Soon, the dragon was no more. The dragon's body was divided and given to the nations and the organization behind each herald. After all, the competition between each pantheon and God was ongoing. Although they cooperated in defeating the dragon, still the greatest contributor held the most valuable piece of the dragon.
"So, they gave you the dragons heart?" Gideon asked his sister while he narrowed his eyes. If he knew it was going to be like this, he would have reminded her what the most important and valuable part of the dragon was.
"Yes!"
"Not 'Yes'! Sigh. I should have told you what the most important and valuable part of the dragon was before we left."
"The most important and valuable?"
"Yes. A dragon is not really a purely physical being. It is like an artificial lifeform that came to be from a concentration of natural or supernatural forces. If you ask your patron god about it, surely, they'd explain it to you.
"Anyway, since a dragon is like that, that most valuable part of a dragon isn't the heart but the bones."
"The bones?"
"Yes, the bones. Without the bones, the dragon cannot even take form much less exist as a physical entity. Any living physical being would have bones in their bodies, but that is not the same for organs. And the heart is but an organ. Yes, it may contain some good amount of its energy since it is an organ in charge of plumping blood throughout the great body of a dragon, but without the bones, it would all crumble down.
"The bones of a dragon contain the marrows. And the marrows, although not as important as the bones itself, produce the very blood that the heart carried throughout the body.
"Sigh. Enough, explaining. Go make the call. Tell them that we need the bones instead of the heart. That way, we can ask some of the Producer heralds to make for us armor, weapons, and other such equipment."
"Yes, brother!" Deborah agreed without much fuss. Hearing the siblings, their parents suggested, "Deo, why don't you manage the family business instead of Debbie now? That way she can concentrate on being a Fighter instead of being part-time of each?"
"Family business? We have that?"
"Silly! Where do you think this mansion came from? She is an S-Class fighter, but she isn't the only one. However, the valuable loot they bring on each raid certainly brings about value and improvements to technology.
"That's why, we helped her set up a company which procures materials, processes them, and sells them at a higher price for finished products."
"And that's the family business?"
"Yes. Can we trust you to manage the business well, Deo? Since you're also a herald, you'll also be busy, but your sister will still be a lot busier than you, so what do you think?"
"Hm. I think I can do it, mom. As long as I can still do some of my own things, I'll do it well."
"That's good. We should have everything handled in the Office building and warehouses so that they know who the new manager is!"
"Okay, okay." The parents agreed to each other's suggestions and simply went off, leaving Gideon waiting for Deborah's return from her call.
"Brother! They agreed. They said that we must not regret it later. Those ignorant fools!" Deborah labeled them 'ignorant fools' like she was not one of them earlier.
"Sigh. Tell me all about the acquisition of monster materials and the business modes today. I'll take over the family business and support you with everything I got, okay?
"Oh, and list me the contacts of any military servicemen or women who have awakened with an officer rank above Major as well. Help me get in contact with them.
"Oh, and another thing. You have to train with me every morning from now on. I don't want you to stay sloppy and be beaten by someone without any supernatural powers like you did with me, okay?"
"Yes, yes, yes brother!"
"Good. For now, I'll go ahead and try to visit some dungeons. How do I get rated? Is there a centralized system for this like maybe a temple or something?"
"Ah, that's right! You have awakened and have yet to be rated and registered. What did you say your skills were brother?"
"Ah, I have Peerless Strength at S-Class when I awakened is what it said."
"Oh! That's a great match to your already refined fighting techniques right? That's great! I'm happy for you, brother!"
"Yes, yes. So…?"
"Oh, well, you would certainly have an S-Class rating for that. And no doubt, organizations would fight over you." Deborah sounded confident but there was also a hint of great pride in her words. She then explained to her some rules and the rating procedures with so much attention to detail. Gideon felt warm because of this. She then went and found their parents to report what she did. They praised her for being such a good child. It was like they were back to being children.
"Since It's like this, I'll have to check out some dungeons." With a plan in mind, Gideon went out of the mansion and walked towards gate 1. There, he found the middle-aged guard who helped him previously. He was already promoted to head of the guards and his salary was raised by 100% plus his children became scholarship students of the Johnsons' family business.
"It's been a while young lad. Where are you off to?"
"Ah, I'm just going to check out some dungeons in the area. You know, get familiar with the lay of the land." Gideon spoke to the man comfortably and the middle-aged man did not change their way of address.
"Is that so? Then be careful! Not all heralds are like Ms. Debbie whose manners are well-founded and sound. There are heralds that are straight up borderline criminals. So, again, be careful out there."
"Thank you for your sincere words, sir. I'll be careful. And uh… don't let anyone suspicious in again, we have no more missing family members, okay?" Gideon said this jokingly. He was after all given he chance to have contact with Deborah through this middle-aged guard.
"Well then, I'll get going."
"Uh-huh." They both waved each other farewell before Gideon suddenly disappeared from his sight as if a ghost. His surprise turned to admiration and great suspicion.
"I'm certain, the young lad should be stronger than the young miss. If anything, he is way above any S-Class I heard of."
He remembered the previous time when he subdued the S-Class young miss. And his disappearing act today. It all adds up.
Gideon did not know that the middle-aged guard thought so highly of him as he continued to travel to the nearest dungeons in the area.
Dungeons are obviously the evil god's way of invading the world it wants to devour by having its minions gather for him delicious souls.
This was what Gideon knew in the other world. And now that it was happening in his world as well, he had to do something about it.
Dungeons were not ranked. That's why it was hard to decide whether the dungeon is worth clearing or not. This was one of the ways the evil god manipulates humanity into not diving in dungeons because then, they would be coming in, blind and apprehensive.
The gods of Earth couldn't do more than giving the heralds some of their authority and only communicate with them. Yet even this proved useless because the gods of Earth did not have any solution to this.
Many have tried to solve the problem and failed miserably because the dungeons are dynamic. It doesn't stay as is. It also evolves the longer it stays undisturbed.
What the heralds have been doing is cleaning up the known dungeons regularly and keep it from evolving further. The skies are monitored by the satellites while the underwater abyss is monitored by heralds with patron gods who thrive in water. Like this, the Earth has delayed the evil god's descent for a decade. The first champion that came would have won if not for the help of Gideon, yet even then, it was tragic.
The only way to truly rid of a dungeon and close a node of entrance for the evil god is to destroy the dungeon core. The dungeon core is usually kept by the strongest, most powerful creature that evolved inside. Leadership did not matter to the creatures, only strength. In a sense, the gods of Earth also utilized this mindset. Having the heralds compete with each other to promote growth. Which also resulted in there being no real leader ever taking charge of all the heralds.
Gideon went and stopped in front of a dungeon entrance where a booth was placed to record the diver and their details so that when they do not come out after 24 hours or more, they would send rescue squads or corpse retrieval teams.
"Are you here to enter the dungeon, sir?"
"No, I'm just looking around. If I can enter without a rating yet, would that be allowed at all?"
"According to law, the dungeons are not owned by any government or organizations. Entry is not barred for any individual. However, basically, no one would be responsible for your wellbeing or your corpse like that.
"However, if the dungeons are used for nefarious things, we are here to monitor and report 24/7, 365.
"If you have a rating, then that would put all of us at ease somehow. So, you want to enter?"
"Hm. I'll give it a try then."
"Will you register with us or without it?"
"I'll register. I'll be having my rating sometime this week anyway. I'll see for myself what's up inside." Gideon acted as if he was a beginner. Not because he wanted to disguise himself but because he knew never to underestimate the dungeons. And well, he was indeed a beginner to dungeon dives on Earth. He did not know everything. Even his experience would not prepare him for something he clearly doesn't know.
"Okay. Please sign your name here and address. And then emergency contact."
Gideon gave them the corresponding information and prepared himself to enter the tiger's den, the dragon's cave, the lion's mouth.
Soon, he was allowed to enter the area beyond the booth to come closer to the dungeon. The dungeons were something like other worlds that are connected to this reality via magic or some other means. Which means, each dungeon is a world of its own.
Gideon entered the portal and saw a world of ice. Everything was frozen over. Some vigorous plant life were doing their best to survive, even thrive in this environment.
"An Ice World. It seems, our little evil god has taken to freezing as opposed to scorching." Gideon felt some familiarity with this world. Not that he'd been here but the fact that he had also gone to Ice World's through dungeons in the past.
"Let's see." Gideon spread his Spiritual Art's Divine Sense and immediately covered the entire space.
"It's small. Probably an infant world that had no deities yet born." Gideon refocused his eyes and looked towards the spot where the dungeon's core was. This world was barren. The plan life were starting over from scratch, the animals were nowhere to be seen, and yet, there was a creature that seem to be feeding off of this world's literal core.
"I see. It's definitely a cold one." Gideon found the core. It was a creature covered in ice usually, yet at this moment, it was stripped of its cold exterior and was literally drinking the core of this world.
It was a creature that was cursed to seek warmth until its death and its excretions turned everything around it into ice.
"Sigh. It must have eaten anything that had warmth in this world before dumping them and making this world an ice world.
"The curse must have come from the evil god. And to kill it now is to have its heart crushed. However, since its body is elemental and spiritual in nature, crushing its physical heart would be a chore."
Gideon thought about it before deciding to make a move. He started moving towards the entrance of the seemingly abyssal hole on the ground towards the core. Physically, this should have been impossible. However, it seems supernatural forces were keeping it intact. The hole was uniform until the deepest part where the dungeon core was.
"Sometimes, I really wonder how the laws of physics is considered universal on Earth." Gideon's sigh was carried away by the wind. Without any further ado, he jumped into the hole and controlled his body to stay constantly in the center of the hole until arrival.
He wasn't in much of a hurry, so he just let himself free fall.
Soon, he arrived and his minute presence was detected by the creature. It looked as ugly as any ugly creature can be described.
"Well then, let's put you out of your misery."
When he spoke, the creature had already appeared in front of him. Moving too fast for ordinary individuals to perceive.
Gideon wasn't surprised. The creature immediately made a swiping motion towards Gideon's head.
A creature that's unable to instinctively perceive the difference in strength and assess the opponent is simply a mindless beast or worse, a mad dog.
Gideon did not even need to think about communicating anymore. It was just like putting an ant to rest because it dared to bite you even though you did nothing towards it.
Gideon punched the creature in the abdomen and when his fist made contact with the creature's muscly flesh in its abdomen, its back started bulging as if an injection of more than a fistful of energy was introduced into its torso and was threatening to burst out.
And indeed, it burst its back open. The surface area of a fist's knuckles is quite small yet the hole it created in the creature's body was triple its size.
What followed was a roar of the wind as if thunder after a lightning strike!
Thud! Boom!
Then everything ended when the creature hit the earth wall and immediately bounced off it before leaving a crater, so massive, it couldn't have been left by such a tiny creature.
"Hm. It's easier to adjust Transcendence Realm strength than at higher levels it seems."
Tap, tap.
Gideon's foot finally landed on the scorching ground. Looking at the creature's state, it'd die in about two seconds. However, Gideon had a decade of wealth in experience when dealing with supernaturally empowered creatures and individuals, and so, he flashed and appeared beside the writhing creature, laying on its own fluids and sent a palm infused with spiritual energy towards it.
Boom!
When the dust settled, the creature and even the pool of bodily fluids ceased to exist. As soon as this happened, the world started to tremble. Not wanting for being buried to become a nuisance, Gideon stepped onto air and disappeared from the spot. It was a technique called Heaven and Earth Traversal.
Soon, the world and this reality started to crumble as pieces of reality broke off like glass revealing an ominously dark scene beyond it. Gideon did not linger and left through the portal.
Outside, the changes were also apparent. The portal was trembling, and the ground was quaking.
"Everyone. Please evacuate towards the safe zone, now!" The officials there urged the heralds and divers to clear the area.
When everything was settled, Gideon also went out of the portal. His appearance surprised the officials and the heralds and divers present.
"Who's that dude? He came out of a crumbling dungeon!"
"Do you think he broke the core?"
"He probably did. Now, where are we supposed to earn our living when the snow herbs will also be destroyed when the dungeon disappears?!"
"What an asshole!"
…
The people who had other interests for the dungeon felt that Gideon was doing something unnecessary. However, Gideon knew how dangerous an unclosed dungeon was first hand. So, he could not allow a dungeon to remain on Earth.
When he arrived in front of a familiar man, the same man who registered his dive, he nodded to him and asked, "Do I need to report what I did inside or is it okay to just leave now?"
"If… if you are guarding a secret to your trade, you can opt to not reporting, however, if you wish to, you can do so. We'd appreciate it more!"
"Okay. I'll give my report to you. And don't stay there, the dungeon is disappearing. Its explosion will level everything in a kilometer's radius."
"Oh, okay! Please take me with you!" The official took advantage of Gideon's warning to ask for a favor in protecting him. Gideon wasn't going to decline, so he took the man towards the mark where he won't be harmed.
"Wow." The official said as he noticed that they arrived without him even noticing. The rest of the people who evacuated also went for safety.
"Now then, here's what happened. Prepare your recorder. I don't want yo repeat myself twice."
"Yes, sir!"
Gideon recounted the journey towards the center of the world. About the only creature in it, and about the dungeon core being that creature. He kept mum on how he defeated the creature and just ended his report like that. Before he left, the official asked for his name again, after all, thousands visit the dungeons in a day, he couldn't remember everyone's name.
"Gideon. Gideon Johnsons."
His name did not surprise him, but when he mentioned his last name, the official immediately made a connection.
"Is this perhaps a relative of the S-Class Fighter, miss Debbie?"
…
Gideon did the same thing for a few more dungeons and the news was filled with the same headlines in 5 different countries. Dungeons that have been left in operation for more than 5 years because of its profitability were destroyed in a day.
And one name kept popping up, Gideon Johnsons.
Of course, the dungeons weren't just dangerous, it was also full of profitability. This was done so that the greed of the individuals would be piqued and they would dive voluntarily towards danger where the reality of death is overwhelmingly real.
And some of the corporations and conglomerates thrive on dungeons and the profits it brings them. So, what Gideon was doing was against their interests. They started investigating him, his family, and his background.
While everything was flipping over, Gideon got a call from his mother to visit the family-owned business they had. The building was near his current whereabouts after returning from another country.
"Yes, mom. I'll go there now." Of course, in their locality, his mother and father had yet to get wind of what happened with their son.
Gideon went. He was greeted by the employees like he was an old employee. Then he reached the president's office.
The president was one of his friends in high school. He was surprised to see her and she too was recovering her jaw from hitting the ground in shock.
"D-Deon?! Is that really you? I heard you disappeared, got kidnapped and died?! How are you here today?"
"Becca, is that you? When did you go looking so feisty?"
"What do you mean feisty, knucklehead! It really is you! Come here and give a desk mate a hug, huh?"
"Uh-huh." Gideon indulged her. After all, they were old desk mates.
"Um, you're probably confused why your friend is working for your sister and all, but I got here through my hard work, alright?"
"I don't doubt it. Rebecca Jameson, top girl in school. Both beauty and brain. Who would doubt you?"
"It's good that you remember! By the way, what are you doing here? Are you here to take over the business from your sis?"
"In fact, I did. I got here by relying on nepotism, go figure. Hah!" Gideon felt comfortable joking around with Rebecca.
"Shut up! Anyway, congratulations. I'm assuming you'll be CEO; will you replace me as president as well?"
"Nope. I'll just be CEO, although, you'll have to be working under me, will we have problems?"
"Honestly, probably. However, I'll try to keep it as professional as can be."
"Good. Nice to see you again, Rebecca Jameson. I'll see you around."
"Yes, boss!" Gideon left Rebecca standing in joy and a with a bit of a blush on her face. She suddenly recalled her high school days with Gideon.
"Hey, Deon, when we go to cram school later, can we make a stop at that cake shop that just opened?"
"Cake shop? Hm. If you treat me, I'll treat you as well!" Gideon's eyes lit up.
"Sure!" young Rebecca agreed. She was excited. She wanted to taste the cakes the new pastry shop offered.
When they got there, Gideon ordered the shop's specialty cake. Rebecca, wishing not to be outdone, ordered the same thing.
In the end, Gideon chuckled and said, "I was going to treat you with this specialty cake, but since you also bought the same one, then there's no need, is there? Let's just eat the cakes, huh."
Rebecca was surprised and depressed at the same time. And then she blushed when she thought about how Gideon wanted to treat her with the best cake available in the shop! She knew how doting Gideon could be when it came to his little sister, that's why she was a bit jealous of her, but it was a grave pit that she would be digging if she started competing with the little sister!
When they arrived at a street where a vending machine was on, Gideon bought coffee for both of them. It was best to have coffee when you've eaten something sweet after all.
Rebecca felt the warmth of both the coffee and Gideon's gesture. She then said jokingly, "Stop taking care of me like this, Deon. If I fall for you, you'll have to take responsibility!"
"Haha! Then before you fall for me, consider that I have a little sister who clings to me. She once told me that if any girl wants to be my girlfriend, she'd have to pass her tests first. Isn't she adorable?"
"You siscon, bastard!" They laughed and had a lively conversation as they commuted towards the cram school.
When she reached this stage of reminiscence, her expression turned gloomy and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
"Bastard. That was the last time I also saw you before you disappeared. Now you're back… I won't let you off!" Rebecca swore in her heart. She had been at his funeral. She shed tears for him while his sister bawled her eyes out. To comfort her, Rebecca hugged her and told her about the good times she had with Gideon. They clicked from then on and she became one of the little Deborah's best of friends.