The dungeon had a smell, like wet stone and old blood.
Rin walked carefully behind the others as they went deeper into the cave. The only light came from a glowing crystal on the shield mans belt.
Drip. Water fell from the ceiling somewhere in the darkness.
Rin held his sword tightly.
"So what kind of monsters are usually here?" he asked.
The spear woman answered without turning around.
"Stone Crawlers " she said.
Rins eyes widened.
"Those spider things?" he asked.
The spear woman said "yes".
Rin swallowed hard.
"Great " he said, not sounding happy.
Lyle chuckled softly.
"Relax they are weak " he said.
Rin was not convinced.
A minutes later they entered a bigger room.
The ground was covered with bones.
Rin looked around nervously.
"Uh is it supposed to look like this?" he asked.
The shield man laughed.
"What are you scared already?" he asked.
Before Rin could answer there was a screech.
SKREEEEE!
The sound echoed through the cave.
Several dark shapes dropped from the ceiling.
"Stone Crawlers!" the spear woman shouted.
Four spider-like monsters landed on the ground.
Each one was as big as a dog with sharp stone-like legs and glowing red eyes.
"Get into position!" the shield man barked.
The man raised his shield. Blocked the first monster.
CLANG!
The spear woman stabbed another one through its body.
Lyle swung his daggers and sliced off a spider leg.
The fight did not last long.
Soon the monsters lay dead on the ground.
Rin stared.
"That was fast " he said.
Lyle grinned.
"I told you they were weak " he said.
Then he pointed his dagger toward a tunnel leading deeper into the dungeon.
" Room " he said.
Rin followed them.
As they walked he noticed something strange.
The others were whispering to each other.
They kept looking back at him.
Rin pretended not to notice.
His stomach felt tight.
"Something is off " he thought.
They soon reached another room.
This one was very dark.
The crystal light barely reached the walls.
Lyle suddenly stopped walking.
"Alright " he said casually.
Rin looked up.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Your turn "Lyle said.
Rin was confused.
"My turn?" he asked.
The shield man crossed his arms.
"Go ahead " he said.
Rin frowned.
"Go where?" he asked.
Lyle pointed toward the center of the room.
"Walk forward a bit " he said.
Rin did not move.
"Why?" he asked.
The spear woman sighed.
"Because something is probably hiding in the dark " she said.
Rin slowly realized what they meant.
"You want me to trigger it " he said.
Lyle smiled.
"Exactly " he said.
Rin stared at them.
"So I am bait " he said.
The shield man shrugged.
"You are F-rank " he said.
"That is not a reason!"Rin said.
"Look "Lyle said, raising his hands. "Relax we will protect you."
Rin looked at the three of them.
Then he sighed.
" Course " he said.
Slowly he walked forward.
Step.....
Step...
Step....
The room was silent.
Then there was a crack.
The ground beneath him shifted.
Rin froze.
"Uh..." he said.
Suddenly the entire room trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Something huge moved in the darkness.
A pair of glowing eyes opened.
The creature crawled forward into the light.
It was a Stone Crawler.
Least three times bigger than the others.
Its body was covered in black stone armor.
Even the other hunters froze.
Lyles smile disappeared.
"That is not normal " he said.
The spear woman stepped back.
"That is a boss monster " she said.
The shield man cursed.
"This dungeon should not have one!" he said.
The giant spider let out a screech.
SKREEEEEEEEEE!
Rin slowly turned around.
"You guys said this was a dungeon " he said.
Lyle looked panicked now.
"It usually is!" he said.
The monster suddenly lunged.
Its massive leg slammed into the ground beside Rin.
BOOM!
Rin barely jumped away in time.
The other hunters scrambled to prepare their weapons.
"Everyone attack!" the shield man shouted.
Before Rin could move the system appeared again.
Emergency Quest Activated
Defeat the Dungeon Boss
Reward: Rare Skill
Rin stared at the message.
"You have got to be kidding me " he said.
The boss monster. Charged again.
The ground shook with each step.
Behind RinLyle shouted.
"Rin run!"
Rin held his sword tightly.
His heart was racing.
Strangely he was not as scared as before.
Because the system screen appeared again.
New Skill Available
Shadow Step
Rin smiled slightly.
"Alright then " he said.
The weakest hunter, in the world stepped forward.
The dungeon boss prepared to crush him.