Xavier and Aji stepped cautiously onto the sixth floor, strange energy in the air crackling around them. The chamber was massive, its high stone ceiling disappearing into the shadows above. In the center of the room was something entirely unexpected—a giant, life-sized snake and ladder board. The stone squares stretched out before them, each etched with symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Aji asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "Yep. A giant snake and ladder game. In a dungeon. Because why wouldn’t there be?"
The familiar deep, echoing voice from the dungeon filled the room again, this time with a cold chuckle. “Welcome, challengers, to the Serpent’s Gamble. The rules are simple—reach the hundredth square before y
