If Theo Ravignac was being honest he'd rather be home and sleep because his recent training schedule was killing him. Ever since his father broke the news to him that there was a possibility that the Emperor might be ill, his training schedule was suddenly packed.
He went home expecting some vacation. Theo wanted to relax and not worry about a single thing yet with one piece of news his vacation and freedom were snatched just like that.
However, with his father out of the dukedom for a business trip as the Prince, he had to respond to an emergency call.
Matias, his reliable secretary, briefed him while they walk to the mana gates that will take them to the small town on the border—Forvi.
"According to the reports, a rogue dungeon suddenly appeared that destroyed half of the town," Matias said.
"Half of the town?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Which means it's big. Did you send Restorers to check the level of the dungeon?"
"Yes, they were the first to arrive there together with some Hunters. The dungeon was determined to be Class C."
Theo glared at his secretary, "Shouldn't you just send Class C and B Hunters then? If the Class A ones are not busy dispatch them as well."
"That's the thing, your highness, they can't enter the dungeon. It was like a force is stopping them from getting inside the dungeon."
That caught his attention. "They can't enter?"
"Yes, many have tried even Class A Hunters tried however they couldn't get inside."
Now, that's strange. Theo never heard of something like that.
"One of the problems as well is that there are civilians trapped inside the dungeon."
Theo's jaw clenched. That's not good.
"Does anyone know how many?"
They reached the mana gates. The Ravignac palace kept mana gates that are connected to each town within their territory. Forvi was there even though they never really visit it that much because the town was somehow located at the border. Half of it was under Soleil and the other half was under Ravignac. Matias led him towards the gate for Forvi.
"There's no concrete tally but someone told us he saw a teenage boy and at least 5 children got sucked into the dungeon."
He could feel his head pounding. Theo was tired but he felt like he would be soon exhausted. He was supposed to get a vacation, why was this happening all of a sudden?
Civilians in a dungeon were one thing however if you put children in it that's a whole new level of disaster.
Those kids were far too young to see the horrors of a dungeon.
"We have to hurry then," Theo declared as he, two other Hunters, and Matias stood on the mana gate. The magic circle began to light up, swallowing them. In an instant, they found themselves on the mana gate at Forvi.
"God," Theo muttered staring at the wreck before him. The roads were cracked, and the houses and establishments were ruined. He could see some Acolyte working to heal injured civilians. He eyed the huge dungeon gate.
The huge rip hung in the air and was over 100 meters tall. He wouldn't be surprised if other towns and territories saw it. It was begging for everyone's attention with its size alone.
A Hunter was quick to run to them.
"How long has it been open?" Theo asked, walking to the gates.
"Nearly three hours now, your highness."
"No one has ever got in?"
The Hunter shook his head, "We continuously tried." As he spoke a Class A Hunter tried to get inside only to be thrown a few feet away from the gate. Theo stared at the menacing aura that protected the gates. "We don't understand as the dungeon is determined to be Class C."
Theo turned to one of the Restorers, "Test it again." he ordered. The team of Restorers was quickly on it, testing the level of the dungeon while the Prince wait. The result flashed before them and Theo couldn't believe his own eyes.
+
[ Unknown Dungeon
Level: Class C
Dungeon Type: Mythical ]
+
Mythical?
Looking all over him, clearly, no one present had heard of a mythical dungeon. It's rare and not really talked about. The records about them were also classified or mostly only known to Class S Hunters and Restorers.
His brows furrowed. "That's clearly not Class C," He raked his black hair with his fingers. "No Mythical dungeon is Class C." Turning to Matias, Theo spoke, "I am going in."
Mythical dungeons were automatically Class S because they were the dungeons that held god-like beings or their source of power came from the /gods/.
They were also a rare kind of dungeons. All throughout history there were only four Mythical dungeons recorded. Most of them took a year to close that's how difficult clearing these kind of dungeons were.
"Be careful, your highness." The secretary bowed.
As Theo was walking to the entrance of the dungeon, the whole place shook and it was suddenly bursting with bright yellow aura. A loud roar came from it that almost shattered their eardrums. Everyone was quick to cover their ears.
"My son," Theo heard someone cry from the crowd.
He needed to get inside and close the dungeon as soon as he can. The longer the kids and civilians stay inside the more dangerous it will get and Theo doesn't plan on carrying corpses on his way out of the dungeon.
He was about to enter when people started gasping and whispering, all their eyes suddenly darted behind the Crown Prince candidate
Theo turned around to look at who suddenly caught their attention. His eyes widened in surprise as he was welcomed by the figure of the last person he expected to see.
Xanthe Soleil.
The youngest son of Duke Soleil was the most popular candidate to be the Crown Prince due to his status as Class S Hunter and the amount of his mana that surpasses everyone else's in the Empire.
Theo's brows furrowed.
Why in the world was Xanthe Soleil there?
Theo kept his composure and greeted the Prince who did the same thing. "As much as I would love to entertain you, Prince Soleil, we have an emergency currently." He put out his friendly smile.
"I am not blind," Xanthe replied coldly. It made a vein pop on Theo's forehead but he ignored his remark.
He's Theo Ravignac. He's a Crown Prince candidate and he should always be composed and never lost his face in public. Theo had been always known as the definition of a true gentleman. He didn't practice putting out that perfect friendly smile for years for nothing.
"What brought you here?" Theo decided to ask. Xanthe ignored him walking towards the dungeon entrance and eyeing it.
There was always something on the aura around Xanthe that just makes him effortlessly intimidating. His posture had always been great. His height was perfect for his build. The way his golden and red armor laid down on his body was amazing.
He was truly the perfect embodiment of the Soleil.
"Someone... is there..." Xanthe simply muttered and without second thoughts, he disappeared inside the dungeon.
Theo almost let out a curse and was quick on his feet to follow however the dungeon started emitting dark walls as if to protect itself. With brows furrowed, Theo reached his hand to the entrance but the dungeon rejected him. The force threw him a few feet away but he managed to stay on his feet, his heels digging deep into the ground.
Letting out a deep breath, Theo wanted to cuss and shout so badly instead he put on a smile. "Seemed like even I am not welcomed in this dungeon."
Matias replied with a nod, "Looks like it." He just quietly eyed the way Theo's fist clenched in a tight grip. He was shaking. He could almost see the tantrums his young master will throw the moment they got back inside the mansion.
The whisperings surrounding them were also not helping.
Theo had always been confident in his lineage and his abilities. He knew who he was and what he can do and though long ago, Theo had accepted that he was no match for Xanthe Soleil it doesn't mean that he doesn't get pissed about the whole thing.
"Matias, you have to send a message to the Imperial Palace," Theo spoke after regaining his composure. "Mythical dungeons are dangerous and usually take time to be cleared. We have to call Class S Restorers, some high-level Acolytes, and if they can send at least one more Class S Hunter."
"Right away, your highness." Matias nodded as he began going to work.
Theo turned to the guards and Hunters, "Clear the area and provide temporary shelter to all that has no place to stay. No one is allowed within two miles radius! We don't know if the dungeon will be closed or will collapse."
"Yes, your highness!!"
Everyone began moving as Theo kept his eyes on the dungeon gate. Xanthe's power was almost like general knowledge to the Empire but no one had really witnessed him fight or close a single dungeon. All accounts of his abilities and powers were questionable.
Theo let out a smile, "Let's see if the rumors are true then, Xanthe Soleil."