Chapter 15
Dungeons, its a fictional cave like world where common sense and logic doesn't exist, mythical creatures, out of this norm place, incredible and mysterious treasures, and a hysterical fantasy, is what is mostly written in every books, and show in shows in my world, Earth.
But in this world? It's different. Dungeon are were treasures and death reside, fame and risk, and beauty and ugliness. No one really knows how, or why, but this mysterious place just suddenly emerged out of nowhere. It invited a group of people, tagging more when rumors flew, and when everyone heard some amazing, and unbelievable treasures were hiding inside of it, many then come, many were curious, and many, didn't came back.
It started with 1 then multiplied by 2, then 4, then 8, and it goes on, and on, and on, this inexplicable, and unexplainable place just keeps popping out of nowhere. Forest, mountains, lake, swamps, winter isle, or sunny region, though it did hids risk, but some are quite courageous, or just plain stupid, and simply ignore those as they explore.
Dungeon rules are very simple, whoever goes in can go out, but whoever lives in, will stay in, which gives more opportunities to those who can see more money in a safe play, than a huge gamble of life. Which is why there some areas, or isles, that basically made their town, city, or kingdom near them. Easy cash grab you say.
And to make sure to lessen the risk, and death won't overflow, [Adventurer's Guild] then made a decree to only allow people to enter the Dungeon, that they can easily enter, anyone who dares to go against this won't be punish, but rather terminated from being an adventurer. Warnings is also given, once, with a fine of 10 gold coin.
<><>{×} <[Here's the Dungeon Scales List]> {×}<><>
Small Dungeon - 5 x 2 meters = Iron to Silver
Medium Dungeon - 8 x 4 meters = Gold to Emerald
High Dungeon - 11 x 6 meters = Diamond to Adamant
Extreme Dungeon - 14 x 8 meters = Master to Mythic
Highly-Extreme Dungeon - 17 x 10 meters = Phantasm
(I'll post the rank system here, but it's the same as the rank system in the Dark-Ages v2 chapter 3, you can check that out)
<><>{×} <[MMMMMMMMMMMM]> {×}<><>
Passing all the island, with all the equipment and weapons prepared, Me and Eun then reached the 5th island, or the [Dungeon Island]. Arriving at the Dungeon, I then took a deep breath, relax myself, before we then entered it
"Let's go"
Dook!
(Author's POV)
Silent and misty is what they thought 1st as they entered the Dungeon, torches lit could only light a pitiful space, yet the cloudy area envelop the vicinity. Slowly, carefully, they then moved, caring with them a single torch, seemingly lightning the spot they walked.
The thick mist covered their sight, their sign of direction, and their sign of time, it was eerie.
Nraaa
Ghraaa
Nghraaa
{Goblins}, amidst this cloudy scene, hunts in a silent step. Nasty monsters whose cowardice knows no bounds, yet creative in their hunt, lurks behind Shin, holding their weapons tightly in their hands.
As he vigilantly survey the surrounding area, trying to see through this thick fog, he then turn his back, oblivious to the monster behind him. Seeing the opportunity before them
Swoosh
They then dash
Dook!
Nghrhh!!!
Shin then hurriedly took arm and stance, as he hold his spear to his right, as he switched his torch to the left. Eun then growl upfront, showing his fang and claws. The {Goblins}, halting to their attack, slowly back away, as it seem
Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap
They aren't the only hunting, and hungry for the new guest. Giving up, they just stared at Shin, before they dissappear
Grrrrrr
*snap* arghrhhhhh
Dook!
Eun, upon climbing atop of shin, then jumped down, and run
"Eun!"
Shin then swiftly followed through him as he run through this thick mist.
Awoooo~
"!"
Arfhghh!
Arhkkk! Arf!
4 Wolves then chased him as he run. Not knowing where to go, Shin just trusted Eun, as monsters are far better than him in this regard.
Arff! Arff!
Rustle Rustle Rustle Rustle
Bark! Bark! Bark!
Closing, the Wolves rush towards Shin. Eun then halted, stood up as he survey the area, undecided to which direction to go
Arff!
Dook!
Unsure, Eun just rushingly run towards the right, following him was Shin, and the pack of {Wolves} behind them. Dashing upfront, Eun then took a turn to the left, then to the right, and continuely speed up.
Dook!
He called, as he found a spot to hide. Shin then followed through, and went inside a cave like hole, but as they got inside
"... We're trapped"
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Dook!
Eun misjudged the space, thinking it might be wider inside, but only be blocked by a solid dark wall.
Arff! Arff! Arfff!
Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap
The {Wolves} are closing in, Eun and Shin then hurriedly scurry around the area, inspect every nook and cranny, trying to find a spot they could hide
Dook!
Eun then yelled, signaling Shin that he found a spot, covered in a thick vines. Hurriedly, Shin and Eun then went inside a small pipe like hole. Shin then put out the torch as they hid in. They then carefully went down the slippery spot, slowly as they push forward
Splash
"!!"
As they went deeper, Shin then heard a loud splash. The sound wasn't far
'..... It's near'
The place is dark, no light can pass through, yet his instinct rang like a violent alarm, telling about danger in the vicinity, as within the dark deep of the place, lurks a shadowy beast, swimming across the shallow water.
Dook!
Eun then called Shin and pointed another small hole in the area, without hesitation, Shin put down his bag 1st, and push it through the hole, before him and Eun then entered next.
Sniff Sniff Sniff
Arff! Arff! Sniff Sniff Sniff Arff! Arfff!
Finding no one inside the dark hole, the {Wolves} then tried tracking the prey they were hunting. One of them then pointed the pipe like hole in the side, telling the pack that their prey is hiding inside.
As their leader inspect the said hole
Sniff Sniff Arf-ARFGHKKKK!
Barrk! Barrk! Bark!
Arf! Arf! Arf! Arf!
(Shin's POV)
"... I've seen this before"
Dook!
Eun then hurriedly climbed into to my shoulder. After crawling that deep, dark hole, and getting away from those monsters, we then arrived to a quiet place. 8 struck torches were lit, lightening the vicinity. The walls were coated in dark gray paint, with moss and ferns growing on it, couple with some wild Mushrooms and plants. Looking above, it was covered in a thick dark fog, giving more strange feeling inside me. The area is quite wide, yet isn't. It feels like those 3D illusion, tricking your eyes to believe what it sees.
And at the center of this all, was a small, brown chest, defenselessly laid out bare in open. I've already seen enough things in Earth to know what this is, especially from a VR anime. So I told Eun to take a distance away from that chest, and rather help me find anything that help us escape this room.
I don't know how long we have been here (1 hr and 15 mins), yet we couldn't find anything out of ordinary of this place. Sitting down at the corner, just near where we went in, slumping down as I was lost in thought, staring at the chest upfront of me
Dook?
Sighing, I then stood up, grab my spear, and went towards that lonely wooden chest. It has 3 iron bars placed atop, with 2 wrapped around its body, coated in a dark brown paint. Its half a meter, I think. Slowly, I then stretch the spear towards it, and
Tok Tok Tok
Poke it. Seeing no reaction from it, I then heave a sigh, slowly placed the tip of my spear to the chest center, slid it
"....."
And as it has no locked
"Eun, get close to me"
Dook!
(Author's POV)
Glancing at the hole behind him, anxious to the action he was about to do next, he then heave a sigh, and
Hgnhnn!
He then rush towards the hole as he opened the wooden chest, entered as he wait.
"..."
No monster appeared, no trap door unlocked, no hidden passage opened, there was none. Still on his guard, he vigilantly survey the surrounding, even looking behind the dark hole, trying to feel if any monsters might come running, but there was nothing but silence. Gazing at the opened wooden chest, heart thumping in a loud rhythm
Houuu~
He then slowly walk towards the it, while inspectinf any changes to the surrounding place. As he arrived
Dook!
What presented before them was a
<> [The Three Essense of Life Circulation]
<> [Soiled Healing Vile (x3)]
[Description: Unusable viles of healing that was left behind by its owner. Its healing property is already gone]
<> [Worn Steel Knife]
[Description: An old Steel knife from ????, battered yet still useful]
"Censored? This is the 1st time I saw this"
He was thinking that it might be due to his low level that he can't see the owner's name. Though curious, he continued inspecting the inside of the chest
<> [An Old Diary of Once "Hero"]
[Description: Old Diary of ????]
".... 'Hero'?... Interesting"
Intrigued, as it was the 2nd time he saw the same censored words
<> [Old Pen]
[Description: The old pen of ????]
<> [Rotten Dried Fruit(x15)]
[Description: Spoiled fruit of [Black Currants]
<> [Lesser Storage Ring]
[Skill]
<> [Lesser Storage Capacity]
<> Tried his luck to gain fame, tried his might to bring honor, yet not even his name was remembered, and what was left was his own recreation, that even the Gods seems to acknowledge. [Mastery: 0/ 0]
<> Can store 20 items inside
[Description: A lesser version of other [Storage Ring], crafted by ????. Made during his spare time, created just to kill time, and was shaped from scrap and trash.]
Though quite hesitant, Shin still collected each things inside the chest, and observed them further. Sitting at the ground beside the chest, he then started reading the old diary. It was a simple book, no decoration, just a simple one. Flipping it
"To those who might read this, to those who venture through this place, please, please find in you heart to listen to this request of mine, to find in your soul to consider this Quest, and I hope you will find in your self to take this for all the treasures I have left, please bring this book back to [*The Lost Library of Alexandria]. I promise you, than even the most precious jewel won't compare to this book I hold"
"If your curiosity took hold of your desire, please be warn to never tell a soul, never to speak nor to tell a tale, for whatever knowledge you might receive, is a curse for many, as this is a story, that should have been forgotten"
It wasn't a threat, yet it was felt was. Shin, reading those words before the main topic of the book, felt a sense of hesitation, as he stared at it, contemplating, whether would he read what's inside of it, place it back to where he found it, or deliver it to the place this person asked to
"Or just simply ignore everything, read it, and deal with it later"
Eun was looking at him as he stared above, tilting his head in curiosity.
Sigh
Giving up, or simply decided, Shin then started reading the book, and deal what to do later right after.
"Hero, the very source of inspiration and admiration, a very childlike fantasy, and a very goal of many. Yet when ones hold it, those things suddenly settled, suddenly vanish, and only reason and devotion, resolve and control, is the only living beat that you can hear, as you wield the sword, as you move forward, as you stretch your arms to many, and be the symbol of peace and tranquility.
Yet, those things never came to me, only hypocrisy. I ???? ????, the chosen hero, have slain far too many innocent, more than I could ever save. And rather than be the symbol of hope, I was the center of malice and death"
"... Even his dairy, his name was erased?...."
Curious, I continue
"[Prophet], a secret organization that is far powerful than any could ever think, holds an eminent role to this very source of enmity. They were created by, Shinji, a very close friend of mine. He yearns not for power nor wealth, even fame and glory is beneath his ideal, he wanted to be a God, he wanted to rule not this world, but another, as he believe that there's more than this bowl of water he lives in. I, who have learned his ideal, tried to stopped him, but to only meet my demise. I became his puppet, his marionette. I soiled my hand for him, I dirty my soul for him, and I have blinded myself for him. He carved me away from the path I have yearn. He made me a monster, he made me a murderer.
How did I escape his grasp? How did I freed myself from his binding? I didn't, he let me go, in a condition that I must choice between the 2, my family's lives, or the world. I choose what was supposed to be right, I choose what was supposed to be ideal, I choose what was supposed to be, what a hero must be, I choose the death of my family, over the lives of the people who doesn't know me, I choose the lives of many who doesn't even care about me, I choose the lives of those who have wronged me, I choose the lives of those who betrayed me, I choose them over my family, because I thought that was what a hero must do. I choose them just to clean my hands out of guilt, I choose the better good just be wronged
I stood for the people, yet they stood against me"
Silent, Shin holds the book in silence, and sigh, as he gazed above the dark ceiling.
<><><><><>
*"They were created by, Shinji" during this sentence, the comma in this part wasn't a comma, but rather the ink of the pen that the "Hero" used. He took a long pause here, resulting for the ink of the pen to get bigger until it looks like a comma
*The Great Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. The library was part of a larger research institution called the Mouseion, which was dedicated to the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts. The idea of a universal library in Alexandria may have been proposed by Demetrius of Phalerum, an exiled Athenian statesman living in Alexandria, to Ptolemy I Soter, who may have established plans for the Library, but the Library itself was probably not built until the reign of his son Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The Library quickly acquired many papyrus scrolls, owing largely to the Ptolemaic kings' aggressive and well-funded policies for procuring texts. It is unknown precisely how many scrolls were housed at any given time, but estimates range from 40,000 to 400,000 at its height. (wiki)