The Runesmith

“Look at that, flat as a board.”

Brakka whistled again as she looked over the gash in the ground. It was another cluster of salamanders, flattened once more by Roland’s gravity magic. The only difference this time was that lava did not flood the trench, leaving behind a scar filled with pancaked remains.

“If you keep this up, I won’t get the chance to do anything, sugar.”

She laughed and smacked Roland on the back. He did not move even a millimeter, and the other adventurers began to look at him with mixed expressions. Some were impressed, others jealous, and a few were harder to read. Their leader, however, was all smiles, praising him every time he cleared out a wave of monsters.

“Great. With Siegfried around, we might even reach the third ring in just two days.”

Roland placed the sword back against his back, where it magnetized into place. His armor remained hidden beneath a robe, concealing most of the runic inscriptions. Even so, one person present was clearly focused on what he had done.

“That spell.”

The gnome mage muttered as he adjusted the lenses perched over his eyes.

“You didn’t chant. And the mana compression, those runes are not standard academy magic. It’s something new, something non-traditional.”

Roland turned slightly, just enough to acknowledge him.

“Trade secret.”

He answered, unwilling to give anything away and hoping the refusal would end the conversation. Instead, the gnome’s interest only seemed to deepen.

“Ah, guarding your secrets. I do love a challenge.”

It seemed the short mage had no intention of letting the matter drop.

“Gather this up.”

The leader of the group turned to the porters and issued the order. One of the men stepped forward to inspect the gash filled with monster remains, a mess that would take considerable effort to sort through. The bodies were mangled, bones shattered, scales crushed, and blood was already beginning to pool.

“But sir… it’s all flattened…”

He hesitated, clearly reluctant to continue, but a sharp look from the group leader was enough. The man quickly nodded and waved the others over. The adventurers walked past without a glance, seemingly unconcerned about whether the porters might be attacked while collecting the remains.

‘Everything is going well now. I doubt anyone will try anything until we make camp for the night.’

Roland glanced back once, but the porters did not truly concern him. The one he was here to protect was the blacksmith. Even so, if an attack did occur, he would know. Unknown to the others, he continued placing small sensors into the dungeon walls. They were improved versions of the mapping devices from Albrook, capable of connecting to one another without cables. Through them, he could track the route they had taken and receive an alert if even the porters were attacked after the group moved on.

Things were going well, and the journey continued at a faster pace. He did not want to give his potential enemies time to think things through, and in record time, only half a day, they managed to reach the second layer, the one that led into the Rotten Forest. This region was home to decaying monsters and pervasive poison. Only after passing through it would they arrive at Drachnid Valley, where the adventurer settlement was located.

While their progress was fast, it was not especially remarkable. The superdungeon was old and well explored. The first and second rings had been thoroughly mapped, and several shortcuts existed, similar to the ones Roland had created within the Albrook dungeon. They simply took the fastest route available. However, if they were to explore these areas from start to finish, they would likely be trapped there for several months.

The moment they crossed into the second ring, the air changed. It became heavy, damp, and foul, carrying the stench of rot and stagnant life. The volcanic heat faded behind them, replaced by a sickly chill that clung to armor and skin alike. Twisted roots jutted out in every direction, swollen with fungi and oozing blackened sap.

“The Rotten Forest. I have heard about this place, but no one told me that it would stink this much…”

The barbarian woman beside him turned her face away as the smell assaulted her nostrils. He was spared thanks to his helmet’s filtration system, but most of the others were not so fortunate, visibly reacting to the reek of decay.

“Be careful, everyone. This place is filled with Treants, so do not get too close to the trees. We will move to the encampment area and rest there before continuing. We should be able to get there in a couple of hours.”

The captain addressed the group, and once the porters returned with the loot they had avoided earlier, the march resumed. This region was far more dangerous than the first ring, and the strength of the monsters made that clear. Poisonous marshes teemed with venomous toads. Trees lurched and grabbed, attempting to devour anyone who passed too close. Humanoid mushrooms exploded into flesh-eating spores when defeated. It was a deadly place for ordinary adventurers, but the Vanguard leading them was anything but ordinary.

“Am I seeing things, or are those mushroom men floating?”

One of the adventurers spoke up as they pushed deeper into the dead forest, staring at the monsters suspended in the air ahead of them.

“Use fire arrows and spells. I cannot hold them forever.”

Roland shouted as he gripped his sword with both hands. The blade was embedded in the ground, radiating a dark violet light that enveloped every monster in the area. Each of them hovered several meters above the ground, unable to move.

“Haha, this makes it easy!”

The gnome mage was the first to act. Although he was not a fire specialist, he could still cast basic fire spells. A fireball shot forward and struck one of the floating monsters, detonating in a burst of flame.

“Awoo!”

Next was Agni, who was still in his disguise. He opened his mouth and released a surge of blue flames that, upon connecting with one of the mushroom people, immolated it instantly. The adventurers glanced at one another, and soon the spectacle began.

The fireball blossomed against the mushroom creature’s spongy cap, igniting the spores before they could disperse. It shrieked in a strange sound before collapsing in on itself, charring midair and falling as a smoking husk. At this sight, the other adventurers finally joined in showering the dungeon with arrows.

Arrows streaked through the gloomy forest, their tips flaring with enchantments and alchemical oil. Bolts from crossbows were also there, along with a few scrolls that could call up flames. Suspended by Roland’s gravity field, the monsters could neither dodge nor retaliate. One by one, they were reduced to ash, splinters, and burned pulp.

‘Mana consumption is stable, and the runes are holding up nicely. However, if the creature exceeds a certain size or power, activating the spell will become difficult.’

Roland used this opportunity to field test the gravity spells he had runecrafted into his new armor. The sword was not truly the focal point of these spells. It existed mainly to mislead the other adventurers into believing it was the source of his power.

Gravity was remarkably flexible. It could slow approaching monsters or even make them float. The spell did not always work, since monsters with higher mana reserves could partially interfere with it, and those that were too heavy were barely affected. However, when dealing with tier two and lower tier three monsters like these, Roland could simply present them to the other adventurers and let them waste their ammunition instead.

‘Those Treants aren’t as easy to lift though…’

Even though he knew he would struggle, he focused his spell on one of the monster trees. Its roots snapped under the pressure as it was slowly lifted into the air, just like the mushroom men. It resisted furiously, trying to drive its roots back into the ground, which made it much harder to maintain the spell. However, while it was busy contending with his magic, the adventurers launched their attacks, laughing as they did.

“This is great. It was never this easy to get through this stink filled place. Can we recruit that man?”

Asked one of the archers, who was having a blast shooting at the monsters.

The other adventurers joined in, turning it into a competition to see who could take down the most floating enemies.

“Hey, Sieg, can you lower them? I’m getting bored here, sugar.”

Brakka nudged him from the side, shortening his name for some reason, as if they had known each other for years.

“…”

He did not reply, but it took little effort for him to bring down several of the monsters. To his surprise, when he did, her massive axe began to glow red with an aura that carried a fiery element. She leapt into the air and sliced through the treant he was holding up, setting it ablaze as it split cleanly into two halves.

The trek through the harsh environment soon became something closer to a grotesque sightseeing tour than a life-or-death expedition. Whenever enough monsters gathered around them, he simply used his gravity magic while the others attacked from afar. To his surprise, the winner of the competition was not one of the adventurers, but his wolf instead.

“What is that wolf? How can it breathe so much fire?”

Some of the adventurers complained along the way but chose not to press the issue. Instead, they decided to keep Agni out of the competition, since Roland had never said the wolf was taking part. While the others laughed, he sped ahead toward their temporary resting place, a special area within the second ring of the dungeon.

“We’re here. Why don’t you rest, Siegfried? You must be tired after using so much energy.”

Roland nodded at Captain Varek and looked at the place they would be occupying through the night. Before them stretched a large, lush clearing filled with grass and a single tree standing atop a hill. It was a strange zone, free of monsters and decay, nestled within the dungeon. Its diameter was roughly one hundred meters, and dungeon creatures could not cross into it. It was a safe haven for adventurers, one that appeared only on certain days and was monitored by the guild to ensure the timing was correct.

“We are early. The mana has not settled yet, and there are still a few patches of poisonous ground. We should tread lightly.”

Harphon commented as he studied the area. Although it looked safe at first glance, several sections of earth appeared sickly and purple. 

“Agni, be careful. Do not eat anything you find around here, and do not trust any of those adventurers.”

“Woof!”

Roland surrounded himself and Agni with a small sound-cancelling barrier as he knelt to feed him some meat. He knew this area was a likely place for something to go wrong. They planned to camp here and stay through the night. They had not been wandering for an entire day, and while he was not sleepy, he could have continued if needed.

The others moved in, waiting for the poisoned ground to clear and for the lingering mist to fade. The porters, along with the rest of the group, were responsible for setting up the camp. Even Ermes was finally forced to move, as his role was to sharpen the arrows the porters had gathered and to clean the weapons used by the others.

“If you wish, I could…”

The blacksmith approached him, but Roland immediately refused to hand over his blade.

“I’m fine.”

The man bowed his head politely and moved on to the other adventurers. Just as Roland had noticed before, these people were not nearly as courteous. When he asked for their used weapons, they dropped them onto the ground in a rude and careless manner.

The camp slowly took shape beneath the strange, pristine tree. Tents were erected right beneath it as it offered protection from potential rain that sometimes plagued this dungeon. Small mana lamps were placed on the branches, their pale blue light keeping the worst of the surrounding gloom at bay. A low fire pit was dug near the center, though only smokeless mana embers were used as open flames inside the Rotten Forest could potentially draw in other monsters. While this was a safe haven from monsters, there were still ways for things to go awry. 

Roland chose a position with a clear view of the entire clearing. He did not pitch a tent. Instead, he sat atop a smooth stone near the perimeter, his sword resting against his shoulder and his helm angled just enough to give the impression of rest or meditation. Agni curled up beside him, and the rest of the group moved away.

“Not sleeping, sugar?” 

Brakka asked as she rolled out her bedroll.

“I will later.” 

He answered plainly, making her shrug and lie down without another word, already half asleep. One by one, the adventurers settled in. Armor was loosened, boots removed, and weapons placed within arm’s reach. The porters huddled together nervously, while the gnome mage scribbled notes until his quill finally slipped from his fingers.

Soon, the clearing grew quiet, and Roland began to focus on everyone’s mana signatures. The entire encampment lay within his reach, and he made certain to monitor the blacksmith and anyone who might approach him. This was the best moment to strike. No one expected monster attacks, and if a non-adventurer died now, most people would not care.

‘Was I being too pedantic? Maybe I overthought this whole thing… What if no one really cares about this blacksmith returning, or they are simply planning to kill him once he arrives?’

More than three hours passed, and doubt crept in. Roland could not detect anyone moving or even planning to move. It was possible he had made a mistake and that coming here had been a waste of time.

‘At least I placed sensors around a few locations. More data is always appreciated.’

His sensors continued their silent sweep, mapping fluctuations in mana density, air pressure, and vibration. The tree at the center of the clearing registered as inert. Its mana signature was stable, almost decorative. Still, Roland kept half his attention fixed on it. Something felt wrong.

‘Is it my imagination, or did it move?’

The sensors were not picking up much. The tree appeared normal, with a faint presence of mana that he attributed to its location within the dungeon. The entire area was unusual, wrapped in a thin layer of protection that kept them hidden from monsters outside. It was not a full barrier, but even if monsters approached, they were not supposed to attack anyone inside. Yet as he stared, the sense of unease only grew.

“Amun, wake up. We have a problem.”

He rose from the rock and shouted at Agni, who was still not used to his new name. Something was terribly wrong with this place, and perhaps the adversary he was searching for was not within the group at all, but instead someone who knew they would be at this very spot beforehand. 

“Huh? What is…”

One of the adventurers awoke as well, sensing something amiss. As he opened his eyes, a sharp wooden branch shot straight toward his chest. The man was stunned, unable to react before it pierced his heart almost instantly.

“Everyone, wake up!”

Roland shouted as he activated his gravitational magic to send a forceful pull of energy. Everyone he could affect was yanked in towards his direction, making the sharp branches miss them by a hair’s breadth away from impaling them. Bedrolls tore, tents collapsed, and startled shouts rang out as bodies slammed into one another near Roland’s position.

“What the hell?!”

The clearing erupted into chaos as wood groaned, and the seemingly unsuspecting tree that was meant to serve as a temporary roof over their heads began its attack. It revealed itself as a massive Treant, far larger than any of the others, a rare monster that should not have been there at all.

Roland’s eyes narrowed as the Treant fully emerged. Its bark was twisted and blackened, its branches shaped like spears ready to strike. Roots writhed through the ground like serpents, each movement sending tremors through the clearing. Even from a distance, Roland could sense that this was no simple tier three monster, but something far more deadly, perhaps even stronger than the dragons he had faced in the third ring.

‘This can not be a coincidence.’

As the creature rose higher, it drew the attention of other monsters from afar, making the situation even worse. All of this effort just to silence one blacksmith was excessive, but there would be time for questions later. First, he had to bring this thing down.