26. Entering the Dungeon

Edrin was pacing in front of the dungeon entrance.

His men weren’t any different. One stared at the ground, sharpening his dagger with a stone. Another kept glancing toward the entrance every few moments.

They were worried. Already thinking the worst.

Adolin understood it. He had felt the same more than once. It wasn’t easy to wait for the men you sent into danger, hoping they would return. Especially after they overstayed their mission. From what he knew, which wasn’t much, they would have to clear rooms. Fight monsters corrupted by whatever this was.

It was time to check his status before they entered the dungeon. By the looks of it, it wouldn’t be long. They were restless. He needed to use his attribute points.

[Status:]
Name: Dareth Wood
Race: Human
Mana: 312/350
Level: 21
Class: /

[Attributes:]
Strength: 22
Agility: 23
Endurance: 24
Intelligence: 35
Constitution: 22
Attribute Points Available: 2

Three spells had gotten him two level increases. Well, four spells. He had also used Levitate on Revel when she was sleeping on his shoulder. It was two new spells per level. It wasn’t too bad.

The class selection was getting closer than ever. Four more levels. If he had the time, he could probably do it now. But with the dungeon coming in a few tense minutes, he wouldn’t have time to recover his mana. And there were too many people around him.

Well, he had conserved his mana in the city. It was more of a habit than anything else. Having spent so much time on the Demon continent, under constant danger, fighting multiple times a day… it stuck. Not the best habit in civilization. When casting more spells made you stronger.

After that, he had been on the road. And he didn’t like feeling defenseless. There were guards with him, but he didn’t trust anyone with his life. Maybe his party. His mentor. But other than that, no one.

[New Skill Detected: Levitate.]
[Skill Tier: 5]

[New Skill Detected: Fire Wall.]
[Skill Tier: 4]
[Level Increased.]
[Attribute Points Available: 1]

[New Skill Detected: Wind.]
[Skill Tier: 4]

[New Skill Detected: Minor Strength.]
[Skill Tier: 5]

[New Skill Detected: Draft.]
[Skill Tier: 3]
[Level Increased.]
[Attribute Points Available: 2]

He had also forgotten the Minor Strength spell he had used. He shrugged and put all of his points into Intelligence.

Intelligence: 37
Mana: 312/370

His mana was still not full. But it was more than he had ever had in this world. So he felt at ease.

“It’s enough, isn’t it?” a soldier said. “Let’s enter and find them.”

A few of the men stood up, their hands on the hilts of their swords. Their spears were gone since the fight. He guessed they kept them in storage. Of course they did. They had storage. Why would they carry them?

“I agree,” Clay said. “The sooner we go in, the sooner they get help.”

Revel looked like she was itching for a fight. There wasn’t a trace of worry in her about the men inside the dungeon. Her staff appeared in her hand, her grip tightening around it.

Edrin didn’t stop pacing. He didn’t even look at them. He continued for another five minutes, while no one said a word.

“It’s time,” he said. “We’ve waited enough.”

He stopped and looked at them.

“There are a few things we need to make clear. I know you’re worried about them, but once we enter, we will be split. With the corruption adding unknown elements, we must be careful.”

He exhaled.

“The device can read the dungeon. It can’t read the corruption. Don’t rely too much on the information. Move carefully. We’ll go in two groups. Five and four. I’ll join the mage. You go together.”

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It seemed he felt responsible for Revel and Clay. There would probably be consequences if they died under him. The world of nobles was too complicated for him.

Their group would have two mages and two fighters. Not bad. The second group would be the soldiers.

“One last thing,” Edrin added. “If you can’t clear a room safely, leave. We can’t help them if we all die.”

He looked at everyone.

“Do you understand?”

Everyone nodded.

“That’s an order,” Edrin said. “You got five to prepare.”

Adolin wanted to chuckle. Those five minutes were for him. Everyone else had been ready an hour ago. They were just waiting for the lord to give the command.

The five minutes passed in a blink, and everyone was standing in front of the cave. Well… dungeon. It was still hard to see it as anything else.

The group of soldiers went first. They stood in a line ahead of him. The entrance was narrow, allowing only one person at a time.

“Go,” Edrin said.

The soldiers took each other’s hands and entered one after another.

Adolin watched, eyes narrowing. Why were they holding hands? Would he need to do the same? Suddenly, he wasn’t so optimistic about learning what a dungeon was. Not at all.

Edrin moved next and stopped at the entrance. He put his hand behind him, toward Revel. She took it, then did the same for Clay.

Clay turned, waiting for him.

Ugh.

Maybe he should go in solo. Yes. That would be better. He wouldn’t need to hold back. At least not too much.

“Dareth,” Clay said, questioning. “Let’s go.”