Earth: The Second

Bloody Plan

Dungeon. The massive structure that exists and is scattered throughout the world. The record about them has already been written for more than a hundred years.  But there once was a king, who becomes the first explorer that ventured deep within the structure and come out as a hero.

He was known as Geoffrey, Soul of Lion. Many people are believed that he once ruled the Amira Empire, but there is also debate that his parent is coming from the Kingdom of Horundah. 

In this period of time, Dungeons are deemed as a sanctuary and unreachable for humans. But the King thinks differently. With a lot of confidence and a little bit of arrogancy, he leads an expedition team of around three hundred men inside.

They bought equipment and supplies that are meant for the land expedition. Spending around two to three weeks inside that place.

When they come out, King has lost a quarter of his soldier, but he managed to retrieve carriages of crystal, chunks of gold, and also Artifacts. This also becomes the first appearance of Artifact things across the history and stories in this world.

Some of the versions are also included the King have a conversation with The Sevens, hence explain why the Amira Empire let the Church power grow together within their sovereignty. 

But one important thing after that, he declared that all the dungeons in the continents are free to be explored. The story of his success, quickly spread throughout the land, especially when they know the possibilities of valuables hidden within those places. 

Soon, the act of adventuring inside Dungeons has become some kind of trend. Thirst of fame and wealth, people are storming inside, without knowing the possibilities of danger within. Of course, that mean hundred, or even thousands of life has been killed, the risk is high, but rewards are also high either. This problem then pushed the back of many independent adventurers to band together, and discussing how they can decrease the danger value inside of the dungeons. Basically, they are the first adventurer guild that ever existed. 

From their knowledge and discussion, they starting to surveying inside the dungeon first. They created maps inside, and listing every monster that they encounter. Again, they found gold and crystals, making the dungeon explorer frenzy goes even wilder.

Soon after that, the news reached the Kingdom of Horundah in the north, and also the Principality of Noir Callum in the south. Authority is starting to deploy expedition inside, sometimes even clashing with the independent adventurers.

Nevertheless, the good thing that happened because of this situation, is the absence of war for more than one hundred and fifty years. Kings, Nobles, and Independent adventurers are too busy with dungeons of their own, making them a center of economy in some places.

Records also note how these structures are much different from each other. One can be seen as a tower that pierced the sky, then for the other, it is shaped like a sphere or snail’s house. 

However, even after years already passed, the frenzy hasn’t stopped yet, and dungeons have become one of the important economic sectors in many countries. Same with the one where Adma his group is right now.

***

The closer they are, the bigger the structure is. Ever since they are in the town, Adma can see massive structures located in the distance, and it is confirmed that its grand size is no joke. The dungeon is a tower with a shape that is similar to an hourglass: wide at the top and bottom, but slimmer at the middle. It has windows all over the wall, and at a glance, seemed like made out of clay.

At the bottom, they can see the adventurers that are preparing before venturing inside the dungeon. Some are sharpening their tools, some are praying, and cheering each other up. But Adma is interested in one of the parties that chanting spells to the trees and stone.

“What are they doing?” asked Adma to Boss.

“They are creating teleportation point in case anything goes wrong,” replied him.

“Teleportation? Is that mean moving from someplace to elsewhere in an instant?”

“Yes, but it can only be used once per spell. So it’s usually used as an escape at emergency.”

Escaping at emergency… For a moment Adma remembers Kiki’s story, the first time they meet. Kiki said that her companion has prepared the ‘escape crystal’, especially when they see the Dark Monsters that feed on her teammate. But when they try to activate it, nothing happened because they are transferred to the top of the ruin first.

Do these adventurers also think about what could happen when their way to escape is gone? Or are they simply living with it, and only pray for the best? Think Adma quietly.

“Sadly, we don’t have a magician that knowledgeable enough to create the teleportation point, so if anything happened, We suggest that you preparing with your feet,” said Boss, half-jokingly. 

He stopped in front of the hole that seems like a cave in the dungeon. Before they proceed, Boss is suggesting the formation of their team.

“We are moving with spearhead formation. Boran is a shielder, so he will take the front point, together with me and Kaina. People with the least fighting capabilities are suggested to walk in the middle, while Adma takes the point behind,” said Boss.

That is mean the Black Claws team is leading the way, with Gon, Hepaetus, Rika, and Razazel in the middle. Meanwhile, Adma is watching their back, the strategy that makes sense.

But wait, aren’t Razazel also have fighting capabilities? And what about Rika.

“You don’t need to worry about me,” said that girl, noticing that Adma is glaring from the corner of his eyes. “I’ve said it before aren’t I? That I can fight.” She reached the twin blade that was located at the leather belt on her chest.

“Is that fine to battle with that maid outfit of yours?” asked Adma. But for a reply, Rika smiled full of confidence, she fixed her glasses and puffed out her chest.

“I may be not a superhuman like you, but in my early days, I was taught the art of fighting, even in a dress with a long skirt like this,” said Rika. “And even they are in my way, I can easily rip them off with my knife you know,” add her again.

Actually, Ama is not entirely convinced that she could fight like that, but as long as she is happy, he guesses. Apparently, this time, Adma has to work harder to ensure their safety.

“What are you guys doing!? Don’t waste the time!” shouted Gon from a distance. They are already half the way inside the entrance, and apparently, Rika and Adma are taking their sweet time.

“We are coming!” shouted Rika, and both she and Adma walked to catch up with their companions.

***

Far from the eyes of the protagonists, Serpentia looked at the monitor in front of him. The entire screen is showing the 3d map of the structure, and the two blue targets are blipping. One of them has the codename FRGR, and one is CYBR. He drags the cursor to the blip, and a pop-out window appeared again on the screen.

The pop-out window is showing the situation outside of the structure, just like how people have usually seen it on the security camera. Serpentia confirms the existence of Hepaetus, the Master Forger, together with his other target. 

“Is that person is really the remnant of the old world, Keeper?” asked Sepentia. 

An avatar with a black-cloaked hood and red eyes appeared on the screen. It’s the AI that Adma meets in Clara’s computer. Keeper, the AI, scanned at the image of Adma, and confirm that he had met with him when deleting the rogue support computer.

“That has been confirmed, master. He is the cyborg that used the enemy’s model frame and conspiring together with the rogue base. I detect that they previously exchanged data,” said Keeper.

“And they are coming together with the forger. This will be the best scenario we can expect,” said Serpentia, he is giggled for a bit, and then facing the machine beside him. 

“I’m looking forward to the time the serpent can be awakened again, the time when true power is coming back and reclaim the throne of this world,” said Serpentia.

“Which means it’s not very far from now on, right?”

A female voice coming from behind, him. With the same black-shrouded cloak as him, the female lifts out her hood and showed her face. There is a huge scar that slashing her diagonally,  her right eye is already closed, seems can’ be used again. Her skin is black, and maybe the one that could be called ‘exotic’.

“Welcome back, Pythia.” greet Serpentia, without showing his face, that man gives Pythia girl a hug.

“With the bless of the Dark Lord, I have returned to give my present,” said Pythia, she handed over a vial of red that is stored inside her cloak.

“The blood of sinner, the essence of evil,” said Serpentia, lifting that vial highly. “You have done a good job. Come and rest, for your mission will come soon after,” add him.

Pythia is letting out her cloak, showing the slim body, and tight suit that is very similar to an assassin. She lifts both of her hand, and perform some kind of slow dance.

When Pythia did that, all of her fatigue is lifted. She also smiled and giggled for a little bit.

“My job is for the Dark Lord, my life is for the Dark Lord, there is no rest until his destiny is fulfilled,” said Pytha.

“Impressive,” commented Serpentia, he walked past that woman to one side of the wall, there are buttons over there that respond when pressed.

Suddenly, the wall is split open, bright light is coming from the inside, along with some kind of cold smoke. Inside them are a collection of vials that are painted red. The same as what he is holding now.

“The offering has been prepared,” said Serpentia, “Now, come to the last preparation,” add him.

“What is it we need?”

“A person that understands machnery,” end Serpentia.

His face looked straight torward to the blue blip inside the monitor.