The message [JUDGES' DELIBERATION IN PROGRESS...] hung on the giant Scry-Screens, shimmering over a silent, expectant stadium. The laughter and confusion in the arena had died down, replaced by a tense curiosity. No one had ever seen a dungeon run like this one. No one knew what will happen next.

In my own quiet dungeon lobby, the tension was just as thick as jelly.

'What's taking them so long?' FaeLina's psychic voice was like a worried buzz. 'I am sure, They're inventing a new rule to disqualify us, I bet that's what it is! They're writing the 'No Socks as Treasure' clause right now!'

'Be patient,' I projected, though my own core was humming with a low, anxious energy. 'It is difficult to score a masterpiece.' I told to FaeLina.

But FaeLina protest : 'It was only a series of annoying rooms and a piece of laundry, Mochi!'

As we talking, The the commentator's voice sounded again, crackling with excitement. "Folks, the judges' scores are in! And this is unprecedented! For the first time in Dungeon League history and due to the... unique nature of this dungeon run, the judges have agreed to broadcast their individual score and notes live!"

The Scry-Screen changed, showing a formal scoring sheet. My team and I watched with holding our breath.

The first score appeared.

JUDGE: Archmage Tiberius (Royal Academy of Magic)

Lethality: 0/100

Innovation: 20/100

Comment: A complete and utter failure of magical principles. The enchanted song was a simple cantrip. The tilted floor is a construction flaw, not a trap. The sock was just a sock. Utterly without merit.

FaeLina's psychic heart sank. 'We're doomed.'

But then the next score appeared.

JUDGE: Maestro Valerius (From Bard's College)

Lethality: 0/100

Innovation: 95/100

Comment: A sublime journey into the depths of existential annoyance! The jarring transitions, the auditory assault, the aesthetic chaos! And the final reveal of the sock—a daring, post-modernist statement on the futility of the hero's journey! A masterpiece of minimalist horror! Bravo!

FaeLina's head tilted. 'Okay... so this one is a good review, right?'

The third score came from our old friend.

JUDGE: Inspector Barnaby (DLRB Representative)

Lethality: 0/100

Innovation: 70/100

Comment: The labyrinth successfully and efficiently terminated the Challengers' will to continue, which is a key metric. While unorthodox, the strategy was technically effective. But The paperwork for this incident will be a nightmare.

Seeing the judge scores ,the crowd was started laughing again.

Finally, It all came down to the deciding vote from the head judge and The screen flashed with his name.

HEAD JUDGE: High Adjudicator Thistlewick Lethality: 0/100

Innovation: ...

The score for innovation flickered, as if the system itself was afraid to display it. The Scry-Screen showed a live feed of Thistlewick in the Royal Box. He looked at the King Caspian, who gave him a cheerful, expectant nod. He then looked at the laughing crowd and finally he looked down at the official, validated judgement from Barnaby. His face changing to a thunderous shade of purple. He was utterly and completely defeated by his own rulebook.

Finally, a number appeared.

Innovation: 1/100

Comment: This dungeon is an insult to the proud, centuries-old tradition of lethality event. However, the rules state we must also judge on 'innovation'. Creating a labyrinth so profoundly and powerfully annoying that five elite champions surrendered to a piece of damp footwear is, I must reluctantly admit, it technically innovative. That why One point is awarded. It was only Out of respect of the innovation.

Finally the commentator did the math, his voice full of disbelief. "With an average innovation score of... 46.5, and a lethality score of zero... Still 'The Comfy Corner' is... somehow... not in last place!"

He quickly announced the other dungeons' scores. The Blood Pit's room of monsters had received a high lethality score, but a near-zero innovation score, with the judges calling it "uncreative and brutish." They had only get a avarage scored of 25. The Obsidian Forge and Sylvanheart Maze were at the top with high scores in both categories.

I was very satisfied from the result, because not only we are not in the last place but we also beaten the Blood Pit. We had come in the third place in the Labyrinth of Lethality... with only a sock.

​Klarg, sitting silently in the Blood Pit's dark viewing gallery, was the first to feel it. A wave of pure, murderous rage, as cold and silent as a glacier, emanated from the psychic presence of his master. It was not a hot, explosive anger. It was a cold, hateful fury—the absolute humiliation of a dark god who had just been publicly shamed by a joke.

​And then, Klarg saw the proof of it.

​The heavy, obsidian cup resting on the table in front of him, which had been perfectly still, suddenly let out a sharp ping as a thin, spidery crack raced from its rim to its base.

​Lord Vorlag had been beaten by a sock, and his silent, contained fury was now powerful enough to break solid stone.

...

The commentator's voice boomed one last time, setting the stage for the final day. "And that concludes the second event of the tournament 'the Labyrinth of Lethality'! Join us again tomorrow for the final event of our opening ceremony, the one that separates the masters from the minions! Get ready for... The Chamber of Terror!"

FaeLina's brief moment of triumph vanished, replaced by a fresh wave of horror.

'The boss battle,' she whispered in my mind.

'Mochi... our only real boss... is Sir Crumplebuns.'

_____

Author note:

He did it! Third place in a "Lethality" event with a score of 0.0, purely by being more creative and annoying than the Blood Pit. A historic victory for cozy dungeons everywhere!

I had so much fun writing the judges' notes. Maestro Valerius calling it "minimalist horror" and Thistlewick's legendary "one point out of protest" were my favorite parts to write.

But now, the final challenge of the opening ceremony: the boss battle. It's our Sir Crumplebuns and his Spoonblade versus actual monsters. I'm sure it will be a totally fair fight... right? Thanks for reading!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.