Chapter 20: Meet the team - Part 2

“Miles,” Lancy called out, waving him over. “Meet my team.”

As Miles approached, Lancy gestured to the man first. “This is Josh, our medic. He’s level 6 and the best healer I’ve worked with.”

Josh extended a hand. “Nice to meet you. Hope you’re ready for some action.”

Miles shook his hand, noting the firm grip. “Likewise.”

Lancy then gestured to the woman. “And this is Nancy, our potion master. She’s level 7 and can brew anything you need—provided you’ve got the coin.”

Nancy smirked. “Or the materials. Welcome aboard, newbie.”

Miles gave a small nod, trying to appear confident. He needed to know if he could trust them.

Roll to Check Trustworthiness.

The dice spun in his mind and landed with a clear result: Positive. These individuals can be trusted.

Relief washed over him. At least for now, he didn’t have to worry about being betrayed.

“So,” Lancy began, crossing her arms. “Do you want to handle your dungeon first, or shall we tackle ours?”

Miles hesitated. The system had made it clear he didn’t qualify for his dungeon yet, but he couldn’t admit that to Lancy or her team. Instead, he decided to deflect.

“I checked last night,” Miles said, scratching the back of his head. “Looks like I’m not ready for it yet. Why don’t we handle your dungeon first?”

Lancy raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the issue. “Fair enough. Ours is a mid-tier dungeon located near the eastern hills. It’s called the Labyrinth of Shadows. We’ve been preparing for it for weeks.”

Josh added, “It’s tricky, but with the right teamwork, we can manage it.”

Nancy leaned against a table, arms folded. “And it’s lucrative. Plenty of rare herbs and materials to gather, not to mention the treasure.”

Miles nodded, trying to keep up. “Sounds good to me. What’s the level range?”

“Level 8 and above,” Nancy replied casually.

Miles suppressed a grimace. He was far below that level, but his luck and the support of the party would have to carry him through.

“Let’s gear up and head out,” Lancy said, motioning for the group to follow her.

On the way, Lancy walked alongside Miles. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,” she said, glancing at him. “But you’re not telling us everything, are you?”

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Miles tensed. “What do you mean?”

“Your skills,” she said simply. “You’re holding back.”

“I’m not—” Miles began but stopped himself. She wasn’t wrong, but he couldn’t reveal the truth. “Let’s just say I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Lancy studied him for a moment, then smirked. “Fair enough. Just don’t get us killed.”

Miles nodded, his resolve hardening. He might be out of his depth, but he wasn’t about to let this team down—or blow his cover.

The Labyrinth of Shadows loomed ahead, an ominous stone structure covered in creeping vines. Its entrance, a dark, gaping maw, seemed to swallow the light. Miles followed closely behind the party, his stomach churning with nerves.

“Alright,” Lancy said, glancing back at the group. “This is where it gets serious. Stick close, and don’t do anything reckless.”

Josh and Nancy nodded in agreement, their expressions calm yet focused.

Miles, however, had his doubts. What if the dungeon rejects me? He had rolled to be lucky in entering the Adventurer's Guild earlier, but this was a level 8 dungeon, far above his current level of 3.

Roll to be allowed entry.

The dice spun, and the result appeared in his mind: Success. Entry granted.

The system elaborated:

“Entry permitted due to the high-level average of your party. Without them, access would be denied.”

Miles let out a sigh of relief, but the system’s words made him pause. His party wasn’t exceptionally high-leveled; Nancy was level 7, and Josh was level 6. That meant Lancy must be significantly higher-leveled to balance out the average.

He glanced at her as they approached the entrance. She walked with the confidence of someone who had seen countless battles, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.

How high is her level? Miles wondered, but before he could dwell on it further, they stepped into a clearing filled with shimmering plants and herbs.

The clearing was a stark contrast to the foreboding exterior of the labyrinth. Lush greenery stretched out in all directions, and faintly glowing herbs dotted the ground, casting a gentle light.

Josh’s eyes lit up. “Magical herbs! These are incredibly rare.”

Nancy crouched to inspect one of the plants. “And potent, too. If we harvest some, I can brew potions worth a fortune.”

Josh, unable to contain his excitement, took a step forward. “We should—”

“Stop.”

Lancy’s voice cut through the air like a blade. She extended an arm, blocking Josh from moving further. Her eyes scanned the clearing, sharp and alert.

“What’s wrong?” Josh asked, frowning.

“This area isn’t natural,” Lancy said. “Look closer.”

Miles squinted, trying to see what Lancy had noticed. At first, everything seemed fine, but then he saw it: faint distortions in the air, like ripples on the surface of water.

Nancy cursed under her breath. “A trap.”

“Exactly,” Lancy said. “These herbs are bait. Step in the wrong spot, and you’ll trigger something nasty.”

Josh groaned, his enthusiasm deflating. “So, no herbs?”

“We’ll mark this area for later,” Lancy replied. “Once the dungeon’s cleared, we can gather them safely. For now, we keep moving.”

Miles felt a twinge of admiration for Lancy. Her keen observation had likely saved them from a disastrous mistake.

The group continued past the clearing, entering the labyrinth’s shadowy corridors. The air grew colder, and the walls pulsed faintly with a strange, otherworldly light.

“Stay close,” Lancy instructed. “This dungeon is known for separating parties with illusions.”

Miles shuddered at the thought and stuck close to Josh, who seemed the most approachable.

As they ventured deeper, the system chimed in Miles’ mind.

“Warning: Environment Hostile. Proceed with caution.”

Thanks for the tip, Miles thought sarcastically.

Josh glanced at him. “You okay? You look tense.”

“Just... trying to stay focused,” Miles replied.