As Dante observed his reflection in the mirror, he immediately set his plan into motion. Retrieving his phone, he accessed the Holder's website, leaving his mask in place to benefit from its 50% enhancement to his Concentration skill.
The Holder's website granted access to information exclusively available to Holders, including dungeon locations and their details, Holder-related news, and profiles of renowned Holders from around the world. None were more famous than those who had attained the prestigious rank of 7 stars Holder.
In the eyes of ordinary citizens, Holders were heroes and celebrities, and many of them like being in fame. However, most of these famed Holders possessed skill potential rated at C or higher. Given his current skill potential, Dante found the prospect of fame hard, though he could achieve notoriety by committing crimes as a Holder.
Dante navigated to the page containing information about dungeon locations and details. He activated his skill to enhance his concentration, a routine practice whenever he delved into learning. This time, however, it felt different. Dante sensed that his skill had grown stronger. His cognitive processes quickened, his reading speed increased, and his ability to remember information improved significantly.
"This is excellent!" Dante thought, satisfied with the mask's performance. He absorbed the information about the F-class dungeon, making a concerted effort to commit it to memory. His reading speed had dramatically improved, allowing him to digest four or five details about the F-class dungeons and their locations.
After some time, his skill entered its cooldown phase. Dante let out a contented sigh, relishing the sensation of Concentration that made him feel capable of mastering any subject. This was one of the benefits of his skill, and his love for learning had equipped him with a wealth of basic knowledge, setting him apart from his peers.
However, as he continued reading, Dante couldn't help but feel that what he was doing was ultimately futile.
"What am I hesitating for?" he pondered, a smirk playing on his lips. He resolved to conquer every F-class dungeon, determined never to yield to anyone again. This decision marked the beginning of his transformation into a bolder, more assertive persona.
As Dante was on the verge of closing his phone, an article related to the F-class dungeon grabbed his attention.
"Isn't this the last dungeon I visited?" Dante wondered as he delved into the article's contents.
The article detailed the events following Lucius and the others' emergence from the portal. They had immediately reported the incident, prompting authorities to launch an investigation as any dungeon-related anomalies are top priority. However, given that the incident had only occurred the previous night, there were no updates on the investigation as of yet. Lucius, Sarah, and the rest of the group had been rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment.
Gazing at their faces on his phone, Dante clenched his teeth and rose to his feet.
"Argh! Even if my skills are meant for support, I'll definitely have my revenge!" Dante declared aloud, as if speaking to the air, but in reality, he was motivating himself.
Fueled by his burning desire for vengeance, Dante began packing his essentials. Remembering the inventory, he decided to utilize it, successfully storing his belongings in its slots. With this, he no longer needed a bag for his journey.
Dante had already set aside the fee for this solo dungeon adventure. Yes, he intended to face this dungeon on his own.
Considering the severity of his injuries, he had resigned himself to the fact that he should have died. By donning the mask, he aspired to become something greater than his previous self.
As he gazed around his apartment, a wave of sentimentality washed over him, tinged with sadness. This had been his second home, no, perhaps his third, and he couldn't be certain if he would ever return to it.
With a resounding bang, the door closed behind him.
Bang!
***
The area buzzed with activity, marked by the presence of tents erected all around. Within each tent, groups of holders engaged in animated conversations, their voices loud.
At the forefront, a prominent dungeon portal loomed, flanked by a larger tent that dwarfed the others. Inside the tent, a desk counter stood, surrounded by a queue of eager holders awaiting their badge numbers.
Dante had chosen to conquer this F-class dungeons, and this particular one happened to be the closest to his home. It was situated in a park, where he stood in line with fellow holders.
Dante decided to stop himself from attempting to conquer the last dungeon he had visited—well, not just yet. An ongoing investigation was still underway in that area, and he had no intention of drawing government suspicion. He couldn't shake the thought that they might possess a holder with the uncanny ability to detect lies.
"I hope they thought I'm no longer alive" Dante silently mused while maintaining his patient position in line.
He had grown increasingly convinced that the system was indeed real, not merely a hallucination or a figment of his imagination.
After what felt like an eternity of waiting, it was finally his turn. A bespectacled woman sat behind the counter, her attention seemingly absorbed by the computer before her.
"Name?" she inquired, looking up and momentarily taken aback by the white mask with smudged black marks around the eyes. However, her surprise was fleeting, and she swiftly regained her composure, having encountered such sights before.
Dante had already prepared a fictitious name for himself, familiar with the standard procedure.
"Eka," he replied, making a conscious effort to deepen his voice. This name had been chosen in line with his decision to embark on a solo journey.
"What an unusual name," the woman remarked inwardly, typing it into her computer.
"How many others are in your squad?" she inquired, her fingers poised on the keyboard.
"Just one," Dante responded.
"Only two of you for this dungeon?" she queried, her tone tinged with a mixture of curiosity and incredulity.
"Perhaps these two are brimming with confidence, or maybe they're just a bit foolhardy. Even though it's an F-class dungeon, a dungeon is a dungeon, and the risk of death remains quite real," she thought to herself as she recorded Dante's response on her computer.
"Only me," Dante responded, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. He couldn't help but doubt himself internally, wondering if he had made the right choice. What if I can't do it? he thought.
The woman is stunned and hesitated momentarily, then pressed the backspace key and asked Dante once more to confirm. While it wasn't unusual for someone to tackle an F-class dungeon solo, most capable individuals typically took on dungeons of D class or higher, making solo conquests a rare feat reserved for the exceptionally talented.
After Dante completed the payment, the woman regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism as she handed over his badge number. The procedures weren't as stringent for F-class dungeons, but conquering higher-ranked dungeons required extensive documentation. Dante moved aside, waiting for his turn. Inside the dungeon, time passed more quickly, so they could issue badge numbers to those willing to wait. Fortunately, he wasn't the only one concealing his identity; some Holders even wore full-body armor that obscured their faces.
After a couple of hours, well into the afternoon, it was finally Dante's turn.