“So this is how it’s going to end huh?” Alex sighed.

This was entirely his father’s fault. He was originally a lazy person who spent his whole day without moving from his unless he needed to. But now his father, Lord Archaeon, was very disappointed with him. So he sent him along with a few of his trusted subordinates to train in a beginner dungeon.

But what he wouldn’t have expected was that the beginner dungeon was evolving, and Alex and his other party members, were quite deep within the dungeon.

When a dungeon evolves it’s at the most vulnerable stage, all the mechanisms stop and the monsters retreat into their spawn zones, leaving the dungeon core completely unguarded. But even then, how can it be that easy to get the dungeon core? As the dungeon evolves it releases an incomparably powerful aura, which attracts all the monsters within a few tens of miles. If a monster is able to merge with the dungeon core, then the dungeon becomes race specific and the monster that merged with the dungeon core, gains a lot of power and becomes the boss monster of that dungeon.

Due the enticement of such power all the monsters from the Blackrock Mountains rushed towards the dungeon. Alex and his party were sandwiched between the dungeon and the endless horde of monsters. They were originally a party of eleven. There were five F-ranked, four E-ranked knights and a D-rank magician aside from Alex.

They were a group worthy of respect in Regalia City, Alex’s hometown. But forced to fight more than a thousand monsters for three days without food or rest, they couldn’t hold on. They had a duty to protect Alex and so they fought using their life force and barely managed to stall for three days. But the horde of monsters didn’t seem to have an end.

Looking at the huge crowd of monsters, Derek, the middle-aged D- rank magician cast an incredibly powerful barrier magic. It took all of his remaining mana, but he knew it wouldn’t last for long. He turned to look around him. Behind him was his young master, whom he had sworn to protect. All of his comrades had lost their lives due to injuries or over- exhaustion; he was the only one left. He hadn’t thought a mighty magus like him would fall in front of mere first and second rank monsters.

He sighed, turned around and said “Young master please forgive this servant for not being able to protect you.” He truly had a look of regret in his eyes.

Alex looked haggard, those three days of violence and seeing all the people whom he grew up around die, took a toll on his weak body.

“Derek you have done your best, Father would never blame you” he said. He had was really grateful to this man. Ever since he was a child Derek was always shadowing him, ready to jump out at the slightest trace of danger. Now he was at the end of his life and was still thinking about his duty. With Derek’s strength he could have escaped by charging through the horde, yet he chose to lay down his life to save Alex. Alex was lazy and carefree but he also treasured loyalty and honesty. He deeply respected people like Derek.

“Young master it has been three days since the evolution started. During the evolution Dungeon escape scrolls do not work but they will after it finishes evolving. I will clear a way for young master to get into the core of the dungeon and also make sure no monsters follow you. I hope young master waits for the evolution to end and uses the scroll to escape.” He said.

“Derek, don’t do it! You can’t die! We can stall them for a while and escape together.” Alex said, hastily.

Derek smiled.” Young master also knows this is the only way, I know that young master is really intelligent but pretends to be stupid, even your lord father may not know but I have been at your side since you were a child how could I not know.” He said, reminiscing those times. “If young master manages to escape this disaster, I hope that young master trains to become strong, stronger than anyone. Your father treated me like a brother and I care for you like I would for my own son. I don’t have a family but I hope my knowledge can help young master.”

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After saying so, he put his index finger on Alex’s forehead and drew a rune. Immediately a huge dump of information about monsters, mana, spells and years of Derek’s research entered Alex’s mind, causing him to feel dizzy.

“The barrier won’t hold for long. Now is the time. Please run towards the dungeon core I will stall these beasts” he said with a ferocious expression on his face.

Alex was still having a feeling of vertigo, but he soon stabilised himself and said” Derek, I Alex Wolfton Archaeon will never forget your grace. If I survive, I will definitely become the strongest mage in the country, No! The whole world!” he said, with fierce determination.

Seeing that expression, Derek looked satisfied. ”Be brave young master” he said and turned towards the barrier which was at the verge of breaking.

Alex knew this was eternal parting, but he could only grit his teeth and run in the direction of the dungeon core. As he went a few hundred metres into the dungeon, a frightening explosion sounded. Alex had his skin singed from the heat that managed to reach him. He could do nothing but grit his teeth and run forward. Suddenly Alex heard a growling sound. He turned to see that there was a wind wolf baring its fangs and slowly closing in on him.

“The fuck! How did this damn mutt survive?” Alex was bewildered. Derek had used a forbidden spell and ignited his core flame to burn all the monsters. How could it survive? He thought. His luck really was rotten. First he got stuck in a dungeon evolution and then this happens.

No I cannot give up. I can’t let Derek and the others die for nothing. I need to escape.

It was a mature Wind Wolf, it stood at the peak among F-rank monsters. Only adventurers can deal with it, it won’t be easy too. Alex wanted to dash into the dungeon, but how could he outrun a Wind Wolf? He had to fight. He steeled his heart and took out a dagger he kept with him for protection. Since the age of ten he secretly practiced with a dagger. Although sword had a better reach, it wasn’t easy to learn and it couldn’t be hidden in ones robes. Alex had to be careful of assassinations and so he used a dagger.

He could feel his heart palpitating. Adrenaline charged through him as he ran towards the Wind Wolf. This was the only way he could have an advantage. The Wind Wolf seemed surprised, but it quickly reacted. It dodged to the side and dug its claws into Alex’s back. To Alex, who practically never experienced pain in his entire life, this was unbearable.

He tried to side-step and stab but the wolf pounced on him. His head hit a huge rock and he lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes again he saw he was being carried by green people. He probably had a concussion as he soon fainted.

When he woke up again, he was in a spacious room. After looking carefully he understood that it was actually a cave. The cave was spacious but empty. There was only a magic ball in the middle of the room which illuminated the room. While he was looking around the room, out of nowhere he heard a voice “You finally woke up, are really lazy huh. You’ve been sleeping for two days!” it said.

The voice sounded feminine and graceful, turning around Alex noticed that there was a pretty girl standing behind him. She seemed to be sixteen and had crimson red hair, which flowed down her shoulders and reached her waist. She was beaming at him. Alex was originally on guard against her, seeing that she could jump out on him without him even knowing it.

But after he saw her ‘bishoujo’ appearance and that smile, he felt that th

” ere was no way she would harm him. Alex stared at her dumbly for a while. It could even be that she was the one who saved him. So he directly asked

“Did you save me?”

“Yes” she nodded her head.

Hearing the expected reply, Alex was still shocked. He, who turned seventeen last fall, was unable to hold off a rank one Wind Wolf, even with his years of training with the dagger. Now this girl who looked like she was from a noble family was saying she saved him, what was the point of him even living?

 “Did you defeat the Wind Wolf yourself?” Alex was still doubtful, so he asked

“No” the girl shook her head “It was my subordinates” she replied honestly.

“Thank God” Alex sighed. “What’s your name? Where do you come from?” he questioned. A girl with a temperament like hers would be very famous in Regalia City, and there were no other cities in a hundred mile radius, so he was curious as to where this girl came from.

The girl gave a shocking reply while smiling “My name is Lucy; I am this beginner dungeon’s dungeon core”