Chapter 381

“What is with this entrance?” I said, looking up at the crack in the wall.

The tunnel stopped at a massive void. It was a space of about ten feet wide that stretched down and up as far as the eye could see. It clearly separated the mine from the dungeon. A massive wall sat before us, which had to be the barrier that led to the dungeon space.

The dungeon really was its own little world. I could see Orichalchum across from us, embedded into the wall of the dungeon, but it gave me a feeling like no matter how much I dug, I wouldn’t be able to reach it. The crack was actually above us, about fifteen feet up. The hole was just enough for a golem to fit through. If it fell out, it would just make it onto this ledge to enter this hole. Whatever other creatures existed other than the miniboss didn’t appear to be able to make it across the expanse and fell to its death.

Seeing it now, I understood why the mini bosses could get in, but not leave. There was no way they could climb back up there and reenter their starting spot. There were signs of the miners having to abandon their attempts to get the orichalcum. A small bridge was being erected, but a golem had smashed it and only the wood anchors still existed. It truly was a dungeon of temptation for anyone who knew the true value of Orichalcum.

“We’re going to have to climb the wall,” Raissa said. “I have rope for this.”

I glanced down at the drop that went on into darkness. My guess was that it was about a twenty-five story drop. After all, the dungeon should be about thirty stories in all. Well, although the dungeon took up space, it was also its own world. Nothing inside the dungeon could affect the outside and vice versa. That’s what the lore says, yet looking at that hole, something had to punch it through. Perhaps the miners had tried to use a powerful spell to crack open the orichalchum.  However, that didn’t seem right to me.

Either way, I could see miasma leaking out of the hole and leaking down the wall. I now knew that this is what created monsters. In the past, I had just thought of it as a creepy curse that wore on your mental state and spirit. However, it was much more than that. It was how the curses chose to manifest themselves. It created the monsters, the treasures, and the dungeon. In a way, it was like mana, a sort of magical power that could be wielded. However, this one was filled with darkness and corruption.

The miasma was leaking down into the crevice down below, so none of it had gotten to the mine yet. With enough time, the Miasma would fill that crack, and then the mine would start to directly create monsters, endangering the town. Since we collapsed it, that should no longer be a problem. Still, a pocket of miasma like this can’t be good for the mine.

“Terra…” I said, tapping the wall.

“Yes, Master!”

She waved her hand and steps formed up all the way to the hole. Raissa was already trying to put a hook on her rope so she could swing it up there when she saw perfectly normal steps leading all the way up. Sorry… it wasn’t about being lazy, but that drop looks seriously scary.

The group headed up until we were right in front of the crack. Unlike the official entrance, which was black and looked indistinguishable from a doorway, this entrance had noticeable ripples across it, giving it the impression like it was vertical water.

“Terra, close this area up tight. I don’t want any more Miasma leaking out.” I ordered, causing Raissa to glance over at me with odd eyes and perked ears.  

Ignoring the look, I took a breath and stepped into the dungeon.

{You have entered the Widow’s Dungeon. Destroy or complete the lore to earn more dungeon points and blessings.}