Wind whistled in the cave's entrance. The tunnel quickly grew dark as it led down and turned away, hiding its contents from the sunshine. Owin tried to listen for anything inside, but as far as he could tell, the cave was empty.

"Caves in the towers are never empty," Chorsay said. "Follow me." He drew his sword and stalked forward, not checking to see if they followed.

Owin stayed on Chorsay's flank. If any enemies popped out, Owin would be able to react faster than the old soldier. Shade was on the other flank. The skeleton was easily distracted, so Owin wasn't relying on Shade to provide any early warnings.

As soon as they rounded the bend, the cave opened to a single, massive cavern. They were currently on the top tier with natural stone ramps zigging and zagging down to a ring that circled the cave, and eventually led to the bottom where something was piled high in the middle. The very top of the cavern was domed and covered in shadows. Owin stared at the darkness for a few seconds before Chorsay started down the ramp.

"What's in here?" Owin asked.

"An extra boss," Chorsay said.

They walked to the second tier without incident, but Chorsay stopped.

"What class are you?"

Shade's index opened, bright in the dim cavern light. "Huh. Finally. Entertainer."

"That changes my plans. I want you to stick right at my side. Pretend we're attached."

Shade took a big step toward Chorsay and wrapped an arm around him. "I'll be so close."

Chorsay lowered his brow, opened his mouth, then closed it and walked on. Over his shoulder, he said, "Owin, stay on the ring around the edge. Anywhere should be fine."

"What am I looking for?"

"You'll know when you see it." Chorsay flashed him a quick smile then dragged Shade down to the cavern floor.

Owin stayed on the stone ramps, standing near the edge, while he surveyed the area. It was plain as far as caves went. The ring around the outside on the second tier was about three feet wide all the way around with no hidden doors, or jutting rocks, or anything he could see from his current spot. Other than the mound of something in the middle of the bottom tier, it looked like it was also plain. Just smooth stone.

Chorsay and Shade had stopped at the bottom. The old man pointed to the outer ring.

Owin nodded and left the edge of the ramps. He didn't like being surprised when he didn't have to be. If neither of them knew what to expect, that was fine. But if Chorsay knew what was going to happen, he should say something. Owin hovered his hand near the mouth of his bag and tried to not think about it. Getting angry at Chorsay wasn't going to help anything, and if Shade knew what was happening, he would say something.

Chorsay had to have some reason to keep it secret.

Owin walked onto the outer ring and caught the handle of the Incandescent Blade as it was passed into his hand. He pulled the blade free. "How do you know I need it?" he whispered.

The bag didn't respond.

"I don't understand," Owin said. Despite his confusion, he held the sword in front, ready to attack. So far, the specter bag hadn't been wrong. He wasn't sure how a bag could be right, but Basolia was a specter object too, and it basically ran all of Althowin's compound.

Owin shook the thoughts from his mind as Chorsay approached the mound in the middle of the cavern.

"What is that?" Owin whispered. He crept toward the edge of the ring.

Chorsay stopped right at the bottom of the mound and gestured for Shade to climb it. The skeleton did so, talking the entire time, and eventually stood on top.

Something moved in the shadows above.

"Danger," the bag said in a voice that mimicked Owin's whisper.

Fire climbed the Incandescent Blade. Owin partially crouched, preparing to leap wherever might be necessary.

A shape dropped silently from the shadows above. A silent black cylinder. Before striking Shade, the shape uncoiled, sending out massive wings of black leather. The creature had a narrow, snouted face and leaf-shaped ears. Its nose pointed straight up, unlike any creature Owin had seen before.

Desert Mob

Marco

Man-Eating Bat

Level 18

Owin leapt from the ledge and soared across the cave. Before he reached Marco, he heard Shade repeating something over and over while bouncing back and forth between his feet. A faint orange glow appeared as an outline all around Owin, even reaching all the way around the edge of the fire burning on his sword.

Owin's feet hit the bat first, and to his surprise, he launched the giant creature to the ground before he could even swing the Incandescent Blade. The giant creature crashed into the stone, flapping its wings helplessly. When it righted itself, it smacked its head against the bottom of the outer ring.

Owin landed and bounced on the opposite side of the mound from Chorsay. He slipped on the smooth stone, but managed to stay on his feet, which was a victory in itself.

"Like that strength boost?" Shade shouted.

"I didn't know what that was," Owin said.

Marco let out a high-pitched noise that knocked Shade off the mound and made Owin pitch backward. As soon as the barrage stopped, Owin rolled to his feet and leapt again. Marco flapped its wings, and one cut of the Incandescent Blade with Shade's strength boost, let Owin cut the bat in half. It hardly felt like cutting through anything.

Owin hit the cave wall behind the dead bat and slid down to the ground beside the corpse. "I think it dropped armor!"

At first, the loot looked like a big chunk of limestone. Owin had never seen a mob just drop a rock before, and after looking at it for just a moment, he noticed the vaguely hand-shaped design with segments for fingers.

Shade ran over, squelching with each step. Owin sniffed and scowled.

"Why do you smell?"

Shade gestured to the mound. "I think that's all bat feces."

"It is," Chorsay said. He had calmly, slowly, walked around the mound. "I did warn you."

"You did, but if a little bit of poop could stop me, I wouldn't have had most of the most thrilling adventures in my life." Shade looked at his skeletal hand. "Or unlife. Whatever."

"What adventures have involved poop?" Owin asked as he moved away from the corpse as blood started to pour out. He slipped the blade into his bag.

"Oh, your little innocent mind couldn't understand," Shade said. He crouched by the loot and didn't flinch as bat blood flowed over his filthy feet. "Is this part of an armor set?"

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"It appears that way. Use your index. If one of us touches it, it'll bind," Chorsay said.

Owin and Shade opened their indexes at the same time.

Living Golem Gauntlet - Right

Adept Magical Item

The Living Golem armor set is formed of modified golem pieces from master crafters throughout the Desert Dungeon. Only 1 of each piece can be worn. Acts as normal armor unless the hero has acquired the complete set.

Note: Armor piece binds upon first touch.

Note: Current Living Golem set - 0/8

"It's the Living Golem armor," Owin said. He held out both hands. His green skin on his left hand and his metal prosthetic of his right were both visible in the small spaces between the segments of crab chitin. "I already have a full set. The Living Golem set is higher rarity, but it won't matter if I just have one gauntlet. Then my armor won't have its legs and claws."

"Can you actually wear armor, Shade?" Chorsay asked. He tapped a hand against the full arm gauntlet Shade had over his left. "This wasn't from bones, was it?"

"No, we looted this in the Ocean," Shade said. He posed. "It makes me look tough."

Chrosay gestured to the rock gauntlet. "That would make you look even tougher."

Owin, still crouched, awkwardly scooted around to face Chorsay. "I'm fine with Shade wearing armor, but he doesn't need protection like we do. You can have it."

Chorsay waved a hand. "I'm fine. I have all the gear I need."

"Does it even bind if I touch it?" Shade picked it up. "Oh. Yes, it does. It says it is bound to Owin, but . . ." Shade took some time fitting the stone gauntlet over his bare right hand. He used to have the white olm skin glove over that hand, but had used it to cast a spell against Nikoletta. Owin supposed it wasn't bad to have more armor on Shade to help him survive a little longer in their more serious fights. The skeleton flexed his hand.

"It looks good," Chorsay said.

"Is that all that's in here?" Owin asked.

Chorsay confirmed, pulled out his water, and drank as he guided them around the mound and up the ramp. Before long, sunlight warmed their skin. Chorsay stopped at the crest of a hill and gestured to the proteunia.

"I'm okay with moving on." Owin did a quick scan of the floor. He didn't have the slightest idea where to look for a secret. While he wouldn't mind looking, he didn't want to encourage Chorsay to spend extra time. After just a couple of floors, Artivan had grown tired and weary, especially when Owin didn't give him time to rest. They were better off moving quickly than spending extra hours searching for the secret.

"Why is this floor so short?" Owin asked.

"There are four substantial fights, if one doesn't befriend the scaltari. That's not abnormal in the dungeons. Sometimes there is just one major fight on a floor. You will see one like this before it extends to a longer, more complicated place."

Chorsay led them down the hill and over the bridge. Owin swung his gaze all around while they crossed the bridge, expecting some type of spider or lizard or specter to pop out. Nothing did, and it still felt suspicious.

Chorsay eyed him and smiled. "Some floors are considered boss floors. I'm sure you've been on one before. There are no or few small enemies."

"The ninth floor of the Ocean only had kraken and a big wandering boss." Owin held out his right hand. "That's when I lost this."

"Sorry," Shade said.

Owin shrugged. "Are we going to fight the proteunia?"

The big lizard loomed in the distance. It stood at the top of a hill, still a few minutes away. As they watched, it shifted, moved some dirt, then laid in the bright sunlight.

"It's napping," Chorsay said.

"Huh." Shade stepped off the bridge. "So . . . are we killing it?"

"Why don't we see what it's doing when we get close." Chorsay stepped off and immediately broke into a story about one of his journeys through the beginning of the Desert. It was decades ago, and yet, nothing had changed.

By the time they reached the proteunia, it was starting to wake again. It had a wide, flat face and ridges that ran all the way down its back and onto its tail.

"A crocodile," Chorsay said.

"It's a creature outside the dungeons. Usually much smaller."

This proteunia boss was about fifty feet long and its tail ran down the entire length of the next slope. Owin walked the closest to its face and matched the lizard's gaze. Even as they walked by, the crocodile didn't bother lifting its head.

"Must be tired," Shade said.

Chorsay grunted. "Aren't we all?"

"Nope. Never." Shade nudged Chorsay. "Do I seem tired to you?"

Chorsay ignored the skeleton and guided Owin away. The crocodile watched them until they passed its head and were walking alongside its tail toward the half-buried building. After a few more minutes, they reached the door. A path had been dug into the ground, poorly excavating the crumbling, ancient doorway.

Shade immediately led the way inside and stopped after a few strides. "No traps so far. Do you think . . ." He pressed a foot down on a stone. It didn't move. "Maybe there really are no traps. Wouldn't that be fun?"

The chamber was long with a ramp down from the doorway to a gathering area at the bottom. Columns ran along both sides, keeping the old ceiling up despite the obvious state of disrepair. Near the back of the chamber, ramps led up with tiered steps on either side with statues and smaller coffins. Right at the top was a grand sarcophagus.

"This is a tomb!" Shade's voice echoed through the chamber. "Look at this."

Owin expected something to pop out of the sarcophagus, but nothing moved. Only their footsteps echoed through the wide area.

"Last floor, there was a secret with a scaltari lich, but there was necromancer magic. If this is a tomb, is it another lich?" Owin kept his hand near the mouth of his bag, but it had yet to pass him a weapon.

"There are some floors that have stories tied together," Chorsay said. He kept his sword sheathed as well as they made their way across the long, lower section of the tomb.

"Like the cetanthro and girhuma rivalry in the Ocean," Owin said.

"Exactly." Chorsay stopped at the bottom of the ramp. "The necromancer is on a different floor. This boss is a lich. Now . . ."

"I know." Owin knocked on his chitin helmet. "I'm not easy to control anymore." The bag pushed Isotelus out. As soon as Owin finished pulling the spine free, the bag pushed the Incandescent Blade out until it clattered to the floor. "What? Why?"

The bag didn't say anything, but when Owin tried to put the Incandescent Blade away, the bag wouldn't open. After a few failed attempts, Owin passed Isotelus to Shade, who immediately activated Shuriken.

"I can fight it," Chorsay said, taking a step up the ramp.

"Oh, no, That won't do," Shade said. "Look at the two of us. We're undead killing experts." Shade acted like he was stabbing something, but the pieces of his sword were spinning in the air around him.

"What class are you? Entertainer, right?"

Shade nodded. "Great for stabbing." He thrust the handle of Isotelus toward Owin.

"Can you make me resistant to undead?"

"Oh." Shade opened his index. "If I recall, which I somewhat do, the answer is yes. Now, of course, it has been a few decades or centuries or millennia since I've really done any of this, so I can't promise I'll do quite as well as usual. I also don't have an instrument and that really limits which spells I can use. If we get the chance in the future, we should throw an instrument or two in that bag." Shade closed his index and pointed. A slight haze appeared over Owin's skin.

"What is this?"

"A general damage resistance. It's weaker than a buff to resist a specific type, but I would need an instrument for that." Shade gestured to the sarcophagus.

Chorsay remained and the bottom of the ramp with his arms crossed. He looked somewhat annoyed, but didn't say anything as Owin approached the sarcophagus and tore the lid free.

A skeletal hand immediately grabbed the ledge. Gray mist cascaded off its fingers, drifting down to the stone floor.

Owin ignited the Incandescent Blade.

The lich was completely skeletal with a ragged robe hanging loose over its bones. It floated into the air and let out an ethereal scream that sounded more like it was inside Owin's brain than in the tomb itself.

Spinning pieces of Isotelus zipped through the air, battering the lich and nearly knocking it from the air. Owin leapt up just high enough to grab the lich's ankle, and swung his arm, smashing the undead creature into the ground. Before it could recover, Owin landed and slashed with the burning sword, cutting and melting through the lich's ribs and spine.

When the skeleton still screamed and wriggled, Owin punted the skull into the wall where it exploded in gray mist.

0 Experience

Chorsay climbed to the top of the ramp, shaking his head slowly. "I cannot understand how I thought you would need my help."

"With this boss?" Owin asked. He picked up half of the lich's body, shook it, and tossed it aside after a few coins and a health potion fell out.

"At all." Chorsay put his hand on Shade's shoulder. "You two are strong and capable."

Owin leaned into the sarcophagus and pulled out a golden statue. "What's this?" As soon as he finished asking, the back wall shifted, lowering itself into the ground. The stairs and the exit void nexus were revealed in the next room.

"The next floor is isolated again." Chorsay put a hand on Owin's head. "I'll see you both at the lehboa city on the fifth floor. Then we only have two more before our fusions."

"You'll be okay?" Owin asked.

Chorsay patted his head. "With all this rest I'm getting? I'll be able to actually stretch on the next floor. If you don't see me at the stairs on the fifth, wait for me. Knowing you two, I'll beat you there." He smiled and walked into the back room. Chorsay gave them one more look, a warm smile, and waved as he walked up the stairs and into the void nexus.

"Should we have let him fight?" Shade asked.

Owin shrugged. "I think letting him just be safe and watch is fine. Right?"

Shade shrugged back. "Race you to the stairs!" The skeleton took off running, but all it took was for Owin to take a single step and jump.

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