“Clear!” Hiro called, leaning on his staff.
“Clear,” Elira echoed, though she was holding her side. Blood soaked the edge of her leather jerkin, dark against the torchlight.
“Not clear,” Marcus said automatically, scanning the tunnel mouth. He waited five beats – nothing moved but the dying echoes of battle. “Alright. I guess we’re clear.”
Kade had already moved on. The rogue crouched near a collapsed chest half-buried in rubble, flicking his wrist to send a shimmer of blue light across the surface, at least in his vision. The ANIP’s scanner overlay projected ghost-lines through the dust. “No traps. Or, well, no new ones.”
“Because the old one already went off on your face,” Elira muttered.
Kade grinned, unbothered. “Occupational hazard. Fortunately I have quick reflexes.” He pried what was left of the chest lid open with his dagger. Inside, a cluster of crystalline shards gleamed like cracked ice. He whistled. “Mana glass. Good grade. We could get a lot for these on trade.”
“Bag it and tag it,” Marcus said as he sheathed his sword, but his attention was all on Elira who had hissed as she sat down on a fallen pillar.
The new girl, Aila, their trial healer, hurried over. She was slim, with a cascade of pale-gold braids tucked behind her ears and a medic’s satchel strapped across her chest. Her robe still looked too new for dungeon work. She was from one of the more recent cohorts through the portal.
“Hold still,” Aila said softly. She knelt beside Elira and pulled a compact injector from her med-kit, a metallic tube with a glowing blue ring around its barrel, designed to look like a line of runes. She pressed two fingers against the wound, then triggered the device with a soft hiss. A faint warmth spread across the cut as a mist of nanobot stimulant and regenerative gel seeped into the skin.
Elira exhaled as the pain dulled. The torn flesh began knitting together, slow but visible. “Okay… not bad. That’s cleaner than the med-patches.”
Aila nodded, staring at the wall. Really, she was looking at her HUD, which gave her detailed information about all the party members. “Localized nanoboost. It forces your bots to prioritize localized tissue repair and adds a dose of smart antibiotics to prevent infection. Slower than full med-bay treatment maybe, but the best field solution we have so far.”
Hiro whistled. “Corporate finally gave us field healers who can actually heal. I’m impressed.”
“Right? Remember those first few dungeons? Those useless little medpacks with cloth bandages and burn gel?” Marcus said somewhat distractedly, watching the gash in Elira’s side slowly close on its own. “That’s so crazy to watch in real time!”
“Keep this up and you’ll earn your permanent team stripes,” Hiro said, kicking the carcass of a bat aside.
Kade looked up from the loot pile. “I vote yes - Doc Holt’s potions only go so far, and Elira bleeds like it’s a hobby.” Aila didn’t say anything but she smiled and blushed at the comment.
Elira threw a chunk of stone at him which he easily ducked. “Hey - I’m not the one who has to replace his armour every single mission.” Everyone laughed and looked towards Marcus.
Marcus ignored the banter, pulling up his HUD. Numbers floated across his vision – party vitals, local mana density, dungeon threat index. The index blinked amber. “Something’s off,” he said quietly. “The dungeon difficulty rating spiked again. It’s taking us longer and longer to clear these things.”
Hiro frowned. “Yeah, noticed that. These stupid bats were hitting like Tier-Threes.”
Kade said, “maybe these bubble dungeons are learning from us.”
Elira flexed her healed arm. “Or maybe you’re just getting slow,” she smirked.
Marcus shook his head. “No. Everyone’s stats are higher than they were a month ago thanks to the nanobots. But the dungeons keep getting harder.”
He looked around. The stone walls shimmered faintly – like a heat haze. “Was this a new dungeon?” he asked as he looked around at his team. “Maybe it’s just been here a while, growing, and we didn’t notice it.”
“I don’t know,” Hiro said, echoing Reach’s words. “They said the anomalies would taper off over time, but they still seem to be appearing regularly enough.”
Marcus knelt beside Kade to check the haul. In addition to mana glass, they’d found a small brass idol shaped like a coiled serpent, and a pair of dull silver rings etched with unreadable runes.
Kade tapped the idol with his dagger. “Think it’s cursed?”
“Everything here’s cursed until proven otherwise,” Marcus said. “Bag it separately. Tag as artifact-class. And don’t lick it.”
“One time!” Kade protested.
Hiro chuckled. “You did foam at the mouth.”
“It was a joke. It was a statue of an apple after all,” Kade said under his breath, sealing the loot bag.
Aila finished another quick scan of Elira’s vitals and stood. “You’re stable. The wound might reopen if you overexert, but the nanobots should reinforce the tissue soon.”
Elira gave her a genuine smile. “Appreciate it. You better stay with us after this, I’m getting used to the pampered treatment.”
“I’d like that,” Aila said “I didn’t really get along with my last team.”
Marcus’s HUD pinged a notification – mission timer hit the 2 hour mark.
Kade exhaled. “Seven so far this month. We barely had 3 days off between the last two.”
“Seven and counting,” Elira said.
After a handful of seconds, Kade broke the silence that followed. “Well, existential dread aside, we still get paid, right?”
Marcus sighed. “Yeah. Hazard pay just went up ten percent.”
“That’s the spirit.” Kade slung the loot bag over his shoulder. “Let’s get topside before this place decides it’s got another phase.”
They started toward the exit tunnel. The walls pulsing gently with violet light.
The corridor bent upward into natural stone. Their boots echoed; water dripped in the distance. Marcus switched to internal comms. “Base, this is Alpha Squad reporting successful clear of Site Twelve. No fatalities. One minor injury.”
Elira stretched gently as she walked. “Wasn’t too bad, and the fans always get a little crazy when there’s blood.”
“Like sharks,” said Kade.
Marcus almost smiled. “Well, I’m glad the ratings are safe.”
“I’ll go through first and watch you all exit - remember to smile for the exit cam,” Kade said, tugging his hood straight. “That’s the hero shot.”
“Shut up, Kade,” the others said in unison.
Three hosts sat in front of a 3-dimensional dungeon adventure set where fake torches flickered on a styrofoam brick wall, racks of prop swords gleamed, and the desk itself was carved to resemble a skeletal dragon’s jaw – complete with lazy curls of smoke drifting from a hidden pipe somewhere in the teeth.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Behind them, the massive wall screen looped a highlight reel of the Iron Fangs – Marcus, Elira, Hiro, Kade, and new addition Aila, the medic – moving through violet-lit caverns.
“Welcome back, Adventurers, to The Dungeon Desk!” sang Cassandra Lin, whose smile had been trademarked for use in future Dungeon Inc. promotional materials. “Tonight, we’re catching up with the Iron Fangs – Marcus and company – as they close out yet another Dungeon, this time in the gorgeous and mildly radioactive looking Violet Veins.”
“Yes! This team has been busy lately,” roared Brock ‘Rockslide’ Maddox, ex-wrestler turned commentator.
On her right, Jax Calder, professional gamer and full-time cynic, was practically vibrating with caffeine and disbelief. “Radioactive and haunted, Cass. Nothing says ‘family-friendly adventure programming’ like mutant bats, crypt liches and structural collapse. But the ratings love danger!!
“And boy did they take their licks this time,” said Brock, whose massive hands rested on the desk like twin anvils. “Did you see Elira take that hit? I thought that bat was going to start ripping out her insides.”
“Oh, I saw it,” Cassandra purred. “And thanks to Dungeon Inc.’s newest magical gadgets, we also got to watch her heal from it in real time.”
The footage replayed behind them: Aila kneeling beside Elira, the injector glowing faintly blue. The wound sealed itself as Elira gritted her teeth.
“Look at that!” Jax said, leaning forward, finger pointing at the screen. “I mean, tell me that’s not some of the craziest CGI you’ve seen!”
Brock said, voice dry. “It’s like watching a T-1000 cosplay.”
Cassandra’s laugh was bright, controlled. “Aila’s debut performance as the team’s new field medic went over well – in fact she’s an instant fan favorite right, Jax? I saw that #HealingAngel is trending worldwide. And Elira’s already uploaded a thank-you post from recovery.”
“I just love that realism! These actors are the ultimate method actors – posting to their Herobook pages in character like that.” Brock smacked his head. “In my day we put it all on the mat, but once the cameras were off it was all recovery time, family time and getting to the next gig. There was no time for in-character moments like this.”
Jax scrolled on his tablet. “Comments are split fifty-fifty between ‘Aila is the best thing since tavern stew’ and ‘Why does every healer have to be adorable?’ Can I just say that all you people are predictable.”
“And can I just say that I love you for it,” Rockslide boomed, arms folded in front of him.
“She did good work, though,” Cassandra said. “Calm under pressure, didn’t freeze up. The rest of the team’s been together all year and I’m sure it’s not easy walking into a dynamic like that and holding your own.”
“And speaking of the team,” Cassandra said. “Did anyone else catch Marcus’s face when he said the dungeon difficulty is still going up?”
Jax groaned. “Oh, here we go. Conspiracy time.”
“No conspiracy,” Cassandra replied smoothly. “Just observation. This is the seventh Dungeon Alpha Squad’s cleared this month and every single one has been written as stronger and harder than the last. Monsters, traps, radiation levels – all trending upward.”
“Maybe,” Jax allowed, “Maybe they're building towards some big season finale blowout.”
Brock grinned. “Hey, either way it’s good TV. That’s what matters.”
Cassandra nodded solemnly, then pivoted effortlessly into her broadcast smile again. “Before we sign out, let’s go to Aila’s post-mission confessional to hear what she thought about her first day in the field.”
?? LIVE FEED INITIATED — Dungeon Inc. Season 3 – “Bat Cave!”
The three commentators turn towards the screen on the back wall where the camera cuts to a familiar looking interview booth. Aila sat centered in the frame, hands clasped tight in her lap, a faint smudge of ash still on her cheek.
“...It was harder than I expected. With my last group, we were always just playing backup to one of the more senior teams you know?
“The team’s amazing, though. Marcus keeps everyone grounded. He’s so calm all the time. Like… He’s got that ‘dad on a road trip’ energy. You know? Like everything’s fine, even when the car’s on fire…
“Hiro barely says two words, but he’s always there when you need a hand which is amazing. Kade – well, he’s kind of chaos with a smile and bad observations. And Elira…” She smiles faintly. “She’s tougher than anyone I’ve ever met. Marcus kind of holds everyone together and moving forward, but Elira keeps everyone on task, even when things get crazy.”
<< The interviewer says something indistinct. >>
“I don’t know, that’s my primary job - stop the bleeding and keep everyone upright. So I can’t, you know, hesitate. Elira’s wound was pretty deep and I could see her ribs which was gross, but the new Swiftmend Phial was incredible – closed the wound up in just a few minutes.”
<
She laughs, tucking a braid behind her ear. “Nervous? Sure. Have you seen the kind of stuff they fight? I watched the highlight reel after the fight and I still can’t believe it. I mean, bats the size of golden retrievers?”
“You tell yourself it’s all just: training will take care of everything; but then something with too many eyes and grabby claws screams in your ear and suddenly you’re in a very different place mentally.”
<
“Am I ready? Maybe. I think so. I just need to… I don’t know, stop expecting it to make sense. Everyone keeps saying this job gets easier the more you level up, but the dungeons just keep getting harder. It’s like the universe is on a difficulty curve.
“Still, I like this team. They don’t treat me like baggage they have to protect. Even Kade stopped calling me ‘New Girl’ halfway through the run. Of course I did pull that dagger out of his thigh to earn it.”
She grins faintly, a little sheepish. “Anyway, if I’m going to freak out in a cave full of monsters, I’d rather do it with people who appreciate I’m there and make me laugh when I want to scream.”
She pauses and looks off camera again then sighs, her half-smile returning. “And I got a cool ring out of it. My last team always cashed all the loot in for coin after every run.”
The screen faded back to the three hosts under the too-bright lights. Cassandra Lin’s smile was pure warmth – the kind that could melt glaciers or sell streaming subscriptions.
“Aw,” Cassandra said, voice dipping into that perfect blend of empathy and ratings calculation. “She’s sweet. I give her three episodes before she’s swearing at Kade like the rest of them.”
Brock chuckled. “She’ll fit right in.”
“Ten outta ten,” said Jax immediately. “I mean, she called Marcus a dad on a road trip. That’s canon now. Someone please edit him into a minivan with Hiro in the back seat saying nothing for six hours while Kade asks ‘Are we there yet’ on loop!”
“Rockslide” barked a laugh. “Or riding on the roof yelling directions.”
“Exactly!” Jax pointed across the desk. “The family road trip from hell! I’d watch that spin-off. Give ‘em sunglasses, a map, and a dungeon every fifty miles.”
Cassandra shook her head, amused. “You two are incorrigible. But honestly, Aila’s composure out there impressed me. Most rookies freeze up their first time seeing blood – but she just patched Elira like she was fixing a tire.”
Rockslide nodded, folding his massive hands together. “Yeah, I like her. She’s not trying too hard to be the hero. She’s just doing her job and keeping people alive. You can build a team around that.”
“Plus, let’s not forget the dagger incident,” Jax added. “You pull a blade out of Kade’s thigh and he stops talking trash for half a mission? That’s sorcery. And I’m not the only one who thinks so: #NewGirlNoMore is now trending, and the clip of her saying ‘bats the size of golden retrievers’ has been looped over two million times since it aired yesterday.”
Rockslide laughed again. “I mean, fair. Those things were nasty. Looked like somebody crossed a vampire bat with a Roomba.”
“An attack Roomba!” said Jax. “It was great TV.”
Cassandra stacked her cue cards, leaning forward toward the camera, “whatever happens next, the Iron Fangs continue to raise the bar – tougher dungeons, bigger risks, and a team that just keeps adapting, the other teams are really going to have to put in some effort to close the gap!
“That’s all for tonight’s Dungeon Desk. Remember to like, share, and tune in next time; same realm, same chaos, more monsters.”
The dragon-jaw desk exhaled a puff of theatrical smoke as the theme swelled and the feed rolled to a montage of highlight clips: Aila laughing awkwardly at something off-camera, Elira rolling her eyes, and Marcus leading the team through flickering torchlight toward another unknown.
I remember how I originally thought dungeons were going to feel like sets. You know—rooms, monsters, rules. Just something built for the show, or at least something intentional.
They’re not.
The first one we went into felt like a bruise on the world. Like reality had folded wrong and never healed. The walls weren’t stone so much as decided to be stone while we were looking at them. Stone that didn’t feel right. Like some kids' weird idea of a living stone.
No one has been able to explain to any of us where they actually come from. Some of the scientists think the quantum bridge caused them. Like ripples across the world, bringing little bubbles to the surface after we punched our own hole into the universe. But the locals talk about them like ancient history. Like they’ve always been here.
It’s unsettling how familiar they feel. As if the dungeon already knows what it’s supposed to be and is just waiting for someone to step inside so it can finish… becoming.
I don’t think we’re exploring these places.
I think we’re triggering them somehow.
Personal Journal — Janice Rommel; Ranger, Crimson Fangs
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Dungeon Inc. // RECRUIT DIV.
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