Re: Turning
Dungeon Masters

Shinnichi opened his eyes. Staring at the stone ceiling he had seen so often these few weeks. A gigantic white crystal glowed faintly. The light felt comfortable, but the ground beneath it felt so rough.

Shinnichi wakes. He realized that his right hand was missing. It seemed like he negated the Abyssal Mist before falling asleep. Holding his head, he felt a throbbing pain.

“Where am I?” shinnichi murmur. He looked around him. Familiar forest landscape. But, somehow different. Then, Shinnichi freezes.

Beside him was a giant one-eyed head. Shinnichi jerks. He hurried to his feet before realizing that the owner of the giant head was dead. Still glaring. Showing the emotions he displayed before death; fear. Not far behind, there was a body, a pair of hands, half a leg and “lake” full of blood. All separated from each other. It was as if something was cutting him.

The forest landscape behind the giant piece was chaotic. Large trees are attracted from their roots. An unnatural-looking cave filled the walls of the dungeon. Most of the land was dredged and turned into small mountains. Beside him, a giant crater hollowed out the earth, like a giant meteor hitting the ground; flattening and scorching the surrounding trees.  Even on that gigantic body, it was stuck in most of the white crystals that illuminated the floor. It was covered in blood and gave a red glow in the surrounding area.

“What the heck..” Shinnchi stared at a scene similar to the aftermath of the natural disaster. “Schwarz, have you seen this? Who did this?”

“You caused it.” A voice answered him. It's not Schwarz's. Another man's voice, a woman, echoed in his head.

“Who?” Shinnichi asked. Calmer than when he first met Schwarz.

“You don't have to second-guess. I think you know who I am.” That voice sounded a little happy.

“.... You're Schwarz's brother? The Dungeon Master?”

“Tap.” The soft voice replied.

Suddenly, like a chameleon changing its skin color, a blue dragon appeared right before him. The dragon is slender. Standing before him with a dense aura of elegance and dignity. His face was so close that he could touch it if he moved his hand a little. A pair of toska eyes stared fixedly at Shinnichi. He could even see his reflection in the slice of the Dungeon Master. Despite that, he was unaware of his presence until the dragon appeared.

“I am Dungeon Master. The Gramillion Scientia Rex. Please, call me Gram.” The dragon, Gram, flapped a pair of wide blue wings. Gram did not move his mouth, but spoke using telepathy.

“.... I'm Shinnichi Kurobane. Nice to meet you.” Shinnchi introduced himself, slightly bowing. In contrast to ordinary monsters, the pressure before a dragon gave off a very different feeling.

“Not be so polite, Shinnichi.” The soft voice of Gram sounded calming. “I've been watching you for a long time. Your safety can be ensured with me.”

“Ah, thank you then.” Shinnichi expressed his gratitude. He just woke up with no memory of what happened. His condition is not fit to fight. “Then, what do you mean I'm the cause of all this?”

Shinnichi pointed towards the giant carcass and the ruined forest landscape. I don't understand what Gram said before.

“I told you the truth,” replied Gram, honestly. “You went berserk and sped from the 97th floor to the 101st floor in no time. Even I was surprised.”

“Wait. Is this the 101st floor? I managed to conquer it?” Shinnichi hardly trusts Gram.

“True, son. Although crushing is more precise.” Gram laughed a little while explaining further. "It takes great strength to face Carcharodon and the Cyclops. But, you managed to defeat them in a row. It's commendable."

“How can it?” Shinnichi asked again. He doesn't remember what happened. The last thing he remembers is when he was cornered by the Wendigo. After that, he lost consciousness. Wake up, he's already here.

Gram did not answer. He raised his front leg and touched Shinnichi's forehead. Gently touch it. “For that, you should thank my useless sister.”

“Schwarz?”

Shinnichi stroked his forehead. Given that Schwarz did not answer that earlier. Sleep on? No, Schwarz will immediately say if he calls his name.

Apparently, Gram could feel Shinnichi's worry. He flapped his wings and lowered his head. “Not to worry, my son. Schwarz just needs to rest.”

Shinnichi was a little relieved. Gram raised his head. “Bad talk here, let's.”

Gram spreads her wings, covering Shinnichi and herself. His skin began to change color. It formed a magic circle filled with intricate patterns on its body. And the magic circle is shining.

In an instant, the place they stood changed. From the green forest to the giant library. Much larger than any library. Similar to a tower, the walls are decorated by shelves full of books. A puzzling staircase structure filled the upper area of the room as wide as a football field and as high as ten floors. Thousands and millions of books are stored here. Some were scattered on the floor, or stacked into small towers.

“Woah Shinnichi breathed a sigh of admiration. He had never seen so many books before. “This is all yours?”

“Of course.” Gram sounds proud. “These books I gathered from all over Zelfria. Mention a topic, and most likely, I have over 200 books on it. It is no exaggeration to compare it with the Knowledge Tree of the Elves.”

Shinnichi just nodded. Not paying much attention to Gram's words. His attention was distracted by a giant, intricate detailed glass ball in the middle of the room. It's like a globe.

Shinnichi could see dozens of different scenes on the surface of the sphere. There were some familiar looks, the oasis he saw, the lava-filled floor of hell, the snowy mountains.

“So, you watched the Dungeon through this huh?” ask Shinnichi. I was amazed to see that giant glass ball.

Gram walked in silent steps. Not according to his large body. He stood beside Shinnichi. Look at that glass ball.

“Oculi Dei.” Gram mentioned the name of the thing. “Mata Gods. Pretty useful artifact.”

Gram touched the ball with his front foot. In an instant, its size shrank. From more than six meters to less than 30 cm. The ball floated above his head, circling it like the moon circling the earth. It looks a little strange according to Shinnichi.

“So, you were watching me.” Shinnichi stared at the vambrace he was wearing. One of the treasures he received from the mysterious treasure.

“I've been watching you for a long time, Shinnichi,” Gram began to explain. He stretched out his front leg. Gives Vambrace right Shinnichi. “From the first time you showed up on the 80th floor to your great fight on the 101st floor. I saw and heard it all.”

“O-oh Shinnichi received Vambrace and felt that Gram emphasized the word “heard”. Shinnichi chooses to ignore the fact that he often curses the Dungeon Master and questions his design decisions.

“Must say, Shinnichi. Your way of fighting is really strange. I've never seen someone slide a mountain to cross the icy lake on the 97th floor. I have to fix it later”

Shinnichi coughed a little. “Err, sorry for that.”

“Tak apa.” Gram laughed a little. “I amused by it. Every time you set foot on a new floor, there must be something interesting going on.”

Shinnichi remembers the time he spent destroying monsters in strange ways. Threatening Wolfsdamon with bombs on his body, rowing boats over lava, skating on snow using Treant, creating giant avalanches. If this is the original world, Shinnichi is definitely labeled as *******.

Cold sweat ran down his forehead. Come to think of it, his behavior was indeed a bit excessive. Shinnichi decided to throw it all to the back of his mind. He thinks more of the more important things.

“Gram, can I-“

“Exit from this dungeon?” Grim turned to look towards Shinnichi. Cut it before you can finish the word. “Certainly can.”

Shinnichi's heart was relieved. The way out of here is already visible. I don't know what feelings are starting to overflow from the inside, but Shinnichi is sure they're good. In a moment, he can get out of here.

“But are you sure you're going out with your current condition?” ask Gram again. Makes Shinnichi shrug his head.

“What do you mean?” Other than the headache, Shinnichi did not feel anything wrong.

“Your magic,” said Gram. “Can you use your magic?”

Shinnichi just realized it. He focused his mana onto his right arm. Trying to use the Abyssal Mist and form his right hand. A few minutes of trying, still not working.

Shinnichi scrunched his forehead. He tried to create a Mana ball in his left hand. A ball of Mana is formed. However, a few moments later, the yawn disappeared.

“What? My magic? Why..?” Shinnichi looked at his left hand. He wondered why he could not use magic.

“Explaining it to you must be boring.” Gram vaporize. Covering his mouth with his wings. “We just say that Manamu's flow is weighed down by Schwarz's power and cut off.”

“Wait, My Manaku Flow interrupted? I can't use magic anymore?” Shinnichi became a little panicked. Magic is the main weapon. In this cruel world, running without a weapon can get you killed.

“Take it easy. It's only temporary.” Gram calms Shinnichi who looks worried. “Several hours and he will be back.”

"Is that so?" Shinnichi. He asked back. "Is there any other way?” Shinnichi was impatient. To be honest, he wanted to get out of this Dungeon as quickly as possible.

“Not to rush, my son.”  Gram lowered his head. “The strength that Schwarz inherited is stronger than you think. You're lucky your body wasn't destroyed by it. The longer you use it, the greater the impact on you. For wrath is a two-bladed sword.”

“What do you mean?” Shinnichi asked Gram what sounded like a warning.

“You will find out in the near future.“

Gram flapped his wings. Creating a strong wind. Shinnichi covers his face while Gram flies over the library and lands on the highest platform. Shinnichi did not hear the sound of landing.

Shinnichi looked to the side. There was a staircase nearby, filled with book towers. He walked towards her.

“Taste so.” Shinnichi answered just about anything. Shinnichi raised his head. It was a little difficult to look up because of the height of this library. He began to climb the stairs that looked like a labyrinth. Thousands of stairs he had to climb to get to the top.

“But, the river has currents capable of drowning. Beauty magic has risks..” Gram's voice sounded slow. He did not continue his words.

The library became quiet. Only the sound of her footsteps climbed the stairs. Over fifteen minutes later, he got to the top.

A beautiful garden is the right thing to describe it. Beautiful trees, beautiful flowers, even complete with fountains and picnic tables. Shinnichi was amazed this kind of thing could exist above the library.

Under the tree, a woman in a blue dress was sitting on a garden chair. Her white hair was braided to the side, sitting on her shoulders. Coupled with her calm expression, she is the perfect example for the word “Beautiful woman.”

He looked at Shinnichi with his pale blue irises. Smiling softly, he said. “Sunto also.”

“Gram?” Shinnichi realized his voice.

That woman, Gram just smiled. She stood up, her dark blue dress covering her entire body. It looks like an owl.

He walked up to Shinnichi. The movement is smooth and smooth. Like gliding on a white floor. Getting closer, he realizes that Gram is almost a head taller than him. Shinnichi backed off a bit.

Gram stretched out her hand from inside the dress. Not to grab Shinnichi's hand but to grab Emphiria's blue crystal. He took it off Shinnichi's neck.

“Beautiful necklace.” Gram stroking crystal Emphiria. Look at him with affection.

Shinnichi looked at Gram silently. Giving time to the dragon lady to stare at the Emphiria crystal. After a while, Gram takes Shinnichi's hand and puts Emphiria's crystal on it.

“Crystal Emphiria is able to cure all kinds of conditions. The water it gives off is almost the same as the water that created life. Pure, sweet and full Mana.” Gram turned her body. He sat back on the garden chair. “The most beautiful gift that can be given to a generous soul seems to be.”

Shinnichi looked at the Emphiria crystal in his hand.  He returned to drain it. Shinnichi approached Gram and sat down next to her. Enjoy the beautiful garden view.

It looked. Staring at the ceiling of the 102nd floor. Black but not empty. Hundreds or even thousands of white dots twinkled above his head.  Although underground, Shinnichi can stare at stars in space.

An illusion that curbs and deceives. It gives false hope that he has come out of this hell. He did not hate this place, far away from it. He gained strength, experience, and even friends. But, this is not the place. He should be back soon.

“What is your goal in this world, Shinnichi?” Gram suddenly asked.

Shinnichi was a little surprised. However, he quickly reorganized his mind. “I... Want to save someone. Someone important to me.”

“Honourable destination.” Gram smile. “Can I give you advice?”

“Hmm? Of course.”

“Love is the strongest thing in the world. With it, one can defeat anything or anyone in the world.”

Shinnichi tilted his head not understanding. He now understood what Schwarz meant that he did not know Gram's way of thinking. Not minding Shinnichi's puzzled expression, Gram smiled mysteriously.

“It looks like it's time for you to get out of this Dungeon.” Gram stand. Shinnichi followed. Looks like a kid who can't wait to go for a walk.

Gram walked towards the edge of that huge platform. He looked down, smiling a little. Shinnichi looked over.

High! Shinnichi automatically holds the platform barrier. Be careful not to fall. The distance between him and the ground was about 10 floors. If he falls, he may die. Especially with her being unable to use magic.

“Er... Kema-“

“Jump.”

“... Is there any other way?”

Gram just smiled. Didn't answer Shinnichi's question. Seeing that, Shinnichi swallowed his saliva. He is not afraid of heights, he is afraid of falling from heights.

“Alright, then.” Shinnichi. He went up on the barrier.

Prepare to jump. He gathered his guts. The ground below looks further away. Bend his legs, Shinnichi-

“Ah, I almost forgot.”

“Uwa!”

He was bullied by Gram. Shinnichi almost lost his balance. He held the platform tightly. Staring at Gram did not accept.

“... What?” tanyanya slow.

“Talk to Schwarz that I will use his body as research material.”

“...” Shinnichi put on the face of his ‘that-really-you-can-say-that-self’, but he remained silent. “Good , I'll tell him.”

Shinnichi sighed. He stood back on the edge. Get ready to jump. Really this time. He bent his body then

“Ah, wait.”

“Uwah!” Shinnichi almost lost his balance. He fell one foot into the field. Shinnichi looked back. Staring at Gram, trying not to show her anger.

“... What else?”

Gram touches Shinnichi's forehead, draining his Mana. Although Shinnichi does not know what it is for. His body feels the same.

“Although you haven't conquered this Dungeon completely, I have a few gifts and pointers for you.” Gram smile. “There are three points you need to reach. The key is persistence, cooperation, and patience. When you're done, come back here. What your heart wants, will be granted.”

“What's maxu-“

Before Shinnichi finished asking, Gram pushed him.

“GRAAAMM!!!” Shinnichi screamed as he could as he fell down.

“See you, Shinnichi.” Meanwhile, Gram waved his hand like someone separated from the station. He snapped his finger.

A magic circle lit up on the ground below. Opening some kind of blue portal. Shinnichi felt a fresh breeze rush down his face. The exit! his inner. However, Shinnichi realized that the blue color was not the color of the portal. He could see the white.

“Oh, shit.”

Shinnichi went inside that portal. Thrown out, it faced the sky. Gravity pulled him down shortly afterwards.

Shinnichi fell back. Now, he can see another blue color. Dark blue. Water water.

“WET AGAIN!?” Shinnichi exclaimed before splashing. It's the unfortunate fate that's often associated with water

✾✾✾✾

On the 102nd floor, Gram looked up. Look at the ceiling full of light spots. Her little smile went nowhere. Replaced by sad and worried expressions.

"The destined day is drawing near. Veil-sama, is that the person you mean?" Gram muttering. "If he is the one, protect his journey."

Gram snapped his finger. A portal was created before him. Stepping inside, he reached Schwarz's room. Not much different than the last time he was here.

The bed began to collect dust. The cold ash in the middle of the room gives a relic that a fire once lit there. And the Schwarz skeleton. Losing jaw.

Gram recalls the day he lost his sister; when Emphiria was taken from him. 300 Years have passed since then. However, Gram still felt regret that continued to haunt him.

Although he is a high creature created by God. He couldn't save someone most important to his sister. Can't protect his sister. Doesn't that mean she failed to be his sister?

Gram touched his sister's skull. Closing his eyes, Gram muttered softly.

"I'm sorry, Schwarz...."