The High Council of the Hunter Association, known as the Zodiacs, sat in a large circular room with intricate designs etched into the walls. The 12 council members each sat at a designated seat, with their corresponding zodiac symbol inscribed on it. They were all dressed in their respective hunter uniforms, with their weapons at their side.
Sagittarius, the Centaur Archer, spoke up first. "The casualties from the Dungeon Flood have been devastating. We have lost over 100 hunters and countless civilians. The damage to the surrounding areas is also significant."
Taurus, the Bull, let out a deep sigh. "This is unacceptable. We must take stronger measures to prevent these kinds of disasters from happening again."
Gemini, the Twins, chimed in. "Perhaps we need to increase the number of hunters assigned to monitor the dungeons. The Flood may have been caused by the Orc King Tamer, but we cannot ignore the fact that dungeons have been getting more unstable in recent years."
Cancer, the Crab, raised a clawed hand. "We must also consider the emotional toll this takes on our hunters. Many of them are still recovering from the trauma of the Flood."
Leo, the Lion, nodded in agreement. "We need to provide better support for our hunters, both emotionally and financially. They are risking their lives for the sake of humanity, the least we can do is provide them with proper care."
Virgo, the Virgin, spoke up next. "We should also consider sending aid to the affected areas. The Hunter Association has a responsibility to not only protect humanity from monsters, but to also assist in times of crisis."
Libra, the Scales, nodded in agreement. "Yes, we cannot ignore our duty to the people we protect. We must do everything in our power to help those affected by the Flood."
Scorpio, the Scorpion, interjected. "But let us not forget that our ultimate goal is to eliminate the threat of monsters altogether. We must not allow tragedies like the Flood to distract us from our mission."
Aquarius, the Water Bearer, spoke up. "Agreed. We need to step up our efforts in finding a way to seal the dungeons permanently. Only then can we truly eliminate the threat of monsters once and for all."
Pisces, the Fish, added, "And we must also continue to educate the public on the dangers of dungeons and the importance of the Hunter Association's work. We cannot do this alone, we need the support of the people."
Aries, the Ram, nodded in agreement. "Well said, Pisces. Let us continue to work towards a better future for humanity, and for the hunters who risk their lives every day for our sake."
The room fell silent as each of the Zodiacs took a moment to reflect on the gravity of their mission. They all knew that the Hunter Association's work was never-ending, but they were determined to continue their fight against the monsters and beasts that threatened humanity.
---
The Rank G Hunters were setting up their Portable Igloo Housing in an open field near the dungeon portal. Qing Eena was helping his fellow hunters assemble their igloo when he noticed that each igloo was only meant for four people.
Qing Eena had a problem with this because he preferred to have his own space and privacy. He approached a B-Ranking Hunter who seemed to be in charge of the igloo setup and asked, "Excuse me, is it possible for me to make my own shelter and surrender my space to another hunter?"
The B-Ranking Hunter looked at Qing Eena with surprise. "Why would you want to do that?" he asked.
"I value my privacy, and I don't feel comfortable sharing such a small space with three other people," Qing Eena explained.
The B-Ranking Hunter nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, I don't see why not. As long as you're okay with not having the same amenities as the Portable Igloo Housing."
Qing Eena nodded eagerly. "I'm okay with that. I just need my own space."
The B-Ranking Hunter smiled. "Alright then, I'll make sure to let the others know that you'll be making your own shelter."
Qing Eena thanked him and went off to find a suitable spot to set up his own shelter. He found a secluded area behind a large rock formation and began to gather materials to build his shelter.
As he worked, he overheard some of the other hunters talking about their experiences in the previous battles. They were sharing stories of close calls and narrow escapes, and Qing Eena couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with them.
Despite his initial reservations about the Portable Igloo Housing, Qing Eena realized that being around other hunters and sharing their stories was actually quite comforting. He was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community and to learn from his fellow hunters.
---
As the low rankers were setting up their portable igloos, they couldn't help but notice the impressive gear of the higher-ranked hunters. One of the hunters pulled out a Mythril sword and the others gathered around, marveling at the glimmering blade.
"Wow, that's so cool! I wish I had one of those," said one of the low rankers, eyeing the sword enviously.
"I know right? And the armor they have is even more amazing. I heard it's so strong that it can even withstand dragon fire," another replied, shaking his head in disbelief.
Qing Eena overheard their conversation and couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't be too impressed by the shiny metal, guys. It's not as amazing as it looks," he said, walking over to them.
The low rankers looked at him skeptically. "What do you mean? Mythril is supposed to be one of the best metals out there," one of them said.
"I used to think the same thing when I was a low rank mage. But the truth is, it's not as shiny and impressive as it looks in fiction. In fact, it's kind of dull-looking," Qing Eena explained, drawing a small sample of Mythril from his pocket.
The low rankers examined the sample closely and frowned. "It looks like old aluminum," one of them said.
Qing Eena nodded. "Exactly. It needs other metals like silver or gold to have that shiny luster. But don't get me wrong, Mythril is still a great metal. It's just not as amazing as we all thought it would be."
The low rankers nodded in understanding, their admiration for the higher-ranked hunters' equipment slightly diminished. "I guess it's not always about how it looks, but how it performs," one of them said thoughtfully.
Qing Eena smiled. "Exactly. So don't be too envious of their gear. We'll get there someday, and when we do, we'll make sure it's not just about looks, but about performance too."
The low rankers nodded in agreement, feeling a renewed sense of determination to become stronger hunters.
---
As the other low rankers watched Qing Eena create his own shelter, they were amazed at his resourcefulness and dedication to his own privacy.
"Wow, look at Qing go," one of the low rankers said in awe. "He's really going all out to make his own space."
"I know, right?" another low ranker replied. "I mean, we all got these portable igloos, but he went and made his own house. That's dedication."
"I heard he even used magic to grow the trees and make the walls," a third low ranker chimed in.
"Yeah, and did you see those glass windows he made? Using sand and magic to make glass, that's impressive," a fourth low ranker added.
The low rankers all nodded in agreement, marveling at Qing's ingenuity and skill with magic. It was clear that he was not one to settle for the status quo.
"I gotta say, I'm a little jealous," a fifth low ranker said wistfully. "I wish I had the skills to make my own shelter like that."
"Don't worry, man," the first low ranker reassured him. "We're all here to learn and grow. Maybe someday we'll be able to do something like that too."
Meanwhile, Qing Eena continued to work on his shelter, adding finishing touches like the coconut fiber curtains and a small garden outside his door. He was content knowing that he had his own space, where he could relax and recharge after a long day of hunting.
---
As dinner time approached, the hunters gathered around a large bonfire, roasting their own meals on skewers. Qing Eena sat on a log, away from the others, eating a meal he prepared himself. He was content to be alone, but he couldn't help overhearing the conversations of the other hunters.
"I can't believe we've been in this dungeon for a whole week already," said one hunter, a young woman with short brown hair.
"I know, right? And we still have a ways to go," replied another hunter, a man with a scar running down his cheek.
"It's a good thing we have these portable igloos, though," said a third hunter, a tall man with a muscular build. "I heard the last group that came through here had to sleep on the ground."
"I heard they had to fight off some giant spiders too," said a fourth hunter, a woman with a long braid of black hair. "I'm just glad we haven't run into anything too dangerous yet."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," said Qing, speaking up for the first time since they had gathered. "We don't know what's lurking in the deeper levels of this dungeon."
The other hunters looked over at Qing, surprised to hear him speak.
"He's right, though," said the scar-faced man. "We need to be prepared for anything."
The hunters continued their meal, chatting about their experiences in the dungeon so far. Qing listened intently, silently taking note of their strengths and weaknesses. Despite his desire to be alone, he knew that cooperation and communication were essential in a place like this.
As the night wore on, the hunters finished their meals and began to settle in for the night. Qing retreated to his own shelter, closing the door behind him. He appreciated the solitude, but a small part of him couldn't help but feel a bit lonely.
He sat by the window, staring out at the darkness, lost in thought. Despite his reputation as a loner, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have someone to talk to, someone to share his experiences with.
But for now, he was content to be on his own, relying only on his own strength and abilities to make it through this dangerous dungeon.
---
The low ranker batch, including Qing Eena, were assigned as mules to carry the heavy equipment and supplies needed by the high rankers for their exploration inside the dungeon portal. The group was gathered outside the entrance of the portal, waiting for their orders to enter. Qing was looking around, observing the surrounding area and the entrance to the portal.
"I wonder what kind of monsters are inside the dungeon," said Qing, breaking the silence.
"I heard from some of the high rankers that there are dragons and other legendary creatures in there," replied one of the rankers.
"I can't wait to see them with my own eyes," said Qing, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Well, just remember to focus on your task and not get distracted by the sights," said another low ranker, reminding Qing of his duty.
"Don't worry, I won't let my curiosity get in the way," said Qing with a smile.
As the group received their orders to enter the portal, they followed the high rankers and made their way inside. Qing marveled at the environment inside, as it was like nothing he had ever seen before. The air was thick with magic, and he could sense the presence of powerful creatures lurking in the shadows.
As they made their way deeper into the dungeon, they encountered various monsters, some of which were beyond their abilities to defeat. The high rankers took care of most of them, but Qing could not help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the strength and power of these creatures.
"I need to study this environment more closely," whispered Qing to himself, taking mental notes of everything he saw and felt.
As the group continued their exploration, Qing's curiosity only grew, and he began to ask the high rankers questions about the creatures and the dungeon itself. They were more than happy to share their knowledge with him, and Qing listened intently, absorbing every detail.
Finally, after several hours of exploration, the group emerged from the dungeon portal, tired but exhilarated by their experience. Qing was still lost in thought, pondering over everything he had seen and learned.
"I can't wait to go back inside and explore more," said Qing to himself, a glint of excitement in his eyes.