Logan unwrapped the bundle of cloth, inside which he found a dark blue leather coat. There was also a small box that, when Logan opened, contained a jet black ring engraved with a leaves symbol. From the two objects came voices, the souls that inhabited the two objects.
'My Lord, praising My Lord the Soul Emperor… gruuu.'
'Master… Please accept my allegiance… Steeder…'
Logan smiled, realizing the identity of the two souls. Vegepygmy, the plant monster, and the Spider monster, Steeder.
"How am I going to pay for all of this?"
"Be stronger and pay me with a higher tier Monster Soul Stone."
"Thanks, Fokil."
Logan smiled, approaching the Dwarf man, trying to give him a hug. But Fokil brushed Logan's hand away, spitting.
"Shut Up and Go away! Don't make a girl wait for you."
"What girl?"
Logan again walked towards the gate when Fokil also quickly left the place.
Eliza stood up to greet him with the gate now open. Whistling as Logan approached.
"Hi, Eliza."
Eliza didn't answer Logan's greeting. Instead, looking outward to the path, where there were trees and a large rock. A girl was sitting and seemed to be waiting for someone.
Logan immediately realized the identity of the girl, Pan. Logan approached her and found the girl standing this time when she noticed his arrival.
Pan wore a black dress up to the thighs, with a white leather protector on the chest. A green leaf-shaped crest was attached to the girl's wardrobe, a logo of the Vensalor kingdom. The dark blue robe covering her blond hair fell straight down to her back. And lastly, dark brown leather shoes that extended to the top of the knee.
Pan stood, smiling at Logan's arrival, waving her hand.
Logan was stunned, finding Pan's appearance that looked dazzling that morning. Then averted his gaze and lowered his head.
"You are so beautiful this morning…."
"Am I? Thanks then…"
Pan responded lightly to Logan's compliment, smiling and looking down to hide her flushed face.
"Where are the others?"
"They are waiting for us at the dungeon entrance."
Pan turned and walked away, hoping that Logan would understand and follow in her footsteps.
Logan gave chase and walked beside the elf girl.
"How was your night? Got enough sleep?"
Pan nodded her head, saying nothing. Until they reached the depths of the forest.
There was a portal made of black energy and in the shape of a circle, the size of a one-story house. The others were also at the same place, three elves with their appearances showing their roles in the team.
"Rania, Tier 3 C-Grade Navigator."
Pan introduced the team members, who would travel together this time. He pointed to the only woman among the three. A woman with dark blonde ponytails along the back. The top was white while the bottom was dark black, and she also had the same dark blue robe. She also had a bow and arrow attached to her back.
"Zeno, Tier 4 B-Grade Skyguard."
This time, Pan pointed to an elven man with dark blond hair and straight back. Using armor and a giant hammer on his back.
"Ilmar, Tier 4 A-Grade Spellsword."
She pointed to an elf with blonde hair, silver armor, and a long sword on his back. This elf had white eyeballs, the effect of Mana he uses as the significant component of his strength composition in his class.
"And my name is Pan. Tier 4 D-Grade Spellsinger."
Pan lowered her head and closed her explanation by reintroducing herself. And this time, she also didn't forget to mention her tier and class.
"My name is Logan, a Tier 3 D-Grade Stalker. I'm a beginner when it comes to dungeons, but I'll try my best not to disappoint you in the least."
Zeno, the elf with dark blond hair and a piercing gaze, was the first to respond to Logan's introduction. Walking up to him, he seemed to be gauging Logan, then shook his head.
"How can you have three souls of such a high tier when you claim to be just a rookie?"
Zeno clicked his tongue, still shaking his head, bringing his face closer to the dark blue coat Logan was wearing and the ring on the middle finger of his right hand.
Ilmar, the Elven man with a magic sword class, also walked over, watching Logan with his empty eyes.
"You are truly blessed, human. I have respect for you. The three soul monsters in your hands all bow to you. I've never seen something like this before."
Logan smiled at the elves' praise. Then also turned to Pan, who seemed to be smiling and happy for some reason.
"It's nice to be at the same party with you, Mr. Logan."
The Elven woman with a bow and arrow, Rania, also greeted Logan, lowering her head. She was probably the only elf in this place who didn't seem overly wordy.
"Okay, enough guys."
Pan clapped her hands, asking them to stop praising each other. The other elves soon followed.
"Our journey this time will be led by Zeno."
Pan pointed at the Elven man with dark blond hair and a giant hammer. The man lowered his head.
"He has the most experience, as well as the highest status points of all of us. Does anyone have any objections?"
Logan felt he understood more about dungeons, but it was only theoretical knowledge even then. And he didn't want to be too flashy on this expedition either. He wanted to give the best impression on the elves, who might become a very profitable collaboration partner for him in the future.
"I don't mind."
Logan answered, as did the other elves.
Zeno immediately walked ahead of the others, then stood close to the portal gate, looking at the others with a severe face.
"Okay, we will serve according to the roles we each have this time."
Zeno pointed at himself.
"I will play the role of a tanker. Initiating attacks on monsters and making sure to attract as much attention as possible with my abilities."
Zeno has the Skyguard class, which has very high defense capabilities. He can utilize the element of light to create a shield that can wrap around himself, reducing the level of damage he takes.
"Ilmar will accompany me in the front row. He will also be in charge of making sure the team members are safe."
Zeno, this time, pointed at Ilmar, an elf with bright blonde hair and a long sword on his back.
"Rania will carry out attacks from a distance, covering the blind spots of my attacks."
"Pan will serve as support with protective and healing skills."
"And…"
Zeno stopped his explanation then looked at Logan.
Logan realized what the elf man meant, then took a step forward, put his hands on his chest, and bowed once.
"I have quite a flexible ability. I can attack at close range, as well as at long range, because of my weapon."
Logan pulled out his dagger. He threw its elongated blade into the ground and then pulled it back.
"And I also have above average movement speed. I can help scouting the target."
Rania clapped her hands, discovering the ability of Logan's weapon, then fell silent after realizing Zeno's serious face again.
"Okay, enough. I hope our journey this time is safeguarded and we can return safely. May the World Tree protect us."
Zeno immediately turned around and stepped inside the big black circle. Followed by Ilmar and also Rania.
Pan turned to Logan, smiled, and then jumped into the portal as well.
Logan slowly followed. He recalled the scene in the story he had made when Elliot first went on the dungeon expedition. He had purposely rank up the dungeon to increase the difficulty. Something that might happen to the dungeons in this world, even though the probability was minuscule.
'After this world came true. Is there still someone writing the storyline?'
Logan smiled and worried at the same time that a similar writer would do the same to him.
'No, no! That's not possible. This is the real world. The chances of the dungeon ranking up are very slim.'
Logan regained his composure and stepped inside.
Darkness filled his eyes as the energy sucked in his body. And once he was back, he was standing on a mossy stone floor, with the ruins of a rocky building as far as his eyes could see.
Logan found the faces of the four people who came first to this place. Each of them looked at Logan with worried faces. Which coincided with the notification that appeared in the system.
[The Dungeon Tier has been upgraded to Emergency Tier 4]
"Oh, shit! Fucking writer!!!"