Chapter 28: Dungeon Core

Silence transpired between the two. 

Sophia was once again sitting on the lodge of the tree. She already calmed down after her surprise and already accepted Ian's offer since he said that he will divide the money after they sell it. She didn't want to accept it since she didn't do anything to deserve the money but with Ian's insistence, she can only accept it since he said that she is already his partner in crime that made her nodd in reluctance.

Ian on the other hand was looking at the forest trying to find something like plants or herbs similar to the fantasy he read. But he can't find anything, nothing but grass and trees that made him think that this place was only for the monster's place to live or something since he can't even hear insects chirping from the surrounding.

"By the way, Sophia is there anything valuable In the dungeon-like herbs or anything that can be found inside other than the crystal and monster bodies?" Ian asked her. He didn't know how many years she is working as a porter but he knows that she is more knowledgeable about inside the portal than him who just raided easy portals for easy money in the past.

Sophia who heard his voice was puzzled and said "There's nothing more valuable than the monster crystal inside the dungeons… Ah! I think there is but I don't know if it's true since it's just a rumor from the guild talking about."

Ian, who was listening, perked his ear when he learned that there is something more valuable than the crystal and monster bodies. 

He didn't care if it's just a rumor since for him if there is a rumor that means it's true since if they didn't see it themselves they won't talk about it. 

That's how the rumor was born. It just becomes a little problematic to trust a rumor because of how people transmitted it to other people which made it exaggerated sometimes or became fabricated that it becomes hard to believe.

"It's okay even if it's just a rumor since I was just curious, so what is the rumor?" he said.

"If you're alright with it. I just heard it from the talk of Independent Group of Gifters that said that the most valuable in the Dungeons was not crystal or the monsters but a dungeon core that maintains the dungeon and monsters in it.

They also said that if the Dungeon Core were destroyed the portal leading to that dungeon will also crumble and vanish from the planet. And if someone finds a Core and sells it they will surely become rich overnight. So I'm sure what you're looking for is something like Dungeon Core."

Ian nodded his head in understanding, he didn't say anything and asked again.

"Did you know where they found the dungeon core? Or is it after clearing the boss floor where they saw the core?"

Sophia who heard his question think about it for a second, she was recalling what she listened to from the past.

"I didn't think they said anything about its location, but I don't think it's on the boss floor cause if the dungeon core was there then many Gifters raiders can obtain it easily but that's just my opinion considering that I can't go to the boss floor," she said. She voices her opinion which makes Ian smile for she is not alienating herself from him.

"I think you are right about that. If it's on the boss floor then many can get it, but they didn't, which means that it's not there. Maybe the location was hidden or something else for many to didn't find it. If it was easy then maybe all the dungeons around the world were already taken off."

Sophia agreed with what Ian just said. If it's really easy then many can find it but didn't and from what she heard they said that it's pure luck so maybe it's really because of luck. 

Every Portal has dungeons with different floor levels. It generates randomly that even the lowest portal has a 10-floor level. Unlike the dungeon where they are currently it only has 3rd level floor but each floor has dangerous monsters that if not because of four B-ranked Gifters that were with them that make It look like an easy floor but it's far from the truth.

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Half an hour passed, Ian and Sophia were sitting on the same lodge of the tree. At first, it was awkward since Sophia didn't talk much but with Ian being a talkative guy who keeps asking many questions she finally opens up to Ian.

Ian was just asking about the portals she experienced which made the topic continual. He didn't ask her personal questions since they were not that close yet and he didn't plan to do it, he was just curious as Sophia was more experienced than him in this area.

After talking with each other Time passed and they could already see the 5 members walking towards them. 

Ian can already imagine that the battle with the boss was not easy with how they look. It seems that the dungeon boss was very strong.

He saw Sona being at the back without any injuries, she only has a little dirt on her white robes that shows how she was being protected thoroughly. Although no harm was done to her, Ian can see how pale her face is. It's like the face of a ghost that compliments her white robe. If not for Katherine supporting her she will fall for sure.

It indicates how many Spells she uses that make her look like that.

Balt also has a pale face but his condition was better than Sona's. His shield has a crack on its surface apparent how fierce the battle unfolded. But he stood with vigor while leading the rest which was commendable for Ian.

Katherine on the other hand only has a little bruise on her body, obviously maximizing her speed to get only that much damage from the boss.

Lindo was not lucky like Katherine since one of his arms was limping. His complexion was also not that good. But walking was just fine for him with how he walks with his sniper on his shoulder. 

Ian doesn't know if it can be healed by Sona [Refresh] but someone with a stronger healing ability can do the work just fine. It just costs more Crystal but with their loot here it can easily cover his loss.

Pitt was the most eye-catching to watch out of the four. Although his clothes were tattered he didn't have any major injuries on his body. He looked cool with how he carried the dead bodies of the boss. You read it right, Pitt was carrying the dead body of the Boss.

The monster was also a wolf species but a different type. It has three horns on its forehead that have a length of 10 inches. It colored dark red that made it look fearsome. It also has three tails, but what made it intimidating was how big it is, big can't describe its body, it can be described as massive. 

Pitt's height can be called small in the presence of the monster but Pitt was carrying it like he was carrying cotton without any deterrent.

The sight was a scene to behold. The height and the length were almost double of Pitt's size and it looked like a little human-carrying giant.

Pitt was also full of vigor like he didn't fight like the rest of the party but that was impossible with how tattered his clothes. it just signifying that he got healed by someone.

And that someone naturally Sona who have a white complexion.