POV Cassandra

  "What the fuck is that" I thought to myself while just barely dodging some huge beast that somehow managed to get right in the middle of our formation without anyone noticing. Something we are definitely going to work on, because a mistake like that can not be allowed to happen again. Kara was already using her shield bash to get it's attention. Toph tried to impale it with an earth spike but it took to the air.

  "Great, it can fly" I heard Toph exclaim, mirroring my own thoughts. Soon after she began launching earth spikes. As soon as it dove down to slash at her with it's claws I used my movement skill to close the distance and getting a few slashes in of my own. Thanks to another skill known as deep cut I was able to completely remove one of it's wings. You would think that would make the fight much easier but all it really did was take away this creatures ability to fly.

  This … What I'm assuming is a griffon, my creature identification abilities never were that great, seems to be just as capable of fighting without the ability to fly. Kara does her best to try and get it's attention. Meanwhile I try to circle around behind it while Toph is busy creating stone walls to limit it's movement. The problem with creating walls to limit it's movement is that it also limits mine. Fortunately it now has a corner it can be backed into severely limiting it's options. While this does mean I can no longer sneak around behind it it also means the beast has nowhere to go. Soon enough a spike appears in the ground underneath it and the griffon leaps forward to avoid it. Right into Kara's waiting blade.

  While we were successful I'm also disappointed. At our level it shouldn't take all of us to bring down one enemy. I mean it's not even a mini boss. It was the first flying enemy we've encountered but still, It felt like it took more effort than it should have. I guess we'll have plenty of chances to work on our technic. I can already see several griffons flying around as well as what appears to be a castle in the distance.

  I doubt we'll make it all the way there on our first try given how far away it appears but I decide to head that direction anyway. Taking detours from time to time to fight the griffons of course, as well as keeping an eye out for treasure chests. We didn't manage to find any but that doesn't mean there weren't any. We did however make it to a stone wall with a beautifully decorated archway that apparently lead to some kind of town. Stepping through the archway we were immediately attacked by skeletons.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Part of me wanted us to stand our ground. There just had to be treasure in a place like this. I soon ordered everyone to fall back to the previous room though, no treasure is worth a life after all. I learned that lesson the hard way years ago. While I no longer freeze up when fighting the dire rat the feeling of helplessness I had watching it tear into Sofie still haunts me. I can only imagine how Sam felt watching the last of her previous party die while delivering the killing blow to unseal the boss chamber.

  I shake my head trying to shake those thoughts loose. Now is not the time to be dredging up painful memories. We need to get back to the surface and regroup. I'm also curious why nobody else reported seeing an entire fucking city.

  POV Dungeon

  They made it further than I would have thought honestly. Being only the second group to make it past the first room and the first group to leave the forest. I never expected them to actually make it to the city considering how much of a toll the first room had on them. Unfortunately while the fifth floor is more popular it's not as if people are lining up to go in. So, I guess I'll have to wait if I want to watch someone else's party attempt it.

  I soon turned back to the room I had been working on. It was basically finished already, I just threw down a few different types of herbs. That simple act took nearly half a day because I wanted to get the placement just right. I tried my best to put the herbs in places where it would make sense for them to be, while not being too obvious. Eventually I was happy enough with the results to move on. If only I had enough mana to actually do that.

  Meanwhile outside the dungeon, Clyde POV

  The leader of the adventurers guild said he needed to speak with me in an official capacity. That's almost never a good sign so I was immediately bracing for the worst trying to work out what could have possibly gone wrong. Don't get me wrong I love being in charge except when it takes away from family time, and this seemed like it was going to take a few hours at least. Honestly the main reason I delve anymore is so that I'm strong enough to protect my family if anything happens.

  Making it to the guild hall, I walk past the receptionist and head straight for the main office. Once in the the main office I'm greeted by the head of the local branch of the adventurers guild and an all female party. This of course does nothing to calm my nerves. I know them though we haven't spoken much. It's kind of hard not to notice an all female party. A few brief pleasantries are exchanged before the meeting officially kicks off. There is some banter about how far each of our parties have made it and the different ways we decided to tackle the various challenges. What they have to say next however, leaves me utterly floored.