Ominous crimson soaks into the harsh stone floor of the dungeon as he drags his limp body across the floor.
Expedition #4368
Number of Evokers: 32
Number of days elapsed: 7
Expectant return: 0
Dungeon level expectancy: 13
Dungeon level measured: 100
“Fuck.” The only word he can manage to choke out from under his breath, and one that potrays his situation rather accurately. The blue, earie glow emanates from the fluorescence menu-screen of the system shines upon his open flesh wound and walls he took refuge by leaning upon.
‘I didn’t even get to say goodbye to mom…’ was one of the thoughts that flashed in his mind as he stumbled to find shelter from his aggressors. Have the castle-like walls of these dungeon always been this warm? Or is he rapidly losing warmth from his fingertips, he couldn’t tell, not that it mattered.
Orcs, dangerous creatures on their own, and even more so in packs. They’re violent, evil, brutish and militant creatures. Rarely found roaming outside level 50 or above dungeons, the sighting of them during this expedition proved to be a massacre. They are dangerous for Evokers of their level, let alone this expedition team.
Grade F, the lowest class one could get during their Evocation, and this expedition was full of them. Grade F evokers are considered “working-class Evokers”, on the same level as construction workers socially, but generally more economically stable and of course, ample more dangerous. They’re much more powerful than the average human, but much too weak to handle higher level dungeons, and he, happens to be one of them.
Noe Myung
Age: 26
Grade: F
Condition: fatal
The blue system screen flashes occasional red, ominous, warning-signs… as if the man himself already doesn’t know he’s in fatal condition. It felt cruel, mocking almost, Noe couldn’t help but laugh. Stumbling through the hall, one of his arms held his exposed abdominal flesh, and the other on his mouth to keep silence as best as he can to the hearing-sensitive beasts on his tail.
He doesn’t want to die, who would. He barely made up with his sister after their last argument, barely able to attend the prestigious medical school he got into after moving back to Korea with his family… this side hustle was supposed to be a fast way to get money so he could go back to school, he didn’t expect it to go to shit as fast as it did. He never got to tell his mother that he loved her, never got to go on his trip abroad with his friends in the United States. His visions were unfocused, his breath growing shallow, his will only growing weaker as he pressed on an offset tile within the castle basement.
“What...?” Noe said in a soft whisper as he pressed harder on the tile.
‘……oh! Eunwoo, said something about this.’ The poor kid, barely any older than Noe’s little sister, simply becoming one of the victims of the company that employed them for this expedition.
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The company, Eternity, if not for anything else, sure did know how to cut corners every way they can. They probably didn’t want to waste any expensive for a proper evaluation of this dungeon’s level, hence why it all came to shit, and fast. It’s why the pay is high… they don’t care about worker safety, but Noe was dumb and young, desperate for cash, similar to everyone in this expedition team.
The kid, Eunwoo, loved these castle-like architecture structures, constantly wanting to go look for secret passages or enticing adventures… it was just a small hobby and annoying rant Noe had to listen to, but right now? Right now, he’s desperate enough to indulge in these fantasies.
“Secret passage, passage, fucking hell open up, OPEN UP!” The approaching, heavy and larger-than life footstep only grew louder and clearer. There’s more, way more than the initial 3, and they sounded malicious as ever. Panic making Noe’s muttering to himself more and more unintelligible, he frantically dragged himself onward however as he recalls.
‘Passages are hidden everywhere.’
‘It usually hidden in long hallways with large walls.’
‘Hidden switches can be identified pretty easily compared to the rest of the area surrounding it.’
These little tips given by the kid flashes through his head as he kept going like a madman in search.
This dungeon resembled a typical fantasy setting Noe could remember from all the games he’d play. Once luxurious and gleaming with life, it is now a hollow shell of its once beaconing glory. Besides from the monsters that now calls this it’s home, its practically a graveyard, and Noe did not want to be another body lost in this dungeon.
The offset tile pushed through to reveal an entrance.
It hurts, damn bad at that, but Noe clutched onto his wounds as he persisted. Opening the entrance, the mechanized stone walls creaked and rumbled due to the lack of usage. Once entered, the entrance closed tightly behind him. He couldn’t register much details at this point. His surroundings become bleak, adrenaline and pure will the only things left remaining within his body as his legs moved on its own down the spiraling staircase. He couldn’t tell how long he has been running… or walking now, his brain didn’t register his change in pace. He felt like his consciousness is detached from his physical form, a passenger in his own body.
“Roses…?” Noe spoke out loud out of disbelief, maybe he really has gone insane, or maybe, he died, and this is heaven? The strong floral scent soothing him to continue. At some point, he pushed his weakened body through a wide, gilded porcelain door, his bloody hands staining the pristine ceramics as he gazed upon an endless field. Roses, crimson red roses… and they all look so vibrant, as if it was taken care of daily. A gazebo, more reminiscent of a small castle stood in the middle of the vast and seemingly endless field of roses, the heavenly white glow that surrounds the structure drawing Noe to it like a light at the end of the tunnel.
The fabric covering his ankles and his bloodied shoes were shredded, piece by piece as the thorns of the thick rose field tore into his skin and flesh. The pain seems insignificant compared to his exposed guts that dripped and mixed into the blooming flowers.
“So beautiful…” Noe said amusedly, he felt… relieved, honestly. His last sight being something so beautiful, rather than full of guts, blood, and monsters, everything that haunted him up till now. Dead bodies of those he considered friends trailed his path, and now, he’ll join them.
‘Maybe they’ll find my body here…’ Noe thought. Maybe. It was far fetch, he highly doubted Eternity would send people to retrieve dead bodies of Evokers… but maybe, if they do, his sister and mother would see his body, at the very least, half-eaten and mildly mauled… God this is ridiculous, he just wants to sleep. He’s so tired, this was just a stupid idea. Hopefully his life insurance could fund his sister’s studies at least, so she doesn’t have to end up in the same situation he did, doing odd jobs to scarp up some money.
The cool air of the environment made Noe kneel against the floor near the middle, the bright, blinding moon shining upon the field and gazebo, lighting up his view. A coffin sat in the middle, covered in gilded gold, gems and surrounded by effigies of hooded figures. Noe’s body collapsed against the coffin, his blood painting the coffin in a muddy, crimson red glow as his vision gave out. The last sensation he felt was warmth against the padding of his weathered fingers.
His world abruptly fades to black.