Ch 31

  Matt sighed as he took the lead with Greg and five of the six women from his original group trailing behind as they maneuvered through a collapsed section of the fort. As they passed through, it almost felt like they had entered an entirely new world—the complex was vast, its scale evoking images of a tightly packed city that could easily shelter 10,000 people if it were repaired and equipped with adequate resources. However, as they circled the inner wall until they reached an opening where a heavy gate should have been, Matt couldn't shake the nagging thought that establishing the fort as a base of operations might be more trouble than it was worth. After all, he wasn’t planning on sticking around for the long run, and they would need at least 100 people to begin evening thinking about defending it properly. Even then, the challenge of guarding every inch of the formidable walls remained daunting, leaving blind spots that invaders could exploit with ladders and other means.

  For now, Matt pushed all these concerns aside as they passed through the ruined gate that led into the central area. There, amid the decayed remains of what were likely once bustling barracks, the devastation was unmistakable. Only one building in the center still stood—a structure that seemed to belong to a more modern era, strikingly reminiscent of a tomb. Constructed of stone and adorned with metal doors etched with what looked like skeletal figures, the small edifice was roughly the size of a large SUV. From the subtle warnings of his instincts, Matt sensed that danger lurked behind its doors.

  “So much for there being a bunch of monsters in here,” remarked Zara dryly. “Still, I was hoping for something more than ruined buildings and a grave.”

  “Don’t let your guard down,” cautioned Greg. “It’s always in moments like these that the monsters strike.”

  “Exactly,” agreed Emily. “Though, I suspect opening that tomb over there is exactly what will trigger whatever it is that’s coming.”

  “So much for me finding more arrows,” commented Yumiko with a wry grin. “So, Matt, are we opening that tomb?”

  “Yes,” Matt replied firmly. “But we must be cautious. If this is to be our base of operations, we can’t just ignore it.”

  “What do you suggest?” asked Eleanor, her eyes reflecting concern and curiosity.

  “There are seven of us here,” Matt explained. “So, Greg, Zara, and I can handle opening the tomb while the rest of you keep a safe distance. If things begin to look like they’re spiraling out of control, you all retreat immediately and alert the others.”

  “Are you two comfortable with that plan?” Eleanor inquired, looking between Greg and Zara as she sought their confirmation.

  Both Greg and Zara nodded at Eleanor’s question, and with that, the two groups separated slightly as Matt moved forward until he was standing before the metal door. The door was split down the middle, making it appear as if it were two doors; yet, when combined, it was only slightly larger than a normal door in Matt’s opinion. To open the doors, he had to reach forward and pull on a handle that was cleverly designed to resemble a skeletal hand, its bony fingers outstretched as if offering an eerie greeting. A chill crept down his spine as soon as he touched the handle, nearly making him hesitate, but his resolve pushed him onward as he pulled it open.

  Matt was surprised by the effortless swing of the door and the absence of any immediate threat. Beyond lay a small room dominated by a single stone sarcophagus in the center, with a glowing crystal ball mounted on the far wall that pulsed with an otherworldly light. He carefully opened the door on the opposite side before slowly stepping inside. Zara and Greg followed closely behind him as he approached the radiant crystal ball, cautiously touching it with a single finger. In that instant, a screen materialized before him, prompting Greg to almost shout with excitement.

  "Awesome! It’s a freaking dungeon. There’s bound to be loot and all kinds of benefits for clearing it."

  "Aren’t dungeons usually meant for keeping prisoners?" Matt remarked as he re-read the text displayed on the screen.

  The screen read:

  Welcome to the Tomb of the Restless Defenders.

  To proceed, please have at least four party members to activate the dungeon.

  "I mean, what does it even mean by 'the Restless Defenders'?" Matt asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “It’s likely an undead dungeon where we will have to fight our way through all those who died defending this fort, in order to free their souls,” Greg replied. “This is exactly where the protagonist gets that major boost, setting them head and shoulders above normal people.”

  "Can you give your harem king logic a rest for a while?" Zara retorted sharply. "Right now, we should be discussing how to handle the fact that we need a minimum of four party members to activate it."

  “No way I’m sitting this one out,” Greg insisted. “I say we could add Emily—at least she appears to have read enough books to be useful—”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "How does reading books make her useful here?" Zara cut in, her tone brisk. "Besides, the problem isn’t who to take, it’s figuring out what to do about the three who still need to get back to the others."

  "All seven of us have to go," Matt insisted, his voice steady. "The rules say a minimum of four, but there's no mention of a maximum limit, and I can't be part of both groups. Our best chance of survival is either to leave and return with the four who will challenge the dungeon or to have all seven of us go now."

  "You don't want Steve or any of the others who might cause problems by insisting they get to go," Greg remarked, his tone thoughtful. "Good call. He would definitely try to exclude me, using it as a chance to seize power. But we all know that when people like him force their way into these situations, they only end up getting everyone killed."

  "That's not exactly how I would have put it, but yeah, I don't want Steve or the others to have the first go at this. My gut tells me you're actually right for once," Matt replied, nodding in agreement. "Zara, call the others in here and keep quiet about the reason until everyone is assembled."

  "You don't want to give them a choice?" Zara asked, her voice tinged with confusion. "That seems a bit harsh."

  "I don't know which of them would refuse, especially considering we might face zombies or other monsters in this dungeon," Matt explained, his brow furrowed with concern.

  "You assume that just because they are women, the undead will creep them out," Zara scoffed, crossing her arms. "Honestly—"

  "I'm creeped out by the thought of fighting rotting corpses, so why wouldn't they be?" Matt questioned, his expression earnest.

  "That's..." Zara hesitated for a moment before continuing, "not what I expected."

  "Never mistake overcoming and resisting one's natural aversions as an absence of them altogether," Matt continued, his voice serious. "I dare say that most things that frighten, irritate, or unsettle a significant portion of the population apply to all of us universally. It is merely in the measure or our ability to cope with them that we differ from one another."

  With a nod, Zara stepped toward the open door and called the others over while Matt carefully considered the words he was about to speak. It was clear that a few of them had hesitated at the threshold, lingering in doubt, as Zara had only said that Matt needed everyone inside before he could explain further. Once all six had assembled, Matt drew a deep, steadying breath as he looked at the faces of those whose lives he was about to risk before addressing them.

  "Anyone who refuses to accept me in the leadership role that Eleanor wants to force me into may step outside now."

  When no one moved to leave, a small smile spread across Matt's face as he continued, "Good, then you all agree that, from this point forward, whatever comes next, we face together."

  "And what exactly is that?" Eleanor asked, her tone edged with worry.

  Greg chimed in, "A dungeon. One that, if we survive, will set each of us on a path to power while leaving everyone else far behind."

  "Is that truly the case?" Emily questioned, her voice a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I mean, dungeons can bestow great fortune—or lead to utter disaster."

  "Your patron told you exactly how to take this path, didn't they?" Eleanor interrupted.

  "Patron?" Greg's voice held a note of disbelief. "Wait a moment—you actually have some deity out there dictating your destiny?"

  "They don't consider themselves a god, it seems," replied Matt. "It was their voice we heard at the very start of this ordeal, and, honestly, I was waiting for the right moment to discuss it with you all."

  "Let's not get off track," Rose interjected sharply. "Matt, do you really believe we can make it through this?"

  "I don't know for certain. I'm confident I'll survive, but I suspect that my patron cares little for anyone beyond myself and the individual he plans to take with me when I exit this world after reaching rank E."

  "Hold on—I feel like I'm missing a ton of backstory here," Greg commented, his tone tinged with exasperation. "This is the kind of stuff the main character always uses to become truly overpowered."

  "Can we not talk about works of fiction?" retorted Eleanor. "We are firmly rooted in reality here."

  "I actually think we need to look to those works for answers," countered Emily, her voice bolder than before. "Goblins, horned rabbits, wolves with spiked tails—so many aspects of this world seem more connected to fantasy than the mundane reality we once knew."

  "Exactly!" Greg agreed enthusiastically. "Matt, I knew you had main character vibes from the moment I saw you fending off those monsters. That’s why I committed to following you right from the start—even if it means ending up as just the second most powerful person from Earth when all is said and done."

  "I’m not going to fall back on the imaginations of others," Matt stated firmly. "Even if it turns out that those responsible for our current predicament may have influenced those imaginations to prepare us for what is to come. If any of you choose to stray from the plan, I won’t stop you unless it directly threatens my goals. Now, I call you all in here for what comes next."

  With that, Matt touched the crystal ball. In an instant, without any further action on his part, the tomb doors slammed shut, leaving the only light to emanate from the crystal ball itself. Moreover, the message it projected had changed—and not in a way that Matt appreciated.

  Welcome to the Tomb of the Restless Defenders.

  The minimum of four party members has been exceeded adjusting dungeon’s difficulty accordingly please stand by.

  "What the hell," complained Zara, frustration clear in her voice. "The doors are stuck."

  "Of course, the dungeon has activated," Greg stated, his tone calm but serious. "Now it's either conquer it or die."

  "Did you know this would happen?" Matt asked, his voice tinged with annoyance as he watched the message update on the screen.

  Adjustments complete.

  Identified one archer in the group, bestowing one quiver of 20 arrows unto them.

  Please prepare to descend in 30 seconds.

  A quiver holding 20 arrows materialized atop the sarcophagus, and Yumiko quickly grabbed them after Matt gave her a nod of approval. Meanwhile, Greg absentmindedly scratched his cheek, and Matt decided to let the topic drop as he focused on readying himself. The message shifted to a countdown when only ten seconds remained. With each passing second, the tension in the dimly lit room intensified, their shadows flickering against the stone walls. There wasn't enough space for them to assume any kind of battle formation as they stood clustered around the sarcophagus. All they could do was hope that whatever awaited them, they wouldn't be thrust directly into combat.

  When the countdown finally ended, the sarcophagus began to slide towards the doors, revealing a hidden staircase leading downward. Matt exhaled a sigh of relief and glanced at his companions before taking the lead. Whatever dangers lurked below, he was determined to be the first to face them.