It has been a very long time since the events that took place down in the rotting dungeon.
Somewhere far away from there, on the other side of the mountain, there is a secluded forest. Cicadas buzz loudly, filling the woodland with the shrill sounds of their summer cries, together with that constant melody of sleepy birdsong. The voices of the small creatures are all somewhat quieter and calmer than they should be, as they have been lulled into a deep peace by the heavy summer heat, which coats the world as if it were a thick, comfortable blanket. The airy, bright forest landscape goes on for a while, stretching away from the mountains which encloses it on almost all sides, like a sanctuary.
Further away from those high, cold peaks, the forest starts to thin out a little bit as it comes closer and closer to the secluded beach, on which no hominid foot has stepped in hundreds of years. The cove is the only opening that isn’t blocked and hidden by the tall mountains. The sand, crystal-white and glistening with salty ocean water, shimmers beneath the bright rays of the sun that hangs high above in the bright blue sky. The calm, continuous crashing of the ocean comes together with the sounds of the forest behind it, all of it together creating a peaceful ambiance.
The large ocean-lizard, sitting high atop a particularly warm and sunny rock, looks around the beach lazily and then lets out a long, prolonged, deeply sleepy and comfortable yawn, as it scans the area for any particularly fat and juicy bugs to eat with its one eye. Or maybe even a tiny crab, though it doesn’t like eating those too often. It feels bad for the crabs. But that’s just how life is out here on the beach. You eat, or you get eaten. That being said, it’s a nice beach. Perhaps the nicest of them all. The lizard loves its beach. It loves the beach-master who has granted it a life in such a paradise, though it does not know why it deserves such kindness.
Anyways, if it doesn’t want to eat bugs or one of the many skittering crabs, there are always some nice berries or shallow-water fish to get. It likes fish.
Licking its eye to moisturize it, it slowly makes its way down from its hot perch and starts calmly walking over the sands of the beach in its search for some lunch. Maybe after that, it will take another long nap on the rock. That sounds like a nice idea. Being a lizard is the best. But it’s a little lonely, honestly. There aren’t any other lizards here. It’s just the one. The only one of its kind. This makes the lizard very sad sometimes. Sometimes it stares out over the boundless ocean, wishing that it had someone to share the sight with. But there is nobody here but it, the crabs, the fish and the bugs. It saw a frog once or twice, but they never stayed long. Every time they saw the lizard, they would say ‘ribbit’ and leap away.
The purple-tinged lizard stops, feeling something come towards it. Something not unusual to the beach, but something that it likes to appreciate anyways. The wind. A strong, hot breeze carries itself over the ocean and crashes over the lizard’s body like that of a wave of water. But…
But the wind carries something else with it. A voice? No. A thought. The lizard opens its eye, noticing that it isn’t alone anymore. Yet somehow, this doesn’t surprise the lizard.
“What’s your name, friend?” asks the happy lizard as it keeps walking. The stranger isn’t here in body, rather the stranger that it senses is simply… here. The stranger is present, but they are present inside of the sleepy lizard, not like a parasite. That would be a rude thing to imply. No, rather, they’re like a guest in the house of its body.
“Iyumi?” asks the purple-tinged lizard, repeating what it had heard in its mind. “That’s a really nice name, tell you what,” it says, nodding once to itself. “How did you get here, Iyumi? Huh? What’s that? You’ve always been here?” The lizard looks around, blinking slowly. “Are you sure? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. But then again, I only have one eye, so maybe I missed you. Haha!”
The lizard turns to the side, stretching itself up on its hind legs as it reaches for some low hanging berries that dangle out from the thin underbrush of the forest. “I don’t have a name,” explains the lizard. “I’m just little old me,” it adds on with a quiet laugh. “Just a little lizard that lives all by itself on the nicest beach in the whole world,” it finishes, before chewing on the thick, juicy, pink berry that it plucks from the bush.
“…My help?” Swallowing, it looks around, listening to the sound that it hears. The sound of water, not from the ocean, but from the falling tears that it hears in its head. “Woah, woah, easy there, friend. What’s the matter? Huh?” The lizard listens to the desperate voice in its mind. “You want to find the person you love?” At hearing this honest plight, the lizard can’t help but feel a little embarrassed and it runs its claws through the hot, soft sand beneath itself, as it fidgets a little, lowering its head down against its side for a brief moment. The voice has such a strong feeling to it, Iyumi’s words have such strong, honest feelings behind them. The lizard likes that a lot. But…
“They’re on the other side of the mountain?” The lizard turns around and looks through the forest, staring up towards the highest peak in the entire world. “I’m just a little lizard, friend. I don’t know if I’m the right guy for the jo-… ah! No, wait! Don’t cry!”
The lizard sighs, looking around the warm, comfortable, safe beach that it loves so much. It listens to the sounds of the droning ocean, it listens to the warm singing of the sleepy birds and the cicadas. It listens to the crying of the distraught, heartbroken voice in its head, the voice of someone who has lost hope, the voice of someone who has nothing left to believe in and is not even able to feel the light of the sun, having no body.
For some reason, this makes the lizard very angry. It’s single eye twitches, almost spasming a tiny bit, as its blood pressure rises. Noticing its agitation, it lets out a deep, long breath to calm itself. Someone needs its help, how could it ever sleep at night knowing that it had said no? How could it ever sun itself on its rock during the hot afternoon, with the gnawing doubt in the back of its mind, that it had let someone down who needed it. The first person who had ever needed them.
Someone who needed a hero to help them, to save them.
It’s just a little one-eyed lizard that lives all by itself out on the nicest beach in the entire world. It’s not very strong or fast or smart or beautiful, it knows that. But it also knows that it has one thing, one driving force that keeps it going through those lonely nights and those fish-filled days, one particular characteristic of which it is more proud than anything else. It is something that makes up for all of those flaws which it holds to be true, yet it also holds them to be unimportant when weighed against its one, best quality-
Conviction.
The lizard takes one final look back towards the beach, smiling not because it has to leave, but because it had had the chance to live here at all. It hopes the beach-master will understand. Facing forward, it stares up at the highest mountain in the world, gazing towards the apex, yet as it does so, as it gazes up towards that distant, impossibly far away peak that it has to surmount, its smile doesn’t leave its face.
A wind, surging from the ocean pushes past its back, as if a mother’s hand were gently nudging it forward. The soft frill that runs along its spines almost feels like it is billowing in the breeze as if it were loose fabric. The lizard takes a step forward.
Then another.
Then another, as it runs off towards the adventure that awaits it. It’s single eye shimmers brightly in the afternoon sunlight, as a tiny twinkle begins to form inside of it.
This is the end
Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the Earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again
For this is the end
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue, I owe them
Swept away, I'm stolen
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together...
Thanks for dramatically reading our little adventure!
Hmmm... It's an ending I suppose. Though it left me a little bit wanting, I'm forced to admit. I knew we weren't going to get all the answers. I even expected we weren't going to get a lot of answers. But even then, the ending feels lacking.
I know, it's probably more of a journey than a destination thing, but even then. There is so little in terms of explanation that it's pretty much impossible to surmise what the journey was about.
I'm sort of trying to consolidate my judgment, so let me try and figure it out anyway...
There's a world. It has mountains, forest, oceans, adventurers, a system, and dungeons, so I could assume this to be a relatively classic litrpg fantasy world, though this is never explained. Even my pluralization of the word dungeon is nothing more than an educated guess because the hero party behaved as if dungeon running was a thing.
Am I right? I honestly don't know.
Our dungeon is... unspecified. Usually, there's some kind of established normal the reader can use to determine whether something is normal or abnormal. We never got that point of reference, so we can only guess. Based on the wizard not being aware of the time shenanigans I'm going to guess abnormal.
Am I right?
Was the dungeon always abnormal?
If it wasn't, then when, how, and why did it get abnormal?
When the anti-hero party did a thing they shouldn't?
At one point in time, the dungeon had an anti-hero party. The actual time here is once again unspecified, because of time shenanigans. It was at least before the first spawn of MC, and MC went through probably thousands of spawns, with each one probably lasting about a day or so, so anywhere between a couple of years and a couple of centuries. The dungeon rock had begun rotting so probably on the longer end.
The anti-hero party was there because... no idea. I'm fairly certain they're not there as a metaphorical lesson for MC.
Was it just because having dungeon-runners encounter an evil hero-party would be a cool dungeon mechanic?
Dungeon master states it is difficult to get new humans as replacements for the hero-party. But thief-girl was an elf and a former member of the anti-hero party. So if dungeon master could "easily" get their hands on an anti-hero party back then, why is it so hard now?
Anyway, the anti-hero party consisted of the lance hero, Nicodemus, thief-girl, and probably at least two more party members we never met (judging by hero party size).
Eventually, things happened I have no clue about. Lance hero and Nicodemus ended up as skeletons (Or maybe they always were and thief-girl was the only human party member). Nicodemus became a regular dungeon mob, Lance hero got a grave.
The dungeon master rearranged the dungeon in order to teach one of his (metaphorical) children a valuable life lesson. (Not sure if sarcasm.) This child ends up being MC. Dungeon master might not have intended it to be MC, as lance hero refused to cooperate or something of the sort.
Why did MC need to go through this?
What was the purpose?
All I know is that the initial purpose was not to get the fungus out. That only came after, when the dungeon started rotting because MC was taking too long.
Something about the time-reset/respawn/different bodies made MC go completely loopy, while most other dungeon mobs remained perfectly sane, at least for a limited definition of sane. It clearly isn't purely the time-reset because the other mobs remember things from past runs as well, and are (somewhat) fine.
What was the exact difference?
Dungeon master was aware of MC's mental decline but appeared to genuinely not care about it.
Why?
Did MCs mental decline not interfere with dungeon master's plan?
Was it simply casual cruelty on the part of the dungeon master?
Something about the lesson taught involved metaphors. Lots and lots of metaphors. As the hero party was part of the setup, the metaphors were probably intended for MC. MC clearly did not get most of them, only barely recognizing that there were metaphors.
Were we, the readers, supposed to understand some of these metaphors?
Were some of the metaphors just padding to reach an even 300 chapter count?
The hero party was part of the lesson. Maybe because the lesson still needed some semblance of a once normal dungeon, and that needs a hero party somehow. Dungeon master pretty much states as much at the end there, but I still can't figure out the exact why.
Why?
The hero party was probably just a random party that wandered into the dungeon and got co-opted by the dungeon master. I hope. The hero party's goal seemed to shift in the end towards not letting the fungus escape. But that fungus was only the result of MC taking too long, so that wasn't their original goal.
Somehow thief-girl ended up in the hero party.
How?
She, just like MC, was mentally affected.
Why both thief girl and MC, but no other dungeon mob?
She, unlike the rest of the hero party, remained aware beyond resets, probably because she was a member of the anti-hero party, and thus technically a dungeon mob.
Hmmm... we're missing maybe two party members from the anti-hero party. Perhaps MC and the encroacher? Farfetched, but it would draw a commonality between MC and thief-girl, and thus a reason for their shared mental decline.
MC eventually gets out, fungus spreads, and... MC dies?
Cycle repeats with sister/encroacher because... no idea. Something special about sister? Will all dungeon mobs go through this?
Thief-girl short of halfway lives on inside sister because... yeah, she was eaten simply doesn't cover it as an explanation.
A long time after, Lizard on the beach. My first thought is sister, but lizards voice sort of sounds like MC. Buuuut.... MC was dead right?
Nope. Still can't make sense out of it going through it all like this. Not to mention this is getting longer than most of your chapters and I've barely even touched most of the open questions. (Why was skitters the only mob that provided significant aid to MC? Why did monk girl only show up in the hero party halfway through?) All I can figure out is that basically everyone got shafted, except maybe the dungeon master, the fungus, and a select number of mobs.
It's pointless, is that the point?
Well, regardless, the size of this comment proves I was definitely invested. So that's at least some success right there. Now let's find out if there's a maximum comment length...
tl;dr
Just kidding, I read all of it x) Thank you very kindly for reading! You really were invested in this one apparently, that means a whole lot to me, so thank you double for that too! If you want to know more about the 'outside world' then have a look at Dungeon Item Shop or Sin-Eater if you're super-interested. They're the same universe.
One answer I will give is that MC is the lizard. 'guy', before he spored, let Mc respawn one last time using the last of the dungeon-magic holding the lancer body together. He was a true friend until the end.
Thanks....
Thanks for reading!
Finally, binge listened to this entire story, and whew... I don't know what to say (in a good way) but it was nice. The later parts felt like if surrealist art was a novel (also in a good way) but it was nice. I liked it and thank you Razmatazz for writing it. Also fun fact the TTS program I use pronounces your name razz - ma - taz. Is that how to pronounce it?
Also, I was wondering if your other works take place in the same world and/or if you have like a recommended read order though I usually only read finished stories since I don't like cliffhangers. I really liked this one and I want to try some of your other stuff
Thank you super, super kindly for reading all the way through! I really get happy when people manage that. All of the stories are in the same world and different eras. If you want more of Respawn's vibe, look at Sin-Eater, where some characters make a cameo. But Sunflower or the Core stories are my best writing, currently.
@Razmatazz thanks I appreciate the reply and I'll check those out thanks again
Just finished my 3 day hard binge. The MC's insane mental deterioration may have had a slight impact on my own mental state, in the form of not being able to focus on my school work for the life of me.
Definitely way way different from what I expected, but I dont regret it. It was quite the adventure. I really do wish the thief elf got a bit more screentime, but it is what it is.
A lot of super secret-secrets that are explained nicely in the end. Mostly. I dont recall there being an explanation for the ice-hell that the encroacher/sister lived in. Or her presence in general. Or who the MC actually was, since the Lance anti-hero took the easy way out and dropped the responsibility onto MC and dipped.
One thing that this story reminds me of is Goblin Slayer actually, with almost none of the characters having actual names. (Thats the only similarity, I just wanted to point it out).
Overall, a very interesting story that isnt for everyone, but just so happened to be for me! Its interesting seeing one of your earlier works, Razz. One before you really solidified your vision of the world system/menu that goes with all your litRPGs (that ive read/am reading so far).
My eyes hurt from this binge, so ill probably take a bit of a break from reading to rest my eyes and brain. Gotta get that CONVICTION
Thank you ultra super kindly for reading! I'm always happy when people find this story and somehow manage to make their way through it haha. In the end, MC is just MC, anything more than that is not worth worrying about.
sooo what happened with the fungi? in the comments of final core you said the parasitic mold ended the age of adventurers and dungeins, razmatazz... also, we never got to see if mc remembered everything or not... and what was wizard girls reaction to the drawing on mcs chest in the end? did she even have one?
thanks for the story, its been a real ride
'Guy', as MC has been calling them, is the fungus. MC was driven to reach the mountain by, where the mushroom would be able to spore and spread around the world's ambient magic currents. Though, in a last act of friendship, Guy used its power to let MC respawn one last time. Thank you very kindly for reading all the way through!
Here I am at the end of the 300 chapters. It has been very… interesting. I am very invested in your world. I shall follow Fresh’s story next
Thank you for reading this whole story! Crazy. Gonna be honest, this one doesn't get much attention these days because it's pretty rough. I really appreciate you going all the way through!
Thank you for a very unique and interesting story. I just have one question that has been burning inside of me since i started reading this story.
Was any of the earlier parts of the story inspired by a game called Incursion: Halls of the goblin king? It's a rogue like and a one man passion project about a D&D character invading a dungeon to kill a goblin king. However, the game was constantly in development and more content and deeper floors were constantly added to the game. But it was still a game about killing the goblin king. So at the end when it was "finished" the goblin king was all the way down on floor 10 and by the time you meet him you have probably already fought dragons, demons and mindflayers on your way there. But i guess he did not want to change the name of the game.
Thought i saw a similarity with the goblins at the bottom of your dungeon.
Thanks for reading! Glad you're having fun. No, I haven't heard of that game before. Looks pretty neat though
If your goal was to make me hate the DM, then mission accomplished. I mean I thought he was a POS from the minute I met him but, that ending...
If I am understanding it correctly the whole point of the 'plot' was to spread the fungus? So sister (and her hitchhikers) are going to get the same treatment? Or was the fungus a one time thing and Sister is just the next monster to be let loose on the world?
The lance hero being killed after angering the dark god (after being resurrected) seemed to have no effect on the story other than the MC getting a super powerful body. Or did I misunderstand something?
Also where did the Monk come from? She wasn't in the first of the story but she just appeared on day.
Liked the story and the characters. The little bits of insanity that bled over from the mobs were excellent.
These are my personal opinions so try not to take them too hard. It could just be a difference in writing style. It kinda dragged between when slime-girl disappeared and the final fight. I had some issues with the MC's personality but they are difficult to explain. He felt too... innocent...? naive...? hopeful...? idealistic...? I dunno... If I was writing him he start out more pragmatic, and desensitized to violence, like an animal defending its home. But that would probably end up being a completely different story. Maybe it's just me, I tend to write dark characters that are 'relatively' well adjusted towards those they care about but are OVERTLY hostile to anyone who would threaten those people.
Thanks for reading! The point of the dungeon is a reformation center for entities who are 'uncooperative' to the dark-gods of the universe. That's the core goal of the dungeon. Unfortunately, MC was such a slacker that the dungeon literally started to mold, giving birth to the 'guy' sub-plot. Much like the dungeon itself became emergent over time, so did the fungus as MC's companion. Following its biological desires to spore, 'guy' essentially forced MC to leave the dungeon (which they were doing anyways) so that it could reach the mountain and spore.
done binging the entire series. very very good. now to start on dungeon shop
Wew, god damn. Thanks a bunch for reading, friend!