Chapter 18 – The Great Dungeon Party Roster

The Great Dungeon Party Official Roster, the Preselected Fifty:

From the High Mage Council: 20 Spots

1. Grand Councilman Ziphe

2. Superior Councilman Naxa

3. Superior Councilman Nure

4. Superior Councilman Tirips

5. Councilman Ozzy

6. Councilman Ryke

7. Councilwoman Kat

8. Councilwoman Zirene

9. Councilwoman Freya

10. Councilwoman Nexus

11. Vice-Councilman 'Red'

12. Vice-Councilman 'Blue'

13. Vice-Councilman Zacchaeus

14. Vice-Councilman Grega

15. Vice-Councilman 'BS'

16. Council Trainee White

17. Council Trainee Trike

18. Council Trainee Belle

19. Council Trainee Goln

20. Council Trainee Duchess

From the Gatekeeper Order: Six Spots

1. Gatekeeper Queen Tyermsy

2. Gatekeeper Prince Ecnelis

3. Gatekeeper Princess Realeh

4. Gatekeeper Duke Ciphe

5. Gatekeeper Duke Elos

6. Gatekeeper Groth

From the Four Powers Criminal Redemption Program: Six Spots

1. Former Insurrectionist Layarteb

2. Former Warlord Topaz

3. Former Terrorist Amber

4. Former Serial Killer Peridot

5. Former Assassin Nosiop

6. Former Master Thief Noitcidda

From the Seven Paths' Church: Five Spots

1. Arch Priest of Order, Joseph

2. Arch Priestess of Chaos, Evelynn

3. High Priest of Void, Vladimir

4. Priest of Talent, James

5. Priest of Wanderers, Jacob

From the Ryko Corporation: Five Spots

1. Rkyo Corp CEO Evaris

2. Ryko Corp Secretary Christina

3. Ryko Corp Assistant Jim

4. Ryko Corp Assistant Bob

5. Ryko Corp Assistant Joe

Consultants: Three Spots

1. Head Prophet '21'

2. Ex-King of Phanec Augustus

3. Ex-King of Pyrite Skele

From the Ryko Mining Corporation: Two Spots

1. Chairman Saul

2. Chairman Citrine

From Agate Academy: Two Spots

1. Headmaster Githl

2. Vice-headmaster Gruff

Ex-King Job's Extra Pick: One Spot

1. Adventurer Priest David

The Great Dungeon Party Official Roster, the Great Dungeon Selection Fifty:

The Top Four:

1. Ex-King of Phanec Job

2. Dungeon Ahab

3. Dungeon Shade Samson

4. Lizard King Herod

The Top Eight:

5. Ex-King of Pyrite Dregey

6. Lizard Princess Delilah

7. Wandering Sage Jing

8. Wandering Sage Clico

The Top Sixteen:

9. Vampire Lord Jonah

10. Vice-Guildmaster Elijah

11. Pyrite Sage Elle

12. Wandering Sage Mo

13. Pyrite Sage Zircon

14. Pyrite Sage Pan

15. Adventurer Anaxmai

16. Pyrite Sage Angiuli

The Top Fifty:

17. Guildmaster Abel

18. Werewolf King Haman

19. Orc Lord Rubeus

20. Dungeon Shade Omira

21. Vice-headmaster Love

22. Agate Princess Riphe

23. Vampire Princess Val

24. Wandering Sage Mite

25. Wandering Sage Do

26. Werewolf Prince Cain

27. Wandering Sage Isabel

28. Adventurer Judas

29. Masked Number Seven

30. Masked Number Six

31. Masked Number Five

32. Wandering Sage Aventi

33. Adventurer Cheptah

34. Adventurer Samcyra

35. Wandering Sage Stern

36. Wandering Wizard Kiln

37. Wandering Wizard Utone

38. Adventurer Gileon

39. Galeon Sage Elroi

40. Galeon Sage Hirune

41. Phanec Wizard Yulong

42. Phanec Wizard Stephen

43. Agate Wizard Violet

44. Agate Sage Scium

45. Pyrite Sage Aaron

46. Pyrite Wizard Liam

47. Masked Number Four

48. Masked Number Three

49. Masked Number Two

50. Masked Number One

***

The logistical nightmare of the Dungeon Selection Tournament was a huge headache for Grand Councilman Ziphe. Even during the tournament, certain individuals quit the tournament after placing a certain rank, and matchup arrangements were stealthily made.

Then after the finals, others changed their minds, wanting to return to the party while others got cold feet. Bringing people in and out frustrated Ziphe, but it seemed like not many people noticed some losers advancing while some winners disappeared. The general public wouldn't realize the mess until well after the party entered Hell. Officially, these losers were ruled as having 'randomly selected' consolation matches to take down the winners who had left. During the weeks in between, the cleanup was done thoroughly and secretly. In the moment, people accepted the results and didn't think too deeply about it.

For example, Councilwoman Freya, a loose cannon, had snuck into the tournament under a false alias, Phanec Sage Dagon. Replacing her with a previously defeated candidate piled on the insane workload Ziphe had to deal with. Ziphe even wondered if Freya's equally troubled apprentice landed a final spot in the final roster secretly. Conspiratorial videos came out upon the release of the official roster, but Ziphe was confident they had gaslighted the public enough to buy some time before entering Hell.

Shocking the world, some of the final participants eligible to enter the Great Dungeon Party publicly declined to be a part of the final roster during the week of speculation after the finals. Of the people who didn't chicken out nor cash out with Dungeon Selection Badges, the official fifty emerged. Of course, the logistics were negotiated behind closed doors amongst the 256 eligible candidates that needed convincing. Some, like David were flabbergasted.

"Why in the world did King Job pick me?" David couldn't believe it. He got out during the first round and didn't really deserve the spot. Aventi deduced it was likely because of the match between Clico and Job. Ziphe pulled strings and got every member of Clico's party in the Great Dungeon Party as well. It was not a coincidence certain parties and factions were allowed through to the final roster while other factions were not. The Pyrite faction that held so many slots in the 256 only ended up having a couple people in the final roster.

"Who are these people?" Omira stared at the list. Some looked familiar, but others were buried in the heat of the tournament.

"Who cares? Clico's little speech inspired Job and the Council to let us all in." Cheptah shrugged, happy with the result.

"I guess you're right…" David accepted it.

"This time, I won't let you all down." David promised his team.

***

Mite entered Ziphe's office. Pyrite held The Citadel, which was the official meeting place of the High Mage Council. The immoral country Pyrite was kept in check from doing anything too drastic for the most part because of the Council's presence. An underlying reason to hold the Dungeon Selection Tournament in Pyrite was because the Council's headquarters was in the coastal city, Cabochon, which is right near the capital, Iolite. Another reason for the council to be in Pyrite was because of Pyrite's proximity to Mount Hevel, where the gates of Hell loomed.

"You wanted to see me Grand Councilman?" Mite respectfully bowed to Ziphe.

"Please Mite, we are far beyond pleasantries…" Ziphe shook his head.

"I know Ziphe. It's just we are about to embark into Hell, and I know how stressed you are."

"Hmph, at least you're honest about your teasing." Ziphe laughed dryly.

"Are you still worried about 21?" Mite asked. Ziphe was obviously in over his head with the playful prophet 21.

"How can I not be? That's why I've invited you here today. Within a month, we will enter Hell. That prophet knows too much and leaves critical information out on his whims. I don't quite understand your condition, but I know your prophetic gifts should rival his somewha-."

"You're wrong." Mite cut Ziphe off. "21 is a far greater prophet than I can ever be."

"You really trust him that much?" Ziphe furrowed his eyebrows.

"I don't trust him at all," Mite countered, "but that doesn't make his prophecies any less profound."

"So, do you think his prophecies are all correct and that he's just mischievous then?" Ziphe asked.

"No, that's what you think about him."

"Fair enough."

"21 is a prolific prophet that Xie acknowledges and looks up to. His mannerisms, however, are a bit…"

"Unpredictable?" Ziphe finished the sentence for Mite and put his head in his hands. Ever since Ziphe met '21', his life had been turned upside down.

"You really asked me here not for an evaluation on 21, but for reassurance, correct?"

"Yes," Ziphe muttered with his head still in his hands. He didn't let many people see him this stressed out. Mite was a trusted advisor to him because of his prophetic skills. If 21 was Wizard King Xie's personal prophet, Mite would be Ziphe's.

"I've witnessed the future of this expedition so many times, you wouldn't believe it." Mite said and sat down across from Ziphe.

"I probably know more about the future than anyone, besides 21. Every future ends the same. Everyone dies. No matter how many times I've tried incorporating variables or strategies into my prophecies, nothing has changed." Ziphe looked up upon hearing this.

"Your Hourglass Physique, what does it really do?" Ziphe was curious. A unique physique never heard of until Mite was born, the Hourglass Physique was a time-based physique that Kings, Gods, and CEOs sought after for prophetic advise. Advanced time and space magic were quite rare, and although Ziphe studied them incessantly, he never understood Mite, his long-time friend and prophet.

"Think about an hourglass. You turn back time to a specific point by an hour. Over and over, the hourglass turns. My prophecies are like that. I can see ahead but comeback to this present."

"So, is it like experiencing alternate timelines or just seeing into the future from your own perspective?" Ziphe tried to figure it out. A Divine Physique like Mite's was obviously complex. Being born with a Deity Realm ability would be without a doubt a blessing and a curse. In the same way Moti was born with the Sage Realm Regeneration Physique that blessed and cursed the girl, Mite had to live with an ability that transcended his current aura capacity.

"Yes and no to both. It is best not to think about it too hard Ziphe. My body will show me the future, but what's important right now is the present. I advise you to follow 21's instructions, even if they kill you."

"Is that what he's told you to do as well? To die?" Ziphe looked Mite right in the eyes. 21, the mysterious prophet, was the mastermind behind the scenes. Planting his roots in individuals and groups associated with the Great Dungeon Party, 21 sought to manipulate every variable he could. Although some didn't know it yet, this wasn't really a party controlled by Ziphe and the Council but really Wizard King Xie and 21.

"What if he has?" Mite shrugged. "Would that change your opinion of me? Would that change your opinion of him?"

"It doesn't matter does it? What's about to happen is already set in stone." Ziphe sighed.

"Maybe it is. Destiny is a fickle thing." Mite concurred.

"21 decided the final roster, didn't he?" Mite laughed dryly. This meeting was really about the Final Roster.

"Yes, he did." Ziphe admitted.

"And your apprentice, Clico, his entire party was put in there." Ziphe mentioned.

"I know," bragged Mite. "Don't worry, he won't let you down." Mite smiled weakly.

"It's not that that I'm worried about. This group of people is so random. These 'variables' and strange influences in a party like this is shouldn't be what conquers Hell."

"You're right. Logically, we should take a small and balanced group of Deity Realm gods and goddesses to clear a dangerous dungeon, just like the previous Wizard King Locke. Yet, look at what happened to his party, few returned."

"Taking the opposite approach though, aren't we just throwing ourselves into Hell to die?" Ziphe got up and looked out his window.

"Yes, yes we are, but 21 doesn't care about survival; he only cares about results." Mite said.

Ziphe turned and looked at Mite meaningfully. "For the greater good, huh? Do the ends justify the means? Doesn't that matter?"

Mite shook his head, "If we all die anyways, shouldn't we at least give his plan a try?"

Ziphe looked Mite right in the eyes and said, "Every 'variable' and 'reality' you two speak about, I don't believe there is just one good ending. You can't prophesize an ending where we beat Hell, but I know in my heart there has to be more than one way. What I'm worried about is 21's idea of a 'good ending' is. His ending could be worse than all of us dying if he or his Authority are malevolent."

"Perhaps you're right," Mite admitted, "but from my perspective, 21 has convinced me his plan is trustworthy. I know my ability is hard to understand, but his ending will be better than anything we can come up with."

"You're right. I'll continue 21's plan and not stray from it. I have a meeting with 21 coming up, and I'll vent to him them." Ziphe valued Mite's opinion and accepted the consequences.

Every variable was in place. Nearby, 21 smiled. Soon, his plan would come to full fruition.