Because of the narrow space, the hunters were moving forward in a tight line.

The world felt silent as only the sound of breathing and their footsteps against the cold stone floor were audible inside the dungeon. Without speaking among themselves, the hunters continue moving, getting closer to their fate.

When suddenly—

A sharp thunk echoed, and arrows shot down from the ceiling, aiming at their heads.

Their vigilance paid off as those who could move away from the barrage of arrows, while for those who couldn’t, Vaidya created a stone barrier above their heads.

[There is a room ahead, bigger than the entrance one. I can see a few traps on each side of the wall.]

Soren conveyed to everyone through the Mind Bridge.

[There are traps in the ceiling of the dungeon. Be careful and don’t move, we are coming there.]

Adam replied as they began moving toward him. A minute later, they entered the area and took a look around.

As Soren had said, there were many small, evenly spaced holes covering the stone surface. Each one is dark and hollow. That wasn’t all, either, as they could see two passages leading deeper into the dungeon.

To move forward, they were about to search for the trigger when Vaidya suggested a better alternative.

[We don’t have time to find the trigger... let me block the holes.]

Saying so, she moved ahead and began shaping mana, turning it into small stones the size that could fit the holes.

"Let’s go..."

The group was about to move forward when Michael put his hand up and stopped everyone in their track.

[Before moving forward, there is something that I’ve observed.]

[What?] Misha asked.

Letting a deep breath out, he looked at the others and added. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

[I think this dungeon is designed in a way to waste as much of our time as possible.]

Michael wasn’t the only one who was finding the route suspicious. Not everyone had come to the same conclusion yet, but they weren’t far off either.

Looking at others nodding their heads, Adam spoke his mind.

[That is what’s been bugging me as well.]

[You are right, but what can we do here?] Soren paused before adding, [In fact, we are moving as fast as we can, unless...]

Before he could finish his words, Dirham added, [Are you suggesting we divide the group?]

[Hmm.] Michael nodded his head.

Hearing him talking about spliting the group Misha shakes her head and explained the situation.

[Don’t agree... we haven’t even seen what kind of monsters there are in the dungeon, it would be too risky. If the monster boosts a high durability, then if we won’t be able to kill them, then what?]

[But if we move at this pace, the first hour will quickly come. We can afford the first sacrifice without much effect; the second will hurt a little, but I don’t think we can save the artifacts from the third sacrifice.]

Knowing full well the severity of their situation, Michael had decided to take a risk of splitting the group in two. It wouldn’t solve their problem, but at least there is a chance. Tapping his staff on the ground, he added with confidence.

[And anyway, there aren’t any monsters at that tier I that we won’t be able to kill with five of us.]

[Yeah, I think you are underestimating us too much, Misha.] Nyron added, having his opinion in favor of Michael.

[What I don’t understand is how the sacrifice will be decided.] Soren asked.

[Same here...] Vaidya added.

Hearing this question, Adam scratched his head and mentioned he might have an idea.

[I think the dungeon considers our value for the item. For example, if this condition weren’t here, I could offer my clothes... or even some hair to the dungeon and call it a day. But with the condition, I have to pay something that is valuable.]

He explained to the best of his ability.

[This has no practical use, but it is so valuable to me... would it count if I were to sacrifice this?]

Dirham said, pointing to the bracelet his teacher had gifted him. After losing his teacher, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say that the bracelet kept him alive. It was the bracelet that gave him a purpose to live for.

Hearing this question, Michael looked dead in his eyes.

[Would you sacrifice it first?]

Hearing the question, Dirham shook his head as he replied without any hesitation.

[No... absolutely not. I would die before giving it to a filthy dungeon.]

[Well, that is your answer.]

Michael replied as Dirham seemed to have understood it. The dungeon precisely wants what they wouldn’t dare to part ways with.

[Anyway, we don’t have much time... why don’t we vote among ourselves...] Pausing, he looked at the others and said, [Who is in favor of splitting, raise your hand.]

Looking at the bracelet in his hand, Dirham raised his. He couldn’t afford to waste much of his time inside.

Considering his options, Adam did the same. After thinking for a moment, Soren agreed as well. Misha wouldn’t want to be split apart, as that would make her unable to heal half the group.

Krishna was against the idea as well, while the rest of the group were in a neutral position.

After pausing for a moment, Michael looked at the others and muttered.

[It is decided then.]

[Me, Misha, Krishna, Nyron, and Soren will be one group, the rest of you will be the other. Any doubts?]

Everyone shook their heads, and the group began moving toward the passage. The group Michael was leading chose the left while the other went inside the one on the right.

They had thought the dungeon was there to waste their time, and they were right, but not entirely. Following this judgment, they didn’t find it necessary to check the room with careful inspection.

As the group disappeared down the passage, the room fell silent, covered in darkness once more. For a brief moment, nothing moved. Then the air near the wall shimmered.

From that faint distortion, a small figure slowly revealed itself. It was a dull green monster. The small, frail monster drew no attention to itself. Its sharp eyes fixated on the passage that the hunters had taken.

Suddenly, a crooked grin spread across its face as the goblin moved toward the right passage.

***

Deep within the dungeon, a man sat upon his throne while a demon stood at his side. Together, they silently observed the events unfolding within the dungeon. In front of the man, screens were showing ten different parts of the dungeon.

With all the sights in front of them, both of them were glued to a single screen.

’It took them around half an hour.. good.’ Dhruv thought, nodding his head.

"They are starting to split apart, master."

"They seem to have methods to communicate without speaking... otherwise we would be able to hear their plan as well."

Looking at the group splitting apart and going into the separate caves, Dhruv asked back.

"Which of these two do you think is weaker?"

"The one that went right,"

Lucian replied, licking his lips.

’Same here...’ Nodding his head, he asked, "Your reasoning."

"They don’t have a scout, so they are susceptible to sneak attacks."

Pausing, he looked at his master with expectation and asked.

"Is that correct?"

Dhruv nodded his head.

Looking at him nod his head, Lucian’s lips curved upward slightly. A sense of pride overwhelmed him as he puffed his chest.

He watched as the hunter continued to move around the dungeon, destroying traps, creating marks. For some reason, it was infatuating watching them exist in the dungeon without the permission of his master.

They should only exist in the dungeon to serve him... There is no greater purpose they should adhere to.

"Master, should we start attacking... we have already tolerated them this much. I can’t let them dirty our dungeon anymore."

"No... not yet. We will wait until reaching the two-hour mark."

Dhruv stated, giving no room for exception.

"But... master, their dir--"

"No means... no."

Dhruv said, shaking his head, after which Lucian remained silent.

As they watched, the divided groups continued moving forward. One of the groups met with a dead end while a trap waited at the end of the others’ journey. Finding no new passage, they began backtracking and eventually reached the underground place where the three passages had begun.

As the third one was the last passage, the group regrouped together and began moving into it. Looking at the speed they were moving, Dhruv sighed, shaking his head.

"I don’t think we can get to the second offering..."

Pausing, he looked at Lucian and instructed,

"You command the monsters and let me teleport the scout... there."

Saying so, he began casting the teleport spell. Half a minute later, he was standing in front of the goblin. Picking him up by the collar, he began casting the spell again.

’It’s a shame that I can only see the dungeon through the eyes of these scouts... or else it would be so easy to track the intruders...’

Finding himself standing in a room whose walls were riddled with small holes, he placed the monster on the ground and looked at his surroundings. Except for the cold stone and rough space, there wasn’t a soul there.

Even then, Dhruv looked in a particular direction and whispered.

"Show yourself."

Along with his words, ripples appeared across the room as numerous monsters appeared in it.

"Go and maintain the synergy..."

He ordered the scout as it went ahead and clasped his hand with the other scout. The other scout had done it with the thief and so on, forming a monster chain.

Before his very eyes, the monster turned invisible again. Nodding his head, Dhruv teleported back to his throne and glanced at the hunters.

[Defend the core from the intruders.]

[Rewards: 1000 DP]

[Intruder: 10]

[Time: 55:56]

Glancing at the panel blinking in front of him, he sighed, "It’s time..."