"Yes, I am sure you are grateful," said Christina.
"I am Shepherd, First Lieutenant, part of the expedition led by Royal Attache Lord George Beagle," said the dog-man. "But our entire team was taken hostage!"
"Tell us more," I said.
"We were on a diplomatic mission to Mooshu, but were denied audience with the Emperor," said Shepherd. "They said he was napping and couldn't be disturbed."
I frowned. "He should be fine now," I said. I decided not to tell him about what really happened to the Emperor - they must have arrived before I restored Emperor Yoshihito's health.
"Lord Beagle decided to chase a rumor he'd heard, the fabled paradise of Shangri-Baa," said Shepherd. "And we were so blinding close, too!"
"I heard about that place," said Ethan. "It's said to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Spiral, a paradise where people never aged or grew hungry. It's a total myth but people still chase it."
"We were treating with the venerable Dali Lamba," said Shepherd. "When a clan of ninjas came down from the mountain and attacked! Then something strange happened - their leader played an eerie song which somehow bewitched the monks - they turned on us!"
"I've heard of songs that can charm serpents," said Grace. "But monks?"
"The ninja leader ordered us to be taken hostage," said Shepherd. "I managed to slip away in the chaos... but what could those ninjas want with hostages?"
"I have an idea," murmured Ethan foully. I nodded. They were not hostages - they were going to be ritual sacrifices!
"There's no way I am going back," said Shepherd. "You must go and rescue the expeditionary force from the Pagoda of Harmony!"
"We'll gladly do so," I said.
We entered the Pagoda and felt a sense of discord...
"AH!" cried Christina. "DON'T SPOOK ME LIKE THAT!!!"
I bowed. "You must be the Dali Lamba."
"Indeed I am," said the monk. "I admire you bravery, but one does not simply walk into the Pagoda of Harmony. You must master the song if you wish to sustain."
"I can whistle Dixie," said Christina. I glared at her.
Ethan laughed. "This is going to be a fun team to join!"
If the Lamba was bothered, he didn't acknowledge it. "Each floor is a musical movement, and the monks who study there, the notes. But an evil force has come and soured those notes. Bound to this discordant melody, the monks are now off their normal rhythms, but they can be re-tuned. And the pups can still be saved."
"That's why we are here," I said. "To rescue the 'pups.'"
"As I have attained Harmony," said the Lamba. "I was not corrupted by the evil noise. I can aid you, but my vows forbid me from fighting. Shall we begin?" He led us to the first floor. (The Dali Lamba is the only companion you get in these new dungeons and only here. He grants +20% Power Pip chance to your characters.)
Two monks barred our way.
"Ugh, they are tone-deaf!" moaned Christina, covering her ears.
"We listen with more than just our ears," said the Dali Lamba. "The spirit must not only be able, but willing to stay upon the path of Harmony."
"Well, I hate to say it," I said. "But it looks like we'll have to subdue them."
(Don't expect an easy time if you just hit Level 25 - the enemies here are all Elite or Bosses; the Enthralled Spirit Monks are Ice and have 1055 HP. Worse, they spam shields - Tower Shield, Volcanic Shield and Legend Shield, neutering Sierra and Grace's attacks, then they use Blizzard.)
(Luckily, a Ra + Forest Lord is able to take out these two monks. And that picture looks disgustingly wrong. O_o)
"Our spirits were too weak to resist Tonkatsu's beguiling cacophany!" cried the monks as they awoke, badly bruised. "Thank you all for breaking us down so that we may rebuild!"
We bowed before the shrine and suddenly felt our innards bubble with vigor and felt like nothing could go wrong.
"Have you the fortitude to continue?" asked the Lamba.
"Yeah," I said.
"Most excellent!" he said. "Up we go!"
We ascended to the next level and found more monks in our way, singing the same noisy song.
"Harmony is achieved only through focus," said the Lamba. "One goes only so far along the path as the mind will allow them to go."
"Well, these guys are brainwashed so we have to clear up their minds," said Ethan. "Let's do it."
(The Enthralled Mind Monks have 940 HP and are Fire, but despite being Fire they also have learned the Myth spells Stun and Pierce which they'll use to destroy Stun Shields. Be wary. Christina was stunned once before she used Ra on their hides.)
"Good work, young wizards," said the Lamba. "Now, meditate at the Shrine of the Mind and contemplate all that it teaches."
We bowed before the next shrine and our minds grew clear. (Make sure to note these symbols!)
"We're ready to go on," I said.
"You believe you are ready to continue your journey?" asked the Lamba. "Good."
We reached the top of the Pagoda and found the expeditionary force being held hostage by the monks. They were even worse in their singing.
"EARPLUGS!" screamed Christina.
"Better yet, just puke on them to shut them up."
"One must be of sound body to withstand the long ardrous journey," said the Lamba.
"These guys sure weren't," I laughed.
[The first dungeon's final fight is against Tsutsui(1135 HP) and his Enthrall Body Monks(885 HP), all of them are Storm, but the Monks will use Balanceblade, Precision and Curse. Like Blaze Stormhammer, Sierra got a Blazezilla pet - a Firezilla pet which gives a Krokomummy attack card; Fire minion attack that does 375 Fire damage, not worth it. Also, we got some gear; all the gear in the new dungeons is No Auction, and the ones that the final bosses drop which relate to your school - rare stuff - is also No Trade, so Quick Sell if you don't need it.]
"Oh, my head," said the goliath monk, rubbing his head. "Apologies, Wizards! And to you, esteemed Dali Lamba! Tonkatsu's vile song sent fury to my fists but I am in control now."
"You're forgiven," said Grace. "You just need to heal and you will be fine."
"You have endured much, friends," said the Lamba. "Meditate before the Shrine of the Body and let its message strengthen you."
We did so and our wounds healed. (Actually, it was the Health Wisps that appear after this battle - if you had to use potions, I pity you. Nice touch that they float around the room.)
"Well done, friends," said the Lamba. "You have learned the song that will help you on your path. Just do not forget how to carry the tune."
The dog wardens were not impressed. "Those ninjas took Lord Beagle into the mountain!" said one. "They said they were gonna use him for some vessel for an asura, whatever that is."
Dali Lamba gasped. "It is as I feared! Tonkatsu has found a vessel for Hamakama!"
"We have to save him," I said.
"Yes, but first, let us escort these pups back to their base camp." He waved his hands and a portal appeared. "This will take you to the camp."
"Hey, look at this!" said Christina.
"We have no time to investigate or pick locks," I said. "We have to get back to Shepherd." I pulled her into the portal. (This is a mechanic I will show off later when I get a skeleton key - sadly I did not get any in these battles. You only get them as rare drops in battles in these dungeons or Briskbreeze Tower.)
"He's going to be a vessel for an asura," I said.
"A what?!" said Shepherd.
"An asura is a four-armed spirit of malevolence and greed," said the Dali Lamba. "Hamakama is the most evil of them all. Long ago, monks of my order used his vanity to trap him into a statue of himself. I believe that Tonkatsu is going to do a ritual to put the spirit of Hamakama into the body of Lord Beagle!"
"In other words, possess him!" said Ethan. "I've heard legends about unholy rituals that cause evil spirits to possess the bodies of people and take their place. They would have the body of the old being and the spirit of the new, becoming a new person."
The Lieutenant turned pale with fear. "Lord Beagle has political influence in many circles of the Spiral. That thing could destroy them from within if he became Lord Beagle!"
"Precisely," said the Lamba. "Wizards, your journey continues. Go up to Hallow Mountain. I will meet you there."
I nodded. We have to save Lord Beagle before it was too late...
[To be continued...]
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