>: *person looking sick* ???]

[<LUCIUS>: My advice, and what I personally practice—ignore it. Saved me a lot of sanity.]

[<ELISA>: *cotton candy*]

I deliver the emergency request.

[<ELISA>: *thumbs up*]

[<LUCIUS>: There is movement a little deeper in. I hear soft footsteps carefully probing the ground and advancing with caution.]

[<LUCIUS>: I catch flashes of fur and pearly-white fangs.]

[<LUCIUS>: The figure comes into full view, adorned with furs and bones, covering a thin yet powerful body, light blue skin, a quiver swung on its back, and a deadly bow loosely held in one hand. Troll.]

[<ELISA>: You baited me with the fangs thing, didn't you?]

[<LUCIUS>: No comment.]

[<LUCIUS>: I start tracing the lonely hunter's path, being careful not to get spotted.]

[<LUCIUS>: Dim lights start peeking through the foliage.]

[<LUCIUS>: Torches.]

[<LUCIUS>: Their illuminating flames break up the encompassing darkness of the forest. What is revealed by these flames is another encampment.]

[<LUCIUS>: The perimeter is guarded by strange effigies constructed out of bone, their very shape carrying a feeling of dread. Wooden huts are propped up against trunks. Trolls are using pieces of bone to meticulously carve jagged arrowheads and pointy daggers.]

[<LUCIUS>: A small group is standing before a central building, guarding whatever resides within with their lives.]

[<LUCIUS>: Another thousand monsters.]

[<LUCIUS>: Two encampments brimming with powerful enemies.]

[<LUCIUS>: I fall back and start formulating a plan. A head-on assault would be too risky. Picking them off, patrol after patrol, too time-consuming and too tiring. I have a duel to look forward to, after all.]

[<LUCIUS>: Whatever shall I do.]

[<ELISA>: *burning building*?]

[<LUCIUS>: While a good solution, a little too heavy-handed for my tastes. I think the best approach for this type of dungeon is a bit of shenanigans.]

[<ELISA>: *evil laughter*]

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