Orion materialized in the center of the Forgotten Forest, his Keeper instincts immediately kicking in. As he surveyed his surroundings, a strange sense of heightened awareness enveloped him, allowing him to pinpoint the exact locations of the invaders converging towards him. Calculating their speed, he realized they would reach the dungeon's heart in less than ten minutes. Curiously, he also sensed that all the invaders were relatively weak compared to him.
To bolster his defenses, Orion summoned Auf, his loyal dire wolf companion. Together, they stood at the heart of the dungeon, waiting for the impending encounter with the intruders.
Eight minutes later, the group of Dark Elves emerged into Orion's view. These beings, known for their distinct features - sharp ears, dark purple skin, and elegant yet menacing demeanor - moved with a stealthy grace. They spotted Orion and Auf. Recognizing him as the Keeper, they knew defeating him was crucial to their mission.
The Dark Elves, each possessing a strength akin to level 10, were confident in their ability to overcome a Keeper of an F rank dungeon, even with his dire wolf companion. They unsheathed their slender, razor-sharp blades, a testament to their expertise in crafting weapons.
Orion, calmly observing their approach, stood up, shifting from a relaxed to a combat-ready posture. Auf, sensing the tension, positioned himself protectively near Orion, his gaze fixed on the advancing elves.
As the Dark Elves closed in, they executed a tactical maneuver to surround Orion and Auf, aiming to eliminate any escape routes. Orion, however, remained undeterred. He knew the strength of the Dark Elves, and with his enhanced senses and Auf's support, he was prepared to defend the Forgotten Forest.
Orion, poised and ready, focused on subduing the Dark Elves without lethal force. His objective was twofold: to respect their sentient nature, differentiating them from the usual dungeon creatures, and to capture them for interrogation, intrigued by their alien origins.
As the Dark Elves launched their assault, Orion sprang into action. He deftly dodged their initial strikes, using his agility and heightened awareness to anticipate their movements. His strategy was to disarm rather than harm. With swift, precise movements, he targeted their weapon-wielding hands, knocking the blades from their grasp with the flat of his dagger.
Auf, understanding Orion's intent, aided in the effort. He lunged, not to bite, but to knock the elves off balance, using his body to create openings for Orion. This coordinated effort between Keeper and companion proved effective.
The first three Dark Elves, overwhelmed by Orion's unexpected prowess, quickly found themselves disarmed and outmatched. In a series of efficient maneuvers, Orion disabled them, rendering them unconscious with strategic, non-lethal blows.
The remaining two, a male and female Dark Elf, realized the futility of their efforts. Their expressions shifted from determination to disbelief as they dropped their weapons, surrendering. They couldn't understand how a Keeper of an F rank dungeon could possess such formidable strength.
With the Dark Elves subdued and the immediate threat neutralized, Orion quickly secured the five intruders, ensuring they were safely restrained. In the wake of his successful defense, he received the system notification confirming his quest completion:
[ Quest Completed: Defense ]
[ Reward: Energy Accumulation Ring, +5 Free Stat Points, +1 Free Skill Point, Universal Language Skill ]
Curious about the ring that was part of his reward, Orion took out the Energy Accumulation Ring and activated his Basic Inspection Skill to understand its properties:
[ Name: Energy Accumulation Ring ]
[ Description: Allows the wearer to accumulate up to 100 million units of energy and transfer it. ]
[ Energy: 0/100,000,000 ]
The capabilities of the ring instantly piqued Orion's interest. It could potentially be a game-changer in his quest to upgrade dungeons, especially considering the enormous energy requirements he had previously calculated. The ring's ability to store and transfer energy presented an efficient solution to one of his most challenging quests.
Orion slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling a slight hum of energy as it settled in place. He contemplated its potential uses, not only for dungeon upgrades but also for other energy-intensive tasks he might encounter in the future.
Turning his attention back to the Dark Elves, Orion felt the new Universal Language Skill activate, bridging the communication gap between them. He addressed the elves, his words automatically translating into their language.
Orion, with a mix of sternness and curiosity, addressed the captive dark elves, "Identify yourselves and explain your presence here. Cooperate, and I assure you a safe release, but I will require some form of restitution."
The Female Dark Elf, her posture tense and eyes wide with a blend of fear and defiance, responded, "We are cadets from Twilight Veil Academy, undertaking our graduation test."
Orion, surprised, queried, "Your test involves usurping my dungeon?"
With a hint of arrogance, she explained, "It's standard. F rank dungeons are mere training fields. They are as common as dirt on most planets, frequently changing keepers."
Orion, his eyes widening in disbelief, asked, "Most planets? How many are we talking about?"
Her response carried a tone of condescension, "You're unaware? There are millions."
Orion expressed his disbelief, "Millions? This is the first time I've encountered beings from another planet."
Laughing, the Female Dark Elf asked, "When did your planet join this system?"
Orion answered, "About 200 years ago."
Her laughter intensified, "Only 200 years? We attempted to seize an artifact from a planet that's relatively new to the system? And failed? That's embarrassing."
Orion, curious, asked, "And how long has your planet been part of this system?"
She replied, "It's been thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years. The exact duration is unknown."
Realizing the depth of knowledge and experience he was confronting, Orion's tone softened, "Your insights about this vast system must be extensive."
Orion, intrigued by the Dark Elf's knowledge, continued his inquiry with a keen interest.: "Is it possible to know who created the system and why?"
Dark Elf, chuckling at the question, said, "That's one of the greatest mysteries. If anyone knows the truth, they aren't sharing it."
Orion, pondering the complexity, asked, "So, is it common for individuals to have only one type of system?"
The Dark Elf nodded, "Typically, yes. Though there are historical accounts of individuals possessing dual systems, such occurrences are exceedingly rare and involve remarkably powerful beings."
Orion, seeking clarity on his role, queried, "Can you tell me more about Keepers?"
The Dark Elf elaborated, "Keepers are the guardians and administrators of dungeons. There are naturally occurring Keepers, born with the dungeon's creation. Then there are Keepers like you, who usurp and possibly even replace the natural Keeper. However, the specifics of how one achieves true ownership of a dungeon are not public knowledge."
Orion, curious about the operational aspects, asked, "What do you know about upgrading and destroying dungeons?"
The Dark Elf answered, "As for upgrading dungeons, I'm not privy to that process. However, I do know it occurs occasionally, particularly in lower-level dungeons. Destruction, on the other hand, is straightforward. Overuse a dungeon too much, and its rank will deteriorate, eventually reaching F rank. Once it hits that point, it collapses. This decline, as I understand it, is closely tied to the dungeon's energy dynamics."
Orion, intrigued, further inquired, "And this energy, it's vital for the dungeon's functionality?"
"Yes," the Dark Elf confirmed, "the energy reserve is crucial. It's what powers the creation of the dungeon's instances and the generation of drops. But the intricacies of how this energy is managed are not well understood by me."
Orion, keen to understand the full scope of the Dark Elves' intrusion, delved deeper into their methods, "How exactly did you manage to enter this dungeon? And what was your plan for taking control of it?"
The Dark Elves exchanged a glance before the Female Elf replied, "We used enchanted scrolls for entry. These scrolls are designed to bypass the standard entry points of dungeons, allowing us to infiltrate undetected."
The Male Dark Elf added, "As for taking control, we had another set of scrolls. If we had succeeded in defeating you, the Keeper, we would have used these scrolls to claim ownership of the dungeon. Honestly, we never anticipated encountering a Keeper of C rank strength in an F rank dungeon."
Orion processed this information, understanding the level of preparation and resources the Dark Elves had at their disposal. The fact that they were equipped with such powerful magical items for their graduation test spoke volumes about the capabilities of their academy.
Orion stated, "Okay, I have many more questions, but it seems this won't be my last interaction with beings from other worlds. There's no need to rush for answers now. However, it's time to discuss compensation for this intrusion."