Versatile: Alternate World

943  Dungeon Core

"I can't believe it... my granddaughter has grown so much," the tears welled up in Renatta's grandfather's eyes as he embraced his granddaughter, who held him just as tightly.

"I've missed both of you so much. I never lost hope that you were still out there. You're both too resilient to simply vanish," Renatta held them closer, as though afraid to let them slip away again.

Renatta turned towards us, her smile radiating happiness, as she began to introduce her grandparents.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet my wonderful grandparents. This is my grandmother, Mila, and my grandfather, Avos. They are the very people I've been searching for, and now, we're finally reunited. Grandma and Grandpa, these are my dear friends who have not only supported me but have also been steadfast allies during my toughest moments – Manato, Pandora, Sora, Akira, Labo, and Alena."

Avos, her grandfather, beamed at us and replied, "Is that so? We're truly grateful to have such wonderful friends and allies for our granddaughter. You've not only aided us, but you've also been instrumental in her endeavors."

"Indeed, but we owe our return to your friends here. Without them, we wouldn't be standing here, sharing this precious moment with you," her grandmother whose name is Mila has her gaze shifted towards me and Pandora, who had been standing quietly to the side.

"Eh? Brother and Pandora-san? Is that why you've been spending more time on the next floor?" Akira inquired.

"Indeed, the next floor marks the final stage of our journey through this dungeon," I affirmed.

Sora chimed in with enthusiasm. "Let me guess, you two didn't just linger there for scouting, did you? You've cleared the dungeon, haven't you?"

Pandora chuckled as Sora hit the mark. "Haha, can't believe you guessed it right. Yes, we accidentally cleared the next floor, but I think it turned out for the best. With Renatta, Labo, and Alena with us, the boss fight would have been a much greater challenge than the average dungeon boss."

"Eh? We would make the battle harder?" Alena frowned.

"We didn't mean it in a bad way. It's just that the boss has an ability that only works against a race which is in this case, the elves. Due to that reason, Renatta's grandparents weren't able to escape this dungeon until we had defeated the boss ourselves."

Renatta was surprised and released the two from the hug, "Is that true, Grandma? Grandpa?"

The two nodded in unison.

"The last boss is capable of affecting and controlling the minds of elves, whether dead or alive and it can also petrify elves which was what happened to the two of them. When we defeated it, their petrification came off and the bad vibes coming from this place disappeared. Notice it?" I explained and let them realize the dread that I felt earlier. After we defeated the Soul Eater, the dread that I kept on feeling before disappeared," I briefly explained.

Sora nodded, her brow furrowed in contemplation. "You're right. I never really noticed it before. I thought the heavy atmosphere in this dungeon was just the norm. Is it really because of the boss?"

I added again with a thoughtful expression, "Yes, it's the boss's doing. It employs an oppressive force to slow down and weaken anyone attempting to challenge it. However, since the boss is honestly a big pushover rather than it is so powerful, I'm not sure what exactly makes it so troublesome for the elves."

I shifted my gaze toward the elven couple, who were still savoring their reunion with their granddaughter.

"Earlier, you mentioned that you both came here to destroy the Dungeon Core, right? Should we proceed with that plan? As long as the dungeon core remains intact, the boss will keep reappearing. Without getting rid of it, this place will never know lasting peace, and the deceased will continue to be resurrected," I reminded them.

The grandmother of Renatta, Mila, met our eyes with a determined look. "You're absolutely right. I nearly forgot our original mission. With the boss defeated, locating the dungeon core should be much easier now that the dungeon is in recovery mode."

The others in the group were eager to see what this dungeon core everyone had been talking about actually looked like. For most players, the core was a source of excitement, as it powered the entire dungeon. However, I couldn't muster the same enthusiasm. Dungeon cores might be fascinating, but once you've encountered a few, they tend to lose their appeal.

"If everyone is ready to go, we should go before the dungeon gets to fully recover. Destroying the core is necessary before we leave," Renatta's grandfather, Avos remarked.

"Alright, Grandpa, let's gather our belongings first, and then we can head to the final destination."

As we had planned to camp here for a while, everyone had already prepared for some much-needed rest. It took a little time to clear and gather all our things.

"We're all set," Renatta declared, glancing at her grandparents and giving a reassuring nod.

They returned our gaze, and we signaled our readiness to follow them.

"Excellent, follow us. We've located the dungeon core before, and it's unlikely to have moved. Now that the final boss is defeated, the barrier preventing us from reaching it should have vanished, allowing us to destroy it once and for all," Avos explained.

As we descended once more to the next floor, we continued to follow Avos and Mila. The dusty halls seemed never-ending as we trailed behind the mysterious duo. It wasn't until we approached the boss room where we had battled the fearsome Soul Eater that Avos and Mila made an unexpected turn. With a subtle motion, they dislodged a single brick from the wall, unveiling a hidden pathway. The two vanished into the opening, and we eagerly followed suit, discovering a concealed passage we had never known existed.

Pandora couldn't hide her surprise. "We missed this part, Manato!"

stretching throughout its depths. Once we destroy the core, all of this will wither away and vanish," 18:36

Avos explained.

"I never expected a secret passage here as well," even I didn't know there was one hidden here as well.

Mila explained with a mischievous grin, "This passage is known only to the tomb's creators and those who assisted in its construction. It's deliberately concealed to evade casual discovery."

As we ventured deeper into the seemingly endless corridor, our surroundings transformed dramatically. The once-solid walls had metamorphosed into grotesque, living, and pulsating muscles, writhing in unsettling rhythms.

"W-what in the world is this place?" Renatta gasped in shock at the surreal metamorphosis that had taken place around us.

With each step we took, the fleshy walls pulsed as though in agony. The sight was enough to repulse everyone except for Avos, Mila, and me. The visceral, living corridor was a disconcerting anomaly amidst the ordinary halls we just passed by which made everyone else totally caught off guard.

"I won't blame any of you for feeling disgusted, but every dungeon core is bound to offer this kind of environment. These walls and floors beneath our feet, they're extensions of the dungeon's core, stretching throughout its depths. Once we destroy the core, all of this will wither away and vanish," Avos explained.

Mila couldn't help but notice my unflinching demeanor as a first-timer in this dungeon. I didn't share the same unease as the others, confidently navigating the eerie walls and floors. "You seem awfully fine for someone who just entered a dungeon core environment, Manato."

"I've seen far worse than this," I replied, trying to reassure my companions. "These grotesque walls and floors are actually quite tame compared to what I've encountered before. Trust me, this is nothing to be disturbed by, considering what I've faced in the past."

We pressed on down the squishy hallway. While the others might have found the unsettling textures of the walls and floors disconcerting, they demonstrated remarkable determination, especially considering they were experiencing this for the first time. I couldn't help but admire their courage.

We reached the heart of the dungeon rather swiftly. The chamber before us was vast, with fleshy tendrils extending and linking to a colossal floating sphere resembling the crystal orbs used by fortune tellers. The only divergence was the malevolent aura it radiated. It pulsed like a living heart, making it clear that it was the true lifeblood of the dungeon.

"Is that the Dungeon Core?" Renatta exclaimed, her surprise evident.

"Yes, my granddaughter," Mila replied, "it's quite magical yet disconcerting, isn't it? But let's not get too entranced by its appearance. If we linger too long, it may complete its repairs and begin resurrecting monsters."

Renatta turned to us with determination in her eyes. "Allow me to destroy it. Without this dungeon, you two wouldn't have been trapped here for so long. I want to exact some revenge. Do you mind?"

Pandora nonchalantly shrugged. "Go ahead. If you're willing to do it, we won't stop you."

The others silently concurred, and Renatta began to prepare. She flexed her bo staff slightly, causing a hidden string to materialize, revealing its transformation into a bow. With unwavering focus, she drew the string, conjuring three mana arrows and taking aim at the floating core.

"It's time to put an end to this place once and for all," she declared resolutely.