He Who Defies the Rules

Chapter 1: Starting Line

"What did you say, crazy bastard, you want me to be a meat shield?" angrily shouted by Zion while greeting his teeth at the man infront of him.

It was Carlo Villarama, the man who promise to give him some raiding works.

"Calm down, bro. I didn't said that you will be a meat shield for this raid. Besides you will not go there alone, there is an additional fighters that will accompany you to protect this team," said Carlo trying to persuade Zion.

Even with Carlo dissuading him, Zion shouted angrily. Zion's voice rang out through the interior of the cafe.

Zion glared at Carlo, who was standing in front of him, while biting his lips in frustration.

Anger is still vividly shown in Zion's face as if it was still not satisfied by the excuses Carlo Villarama said.

As Zion really is in desperate needs right now, he decided to cool down his head and slowly go back to his seat.

Their negotiations continues.

"As I have said, this raiding team is composed of plenty of magicians and fighters. You will be raiding a dungeon that is proclaimed as 5 stars. It will just be a piece of cake to someone like you to closed it."

Zion stares at Carlo's face as if he was finding some loophole in it if the latter are telling the truth or just conning him.

Dungeons are characterised by stars depending on how difficult and life threatening it is. The more the stars, the more difficult it is to raid. As of this moment only 5 starred dungeon are announced in public. But there are speculations that a higher starred than it is already formed in the land of earth.

Zion made a deep sigh.

"Alright, I'll accept this one as I am also tight on budget these days."

"I know that one," Carlo murmured.

"But, I want the contract to be revised a little bit."

Carlo's face become flustered as to what Zion said. Before he can make a word, Zion continue.

"It's not big of a deal, I just want you to increase the pay I'll be having once this raid is done. The amount you just declared here is for a 3 star dungeon. You know this is against the awakened code right?"

Carlo can't argue with Zion. He knows that the man infront of him is a determined one. If he rebut it will only lengthen the conversation that may also lead to failure of their negotiations.

Unable to refuse Zion's revision, he just go with how the latter wants. After that the negotiations is closed in favor of Zion, or so he thought.

Carlo is one among all agents that finds awakened people who's not affiliated with any of the guilds in the country. He finds prospective freelancing awakened to bribe. His most favorite is an awakened like Zion.

Disperate. Poor. Burried in Debt.

They are easy to fool and without much effort to persuade. But It is his first time to encounter a person such a self-centered and hard headed like Zion.

Carlo just shrugged his shoulder as he leaves the vicinity of the cafe.

Zion remains on his seat as he was lost in his own thoughts. He closed a deal just a moment ago but he is still not happy with it. The debt he needs to pay is piling at his back like some pile of rocks that hindering him to move freely.

He needs to pay it all as soon as possible. A realization hit him hard as he was negotiating with Carlo a while ago. He already don't want to continue his current life. He needs to find some opportunity to climb up the ladder of social life, even if it needs for him to make illegal works.

A fighter class like him is nowhere to go in life. Even other awakaned whose lower rank than him are gaining a hefty pay-check that he can only dream of.

His a D rank in fighter class. During his 6 years of being an awakened his only a D rank, plus the only job he can do is either to be a meat shield or a porter.

Unlike fighter class awakened, the Magician class is blessing to be in. They don't need to suffer being a meat shield or a porter, all they need to do is conjure magic at a safe distance while the fighter class 'awakened' is barricading their front againts monsters inside the dungeon.

11 years ago when Zion is still an awakened student, he was given two choices to pursue for his awakened career. It's either for him to be a magician or a fighter.

Even though his apptitude in magic is 98 percent, close to 100 which is the full apptitude for being a magician, while his combat test is just 37 percent. He still choose to be part of the fighter class because of a major practical reason.

During that time being a magician is not a very much sought class. People thought that magician is a weak class and all to be done is cast spells without much of a damage to a monster. While fighter class is a very famous path to take, all the professors are focused on it and most of the renewed awakened who fight monsters when a dungeon break happens is composed mostly of fighters.

So as to that very reason, Zion chose to take the path of being a fighter class without listening to all the curious advice of the people sorrounding him.

'If I had chosen to be a Magician 11 years ago, would my life be better right now?’

Zion shook his head to get rid of useless thoughts.

Normally, a raider’s growth stopped in their 20s. In other words, even if Zion regretted it now, nothing would change. At one time, his talent was envied by all those who wished to be a Magician.

However, he was now a D-rank fighter with nothing special. The difference between Zion’s past and present was incredibly vast.

After a moment of silence Zion's phone suddenly rang. It was Carlo.

Zion did not hesitate to answer the call.

"I forgot to tell you earlier, you need to be there at exactly 8 o'clock. Well, see you there."

"Wait, are you also there? What should an agent like you would be doing at the dungeon that is currently rading?"

A long pause was heard in the line before a meaningful response from Carlo.

"I also have some important matter to attend there tomorrow, see you-"

Before Zion can ask again, the line has been cut. He just forgot about it and stop being nosy, after all it's not part of his business.

*****

The next day.

Despite what he indicated, Carlo was not seen at the dungeon's entrance.

The hour of 8 o'clock, the time he had agreed to meet Carlo at, soon approached 9 o'clock. Zion shuffled about by himself at the dungeon entrance.

“…Carlo, that bastard. He talked about meeting the next day, but I can’t even see his shadow. It would have been better if he hadn’t said he was coming.”

Then again, for Carlo, it would be better to take care of those with better talent.

He was merely a D-rank martial artist, but Carlo was an A-rank Magician. A rank that obviously received good treatment wherever they went.

There was no way such a person could be dedicated to just him.

‘To begin with, I don’t know why such a guy is working in a mere raider agency…’

He could become a part of any guild. But to think he’s wasting his time at the agency…

It was not something Zion could comprehend. But since he was receiving help with this and that due to it, he didn’t think too deeply into the matter.

Everyone has their own circumstances after all.

Zion let out a sigh as he observed his surroundings.

As soon as he did so, he saw combat raiders in the same situation as him.

There were a little over forty of them. As they wiped their tiny shields, everyone’s expression showed they knew they were facing their deaths.

‘If they wipe it any more, they might bore a hole in their shields.’

This time, he turned to look in the other direction.

Unlike the indifferent labourers, the Magicians had a cordial atmosphere with bright expressions.

It was clear from a first glance that it was a prestigious guild full of accomplished raiders. It was deserving of its moniker, the Zodiac Guild, which was recently rising to fame as a new guild.

When Zion saw the scene in front of him, he thought of his own situation.

He hadn't really wanted to take part in this raid.

However, the current place he was renting required a 200 thousand pesos deposit in addition to 46,000 per month in rent. There was no other choice than to launch a raid when one considered the sums that must be spent each month on food, patching armor, and other small expenses.

[A/n: 246,000 pesos = 4500 dollars]

Zion could, of course, approach his parents for assistance given that he was still just 27 years old.

Most importantly, Edgar Vergara, his father, was an A-rank raider. one of the people who the entire populace envies.

But sadly, his father didn't care for him. His mother, who had already died away, may be compared in this sense.

Edgar Vergara

Zion's father was referred to as "human trash" because he mistreated the two of them verbally and physically.

He fled home without any money the moment he turned 18 because of this.

He desired to emerge from his father's presence.

But as a result, Zion ended up in poverty.

Not that he had never attempted to perform other occupations. But since the academy only taught him this, he realized that other vocations weren't a good fit for him. He always returned after not being able to stay long there.

As a result, he was now forced to fix his own shield so that it could serve as a meat shield.

A recognizable voice could be heard coming from behind Zion, who had been lost in meditation.

“Huh? Zion! I see we're meeting up again here.”

To find the source of the voice, Zion turned to face that direction. Soon, Zion saw the well-known visage of a middle-aged man.

Rico Liang

Zion had met him a few times in dungeons as a scout since he was a fighter class raider like Zion.

“Rico Liang, you came as well?”

“Yeah. There’s not a lot of work these days… These kinds of jobs may be a bit dangerous, but they pay a lot.”

“Yeah… Well, that’s true. Especially since…”

“And there’s no place for combat raiders other than this. Right? Anyway, kids nowadays don’t have any love for the sword. What’s so cool about sending out a fireball from the rear?”

‘What ‘love’. I’m about to starve to death.’

Of course, he didn’t let those words leave his mouth. He merely sighed and shrugged.

Rico Liang shook his head to show he didn’t care about it much and put a hand on Zion’s shoulder.

“Well, regardless. Let’s do our best this time, too. So, do you want to go drink after this?”

“Yeah… sounds good. But I don’t have much money right now…”

“No can do. I paid last time too.”

Zion's shoulders sagged as a result of Rico's words, and he displayed a sorrowful expression.

After giving him a sympathetic glance for a minute, Rico Liang began to scratch his head as he talked.

“Ah! Alright. Alright! Then I'll be made to pay for it one last time! ”

‘He’s a really easy guy.’

JaeHyun chuckled to himself.

He had received complimentary drinks exactly eight times by this point.

"Everyone, gather around the dungeon door! In thirty minutes, we will arrive.

Zion and Rico were disheartened by the abrupt announcement from a guild member.

The two rushed swiftly in the direction of where the voice was coming from.

Zion stopped walking at that same time and pulled out his phone from his chest pocket, turning it on.

"Zion. Why aren’t you coming?”

Seeing that Zion hadn’t followed him, Rico turned around and looked at what Zion was doing.

A smile promptly spread on Rico Liang’s face.

“Ha! Are you looking at your smartphone again? You seem to always do that before going into a dungeon. What are you looking at so diligently? Are you looking at a picture of your girlfriend?”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

Zion’s stiff expression softened a little.

Inside the old smartphone’s screen, there was a picture of his younger self and his mother, Denice Manalo.

A slightly bitter smile appeared on Zion’s face.

‘I’ll come back safely.’

Zion turned his phone to dungeon mode and stuck close to Rico. Without losing his smile, he was sucked into the dungeon along with Rico Liang.

*****

“Hey! Tank! Raise your shield properly. Keep the line straight!”

“f**k! Why can’t you understand human language? Maintain your position even if you die!”

The guild Magician that Zion was guarding didn’t stop with the curses and verbal abuse. Since it was a scouting mission with their lives on the line, the Magicians were also high-strung.

The Fighters, including Zion, had their own task.

Warriors had to maintain the battle line and continuously fend off attacks from the monsters while the magicians were casting spells.

“The glittering lights of Alfheim…”

“Flames under Surt’s command, destroy all enemies in sight…”

At that time, the Magicians used tacky casting to aim their spells at the creatures and cast them.

Crash!

The monsters that were heading in the direction of the Warriors vanished in an instant.

“Phew…”

Sweat was pouring out of the hand that was holding his shield. Zion huffed as he made his way back to the front of the combat line.

All the monsters that appeared in the dungeon this time were the undead type.

Even after being killed, they would resurrect, so they had to be either struck with holy magic or dispatched with holy weapons. They were creatures that were difficult to handle.

Kieeeehhhhh!

Kaaaak!

The members of Zodiac guild, however, soon dispatched the zombie beasts by demonstrating the strength of a guild of magicians.

I don't have to worry about dying if it keeps going like this.

In light of what transpired the day before, Zion thought himself foolish for fretting all day. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that they could escape the prison by nightfall at the rate they were moving.

For four hours, the monsters and humans engaged in a grueling battle.

The raid leader stopped moving and turned to look around the demolished dungeon.

"This place appears to be done. Let's take a short nap now! ”

"I assume everyone heard that. Before moving on, we're taking a short break here! Those in front were raiders! Go back now! ”

Those who were in front of them turned around in response to the raid leader's and guild member's statements.

Zion's walking companion Rico started to speak.

"Wow, this place is enormous from any angle."

“Yeah. We could certainly construct a soccer field here given its size.

Zion agreed while taking in his surroundings.

It was a very large dungeon.

'It's an A-ranked dungeon, but it really is big, I'm not sure whether that's why.'

The Zodiac Guild was currently attempting to conquer an A-ranked dungeon. This was the first time a novice guild tried to finish an A-ranked dungeon so quickly, according to a recent news report.

Despite my desire to deny it, a guild of magicians really is powerful.

In the murky darkness, a few doorways that appeared to be cave entrances could be observed.

Probably one of those doors led to the boss room.

Zion gasped as he took in the row of doors.

Even though Zodiac was a fantastic rookie guild, this was an A-rank dungeon where dozens of the best raiders perished every year.

It was not a place where carelessness was acceptable.

"Whew. Is the boss room the only location left?"

Zion caught his breath as he sat on a folding chair at the edge and did some stretching.

At that moment.

“Huh?”

All the strength in his body suddenly left him, and Zion started to waver like a sheet of paper.

* ……The Orion System is downloading.

* The connection with the user will temporarily be cut.

* The system is rebooting.

“Huh? What is this…”

A voice out of the blue.

With a confused gaze, Zion concentrated on the machine tone in his ears.

‘Shouldn’t the Orion System already be downloaded? There hasn’t been anything like this until now.’

However, the contradictory messages persisted.

— ... The Orion System was unable to reboot for unidentified reasons.

— Restarting... failed?

Everything was happening for the first time, with the system downloading and the reboot failing.

On the raider bulletin board in the awakened community, unusual situations that he had never seen persisted. Zion's thoughts immediately became blank.

At that moment.

A voice from an unknown source started to calmly spread inside Zion’s head.

「……light………follow……」

* An unknown presence is infiltrating the Orion System!

* Returning to safe mode.

* …failed!

'An unknown presence…? What the hell was the voice from a moment ago……’

“Did it say… to follow the light?”

“Huh? Zion, what do you mean?”

“Nothing. Just now, I thought I heard someone tell me to follow the…”

Zion was unable to finish his sentence.

Oooowoooowowww….

A firefly shining with a white light wavered in front of his eyes.

‘This light… was it saying that I should follow this light?’

Zion nervously swallowed.

‘What on earth is happening right now?’

_______--