311 Rushing the First and Second Floors (2/2)

After a couple of hours, the party had managed to find the hidden entrance and found the circle hidden within the mountain.

'Is there anything else or can we hurry to the fifth floor?'

'Let's rest here for an hour.'

Giving Jack a confused look, Argyle asked, 'An hour, why so long?'

'Because I'm not sure what level the mobs on the fifth floor will be or how many we'll find there,' answered Jack.

'Then tell me more about this place while we rest,' Argyle insisted as he sat down cross-legged before the teleportation circle.

Bowzer laid down as Tralon and Jack also took a seat.

'Since Tralon remembers the fifth floor so well, how about we have him talk about it.' Jack looked to Tralon and nodded.

'Well, the fifth level is the most deceiving level in all of the dungeon, apart from the crafty and tricky tenth floor,' explained Tralon. 'The fifth floor is a giant labyrinth filled with treasures and monsters alike.'

'There are treasures on the fifth floor?' Argyle's ears perked up. 'What kind of treasures? How come those treasures aren't hidden within the vault?'

'Because these treasures serve a purpose, to mislead you and everyone else willing to traverse the dungeon.'

'To mislead me? How so?'

'Not only is the entire fifth floor a labyrinth made of roxite--'

'Roxite?! The entire thing is made of roxite?'

'Yes, Argyle. So were those doors we opened up and most of the dungeon is made of the stuff,' mentioned Tralon. 'Now, not only is the fifth floor a labyrinth made of roxite, but you'll have to be wary of all the treasures strewn about the level.'

Argyle squinted as Tralon continued, 'Some treasures will be genuine, but most will be false and will attack you should you choose to interact with them.'

'Attack if you interact with them… If the false treasures aren't really treasures, then are they some kind of mob?'

'Good guess, Argyle!' Jack gave his father-in-law a thumbs up. 'Got any guesses as to what kind?'

'Knowing how sneaky you are, you probably built a giant labyrinth and filled it with mimics to catch unsuspecting people off guard and kill them.'

'I guess you do know me pretty well,' laughed Jack. 'That's why we'll have to be extra careful on the fifth floor. Some mimics may attack outright or they could wait for you to try and pick them up. Either way, it's a great scare tactic and a good way to catch inexperienced adventurers off guard.'

'Or to take their stuff after they die?'

'Wow, you do know me well!' Jack sprung up to his feet and chuckled.

'Nah, I just understand you're sense of humor. Why did you build this place again? Are you sure it wasn't because you got bored?'

Laughing loudly, Jack looked Argyle in the eyes. 'If you put it that way, yeah, I was very bored at the time and I wanted to mix things up. That's why things are so different on each floor. I wanted a single dungeon to contain all of my favorite things from other dungeons.'

'Man… You're a pestro through and through… But I like that!'

Glad to see his father-in-law excited for the fifth floor, Jack grinned and decided not to reveal all of the fifth floor's secrets just yet. He wanted to see how much fun Argyle could have with the secret mini-boss.