Dungeon Raid with Outsiders
The tension that had gripped our group out in the field gradually eased as we pushed forward. After a few mishaps—poor positioning, overlapping tank and DPS timings—and some feedback sessions, we were starting to sync up nicely.
"Something's coming from over there!"
"Trouble Tree. Proceeding with Plan A."
Plan A: Shield warrior Bilrum up front in the vanguard, Erhan right behind him, mage Silbi in the center, and the assassin duo from the Griner organization on the rear flanks. A formation we'd hashed out beforehand.
"Got it."
"Yep!"
The group moved with crisp precision at my command. Come to think of it, I'd partied up with every one of these guys back in my newbie days. Nostalgia hit me like a wave.
"【Low-Tier Fire Elemental Magic: Fireball】!"
Boom!
Kaboom!
Kwaaaang!
Kwaaaang!
Kwaaaang!
────Eekieeeek!
The massive tree took a barrage of blazing orbs and screamed before erupting in flames.
"Whoa! Burns real nice."
"……Trouble Trees aren't supposed to go down that easy. This is way too straightforward."
"Monster or not, it's just a walking tree. Vulnerable to fire elemental attacks from range."
"We did it! This is the heart of the West Forest, right?"
Mage Silbi bounced around, clutching her long staff. Well, strictly speaking, no—this wasn't the true depths. That's why I could bring Erhan here without issue. Weekday dungeons are newbie-friendly by design; even if the zone's labeled 'depths,' the entry route counts as 'mid-level,' and so do the mobs. The whole West Forest is basically a playground for noobs anyway.
"Erhan, go check for drops."
"Yes, sir!"
He bolted forward like a shot and soon waved something in the air.
"Hey, there's a blue crystal shard here!"
Perfect. The key dropped. Weekday dungeons stick to their elemental theme while functioning like proper dungeons.
"Field clears are getting familiar, but a real dungeon's got me a bit on edge…… Ahaha!"
"No real difference from the field."
With that, I turned toward the towering cliff overlooking the lake below.
"Senior Adrian……?"
"Yeah, this is it."
I jammed the blue crystal shard into the cliff face. Rumble……
A massive vibration shook the ground like an earthquake.
"Wh-what the?!"
"Huh?!"
Ignoring the flustered chatter, a huge hole yawned open where I'd embedded the shard—like magic—leading into a cave and down underground. This was the spot. The tunnel plunged straight down, past the lake's surface to its very bottom.
The noobs stumbled back in shock at the sudden dungeon entrance, but two figures calmly stepped up beside me, faces impassive. As expected from top-tier pro assassins.
"……Let's go."
"……We going?"
Petite builds, identical looks like clones. Matching side-swept hair covering one eye each. They peered into the pitch-black stairs.
I glanced at them, then at the void, and said, "We're going."
You have arrived at the Attribute Weekday Dungeon.
This Attribute Weekday Dungeon's elemental attribute is Water.
I plunged into the darkness. A floating sensation enveloped me, then I glided down gently to land on solid ground. Each weekday dungeon has its own flavor. The earth-element one Kalen and I cleared was like an ancient warehouse of defective golems patched together from scraps.
This one……
"Whoa……."
"This is……."
"Ooooh……!"
A long corridor stretched ahead. Crumbling blue pillars, collapsed joints. It evoked ancient grandeur. Look up, and instead of a rocky ceiling, rippling water gleamed. The floor mirrored the shifting surface, making it feel like we were submerged.
"……Whoa."
"……Ah."
Even the taciturn assassin siblings let out soft gasps. A truly stunning place.
"Stay sharp. The monsters here are on another level from what we've faced."
True to my word, as I stepped forward, a figure rose from a floor puddle. A translucent humanoid made of water, gripping a long spear, a glowing core shining where a face should be under its helmet.
That's right. This dungeon's theme……
A city sunk into the ocean depths.
A classic concept from other games. But newbie-friendly, so only spear-wielding water soldiers and archers spawn.
Still, plenty threatening for noobs.
────!#$1!
The translucent soldier dripped water as it spotted me, cried out, and raised its spear.
Just before it pierced my chest—
"【Hero Sword: True】!"
Erhan's seven-colored greatsword flew in, cleaving the water soldier in half.
Splash!
"Huh?"
But the bisected upper half? Its legs kicked it back up, reattaching like nothing happened.
────!#$!!
It roared even fiercer than before.
"Huh? H-huh? Wha…… Senior? They're regenerating?!"
"Step back."
I summoned a spiritwood branch and fired Summon Lightning right into the core—the glowing white spot.
────!!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?!
It convulsed from the shock, cracked with a zzzt, and dissolved.
"Huh? Dead?"
"Looks scary, but they're basically big slimes."
"Ah…… So we target the core."
"Push through fast. If we don't reach the boss door quick, infinite water soldiers will spawn."
Time attack to the boss room, in other words.
"Plan A."
The assassins nodded and moved to the flanks.
"Actually, slight change."
"?"
"Pin on the right, Shal on the left. Swap positions."
Everyone stared at me in shock.
"……What?"
"Senior Adrian, you can tell Pin-senior and Shal-senior apart?"
"Is that even possible?"
Why are they acting like this?
"Not hard, is it?"
"?"
"?"
"Pin uses a dagger, Shal a knife. Check the weapons at their waists."
They gawked at me like I was a monster.
Ah. Right. I know every gear piece by category, and I've recruited the Griners every run, so it's easy for me. Not so much for them.
Tsk. Can't go mixing people up like that.
"Even if they look, act, sound, and talk the same, Pin and Shal are distinct individuals with names. Pin's right-handed, Shal left. Pin hates spicy food; Shal loves it."
I could see them staring up at me wide-eyed.
"With differences like that, how could I not tell them apart?"
"……Amazing."
"……Yeah, really amazing. You know all about us."
Pin's eyes sparkled; Shal blushed and smiled shyly.
"Senior Adrian, sorry to interrupt, but…… those……."
Erhan pointed—dozens of water soldiers had appeared, spears and bows trained on us.
"Hm. No time for chit-chat. Let's mo—"
"Ready, Shal."
"Of course, Pin."
In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace.
"Syncro."
Shadows stirred. A flung dagger pierced three soldiers' cores, crumbling them.
"Burst."
One line of death traced another. In their deadly dance, water sprayed like blood.
────Pababababat!
They blitzed to the boss door, nuking every core, then casually dusted off, sheathed their dagger and knife, and strolled back with hands out.
"Time to talk."
"Now we got some."
O……
"They're respawning."
"Ugh."
"Why."
Quick clears were smart, but not the right strat here.
"Kill 'em fast, they respawn faster. Better to advance methodically, taking your time."
"Didn't know……."
"One mistake's fine. Not twice."
I nodded. "Got the gist? The core's their heart—one-shot it precisely to drop 'em. Bilrum tanks front, Silbi follows me on magic, Griners cover sides, Erhan free-roam."
And go.
Bilrum blocked the archers' volley with his shield; Griners exploited the gaps. Silbi's spells covered the twins; Erhan charged with greatsword whirling.
"Hiya!"
His hair turned white, eyes red. Seven lights shimmered along the blade as he shredded a swarm of soldiers.
"Senior! Switching! Swap spots!"
I wasn't idle either. Magic blasts, dagger strikes—steady work.
They sense my presence like ghosts, swarming me. Stabbed one core, lightning-bolted the next.
No thrill. Just grinding. Waves of mobs culled methodically en route to the boss.
Cold water splashed instead of gore. From Griners on down, everyone pulled their weight.
And so……
"Senior!"
"Mm."
We reached the massive door.