Dungeon Diver Guild One

I reached into my bag and pulled out the book they'd given me. Its dark crimson and black cover gleamed faintly in the lamplight, the dragon skull embossed on its surface staring back at us with glowing red eyes.

"This," I said, placing it on the table.

Mom leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied it, while Dad's expression shifted into something unreadable.

"What… is it?" Dad finally asked.

"A gift from Mesha and Victor. They said it's special. Mesha mentioned it was a drop from a dungeon boss, though she didn't specify which one."

"Why would they give you something like this?" Mom murmured, her voice cautious.

I shrugged, still a bit baffled myself. "She said it's locked right now. It can only be used by someone with magia, and since I can't use magia yet, it's useless for now. She told me to pour a drop of my blood on it when I finally unlock my abilities and then infuse it with magia."

Dad leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the book. "That's a heavy gift," he said after a moment. "They must think highly of you to entrust you with something like that."

"Maybe," I replied, though the weight of his words made me glance at the book again.

"Well, make sure to take care of it," Mom said finally, her tone softening. "And don't forget—protective armor is just as important as weapons. Are you ready in that regard?"

I scratched the back of my head, feeling a little sheepish. "I picked out some old leather armor from the smith earlier. He said it needs some adjustments and told me to come back tomorrow afternoon to pick it up. I figured I'd register at the Dungeon Diver Guild first and then head back for the armor."

Mom nodded, relief flashing across her face. "Good. At least you've thought it through."

Dad placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. "Kael, diving into dungeons isn't just about strength or weapons. It's about staying smart and knowing when to pull back. Don't push yourself too hard."

I met his gaze and gave him a small nod. "I know, Dad. I'll be careful."

Mom smiled faintly, though her eyes still held that hint of worry. "We're proud of you, Kael. Just… come back safe, alright?"

"I will," I promised, my voice steady.

As I headed to my room, the weight of the day settled over me. Tomorrow marked the start of something big, something that could change everything. With my new weapons, the strange book, and my family's encouragement, I felt ready—or at least, as ready as I could be.

The next day, I woke up early, washed up, and put on some decent clothes—not too shabby, not too extravagant. The left arm guard, worn and practical, was my only concession to looking a bit out of the ordinary. After a quick breakfast, I said my goodbyes to my parents and my twin siblings, both of whom clung to me as if I were leaving forever.

"Come back soon, big brother!" Lyra chirped, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

"Don't forget to bring something cool from the dungeons!" Aiden added, puffing out his chest like a soldier seeing off a comrade.

"I'll be back before you know it," I assured them with a grin before stepping out into the crisp morning air.

The city was already alive, with the usual hustle and bustle echoing through the streets. As I walked, my gaze naturally drifted upward, drawn to the three towering dungeons dominating the skyline.

The Black Labyrinth Dungeon stood ominous and unyielding, its dark spire piercing the clouds. It was a dungeon of endurance and precision, each floor a test to see if you were strong enough to continue.

The Green Open Plane Dungeon was expansive and wild, its mysteries sprawling like an untamed wilderness. It was a dungeon that promised freedom but demanded adaptability and wit.

And then there was the Red Underworld Dungeon, the most forbidden and perilous of them all. Even from this distance, it seemed to emanate a sinister energy, as if daring anyone to step inside and face its horrors.

Each time I laid eyes on these massive structures, I couldn't help but feel a faint chill run down my spine. It wasn't fear, exactly. More like a stirring deep within me, something unexplainable that made my heart race. I shook off the feeling, unwilling to let it distract me from the task at hand.

Today was registration day, and the Dungeon Diver Guild would be swarming with people like me—those who didn't attend the prestigious Dungeon Diving Academy.

The academy was a luxury I could never afford. With my family earning around 20 gold coins a year on a tight budget, the thought of shelling out 100 gold coins per semester for five years was laughable. That was 1,000 gold coins, or the equivalent of a single platinum coin.

To put that into perspective:

1 gold coin = 100 silver coins

1 silver coin = 100 bronze coins

At the top of it all was the legendary Dragon Coin, worth a staggering 1,000 platinum coins.

For someone like me, earning even a single gold coin was an uphill battle, and over the years working at the library, I had managed to save 18 gold coins—plus the two I'd received yesterday.

The academy, of course, had its undeniable advantages. They taught everything: the history of dungeons, survival skills, martial arts, weapon mastery, and even magia training. Graduates had a 70% chance of being scouted by a guild, which would cover all their dungeon-diving expenses. They were also allowed to form parties within their class and train inside the Green Dungeon.

It was the kind of advantage that could make or break your career. But for someone like me? It was just a dream.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realized how far I'd walked. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the Dungeon Diver Guild.

The building loomed tall and imposing, its stone walls etched with runic carvings that seemed to pulse faintly with energy. The air around it buzzed with excitement and anticipation as crowds of people—some my age, some older—gathered for registration.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. This was it. The first step into a world I'd only heard about in stories and seen in passing. No turning back now.

The Dungeon Diver Guild was an imposing five-story structure, its architecture a mix of grandeur and functionality. The runic carvings on its stone walls shimmered faintly, marking it as a place of both business and mystique. Each floor, I'd heard, could accommodate at least 200 people at once. Given the sheer number of aspiring and experienced divers coming through daily, it made sense.

As I stepped inside, I was struck by the organized chaos. The first floor was vast, its high ceiling supported by ornate columns engraved with depictions of battles and dungeon conquests. The layout was straightforward yet bustling, with 10 counters set up in a semicircle along the back wall.

Five counters were dedicated to gem exchanges, where divers traded in the crystals harvested from slain monsters.

Two counters handled loot appraisal, where treasures found in dungeons were assessed and priced.

The remaining three counters were for diver registration, which was where I needed to go.