I lay there on the ground next to the dead goblin leader letting my mana and stamina refill. I wrinkled my nose at the acrid smell of goblin blood but I was too tired to move. I was glad that the challenge was over. Being able to actually fight was exhilarating, but not having Touch of the Reaper made things harder. Etheric Step had still carried me and I could feel that I was at the limit of its usage for the moment. I felt my meditation skill kick in and with that my recovery was going to be that much faster. I brought up the notifications that I’d been ignoring and looked over them.

  You have slain a Goblin Warrior Level 8 x10, as this creature is recognised by your class as a Dungeon created monster, you do not receive any penalties. You have earned 10xp.

  You have slain a Goblin Archer Level 15 x5, as this creature is recognised by your class as a Dungeon created monster, you do not receive any penalties. You have earned 5xp.

  You have slain a Goblin Leader Level 20, as this creature is recognised by your class as a Dungeon created monster, you do not receive any penalties. You have earned 30xp.

  Your spell Empower Attack has reached level 9.

  You have learned a new skill, Leadership Level 1.

  You have learned a new skill, Construction Level 1.

  Your skill Danger Sense (greater) has reached Level 10 (max).

  I was surprised by my Danger Sense levelling up but I would never be ungrateful for that. Danger Sense was a useful skill to have and I was eager to evolve it, but I had no idea where to even start and I didn't have the time to devote to evolving it, maybe after this was all over I could take a few months to get an evolution. Taylor might know a few different evolutions of the skill, they probably would have learnt about them while they were studying, I would have to ask them about it when I caught up to them.

  When I was finally fully recovered I stood up and looked at the wreckage of the challenge area. The area by the bridge was a complete mess of gore and goblin body parts, coagulated blood covered the ground and I turned away from it not wanting to throw up. Only the right wall was still intact, the left one having been partially destroyed when the goblin leader threw its battleaxe through it. I blanched when I looked through the hole, there was a long streak of blood from the wall to where one of the huts had stood. I swore, I had an idea of what had happened but I still climbed through the hole and dug through the remnants of the hut before swearing again. One of the guards had been standing where the battleaxe had broken through the wall and smashed into a hut, their broken body had been hidden by the destruction. I walked around to the other wall but I couldn’t see where the other guard had gone, I was sure that they were still alive when the goblin leader had fallen. As I looked around I sighed, the other hut was still intact but I had still fucked this challenge. A single guard and hut had survived, but the woodcutters had been killed by the wargs which meant that, at most, I’d be getting a bronze prize box.

  I looked over to where the pedestal had risen out of the ground and saw 2 figurines standing on the top, one was of a guard and the other was a hut. I berated myself, I should have sent the woodcutters into the huts, they would have been safe when the wargs had attacked. As for the hut being destroyed, that was less avoidable and the guard that died was just collateral damage. That was on me, they could have helped me fight against the goblin leader and they might have lived. I shook my head, what was done was done. I needed to move on and find my friends rather than worry about DCPs that would have stopped existing the second I left the challenge. I looked at the shelf that held the prize box, as I suspected it was made of a bronze material with the bow on top of it just like the others.

  I almost didn’t open the box, I felt as if I had failed the challenge and this was the pity prize. Still, I had worked hard to pass the challenge so I pulled on the bow and looked inside. I scoffed as I stared at a gold rimmed monocle that sat on a red velvet cushion. I cast my Identification spell on it to see what I had received.

  Item: The Gentleman's Monocle.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Rarity: Uncommon

  Weight: 0.1lb

  Description: A fancy monocle that makes the wearer look like a distinguished gentleman. Wearer gains +2 Charisma while the item is equipped.

  Restrictions: Must be male to use this item.

  I threw the monocle straight into my bag, it was not something that I would wear but I wondered how much an item like that would sell for. It was a novelty item so someone from high society might have a want for something like this however, I doubted it would sell for anything more than 5 gold. Still, 5 gold was 5 gold and that would cover the cost of a fancy meal depending on where I went. I looked around one last time before shaking my head.

  “Onwards and upwards.” I mumbled to myself.

  I stepped through the portal to the next challenge. Once more I felt myself being teleported, this time the feeling of vertigo didn’t last as long and I managed not to throw up. Go me. I stood on my feet wobbling from side to side wondering what was going on, there was no unseen force holding me in place like before. I was about to say something when a notification popped up covering most of my vision.

  You have completed the first level of the Spring Falls Challenge Dungeon. You have reached a safe zone and have the option to carry on and delve deeper into the Dungeon or leave. Should you wish to continue please walk through the next portal, if you wish to leave please use the stairs behind you to exit the Dungeon. We hope you have enjoyed your time in the Spring Falls Challenge Dungeon.

  I looked around to see what could have only been described as a dingy café completely made out of dull grey stone. There was a stone counter at the side of the room but there was nothing on it or behind it, dotted around the room were tables and uncomfortable looking stone benches. Lights were dotted around the room but only half of them were lit leaving some areas in almost complete darkness. My eyes went wide as I was tackled by the only other occupant of the room.

  "Oh thank goodness." I heard a familiar female voice say. "I’m so glad to see you, Luca. I was worried that it was just going to be me hanging around here for a while.

  “Clair, it’s good to see you.” I said giving her a hug in return.

  It really was good to see her, I had found 1 of my 4 friends and I felt some of my worry dissipate. It also meant that getting through the challenges would be a lot easier with the 2 of us.

  “I told myself that if no one appeared in 5 minutes I would leave the Dungeon." She said releasing me from her hug.

  I frowned as I looked at her, her hair was also a lot shorter on her left side and she had a nasty looking cut that split her left cheek, it looked as though it had only been partially healed, like she’d run out of healing potions part way through. She had some other cuts on her body but they looked minor in comparison to her cheek. I cast Lesser Regeneration on her and pulled out a greater health potion, I uncorked it and gave it to her.

  "You’re a life saver, thank you." She said before drinking the potion. I watched in satisfaction as the cut on her cheek healed up, only leaving a small white scar that was barely noticeable.

  "How many challenges did you face?" I asked.

  "Just the 1 but it was a shitty challenge for me, waves of goblins and I had to protect a homestead against them.”

  "Guards, huts and wood cutters?" I asked, she nodded in confirmation.

  That confirmed something for me, Clair had started in challenge number 5 which meant that the others were going to be further ahead in the Dungeon rather than behind us. I sighed in relief knowing that we just needed to delve deeper into the Dungeon to find them.

  "I got cocky on the third wave, I caught the wargs sneaking through the woods but while I was dealing with them the guards were overwhelmed by the goblins on the bridge. In the end I had the woodcutters hide in the huts for the last two waves.” She shook her head and I could see annoyance at her failure.

  "Yeah, I finished with a single guard and a hut." I grumbled.

  “What happened?” Clair’s voice was soft when she asked.

  I told her about my time in challenge 5, she winced when I told her about the goblin leader throwing his summoned battleaxe. Apparently she had spent most of the 5th wave dodging it as she turned the leader into a large feathered porcupine.

  "Do you think the others have left the Dungeon or do you think they are on a lower level?" Clair asked.

  “I think they started further ahead than either of us, you said that you only had challenge 5 to complete but I started at challenge 1. I think if we are going to find them anywhere they will be waiting at the safe zone after challenge 10. Raven is too much of a loot goblin to not want to complete as much of the Dungeon as she can, just so she can get her hands on more prize boxes. Harold loves his challenges so if he didn’t come across anyone he’d delve as deep as he could. Taylor is the most likely to get a safe zone and force everyone else to wait for us.”

  Clair tapped her chin in thought for a few seconds before nodding.

  “Okay, so we continue on then.”

  "We continue on." I nodded in agreement.

  “Do you think the party system will be the same as other Dungeons?” Clair asked, looking at the portal to the next challenge.

  “Normally I’d say yes but I doubt it at the moment. I get the feeling that the portals are only a recent addition and the Dungeon is still working out the kinks. I think the party system might have the same problems.”

  “Okay,” She shrugged, “holding hands then?”

  “I think the guild badges for The Wanders should be enough. The enchantments on them magically mark us as part of the same guild.”

  “You just don’t want to hold my hand.” She teased.

  “Fine, kinda old fashioned but what should I expect from an elf.” I shot back at her, in return she stuck her tongue out at me.

  I held my hand out for Clair, I felt a strong but soft hand grasp my mine and I tried not to blush. Physical contact with other people had never been something I was fully comfortable with, especially with someone I’d once had a crush on. I heard Clair giggle and I felt my ears burning a little, she knew that I’d once had a crush on her and occasionally teased me about it. I pushed my embarrassment to the side and walked through the portal to the next challenge. We appeared together, still holding hands and I smiled, the Dungeon had officially recognised us as a party.