Dungeon Sniper

"Play the video."

Elysia and I had arrived at Benedikt's underground lab just before dusk. We were both too tired to get out of the emergency pod, but we eventually got out and sat on the stools without a word exchanged until I mechanically muttered the words above.

The lab looked the same just as when we had left it this morning: disorganized, messy, chaotic... looking as if the old Dwarf would pop out from behind a table with a mountain load of junk, yelling, "Get moving, lads, you're eating into my drinking time!"

"Play Ben's video," I repeated the words I uttered too silently, dryly just a moment ago because everything was still, and stillness reminded me of death.

Thankfully, this time something happened. One of the rubble pile stirred and moved, but neither Elysia nor I had any energy left in us to reach dramatically. We simply watched a screen rise from the junk pile with a monotonous whirring sound that sounded too loud at this point, at this hour.

The screen stopped rising and went on alive. I was watching the screen dumbly, expecting nothing and anything at the same time.

A familiar face popped up, picking his nose.

I heard Elysia let out a small chuckle that could easily have been a fond sigh.

"Hiya, kids," said Benedikt in the screen, fl.i.c.k.i.n.g his booger expertly.

"Hey, old man," I said back quietly. Elysia stared at me silently, thoughtfully silently.

"I don't want to be dramatic or anything, but if you're watching this, that means the worst has happened and either I'm dead or... what's worse than dead? Being sober comes close, but if you're dead, you can't drink by default, so... Obviously, I'm digressing because this is the first time I'm filming anything like this. Again, I don't want to be too dramatic—leave that to the Reptils—so I'll just lay it down simple and dry as any masculine Dwarf would do."

Benedikt paused and cleared his throat. Elysia and I watched patiently at the screen, and with some respect too. Benedikt took a sip from the beer outside the screen and stared back into the camera, or into the eyes of the two audiences of his posthumous message.

"First things first, Alpha."

I tensed a little at the abrupt mention of the name.

"I didn't forget our promise, kid. I want to believe that everything went well with our operation tomorrow... and that I complimented you accordingly. The thing is, I'm not too good with compliments," Benedikt frowned and scratched his head uncomfortably.

Rest assured, Ben. You gave me your compliment. A hearty one too.

"So, anyway, Alpha. He was a Human, but not just any other Human, you know what I mean? I would never admit in front of your face, kid, but you remind me a lot of him. In lots of ways. The way you slip out gibberish like, what was it, elevators? Oh, and your obsession with seat belts. Alpha said where he came from, not wearing seat belts would get you 'pulled over' and get ticketed or something like that. I mean, he actually said there are people driving around and catching those not wearing belts in their seats. In their own vehicles! Can you believe it? What kind of hellish nightmare is that? Where is freedom? Where is privacy? Besides, how many four-wheelers could a civilization have? My four-wheeler, a mark of top-notch genius and artistry combined. Not more than hundreds, I bet," scoffed Benedikt arrogantly.

... Um, try a million times that, worldwide.

I glanced at Elysia, who seemed to be having trouble following the conversation. On the other hand, my suspicion about Alpha's background was proving to be true after all.

Alpha, like me, came from another world. Our world, of video games and cheeseburgers and Coca Cola.

That reminded me. I had not eaten anything for almost an entire day. I looked around and grabbed the nearest Sand Crystalite energy bar and chewed on it grudgingly. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Elysia opening up a cooler and helping herself to a bottle of beer. I did not say anything.

Meanwhile, Benedikt blinked intently, as if trying to catch a particularly slippery memory. And I almost spat the tasteless energy bar when I heard his next words.

"Alpha said he came from this place called 'Silly Cone Valley?' No. It didn't sound that silly. But something like that."

"Silicone Valley, you idiot," I chuckled as I wiped off my mouth, only to pause and stare blankly back at the screen. Benedikt was busy rolling the words in his mouth to come up with the correct name.

Silicone Valley. The hub of all things IT, or information technology, and home of rich, genius, innovative technocrats. A stark contrast with where I came from, Brooklyn, the home of... well, Brooklyn was a nice place, but it was not San Francisco.

I was not hung back at the moment because I felt insecure about my neighborhood compared to the ridiculous affluent Bay Area. It was about the characteristic of the region and about the people who resided in it.

It was a hunch, but nothing too far-fetched.

If Alpha were a programmer, and he is indeed an 'alpha tester' to my role as the 'beta tester,' could that mean—

"Well, where he comes from is not important," Benedikt waved his hand off after a prolonged few seconds of contemplation. I wanted to tell him he was wrong and it could not have been more important, but I kept my mouth shut and listened to his next words.

"What's important is that Alpha was, how do I put it, very competent. He was knowledgeable, wise, and always so collected and farsighted as though he knew what was going to happen next even in the most random, dire situations. Constantly blew me off when that happened, but he was a nice guy, good kid. Nothing fishy or suspicious."

Nothing fishy or suspicious? Every word with which he described Alpha screamed fishy and suspicious.

"Sort of a leader to the other five so-called heroes. He was the first one to teach us about Critical Siphon, but only a couple of us were really into hunting down others, animals and people, to hoard Perks and Skills. Sure, we had the power, but only maniacs and murderers would aim deliberately at the heads and hearts for their own benefits... Not that I'm judging you, kid. I'm sure you had your reasons to stock up those traits," said Benedikt understandingly, while his eyes seemed pretty judgy to me.

Despite Benedikt's casual tone, he was letting out more information than I could process in such a short time.

Another suspicion was growing in me.

Did Alpha 'inform' the heroes of their Critical Siphon ability... or did he 'install' it in them?

Was it possible for all of the heroes to live their lives without ever knowing that they possessed such a powerful, versatile Innate Skill in them? Aside from the relatively peaceful races, the Goblins and the Orcs hunted animals and other races constantly. Not once in the life of either Olothi or Rafaqa, the grandfather of none other than Moniqa, a heart or a head was claimed through a critical, lethal hit. That did not make sense at all.

But Benedikt, probably the sharpest Dwarf ever to have lived, did not seem to question such a possibility. Not because he did not find a sudden acquisition of Critical Siphon suspicious. He was already old enough at the time he met Alpha fifty years ago, and maybe even smarter than he was when I met him in the present. No, he had every reason to suspect not only the Critical Siphon but also Alpha himself.

But he did not. He found Alpha likable, became friends with him, and, most importantly, trusted him.

"Naturally, I trusted him with my life," said Benedikt casually, as if he had read my mind, my growing weariness.

Either Benedikt and the other heroes were duped by Alpha, or there was something else that Benedikt was hiding from me. The thing was, I could never cross-check the facts with the dead Dwarf anymore. It was not the only thing I missed about him but...

"You've got to understand, kid, that this is all I can tell you even if we were to talk in person. Alpha was a mysterious guy. Perhaps that was his charm. We, all of us from different races, were drawn to him, followed his lead, and listened to his counsel... It was an exciting few years, the adventure we had together."

Benedikt stared off the camera and smiled fondly, moistly, before he gained his composure again and looked more serious than before.

"I hope you're satisfied with the story. Now, onto the more important topic."

More important? How could anything be more important than this revelation?

"We have to talk about how to get you to the next Level. Level Three."

Oh, that. I would say that did sound slightly more important, but not by much.

"Beta?"

I started and turned to Elysia, who seemed fatigued, too fatigued to be even drunk with all the empty beer bottles laying around her.

For a few minutes, I had completely forgotten that she was sitting next to me. Seriously. I forgot about the most beautiful woman, the woman that I loved, drinking herself to keep up with the confusing conversation, not to mention the irresistible need and want of some rest.

That told much about my fatigue than Elysia's, to be honest.

"Perhaps we should sleep for the night and listen to the rest in the morning? You need to rest too."

I thought I wanted to tell Elysia that she should go to bed herself and that I would stay up to finish watching the video. I really did, but the word that came out of my mouth was, 'Okay.'

More than anything in the world at the moment, I wanted to hug Elysia tight and fall off to sleep together, on the same bed.

Coincidentally, Benedikt had risen from his seat in front of the camera to get some more beer and was off-screen. I said to the air, 'Pause,' and the screen froze in the absence of the host.

Perfect.

Elysia and I did not even bother to take a shower, individually or together. We just crawled into 'our' bed, with me spooning Elysia from behind, and slept like an old couple past four o'clock in the afternoon.

.

.

.

The next morning, Elysia had been up early and prepared the same disgusting breakfast of Sand Crystalite set. But it felt less disgusting with such a beautiful Elfina serving it. I thanked Elysia, and together we sat in front of the screen. Elysia did not open a bottle of beer so early into the day. I felt that I needed to point that out, that she was a casual drinker and had no problem with alcohol whatsoever.

I exhaled slowly as I faced the screen. But I kept my mouth shut, unable, no, unwilling to play the video from where we had stopped.

Last night, my mind was pretty numb from all the action and hassle, but being freshly awoken and having regained some sense back into my head, I was not sure I wanted to watch the video any longer.

I still had a lot to process regarding the information about Alpha. The more I learned about him, the more doubts and I was getting.

And now, I was about to listen to Benedikt's instruction, or heads-up, about entering Level Three.

... Did I even want to go to Level Three? Did I need to? Could I just stay here longer, with Elysia by my side, tolerating the barely edible Sand Crystalite energy bars and drinks, flirt with my lover for the day and sleep next to her for the night?

Would that be too much to ask, for everything I had done at this point? Was that really a waste of my time, or a much-needed fulfillment of my time?

What did I deserve, and what the f.u.c.k was I doing in this world, the Dungeon. I still had no idea, and I was the same confused, forced beta tester from the moment I was kicked out of that eerie office of Ms. GOD.

Elysia had seen the look of lethargy and hesitation in my face. She placed her delicate hand on my shoulder and pressed gently, encouragingly. I stared back at her and smiled wryly.

Then I realized why I was feeling so reluctant. I knew, but I did not want to face it, speak it into existence.

Transcending to Level Three would mean leaving Elysia alone in this Level. To have her brought over from Level One was through pure luck and an unexpected gift by a thoughtful, insightful friend. In fact, a part of me believed that Alstair had foreseen an instance that I would hold onto Elysia's hands at the last minute and he willingly gave up his soul to be exchanged for Elysia's Transcendence to the higher Level. He was a great guy, Al.

But Alstair was no longer around anymore to help us.

No one was around us, but us.

"Play the video."

It was Elysia who said to the screen. The way she said 'video' still sounded awkward, but she seemed to have remembered the way I voice-activated the machine the night before.

I had no choice but to watch the paused screen to start playing again, and right away Benedikt sat back down in front of the camera with a satisfied look on his face and a fresh beer bottle in his hand.

"Where was I? Right, Level Three."

Glug, glug, glug.

"I know what you're thinking, kiddo. You're afraid that you'll have to leave your skinny girlfriend here all alone while you move up the ladder yourself."

Ben, you son of a bitch. So sharp and so smart, and he never once questioned how strange and random this Alpha dude was?

I was about to click my tongue but Benedikt's next words almost made me jump in hopeful jubilation.

"Long story short, you won't have to. Besides, I would want the lassie by your side, what with your clumsiness and reckless stupidity, you could use some calm-headed partner, and the lassie is... more than capable," Benedikt grumbled a little at the end there, uncomfortable with compliments as constantly advertised.

"Beta."

Elysia and I locked eyes. And the foolish me saw that she, too, had been worried about the same thing through the night, or even earlier than that. That explained why she wanted to pause the video before the discussion of Level Three began and sleep on the possible outcomes, including the one where she would be stuck here forever, alone and miserable.

We held hands as we waited for Benedikt's discomfort to go away and for him to keep talking.

"... So, yeah, the rule of 'soul exchange' is the norm. It was made as a means to penalize those not ready to take on the journey to the next Level. And what could serve more as warning than 'death' itself?"

Benedikt chuckled like a villain for a moment and then collected himself.

"Alpha's idea, of course. Usually, the Gate would be operated and maintained by a trained group, just as the Orcs oversaw the Colosseum Ultimatum at Level One. Sure, the Orcs are violent and belligerent, but they are the most careful, conservative race out there, so they fit the job. This Level had a conductor group too, a mix of races to be precise, until the Queen did her thing."

Benedikt paused for a moment. His voice had been sinking near the end of the sentence. The video was before the final battle, and it was evident that he was feeling the pressure of the upcoming war.

"I mean, you weren't seriously worried about parting with lassie here, were you?"

Benedikt changed his tone and smiled teasingly.

"I keep telling you, you do make up for your lack of brainpower with luck and improvisation. Maybe that's what makes you the hero."

I was smiling along until I felt a strange nuance in his words.

The hero?

"You should have taken notice when I told you that there was an exodus of people from here to Level Three. Did you think that we had to kill half of the population just to let the other half pass through the Gate? No! Alpha and I came up with something to save the people. A modified Gate."

Benedikt smiled proudly and also nostalgically.

"We called it the Flood Gate. Get it? Because of the flood of people—"

If I were not so excited about the news, I would have rolled my eyes at the lame naming sense, for how many times now.

"The Flood Gate bypasses the soul exchange prerequisite. Can you guess what makes that possible?"

"Sand Crystalites!" exclaimed Elysia, looking as if talking directly with Benedikt on the screen for a moment.

"You guessed correctly, lassie. I'm assuming she's the one who got the answer, not you, kid."

Ben, you son of a bitch. I was smiling, of course.

"Now, the Flood Gate required lots, and I mean lots of crystals to make the large-scale migration possible. The good news is that the power left in it would be more than enough to send two persons. Easy breezy."

Benedikt then stopped and blinked sheepishly.

"There is, of course, the had news."

Of course.

"Two, actually."

Sure.

"One is that you have to build the Gate yourself. Now, don't panic. It's not that difficult a deal. The Flood Gate is already out there... lying deep in the sand since its last use fifty years ago. By building it, I meant you have to dig it out and make it stand."

A modified Transcendent Gate that was used to evacuate millions of Level Two residents. The ordinary Gate atop Colosseum Ultimatum was huge. I had no idea how big this Flood Gate would be.

"I'm not saying that you have to dig the Flood Gate out yourselves. It will take you at least a couple years to excavate the thing. It's really big, just so you know."

I figured.

"Go down the bas.e.m.e.nt, third level, and you'll find a squad of Dwarones. They're not built for combat, and you'll see why. They're called 'Dwarfreighters.' They'll help you with the digging and lifting."

All three of us—Elysia, me, and Benedikt in the screen—let out a relieved sigh in unison.

"That part's easy. The real challenge is for you to find the 'key,'" Benedikt grimaced apologetically, as if having lost the key was his own fault, and I assumed it was, judging by the disordered state of his lab.

"Lassie, slap the kid if he's looking around my 'perfectly organized' lab and searching for the key even before he got the full explanation."

Elysia caught me right when I stood up from the stool and rummaged through the nearest junk pile. I froze in place, smiling sheepishly. She did not slap me, of course, but she did not bother to hide the look of pity, the stare that found me pathetic, or adorably goofy as I wanted to believe.

"The key to the Flood Gate is not here at the lab... It's flying around the vast desert for all I know."

What kind of metaphor was that? I glanced worriedly at Elysia. As intelligent and sharp as the Elfina was, the lack of imagination was the limitation of not just her but then the entire Elf race.

But it turned out I was worrying over nothing. In fact, I had a lot more to worry about the next couple of days than hoping Elysia did not take offense then.

"I know what you're thinking, but no, I didn't lose the key and let it rot in the sand. The key actually belonged to Alpha. And when I said it's flying around the desert, it's literally flying out there, with wings and, as much as I hate to admit, sentience."

All right, I might have contacted the Elf's racial unimaginative disease myself, for I could not understand what Benedikt meant in his last words.

"The key is called 'D-Bug,' and the damned winged beetle thingy refuses to be caught. Never. Not once was I able to grasp it. So slippery and fast, it was maddening," seethed Benedikt, as if still angered by the bitter memory.

Meanwhile, I was blinking uncomprehendingly. The words made sense. It was the image that I was failing to get across my head.

"And now it's your job to catch the flying pest and drive it through the Flood Gate... so, have fun?"

... What?