Chapter 13: Xernean

Main Scenario #2: My First Dungeon:

Difficulty:

[D grade]

Win criteria:

[Complete a dungeon with a D-grade or higher.]

Rewards:

• 1 E grade skill (Magic based)

• 2000 Geld

Time limit:

[None]

Failure condition:

1. Your physical body's death.

2. Leaving the scenario area {Runesca}.

[3 deities are watching this scenario.]

I woke up to the new scenario screen. Finally, after three days of waiting, my new scenario was here. It seemed that scenarios were rarely instant. But it usually took some time to register and be viewable.

For the past three days, Xernean hadn't met me. I was training my sword fighting and learning to use my new "Flame Coating" and "Dash" skills.

The flame coating was powerful, it got stronger relative to the amount of mana I injected. But it was intensely draining on the body. I had to work on my stamina and agility, too. I had been visiting the gymnastics forum in the main city, and been learning how to roll, and dodge properly.

In the case of stamina, I'd been running a couple of laps around the city, but I wasn't seeing much of a difference.

I had to meet Xernean today and tell him about my Scenario. The way Zekros described him, he sounded extremely scary. But I'm sure he wasn't that bad.

Zekros had been assigned a mission of his own: to protect a couple of valuable caravans travelling on a route often scouted by bandits.

I was standing in front of the Captain's room. It was both a training room and the Explorer captain's office.

The moment I entered, I was faced with a man who had the most magestic pink hair. His eyes were sharp, and his features feminine. I couldn't tell for a second if he was a man or a woman. But I knew he was a dude. Everyone referred to him with he.

"Sir, I'm-" I was rudely interrupted.

"I know who you are, Altair. I also know that you got your second scenario today. Let me make it clear: I don't believe in having an apprentice. I don't believe in you. But Alexis seems to think you'll make something out of yourself, and so I shall take you along on my mission today. Follow me."

He barged out of the room after quickly grabbing his dagger and a necklace with a red crystal hanging from it. I was so confused but I followed him. This man was indeed scary.

___

We were riding past the bridge to the hill, south to the main base.

"So, how did you know I got my second scenario?"

"Well, that's simple. Basic deductive reasoning. When you were first turned away from my door, you went and never looked back. Didn't try to make any attempt to contact me the next two days. So when you came, I knew something substantial had happened. The simplest explanation was that your scenario came through."

"Ohh, I see. You seem like you admire Alexis a lot. Isn't he just a normal explorer?" That question seemed to light a fire in him.

"How dare you say that about Alexis. He's the strongest fighter in the Northern Guild. Hell, he's the strongest and kindest in all of Runesca. He's the greatest mage and sword fighter you'll lay your eyes on. If he accepted it, I'd give up this captain position immediately. Hell, I always thought he should've been the next commander, not that weak.... Anyway, it's so unfair that he's put himself in a cage because of what his fa-" He stopped himself.

This man was in love with Alexis. Holy shit. This was insane.

"Because of?" I asked. I never got an answer. We were almost near our destination.

After some time, I asked him where we were going and he let me know we were going to tackle a C-grade dungeon. I was shocked. I knew he was strong. But he was willing to carry me through such a powerful dungeon. That was amazing.

___

We had reached the dungeon area. A translucent wall was blocking us from going forward. It said,

[C-grade Dungeon]

[Maximum Incarnations allowed: 0/10]

What the hell? It was for 10 people, and we two were gonna duo this. It was amazing.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

I checked my sword and nodded. It was time to go in.

The moment we went in, I was in a large cavern that seemed to go on forever. It was straight, and there weren't any twists or turns. But it seemed very long.

I got my sub Scenario immediately afterwards:

Sub Scenario: Dungeon Crawl - C Grade

Win Criteria:

[Clear the C-grade dungeon]

Rewards:

• Title evolution (possible)

• 1 C grade skill

Time Limit:

[None]

Failure Condition:

[Death]

[19 deities are watching this scenario]

Oh damn, 19 deities were watching this scenario. I guess it's normal when I'm with someone as strong as Xernean.

"It's gonna be a long walk, kid."

Xernean was walking onwards.

___

"Xernean, what scenario are you in?" I asked him as a way to pass the time.

"I'm in my 6th Scenario." He answered briefly. I guess he didn't wanna let anything slip past his mouth after that rant earlier.

"What about the Commander and Alexis?"

His face went gloomy at the mention of the commander and lit up when Alexis was mentioned.

"The commander is on the 6th Scenario as well. And Alexis is on his 8th scenario."

"Oh, I see." I didn't have any major conversation extenders here. Although that info was interesting. Alexis was that strong, huh? The 8th scenario. He's so close to ascending to Earth.

We had reached the end of the crevice. We were staring out at a large desert. Red sand flowed around, as a large ominous tower stood in the middle.

"Holy shit, that's why it had a cap of 10. It's a tower-type dungeon. This oughta be fun." I saw a smile forming on Xernean's face.

Something about that smile told me I wasn't going to enjoy this.

___

The Baron was seated face to face with the Emperor himself. He knew his father was close to the Emperor at some point in time. He knew they had founded the Runesca guild together. He knew that the Emperor's son was killed by a deity.

He knew so many things, yet the powerful presence in front of him wouldn't let him open his mouth. For perhaps the first time in his life, he had faced someone so powerful that the word dread was not enough to quantify his emotions.

"So, Baron... I've heard you've grown tired of the war between the East and the West."

I tried to open my mouth, but no words would come out.

"Ah,h I see. That's a side effect of my ability, "Unnerve. You see, anyone weaker than me or lesser than me won't be able to speak without me turning it off."

The Baron wouldn't see past the shadowy room. He couldn't see the Emperor's face. He had to be at least 80. He could almost imagine his wrinkled face contracting to facilitate a smile. A crooked smile, more crooked than a demon.

He suddenly felt the pressure disappear.

"Are you feeling better now, Baron?"

The Baron realised he was covered in sweat, and an involuntary teardrop went down his cheek. He couldn't joke around here. He couldn't send across a friendly jab, nor could he show the slightest bit of arrogance.

"Emperor, I am... I am tired of this war. And I want your support in ending it."

"That can be arranged, my friend. The blood oath. The one that was taken so many decades ago. It states that I cannot claim territory or fight in territory occupied by the other 4 members, and their descending leaders, and they can't do the same to me or my territory."

"Yeah."

"So, if you become a subsidiary of the Empire. Similar to the Duchies. You could stop any attack from happening within your Eastern territory."

"Well, that means that I would not be able to attack his territory as well."

"Yes, Baron. That's the point. Bloodshed may not cease, but it will be reduced. Most civilians will be spared from this conflict. And the battles will only take place within the contested Central Runesca."

"Would that mean we have to follow the same laws as the Empire? No deities or contracts and such."

"Of course, Baron. You must only revere me. The true God."

The Baron couldn't believe this man's arrogance. But he kept quiet. Men as powerful as this, often got away with the highest degree of arrogance, and today he understood why. 

"But what about the men who are already engaged in a contract?"

"Kill them, burn them, exile them, or send them off to another guild base, I don't care. They can't stay in Empire territory."

"Your Highness, I must consider all this. Please give me a few days."

The Baron took his leave after he was excused by the Emperor, of course.

____

The Baron was lying in bed in a luxurious chamber. Even his main chamber back in the eastern Guild base paled in comparison to this place. Everything was extravagant.

The bed was softer, and the sheets made him singe to their touch. But it wasn't the time to think about all that.

This offer would solve the crisis in his nation. His people would be safe, and surprise attacks on towns and homesteads would be eliminated. But, on the other hand. He had men he cared about who formed contracts with Deities. His captain didn't.

Most people, even in Runesc, were under a propaganda push, almost a spell. A spell that convinced everyone that every deity was bad and untrustworthy. He always suspected this was a part of a larger propaganda push by the Empire but was never able to prove it.

This meant that most of the less intellectual members of the army refused to sign contracts. But he had men, like that kid with memory loss, who signed a contract with some sword deity. Smart men.

The Baron himself never saw the merit in a contract. He wasn't the best fighter, but he was good enough. And he was always destined for an administrative post, not a combat-oriented one.

This was a difficult question to ponder.

___

I was standing in front of the Emperor again. I was a goddamned minister but I had to serve as the divine emperor's assistant. I needed more dignity in this god-forsaken place.

"Your excellency, how did the negotiations go?"

"They're going on." A voice echoed from the back.

The gravelly voice continued,

"Wasn't your job that you had to bring me news? Why're you asking me questions?"

The voice seemed amused, but I decided not to push my luck today.

"Sire, I've gotten word from the Emperor in Japan that Fei Hwu has defeated the leaders in the Formosa Islands and declared his intent to liberate the Japanese islands."

"Hmmn, that is interesting to some extent. I never thought the warlords of the Formosa islands would fall." The emperor seemed to go into deep thought.

"Sire, the Zenith who strayed from the wall has been found and killed by our death squad."

"That's good news."

"And regarding the expedition to the Frost Continent. The soldiers and inquisitors have gone AWOL again."

The Emperor spoke with clear anger.

"I see. That's a shame. And I heard another Inquisitor seems to have gone missing near the great wall? The Inquisitors are the almost the strongest men the Empire has, and they keep going missing. That's something we have to work on."

His next sentence, however, was as calm as ever.

"Send another exploration team to the Frost Continent, We have to find where they've imprisoned that man. The former president of the Runesca Guild, Zeydrick."