We returned to Elemental town four days ter. Elementals put to rest their dead, and I got my hands on several magic gems and most expensive looking monster materials.

  All town welcomed us, and celebration continued all night. Unlike human celebration, there was no drinking, but a lot of dancing and singing.

  We earned queen's trust and were allowed free movement around the town. I was sitting near huge ke that bordered part of town's southern border. Inside the ke lived water elementals - human like figures, made from water, but I was more interested in half naked mermaids.

  - Turns out there is Guild portal magic circle in town. Queen allowed us to register in it, so we can come back and visit her someday, - told me Nelly who joined me by the water: - Are you pnning to take a swim.

  - Already did. Mermaids were very welcoming.

  - What are you pnning now?

  - Queen promised to give us supplies, and we even got a map that will lead us to Town of the Dead.

  - We are still going there?

  - Was anyone able to level up?

  - No. We all tried, but our levels did not increased.

  - Then we are going. Besides, we will need to go past it to get to Grimsburg. Going around the town could take us weeks.

  - When are we leaving?

  - Tomorrow. We still have a long way in front of us, before we get back to civilization.

  * * *

  We were hiding behind trees looking at Town of the Dead. I think that a season changed before we found it. First we had to cross grass nds and then got lost in biggest forest that I saw until now. But we reached our destination - one of the biggest nd dungeons and also the oldest, Town of the Dead.

  In front of us were ruins of ancient town. Among the broken houses we saw skeletons and zombies aimlessly walking around.

  - Not so bad, - I commented.

  - What? It is as bad as it could be, - loudly whispered Luara: - Who knows what we are going to find there.

  - Probably exactly what I am looking for, - I licked my lips.

  - Do you even have a pn, - asked Trevor.

  - Sure. We go in. Find Adventurer academy or search churches. Go straight through and kill all monsters that get in our way. Let's go forwards glory and riches!

  At first everything went well. Nelly and me use Destroy undead in turns and got rid of any undead or ghost that got in our way. Until we run into undead mage. He casted Slow, Curse, and some other spells, but most of them did not harm us, thanks to our magic resistance skill and artifacts. But neither our Destroy undead or attack spells worked against him.

  Nelly casted Swamp, and we run away, but run into several hundred skeletons.

  - Divine aura! - said Trevor and fell on the ground.

  - What's wrong!? - screamed Luara, but Trevor did not answer.

  I cursed and casted my third Destroy undead. Between Nelly and me, we disposed of the undead.

  - Get inside that temple! - I ordered, pointing at one of the temples. Luara grabbed Trevor's colr and dragged him inside the temple, surrounded by columns. That was fifth temple that we found, but searching previous four turned out to be a waste of time.

  Nelly casted Dispel, while I used Cure, but nothing helped. Trevor was conscious, but did not moved. It looked like all his strength just left him.

  Suddenly bright light enveloped me, and I found myself inside a pavilion located inside grape field. In front of me, young beautiful man was ying on a sofa with wine cup in his hand.

  - Welcome to my humble residence, adventurer Avone, - he said in a musical voice: - Would you like some wine?

  - Thank you, but considering what is waiting me outside, I will prefer to be sober.

  - That is wise.

  - Who are you?

  - Oh. You do not recognize me? Not to mention that you are inside my temple.

  - Your former temple?

  - No. It is still mine. As long as I see it as mine, that is. But fine, I am Dionysius, god of wine-making among other things.

  - I see. You already know who I am. So what do you want from me? It is not the best time for a talk.

  - Why not? After all you can rest her, and it is not like your friends will survive. Not if you continue the way you do now.

  - What do you mean?

  - Not so fast. First, I need your promise to help me with a little something.

  - It is never little with you, - I grumbled.

  - For us it is, - he chuckled: - All I need you to do is go to a dungeon and retrieve something. And then make sure that no one uses it, including you.

  - Sounds too troublesome, and I am busy now. May I decline?

  - If you do, your friend Trevor and Luara will die. Not sure about you and mage.

  - Is that a threat?

  - No. It will happen because I will not help you, not because I will get in your way, - he smiled a little.

  There was something that I was missing. Probably something to do with the fact that Trevor loosed all his strength. And whatever gods were, they were not liars. They did not tell everything, but the things they did tell always were truth, at least in my experience.

  - Fine. I will listen to you. Where is that artifact of yours, and where is it located?

  - It is a book. An artifact. It is located inside an ancient dungeon in Great desert.

  - Great desert. The same Great desert that is located on the southern side of uninhabited nds. Are you insane! I would need year, just to reach it. Not to mention that I will not survive the trip alone. Not to mention exploring the dungeon, which is located inside biggest and deadliest desert on all three continents.

  - You are not wrong about that. Besides, the way you are now, neither you or your companions will be able to survive the trip. But do not despair. You can go there once... Let me see. Lets us say once you get your Light magic to Master level and that Nelly girl gets her Sage's wisdom to master level as well. How does that sound?

  - Better, - I sighed: - But it will still be too much to ask of me. Especially if you are offering my usual reward. Way too much. And were exactly in a dungeon this book is located? And way it is so important that no one uses it?

  - It is a long story.

  - Like you said, I have time to rest, - I sat down on a floor and stretched my legs: - Since I will return second after I left no matter how long I spend here, I might as well listen to you.

  Dionysius sighed. He moved a gss in a circle and looked at wine.

  - It happened not long ago. Well long ago for humans, I guess. We were having a party and there was a lot of drinking. We, me and some other gods got too drunk and created an artifact. Book called Akashic records. Then we hid it inside dungeon's thirtieth floor. Book records history of this world. That knowledge is too dangerous for anyone to possess. I need to retrieve it before some troublesome gods find out about it. But our ws forbid me to take back the artifact, once I leave it in the dungeon. That is why I need your help. Get the artifact and bring it to my temple. Then sacrifice it to me, so I can destroy it.

  - Thirtieth floor of an ancient dungeon. Are not the ancient dungeons most dangerous ones.

  - Yes. Also four dungeons that you conquered in Rakshasar were old ones. Not ancient ones. Only group of S rank adventurers would stand a chance of conquering an actual ancient dungeon. You will not succeed. Not with your current levels and abilities. That is why I agree to wait until you at least have a chance to reach its thirtieth floor.

  - Is that not most dangerous and impossible mission that I got from you gods yet. I barely reached second level of an actual ancient dungeon and you want me to go even deeper?

  - You did reach level ten of Darkness dungeon. And it is way more dangerous that the one in the desert. So do not worry about that.

  - Fine. And what about the inevitable death of my companions?

  - Oh, that. In order to understand that, you need to understand more about how the Town of the dead came to bee. You see, when dungeon core first appeared it transformed a single corpse of a dead archmage into undead. This undead was buried inside a castle. He killed everyone in there and evolved into undead king, after using his bck magic to cast a pgue on town. That is a part of history not recorded in your books. Also the second reason way people in that town failed to destroy a dungeon core, was second curse that he used. That curse cursed the nd itself. It drains mana from everyone who walks on it. You did not notice because your Mana rapid recovery skill restores your mana faster than nd drains it. But your other companions do not have such a skill. And you know what happens when your mana is exhausted.

  - Trevor and Luara won't be able to move of fight. Won't be able to protect themselves.

  - Just like people who lived here and other adventurers who came here ter.

  - That is actually useful information. Thank you. Now about my reward.

  - How boring. How about an inexhaustible jug of wine?

  - No. I want something more useful. Way more than my usual payment, if you wish me to spend who knows how many years traveling and then spending in a dungeon, in a middle of a desert with no towns nearby.

  - Fine. How about some information. What exactly are you looking for here?

  - Leveling crystal and some way for me and my party members to increase our levels.

  - I see. Let me think.

  Dionysius looked around and then nodded.

  - You are in luck. Go east, east-north to Mage guild. Inside it you will find two leveling orbs and leveling crystal. Maybe some other useful artifacts as well. It is hard for me to see down there because of the mana drainage and all those ugly undead monsters.

  - Good. Luck is on our side. But I will also need you to increase my level, and levels of my party members too. Since I will need their help to get your magic book. And I need you to transform my belt into an artifact. Something useful, not the useless things that increase stats.

  - I heard that you are a sve driver, when it comes to your reward, but did not expect that you are so greedy. But I do not want you to think that gods are cheap like mortals. Fine, I agree, but nothing more. That is more than I should give you already. About your artifact. Let me see. Well I am a god of madness. So how about an artifact that will protect your mind. Sounds good?

  - Wont it interfere with my existing resistance artifacts?

  - No. Since it will not grant you resistance to anything specific. Just make your mind more... How should I say it. More durable I guess, in a way artifact will increase will power of your mind.

  - That sounds actually useful, - so after my belt I still will have my boots, pants and cloak. I will need to remember that in the future.

  - Good then. You will be proud possessor of Belt of madness. We have an agreement.

  Dionysius snapped his fingers, and I found myself inside the temple. I staggered and Nelly gnced at me with surprise.

  - I am fine, - I assured her: - Just remembered something. Luara, give Trevor mana potion and drink one yourself. Nelly if you use spells that require a lot of mana, also use one, immediately after that.

  - But why? - asked Luara: - They taste horrible.

  - I read somewhere, that this dungeon drains your mana. Did not believe it, but it could expin why Trevor colpsed. You do not want to lose all your mana inside a dungeon, do you? Nelly and I have Mana rapid recovery skills, so we do not need it now, but you cannot afford to be careless. So do what you are told.Luara sighed, but took out two mana potions and helped Trevor to drink one as well. After drinking the potion Trevor got up and nodded.

  - Thank you. I am better now.

  - Good. Now, let us rest a little and then get what we came from and leave as soon as we can.

  - Do you even know where we are going? - asked Luara.

  - To the Mage guild. It should be located east, east-north from this temple, - I looked around and noticed a Dionysius statue: - This is Dionysius temple, so we are on a right track, - I pointed at the statue.

  We run as fast as we could casting Destroy undead on our way. I had a bad feeling that undead mage was following us and encouraged my friends to move as fast as possible. At least mage guild was one of the tallest building in the area, and we easily found it. Its walls had holes in it, but building was still standing and did not look like it would colpse on us.

  We went inside mage guild, and I looked around. There were remnants of shelves and books near walls, but most of them were too old. They would probably turn to dust, if we would even touch them. That was a shame, but nothing unexpected. After all more than a thousand years have passed since this dungeon came to exist. It was even older than King of Iron Mountains and his castle.

  - Nelly, any idea where would treasury be located?

  - On the second floor I guess. If this pce is simir to my Mage guild.

  - Good. You check the treasury. Luara look around the basement, I'll go to third floor. Trevor stay here and scream if anyone comes inside. Do not try to be brave. Rest of you, be fast, but careful. Remember that we may not be alone.

  Everyone nodded and we separated. I run ahead of Nelly and looked for Guild master's room. Third room looked like one, and I went inside. Behind remnants of a closet I noticed what probably was a secret room. I went inside and grinned with pleasure. There were the things that I was looking for and even more. Two leveling orbs, leveling crystal and, I could not believe my eyes, dungeon core. It probably was not this dungeon's dungeon core. Most likely it was taken from another dungeon and kept here for experiments. Among guild master secret treasures there was also grimoire. I opened it and my mouth opened in surprise. It was Book of earth. One of the thirteen books of origin, as Nelly called them. I showed book inside my purse and touched leveling crystal. Dionysius did not lie. My level increased. I had to hurry and quickly chose advanced level Sage's wisdom. Then I smashed dungeon core. Sparks flew inside me and broken core pieces disappeared. I again used leveling crystal and chose advanced level Rainbow deity. Two more tries. Do not fail me lucky coin. First leveling crystal gave me advanced level Supreme demon-god mana control skill. My st try, I prayed to myself. Using all those orbs to myself instead of giving them to Nelly, was a gamble. Last leveling orb and...

  Got it. Master level Rainbow deity. I was on a horse again, or whatever that expression was.

  I quickly searched other rooms, but found nothing useful. I run downstairs and almost smmed into Nelly.

  - Got anything? - I asked her.

  - No. Found the treasury, but there were only copper coins and some silver ones.

  - Did you take them?

  - Well, yes.

  - Good girl. Now let's go downstairs.

  Luara and Trevor were waiting for us, and I took out leveling crystal.

  - Quickly use it, - I ordered them.

  - Where did you got it? - asked Luara.

  - In guild master's room. It was a gamble, but that was exactly why we came here. Less talk more hand pcing.

  - But we leveled not so long, - objected Nelly, but pced her hand on the crystal: - I leveled up, - she excimed, surprised.

  - Yes. Short story, I made a deal with someone. So choose a skill and let others use the crystal.

  - What kind of deal? - asked Luara, while Trevor used leveling crystal.

  - We will have to go somewhere and retrieve one book. That will be a very bad pce, but we all received advance payment, so you are stuck with me, until we complete the job.

  Luara sighed and used leveling crystal.

  - Did you made a deal with fairy queen? - asked Nelly.

  - Something like it. Did you found anything in basement? - I asked Luara.

  - There was a cage with a cat inside.

  - Really? - that reminded me something that fairy queen told me: - Luara, Trevor wait here. Nelly come with me. We will be right back.

  We run to the basement, and I stopped in front of a cage. There truly was a cat inside. He was rge, bck, with a white spot on his chest. Cage was pced near a wall in a room that reminded me a training room in Grimsburg Mage guild. Except that this one was empty and covered with dust. The only thing inside it was a cage, with wolf sized cat inside. Cat opened his eyes and gred at us.

  - Humans? No, human and an elf. Last time I saw humans was more than a millennia ago.

  - That cat talks! - shouted surprised Nelly.

  - What are you doing here? - I asked the cat. There was no time to be surprised by talking cat.

  - I am cat sith. Mages from this tower summoned and captured me long ago. Then town turned into dungeon, but this damned cage still keeps me a prisoner. Can you free me mortals. I promise to reward you, if you do.

  - Do you know any pce where we could find many magic gems? - I asked hopefully.

  - No mortal. That I cannot do.

  - Too bad, - I sighed, bad still used Scatter artifact power spell.

  Cat sith meowed in surprise and hit cages door with his paw. Lock broke and door opened. Cat sith jumped outside and looked at me with squinted eyes.

  - What a cute kitty, - said Nelly and smiled. She probably wanted to pat him. Girl really liked animals.

  - Maybe you can order yourself one, - I said sarcastically.

  - As you wish-h mortal, - said cat sith and run away. I looked after him and shrugged. Well at least he did not attacked us.We went upstairs and found surprised Luara and Trevor.

  - The cat from the cage just run past us, - informed me Luara.

  - Nelly thought that he was cute, - I informed her in exchange.

  - I see, - Luara looked at Nelly, but did not commented further.

  - So, what now? - I asked Luara.

  - What do you mean, what now? Was not it your pn to come here in the first pce.

  - My pn was to get to Town of the Dead, get leveling crystal and level up, to get our skill level higher.

  - Was that all your pn?

  - Ha! It might have some holes in it.

  My party members sighed and looked away. What? It was a good pn, and I stand by it.

  - We should go west. Slightly south-west. That should be the location of Grimsburg, if you trust the maps that show location of Town of the Dead, - said Luara.

  - See. It was a good pn, - Luara rolled her eyes, and we stepped outside.

  - Found you! - said undead mage.