Jonel's Perspective:
As morning dawned once again, I followed my routine – opening the television as I always did. In the kitchen, I prepared my meal, then sat at the dining table, watching the news unfold.
"The world's population has halved! From almost 800 billion, the population has rapidly decreased to 400 billion and below. Please avoid the dungeons; eight have been discovered. Be aware that dungeons are very dangerous! Authorities won't permit any civilian or solo adventurer without registration for safety, be remind that all dungeon are cave if it was you know a area that has forest, house but change to open area that is also a dungeon pls. report to authori.....- "
The television no longer shielded viewers from the gruesome scenes, as the MTRCB regulations were disregarded due to the widespread destruction.
'Reporters in this situation are truly something,' I thought as I switched channels.
"Our new hope is here!" Another channel showcased proclaimed heroes, their actions broadcasted like overpowering characters.
Why aren't there people in the dungeon where I ventured?
"System, you mentioned there are 10 dungeons?"
["Yes, master, there are only 10 dungeons located in... unable to locate the specific area. I recommend buying the map from the system shop.]
"Why should I buy a map for a dungeon? Why do I need a map to locate dungeons? It's better to let the authorities find them, and I can check the news or the internet."
"Master, a map is essential; having it is more convenient and could save your life. If you get trapped without a map, you may never leave, lost in the dungeon."
I couldn't deny the truth in those words. Changing the subject, I inquired, "System, which is the weakest among the 10 dungeons?"
["Master, the weakest is the one you visited yesterday."]
"What? Is it really weak? Monsters have minds of their own, you know. And what about the authorities? If they find out about the dungeon, I won't be able to go in solo."
I had assumed the dungeon was high-level but fake. It seemed more logical to level up than face a real dungeon. In the news, someone mentioned a monolith in a dungeon, claiming the level cap is 250. I was only level 10 – how could I clear a dungeon?
["Master, the beginner dungeon is recommended for levels 1 to 10."]
"You call that a beginner?" I scoffed,
"But it said I can't enter if my level is over 10."
["No, master, it's a recommendation, not a requirement."]
"Oh, thank you very much. Great idea, too," I replied flatly.
Better to gear up, level up, and head to the public dungeon where the highest-level adventurer is at level 30+.
"System! Status."
Status – Level 3 [ 7 level points.]
STR, - 2 (strength)
DEX, - 3 (flexibility)
CON – 3 (defense)
INT, - 3 (mana capacity)
WIS, - 3 (casting spell)
CHA – 4 (luck)
"Why the hell is it the same? The wolf is strong!"
I allocated 4 points to luck and 3 to strength
"Maybe luck will give me an item that makes me strong. If I can't get strong, then an item will make me strong."
________________________________________
Dressed in my usual T-shirt and pants, I headed to the dungeon. But this time, it was different. I registered my name at the nearest office before entering the public dungeon of the people. beginner's dungeon will be mine only but i can't start with it.
"if im not handsome maybe i died."
but actually, jonel is scared at runes.
sigh*
The atmosphere in the adventurer gathering area was chaotic, filled with the clamor of individuals seeking companions for dungeon expeditions. The system prompted a suggestion:
["Better not be a porter, master."]
"Why would I be?!" I retorted, puzzled by the system's warning. Determined to find a party, I navigated through the bustling crowd. The area resembled a recruitment zone, with adventurers vociferously advertising their requirements.
As I strolled through the recruiting zone, the cacophony of voices blended into a disorienting buzz. Every group seemed to be shouting out their specific level and skill prerequisites. I patiently waited, observing the commotion. After circling the area a few times, I heard a distinctive call.
It was a young boy brandishing a sword, accompanied by three girls with various magical implements. The group consisted of a wand-wielding girl in a hat, another with a white coat holding a yellow wand, and a fidgety girl, possibly a scout, wearing glasses and a peculiar boot-glove ensemble. No traditional tank was apparent in the lineup.
"Level one adventurers, we are a new start!" announced the boy proudly.
wait it is just a few weeks. It was not even a month when this apocalyptic game started?
'it doesn't matter'
I walk to the join at them and said.
"hello, i'm level 4, I have a versatile class "
[?] this system keep showing up…
"ohh… what are the skill you can use?" the girl with hat ask!
"my skill are… skill… are unable to use they are high requirement"
"ohhh-!" as the swordsman shine his eyes the girls are very wary to me like I lied to them.
"my name is jonel cunanan, I don't have much help, but I have experience killing a ware wolf"
as I mention I kill monster already they might not kick me. Then with shining eyes like I was going to blind the boy response
"really!!! wow! I'm.....- "
pointing himself like the best
"....-Carl Panday, swordsman and the BEST ATTACKEEEEER!"
He slammed a post like a narcissist prince and shook his head.
WOW! High Confidence! This people are very hard to deal with, but I think this man is just a pure.
As I change my look to see the girls if they are the next…
"I'm anna! Mage"
'what the hell is that all, why the hell I talk so much'
and next answer girl with glasses weird, the mysterious class.
"I'm elina, my class is Scout"
'gotcha, my guess is correct'
the last one answer…
"i'm Layla, priest'
Why the hell when they introduce themselves is so short.
Maybe because I join, and it's their group, stranger can't be trust.
"even a child knows it"
sigh*
The exuberance was almost overwhelming, but it seemed genuine. As I turned my attention to the girls, Anna, the mage, introduced herself succinctly. The mysterious Elena identified as a scout, confirming my earlier speculation. Lastly, Layla simply stated her role as a priest.
"Even a child knows it," I muttered, sensing the group's cautious approach to newcomers.
With introductions completed, we made our way to the dungeon entrance. Unlike my previous experiences, there were no visible marks or runes. As we stepped into the dungeon, our journey into the unknown began.
_____________________________________________
JONEL POV
And so, the hunt began! The dungeon had only six floors.
I held the crystal core like plastic, but it felt like glass as I put it in my bag. In our formation, I positioned myself at the back, Carl at the front, and the girls in the middle. This was our strategy as we moved forward.
As we started our hunt, it felt more like ghost hunting. The monsters were ghosts and skeletons—slow and not very intelligent, similar to zombies, either following us or approaching.
"Purify!" Our priest, Layla, was the only one capable of killing these monsters due to her holy attribute.
It became easier, and then I asked Anna, our mage, if she could eliminate the monsters. She said yes but using fire attributes, and if she did that, our group would exhaust before reaching the third floor, or rather, the third basement floor, as the dungeon descended.
but it struck my mind.
I gasped in fear. "How can we maintain our oxygen?" The shock filled me, and they all burst into laughter.
"How can you die from a lack of oxygen? The world has become a fantasy, just like how the dungeon lacks oxygen," Carl pitifully looked at me, tapped me on the shoulder, and for some reason, he seemed to be crying.
'What the freak is happening to you?' I thought as I looked at him, simultaneously bombastically side-eyeing. 'It makes sense, fantasy is anything.'
And so, we continued to the second basement while I collected the crystal cores. There were so many that I felt like I was going to be rich. This was different from bringing a whole werewolf to the office for exchange.
'Life was easy like this. We also gained experience with Layla killing the monsters.'
I checked my status, and it was level 4. We reached the stairs to the second floor, and no monsters approached or followed us.
'This is their boundary, so each monster has their own floor?'
I can't feel satisfy my curiosity, so....
"system, each monster a own floor?"
"yes, there is usually boundary between common monster but unique, high monster, and boss are exemption for this.