The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain!-Chapter 112 - 03/30- Floors?!

The moment Rowan's words truly sank in, the group collectively tensed.

"There are floors?" Markus blurted out, his usual bravado faltering for the first time.

Aeliana's brows furrowed. "Of course there are floors. Did… did none of you realize that?"

Kael frowned. "I assumed the dungeon was just one massive, shifting labyrinth."

Dorian scratched the back of his head. "To be fair, most dungeons are singular in structure. The idea that this one has multiple levels…" He exhaled. "That complicates things."

Selene crossed her arms. "Complicates? It completely changes our approach. If there are floors, then there must be a deeper system at work here. The monsters may not just be random spawns—there could be layers of enemies, getting stronger the further we descend."

Lirian, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke. "So, should we continue?" His gaze flickered to Dorian, who only shrugged.

"We've come this far," Dorian said. "And it's not like we're turning back now."

Markus groaned. "Ugh, why not? I vote we turn back."

Kael smirked. "Scared?"

"No," Markus shot back. "I just don't like the idea of going in blind. We barely made it through the last battle, and now you're telling me there might be stronger enemies lurking below us?"

Aeliana nodded thoughtfully. "It is a risk. But if there are floors, that also means there could be a pattern to the dungeon's structure."

Lucian had remained silent until now, his golden eyes watching the flickering flames of their campfire. "The question isn't whether we should continue," he said at last. "It's how we should proceed."

Everyone turned to him.

"What do you mean?" Kael asked.

Lucian's gaze shifted toward the tunnel Rowan had disappeared into. "She mapped out a path that avoids most adventurers. If we follow the same logic, we can find a safer route downward."

Dorian hummed in thought. "That's… actually a good idea."

Riven smirked. "Oh, look at that. He can strategize."

Lucian ignored him.

Selene pursed her lips. "But that would mean we'd be wandering off the main paths. If something does go wrong, we won't have backup."

Kael cracked his knuckles. "When have we ever relied on backup?"

Markus shook his head. "You guys are insane."

Aeliana's voice was soft but firm. "We have a goal here. If the dungeon does have floors, then we need to know what lies ahead. We can't afford to hesitate."

Lirian exhaled. "So, we are continuing."

Dorian clapped him on the back. "Looks like it."

Lucian stood, sheathing his sword. "Then we move now. The longer we stay in one place, the more likely the dungeon shifts."

Markus groaned again but begrudgingly got to his feet. "I swear, if something huge jumps out at us, I'm blaming you all."

Riven laughed. "Oh, I hope something huge jumps out. I'm getting bored."

With a reluctant Markus, an ever-enthusiastic Riven, and the rest of the group somewhere between cautious and determined, they began their descent.

The dungeon air grew colder. The walls pulsed faintly with an eerie light, illuminating runes that had long since faded into obscurity. The deeper they went, the more Aeliana felt an unsettling energy pressing against her skin.

"This place feels… wrong," she murmured.

Kael's grip on his weapon tightened. "Yeah. No kidding."

Lucian's eyes flickered toward her. "Stay close."

Aeliana nodded, falling into step beside him.

Minutes passed, the only sound being their footsteps against the stone floor.

Then—

A low growl rumbled from the shadows.

Selene's daggers were in her hands in an instant. "We're not alone."

Lucian lifted his blade, his eyes sharp. "Form up."

A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness.

Markus muttered, "Oh, I hate when I'm right."

Rowan paused at the threshold of the tunnel, her figure barely visible against the shifting shadows of the dungeon's depths. She had already turned to leave, but something about the way the group stood—tense, uncertain, and still processing the revelation of the multiple floors—made her smirk. She glanced back over her shoulder, her deep sapphire eyes glinting with mischief.

"Oh, and by the way," she added, her voice lilting with amusement, "there's a huge sum of coins for whoever completes all the floors."

The words dropped like a stone into still water, sending ripples of stunned silence through the group.

Markus was the first to react, nearly choking on air. "Wait, what?"

Dorian's head snapped up. "Excuse me?"

Kael, who had been resting his sword against his shoulder, narrowed his eyes. "You're only now mentioning this?"

Rowan chuckled, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Figured it'd be more fun that way."

Then, without another word, she turned and disappeared into the tunnel, her form vanishing into the darkness as if she had never been there at all.

For several heartbeats, no one spoke.

Then—

Markus groaned dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "I knew there had to be a catch! Knew it!"

Selene rolled her eyes, adjusting the grip on her daggers. "This is a dungeon, Markus. There's always a prize at the end of the road."

"But an actual treasure hoard?" Lirian murmured, rubbing his chin. "That changes things."

Aeliana frowned, her thoughts racing. "If there's a reward that large, then that means others must be aiming for it, too. It won't just be monsters we'll have to worry about."

Lucian's expression darkened, his golden eyes scanning the dimly lit tunnel ahead. "Which means the deeper we go, the more dangerous it'll get. Not just because of the dungeon itself, but because of the other adventurers."

Kael smirked. "Wouldn't be a proper challenge without some competition."

Markus scoffed. "Why do I know you're looking forward to that?"

Riven let out a low, amused chuckle, idly resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Oh, I like this development. Nothing sends people into a frenzy like greed."

Dorian folded his arms, his gaze sharp with thought. "So, what's the call? Are we still pushing forward?"

Aeliana met his gaze, her own resolve hardening. "We don't really have a choice, do we?"

Lucian nodded, his jaw set with determination. "We've already come this far. Turning back now would be a waste."

Selene twirled one of her daggers between her fingers, her usual cool demeanor masking a spark of intrigue. "Besides, if the rumors of treasure spread, we'll be dealing with more than just dungeon creatures. We need to stay ahead."

Kael cracked his knuckles. "Fine by me."

Markus exhaled heavily. "I swear, you people thrive on stress."

With their course set, the group pressed on, venturing deeper into the dungeon.

The air around them thickened as they descended, a tangible pressure settling over their shoulders. The walls, once jagged stone, now pulsed faintly with shifting patterns of ancient runes, flickering in and out of sight as if responding to their presence. The deeper they went, the more Aeliana felt a strange energy pressing against her skin—neither wholly dark nor wholly light, but something other.

"This place feels… wrong," she murmured, her fingers tightening around her staff.

Kael's grip on his weapon mirrored hers. "Yeah. No kidding."

Lucian's eyes flickered toward her. "Stay close."

She nodded, falling into step beside him.

Minutes passed in tense silence, the only sound being their footsteps against the uneven stone floor.

Then—

Aeliana's heart skipped a beat.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Something was watching them.

Before she could say a word, a deep, guttural growl rumbled from ahead, reverberating through the corridor like a primal warning.

Markus tensed, gripping his axe. "Oh, great. Again?"

From the shadows, a massive figure emerged—a hulking, reptilian beast covered in jagged black scales, its eyes glowing like molten embers. It was at least three times their size, its tail coiling against the walls with a thunderous crack. Its breath came out in thick, steaming huffs, the scent of scorched stone filling the air.

Lirian let out a low curse. "That… is not normal."

Selene's daggers gleamed in the dim light. "Neither are we."

Without hesitation, the creature let out a deafening roar and lunged.

Lucian was already moving, his celestial blade flashing like a falling star as he met its charge head-on. Sparks flew as metal clashed against armored hide, the force of impact sending tremors through the ground.

Kael flanked it from the side, his strikes precise and aimed at its joints. "Its armor's thick!"

Aeliana's eyes narrowed as she raised her staff. "Then we go for weak spots!"

Markus took a cautious step back. "I hate dungeons."

Dorian smirked, drawing his bow. "Then fight harder."

The battle erupted into chaos, each strike and counterstrike filling the cavern with an orchestra of steel and magic. The creature's tail lashed out, nearly sending Selene flying, but she twisted in time, rolling to safety.

Lucian's blade found a gap between its armored plates, a burst of golden energy searing through its flesh. The beast shrieked, staggering for a moment—but only a moment.

It recovered fast. Too fast.

Kael barely had time to raise his shield before it lunged again, slamming into him with bone-crushing force. He skidded back, coughing, but managed to stay on his feet.

Aeliana stepped forward, her staff glowing with golden light as she whispered an incantation. A barrier flared into existence just as the beast lashed out toward Lirian, deflecting the blow.

Lirian exhaled. "Remind me to thank you later."

"Survive first," Aeliana shot back.

Lucian ducked beneath another strike, his blade slashing upward in a precise arc. The creature let out a pained roar, its molten eyes flickering wildly.

"We're wearing it down!" Dorian shouted.

"Then let's finish this," Lucian growled.

He charged, his blade glowing brighter—

The creature let out one final, ear-splitting screech before collapsing with a thunderous crash.

For a long moment, no one moved.

Then—

Markus let out a massive sigh. "If that was just the beginning of the lower floors, we are so doomed."

Kael smirked. "Then we better get stronger."

Lucian exhaled, wiping his blade clean. "Let's move. We're not done yet."

As they pressed onward, Aeliana couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking straight into something far more dangerous than any monster.

And somehow, she knew—this was only the beginning.

And then the creature lunged.