History of Dungeons and Hunters

“Dungeons have existed since the dawn of human civilization. For centuries humans have conquered the dungeons and protected the world. However, when humans were too busy fighting each other, worldwide dungeon breaks would occur. These dungeon breaks would flatten cities and greatly reduce a countries population. Eventually, we cleared most of the dungeon breaks and reclaimed our lands. But this wasn’t without loss, many islands were lost due to their isolation. Places where dungeon breaks aren’t cleared are called dead zones. In total there are 47 dead zones around the world.

To fight against the dungeons, humanity was given the ability to awaken. Awakening gave people strength, magic, skills and other limitless abilities. Over the centuries, people established the ranking system. 10 E-Rank monsters are strong enough to level a house while a single S-Rank monsters can level mountains with a single attack. A single S-Rank dungeon has the power to completely destroy a continent if left unattended. The last S-Rank dungeon to appear was located in the Sea of Japan(East Sea) on the Oki Islands. Due to the distance between the islands and the mainland, the islands were over taken before any hunters could be dispatched. Now, the islands are a dead zone where the monsters reign.

Hunters enter the dungeons to fight the dungeons boss. Hunters are separated into ranks, ranging from E to S, which are determined through achievements. A Hunter who defeats a C-Rank boss alone is considered a high C-Rank or a B-Rank. Each Hunter is assigned to a [Class]. [Fighter], [Mage], [Healer], and [Tank] are the basic classes. 60% of the human population is awakened. Currently there are 2 ways to awaken; entering a dungeon without being awakened, this process is called artificial awakening, or awakening naturally. Most hunters enjoy…”

Alice Closes her book as filming is about to begin. Alice is interning for a director in Hollywood. “Quiet on set!”, the director calls out. In a low whisper, away from the director, “When will I get to learn something?”, Alice said to no one in particular. “All he has me doing is fetch quests to the prop closet.”, she exclaimed. “All right, let’s try that scene again but this time let’s try using a prop. Alice, go get a random prop from the closet!” Locking eyes with the director, she replies, “Yes sir.”

Alice is a college student majoring in film directing. She has also recently awakened as a High-Class Mage. Mages are separated into schools of magic; Light, Dark, Fire, Water, and so on. Certain schools of magic are incompatible with each other; for example Fire is incompatible with Water. Alice is considered rare among mages because, unlike most mages whose bodies physically reject magic from an incompatible school, her body works in symbiosis with Light and Dark magic flowing through her veins. However, unlike most mages, when she awakened, rather than immediately signing up for the Hunter’s exam she decided to continue pursuing a career as a film director.

The prop closet was more of a changing room than a closet. The walls were lined with clothing racks covered in hangers. Along one of the walls was a long counter with a huge mirror. Then in a far back corner there is a small box full of different props, swords, shields, staves, and a bright orange garden hose for some reason. After a moment of consideration, Alice decided that the staff would be the best pick. Leaving the closet, Alice hears something from a clothing rack on the other side of the room. “Must have been the wind.” She said, in a skeptical tone.

“Here's your random prop, sir.” The director eyed the prop and after a moment of hesitation, “Fine, let’s see how this goes.” The director hands the staff to one of the actors and calls out, “Quiet on set… Action!”

“You could’ve at least said thank you.”, she mumbled to herself. “It’s not that difficult of a thing to say.”

          Mid-shoot, Alice approaches the director. “Sir, I was wondering when I could get some hands-on learning.” Alice asked. “Give me a sec.” the director said to Alice. The director then turned back to the set and exclaimed “Ok we’ve almost reached the end so let’s take a quick five-minute break before we finish this.”

           Turning back to Alice, “Ok, you want some hands-on learning?” Alice shook her head in response. “Well, you’re still a first year, there will be many opportunities along the way.” “But all I’m doing is fetch quests, I want to try something new.” Alice said in response. “Alice, look around this set. Each and every person here has their place, and I couldn’t do my job without them. You are one of those people. No man, or woman, is an island. I couldn’t do my job without my team members. Without interns, the art of filmmaking would slowly die out. Yes, you are starting out doing grunt work, but so did all of us. Everyone starts somewhere.”

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          Alice didn’t say anything. She just nodded in silences. The director turned back to the set and clapped his hands together to get the attention of the cast and crew, “Lets finish this movie!” he exclaimed.

“Alright. That’s a wrap for the day! Alice, put the props away.”

“Got it.” Alice, grabbing the props used in the scene, started off toward the closet. Opening the door, Alice is hit by a sense of foreboding. In the back of the closet, Alice notice’s a green swirling vortex. She quickly launches a [Condense Light] spell at the dungeon alarm. It was instantaneous. A loud, obnoxious, alarm went wailing all throughout the studio. At the sound of the alarm, anyone D-Rank and below was rushing out of the studio in an attempt to get as far away as possible. As it turned out, Alice was the only hunter in the area since most hunters awaken and start going on raids rather than pursuing another career.

Once the studio was empty, all except for Alice, the first wave started. Five [Null-Kangaroo]’s came rushing out of the dungeon. The monsters immediately noticed Alice in the door way and came hurling towards her. Alice slammed the door shut, and started running towards the back of the studio, behind the set they were using for the shoot. Crouched down in a corner, Alice could hear the monsters tearing apart the studio.

“[Status: Spell List]”, she said in a low whisper. A bright blue screen appeared before her displaying a list of possible spells. She decided to focus on destructive spells.

Her options were: [Shadow Spear], [Condense Light], and [Call of the Void]. [Shadow Spear] did exactly what it sounds like, it summons a spear made of shadows that pierces the target, [Condense Light] creates a sphere of solid light that deals bludgeoning damage to the target, [Call of the Void], however, was a spell that Alice had no experience using, the name itself sounded ominous enough that she never used it and sparring matches.

I guess now’s as good a time as any to try out this [Call of the Void] spell. She thought to herself. Rushing out from behind the set, she yells “[Blind]” and the entire room flashes with light. [Blind] is a spell that stuns multiple targets, as long as they can see. The only thing she knew about the [Call of the Void] spell was that it took 5 seconds to cast, and luckily [Blind] has an 8 second duration. “[Call of the Void]”, she called out. 5… 4… 3… 2… the monsters started moving 1…. Time froze. Alice was surrounded by an endless void. No light, no sound, just her and a message.

Please name the desired effect.

1. Army

2. Blackhole

3. Weapon

Alice had no use for a weapon since she had no fighting skills and she wasn’t sure she could control what the Blackhole consumed, so she went for the only viable option, an Army.

Army selected, beginning conversion.

Conversion? Time began to resume. When Alice came to, she was greeted with a message, however, she didn’t have time to read it as she was immediately surrounded by 10 [Abyssal Soldiers]. The [Abyssal Soldiers] were quick to defeat the monsters. Seeing how quickly and easily the [Abyssal Soldiers] dealt with the [Null-Kangaroo]’s, Alice gained a new found confidence in her chances of defeating the dungeon boss.

Approaching the dungeon, Alice instructs 3 [Abyssal Soldiers] to stay behind and defeat the coming waves of monsters but disappear once other hunters arrive. The soldiers saluted and stood at the ready. Alice, confused by the soldiers actions, entered the dungeon. Inside the dungeon, the walls were lined with torches burning with brilliant blue flames. The dungeon boss was on the far side of the circular room sitting on a thrown. The boss was a [Silent Kangaroo] it was fifteen feet tall and more humanoid that the [Null-Kangaroo]’s. As the boss stood up and got in a fighting position, the fight began.

The boss lunged for Alice but got intercepted by the [Abyssal Soldiers] before it could reach her. Alice, being a mage, started casting spells to support her soldiers. “[Blind] [Shadow Spear] [Golden Chain] [Endless Void]” [Golden Chain] restricts the bosses movements with a chain of light. [Endless Void] buffs all allies that are imbued with darkness. The boss stops in its tracks and takes the [Shadow Spear] head on. By the time the boss tries to move it’s already wrapped in the [Golden Chain]. Unable to fight back, the boss is defeated by an onslaught of attacks from the [Abyssal Soldiers]. With the boss defeated, Alice had 5 minutes to exit the dungeon before it collapsed.

She decided to leave the boss’s corpse there rather than attempt to drag it out of the dungeon. Alice, recalling her soldiers, left the dungeon. Finally having a chance to breath, she decided to read the message she got after using [Call of the Void].

You are the embodiment of the abyss. Where you go, your army will follow. Whatever walls stand in your way will crumble before you. You have been recognized as the [Queen of the Abyss].