The |Cave of Echoes| was a rain ranked dungeon that has been cleared not too long ago. It's supposed to be a normal dungeon, having its ecosystem slowly disappear after it has been ransacked. But then, an abnormality occurred. Something that no hunters could possibly just put their heads on, but today, it's time to reveal the secret of this certain dungeon.

Dungeon: Cave of Echoes

Rank: Unranked/Cleared

GEO's Special Classification due to the recent phenomena: Star Rank

As the party entered the dungeon, each one of them felt uneasy. It's as if their suspicion was right that something sinister is currently being housed in this cleared dungeon. Though with that said, they didn't waiver.

"Step aside little hunters."

King Crow marches as the rest of them make way for him, he takes the lead as the party's main front liner.

"Hmm, wouldn't this setting put you at a disadvantage, Sir King Crow? It's too narrow for you to move and dodge attacks if it did come."

David inquired.

"Fuhahaha!! Worry not little hunter, dodging isn't in my book! I shall charge towards it head on and let them have a taste of my axe!"

King Crow confidently remarked. It's not being boastful, it was a fact anyway. With his build and attribute, mainly focused on strength and endurance, he'll be one hell of a front liner to deal with.

"I'm already feeling at ease with you in front of us. Thank you, King Crow Sir." Fiona respectfully commented.

King Crow nodded in response and with a smirk, they pushed through, with him on the lead.

Back to Telmaris, Zephyr is on his way to the dungeon just to bid them good luck, however he's already too late as the party already went inside. While sauntering, he was greeted by Gringar who was doing a morning patrol.

"Zephyr, where are you going?"

'Crap, why is he up so early? Does he usually wake up at times like this? And when I finally decided to leave my precious bed early for a change…he's probably thinking right now how irresponsible I am! I'll just tell him what I said back then with Ana.'

"Oh, uh, just going to attend to some important matters."

Gringar observes him, he notices how armed to the teeth Zephyr currently was.

"Going somewhere else? Is there anything the GEO can help you with?"

'No. Wait, why do you sound like I'm going somewhere important? Ah-' He then remembers what he was currently wearing: a full set of high grade artifacts. With that said, he acted like he's on a serious business just so Gringar could let him off.

"No. I should probably do this alone. I'm just going somewhere out of the city."

"Somewhere out of the city?" Gringar thinks for a little while- 'At first I think he's going to follow the party because he's concerned, but rather, since he's seriously armed right now must mean…'

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"You're going on solo somewhere, huh…I don't know what's the connection between the place you're going to and the |Cave of Echoes|, but I respect your decision for keeping it confidential for now. Know that you're doing a great favor for the GEO, as one of the officers, I thank you for your efforts."

'Gringar my man, I appreciate the compliment, but I don't know where it's coming from. Since it sounds like he's going to let me off the hook, let's just be humble and accept it.'

"Thank you, but it's a team effort, not just me. Well since I'm on a deadline, I'll have to go now."

Gringar nodded in response.

"Thank you again Zephyr, we'll have a reward for you when you and your party returns."

Zephyr turns around for a bit- "Well then, please make it a set of delicious cheeses!" He then sets off.

As Gringar chuckles with his request, he looks at the sky with expecting eyes.

"Telmaris sure is lucky to have someone like him keeping watch over the capital." Said person, however, is oblivious of everything.

|Cave of Echoes|

As the group continued to march onward, Anastasia's eyes were glued to the ring that Zephyr gave her. Noticing this, Athy couldn't help but tease her.

"Oh Master, could it be that…you're thinking that ring is a symbol of marriage given to you by Lord Zephyr!?"

Anastasia's eyes widened, her cheeks flushed and her face showed an elated expression that no one could expect to come out of her. Witnessing her reaction, Athy was taken aback as it's not the reaction she was expecting.

"W-wha-!? Master, you're seriously thinking about it huh??!"

Fiona chuckled.

"It's refreshing to see how we can still find something that can lift us up even if we're trudging through danger."

"Hehe, of course. Hunter's life is too short to be always on the edge. We should be thinking of something fun even once in a while despite being inside a dungeon."

King Crow halted his march, causing the rest of them to stop as well. Meiren then inquires-

"Why did you stop, Lord King Crow?"

King Crow then pointed something from the ground as if inviting them to see what it was. As the party peeked from behind him, what they saw made them wary and serious.

"Is that…" ← Meiren

"That's unnerving…a corpse, and it's quite fresh. For a cleared dungeon, is it really true that this particular one adopted new types of monsters?" ← Fiona

Everyone gathered around the corpse to examine it. Some time back then, Meiren researched about the phenomenon and all the hearsay regarding this dungeon. It turns out that a witness saw a monster, who looks like it lives from a different dungeon, enter the cave.

"This hunter was crushed to death, something a giant could do." ← Athy

"A Cave Troll?" ← David

"No, since this was already cleared, all the Cave Trolls must have fallen to the hunters that raided this dungeon. Besides, a Cave Troll cannot possibly beat a star ranked hunter like this one." ← Fiona

"Chills. Like, no one in this Cave could probably do damage like that." ← Erika

"There's more in here."

Anastasia saw more corpses along their path.

"It seems like these people are those hunters that Gringar sent to survey this place. Geh, what a way to meet their end." King Crow commented as he stepped forward, but then an alarming noise made them put their guards up.

"ROOOOOOAAAAAR!!!"

"Hiik!!" Meiren covers her ears as the rest of [Shadow Core] surrounds her to make her feel more at ease. Meanwhile King Crow stands tall as their forward, Anastasia and Athy on the other hand prepare their weaving signs.

"....."

*Gulp*

Even the small water drops could be heard echoing through the cave due to how quiet it turns out after the deafening roar. After a while, numerous big footsteps could be heard marching towards their position.

"They're coming!! Everyone, look out for each other!" ← Fiona

Bright red eyes reflect on the dark path, as it increases in numbers, the monsters finally made their appearance.

"...!?" King Crow narrows his eyes down.

"What?" ← Erika

"This…doesn't make any sense." ← David

"C-Cave Trolls? But, they're using hunter's gear and artifacts?!" ← Athy

"Master Zep, this abnormality, why would you entrust this to me." Anastasia remarked as both of her hands turned dark, looking like an obsidian.

"But, whatever this is, I believe Master has already planned for its finale."

Meanwhile, as Zephyr was finally out of the city, an old lady gets his attention, waving at him as if she needs some help.

'Come on…I have no time for this…but it would be disrespectful for me to just leave an old lady that needs assistance. Let's be a diligent person, shall we…' Zephyr walks towards the old lady and asks-

"Hello, madame, what can I help you with?"

The old lady pointed in a random direction.

"My cat! My cat is lost again!"

"....."

'Hold on. Why does this sound familiar?'