"Dorne, I Want to Join This Amazing Party Too"
"Dorne. I want to join this amazing party too."
Hearing those words, the Dorne Party welcomed the mage's addition with joyful hearts. In their excitement, Dorne threw an arm around Lucian's shoulders, prompting Inoi to shoot Lucian a sharp glance.
Now a complete party of six, the Dorne Party huddled together at a restaurant table to draft their contracts. Up until then, they hadn't distributed any dividends. When Eresa had first joined to make them a four-person team, their income was meager, and the party had mountains of expenses—divvying up shares would have seriously stunted their growth, so they'd agreed on that rule. But now, with sponsorship from the Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group, they no longer needed to buy gear out of pocket. There was no reason not to share the spoils.
So, while drawing up Lucian's contract, they went ahead and redid everyone's agreements.
"That said... now that we're a full party, maybe we should think about a proper name?"
"I'm fine with just Dorne Party, personally?"
Eresa said, her plump tail wrapped snugly around her waist.
"Hmm, but wouldn't it be better to have a name that reflects our identity?"
Dorne's party members—everyone but him—exchanged knowing glances, stifling laughs. Raon, who rarely spoke up during discussions, finally chimed in.
"Hyungnim. That's why... Dorne Party is the perfect name."
"Exactly. Isn't Dorne the glue holding all us misfits together in one party?"
Lucian, the newest member, nailed it with the insight of a seasoned magic researcher. Raon and Lilia were green explorers without much drive. Eresa had been shackled by her parents' dying wishes, scraping by in poverty. Inoi had to explore to climb to high priestess. And Lucian, a skilled magic tool crafter, was eager to delve endless labyrinths alongside the Dorne Party.
Their goals didn't align. For Inoi and Lucian, the party was a means to an end. For the other three, it was the end itself.
It's no small feat to unite such disparate souls. Amid the warm gazes of his comrades—like a heated electric blanket—Dorne wrote Dorne in the party name field.
"This is... thank you."
In that moment, Dorne felt an unshakable solidity. Orphaned in this new world without parents, he'd never realized back on Earth. Having a family that would never abandon him, that would stick with him no matter what—it profoundly shaped his psyche.
The bold stance toward the world. The swagger that nothing could faze him. The resilience to brush off harm and stand tall. All stemmed from the firm psychological roots binding him to his family.
Dorne sensed his bonds forged in the labyrinth city had woven into those roots. The sturdy giant's eyes reddened. His tree-branch arms enfolded his comrades.
After the heartfelt party formation drama, the Dorne Party had the Labyrinth Guild notarize their contracts and distributed copies. They visited the Wendi Labyrinth Merchant Group to announce their participation in the True Dragon raid, then spent time fine-tuning their six-person combat tactics and individual abilities.
Inoi, Eresa, and Lilia bought True Dragon raid prep items through the Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group—lessons from the Torman Party. (Not much to it, really: just resistance potions of suitable potency for sipping inside the window.)
And on the promised morning, twelve explorers gathered at the labyrinth entrance.
The veteran giant Torman addressed the next-gen giant, Dorne.
"Remember: once inside, push as fast as possible to rendezvous at the third-floor descent portal clearing."
"Of course. See you in the labyrinth."
The parties clasped hands. Torman and Dorne's backs were loaded with as much wooden pillars and planks as they could carry. Eresa's 【Inventory】 was stuffed to bursting, yet it still wasn't enough—the giants bore the overflow.
These materials were raid prep. From experience, the Dorne Party knew the True Dragon's breath wouldn't reach below the window. They'd build a platform right beneath it to stand on—and these were the supplies.
The two seemingly lumbering giant-led parties plunged through the labyrinth portal to the first floor.
No dawdling for the Dorne Party—they beelined for the next level.
"Left, Dorne!"
At Eresa's call, Dorne—laden with planks—pivoted carefully, mindful not to swing his load into his comrades. Having endured rush-hour public transit with a bulky backpack, he knew the mischief such cargo could wreak.
The Dorne Party blitzed the temple-themed first floor at a brisk pace. Hauling this much weight so swiftly would've been impossible for pre-【Giant】 Dorne. Even with 【Iron Man】, muscles need oxygen. Exceed the oxygen delivery rate, hit ventilatory threshold, and you'd gasp out fast. (Strictly speaking, it's the CO2 buildup from muscle use.)
But post-【Giant】, Dorne's expanded lung capacity covered it nicely. Short of gaining 【Fighting Spirit】's base [Endurance Boost], there was no better fix. He had no desire to go bare-fisted against monsters like Torman—nor the weapon to handle it. His next ability choice was still TBD.
Thus, 【Giant】 Dorne became a stamina monster who cleared the first floor effortlessly, heavy load and all.
Clatter clatter
Whoosh!
Thud!
A skeleton horde blocked their path. Eresa's crossbow bolt flew, followed by Lucian's magic-tool-fueled flame spell erupting.
Lucian's fire differed from a goblin shaman's fireball. No mere toss—this blaze danced under his magic-tool control, bending to his will.
It didn't pulverize bones outright, but incinerated the invisible bindings holding them, leaving mere bone piles.
The frontline duo—guarding supply-laden Dorne—didn't even draw weapons, just stomped skulls to finish them.
Eresa scooped magic stones and dashed to catch up. Seasoned explorer stamina outpaced even priestess Inoi.
Inoi herself had improved her cardio over two weeks of training. (Muscle building takes a month-plus, but cardio ramps quicker—though it fades faster too. Peak condition demands relentless consistency.)
Lucian flagged first.
Gasp, gasp...
Lilia scooped the wheezing mage and plopped him atop Dorne's wood stack.
"Th-thanks..."
Inoi focused on her own run, resisting the urge to glare at the guy on Dorne's back.
Step step, whoosh... Step step, whoosh... She held her breathing rhythm.
They ran on awhile before pausing to eat and drink.
Huff... huff...
Non-warriors panted. Lucian, unwittingly interval-trained via carry-runs, was wiped. The warriors' fresh faces grated.
Huff... huff... "Magic's supposed to handle my role with tools... huff... should've grabbed a warrior ability..."
The trio chuckled at his dramatics.
"Haha... This won't happen often. Well, maybe more for us, but your stamina'll build."
Lucian seriously pondered crafting a long-haul travel magic tool. Pricey and complex—every labyrinth environment factored in—but who was he?
'Who am I? Master Alterion's prized pupil, Lucian!'
A magic researcher validated by top minds. With his dogged resolve, nothing was impossible. (That's the mindset for crafting. Imagination fuels innovation.)
Hot stew emerged from Eresa's 【Inventory】, portions scaled to size—Dorne's bowl comically huge.
Non-warriors wolfed theirs and sprawled to recharge. The warriors figured makeshift seats from Dorne's wood: room for three.
"Hop on."
Eresa straddled center like riding a pony; Inoi and Lucian flanked. (Lucian volunteered middle, but Inoi vetoed hard—"balance," she claimed.)
Dorne realized he'd become a massive multi-role platform—crossbower, mage, priest, warrior all in one. Total transformer robot vibes.
Post-meal, they resumed toward the second-floor descent—opting to conserve energy. This was real combat, True Dragon raid prep, not training. Run-walk intervals helped non-warriors, sure, but stamina preservation ruled.
Thud, thud, thud.
Dorne loped on long legs; Raon and Lilia led slightly slower than marathoners.
Clatter clatter
Thud!
Whoosh!
Inoi's lantern lit a skeleton pack ahead. Eresa's bolt and Lucian's flames struck—faster now, rested atop Dorne's shoulder.
Warriors crushed skulls; Eresa hopped down, grabbed stones, then clambered back up.
Cute, pint-sized lesser panda beastkin? Sure—but beastkin agility trumped human norms. (Short legs meant max effort sprints.)
They bulldozed skeletons like a dump truck, then spotted a sealed stone coffin. Uneasy vibes halted them—echoes of that variant vampire tainting even standard ones.
"Let's clear it. Not in a rush."
"Agreed."
"Me too."
Whoosh!
Lucian cast from atop the load. Flames licked the lid; Raon yanked it open.
Groooan.
Fire poured in.
Boom!
Bone dust met flames in a dust explosion, blasting toward Dorne peering inside.
Whoosh—
"Kyaa! Ack! Wh-what is this?!"
"Hyaaak!"
Lucian canceled in shock; Eresa pummeled Dorne's hair—flames had caught in his wire-tough locks.
Dorne's smoldering scalp met lesser-panda fury.
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