Chapter 18
After we have crawled our way inside the small tunnel, which is below the huge tree, we then made our exit to the other side, to a large room.
"!?"
Which smells like a rotten shit and fuck combined, and I don't know what else can describe how the scent around this room is.
Dook!
Even Eun can't handle the stench of this place. The walls are dirt with some roots and cobwebs around, a dark area with some dimly part, and 2 dug pathway. Taking out the torch from the [Storage Ring]
"!!"
Dook!
Eun then hurriedly climbed up to my shoulder, as after I lighted the place, what greeted us was a room filled with bones in different sizes and shapes. Now whoever lives here, I could only wish they are gone, or aren't here anymore. Carefully, we then survey the place we just arrived in.
We took the right 1st, and it lead us to 3 separate rooms, one is used for storing the inhabitants loots - furs, some weapons, fangs and claws, and other stuff - while the 2nd room was used for storing foods and weapons - which were lined, not perfectly, in an organized manner - and 3rd room is used as their mining area, with pickaxe and some rocks and dirt on the place.
The 2nd pathway lead to the outside place which makes the place we entered as their hall, and that tunnel as their escape route. And as we looked around the place, we didn't found any sleeping monster, nor do we heard any of them as we transverse, which is lucky for us. But the foods were still there, even the weapons and loots, so we can't take out the possibility that they just went out, and might come back.
"We should leave now while we can, waiting here won't be good"
Dook!
(Author's POV)
As they move, gradually making their way to the exit
Dook!
"Wh-what?!"
Eun suddenly jump down in panic, and run. Shocked and puzzled, Shin was left in dazed as he stared at Eun running. Eun then stopped and yelled at Shin
Dook!
"My apologies for surprising you"
"!!"
Shin then reflexively summoned his spear and took a stance, as before he could even follow Eun, a sudden deep voice spoke behind him.
"Wh-"
"Though your action is commendable, I ask to lay your weapon down. I am here not for a fight, but for a talk"
"...."
Hesitant to believe the things words, Shin didn't unsummoned his weapon as he slowly back away.
"I ask that you shall stop. Though the mistake was mine to surprise you, but my intention was clear. So I do ask that you may come forth, to save us some time"
"... Why should I believe you?"
"You may not, though I was ordered, I still have my benevolence to not act on a way that might result in chaos, though my boundaries are finite. Once more, I respectfully implore you."
"....."
Remembering some monsters he have heard from his parents, and those he saw in books and games, Shin didn't instantly fall to such plea, telling himself to not believe that thing outside. As he slowly back away
".... My master tasked to me take you in a gentle manner, and here I am being kind as I might, but I suppose even a once hermit have its patient thinned"
From the monster's mouth, a thick gray white then emerged as it blew, and descended down. It took a form of a large beast, a {White Wolf}
Kgrrrrr
"Block their way"
Arrf!
Rustl Rustle Rustle
The 3 then swiftly dash forward as they rushed to the back of the once {Hobgoblin} nest. As they arrived, they then turned to smoke as they fit themselves to the small hole of the giant tree, and shrunk themselves as they entered the tunnel.
Dook!
Eun then alarmed Shin as it climbed back, warning him to the upcoming enemy behind them
Gkrrrr
Grrrrr
Arf! Arf! Arf!
"What the!"
Shin was then shocked as he saw those beast made in smoke, leisurely advancing towards them.
<> [Summoned White Wolf] {+50 [STR]; +20 [AGI]}
[STR: 550 (+50)]
[AGI: 70 (+20)]
[INT: 0]
[DEF: 48%]
[VIT: 4,550]
[Rank: Platinum I]
[Skills]
<|> [Beyond Reach]
<> Rules of law negated and obstructed, in the game of deception and resilience your unscathed. [Mastery: {maxed}]
> Received 0 damage to all slash, pierce, blunt, and magic attack. [Flaw: [DEF: 0] against wind magic]
[Race: ????]
Slowly, the distance between him and the exit was thinning, however much thought Shin tried to give, he can't come up with a solid plan to escape this, so he just heave a sigh and unsummoned his spear
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Dook?
Doing so made Eun puzzled. Though dejected for this sudden turn of event, Shin could only hope that whoever this master is, won't kill them on the spot, just to at least give then some time to think, to cease an opportunity to escape.
"..."
Until they saw the monster before them, almost towering the giant tree with its size as it sat.
<> [Kyodaina tora]
[STR: 650]
[AGI: 90]
[INT: 110]
[DEF: 56%]
[VIT: 5,650]
[Rank: Emerald]
'Escaping my ass, how the hell can I escape from this?'
[Skills]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
<|> [?????]
[Race: ????]
'... Fuck'
"I am Byakko, one of the former guardian of this Dungeon"
'Byakko?'
"...." (byakko)
"...?" (eun)
"...." (shin)
'But none of its appearance is white'
Byakko is a Japanese character of a mythical creature, White Tiger, which is Bai Hu in Chinese mythology. A strong diety that represents justice and bravery, and is associated with white and metal, yet none of this monster have the appropriate appearance of 'white', and it does not look like a Tiger to begin with
Fur coated in a golden hue with silver coating on each paw - till elbow - and belly, with 2 long tails, and white eyes. Rather than a Tiger, this one looks like a Jaguar with buffed body, and a thick fur
"..... Is your master the one who named you? Or is this your given name?"
"My master, for I have pledge my loyalty towards her, and this is the proof of my servitude"
'So why Byakko then?'
Thinking through it
"!"
I just realized that I was also summoned, and this is another world.
'Being summoned and reincarnated at the same time can be quite confusing ha'
Maybe there was some meaning behind this, or merely this how people 1st choice of words when they meet it, but for a word like Byakko to be here, I can't really help but be curious to it.
....
(Shin's POV)
"If it's alright to ask, what is this 'former [Dungeon Guardian]'?
I asked, as after he offered us a ride towards the base where its master is, I then checked his [Profile] once again, only to find out another thing just pop out
<> [Kyodaina tora] > (click)
[Name: Byakko, [Dungeon Guardian (former)] [Familiar]
Beside its name, not pet name, appeared a less than sign (<), and when I clicked it, it then sprouted another information, like [Dungeon Guardian], so I am quite curious to know about it.
"Each Dungeon has its own guardian, and I am one of them"
"So like a boss?"
"I am afraid not, as we guardian can abandon our post when we deem our life is at stake, while those so called 'boss', as you people refer them, can't, and will defend the place or room they overseeing"
Tap Tap Tap
"We [Dungeon Guardian] can also moved around the place we are assigned to, while those boss, or [Guardian of the Floor], aren't given such authority. They will be stuck to the place they were assigned to, and never leave"
'I see, so in short, they are like king and pawn'
"Are you the only guardian here?"
"I am not. There are 5 of us here, and 4 of them are already been silence"
'5? That many?'
"How many floor does this place have then?"
"5 floors for 5 guardians, and 1 [Guardian of the Floor], which will be found at the highest floor of a Dungeon"
"This is the 1st time I am hearing about floor inside a Dungeon"
(Author's POV)
'Strange'
"I do not know what circumstances you have for you to not know this basic knowledge, but to spare some time, I shall take the privilege of educating you"
A bit stung by its words, Shin just silently nodded. As they pass the river, which it just simply walked pass, it then muttered
"Each dungeon consists of floors distinguished solely by number and the strength of its guardians."
<><>{×} <[Floors and Guardian in each Dungeon Scale]> {×}<><>
Small Dungeon - 5 x 2 meters = Iron to Silver - > 2 floors = Silver II Guardian and Silver III Boss
Medium Dungeon - 8 x 4 meters = Gold to Emerald - > 5 floors = Emerald I - II Guardian and Emerald III Boss
High Dungeon - 11 x 6 meters = Diamond to Adamant - > 7 floors = Adamant I - II Guardian and Adamant III Boss
Extreme Dungeon - 14 x 8 meters = Master to Mythic - > 10 floors = Mythic I - II Guardian and Mythic III Boss
Highly-Extreme Dungeon - 17 x 10 meters = Phantasm - > 12 floors = Phantasm II Guardian and Phantasm III Boss
<><>{×} <[MMMMMMMMMMMM]> {×}<><>
"The higher the scale, the more floor it has, and the stronger the guardians will be"
"This... This is quite new to me"
'After 200 years have passed, what might cause changes in the Dungeons, and even in the ranks of the monsters too... But I'm more surprised that I didn't consider the potential changes that could occur over 200 years'
Glancing at him with interest,
"People are given some basic knowledge when they grow, and even more when they took the 1st step in adulthood, but for a young chi- a man as such your age-"
'My age?'
"To not even know this basic knowledge, I am more certain that you have lived in the [The Banish Islands]"
'[The Banish Islands]?... Wha- oh I remember the "Hero" mentioned that and also [The Rightful]'
"What is this [The Banish Island] and [The Rightful] anyway? And what do you mean 'my age'?"
Shin spontaneously asked, curious and puzzled.
'For a 38 year old [Halfling], he seems ignorant'
"To address your query, our realm is structured into three distinct tiers of islands. The [The Rightful Islands] sit atop the hierarchy, where the affluent and renowned reside, their wealth and prestige held in highest regard, positioned 180,000 kilometers above [The Banish Islands]. This is where monsters roam and humanity is scarce, inhabited solely by criminals and the excommunicated. At 90,000 kilometers above [The Banish], you find [The Proclaimed Islands], where the majority of our populace resides."
Hearing those words, made Shin more surprised to the new things he discovered, as he attentively listen
"Only those bearing a passage badge are granted passage onto each isle, without such, you're barred even from the shore's edge. Adventurers, however, enjoy a unique privilege: the freedom to roam any of the three isles, provided they can present a quest writ."
"What if someone didn't care and just went in?"
"You may find them below the abyss, with some few who are lucky to be buried"
"... H-how about those in between the islands? Are there any?"
"Those are [The Bounded Islands], they are in between of each of the 3 islands, divided into 2, the [Bound of Curtailed], and the [The Renowed Islands]. The latter are the ones between the poor and the wealthy, while the former are those who dwell beneath even the destitute"
"... Why?"
"In the realm of governance, authority and might hold greater sway than justice and virtue, [Halfling]"
"... I see"
'**Immature ha'
Shin just sat there as he watched, moving pass the dense forest
...
3 hours pass as they moved, the sun already set as they reached the end of the floor, between the 2 towering mountains. Shin and Eun took a rest at the back of
Atop of the large tree house, wearing a beautiful simple long dress, coated in silver and gold, a woman then appeared at the balcony, and smiled.
In her embrace, Shin suddenly felt at ease, warmed and loved, like a child in a mother's hand, he slept.
"Thank you"
<><><><><>
Just some info, byakko stood at the side of the cave, so the sun won't cast his shadow, blocking the entrance.
This is the skill status of Byakko, as shin can't see it
[Skills]
<> [Yama no Chikara] (power of a mountains in Japanese)
<> [Shutsugen no Kiri] (mist of emergence)
<> [Thunder Claw]
<> [Sen no Hōkō] (a thousand roars)
<> [Body of Benevolence]
<> [Gift of Grace]
<> [Resonance of the Dead]
<> [Judge of the Might]
<> [Astral Convergence]
<> [Arcane Endowment]
[Race: Mythical beasts]
*The White Tiger (Chinese: 白虎; pinyin: Báihǔ), is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎; Xīfāng Báihǔ). It represents the west in terms of direction and the autumn season.
It is known as Byakko in Japanese, Baekho in Korean, and Bạch Hổ in Vietnamese.
Bai hu, one of the four elephants, as the four spirits of the sky, is one of the creation gods in ancient Chinese mythology. The origin of the white tiger comes from people's worship of the ancient stars. The white tiger is the western god of the seven constellations in the west. The white tiger is defined as the god of war and killing in ancient mythology. Throughout the ages, the white tiger has always been a symbol of justice, bravery and majesty. In ancient mythology, the white tiger is not only the god of killing, but also represents evil spirits, wealth and so on.
**In this part, Shin thought byakko was calling him immature and not yet fully grown as an adult, not knowing that it was talking about his race, supposedly race.