The very next morning, Travis woke early, the anticipation thrumming through him like a pulse. Today was the day of his promotion test, and he felt more than ready. After making his way to the Adventurer’s Guild, he approached the counter confidently. The receptionist, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a welcoming smile, took his application and motioned for him to wait.
“We’ll arrange an examiner for you,” the man said, his tone brisk but professional.
Travis nodded, stepping to the side and leaning casually against a pillar. He observed the bustling guildhall, watching adventurers come and go with their weapons and gear. Some exchanged banter, while others seemed focused, reviewing maps or taking inventory of potions.
' It seems like the same type of test as before, ' Travis thought, his mind calm. Nothing to stress about.
When his examiner arrived, a wiry older adventurer with scars on his arms and a sharp, assessing gaze, the test began. Hours passed as Travis completed the tasks set before him. Physical challenges, tactical evaluations, and even tests of mana control—all were thrown his way. By the end, he stood victorious, not even winded.
The examiner smiled, an approving glint in his eyes. “You’ve done well. Congratulations, B-Rank Adventurer.”
When the announcement was made in the guildhall, heads turned. Whispers spread rapidly.
“A B-Rank? Already?”
“How is that possible?”
“Isn’t that a new record?”
The guild congratulated him formally, the guildmaster himself coming forward to shake Travis’s hand. “You’ve done something remarkable here. This is a world record for our guild. As recognition, we’d like to offer you a prize.”
Travis shook his head politely. “I appreciate it, but I’m not here for recognition. I have other priorities right now.”
The guildmaster blinked, then nodded with a chuckle. “Fair enough. Ambition drives greatness, after all.”
Travis left the guild, a spring in his step. 'It’s not that I don’t want the reward, though. Maybe I’ll come back and get it after I’m done,' he thought as he walked down the busy street.
He had been so confident in passing that he’d packed everything he needed for the Dungeon in advance. His bag was snug against his back, filled with rations, potions, and the essentials for a long expedition. As he neared the Dungeon’s gates, he noticed the steady stream of Adventurers entering.
Some carried large weapons slung over their shoulders, others had sleek, intricate armor, and a few looked like magic users, their robes shimmering faintly with enchantments.
' What level are they? 'Travis wondered. He watched them for a moment before continuing toward the gates.
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The guards stationed there glanced up, their expressions lighting up with recognition. “Go on through,” one said, waving him forward. They didn’t even bother checking his Adventurer Card.
As Travis stepped inside the Dungeon, the atmosphere changed immediately. The air felt heavier, damp and oppressive. Just like before, his senses seemed to dull, his mana sense especially muted as if a thick fog had settled over it.
' This again, ' he thought, but he dismissed the feeling. ' I’m used to it now. '
He descended the wide stone staircase, his boots echoing against the steps. The first few floors were familiar territory, and he passed through them without hesitation. Eventually, the walls of raw stone began to shift, the jagged surfaces smoothing out into polished gray bricks. A dim, eerie green light bathed the passage, casting unsettling shadows that danced along the walls.
Travis frowned, his fingers unconsciously brushing the hilt of his sword. 'What’s with the sudden change? It’s like stepping into a different Dungeon.'
But he didn’t linger on the thought. He knew better than to get distracted by the mysteries of a Dungeon. Instead, he pressed forward, his mind focused on what lay ahead.
Eventually, he stepped onto a level floor, entering a large hall-like room with numbered doors on either side. The room buzzed with activity as Adventurers checked and adjusted their equipment. Travis glanced at one of the doors, noticing the number “1,” which puzzled him.
'Huh? One? How? Wasn’t the previous area the first floor?' he thought.
He had assumed that every floor in a Dungeon was an open level, but this Dungeon seemed to be structured differently. Each floor was confined to a single room. The layout confused him, but since he couldn’t get answers, he decided not to worry about it.
Determined to move forward, Travis approached the tall, intimidating door marked “1.” As he neared it, an invisible force gripped him, pulling him forward. The doors creaked open, and a bright white light engulfed him.
The next moment, he was standing inside the Dungeon’s first official floor. It was similar to the previous area but far larger.
'I should move forward if I plan on finishing this place quickly,' he thought, unsheathing his sword and resting it on his shoulder.
The layout of this floor was different. It stayed wide and open, with only the growing darkness ahead marking any change. Travis continued walking for what felt like an hour, sighing in frustration as he leaned against the wall.
'How far does this place go? I must have been walking for an hour or more,' he thought.
The entire way had been eerily quiet, with no monsters in sight. It made him question what was wrong with this place. Just as he was about to give up and rest, he spotted fog creeping ahead of him.
Travis stopped in his tracks, gripping his sword tightly as he heard faint, rhythmic thuds echoing from the fog.
He narrowed his eyes and steadied his breathing. Two massive figures emerged, their glowing red eyes piercing through the mist. Each step they took caused the ground to tremble.
As they stepped fully into view, Travis took in their hulking forms. The creatures were golems, their bodies made of solid stone, with small glowing gems embedded in their chests.
'Golems, if I’m not mistaken. How do you beat these guys?' He focused on the gems in their chests, smirking. 'Guess that’s my answer.'
Without activating any of his mana or abilities, Travis prepared himself. He wanted to win without relying on his powers unless absolutely necessary.
He sprinted forward, moving so fast that the golems struggled to track him. In less than a second, he was upon them.
Dodging a heavy, slow punch from one of the golems, he leapt onto its arm and stabbed his sword directly into the glowing gem on its chest. The gem cracked under the impact, releasing a burst of bright blue light.
The golem froze, its entire body shuddering before it imploded, sending shards of stone scattering across the ground.
The second golem roared and swung at him, but Travis ducked, the massive fist smashing into the ground beside him. Using the opening, he dashed forward and plunged his sword into its gem as well.
The second gem shattered, causing the golem to collapse and implode just like the first. Travis stepped back, dusting off bits of rubble from his clothes.
'I wonder if there are golems out there that can give me a decent fight,' he thought as he continued deeper into the Dungeon.
He started wondering whether this place had a boss. From what he’d read, not all Dungeons had bosses. Some required Adventurers to reach a certain number of kills to exit. That might sound easy, but having hundreds—or thousands—of monsters attacking from every direction was a nightmare scenario.
He hoped he wouldn’t encounter a Dungeon like that anytime soon.
Eventually, he reached the end of the hall, which puzzled him. As he turned around, he noticed a figure standing in the distance.
The being wasn’t tall—in fact, it was roughly his size. It was cloaked in dark, tattered robes that obscured its appearance. In its hand, it held a staff topped with a dark green gem.
'What’s that? Never read anything about them,' he thought, raising his guard.
The monster pointed its staff at him, dark energy crackling around the gem.
'Well, whatever it is, I’ll kill it before it makes its next move,' he thought, gripping his sword tightly.
TO BE CONTINUED