Thread: The Dungeon Age (Wingshadow & I)

As the King Slime thrust its body at him, the boy shut his eyes. This was the end for him. Such a foolish endeavor to try and traverse The Dungeon. But rather than feel the harsh sting of slime upon his body, there was a sound he could only describe to himself as many little shinks The few seconds of silence and the realization that he was still alive caused the boy to open his eyes. What stood before his gaze could only be considered a miracle from the gods. The King Slime's body was not one singular mass anymore. It had been cleaved cleanly into several smaller slices, guided by the sheen of a finely sharpened blade. One by one, they exploded, no longer held together by the will of its body and a light rain of blue stickiness began to shower the area. The boys gaze turned upward to look upon the wielder of the blade and there he saw the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life. She was like something out of folklore. If he remembered correctly, they were called Valkyries, the goddesses of battle. Beautiful pale skin clad in shining armor, a shield that could deflect any blow, a sword that could pierce the hardest of metals and a gaze that could pierce one's very soul. If the legends were real, then this woman was the very embodiment of it. She was, without a doubt, the perfect adventurer. The boy was still, no longer in fear, but in awe of the sight in front of him. His breathing calmed and his pain and exhaustion seemed to disappear in her presence and then, as she spoke, there was a calmness in his heart he had never experienced before. He could not bring himself to answer her question. What would she say to a mere boy who wanted to explore The Dungeon merely because it was nothing more than a game to him? Instead, he remained silent, his eyes lowering ever so slightly so as to give off a hint of regret and embarrassment until she spoke once more as if she already knew the reason. There was no anger, no malice in her voice, only words that he felt he should never forget as long as he lived. Words that served to inspire him to become a great adventurer just like her. Finally, the Valkyrie extended her hand to his. He was hesitant to lay his dirty hands upon her grace, but like a child eager to find comfort in the arms of a parent, he eventually relented and took her hand. T...thank you, he replied sheepishly as his gaze turned back towards the ground after her continued speech. Please...don't tell anyone I was down here. I'll go home just as you said and I won't come back until I'm ready. Then...then I'll show you that I'm strong...no...I'll surpass you. The boy's breathing escalated slightly. His hands curled into fists and he looked into her eyes and showed her a look of determination that he hoped would convince her of his conviction. That's how I'll pay you back! Without another word, he turned away and ran as fast as his feet could carry him. As he did, he slowly began to remember the path he had taken to get down here. It was only a matter of time before he found the entrance and freedom from the unforgiving Dungeon. The boy was a mere ten years old when he first entered the dungeon. It would be eight more years before he returned... The Dungeon capital of Labrynthia, a massive fortified and layered city built on top of the primary dungeon entrances. It is here where hopeful souls bare themselves to The Dungeon and pray that their dreams are fulfilled. Nearly every corner of this community is dedicated to preparing those who would traverse the perilous underground beneath them. The roads are lined with shops and vendors peddling their wares brought from outer lands and within The Dungeon itself. The second layer is home to the brunt of the forces who lead the expeditions into The Dungeon itself, the guilds. Based on how successful each guild is, their facilities could include anything from basic living quarters to training grounds to lavish museums dedicated to their members glory. Each guild is unique in their profession and thus, they go about their business in very different manners. While they all seem to compete for wealth, fame and power, they all hold the same ironclad bond through their exploration of The Dungeon. No one guild tries to be too competitive with another. The top layer, which is also the smallest is home to a great castle. Within its walls can be found every single scrap of information that has been collected about The Dungeon over the many centuries it has existed. If there was anything anyone ever needed to know about it, monsters, minerals, the heroes who traversed it, it could be found in the pages of the tens of thousands of books stored within. This was also home to the governing counsel of not only Labrynthia, but the entire world. Representatives from all the races gather here to discuss relations, law and The Dungeon. These select few had perhaps the toughest job of all, to protect the people below from the perils of The Dungeon. Their laws and decrees would ensure the sanctity of life and limit those who's ambitions exceeded normal standards set by The Dungeon's previous challengers. Sol Garett was not familiar with any of this. Living on the outskirts of Labrynthia through his youth, his only knowledge of The Dungeon came from the stories he had heard from local residents...and, of course, his ill fated journey into The Dungeon eight years ago. Since that fateful day, since he met that person, his only goal in life was to prove he was worthy of her and The Dungeon. He spent years developing his own style of combat. He picked up various things from other adventurers who liked to show off on occasion and from those bits and pieces, he found a way that suited his physique. In his mind, no slime, or any other kind of monster would be able to stand a chance against him. But, just to be safe, he also carried with him a wooden shield, or rather, a wooden pot lid fashioned into a shield and decorated to make it look fancier than it actually was. As for his weapon, it was the same wooden sword he had brought with him all those years ago. He didn't really intend to use it in The Dungeon despite knowing that a weapon was required to even enter in the first place. It was a keepsake to remind him of the promise he made to that woman who saved his life. He wondered what she could be up to now. Probably off slaying some giant dragon, no doubt... With a knapsack full of basic supplies and a pocket full of dreams, Sol approaches the gates of Labrynthia. He stares in awe at the colossal city in front of him, his eyes full of wonder and curiosity as to what kind of adventures he will find himself in once he enters the gates.