The Genesis Game

Seraph dismissed the announcement that the World Dungeon had emerged. He had missed an important timeline and knew there would be consequences, but those consequences were a concern for later, and it would not do them any good to split their attention. The emergence was a future problem. He could only hope that the tutorial would help prepare the influx of people for the dangers they would soon face.

"We need to hurry." Seraph shouted behind him at Sadie, his voice betraying his irritation that they had run out of time.

Seraph could see that her body had gained some muscle tone, her figure more cut, leaving a not-quite cruel expression on her face. He could tell she had used the points from leveling up. The first 10 levels were the easiest to reach and effectively made a person twice as strong as a normal person.

As he approached the podium, a feeling of dread came upon Seraph, the release of chemicals filling his body with unease and adding a sense of urgency to his movements. Pushing the feelings away, Seraph reached out and grasped the sides of the podium, doing a last check for anything he may have missed before he pulled out the three of the wooden figurines and carefully worked on placing them perfectly into the circular grooves on the pedestal up on the stage.

Meanwhile, Sadie collected her enchanted sword from where it had fallen after the defeat of the healer as Seraph worked on the figurines, both of them remained armed and at the ready, the Warhammer heavy and unfamiliar in Seraph's hands was placed next to the podium.

"Here goes." Seraph said out loud with apprehensive as the last figurine snapped into place. Once all three were in place, Sadie and Seraph waited with baited breath, wondering what was to happen next.

Slowly the pedestal began to slide across the stage, the loud sound of metal gears groaning and grinding as it moved. A dark hollow opening up beneath it, revealing a winding stone staircase that led deep down into the dark, the bottom of which could not be seen. The long steps heading downward illuminated by lit torches that showed the way down as their flames danced on the walls.

With a nod of his head, Seraph motioned that he would go first, and Sadie followed behind as they descended down the stairway.

The stairs went deep into the earth, winding ever downward as the pair descended, their postures hunched, prepared to defend themselves at a moments notice. Each using their off hand for balance by bracing themselves against the low ceiling.

Step by step Seraph counted, and finally after forty floors, they had reached the landing, a small break in the stairs that led to a straight staircase going down a dimly lit tunnel. Seraph counted only 13 steps as he followed the stairs further down into the dark that ended in a small wooden door with an ironbound knocker. When he felt a cool breeze blow across his face, he knew they were approaching the end of the stairs. Seraph motioned with his hands to stay low and that he wanted Sadie to follow closely behind him.

With the 13 steps behind him, Seraph held his ear to the door, and even with the hearing of an Abyssal Elf heard nothing. With another hand signal he ordered Sadie to watch his back as he hyper focused his energy into his sense of hearing, dramatically increasing it, as his vision and other senses dimmed. With the amplification, the only thing he heard was the movement of air, and the static hum of an enchantment.

Returning his senses to normal, Seraph turned back at Sadie and shook his head and shrugged, it was better than nothing, but they would still be going in blind, but not without some measure of care. Seraph mentally projected his ability Starfall to space on the other side of the door and let it charge. If there was anything or anyone on the other side, they would notice it, and at least he would be able to hear them, and blind them. 5, 10, 30 seconds passed and Seraph released the spell, grabbing on the door knocker and weapon in hand, pulled the door open.

The room was a tomb, and the release of Starfall had not disturbed it in the least. The walls were made up of glossed sandy red odem. Deep grooves carved into the stone from the passing of wind and water, but without a sign of either water or an opening for wind to pass through. As he admired the walls, Sadie struck him in the back to get his attention and pointed.

Everywhere on the ground lay piles of bones and skeletal bodies. Seraph crouched next to a heavily armed skeleton near the doorway and examined it. The bones were broken in spots, the break clean through as if cleaved, in other spots small nicks could be seen as if from a small blade or blunted sword. Seraph watched as Sadie's eyes widened at the casualness of him searching the body, fearful that he would wake the dead, but he wasn't worried about that, though he had felt an enchantment upon the room, he did not feel the presence of the evil and restless dead. Only a solemn melancholy. The way the skeletons were littered throughout the room and with their similar heavy armaments, Seraph mused they died in battle.

"It's ok Sadie." Seraph said as he got up. "They won't touch us. Let's keep moving, we've another door to pass through." He said pointing to the far side of the room.

Ignoring her sharp intake of breath, they both looked towards the stone doorway that was their next goal. Twin torches burned on both sides, the flames blue to ward off evil. The doorway was split in the middle, carved into the stone were profane images, while the carved figures appeared to move as if alive. Depictions of the trapped souls of the damned, faces twisted in agony as demons perpetually pulled them down into hell, unable to escape from damnation.