I stare up at the giant hole above me. Its gaping abyss was as inviting as it was terrifying. On one hand, it held salvation. On the other, it most likely held another twisted form of torture and after what I'd just dealt with, I was in no mood to go through anything else.

'Was it always that high?'

I don't remember it seeming so... daunting. Maybe it was down to my utter exhaustion that it was a struggle just to have my Galva-Knuckles attached. I had drained all my energy from my fight with the Minotaurs, I was still on the verge of mind down and that doesn't mention my physical state.

My left leg was still in a bad state and now that my magic had subsided, my body aches were starting to return. My clothes had become harder to move in due to being caked in a combination of dried and freshly painted blood. I could feel the weight of my hair as it had soaked up so much red liquid, if I had a mirror I would guess my hair was red.

I blink once more, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Nope, the hole is still unending. I drop my head and sigh. I guess there is no point in wasting any more time, the quicker I start the sooner I finish.

I do a fast pace around the circumference of the circle, checking for the best spot to climb. One side has a good starting place to start but has no way to continue, while another part has an awkward start but I can see proper indents in the surface that would serve as solid climbing holes.

'I could probably hop in between. It'd be like jumping from rooftops...' I think, trying to make the best out of a bad situation. I am level 2 after all, I can make that jump, that is when I'm fit and healthy. I'm the furthest I've ever been from that but beggars can't be choosers and I am the only follower of The Goddess of Poverty.

I quickly pick the easier starting spot, pushing off the ground. I'm already off to a bad start when I struggle to reach the starting spot I'd picked, falling back to the floor. The issue is that a good few metres off the bottom is unusable for climbing. There are no ledges or places to grab hold of. It's too smooth, like the rest of this stupid floor.

I figured out a solution quickly, remembering how I pushed off a spike in the room behind me to gain momentum. I ready myself once more, positioning myself so that my right leg would be the one coming into contact with the wall.

I push off once again, this time at a diagonal angle. I twist in the air just before I hit the edge of the hole, plant my tattered right boot on the stone surface and push off. My arms flail about in the air for a second before I scrappily grab the edge I had focused on to begin with.

I hoist myself up, placing my left foot in the same hole as my left leg. I then push upwards and grab onto a small ledge with my left hand. Bringing my right hand up to meet my left, I place my right leg where my right hand had been.

I have never done anything like this, I was just going off my instinct and what felt right. I was ignoring the shaking in my left leg as it struggled to remain perched. I couldn't hold on for long so I started climbing.

I continued the pattern of lifting one leg to meet one hand before reaching up with that same hand and grabbing onto the ledge or hole above me. It was slow and painful but it was working. However, I came across my first obstacle after only a minute of climbing. I had only gone up about 7-8 metres and this was the furthest part of this side of the hole that allowed me to climb. I now had to leap across.

I swivel my head left, then right, then left again. I try to spot the place I had noticed before. After a few seconds of squinting my eyes into the dim light, I spot the perch that strutted out. That would allow me to stand up more easily and observe the rest of where I needed to go. It was about 10 metres behind me and 2 metres higher than me. No biggy.

Without wasting any more time, with fear of my leg crumpling, I pull myself upwards while pushing away from the wall. I raised myself higher than the perch as I was half-way across the gap but then I started to fall.

I reach as far forward as my tiny arms allow me as my legs fall past the perch, then my body, then my head. My right hand hits the stone with so much force, it loses grip. Thankfully my left hand manages to hold on but momentum punches my body into the wall below, my left leg getting a painful impact. I grimace, letting out a small cry of pain as I quickly pull myself, getting my arm over the threshold, and then my right arm follows. I drag my body onto the ledge, my bum sloppily hitting the stone as my legs are forced to dangle over the edge.

I notice the cold room temperature on my foot, signifying the loss of my boot. The small smack of my lost item of clothing hitting the ground gives a painful reminder that I had barely made a dent in my journey.

I take a second, to allow my left leg to stop throbbing before I force it to continue the climb. I look down, sighing as I can still see the bottom and my lost boot. It didn't help that that was the only source of light but still, I'd barely moved in comparison to how far I still had left. I remembered the fall from floor 13 to floor 16. It easily took a minute, maybe more and that was going down. I know I'm only 5 but even I knew that going up was a lot harder and slower than going down.

I sighed again as I looked back up. I reprimanded myself for looking down, disheartening my mindset. But the complete darkness awaiting me did little to settle my rising anxiety. I could do little more than continue moving.

I start getting up, careful not to trip or lose my balance. After finding suitable places for my hands to grab hold of, I hoist my legs up and place them on the perch. I decide to switch my boots over, giving my left leg a bit more support as it needed it. For now, I can see a fairly clear path upwards on this side. There is a high possibility I will have to switch over again at some point. There is also a high chance I can't progress any further past a certain point.

'No, stop. No more bad thoughts. I will do this... but if it does, hopefully, there is a safe space for me to get off if that happens, not that it will.'

After successfully finishing the tutorial, I start the climb for real.

I'm not sure how long I've been going for. I have long since lost sight of the bottom, only black filling my surroundings that persist further than 5 metres higher or lower than my position. On a good note, I've experienced no monsters. Probably no monsters spawn here, which would make sense as they would just fall to the bottom. Apart from the bats.

I can't help but glance around at that thought. I hadn't thought of the bats, they would have no trouble spawning here, with the whole flying thing they've got going on. I wouldn't mind being able to fly right now.

I reach for another hole, pulling myself up another half metre in the process. I have gotten into a rhythm of climbing. I've only had to switch sides a few times, being able to slowly manoeuvre over instead of leaping, only having to resort to that once. That was the only time I've come close to falling.

I don't want to brag, not like anyone will hear, but I seem to be good at climbing. I am quick at picking most things, reading, writing, fighting and now climbing. However, one thing I'm not good at is knowing what to think while I do this.

The only issue I've faced is my one bare foot. It might have been worth going to fetch my boot when I'd lost it earlier but I'm forced to live with it. My right foot is bruised, scratched and has bled, scabbed over and bled again. Though it still doesn't compare to the pain from my left leg.

I shimmy over to the left a bit as I spot a decent few holes to use. Do I solely focus on climbing, but if I do that, I think I'd go mad. But if I think of something else, like Brant or food then I could miss a hole and fall. I've managed to hold a good balance of both for now, probably the fear of falling being the main factor in keeping me focused.

This time, I started playing a song in my head that Mother Maria would sing to me and my sister and brother. It was simple and easy to remember. She would use it to help us fall asleep, something I should really avoid doing.

Though I quickly found out it went really well with climbing. The timing of the words coincided with my climbing rhythm, with my legs going in time with the pauses. I found myself able to climb easier as I kept singing the song over and over in my head.

"Days see sometimes as if they'll never end" left leg to left hand.

"Sun digs its heels-" left hand up. "-To taunt you" left hand grabs

"But after sunlit days, some things stay the same-" right hand up and grabs.

"-Rises the Moon." Right leg up.

The song really helped. It made it easier to focus while also keeping my mind occupied. But most of all, the reminder of my mother helped keep the pain away. Even though I hadn't talked to her properly in almost a year, she was still helping me.

Even though the song only lasts a few minutes, I keep replaying it over and over. It's the only thing keeping me sane, the only light in this constant darkness. I don't know how far I've climbed or how I've got to go, but as long as I have my mother with me, I'll make it through anything. So I soldier on.

I must've been doing this for at least an hour, maybe even an hour and a half. The darkness allows for no tracking of time but I must've replayed Mother Maria's song at least 30 times by now and I know every word from start to finish.

I've seen no exit point to get off but I'm certain I have gotten past the 16th floor and maybe even the 15th floor. This hole still continues but now I'm starting to get nervous. My options for climbing are starting to diminish.

I haven't touched the... left? Right? I'd lost count of how many times I'd switched sides so I wasn't sure where I was in terms of where I started. I quickly replayed the past... however long I've been going for. Counting how many times I'd shuffled or jumped over. After a minute of contemplation, I realised I would be in the middle, neither on the right nor the left. But this helped me know that I hadn't gone near the right side of the hole, having loosely stuck to the left and the middle, now and then touching the back end of it. This worried me as I had now lost a whole section of the circle. It also didn't help the circle was getting bigger.

What started as maybe a 10-metre circumference had now grown to over 20. I could barely see the opposite side of the hole now; the wall being shrouded in darkness. This also made it harder to try and predict a route as I didn't have access to all available options. At one point, I had to inch slowly around the hole, looking for a suitable route up as I only had a few crap paths that stopped a couple of metres further upwards.

I managed to find one but it was worrying how long it took to continue making progress. But the widening of the hole could also be good news as the hole on floor 13 was massive. For the hole on floor 16 to be the same one as the one on floor 13, it had to expand to equal the size. But this also meant I was probably still another hour or so of climbing away as it wasn't close to what it needed to reach.

Two more problems arose from this. If I was still so far away, then that meant I was probably in between floor 15 and floor 14. But the even bigger problem that I would probably have to choose a certain side and hope it works out because I will lose sight of the other side completely if it keeps going like this.

It doesn't matter now, it's not like I can backtrack now. I decide to stay on the side I'm on and continue my ascent

"Days fade into a watercolour blur," Left foot up.

"Memories swim and haunt you." Left arm up.

"But look into the lake, shimmering like smoke," Right arm up.

"Rises the moon." Right leg up.

Maria's song replays in my mind as I push upwards. It's the only thing keeping me going now as there was no light around. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness and all they saw was more darkness, it was soul-destroying, but I kept moving up. If I gave up now, everything would go to waste.

My left leg has gone from annoying, to painful, to excruciating. The throb from it is pounding in my mind, growing so loud it interrupts the song. My two arms are struggling as well, my fingers are bruised and cut with calluses forming on my hands with each grab. My pain nullification doing just enough to make it bearable to continue the climb from my hands.

My right foot was completely wrecked. I'd ripped my skin in countless places, blood trickling down as high as my thigh. My toes have gone numb, I'm barely able to feel them. The sole of my foot is covered in blisters and sores that every time I place it down I grimace. I truly am caught in a nightmare. Each move is painful

I've stopped checking for injuries. Doing it would only waste time, it's not like I can fix or heal them here. My best chance is to get help as soon as possible. I had thought of using my first line of magic to give me a boost of strength but I'm too scared that I'd fall to mind down and then fall for real.

No, the best course of action is to grit my teeth and keep going, so I did. One arm at a time, one leg follows.

I must've picked the right way as I haven't seen the other side for at least 15 minutes now but I've had a fairly clear path upwards.

I still don't spot any light from the top, if there is a top. I still have not come across any exits or even any small holes that connect to whatever floor I'm nestled within. Maybe if I punched through the wall, I'd open up a hole into the floor. But then I still wouldn't know where I am, I'd be in the same issue I was in on floor 16.

Honestly, I don't know how I'm still going. I think my body is on autopilot as my mind can barely concentrate. I'm struggling to keep the song replaying in my mind, my brain deprived of oxygen. My breathing has become slow and heavy, begging for some fresh air. All I'm fuelling my body with is murky, dank air and it was slowly killing me. I wasn't sure what I'd die from first, my messed up exterior or my starved interior. Even in this state, I couldn't afford to miss a single ledge or hole.

I know I've significantly slowed down compared to when I started. I had to, if I stayed at that pace, I'd have made a mistake by now. I'd rather go a bit slower and make it.

I look up to see where to reach with my left hand, trying to find a decent path to continue.

"... no way" I mumble as I see something. I see something for the first time in over 2 hours, I don't care if it's even a spec, it's something. It reflects in my green iris' as my eyes go wide in ecstasy.

Finally, I see light. I see the end of this nightmare.

I feel energy well up inside me, a final burst to make the last push. I start climbing, not having to replay Maria's song in my mind any longer as that small spec of light is enough encouragement.

Each time I pull myself up, it grows slightly. Bit by bit, ledge by ledge. A smile plasters my face as hope once again fills my heart. All my minor aches and pains have evaporated. The major injuries are still reminding me what state my body is in but they mean nothing to finally seeing something other than darkness.

As the light gets bigger, it expands my view from 5 metres to 6, 7, 10 metres. After another minute, I can see the other side of the hole. It must be at least 40 metres away. I keep going, letting out small grunts and puffs of air as I grapple upwards towards freedom from this hell hole.

I start thinking of what I will do when I reach the top. How I will make it to the 12th floor, then all the way back up to the entrance. I won't care about being seen, if anything a nice stranger might give me a potion to help me. Wouldn't that be nice, a kind adventurer.

I struggle more, my body starting to burn all over as I continue upwards. I wonder if my Warrior ability is still active. I mean, this climb has been insurmountable. I don't know which was worse, the climb or the Minotaur horde fight.

'I better get a lot of EXP from this,' I think with a smile. After I'm healed, I'm going to run straight to Penia and tell her what I've been through as she updates my falna. Then I'll tell Brant and Reg while they drink.

Oh right! I've got to meet with the Goddess Freya as well soon. I wonder if she is expecting this kind of story. She can shove off if she thinks she's getting this kind of adventure every week. After this, I'm more than happy to meet her with; 'I killed some monster.' That'd be more than fine with me.

The light has now fully encompassed my peripheral view. It's a dim green but it's miles better than being swamped in pitch black. What's even more amazing is that I can see the end. I can see the hole smooth off, no more wall.

I start to choke up at the sight. The finish line is not only in sight but it's only a few more minutes away. I quickly wipe my tears on my bare arm, I have to stay focused. There will be enough time for tears and celebrations after I've made it. I've made it all this way, there is no way in hell I'm slipping at the final hurdle.

Left foot, left hand, right hand, right foot. Left foot, left hand, right hand, right foot. Left foot, left hand, right hand, right foot. Left foot, left hand, right hand, right foot. Left foot, left hand, right hand, right foot.

Left foot, left hand, right hand... right hand? I scan around, there isn't anywhere for me to place my right hand.

'Not now!' I scream in my head. I couldn't be any more than 5 metres away and I couldn't find a place to put my right hand. I look around some more, pleading in my mind to spot a way up. A ledge to perch on or some cracks in the wall for me to dig my nails into. I'd even slide back down and make my way around to the other side if needed but as my head continued to turn around, nothing.

The last few metres of this bastard climb is smooth. No holes, no ledges, no cracks or crevices. Nothing.

This has to be torture. I died back in my Minotaur fight and now the Gods in heaven were punishing me with this. I don't what for or why but it has to be, my luck can't be this bad, my life can't be this cruel.

I want to slam my head into the wall, to wake me up from this nightmare as tears begin to flow down my cheeks. It isn't like at the bottom where I can bounce off the other side and make a leap upwards. It's too far away for me to manage that.

I'm stuck, with no way out. I just stay where I am, begging for something to change every time I check the same spots. My head is swivelling around, my matted and dirty hair swatting in the air.

'What more can I do? What more do they expect of me? Haven't I already done enough?'

"It's not fair..." I begin choking up.

"It's not *hic* fair." The tears are falling down the giant hole I'd just come from, the abyss staring up at me.

"It's not FAIR!" I shout as I punch the wall. This causes me to lose grip on my right foot, my bare, bloodied skin hanging in the air. I don't bother to place it back, there's no point in it. I can't go any further... the only way is down. At least it will be some sort of freedom I suppose.

I begin to lose tension in my arms and my left leg, I start releasing my grip. I've hung on for long enough, I've struggled for nothing. All that hope was just to play a cruel trick on me. I guess whoever decided to prank me won.

"Oi Youngin!"

My head shoots up. Instinctively I tense up and regain grip. I squint upwards as two blurry figures enter my vision.

One is a large man with a beard. The other is a bronze-skinned muscular woman. My mind ticks over as I recognise who is above me.

I can't help but scowl at the two adventurers who had left me behind. Kreg the dwarf and Terra the amazon.

"Hey... Kreg?"

"We can't go back for him Terra, I've said this," Kreg says again with a sigh. He and his friend, Terra are marching up to the 15th floor. They have just been through hell, lost two good friends along the way and were forced to make a horrible decision.

"I know but to leave such a small boy alone against such beasts, we don't deserve to live," Terra muttered. The prum had appeared out of nowhere when they made their escape. She quickly examined him, noticing his injuries. She had carried him with her after he slipped over, probably due to said injuries.

When they: Kreg, herself, the boy, the human male and the Rabbit-man, had agreed to work together, she quickly discovered that he was a level 2. She also quickly realised he didn't work well with people from how he almost got her killed, but he did save her as well.

He was a massive asset in their survival of the 16th floor and then when he lagged behind, his fate was sealed. Kreg had been forced to close the exit off, trapping not only the boy but the other two as well. With them being level 1s and him being heavily injured, there was no chance any of them survived... that.

The image of that horde of Minotaurs had haunted Terra's mind since escaping. What kind of fate had they sealed for their fellow adventurers?

"I know it's horrible what we did but..." the dwarf stuttered for a bit before deciding on his answer. "The number rule one in the dungeon is survival of the fittest, kill or be killed. It's the backbone of how we live. They knew that when they entered they could die. One of us surviving means a victory for everyone."

Terra knew that Kreg was also coping with his decision. His words were just an excuse to hide the pain and guilt but there was truth to them.

The pair continued forward. Now that they were on the main route, it was easy for two level 2s to make their way out of the dungeon. They had even been blessed to come across a party that had a healer and were kind enough to give them a few potions of healing and strength, something which massively contributed to them making it to floor 13.

The pair had been mainly silent, only giving callouts during small encounters or Kreg giving out small orders or directions.

Finally, they had made it to the giant hole that linked the main routes of floor 13. It was one of the first things an adventurer sees when they enter the middle floors for the first time. No one knows where it leads to or if they do, no one has come forward and said anything. You don't take needless risks in the dungeon, that was adventuring 1.o.1.

They had just taken out a few hellhounds before entering the room when Kreg told her to stop.

"-do ya 'ear that ?" he whispered. Terra crouched down and heightened her senses, trying to identify whatever Brant had heard.

"-ugh!"

A grunt. It was an adventurer. Why was Kreg so worried about an adventurer? Then Terra looked past her vice-captain's shoulder and she titled her head in confusion. The giant hole room was empty. No monster, no adventurer. Empty.

"...fair."

They hear something again, this time a word. Then Terra froze, she felt like she recognised that voice.

"It's not FAIR!"

Terra ran out of the hallway and ran to the edge of the hole. Her eyes widened in shock. Kreg quickly followed her and his eyes also went like saucers.

They couldn't believe it. It was the same boy from earlier, the one they had left to die. He was bloodied, bruised and beaten. He was crying and almost looked broken.

Kreg remembers just before the room where the Minotaur's spawned, the boy had been looking up at a giant hole in the ceiling. Is that really where this hole led to? Then that could only mean...

"-by the gods," He muttered before getting into action.

"Oi Youngin!" Kreg shouted as he saw the boy slip, desperate to save him. He scanned the area which the boy had left to climb, seeing there was nowhere left for him to go. No wonder he was crying, he'd made it so far and was stuck right at the end. That only meant Kreg would make a final hole.

He flung his axe into the side of the wall just above the boy, creating a ledge for him to grab. He ignored the horrid scowl the boy was giving him; the dwarf knew it was valid but that didn't mean he wouldn't help him.

"Use that and I'll catch ya!"

Percy looked at the axe in the wall. For a moment he was stunned. Why was the dwarf who left him to die now helping him? Was it out of guilt or duty? It couldn't have been out of kindness since he didn't have any.

But that was irrelevant. He saw the dwarf run over to stand above him, lie down on his stomach and reach out his hand. Percy gulped at the sight. The hope that had been cruelly taken away from him was now back. This time he wouldn't waste the opportunity.

He lifted his right leg up, placing it where it was before. With a few quick breaths of air, he went for it. Pulling himself up with both his arms simultaneously, Percy reached for the axe handle.

His right hand missed, his fingers slipping over the hard leather. His left hand caught it but the weight of his body dragged him down, causing it to falter. In an act of instinct, Percy pulled up with his left hand just as it was about to slip and reached out with his right again.

After a bit of squirming, Percy now held the large axe handle with both his hands. He saw the dwarf let out a long breath he had been holding and he saw the amazon almost faint.

'Were they worried about me?'

Why are they caring about me now? It has to be out of a guilty conscious. They were just annoying me even more. Why did it have to be them who rescued me?

"Ok well done! Now, reach for me hand," The dwarf said, as he stuck out his hand as far as he could go. There was about a 2-metre gap I had to cover. It would be hard but not impossible.

Perseus started to swing a bit on the axe, trying to gain some momentum. He moved with his chest, swinging his legs as he gripped tightly on the leather.

After a few swings, Percy felt ready. No faltering, no hesitation. It was now or never.

With a final swing back, he pushed forward, pushing his legs forward as he let go of the handle. Percy had made it; he'd reached the dwarf's hand. His hand clasped in his as his burly hand clutched the boy tightly, almost as if he was terrified of letting go.

A sense of relief washed over Perseus. He'd made it. So then why wasn't the dwarf pulling him up? Instead of going up, Percy felt his body begin to drop again.

"AH SHIT!" The dwarf shouted out as his body moved forward. For a second, the two felt weightless. The sensation of falling rushed into their minds. The same weightless feeling that had been the catalyst, the beginning of all this. This time though, there was no surviving.

Perseus' body slammed into the stone wall, the dwarf's large body doing the same. They both let out a cry of pain as they gasped for air. They looked back up and saw Terra reaching over the ledge, holding one of Kreg's legs with both hands.

Kreg must've slipped, reaching too far to do his best to save Percy. Terra had noticed this at the last second and had lunged forward, just grabbing the dwarf's boot before both he and the boy were sent plummeting back to the 16th floor.

As her bronze muscles tensed furiously, she began pulling Kreg and Percy out of the hole. With a final yank and roar, she dragged them both out of the hole.

All three slumped to the ground, gasping for air. None of them had any awareness of their surroundings. They had all had a rough day, more some than others. If they got what they wanted, they would all teleport to their respective beds and fall asleep immediately.

But that wasn't the case. So slowly, with groans of pain, the three adventurers slowly stood up. They all looked at each of the three tunnels that branched off into the middle floors. Perseus recognised the one he had chosen to go down so many hours ago.

Since there were no monsters spotted, the small group slowly turned their eyes towards each other. Terra and Kreg looked down at the young boy, guilt and sorrow filled their eyes. Percy looked up at the dwarf with anger and betrayal.

He cursed in his mind that they had been the ones to save him. He didn't hold the gaze for long as he brushed passed the two, limping along to the exit of the middle floors before either of the two adults could say anything.

They didn't blame him for his reaction. Kreg was still astonished at the fact the boy he thought to be a prum had climbed all the way up from the 16th floor to the 13th in the same time it had taken two high-class, experienced adventurers to traverse them. It was absurd at best and impossible at worst.

Terra reached out her hand, wanting to say something, anything. A word of apology but she knew no matter how sincere it wouldn't mean anything to the boy.

So the two just watched as the boy kept going. They shared a sorrowful look with each other. They thought of following the boy. They both saw the state his body was in, even at level 2 he would struggle to make it to the top. The dungeon was merciless.

The boy didn't seem to care though as he limped forward. The image of the boy engraved itself in their minds. He had been caught in a horrible monster parade and barely escaped with his life after surviving the hostile middle floors for gods knows how long. Then he's forced to work with those he doesn't know before being betrayed and left behind to face something that would be classed as a death sentence to anyone of their level. And finally, he claws his way up 4 floors of the dungeon in a body that shouldn't even be breathing, let alone moving. And yet, the figure kept moving, intent on surviving. It was mesmerising.

At that time, Kreg and Terra felt small, tiny in compassionate to their small peer. He had overcome the impossible over and over again. They knew if they went through what he did, they wouldn't have had the will or drive to be where he was now and to keep going. They would've lashed out, cursed them and hurt them. And yet, the boy simply shrugged his shoulders and moved passed it.

Kreg turned, about to say something but he felt the words clog up in his throat. Before he could collect himself, a small, quiet voice spoke first.

"-thanks... for helping me," Percy whispered, just loud enough for the pair to hear. He didn't turn around to face them, they didn't deserve it. He had stopped for a moment, knowing he had to thank them for what they did, even if it was out of guilt. He would've died without them, so the least he could do was say thank you and he didn't feel like doing much more.

Percy didn't hear a response from them nor did he want one. But after a few more seconds of limping, he heard the sound of glass clinking next to each other.

"Youngin, catch."

Percy turned just in time to catch two small glass vials thrown at him. He looked down at them, one was a light blue while the other was vibrant orange. He knew what they were.

He looked up at the dwarf, confused. The dwarf just let out a sad smile as his brown eyes met Percy's green.

"I'm... we're sorry."

And with that, the dwarf slumped down on the stone. The amazon joined him, seemingly understanding what he was doing. They didn't deserve to walk back up with the boy. They would let him go before they started their own back up but for now, they would let him go on his own.

Percy looked down at the potions again before letting out a sigh. He opened the cork of the blue one, downing it. He immediately felt a wave of relief wash over his body as pain started to fade all over his body. He felt his right foot start to heal its cuts and bruises along with all the other scratches that littered his body.

He then opened the orange one and this one helped with all the aches, including the one in his head. His body started to feel a bit lighter. With this, he was certain he could make it out of the dungeon now.

He had made sure to drink the potions in front of the ones who had given him them, wanting them to know he would use them and they wouldn't be wasted. He didn't have it in him to forgive them yet nor to thank them again, but he knew they weren't bad people. Unfortunately, this only served to confuse the young boy.

'Then why would they do what they did before?

Perseus gave the pair one last look before making his way to the top floors.

Kreg and Terra would eventually make their way out of the dungeon. When they got to their God, Kreg told the deity what had happened, all of it, and then announced he was retiring. The amazon would then follow and say she would leave as well, asking to keep her Falna as she wished to move to Telskyura. The God, having lost two of his children that day, understood.

He had just come back from one of his travels, bringing a teenage girl with sky-blue hair back with him. He was upset to lose four children but he knew that the mortal world was fickle and that he couldn't do anything to stop it. He would morn the two who had passed and be grateful he could say farewell to the ones who made it back.

He stood at the northern gate of Orario as his vice-captain, Kreg, hopped onto a horse-drawn carriage heading up north. He had already said goodbye to Terra, as she departed to Meren yesterday.

"Goodbye, Lord Hermes, and thank you."

Hermes watched as the carriage faded in the distance. He wasn't very good at saying goodbye as he hid his sadness with his feathered hat that covered his sandy blonde hair. But as he walked back to his Familia home, he couldn't help but wonder about that young prum they had both mentioned. How they spoke of him.

Hermes always had a good eye for people and an even better ear for stories. He knew that that adventurer would one day become something more. He would look forward to that day. In the meantime, he had instructions to follow from an old friend.

Percy had left the pair long behind now. He was in familiar territory now; he had his mental map of the top floors to aid him.

He used his stealth skill, breezing through floors 12, 11 and 10, making it through the misty floors as he referred to them. Floor 9 was kind of difficult to utilise his stealth skill as it was infested by killer ants but they were no longer a threat to him, especially after taking those two potions.

He remembered when he had started out, when he entered each new floor for the first time. Meeting Goblins, kobolds, War shadows, the frog monsters then the killer ants. They had all posed a threat to him at some point but as he went back up through those floors, they were little more than a nuisance. Before he knew it, Percy had made it to floor 5. He had barely been concentrating, his level 2 blessing facing no problem this high up

Not for the first time on his journey back up, Perseus heard a noise up ahead from a room he knew was a common place for monsters to spawn. He quickly flipped through his mind, seeing if there was another way around but he sighed as he realised he was near the end of floor 5 and this was the only way to get to the exit without adding another 20 minutes onto his already exhausting journey.

His legs felt like they were cast in iron as he dragged them along. His arms, scarred from a gruelling experience, were like carrying around buckets of lead. His hand still housed his Galva-Knuckles, even after all he went through. His armour, his knife, his pouches for collecting magic stones or the one he kept pebbles and dirt in. His rucksack had his food and water. He had lost all of that, even one of his boots was missing. But he still had his Galva-Knuckles, he refused to part with them.

As he made his way into the room, he knew of a safe hiding spot behind a pile of rocks. Whoever is fighting here is most likely a rookie, so they will be focused on their fight. It would be simple for Percy to slide around and hide for a moment. The rest would do him so good as well.

He peaked into the room, spotting a few monsters. He couldn't see the adventurer who was fighting, all he could see was a sword swinging. When he saw his chance, Perseus darted behind cover and sat down. He stretched out his wounded left leg, still forcing a grimace when he extended it. It would need more than a single healing potion to fix it.

While I rested, I looked back at the fight. I didn't have a good view of it but I saw that whoever was fighting was doing an alright job. They were also small, possibly a prum. I couldn't help but huff at that, with the amount of time I've been compared to a prum.

I sit up a bit, wanting to get a better look but it's impossible without exerting some force on my leg so I just slump back down. My health is a bit more important than a fight between a rookie and a couple of kobolds.

After a few minutes, I see a puff of ash, signifying one of the monster's had been killed but on cue, the sound of cracking ricochets around the room as the signal of two more monsters spawning ring in my ears.

As if it was an alert, the rookie took out another two kobolds. I see the flash of silver, indicating a sword. I manage to peek through the rocks, trying to see who is fighting.

I see fragments of white cloth and long gold hair, presumably belonging to a woman. Another flash of her sword takes out the final monster that had surrounded her, making my view of her clear.

It wasn't a woman; it was just a girl. For a second I thought of it being a prum but I could tell the difference. With Lyra and Jacob being references and myself being mistaken for one, I could see the clothes she wore were prum clothes but it was definitely a human girl.

Her golden hair fell just past her shoulders as she turned around, waiting for more monsters. Her white top was covered in blood, almost as bad as me but it was her face that held my attention.

It was scary.

It held little emotion, blunt and direct. I looked into her eyes, the same colour as her hair, and I saw something swirl in those iris' that made me shiver. Whoever this girl was, she was no normal girl. Though, I'm not one to talk when it comes to normal.

Then I notice something behind her. Some movement coming from the tunnel that connected floor 5 to the stairs leading up to floor 4. However, the girl didn't seem to notice it, to enraptured in killing the kobolds in front of her as her lips scowled.

I could probably make it in time if I wanted to but it's not like she's in that much danger. If she's made it to floor 5 solo then she should be aware of her surroundings like I was... or maybe not.

"Aahh!" She cries out in pain as the goblin strikes her back with its claws. The girl tumbles to the floor, her sword falling out of her hand, crashing to the side. The kobolds seize the opportunity and rush her, the instinct to kill all intruders driving it to kill the adventurer. That was before I stopped them.

I don't even remember my body moving. I went from sitting down hiding behind a pile of rocks with my leg stretched out, to holding the girl's sword and slicing through the two kobolds in a single strike.

Before their magic stones hit the ground, I dashed at the goblin and pierced its core with the blade. It let out a shrill shriek of pain before it also puffed into a pile of ash.

After a few seconds of me realising what just happened, I spin around and face the girl. Now that I have a closer look, she seems around my age, maybe a bit older. That's not what is important thought. The important, and annoying thing, is that she's looking at me. She's seen me.

'Dammit it,' I think as I click my tongue. We just stare at each other. It seems neither of us want to talk so we let silence fill the room as we look at each other.

She makes an attempt at standing up before she falls back to the fall, her face contorted in pain. I think of going to help her before I hear footsteps behind me and a shout.

"AIS!"

I spin around again. I recognise that voice. I heard it when I saw the Loki Familia return from their expedition. It belonged to that elf with green hair. I think her name was Riveria but what was worse was that she is the vice-captain of the Loki Familia. Also, whose Ais?

I turn my head back around and look at the girl, her eyes wide with shock and a bit of fear. Why does she look scared and is she the girl that the vice-captain of the Loki Familia is calling.

'If that's true then... oh no.'

I drop the sword and dash off, back to my hiding spot, the girl's eyes following me. Just as I sink behind the rocks, in walks the vice-captain. A tall, refined elf with flowing jade hair and eyes to match. She wore a green robe with leaf patterns and held a staff that stood just above her hips.

"Ais, there you are!" the woman said with relief as she went over to the girl. So she is part of the Loki Familia. That means one of them has seen me.

The girl's eyes have snapped back to face the older woman.

"Look at you! What did we say about going into the dungeon, you've barely been here a month and your still doing stuff this stupid."

Riveria reached down, picked up the sword and marched over to Ais, the girl still on the floor. Before long, a faint glow appears from the elf's hands after she muttered what I think is a chant. My eyes go wide as I see the wounds on Ais' back start to close. Is this what they call a healing spell? That's amazing.

I shelve the wish that I had one of them earlier as I continue to watch the interaction. The elf, Riveria, starts admonishing the blonde-haired girl as she grabs her hand and starts pulling her away. I see the girl scowl, barely saying a word which included no apology for what she's apparently done wrong.

I stay hidden, not wanting the vice-captain of the Loki Familia to see me. But the girl kept glancing in my direction. My stealth skill is working on Riveria as she doesn't know I'm here but Ais does, and she constantly looks back at me, our eyes meeting.

I raise my finger to my lips, begging her to stay quiet. As she gives me one final glance, Riveria drags the girl out of the room. I don't know whether she saw my plea or if she did, she'd follow it. I could only hope that she didn't see enough of me.

'She saw all of me you idiot.'

I can't help but sigh. I'm too tired for this. I wait five minutes before dragging myself to the 4th floor. The only thing keeping me going is that I'm almost there, I can practically taste fresh air and the freedom that comes with it.

The amazon and the dwarf.

The ones that hadn't made it.

The young girl from the Loki Familia.

Freya.

The Astrea Familia.

Reg, Brant and Penia.

I'd deal with them all tomorrow. But for now, I don't have the energy to think anymore. After another 15 minutes of gruelling limping, hiding and a few 'fights', I finally see it. Light. Real light.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I see light. And by some miracle, maybe my only blessing from this disaster, it's moonlight.

I drag myself out of the dungeon entrance, up the stairs and with the final drop of energy, I sneak past the Ganesha Familia member on night duty. I walk into a nearby alleyway, the same alleyway I'd used all those months ago after my first ever night in the dungeon and slumped down against the wall.

The leaky pipe that was still there was a comforting sound that filled the silent alleyway as I basked in the moonlight for only five seconds before I allowed my body to finally rest as sleep took hold of me with a warm hug.

HE'S DONE IT!

We've survived the dungeon once more, I wonder how much percy has grown, not only in strength.

The climb was fun to right but I'll admit and i'd planned for Kreg and Terra to do the rescue but the I wasn't sure to leave the ending with Ais to next chapter but I decided to finish this arc this chapter so if the ending feels a bit rushed, it's cause I didn't want to make it over 10k words and also I'm doing this 2am so I'm a bit tired, sorry.

As for the song Percy was singing from Maria, it's called Rises the moon by Liana Flores, go check it out.

The next chapter will be Percy getting the fun experience of what others think of his lil trip then I plan a time skip again.

Anyway, reviews:

Lordcarroty - I don't know if people want this, but there won't be a burning rivalry between the two brothers when they meet. They will be confrontation and a proper fight but there won't be any competition, or anything fierce/ malicious. And thanks for the support and I'm also curious what his stats will be, find out next chapter ;)

Roland Tepes - Thanks the fightins is always fun to write. Good that you mentioned Hermes, we will have to see.

Jose Blas - Mini guts, I like that. Not all of Bell's events will be used in this story as that goes from poetic symettry to just lazy writing and ripping of story beats, I'm trying to be original. That doesn't mean no War Games though. And I'm sure Percy and Welf could meet.

wardak - Thanks for the kind support, appreciated. The stat boost will be insanse (except if your Bell of course).

Thanks for reading my work. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always, I'll see ya next time, Peace!