First Dungeon

The party made a deal and they'll be leaving to the dungeons before dawn. This is due to maximum capacity that this dungeon gate can let Dungeoneers enter which is a thousand per day only, and by sun rise, the dungeon slot would have been fully occupied.

Lu Ciel and Bogart worn their bought equipments as they met the Ed brothers in the reception area. Lu Ciel in his Magic Silver Set equipment made him look like an ethereal diety and Bogart in his Guardian Armor Set made him looked like a dashing Paladin.

Seeing the equipments worn by the two beginners, the Ed brothers can't help but be disgusted on how high-ended they were. They really believe that these two don't deserve to wear such equipments as beginners. The five formed a party as Lu Ciel being the leader. After that, the party went to the north end of the city where the dungeon was located.

At the dungeon site, some Dungeon Hunters were already silently waiting for the dungeon gate to open. The dungeon gate was like a massive metallic door of a grand palace. Seeing this for the first time, it was breathe taking for Lu Ciel and Bogart.

While waiting, the Ed brothers introduced the dungeon which said to have a thousand floors.

From floor one to one hundred, it is only for apprentice realm's level which has a structure of an ant's nest. Each floor contains different stairs that leads to any floor. There is no pattern on what floor you'll end up in. Everything is randomized by the dungeon, even from the very beginning of entering the dungeon itself. That's why, rarely only happens where two or three different parties end up in the same floor.

Once you were able to arrive at the hundredth floor, there are three requirements for you to go beyond hundred first..

First, is to be in the Novice Realm already. Second, is to challenge the Dungeon Boss in Epic Mode if you are not in the Novice Realm yet. Third, is to have a token that lets you or your party get a free pass which can only be dropped by the dungeon bosses of the 99th floor and below.

"Wow, a thousand floor.." Bogart can't help but not entirely believe what the Ed brothers mentioned. "How big each floor is then?"

The two Ed brothers looked at Ed Ward to provide his estimation. "Probably, the same size as this city. You may think that the size of each floor is the same that's because of the difference in landscape."

Before Bogart can deny Ed Ward's claim, the metallic door of the dungeon gate split open. All Dungeon Hunters took notice as the door was giving off a grim light on its slit.

"It's time." Ed Ward announced to the party which flipped the switch of their attitude into vigilant. Seeing this, Lu Ciel and Bogart can't help but become focused and alert as well.

Parties of dungeon hunters began to enter the gate. Some of them are a group of five just Lu Ciel's party. Some of them were four or three. There was even a party which consist of two members only. This gained them an attention.

"Who are these two?" The party which have two members only were wearing a cloak which covered their faces. "They must be very strong to have that kind of confidence."

However, though no one was able to recognize the appearance of these two, when Ed Ward saw the cloak that they were wearing, his eyes widened in shock as he shouted over to the cloaked figures. "Pam! Ella!"

Hearing Ed Ward's shout, the two cloaked figures slightly turned in surprise as they entered the dungeon gate in a hurry.

"Gaddammit!" Seeing this, Ed Ward can't help but be furious as he looked at his two brothers. "Those two wench lied to us!"

Hearing their brother's anger, the two can't help but be angry as well. Before the three could forget their intentions of being here, Lu Ciel's hands tapped at the Ed brothers and spoke. "They must have duped you out to be the first to explore the hidden map, huh."

Hearing what Lu Ciel said, the Ed brothers got surprised as how did the young man learned about the hidden map. However, before they can react, Lu Ciel continued to speak. "How about three spirit crystal each for us two to be a part of this affair?"

The Ed brothers gazed at Lu Ciel with a questioning look.

"I understand that you three are thinking that we are only a burden since we are only starting and we still have lots to learn." Lu Ciel only shook his head as he explained himself. "I understand as well that those two will not be able to explore that hidden map right away that's why, I presume that they told you an excuse that they'll be preparing for a span of time to be ready when the time for you five to explore arrives, something like that, correct?"

Hearing Lu Ciel's pressumption made Ed Ward realized the two cloaked figures scheme. The two made a deal between them that they'll be exploring the hidden map after a month. This deal was to delay the Ed brother's greed and hog all the benefits for the two themselves only.

The Ed brother can't help but curse the two cloaked figures to die and if they ever see them in the dungeon, they swore to have fun until they are satiated and kill them right after. However, Ed Ward bottled these emotions first as he looked the young man in front of him. "What's your plan, boy?"

Seeing that Ed Ward was thinking about his offer, Lu Ciel smiled as he took out six spirit crystals and handed it over to Ed Ward. "May I have the hidden map?"

Ed Ward took a deep look at the young man to see whether he will be duped once more. However, after a long moment of silence, Ed Ward grunted as he accepted the spirit crystals and handing the hidden map.

With this exchange, Lu Ciel nodded to the party. "There's no time to waste. We'll make the most out of our time learning the basics efficiently as we travel fast down to where the hidden map is. Let's go!"

While the party was in the process of entering the dungeon. The Siri-like voice prompted Lu Ciel which made him wonder if this a normal thing. Lu Ciel did not give much thought about it though and just rolled the dice. After falling and spinning for a moment, the dice landed into its five dots.

After the system's voice sounded, Lu Ciel was warped in a dim moist underground cave. After a moment, chirps of different insect sounded in the space he was in as green lights in the dark distance glowed pair by pair.

"Get ready." The Ed brothers stepped forward as they stanced themselves from the incoming monsters.

When the monsters that approached the party, the Ed brothers only used normal attacks as they hack, slash and bash the incoming monster. Lu Ciel noticed that these monsters have six legs and antlers on their heads. However, by the time that these monster able to completely approached them, they were already obliterated by the Ed brothers. Lu Ciel was then able to confirm that the monsters were oversized normal ants.

"Well, that was anticlimactic." Bogart can't help but comment as he looked at the littered limbs and body, spilled goo or maybe blood from the ants on the ground. Each of the two gained a total 12 EXP from the five slayed monsters. While the Ed brothers did not gain any as they were already in the Novice Realm.

"These are Worker Ants." Ed Ward explained. "They are basically just oversized ants however, there are different species of ants here with its own uniqueness and characteristics. For now, watch and learn how we kill these bugs. We'll teach more on dungeon boss fight."

"Got it." Lu Ciel only smiled as he replied. "Let's go find the Dungeon boss then."