“Level five skeletal warrior.” Ben said.

  I quickly used my identify. I needed to use it if I wanted to rank it up, and it only took a second. All my identify said was level five. But it was obvious it was a skeleton and, with the axe in its hands, I could tell that it was a warrior. The skeleton its self just stood there seemingly unaware of us.

  “Okay, what do we do?” Ben asked, as more howls echoed throughout the dungeon.

  “Do you have any ideas of what the aggro range is on these skeletons?”

  “No.” Ben said, while staring intently at the archway leading to the narrow path.

  I sighed. I didn’t really have a plan. How would I? It’s not like I would have expected the wolves to chase us into the dungeon. Glancing at my mana, it was just over half and I could pull out my familiar if need be.

  Dark Wolf level 10, defeated.

  759 essence obtained.

  “Oh, wow, that was a lot.” I briefly wondered if catching the arrows was some sort of skill the wolf gained at level ten. Then my attention turned back to the skeleton with the axe. The only plan I had was to run underneath it. This dungeon was designed to keep out humans and larger beings, not squirrels and rabbits. We were too small to get hit by most traps and the archers didn’t seem to be good at hitting small fast targets. “Let’s make a run for it.”

  “What?” Ben asked, “Thats your plan? Just run and hope we don’t run into anything! What do we do if they all chase us?”

  “Look for a small hole to hide in while the skeletons fight the wolves.”

  “I’m all for letting them fight, but I’m not running blindly into the dungeon. Mother put you in charge. You’re supposed to have the plan.”

  “I told you the plan. How was I supposed to know the dungeon was in the same mountain as the wolves?”

  An odd sound of howling began, and Ben and I moved over to see what was happening.

  The former alfa Greydalf, that I had de-throned, was walking out onto the narrow path. As he did, the wolves were howling in almost a chanting like manner. We watch in confusion as the first arrow slowed before hitting him, then shattered.

  “Okay, let’s go!” Ben said, now more than willing to go along with my plan. The howling chant continued as we darted up the stairs and under the skeleton. We immediately came to another narrow path.

  “Ben could you.”

  The bunny started sending out lights before I could finish asking. Once the room was lit up, I was able to get a good view of this room.

  “Great!” Ben said.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “This isn’t all bad. I doubt those wolves will attempt this one.” The path was set up much the same as the last one, with one addition. There were massive axes swinging from above. As Ben placed more lights, we were able to make out the maze of narrow paths above us. Narrow stone walkways led in every direction above us.

  It was a spiderweb of stone paths, presumably with numerous traps. There had to be some sort of magic at play to keep them in place. For the first time since entering this world, I was glad for my small size and race.

  The axes stopped about a foot from touching the path, giving Ben and I had ample room to just casually walk under them. The only issue we would have would be the archers, but as long as we kept moving, it should be fine.

  The skeleton we ran past finally located us and both ben and I took off across the narrow path. The skeleton started across the path but stopped before reaching the first axe and turned around.

  On the other side was another staircase with a skeleton standing on it. The howls stopped Greydalf, presumably making it across. Ben went back to look at the path as fighting broke out. Though I doubted it was much of a fight, the large wolf would tear that skeleton apart. It wasn’t long and the gigantic wolf was staring at us from the other side of the path.

  Whatever chanting buff the wolves used would likely not work against three swinging axes, not to mention Greydalf was likely out of the range by now.

  “Yeah, what you going to do now?” Ben said, completely unworried.

  I shook my head at the rabbit and turned my attention to the skeleton and used identify.

  Level 9

  I imagined we would face level tens in this dungeon before long. Also, I had no idea what was at the end of this dungeon. The most useful thing in this dungeon was likely the experience. I stared at the skeleton. This one held a sword in both hands. It would probably be best to gain as much essence as I could. Glancing at my mana, I saw it was now nearly full.

  I wasn’t sure if Jason could take down a level nine; he was still level two. But we needed the essence.

  Looking over, Ben was shaking his little cotton tail at the wolf on the other side of the path. I rolled my eyes. The wolf was howling, likely in an outrage. Though it made no attempts to cross the path, just as I thought. Without the buff from the pack, he didn’t have a way to deal with the arrows, much less the axes.

  I used identify.

  Name: Greydalf the Wrathful

  Level: 18

  Race: Dark Wolf

  Note: Once the former pack leader of the dark wolves.

  “Is he really level eighteen?”

  Ben stopped his ridiculous taunting and turned to me before turning back to the wolf. Then he slowly moved away from the archway. “We should keep going.”

  “Yep. I need more lights. How is your mana?”

  “It’s getting low, and I’ve only got one shroom left.”

  I then remembered that I had my familiar set them down. And completely forgot about them. I really needed to get Jason some pockets.

  “Well, it maybe best to put out a few more lights. I would rather get across the next section before taking a break.” At least I assumed the next path would be like the last.

  Ben looked back at the wolf, who was howling. The rabbit then began shooting out balls of lights while not paying much attention. Right up until he stuck one to the skeleton at the top of the stairs.

  “Oh, come on Ben!”

  The sword wielding skeleton started down the stairs towards us.

  Ben’s eyes widened, and he darted under the skeleton and out onto the path. I followed right up till I came to the archway leading on. I couldn’t see a thing. Ben must have better dark vision than me to just run out there. I wasn’t an about to run out on to a path I couldn’t see. The only light came from below the sword wielding skeleton and the lights Ben had placed on the other paths. I could even see Greydalf looking up at me.

  “Ben I need lights.”

  I didn’t have time to wait for a response, as the skeleton was now next to me, swinging its sword down at me. Using my yellow bar just long enough to get away for the attack, I canceled it. I needed to save as much of that yellow bar as possible. Running back down the stairs, I did the only thing I could. I summoned my familiar.

  The green glow lit the room up. It took a couple of seconds for Jason to be completely summoned. So I used this time to draw the skeleton’s aggro and darted underneath it.

  As soon as Jason appeared, I gave him the order to attack.