Chaos

A similar experience to how he was transported inside the dungeon, Alec was back in his kingdom. There was no one around him at the moment. He searched here and there but no one was around, however soon he spotted someone wearing a blue robe that had the symbol of his kingdom over it.

" Hey!" He shouted and waved both of his hands.

The Robed person came running towards him, Alec finally noticed that it was a woman.

" I, Venessa, the royal scholar greet you, my lord!" She said and bowed.

" You can stand, Has anyone else other than me returned?" Alec asked.

" My Lord, You are wounded, shall I heal you first?" Vanessa asked.

" There is no need, first, answer me what I have asked" Alec replied, even though the wound was hurting him, he knew it would heal shortly.

" I had returned just a few moments before you, there is no one that I have seen." She answered.

" You are a scholar so you must have a better idea about what is happening around the world," Alec said.

" No, My lord, I have no idea but my analysis says that it is a deed done by a god or demon. Only their magic could affect the world like this." Vanessa said.

' Is it related to what uncle told me? Was he talking about this when he said to me that the world is going to change?' Alec thought as he remembered the words his uncle said when he met him last time. He refrained from talking too much about it but left several hints about this day.

" My Lord, What was your dungeon level?" She asked.

" Why are you asking that? It was hard." Alec replied.

" Really!" She said with excitement.

" Yes, is there something wrong?" Alec asked seeing her expression.

" My lord, my level was easy and I got this as a reward." She said as she suddenly opened the system window and a ring appeared in her hand. The ring was made of a blue stone with white runes engraved over it. " This is a basic item that I got after clearing the dungeon."

" I also got something." Alec then opened the system window, then he brought out the sword that he got from the dungeon. It was a sword with a dark red blade and black hilt, there were black and red runes engraved over it, and there was a red gem on the hilt that has some kind of symbol engraved on it.

"....." Vanessa couldn't say anything after seeing the sword, seeing her Alec can easily tell that she wanted to have that sword. " It can only be used by me, that's what the system said after I named it."

Vanessa finally came out of her daze and instead of looking at the sword, she looked toward him.

" So that's what happens when you name a weapon," Vanessa said and thought. ' It's amazing, I can't believe that the person who people call the crippled descendant of Augustine was able to clear a hard-level dungeon.'

" What level are you at?" She asked.

" Do I need to tell you everything? Know your place, even if you are a scholar." Alec as he looked at her angrily.

" Y-Yes, My Lord." She said and lowered her gaze once again to the advanced-tier sword.

" I think, We would have plenty of time to be discussing this and find out what has happened so it's better to prepare for what is to come," Alec said.

" Keep a watch, whoever returns from the dungeon, tell them to gather at this place." He ordered.

" I will tell them, my lord." She said before leaving to search for others who may have returned.

*

Vanessa was walking here and there in the hallways of the 5th floor of the castle, no one had returned except for her. However, she soon spotted some guards and instructed them, she also asked what level of the dungeon they faced, and many other questions. She couldn't ask Alec because she felt scared.

The guards, on the other hand, answered her without hesitation, they were more than happy to be even able to talk to a scholar.

[ New feature available]

[ Join a Dungeon Exploration Team]

" What about the feature of creating my party?"

[ Thay feature is not available for you to use]

" So what are the options? Which party I could join?"

[ Notice, Alec Augustine has created a party]

[ Would you like to send a request to form a party with him?]

' So, people like him can create parties! I should have guessed that much.' She thought. She was also sure that there is no way she will send a request to him but suddenly another notification popped up in front of her.

[ Alec Augustine has sent you an invitation to join his party.]

She suddenly stopped and suddenly felt nervous and her head started to spin.

**

" My lord, everyone has returned among the ranks of master knights. However, fifty percent of our forces have not yet returned." A man with long black hair spoke, he wore full-body silver and blue armor.

" What do you think will happen in the future?" Alec asked, he was clenching his fist hard.

" I believe we will overcome it, my lord." The knight was optimistic yet Alec could easily tell that there was hesitation in his voice.

[ Venessa has accepted your request]

" Sir Val, did you create a party?"

" Not yet, my lord."

" create one, make sure you have the best of the best among your party."

" Yes, I understand."

After giving this order, Alec stood in front of the gathered crowd. He was relieved to see the 12 master swordsman were among the crowd. Every soldier and knight maintained their silence as they awaited what Alec had to say.

" The world has changed and that raises one question to all of us, how are we going to change? Some of us have not yet returned but I am optimistic that they will. Our kingdom prides itself on having a strong army but after experiencing the change. I am sure that many of you feel threatened, half of our army within this castle has yet to return, then what about the soldiers on the borders that were protecting our land."

Alec's words caused an uproar among the people present but suddenly they all fell silent to the pressure released by the twelve sword masters.

" The change has occurred and we were not prepared, but we shall not be afraid of losing our glory. We are still a kingdom, as long as we are united we are what we were in the past. I say this to you, be prepared, you have returned and you have to bring your order before the others return. We shall overcome this chaotic situation and raise our morale once again, I ask you to pledge that you will not falter, you will not be swayed by the change, and be a part of this kingdom, be a knight forever. Those who take the pledge are my knights and I am responsible for their protection. Those who want to leave are allowed to leave, I grant them freedom but if you choose the path of evil and cause chaos within my kingdom, I and my knights will be your death."

Alec didn't hide that he was questioning their loyalty, he was sure that many who received the reward for clearing the dungeon will have second thoughts about working as knights. That is why he wanted to push those knights out of the picture and focus on developing the individuals who were loyal to him.

[ You received a message from TheFutureWiseman]

[ My Lord, why are there only two of us?]

-Who are you?- Alex sent his message.

[ I am Venessa, the scholar, you met today. You sent me an invitation, we can use this feature to send messages among party members]

-Why did your name change to this?-

[ It was the nickname feature in the system, ヽ(^o^)丿 if you want I can change back my name]

-You are an ambitious girl, I see, and what's this face-like thing in your message- Alec messaged.

[ These are emoticon features inside the system]

- Impressive, I will reward you generously if you find something useful for me, keep testing the system-

[ ◕‿◕ as you wish my lord]

Alec couldn't help but chuckle after seeing this emoticon. Everything in the world was in chaos and in these times he was the ruler of a kingdom. Many lives depended on his decisions while his own life was filled with uncertainty.

[ Notice]

[ You are one of the ten people who had cleared a difficult-level dungeon]

[ The Trial of the dungeon will end within 6 hours, Those who are unable to return will be consumed by the dungeon]

[ You have chosen not to announce to the world about your achievements]

[ The dungeon rankings will be announced to the world]

[ If you want you can choose a nickname instead of your real name in the announcement]

' A Nick Name, I think that's better.'