The Sky Grimoire settled onto the gleaming Skyharbor of Canarine Town with a soft hum.
The scent of exotic blossoms welcomed Spark and his retinue. Spark made a casual flick of his wrist. Immediately, the magnificent vessel was compressed into its compact form. A small, leather-bound book.
Spark casually tucked it away into the seemingly bottomless void of his Technomind Space.
Their first order of business that evening was securing lodgings. Spark was a pragmatist noble. He quickly led his companions to the most reputable establishment in town.
It was Canarine Twilight Inn. A towering edifice of alabaster and polished sky-wood that promised comfort and discretion. Expensive, yet convenient and comfortable.
The night passed in quiet luxurious passion. Each of them finding pleasure in the temporary respite from their travels.
The following morning, Spark made a calculated decision. He needed to avoid undue attention and potential complications.
Thus, he recalled Ivy, Melody, and Serenade back into the static space of his Slave Grimoire. Their existence was best kept under wraps until necessary.
Afterward, with a nod to Lilith and Scarlett, he announced. "We need to restock. Let's hit the market."
The market of Canarine Town was a vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds. Merchants hawked their wares from their stalls. The ones overflowing with exotic fruits, shimmering fabrics, and peculiar artifacts.
Spark's imposing frame was a stark contrast to the bustling crowds. He moved with an easy grace. His two aides followed closely behind.
They gathered necessary provisions. Herbal ingredients for Ivy's experiments. And a few personal trinkets. Never lingering long enough to draw unwanted scrutiny.
His spatial belt and Scarlett's equally accommodating spatial bag were convenient. They made the acquisition of supplies a swift and efficient affair.
Just within less than an hour, their shopping was complete. Their attention now turned to their primary objective. The Labyrinth of Fortune.
They, without any hesitation, moved to the center of the city. The place where the Gateway to the Labyrinth of Fortune lay.
They soon saw it. A shimmering, unstable vortex of arcane energy. Framed in arching stone structure. Surrounded by thick walls and deadly contraptions. The first defense against the case of dungeon break. If it happened.
Lilith navigated the administrative hurdles with ease. Her practiced hand and impeccable paperwork were useful in settling the entrance fee. And obtaining the necessary permits.
Spark, meanwhile, approached an official stall displaying various wares. He purchased a detailed map of the Labyrinth of Fortune. Its parchment was inscribed with intricate, yet incomplete, pathways.
The attendant, a wizened old man with a knowing glint in his eye, assured him that it was the latest map. The map covered approximately twenty percent of the labyrinth's entirety.
"Twenty percent? After twelve years of existence?" Spark commented as he was paying the man. "A vast area? Or difficult to handle opponents?"
"Both." The old attendant answered. "And the complicated passageways. And the facts that this was just low level dungeon. With low tier opponents. And low number of treasures. High tier bosses wouldn't waste their time exploring the place."
Spark nodded and thanked the man. Before decisively entered the portal. His two aides immediately followed.
Stepping through the shimmering gateway was like passing through a veil of cool, liquid light. They emerged into a cavernous space. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something ancient.
Torches were fueled by flickering elemental spirits. Placed on the walls. Casting long shadows. Illuminating a winding corridor.
Other adventurers bustled past them. Clad in armor and wielding weapons. Their faces were a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
Spark took the Celestial Treasure Radar from his Spatial Belt. And activated it. The delicate compass artifact hummed faintly but the needle was just rotating slowly.
"Nothing." He announced. Without any hint of disappointment in his voice. He had expected that. "The entrance areas have likely been picked clean by now."
"As expected, Master." Lilith replied. She drew her common weapon set. A metal crossbow and the corresponding bolts. "Shall we proceed?"
Scarlett unfurled the map. "Where shall we go, Master? We were here." Her finger pointed at one point in the map.
Spark looked at the map. "Find the shortest path to the unexplorable area."
Scarlett nodded. Her fingers traced the lines. "This path then. It was the shortest to the unexplored location."
They moved with purpose. Their footsteps were echoing softly in the vastness. The initial encounters were trivial. Small, skittering creatures with chitinous exteriors.
They were easily dispatched by Lilith's crossbow bolts. Or Spark's brutal kicks. These were just Rank-1 beasts. Mere pests in the grand scheme of things.
Their three-person party made several hours of swift progress. They finally left the more populated sections of the labyrinth behind.
The torchlight grew more and more scarce. Signifying they reached the unexplored locations.
The silence was more profound here. Broken only by the drip of unseen water. And the distant, unsettling skittering of something larger.
"Time to bring the rest of the team in." Spark declared.
He reached into his Technomind Space. And took out the Slave Grimoire. And with a soft ripple of energy, Ivy, Melody, and Serenade materialized outside the tome. Right beside him.
Melody tied her long dark-brown hair into a ponytail. And immediately took Scarlett's task. Drawing the map. Her artistic talent and high spatial intelligence were perfect for charting their course.
Scarlett moved to the front. Her enthusiasm was unbridled. She equipped similar crossbow to Lilith. Ready for a proper challenge.
"Something powerful ahead." Lilith suddenly said. Her eyes narrowed as she aimed her crossbow. "A big one."
As if summoned by her words, a guttural roar echoed from the shadows ahead. A hulking creature emerged from a side passage.
Its body was a mass of hardened scales and razor-sharp claws. Spark immediately recognized it.
It was a Rank-3 Stonehide Grinder. Its brute strength was a significant threat even to seasoned adventurers.
Spark charged forward and met the beast head-on. He didn't bother transforming into his werelion form. His powerful human build was already a perfect counter to its lumbering assault.
Lilith had anticipated Spark's movements. She darted to the monster's side. Her crossbow was aimed at the weak points in its armored hide. The eye.
Scarlett dashed to the other side. Her gu-insect control abilities were now unleashed. Sending a pair of iridescent fleas to distract and debilitate the monster. Each with mandibles sharp enough to pierce armor.
The air was immediately filled with various sounds. The hiss of insect wings. The clash of metal against stone.
The Stonehide Grinder was wounded and enraged. It lunged at the most visible opponent, Spark. He easily sidestepped the attack. And... his massive fist connected with the creature's jaw. With enough force to shatter rock.
It staggered back. Momentarily stunned. This was the opening Lilith needed. With a swift, accurate shot, she drove the crossbow bolt into the monster's exposed eye.
It made a final, hair raising shriek. Before collapsing to the floor. Died.
"A good warm-up." Spark casually stated. Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
Following the path Melody was carefully charting, they delved deeper. The labyrinth seemed to turn and bend randomly. The corridors were twisting in ways that defied conventional geometry.
They navigated treacherous pitfalls. Dodged arcane traps. And fended off packs of agile, venomous Cave Wasps.
Then, they stumbled upon a chamber unlike the others. It was a circular room. The rock walls were lined with pulsating, phosphorescent fungi.
In the center, there was a chest of blackened metal. Intricately embossed with swirling patterns. Resting on a pedestal of rough stone.
Beside it, lay a single, fist-sized gem. One that seemed to capture and amplify the ambient light. It was nestled amongst the glowing fungi.
"A treasure chest!" Scarlett exclaimed. Her eyes were sparkling.
"Hold on, Scarlett!" Spark cautioned. His senses were on high alert. "This feels… too easy. Ivy, check that gem first. Lilith, check the chest for trap."
He gestured for Ivy to analyze the gem and Lilith to examine the chest.
Ivy's brow furrowed in concentration. Reporting. "It appears to be a Lumina Orb, Master. An object said to be the heart of some species of plant creatures. It could be a potent enhancing component for alchemy or potion making."
She paused and continued. "But, I've never seen an undamaged Lumina Orb like that. Every Lumina Orb in market was either cracked or broken to pieces."
Meanwhile, Lilith examined the chest. She ran a quick scan of the object. "No visible traps, but the lock mechanism is unusual. It might take a while to open it with lockpicks."
"Why bother using lockpicks? My Archthief Key could easily bypass its lock." Scarlett commented.
Just as Scarlett stepped forward to try and bypass the lock, a faint, high-pitched whine filled the chamber.
The Lumina Orb floated. The fungi on the walls began to glow brighter. Pulsating with an unnatural rhythm. The air grew heavy. Charged with a prickling sensation.
"What is this?" Melody asked. Her hand instinctively drawing the small crossbow she kept on her bag.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. From cracks in the walls, the luminous fungi began to detach. Flying to the floating Lumina Orb. coalescing into an amorphous, glowing form.
"Its Fungal Sentinels!" Serenade suddenly exclaimed.
Spark, reaching the same conclusion, roared his order. "Lilith! Scarlett! Deal with the Sentinels. Target its orb. Ivy! Fall back. Melody! Serenade! Provide support."
It was indeed a Fungal Sentinel, an animated construct of corrupted flora.