The dungeon...
One of the three natural labyrinths. An underground maze known to be the home to millions of beasts. With a hundred floors underground, each floor numbered from first to hundred as you descend. The lower the floor. The stronger the beasts.
Beasts are animals who have been blessed and cursed with the ability to use magic and obtain skills. These creatures started to appear around a billion years ago. Now they number around hundreds of millions and have been a plague to all other races including themselves.
A long time ago, many of the races came together to drive most of the land beasts in Mavis into the second labyrinth. The beasts, unable to fight back against the large and overwhelming army, decided to make the labyrinth their home.
Beasts are creatures that evolve the older they get. Beasts evolve at certain age intervals becoming even stronger than they were. They grew stronger by attacking and feeding on other races, and even themselves.
Most beasts live on their own, while some live and hunt together. Beasts also shared the territories of the dungeon, their new home, into eleven.
The first ten floors(1st to 10th), of the dungeon were for the youngest and weakest beasts, who haven't been able to evolve.
The second ten floors (11th to 20th),were for Decal Beasts (10 - 99 years), whose strength rivalled the Early Innate Realm.
The third ten floors (21st to 30th), were for Centurial Beasts (100 - 999 years), whose strength rivalled the Middle Innate Realm.
The fourth ten floors (31st to 40th),were for Millennial Beasts (1,000 - 9,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Final Innate Realm.
The fifth ten floors (41st to 50th), were Decal Millennial Beasts (10,000 - 99,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Early Demon Realm.
The sixth ten floors (51st to 60th), were Centurial Millennial Beasts (100,000 - 999,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Middle Demon Realm.
The seventh ten floors (61st to 70th), were Millional Beasts (1,000,000 - 9,999,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Final Demon Realm.
The eighth ten floors (71st to 80th), were Decal Millional Beasts (10,000,000 - 24,999,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Early Divine Realm.
The ninth ten floors (81st to 90th), were Quarter-centurial Millional Beasts (25,000,000 - 49,999,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Middle Divine Realm.
The last ten floors were divided into two. The first nine (91st to 99th), were for Half-centurial Millional Beasts (50,000,000 - 99,999,999 years), whose strength rivalled the Final Divine Realm.
The last and hundredth floor was home to the three Beast Kings of the dungeon. The three beasts were Centurial Millional Beasts (100,000,000+ years), also known as Celestial Beasts.
Celestial Beasts were the oldest and most powerful beasts. Though they have a hierarchy among themselves, that depends on their age. Celestial Beasts are beasts that could only be killed by Celestials.
Many beasts still roam the surface feeding, and breeding, as beasts are still being born. Some animals randomly evolve into beasts. The reason still hasn't been determined.
The Adventurers Guild was established to protect people from beasts and other threats. Beasts provide a lot of resources to the world. Adventures often venture into the dungeon to kill beasts, not just because they are a danger. But also because they provide other things.
Their tough skins are used to make strong leather and protective clothing. Those with scales are killed, while their scales are used to make things like shields and armour.
But most of all. Beasts have crystallized hearts called Mana Crystal. The bigger and more evolved the beasts, the purer and more valuable the crystal. The crystal has a range of uses.
*Mana Crystal: A special crystalline substance that is gotten from the hearts of beasts. This crystal has the ability to imbue magical attributes to normal items. It is the most valuable raw material in Mavis.*
The crystal is added to weapons, armour, clothes and many other things to give them magical attributes. It is probably the most important and valuable resource in the world. This is the main reason why adventurers from all over the world venture into the dangerous dungeon.
*
*
It was finally the day for Jordan and his party to leave for the dungeon.
Nick and his Captains were ready to depart. It was a bright but cold morning. They had packed food, tents, weapons and other necessities into a large, but not too fancy carriage.
Our plan was to not draw too much attention to ourselves, hence the not too fancy carriage. The carriage was drawn by tamed beasts. Two Decal, dark horses. Dark horses were the strongest of all the horse-type beasts.
*Tamed Beasts: Beasts of low strength that have been tamed and are used for tough work that domesticated animals can't handle.*
The Lords and Dukes had gathered in the courtyard to see us off. The Captains were down with them and ready to depart. Everyone was busy saying their good-byes then—
"Where's Jordan?" Ash asked as he looked around the courtyard. He sighed when he couldn't find me.
"Uhm. I don't really know." Grey answered when no one else did.
"I don't think Emperor Jordan has gotten down yet." Nick mentioned.
"You all should remember to just call him just Jordan when you leave." Roger said. "Although even if I don't mention it, he would have. He doesn't really like those titles. Anyway, remember that your mission is a covert one. Don't draw too much attention."
"Yes Lord Roger." They answered.
"Also, remember your duties." Roger added as he pat Ace on his shoulder. "Protect your king. But more importantly, don't be a hindrance to him. You all should be able to tell. He is strong. Probably stronger than he is letting us know even. Just remember to listen to him—"
"But not always." Ash interrupted. "He is very unpredictable. Know you can tell him otherwise if he ever makes any crazy suggestions. But really, where is he?"
BHAM. Jordan jumped out of the building behind them and landed on the roof of the carriage parked in the courtyard.
*
I was late.
It was almost time to depart so went to greet Millis farewell. But I ended up being caught between the ladies of the manor. So now I am rushing outside to meet my carriage before it leaves without me.
As I ran through the second floor hallway of the manor while I was headed downstairs, I noticed an open window that led out onto the courtyard. So I jumped out from the window, and landed on the carriage.
"Seriously Jordan!" Ash shouted. "Where did you jump from?" He asked then turned to look at the building behind him.
"That's not important." I said. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Are we ready? Are we ready to begin our adventure? We depart, for the dungeon. The second most dangerous place on this continent." I asked still standing on the roof of the carriage.
"Second most dangerous?" Grey asked.
"Yes. I am partial to the Underground Tower. It's a far more dangerous place to me. So who's ready?!"I asked.
"Get down from there first, dummy!" Ash exclaimed.
I jumped down to the ground.
"Where have you been?" He asked.
"I was saying goodbye to Millis, Aisha, Lia, Arianne, Daisy, Rose, Iris, Trina, Tess—"
"You know what..." Ash interjected. "It's okay. I don't need to know. Alright."
The Lords and Dukes knelt down in before me. "Have a safe trip Emperor Jordan." They said
"I will." I replied. They stood up. "I leave it all in your capable hands till I return. And until then, take care of everyone." I turned and entered the carriage followed by Grey, Nick and Jade.
Ace sat on the rider's chair and took the reins of the beasts. He whipped the reins and the horses started moving.. And so we began our journey.
We were headed to the dungeon. Even though the horses were strong, it would still be impossible for the them to ride them straight to the dungeon.
The dungeon was on the southern most part of the continent. The Northern Empire, was on the Northern end. So I planned to take the simplest route. First, we would head to Novaland, the capital of the Glavis Kingdom.
Still it would take us about three days to get to Novaland. We were to get to Glavis and use a teleportation gate to travel to the Elven Empire. And from there, the dungeon was only a day's ride.
The plan was to head to the headquarters of the Adventurers Guild in Glavis. There, we would register as adventurers so we would be free to use the guild's Teleportation Gate. The gate would take us to the closest city to the dungeon. And from there, the dungeon was less than a day away.
This method was only a temporary one. I had planned that once our Empire had announced itself as an independent nation and solidified its position. We would join other nations and employ the Five Guilds. So the Empire would also have access to the range of services provided by the guilds.
Then, transportation, communication and trade between kingdoms would become easier.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Happy Eid Mubarak to you all...
From F_I_G_S