Earth: The Second

Serpenta

For the people of the new world, ruins or ‘dungeon’ are as natural as mountains or canyons. Those huge structures are probably aged more than a hundred years, but they are still hiding many secrets beneath them. In the Kingdom of Henriah itself, there is a total of five dungeons, scattered around the island and surrounding the capital. 

Each of these dungeons is unique. Sometimes, it is even difficult to categorize them based on the size and shape of the structure, or things that people discover inside.

For their huge structure and age, they have become a suitable place for creatures and monsters to nesting inside. Combined with the fact that people believed the invaluable artifacts were hidden inside, make the area near the dungeon become a new settlement, for the curious travelers.

Scholars and archeologists are coming to learn the hidden history beneath the dungeons. That is why they need the help of people who are experienced in fighting, to guard them in case of monster attacks. And because of that, adventurers guild are thriving over there. Sometimes, they are also given the task to obtain certain materials from the monster to exchanged with some money. 

When the demand is getting higher in a certain area, then the economy around is growing to support it. Inns and shops are quickly erected near one to another, focusing their necessities for the dungeon explorers.

For certain adventurers, this is also the place that is suitable for training. Wielding a huge sword that is as big as he is, the adventurer slams into the skull of one of the humanoid beasts that they discover. In an instant, blood is splatting all over the stone walls, and that chunk of meat under his sword is stopped twitching.

“Giiii!!!” shriek the other humanoid beast, as if they were surprised to see their friends get slain in an instant.

These humanoid beast monsters are called Gobin. They have a short body and flesh-colored skin under green hairs. their bodies are humped, and they attacking with sharp claws. 

Of course, you have known the sword user. Boss, the ex-mercenary king who is now leading a band of Black Claw, is the guy. He is still accompanied by one assassin and one shielder. 

After their defeat against Adma in Horundah, for some reason, Boss decides to go to the nearest dungeon. 

Because Kaina the assassin, and Boran the shielders do not have a plan for themselves, they decide to follow Boss on his ‘training’.

But so much training can only be done for a person who is already experienced in their field. 

“Taunt!” Boran shouted as he stepped forward with shield lifted. Mana suddenly bursting out from him to the group of Gobin. As if those creatures are losing their mind, they are screaming and leaping forward to attack Boran, though those claws are leaving nothing for Boran’s strong full-suit armor.

When the creatures are too busy making useless damage to Boran, a set of blades are piercing and slashing them from behind. They all do not realize the assassin has slipped past them, and now, she is cutting their neck without breaking a sweat.

The battle is quickly concluded by the victory for Black Claws, but still and all, no shout of rejoicing coming from them.

As one of the most famous adventurers, Black Claws have the ‘senior rank’ and are able to partake in a quest with more than 6 stars difficulties. But for some reason, there are not a lot of high-grade quests that they can take this time. 

“Probably, this dungeon will wear out soon,” mutter Kaina while she gouges out the Gobin’s eyeball from their skull.

“You still saying that?” asked Boran in front of him. 

What Kaina is talking about, is the situation of the dungeons. In the past, there might be a lot of beasts, and secrets to discover. But as the time comes and goes, the landscapes around the dungeons are slowly changed too. 

Beasts are starting to leaving this place because of constant disturbance made by the human. The Artifacts and secrets that are hidden inside would never increase too, and by the time the discovery stopped, people would move their attention to another dungeon with more prospects.

“If your primary objective here is to train against that man, you’ll never improve,” said Kaina again. She does have a tendency to speak coldly to everyone.

“You don’t say?” replied Boss without taking a glance at her. Right now, they are probably around the center of the dungeon. Their particular mission is to get various body parts of the beasts, but that just quests with difficulty 5, which is still too easy for them.

If only they have a bigger quest to slain giants or a huge amount of enemies, those would bring much more fun and challenge for these seniors adventurers. But no, they have finished the two last difficulties 6 quests yesterday, and both of them are turned easier than they expected too.

“Our task is basically finished right now,” said Boran to his other companion. “Are we going to moving on, or we would stay longer?”

Among the three of them, that man is probably the most responsible and composed person. Boss can be hot-headed and wild, while Kaina is difficult to talk to. 

“Of course we are moving on, just slaying a few Sabretooth and Gobin, is not enough to satisfy my appetite,” said Boss.

“Are you sure? the guilds are always prohibiting higher-rank adventurers to kill monsters after they finished their quest. Our pay and reputation might go down too,”

“Bah! Screw them!” replied Boss, without care, he stepped forward with a torch in his hand. His companion following from behind, with a sack of materials. 

Boss already knows that doing a trivial job like this would not contribute much to his training. But his decision to abandon their previous jobs are consists of two reasons. The first is that he needs to rain even more to surpass Adma, and the second is he wanted to know the actual secret of that person.

No matter what it seems, Adma in the first place is not an ordinary man. He does not bleed, seems like he does not feel pain either, and is able to take stabbing and slashing wounds. Then his behavior, at first Adma seems hesitant to kill him, instead, he tends to use his entire strength to end the battle in one hit. But suddenly, his attitude is quick to change, and when he does change, that man is able to kill his subordinate quickly.

From Boss’ perspective, Adma must be hiding something that is related to the Artifacts.

As they walked deeper into the dark dungeon. He noticed the small creatures and previous beasts that they were supposed to encounter, fleeing away when Boss come near them.

As if they know that they will be no match for the man who wiled the giant sword.

Feeling disappointed, Boss letting out a sigh. “In the end, we are would just wasting time to stay here even longer,” said him.

Boss is just turning around to his companion, saying that they would go back to the guild, but something stopped his body.

“Boss?” asked Boran, does not realize that his leader is seeing something behind them.

“Greetings, adventurer.” following that, a clear sound of a man suddenly echoed from their back. Startled either Kaina and Boran.

This surprised even Kaina because as an assassin, she knew very well how to conceal her presence to other people. If she herself cannot feel this person exists, then he might be also a skilled assassin.

“Please don’t be too cautious, as I just wanted to talk,” said him. This guy in front of them wearing a black robe, that completely covers his entire body. None of his hands and feet can be seen. Hood also shrouded his head, and his face is hidden behind a mask.

a white mask with cutout on its eyes, mouth, and nose. Printed with an image of a snake.

“Well, what do you want then suspicious man?” asked Boss, acting though.

As if he thinking words he wanted to say, the mysterious figure started to greet the Black Claws.

“Greeting for the Mercenary King, who have conquered the battlefield of this continent. I’m Serpenta, the eternal inhabitant of this ground.”

Boss lifts his eyebrow up. “Inhabitant? Never heard about a person that lives inside a dungeon before.” doubt Boss.

“I see, you are doubting my credibility. I understand since people never know that I lived in this place, maybe even longer than they expected,” the man called Serpenta laughed a little.

“Wait, you wanted to tell that you have lived here before they discover this place?” asked Boran this time. “Are you even human?” he added again.

Serpenta just answers with a laugh. “Human or not, does it matter? Besides, my intention to appear before you is that I know about concerns that you have experienced lately.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t try to hide it! I can feel that man, hidden deep behind your mind. A person with a body made of steel, but the soul of a human. He does you justice, isn’t he? With otherworldly power that he has?” asked Serpenta.

“...Are showing off your fortune-telling skill or what? Because we are not interested in some shady street vendor right now!” shouted Kaina.

Ignoring the insult, Serpenta continues talking. “Rather than taking the small job that will benefit nothing to beat that person, why don’t we instead working together? You might learn something new,” asked Serpenta.

“Something new? like what?” asked Boss.

Serpenta laughed a little, then suddenly the environment around Kaina, Boran, and Boss goes hazy. the wall stone that surrounds them suddenly changed into a larger area, with darkness around them.

“Welcome to my home,” said Serpenta.

Suddenly, light shines through the entire room. It takes a while for the group to adapt their eyes.

But after they managed to see, they are shrouded in awe of what they see.

“Boss, this is…” said Boran to his leader, as Kaina also looked at him through the corner of her eyes.

In front of Boss, is a giant, that looked like a snake made out of steel,

Boss’ expression turned from awed surprised into a smile.