The second team manages to explore rooms four and seven. Room four had four rings wide almost three feet. Each had blocks of different shapes. Some were flat, most were round or ended with sharp edges. On the ceiling were similar rings but chains that sometimes ended with handles but mostly with something heavy or sharp. In the middle was a small flat circle with number four. The doors to the next room were open. In the middle of the entrance on the first tile was written: 'Step on if you want the prize'.

  "Great." Sight Jilax, they are the leader. "It’s like the first team said. Dungeon Mistress likes to force us to trigger traps if we like to get the prize."

  "I bet we trigger a trap when we step in any way." Said their scout. "And in corners could be something nasty."

  "Can you go through?" Asked the leader.

  "Depending on what that trap will be doing." He shrugs.

  "Hiki, any magic surprises?"

  "There is nothing."

  "Let's try it." He said and stepped on the tile. Immediately rings start moving each one in opposite directions, and blocks start rising up and down. The same thing goes with the ceiling. In the middle rises a pillar with a small chest. That wasn't all. In the corner to the left was rapidly descending a boulder on chains.

  "Impressive, however, we wait a dozen minutes until everything stops." Said the scholar, assigned to their team.

  "Fuck! We need to move!" Shouts leader. "Wed check if there are traps on the right side!" He shouts to the scout. He immediately moved. Thankfully he found nothing. After him, the rest of the team ran, because the next boulder started descending in this corner.

  "Do you think you can take the prize?"

  "No in half an hour." He shakes his head after a few moments observing the trap. "I need to try it a few times before I will be confident enough."

  "Oh well. At least the road is safe. Next time we can run and you try in the meantime." Said leader.

  "If we get this room in the next run. It is indeed some gambling game." Observed Hiki.

  "Right. Anyway, to the next room." Said Jilax.

  The seventh room trap wasn't obvious. When they entered they were confused for a moment. In the middle of the room was a pedestal made from cast iron. It looks like stone pedestals used for statues and is almost two yards high, it lacks around one foot to that. On opposite sides were cranks and on the free sides was number ‘’7/13’’. At the top, there was a machine of unknown purpose. Slabs of steel blocked doors and in the corners stood some bronze sculptures.

  "Does anyone have an idea?" Jilax asked after checking for traps, but there was nothing.

  "Let's try these cranks?" Hemir proposed and tried to move one. "This one is stuck."

  The second one was turning just fine. Spinning it made some parts of the mechanism move. It looked a little like those shafts with spinning blades but on the end of arms, there were balls of iron. When they start spinning they rise dragging something up. The second one could be, but only when the first crank was moved.

  "Ok, it looks like this one is blocking the first one. So we need two people to move both cranks." Said Jilax. "Wed and Meadia to the cranks, support get back to the entrance. Hiki, how are your mana and shielding spells?"

  "Both very good."

  "Ok, I and Hemir will stand beside them to shield them with shields, trying to cover all of us."

  "No problem."

  "You think that there are some traps?" Meadia asked.

  "Just moving two cranks is too easy." He nods.

  When slabs move around one foot they reveal holes from where something was shot.

  "Report," Jilax demanded, but everyone said they were fine.

  "They are steel balls!" Shouts the healer from the entrance. One of the balls rolls in that direction. "They are clear from any poison."

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  "Hiki. I think your shield catches them all. How bad was it?"

  "Nothing special for my level. I think they fly too slowly to kill anyone and could break something. Will be painful when hit."

  "Get ready for more."

  And there were more. Every one foot when the slab moved higher and higher there was a valley of iron balls. When plates fully ascend something clicks and they get stuck.

  "At last, end of it." Sighted with relief Hiki.

  "Are you good?" Meadia asked.

  "Yes, just got a little tense."

  "How is your mana?" Jilax asked.

  "It dropped by one quarter, but it’s rising fast. I have good mana regen."

  "Good. Let's look around this room."

  The room was disappointing. The prize was hidden in a compartment inside the plinth, opened when the door was unlocked. Besides that, nothing was interesting. Scholars made some sketches of the mechanism and that was all.

  The next room was the shrine. They confirm that nowhere in the room was written a number of the room. That suggests the existence of a special thirteen rooms. The rest of the expedition led through rooms ten and twelve. As instructed, after descending to the final floor they didn't wander anywhere and immediately went to return the ring. However, they get a glimpse of the jungle and agree later, that keeping it as far as possible from it is a smart idea.

  In the afternoon it was the turn of holy knights. However, their route was fast. After the first room was the third, then the shrine. After the shrine, they got a tenth and twelve rooms. Commander counting on a little longer run, for training purposes. However, he and his men had a lot of time, this was a permanent assignment for them. Outside training, he needed to confirm the Guild Master assessment of the final floor. He knew rapport was accurate, but his duties required him to double-check assessment. He also got lucky with searching for an experienced herbalist. With the caravan traveled a young elven woman Esiyae. She was just two hundred years old however she came from Leinia Island. It was quite a large island and covered with lush forest. There was only one port city with the same name as the island. It was a small city with just a few thousand citizens. The reason for that was not only that they were mostly elves. The island was full of poisonous plants and insects. Even on farm fields and towns, you need to be careful because there is always a chance you encounter venomous bugs. Local antidotes and healing mixtures based on poisonous plants made this place famous and prospering. Elves from there follow the god of healer and god of death because of how easily the island can heal and kill. Esiyae was traveling to the north to gain experience in the harsh reality of constant war with undead and other monstrosities. Necromancers, warlocks, and demon summoners love to use poisons. After she learned that the paladins were looking for someone like her, she immediately volunteered. The commander takes her offer immediately.

  Now they stood in the safe zone of the last floor and the commander agreed with every word of the guild master.

  "Good afternoon commander."Dungeon Mistress smiled.

  "Good afternoon, Dungeon Mistress." He answered. "I would like to introduce you to Miss Esiyae. She came from Leinia Island. It's a place famous for numerous poisonous plants and animals."

  "Good afternoon, Dungeon Mistress." The woman made a deep bow.

  "Hello. You don't have to be so formal with me. And you said Leinia Island? I think you will see some familiar things here then."

  "I was suspecting that Mistress." Poison healer answered. "My island is very famous."

  "Yes. How close do you have to get to the jungle?" Naomi asked.

  "At least to the shore."

  "I will take care of the crocodiles. Wait for a moment," Naomi said then entered the water. She walked to the crocodile and started petting and scratching him. Soon a few others surrounded her demanding her attention too. It was a surreal and terrifying sight even for paladins.

  "You can come, they won’t do anything this time. But don't go into the water." Naomi said.

  "Yes, Dungeon Mistress." She answered obediently. Got near the edge of the safe zone. It was close enough. The jungle was just six or seven steps away. Esiyae immediately saw familiar plants and one spider. As dangerous they were she immediately felt nostalgic about home. She took a deep breath, focused on the task, and began to observe the rest of the flora and fauna. After a few dozen minutes she bowed to Dungeon Mistress.

  "Thank you for allowing me to see these few incredible creations of The Lady. I deeply regret that I can't enter your jungle to see more."

  "Sorry. But that is on purpose." Naomi answered.

  "Miss, what is your assessment?" The commander asked when both women got back.

  "No one can enter it. There are only poisonous plants and animals. Only by burning it to the ground can you think of entering it. There is no other way. Only my grandfather can try to get close to it and I think it will be for a short time."

  "Thank you, miss," Commander answered. And thank you, Dungeon Mistress, for allowing us to see up close your final floor."

  "No problem. I also want to know how safe it is. This is the middle of the desert. However, this could be nothing for madmen and we have many of them in the north."

  "Regrettably." Paladin sighted. "However, if I'm allowed I have one piece of advice."

  "Of course. I just started my work as a Dungeon Mistress and there are so many things I don't know."

  "I think your instinct guides you well, Dungeon Mistress. However, I suggest you shouldn't postpone building a new floor because of some doubts. At least not until you will have ten or more floors."

  "I won't, commander." Naomi shakes her head. "I already have sketches for future floors. I admit I have one problem. But I have one week to resolve it."

  "Glad to hear. The grand priests and I are ready to help If your problem won't be resolved next week ."

  "Thank you for your offer." Naomi thanked him sincerely.

  "No problem, Dungeon Mistress. However, it’s time for us."

  "Of course. Have a good day."