Dungeon Bound

Gabriel was a successful magic student until a classmate framed him, forcing him to join the Adventurer’s Guild to survive. Unfortunately, his career as an adventurer doesn’t turn out quite how he was hoping. While on his first delve, he discovers more about monsters, dungeons, and souls than he ever imagined. With that knowledge comes power and new friends. But even as his exotic companions enrich his life, they also give him more to lose.

A week ago, all Gabriel wanted was to graduate and settle into a boring but safe job. Last night he tore a man's soul out to save a gorgon. He's never felt more alive. But their victory over his longtime bully provides only a short reprieve. There are darker threats than greedy adventurers hidden deep beneath Lostbarrow, and more enemies await in the city above.

A week ago, Gabriel Grimm would never have imagined that being expelled from the Academy of Magic and turned into a virgin sacrifice would be an experience he was grateful for. Now, bonded to three incredible monster girls and a charming young Dungeon Core, he can’t even imagine going back to his old life. He’s killed dozens of guards and brought down the baron, trapping the man’s soul in a crystal. Mated with a hellhound, then avenged her old Pack by cutting down a monstrous arachne. When that battle almost cost Gabriel his life, he bonded with a feisty werebadger.

Gabriel and his bonded have spent three weeks working to stabilize the Dungeon Core's much enlarged Domain. But increasing undead incursions have them scurrying to keep the monsters that lurk beneath their territory from drawing the ire of the planet-spanning Adventurer's Guild. Along with defense, they must find new allies to strengthen Merideva and improve their chances of survival.

Having drained his mana pool in a series of brutal battles, Gabriel is exhausted. His bonded are likewise weary but unbowed. They fought back powerful invaders from a foreign world, then crushed a coup that threatened Lostbarrow. But even as they hope to rest and recover, the Mistress remains an imminent threat. Increasing undead attacks threaten the Dungeon Core and risk drawing the Guild's undesired attention. And Vesrah continues to claw at Gabriel, sinking her corrupted talons ever deeper into his very soul.

The undead threat now serves at his command, but a greater danger remains. The Swarm Queen dominates much of the dungeon, seeming unassailable behind hordes of insectoid monstrosities. Yet Gabriel is relentless in pursuit of his goals: to restore his fallen bonded and to crush Vesrah's Swarm before the sinister darkness she seeded in his soul claims him.