The "Becoming Monsters" LitRPG setting was originally created by AiLoves, and is now managed by OtterlyMindblowing.
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"But that doesn't make any sense!" Alicia said. "The Chicago Dungeon is miles away, we're way out in the suburbs. How could there possibly be an entrance here?"
Katrina set her guitar case down, opening it up to pull out her guitar. "It's a little complicated. Every dungeon works differently. They all have unique quirks, and sometimes entire guilds will relocate just because their abilities are better suited to a different dungeon. Some are incredibly deadly, some practically feel like tutorials. Supposedly the one in Seattle randomly spawns portals all over the city, so monsters can escape at a moment's notice."
With her guitar sitting comfortably in her lap, she began playing a soft melody. "I'm gonna give you some HP regen while we talk, by the way."
Alicia nodded without saying anything. Katrina felt the familiar notes of her music echo out, but she also felt a new sensation, one she hadn't felt in years. The magic of her Bard class, flowing through her music, letting her Inspiring Performance wash over the Dryad and start to sooth her pains.
"Anyways, Dungeons are separated into different floors, and each dungeon has different rules about how you get to the deeper levels. Sometimes it's as easy as finding a staircase, but sometimes it's not. The Chicago Dungeon requires a key for every level, but it will spawn that key in a random place outside of the main Dungeon. When delvers find a blocked off staircase, it has a short riddle hinting towards the location of the key. Delvers need to find that location, then complete a very short mini-dungeon waiting for them, and they get the key as a reward."
"And these mini-dungeons can spawn this far away from the city?"
"Apparently, they can. I've never heard of any this far away before."
"Wait. So you're saying that every single Guild, and every single Delver, is desperately looking for this Dungeon?" Alicia stood up, beginning to pace as panic set in. "This is terrible! I don't want Guilds coming out here! What if they damage my roots while they're delving?!"
Katrina's melody turned dark, unsettling tones beginning to reverberate through the neighborhood. "It's... worse than you think, Alicia. Finding a Key is a big deal, and Guilds are pretty ruthless about trying to find them. For the last dozen floors, give or take, every Key has been found by the most powerful Guild in the City:
Ashes to Ashes
. They're notoriously cutthroat, and they didn't pick their name because of its religious connotations. They picked it because the Guild Leader, Dominic Tarkowski, is one of the strongest Pyrotechnicians in the country. His battle strategy is horribly simplistic; turn everything in the Dungeon to ash."
"No! We can't let them in!" Alicia shouted, panic setting in.
The music stopped, and Katrina set down her guitar. She stood quickly, grabbing Alicia's shoulders to try and steady her. "Hey, listen to me. I won't let that happen. We have options."
"What can we do? If they get in, I... I might die, Katrina. I don't know if I could survive that much destruction."
Without thinking, Katrina pulled the Dryad in and hugged her tight. "It's gonna be okay, Alicia. The City has rules in place, various protections to stop any one Guild from monopolizing the Delving process. One of those rules states that whoever finds the mini-dungeon gets exclusive access for a few weeks. If we go to the main camp, we can claim this dungeon as our own."
Alicia hugged her back, squeezing tight. Katrina could feel the stress in her body, and it felt painfully familiar; the fear of losing yourself, of not being able to survive in this new world.
"B-but... doesn't that mean we have to delve? To beat this mini-dungeon on our own?" Alicia said, stuttering slightly.
"Well, it's that or try to partner with an established Guild, someone other than
Ashes to Ashes
. If we try to do that, though, I guarantee we're going to be hearing from their leader, and he won't have kind words to say."
"Even if we find a good Guild, I won't be there myself..." Alicia pulled back, starting to think aloud. "If we wanted to do this, what would it take?"
Katrina grabbed her guitar again, restarting her Inspiration. "Bare minimum? We need other people to delve with us. Neither of us can deal any damage, and the only healing we have is my Regen buff, but that's not going to help in a fight. After that, it would be great if we could get better equipment, maybe some potions, but... I'm kinda living paycheck to paycheck."
"I might have some savings, though I haven't checked in a while. What else?"
"I mean, the biggest thing is practice. We don't know how to delve, and we're really low leveled. If we practice with each other, we might be able to gain a level or two, but that strategy falls off almost entirely after like, Level Four."
Alicia looked at Katrina, surprised. "We can level by fighting each other? I thought you had to fight monsters?"
"Monsters can give experience, but that's not the only way. If it were, everyone with a non-combat class would be incredibly underpowered. For the most part, you gain experience by using your Class Abilities, whatever they might be. I'm probably getting some right now, since I'm Inspiring you, and you probably got some from blocking those attack."