The Unknown Awaits

~Next day~

William slowly opened his eyes, the morning sunlight streaming through the window and illuminating the small, cozy room.

He stretched his arms, feeling the softness of the featherbed beneath him, and yawned, shaking off the remnants of a restful sleep.

He quickly got out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom to wash his face, then headed downstairs to grab some breakfast.

After finishing his breakfast, William headed back to his room. As he stepped out of the elevator on his floor, he was greeted by a familiar face. "Good morning, sir," Jenkins said with a courteous smile.

"Jenkins! Good morning," William said, smiling. "I see you're keeping busy as usual."

Jenkins smiled back and nodded. "Yes, always something to do around here. How's your day starting out?"

"It's starting out well, thanks " William replied, "Although I'm not really sure what my plans are yet. Just taking it one step at a time."

Jenkins nodded thoughtfully." That's a good way to approach things, sir," he said. "Sometimes the best plans are the ones you don't make ahead of time."

William smiled, appreciating Jenkins' wisdom. "I'll keep that in mind," he said. "Thanks for the advice, Jenkins."

Jenkins smiled back and nodded. "You're welcome, sir. If you'll excuse me, I should get back to work. Have a great day!"

William nodded in response, watching as Jenkins walked away. He then stepped into his room, closing the door behind him.

William sat in the armchair, his mind still buzzing from the idea that had struck him the night before: tackling the dungeon.

William's thoughts turned to his own abilities, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. Despite his training, his spear skills were still mediocre at best. He still had a long way to go.

And then there was his fire element. Weak. That was the only way to describe it. He had tried to practice, to hone his skills, but it seemed like no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get it to work the way he wanted it to.

William stood up from the armchair, deciding that it was a waste of time to just sit around feeling frustrated. He needed to take action, to do something that would help him improve his skills.

He walked out of the hotel room and made his way down to the lobby. From there, he headed out into the bustling streets of the city, his destination in mind.

After a short walk, William arrived at the Dungeon Booking Center, a nondescript building that served as the hub for all dungeon-related activities. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"I'd like to book an F-rank dungeon," William said to the clerk behind the counter.

The clerk nodded and pulled out a small, sleek device. "Standard procedure, sir. Please place your hand on the Awakening tester."

William obliged, knowing this was a routine check to verify his Awakening status and current rank. He placed his hand on the device, and the clerk activated it.

The device beeped, and a small screen displayed William's information:

"Rank: F

Awakening Status: Confirmed"

The clerk nodded. "Alright, you're cleared to book the F-rank dungeon. Please review and sign the terms and conditions."

William took the provided tablet and scanned the document:

"Dungeon Exploration Terms and Conditions

Article 1: Dungeon Entry

- The Explorer acknowledges that they are entering the dungeon at their own risk.

Article 2: Reward Distribution

- Any items, treasures, or resources acquired within the dungeon will be shared between the Explorer and the Dungeon Booking Center.

- The Explorer will receive 60% of the acquired assets, while the Dungeon Booking Center will receive 40%.

Article 3: Liability

- The Explorer acknowledges that the Dungeon Booking Center is not liable for any injuries, damages, or losses incurred during the dungeon exploration.

By signing below, the Explorer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions."

William signed the document, and the clerk handed him a small, intricately carved stone. "This is your dungeon entry stone. Please arrive at the dungeon entrance 30 minutes prior to your scheduled entry time."

William took the stone, feeling its smooth surface and the subtle hum of magic emanating from it. He nodded to the clerk and turned to leave the Dungeon Booking Center.

As William stepped out of the Dungeon Booking Center, he checked the entry stone's inscription, which now displayed a countdown timer:

"Entry Time: 2 hours 15 minutes"

He had a couple of hours to kill before he could enter the dungeon. Plenty of time to check his gear, and mentally prepare for the challenge ahead.

William decided to visit the market to gather more supplies. He had no idea how long he'd be staying in the dungeon, and he wanted to be prepared.

He walked through the bustling market, scanning the stalls for anything that might be useful. He picked up a few more bottles of water, some dried fruit and nuts, and a few energy bars.

William decided to inform the hotel of his absence, just in case he didn't return quickly. He walked into the hotel lobby and approached the front desk.

"Excuse me," William said to the receptionist. "I'm planning to be away for a while, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Can I let someone know?"

The receptionist nodded and called out to Jenkins, who appeared promptly.

"Jenkins, this guest would like to inform us of his temporary absence," the receptionist explained.

Jenkins turned to William. "Ah, sir? May I inquire about the nature of your absence?"

William hesitated for a moment before responding, "I'll be entering a dungeon. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone."

Jenkins' expression remained neutral. "Very well, sir. We'll note your absence. If you're gone for an extended period, we'll ensure your belongings are secure."

"Thank you, Jenkins," William said, feeling a sense of reassurance that his belongings would be taken care of.

Jenkins nodded. "Of course, sir. Please be careful on your... adventure. Dungeons can be unpredictable."

William smiled wryly. "I'll try to be careful. Thanks for the concern, Jenkins."

With that, William turned to leave, feeling a sense of finality as he prepared to embark on his journey. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead.

As he walked out of the hotel, William glanced at the entry stone in his hand. The countdown timer read:

"Entry Time: 57 minutes"

William glanced at the entry stone again, noting the countdown timer. He realized he needed to get moving if he wanted to reach the dungeon site on time.

"I should get going," William said to himself, tucking the entry stone into his pocket.

He started walking towards the dungeon site, which was located on the outskirts of the city. The journey would take around 20-25 minutes, leaving him with just enough time to spare before the entry window closed.

As William walked, he mentally prepared himself for the challenges ahead. He thought about his gear, his skills, and his strategy for navigating the dungeon.

"What am I getting myself into?" he thought to himself. "This is just an F-rank dungeon, but what if something goes wrong?" He knew that even low-ranking dungeons could be unpredictable and deadly.

But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the doubt. "It's pointless to think about it now. I'll never improve if I don't take the risk. I've prepared as much as I can - now it's time to see what I'm capable of."

As he continued walking, the sounds of the city faded into the distance, replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. The air grew fresher, filled with the scent of wildflowers and grass. William felt a sense of calm wash over him, his doubts momentarily forgotten.

The city gave way to a more rural landscape, and William caught sight of the dungeon site in the distance.

William walked towards the dungeon site, a small clearing surrounded by trees. In the center of the clearing stood a glowing portal, about 2 meters in diameter. It pulsed with a soft, blue light.

William took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself.

William approached the glowing portal, and as he did, two guards stepped out of the shadows. They were dressed in crisp, black suits and carried swords at their sides.

"Are you the one the Dungeon Administrator told us about?" one of the guards asked, eyeing William curiously.

William nodded. "That's me. I'm here to enter the dungeon."

The guard nodded. "Show us your entry stone, please."

William pulled out the entry stone and held it up. The guard examined it briefly before nodding.

"Very well," the guard said. "You're cleared to enter. Here, take this."

The guard held out a flexible, metallic wristband with a small, glowing button on it.

"This is a distress signal," the guard explained. "If you're in trouble, just press the button, and we'll receive a signal. We'll send someone to extract you ASAP."

The guards stepped aside, and William took a deep breath. His heart was racing, and his palms were sweaty. This was his first time entering a dungeon, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered to himself, trying to sound braver than he felt. With a deep breath, he steeled himself and stepped through the portal.