“Shouldn’t you see about getting your food before we have to leave?” he asked.
The statuesque monster girl blushed and looked away.
“Cindra.”
“Sorry, Packmaster, Cindra already ate them both,” she confessed.
He laughed and mentally stroked her bond.
“It’s fine, Cindra. I want you ready to help track them down in case the scouts don’t locate them quickly.”
She nodded vigorously, then tilted her head and closed her eyes as if he was scratching one of her fluffy ears.
Still grinning, he continued to caress her bond until Sthuza returned. When the pair set out, he pulled back from the connection and took a deep breath.
“Did you see everything that happened?” he asked Meri after he returned his attention to the altar room.
“Uh-huh, but do you think it’s safe?” the Dungeon Core replied from where she rested in his lap.
“Yeah, we’ll deal with the four saurians and be ready to head into the city in no time.”
“Oh… all right,” Merideva whispered, though she didn’t budge from his lap. “Guess I’ll get ready for the kobolds.”
“Don’t worry, Meri, we’ll be safe,” Gabriel assured her.
The Core dimmed but floated up when he stood. A sliver of fear—or maybe loneliness—leaked from his connection with her, but it vanished a second later.
He shook his head and waved goodbye then rushed out to meet his bonded.
CHAPTER NINE
Sthuza and Cindra waited for him at the stairs.
Gabriel grinned at the pair, then chuckled when the hellhound wrapped him in a rib-cracking hug. After she released him, he pulled the gorgon into a less intense embrace and kissed her softly.
“Lead on,” he said after letting go of his Prime.
Sthuza guided them deeper into the fifth floor, and the three of them settled into a small side tunnel to wait.
While he wanted to finish and head out, there was no reason to hurry deeper after the adventurers until one of the scouts located them.
A few minutes after they’d settled down to wait, Gabriel felt a surge from his bond with the Dungeon Core.
Guess Kestria got there. Will they be able to get back before the battle? Need to have the ones busy scouting return and swear to Meri before we head out.
He still couldn’t communicate well with Meri through their connection, but he felt her happiness at acquiring new monsters. There was also a sense of pride that seemed to be at least partially directed toward him.
It’s almost alarming how good it makes me feel when she’s happy. Another aspect of being her DM?
The trio waited for almost a half-hour before a kobold slipped silently into their room.
“Dungeon Master, we have found the demons,” the small monster whispered.
Gabriel smiled at the scout. “Very good. Where are they?”
While the kobold provided better directions than the goblins he’d worked with so far, it still left him confused, and he glanced at his Prime.
At least they can agree on which direction, unlike Cuix’s scouts. Now, if only they didn’t use scents instead of landmarks. “Turn toward second dead rat, then slip under big mammal bones,” makes no sense at all.
Fortunately, Sthuza seemed to understand their descriptions. Once she explained, they raced across the level to prepare an ambush.
He couldn’t command all of the kobolds yet since the scouts still needed to meet Meri, but he sent instructions to the ones he could, along with all of the goblins, on where to meet up.
The little monsters surprised him with how fast they could be when focused, and everyone grouped up in minutes. Once organized, they slipped into various hiding places.
Again he had to rely on Sthuza’s knowledge of the dungeon, even though it was outdated. She’d picked the choke point where they would attack, and he assigned everyone to hide behind the numerous boulders and rocky outcroppings.
Really need to learn the layout of the area. It’s nice that I can trust Sthuza to plan stuff like this, but if I’m going to rule with Meri, I need to know the terrain. Even if we can modify it once we recover the Domain Crystal.
It would be much easier to set up a private retreat if we can alter the layout. Change the structure of the whole floor to make Meri’s Core Room almost unreachable. Then build a luxurious bunker down here and only let Meri and my bonded enter.
Confident that Cindra would detect the intruders once they were in position, Gabriel let his thoughts wander as he considered their plan. To keep his mind from worrying about the darkness that had attacked him earlier, he kept it busy. Just processing what he’d learned so far would take days, and he needed to master it all quickly.
He looked about the site of their ambush. Sthuza had picked a great location. There were numerous places where they could hide and a narrow passage to trap the intruders in. She was confident that the kobolds could remain hidden on the other side of it.
Gabriel was less sure, but Sthuza seemed to be familiar with the small monsters. Besides, even if the kobolds screwed up, they would wind up between the adventurers and his bonded.
Worst case is the kobolds get slaughtered, and Cindra holds the tunnel while Sthuza and I attack from range.
Mana 51%
The spells Gabriel cast before the kobold fight had been wasted, and he didn’t want to spend any more than he had to. Still, he wasn’t eager to risk his bonded, so he harnessed the mana needed for another Haste spell. He took his time to solidify each glyph in his mind as they waited.
It wasn’t long before Gabriel heard the scuff of heavy boots against stone. He darted a quick look at his Prime and felt his nerves settle at the sight of her predatory grin.
That’s right. We’re hunting them. Doubt they even know we’re here.
Three shapes stepped into view, and he held his breath as they passed the kobolds. At first, he thought one must have died, but just before the front two stepped up almost even with Cindra, a fourth one slipped in, quieter than the rest.
Gabriel silently prayed for the hellhound to hold her attack until the fourth adventurer entered the trap area.
I need to figure out how to message mentally her.
‘You need to increase your affinity with her. It will come in time, Master.’
Gabriel set that topic aside and focused on the four intruders.
They took their time and approached with caution, clearly wary of the potential for an ambush in the narrow confines. He used that time to examine each member of the group.
All four were taller than he was. They were even a few inches taller than Cindra and far broader. Their scaled bodies were all so bulky that they could barely pass in single file at the tunnel’s narrowest point. The broadest, one with three horns and a flared crest on his head, looked almost too wide to fit—a fact which clearly concerned them.
That one wore a red metal mask attached to the three large horns that protruded from his face. The other looked like a massive kobold and wore a thick padded coat, much like Gabriel’s old gambeson.
While each of the intruders wore different colored outfits, the two up front had the same blue-gray hide.
Gabriel focused his will and triggered Magesight.
The four reptilian adventurers had only a sprinkling of minor magical items on them. He’d expected them to be better geared, given that they had entered the dungeon from several floors below.
When he looked carefully, Gabriel realized all of their magical auras belonged to small tokens that hung from cords or the clay vials strapped to their waists.
The two in front argued quietly in a harsh, snarling language. As they snapped and snarled at each other, Gabriel studied their odd helmets. It took a moment before he realized they each had drastically different heads.
The tri-horned adventurer darted forward and slammed his mask into the other’s face with a loud crash that made the surprised saurian grunt. The masked one growled a
few more angry words, and they started forward again.
Wish my bond with Cindra was stronger. This is the perfect time to attack.
A guttural roar ripped out from the shadows as the powerful hellhound hurled herself at the masked asshole. Seconds later, all of Gabriel’s forces attacked and trapped the four larger monsters between them.
At least until they realize there are only kobolds behind them.
Gabriel looked to the two in the rear and grinned when one of them screamed and turned. No doubt to find who had stabbed it in the back.
He finished his Haste spell and released it. Then he drew his sword and started toward the front only to realize Cindra’s oversized weapon took up too much space. The hellhound’s aggressive style blocked the entire opening.
Damn. No way I can squeeze in there. And I don’t have enough experience with attack magic to risk casting so close to her.
Grumbling at his carelessness, he stepped back and watched his bonded lay into the armored saurian. One of Sthuza’s black arrows whizzed by and struck the lizard’s narrow kite shield.
The tight passage prevented Cindra from swinging her sword with the broad strikes she typically used, but she kept the pressure on the larger monster with savage jabs. She added the occasional overhead blow whenever he staggered—which inevitably produced more staggering.
Gabriel was surprised that her opponent could still stand after the powerful strikes she brought down on his shield.
The light-gray metal shield was warped, with a gouge carved nearly to the middle, but the saurian kept it up and deflected her next predictable smash off to the side.
Cindra howled when he clipped her helmet with a heavy mace. She stumbled back a step and shook herself. Though she got her sword back up, the hellhound looked unsteady.
While it was too tight for anyone else to step up beside Cindra, there was enough space for a spear.
Desperate to aid his dazed bonded, Gabriel forced his will to one of the goblins just behind her and visualized it attacking the mace-wielder.
With a ridiculous battle yell, the tiny goblin lunged forward and jabbed under the raised shield.
Gabriel winced in sympathy as the jagged speartip tore into the huge saurian’s crotch, drawing a surprised snarl.
Then he stared as the enraged, masked asshole lowered his shield and rushed Cindra.
Still not fully recovered, she had only started to shift her balance when he slammed into her. Despite her deceptive weight, the larger monster bulled over her. He shoved her back to stumble away from the narrow passage.
Gabriel cursed and stepped up beside two terrified goblins and slashed high.
The adventurer didn’t even bother to block. Gabriel’s attack hit, but his sword scraped across thick shoulder scales. The deflected blow only sliced a small gash in the blue-gray creature.
Dark-red blood oozed from the wound, but instead of reacting to the injury, the saurian ignored Gabriel to chase the goblin that had struck him first.
Gabriel turned and cursed again, barely dodging a swipe at his head from the other armored monster.
This new opponent wielded a thick, crude-looking bronze sword. Gabriel dodged two more vicious swings before Cindra rejoined the fight.
The hellhound seemed eager for a rematch after they’d forced her back from the tighter area, and she all but foamed at the mouth when she saw the second saurian attack Gabriel.
Cindra brought her massive blade down on it repeatedly. She struck so fast that it was all the giant lizard could do to parry each blow.
Gabriel realized that the pair of intruders were sluggish and seemed unable to dodge even the most obvious of attacks. He refrained from any further desperate jabs and waited for a better opening.
With every earsplitting shriek of metal on metal, Cindra forced the massive monster back another step.
Gabriel saw his chance when her latest attack finally overwhelmed its crude weapon and caused the blade to warp.
The saurian snapped his teeth at her and threw his broken sword. He reached behind him for a heavy club strapped to his back. The move left his unarmored armpit fully exposed.
Not wasting a second, Gabriel struck. He drove his slender sword point-first into vulnerable flesh.
This time he got to hear a scream. The saurian tried to lower his arm, but Gabriel threw his full weight behind the thrust, driving it deeper.
He felt it when his sword carved through the thick joint and crippled the saurian’s arm.
The large lizardman turned its head to face him properly for the first time, and Gabriel paused at the look of fear and despair he saw in the small, red eyes that stared back at him.
He looks just as scared as that mage did last night.
Gabriel was still watching that terrified face when Cindra’s greatsword split the saurian’s gray helmet in half. Along with the head inside.
The ruined mouth fell open like it wanted to scream, but Gabriel heard nothing over the clash and clamor of combat.
“Thanks, Packmaster!” Cindra said, then rushed past him to attack the pair of saurians that were still busy defending against the kobolds.
He nodded numbly and turned back to the masked tri-horn. Three goblins struggled to keep the snarling behemoth from crushing them—by stabbing it in the groin.
Exclusively in the groin.
Gabriel forgot about the dead saurian’s expression and started to laugh as he watched them swap the enraged monster’s attention between them.
Each time one of the goblins stabbed it, the adventurer would snarl and turn on the newest offender. Then, when the lumbering giant moved to chase that goblin, they dashed away.
That gave another goblin the chance to step up and jab his pointy stick in the same place. The berserk fool let out another roar and turned his attention to the most recent attack.
Is… is he actually that dumb? What kind of idiots would follow someone this simpleminded into a dungeon?
As Gabriel watched, a black arrow slipped between two armored plates and sank halfway into the saurian’s shoulder. He noticed several scratches on the red armor where other arrows had been deflected.
Since it looked like Sthuza and the goblins could handle the tri-horn for a moment, he glanced over to Cindra.
She had forced the other two back as they struggled to deal with the kobolds that harassed them from behind. The pincer attack left the two saurians in desperate straits. It was only a matter of time until the hellhound landed a solid strike.
He left Cindra to handle the pair she had and worked his way around to the first saurian’s back. He waited until it was Cuix’s turn again, raised his sword high, and brought it down hard on the adventurer’s already injured shoulder.
That got the masked adventurer’s attention, and it spun around faster than Gabriel had expected.
Really shouldn’t get so cocky there.
The thought crossed his mind at the same time the brute swung its heavy mace right at his unarmored head.
Stance unsettled after his attack, Gabriel desperately brought his mithril sword up to deflect the powerful bash.
I hope it doesn’t break.
His concern was unfounded. The arcane conduit Sthuza had given him held up. Its sharp edge carved a shallow notch in the metal shaft, just below the massive mace head, and he managed to redirect the blow away.
In fact, he felt so good about his success that he paused in confusion at the look of triumph in the saurian’s beady eyes.
His chest exploded with pain when the giant adventurer slammed its shield into him. The powerful blow hurled him back against the wall.
“Massster!”
Gabriel’s vision blurred when his head cracked against the stone, and he slumped to the ground. He gasped and drew fresh air into shocked lungs, then shook his head and tried to clear his vision.
Looking up with unfocused eyes, he saw a large shape approaching.
I am not going to let this stupid brute kill me!
As his vision stabilized, a flurry of dark arrows struck the adventurer. They joined the several that already jutted out of the back of its head.
“Get away from him, you runty leatherback!” Sthuza spat.
The saurian flinched like it’d been slapped and turned to glare at the gorgon, then stomped closer to the downed Dungeon Master.
Gabriel struggled to breathe and cursed inwardly at his carelessness. Desperate, he sought out the dark magic he’d used before.
The Swarm doesn’t want me dead. Please work.
A quick thought brought the alien glyphs to his mind. Eyes wide, he pictured a single spear of the noxious miasma.
The enraged saurian stomped closer.
Gabriel opened a tap on his pool and filled the sinister spell with mana.
His opponent towered over him and raised the oversized mace high.
Gabriel winced at the wrongness of the spell. It writhed through him, making his stomach churn.
He lifted his arcane conduit to point at the snarling monster just as its mace reached the apex and started forward. A shaft of glowing purple-black miasma burst from the tip of his sword.
The dark bolt lanced through the shocked saurian’s neck. Its pale-blue throat erupted in a fountain of crimson, and the massive mace froze in place.
Something silver tore free from the adventurer’s neck, and Gabriel’s eyes tracked it through the air. A pure note rang out when it struck the stone floor.
A rectangle of polished silver the size of two fingers bounced twice, then settled. The seal of the Adventurer’s Guild was etched into the surface.
Sthuza was right.
The adventurer gurgled and drew Gabriel’s attention. Too stupid to realize it was over, the dying lizardman looked up at its mace, then turned to Gabriel.
He held his breath and watched as the creature staggered back a step when the bolt of sickly energy vanished.
Beady black eyes slowly glazed over as life fled the doomed body.
The saurian fell to its knees. Still, those black eyes stared at Gabriel’s face in stupefied horror.
He wasn’t sure how he felt about killing the huge adventurer. They weren’t any more similar to humans than goblins or minotaurs. But he’d just slain a real adventurer, not a greedy soldier or noble, and that thought unsettled him.
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