Chapter 6: The dungeon evaluation

In Ashfall city, volcanium

The two groups reached the lava pool and then merged into one group to watch the show unfold.

“Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the lava eels show of the volcanium,” said the announcer.

“Today, Miss Emily, who is a tamer, will be showing us the lava eels show” continued the announcer.

“Hello everyone my name is Emily and today I would like to present the lava eels show,” said a blonde-haired girl.

After the introductions, the show finally began by having two lava eels play ball using a ball made of lava-proof Material.

“Woah that's so cool she can command those lava eels,” said Miles with amazement.

“Well she is a tamer which is a very rare class to have in Crystalia,” said Robin.

Just as they were having fun watching the lava eels show many tricks. A massive earthquake came and the ground started to split apart.

“Ahhh! Run, the volcano is erupting.” screamed some people.

The place then immediately turned chaotic as everyone ran for their lives.

“What the! What is happening? Is the volcano erupting?” asked Miles.

“I don't know but it's hard to imagine the volcano suddenly erupting because it's been dormant for more than 200 years and if it was about to erupt the fire summoners would have noticed it beforehand and warned everyone,” said Rebecca.

As they were talking about this mysterious earthquake Luke suddenly noticed something and told everyone.

“Hey guys look over there the mana has been sucked into the crack and if my assumption is right then this might be a dungeon appearance,” said Luke.

“Oh, right didn't Robin say that the guild had predicted a dungeon appearance here in Ashfall? Is this that dungeon appearance the guild was talking of” said Luke.

“But if it's really the dungeon the guild was talking about then why did the guild not warn the public about it,” asked Miles.

“Well, that's because the guild can only estimate a general location of the dungeon's appearance, not the exact location of it” explained Robin.

“Hey guys you might want to stop talking and get ready to fight because it looks like the dungeon appearance releases some of the monsters and that tamer girl named Emily also appears to be in trouble,” said Luna with a serious tone

“Hmm she is right you boys go and stop the released monsters while we go and help the tamer girl named Emily. Disperse” said Rebecca.

After this, the group split into two groups among which the boys again split apart to fight the released monsters and the girls started rescuing the tamer.

As the girls approached the tamer girl the two lava eels which were previously tame became aggressive and attacked but fortunately only one was able to move as the other tail was caught under heavy rubble and from the looks of it, it was being sucked out of its mana by the dungeon appearance occurring near it.

Just as the girls were about to be hit Rebecca used one of her class skills “Light shield” which created a shield of light that protected the both of them as they continued to approach the tamer girl.

After taking another hit they reached the tamer girl who was injured.“Quick Rebecca heal her while I will go and distract that thing's attention” after saying this she used a class skill of hers “shadow step” to move incredibly fast by going through the shadows themselves.

Then she continued distracting it and also occasionally landed a few cuts on it. while she did that Rebecca used another of her class skills “healing light” to start healing the tamer girl.

While the girls were busy helping the tamer girl the boys were each fighting two or four of these monsters known as fire imps.

The child-sized fire imps were not too hard to fight as all of them used their respective skills.

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Robin used his class skill “Entangling vines” to strangle them to death and Luke used his class skill “Freeze” to turn his enemies into ice statues and Miles was using his class skill “Flame” to cover himself in fire and then pummelled these fire imps to death.

Just as the two groups were running out of mana to power their skills the guild reinforcements arrived and started cleaning the mess up.

“Oh man, that was tiring. I almost got swarmed by these imps but fortunately, the guild reinforcements arrived in time,” said a tired Robin.

“Yeah, fortunately, they came in time as I was also running out of mana,” said Luke.

Just as they were chatting while resting the leader of the guild reinforcements came up to them and said.

“Hello, my name is Armog and I am the leader of the platinum rank adventurer party hollow hearts I am here to convey our gratitude on behalf of the guild for being a large help in containing the released monsters and keeping the damages to a minimum”

“Wow, are you the Armog the hollow fist,” asked Miles with excitement.

“Indeed I am Armog the hollow first in the flesh,” said Armog.

“Oh my god Mr.Armog I am a big fan of yours. Would you please shake hands with me?” asked Miles with excitement.

“Hey Miles calm down, will you stop causing trouble for Mr.Armog,” said Rebecca.

“Oh you don't have to get worried about causing trouble for me after all the guild does owe you kids a favor and gratitude so a handshake is no problem at all,” said Armod while shaking Miles's hand.

After this Miles was so happy he just kept staring at his hand that he just used to shake hands with his idol.

“Also kids the guild had announced that tomorrow when the passage collapsing completes and the gateway is stable the adventurer exam will begin so you guys should get ready and have some rest while you still can because a dungeon is a place where anything can happen so I will be blunt but one of you might die if you guys are careless well then bye everybody see you tomorrow” said Armod to the group before walking away.

After this very blunt but concerning revelation, the mood of the group dropped a lot and they were silent for a while before Miles broke the silence and suggested that they return to the inn.

After which, they all had gone to the inn and after eating dinner just got straight to bed without talking much.

Meanwhile in volcanium, lava pool, gateway site.

Here the crack in the ground had already expanded to twice its previous size when it was just a tiny hole.

Many magic artifacts were being arranged to surround it and one of the artifacts was especially more regal and important looking than the others and in front of its magic display Armog and another person was watching it intently.

“Hey Bob, is the equipment ready? If so, start the evaluation process of this dungeon” said Armog.

“Yes, the equipment is now ready and set to go, starting the evaluation process,” said Bob as he placed his palm on the main artifact.

Just as he placed his palm on the main magic artifact all the other artifacts started releasing different elemental mana in massive amounts and they gathered in the main artifact which started glowing with a red color.

“Hmm looks like this dungeon is a fire-type dungeon” muttered Bob before continuing.

Now all the gathered mana was released as a bright red beam of hyper-condensed mana that hit the gateway to the dungeon and the gate started to expand and turn from a mere hole in the ground to an intricately carved archway with the gateway stabilising rapidly.

“Hmm, I must say I am always surprised by how fast a dungeon connects to this world with a little help from this side though Bob what's the grade of this fire dungeon,” asked Armog.

“Yes I am checking that right now so wait a bit,” said Bob. Before putting his other palm on the main artifact which started to then display a second magic display which was a very similar display to that of the system display.

[Dungeon evaluation completed

Name: none

Floors: 1

Primary element: Fire

Monsters: (hidden),(hidden),(hidden),(Flame salamander)

Elemental plants:(hidden)

Age: 0 year 0 month 5 days]

“What the! Why are so many of its plants and monsters hidden? this should not happen even if it was an S-grade dungeon at least two monsters or plants and monsters would show. Is this even beyond S-grade in growth potential.” exclaimed Bob.

“Does this mean that our earth domain will finally have its own Ex-grade dungeon. If so, this is gonna be a historical discovery,” exclaimed Bob with immense happiness and even started shedding tears of joy.

“Wait Bob did you just say that this is an Ex-grade growth dungeon? Please tell me you aren't joking,” asked Armog with hopeful eyes.

“Yes I am not joking, it must be an Ex-grade growth dungeon. Our earth domain finally has its own Ex-grade dungeon, Armog,” said Bob, still crying tears of joy.

Just as they were weeping in joy, an assistant of Bob asked him “Sir, what is an Ex-grade growth dungeon, is it something really good or what?”

“Of course, it is because Ex-grade growth dungeons aren't exactly strong dungeons but they are dungeons that have the potential to be stronger than even S-grade dungeons, and that potential is what makes this dungeon so valuable,” explained Bob.

“Wait, Armog If it really is an Ex-grade growth dungeon then should we really use it for the adventurer exam?” asked Bob.

“Hmm, yes we indeed shall use this dungeon after all there are no beginner dungeons left in the earth domain and we do owe those kids a favor so let's just use this dungeon for the adventurer exam as the thank you present from the guild because those kids want to stay in the earth domain and so if they take an exam elsewhere they would have to join that domains branch of the guild and they won't get to be in the earth domain,” said Armog.

“Fine, I guess we do indeed owe them a favor so I guess it's ok to use this dungeon for the adventurer exam,” said Bob.

“Now everyone pack up the equipment, the evaluation is done and tomorrow we will hold the adventurer exam. Also remember to make sure that no information about today's dungeon evaluation is leaked or else we will all be in big trouble.” said Bob.