(I’ve noticed the last two parts are just background. Here’s where it should get interesting. Hope you like it.)

I didn’t want to tell my wife how dangerous my endeavor would be; I was risking being mutilated, or perhaps even killed. That was the excitement: The thought of doing battle with Death himself ignited a passionate fire within me. It was then that I knew I could be stronger than ever, and I can face any challenge thrown at me, in due time. After all my second-guessing, this was it. I was going to the center of Sleepywood Dungeon as a Level 57 Ice/Lightning Wizard, and once I commit, there’s no going back.

I needed to conserve my energy for my impending hardships within the dungeon, therefore I decided to take a cab. Hurriedly, I dashed to the streets of Lith, and stood directly in front of the ports. Raising my hand toward the Heavens, I released a raucous shout. Within seconds, a sleek, jet black taxi pulled up in front of me and idled its engine. I flung open the back door, stepped inside, and began to make myself comfortable on the plush black leather seats. It would be my only relaxation.

“Take me to Ant Tunnel Park,” I muttered.
“Right away, sir.”

I couldn’t see any features of the driver, he was shielded by a heavily tinted pane of glass. All I could tell was that the voice seemed masculine. Throwing my headback onto the cushions behind me, I let out that ever-so-familiar sigh of mine. I cradled my Thorns in my hands, knowing that it would be the only thing keeping me from being an anonymous gravestone in the Sanctuary. A thought hit me that didn’t occur before: Am I really going on a wondrous adventure. . . or sending myself off to die?

“If you don’t mind me asking, sir, what business do you have in Sleepywood Dungeon?”

The driver asked so suddenly, that I was abruptly pulled from my thoughts. It actually startled me. “I’m. . . headed to the center of the Dungeon.”

The driver said nothing after that. Just as we arrived at Ant Tunnel Park, he threw the car into park, opened the tinted pane, and looked down, still hiding his mysterious face. After a moment, he uttered something in a low tone.

“May God bless you.”

I nodded and thanked the driver, then placed his payment of 10,000 Mesos in a sack, which I then placed on the passenger seat. Throwing the door open once again, I jumped out of the cab, and watched as it steadily made its way back to Lith. The Ant Tunnel was a place that I wasn’t too familiar with, the damp odors of the cave made me cringe. I gripped my Thorns and Esther until my knuckles turned white. My excitement couldn’t be contained any longer.

“I’m going to do it! I’m going all the way!” I released in a glorious bellow. The only sounds that enetered my ear were the booming echo of my words, the clangs and shrieks of nearby trainers, and the incessant dripping of water from the stalactites. It was time to prove my worth.

As swift as a Stirge, I was able to make my way through the cave with the upmost of ease. The rooms filled with Evil Eyes were simple to clear out, and since I had efficiently been training on Fire Drakes, the standard Drakes stood no match against my Cold Beam. I sat down in a safe spot against a wall, and dug deep into my pack. I pulled my hand out with a White Potion enclosed in it. The mosters I had just faced were terribly easy. . . there were just a lot of them. After wiping the sweat seeping from my forehead, I popped the cork off of the concoction and forced it down my throat. The herbs tasted extremely bitter, but it eased the pain of a few scrapes and bruises I had obtained. Coming back to my feet, I faced the exit, and stepped through precariously.

This was where my joyous frivolity ended. Whatever light that had entered the cave now seemed to sparse to properly guide me, and did nothing but pass through enormous crystalline ice formations on the cave floor and send multicolored spectrums of brilliant light upon the walls. Vents in the floor spat out blisteringly cold fountains of ice, what caused such a thing to happen, I wasn’t entirely sure. The only thing I knew was that I wouldn’t be able to make it any farther without help. I held my Thorns out directly in front of me, and whispered softly, with icy clouds of my breath accompanying my words.

“Elders of Ellinia, Gods that oversee all of Victoria, grant me strength and give me your protection.” Suddenly, a dwindling sprite appeared above my head and waved her tiny wand. A shower of sparks rained upon me, and I could sense the magical barrier that she had bestowed pulsating around me. I was now ready. I was now ready to travel to the center of Sleepywood Dungeon.