Isekai Grimoire System

Chapter III: The Cursed Cave Dungeon (V)

The Cursed Cave Dungeon is a purple-level difficulty and a monthly type dungeon. This dungeon was not a high-difficulty dungeon, but adventurers who wanted to explore it still needed sufficient knowledge and power level.

Whitecaste-ranked adventurers could only enter white-level dungeons, Bluecaste only blue-level, and so on. But this system could be busted by having more than three people at the same rank as the dungeon level and one newbie.

Even though it is classified as a low difficulty level, a dungeon is still strange and unknown to humans. They just explore and repeat for rewards and treasures, but the mystery of the dungeon doesn't stop there.

“Damn it, isn't this strange? The monsters' levels suddenly increased, and we had a hard time killing them. Not to mention the numbers seem never to lessen.”

"There must be something going on, we've never experienced this before."

As the first team to advance exploring, leaving Kane and Archie behind, they are currently being pushed back by the ever-increasing number of spawns monsters.

"If it wasn't for the help of Layla's spell, we might've been buried alive in this goddamn dungeon," grumbled Daniel.

The three of them were watching from a small room between the cracks in the rocks. Spawn monsters surrounded their path.

Even though they were all Purplecaste, Layla, who had more experience exploring dungeons, felt a considerable difference between them and her former party mates. There was no cooperation between them, looking too disdainful of dungeons and slacking off. Not to mention that the party’s damage dealer capacity is cheap.

At first, Layla thought that because there was a Warrior and a Ranger, their attack power would be more than enough to explore purple-level dungeons. This confidence increased after Kane, the Thief, joined in the city of Craydon.

“Are you guys really a Purplecaste? I know there's something weird about the monsters, but you guys should be better than this," Layla chirped.

It is common knowledge that cooperation at a party is very important. Conquering high-level dungeons required more than two parties need to have a chief who led, gave orders, and made decisions—none of that was seen in this party.

The lower ranks, Whitecaste, Bluecaste, and Purplecaste, were ranks that adventurers had to gain by killing many monsters and participating in dungeon exploration. Their track record will be recorded automatically on their ID card, and when the time comes, they will rank up.

But that opened up a fault for adventurers. They could constantly conquer lower-level dungeons to increase their ranking. At risk, their abilities would not develop like adventurers who actually made conquests.

“Listen here, young girl. We have cleared this dungeon many times, and this is the first time we encountered a monster spawn that has gotten stronger.” Daniel tried to throw their justification.

“That could be due to the dungeon mechanism being triggered, right?” Layla denied it casually.

In exploring permanent dungeons, adventurers can use the methods or tips provided in the guidebook that the Guild trades. Even though this would limit the areas they could explore from within the dungeon, it was the bare minimum for an adventurer to clear a dungeon safely.

"Then let's just retreat. We return to the previous path and meet Kane." Coby suggested, who looked exhausted.

“How are we going to get past that horde of monsters? Returning the same way, we will face the same amount. If Kane is here, we can ask him to cast [Stealth] so we can get out."

In a panic, Coby and Daniel decide to give up and turn around. However, the return path is also covered by monsters that will spawn within a certain amount of time. That is, even though they had exterminated them before, the monsters must have respawned at this time.

“Huuft,” Layla sighed in astonishment. “You guys don't reflect a Purplecaste ranker.”

“[Deminish Aura].” Layla cast a spell that could shrivel their presence.

It was one of the skills she took so she wouldn't be targeted by monsters when helping her comrades from behind. A helpful spell in a party to ease the burden on a tanker on the front lines without worrying about the monsters’ aggro switching to her.

"If you want to come with me, then don't go far from me, oh...and also, you have to take care of me until I can cast another skill," Layla ordered. Nods answered her words from Daniel and Coby.

They exited carefully, walking along the path to avoid attracting the monsters’ attention. Actually, fighting the monsters was another option, but that would constantly attract their comrades, and they would be cornered in the end.

Since they sensed something strange, their journey faltered. Supposedly returning to the split point at the start wouldn't take much time, but considering they had to keep their footsteps silent, it certainly made the progress longer.

Still in the same dungeon, at a different crossroads, Kane is having trouble fighting a horde of monsters. Those who were originally can be annihilated with one or two skills are now getting stronger, making him unable to properly manage his skills' cooldown.

The daggers in both hands are short, so the attack range must also be close. However, the Thief class was a class that focused on individual attacks. Once he was surrounded, it would be difficult for him to escape.

“Damn it! As I recall back then, they aren't this powerful, bastards!”

Forget about continuing to explore. All he had to do now was how to survive the monster's siege. Save point? It was quite a distance from where he was now. He would only be waiting for his death if he forced his way in there.

"Retreat?!"

It was the choice that resonated in his head. Monsters won't attack until the save point is at the beginning of the dungeon area, so he can be safe and escape at any time.

The problem is only one. When a party enters a dungeon, they only have two choices: finish the dungeon or withdraw together. If only one person decides to withdraw, the exit will not open until all party members are in the same place to retreat.

Or waiting for their comrades to die in the dungeon, that way, whoever was left at the end was the only party member, and he could escape.