As they stepped into the dungeon, Cain and Rio were plunged into darkness and a pungent stench filled the air. A fireball the size of a helmet on Cain's outstretched arm illuminated the area.
The dungeon interior was a dark damp cave with mold growing almost everywhere. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long period of time but the constant wails of monsters proved otherwise.
"So, what are you looking for exactly?", Cain asked.
"Ingredients", Rio replied.
"Ingredients for what?", Cain asked.
"You'll find out once it's done", Rio said.
"Does it have to do with your mana core?", Cain asked although he already knew the answer.
Rio simply ignored the question and continued walking. He had a conflicted look on his face as though deciding whether to tell Cain his secret.
"I'll tell you what I'm really looking for, if you tell me why you're really in Nova city and don't even think of saying you're doing this just because you want to learn about my runes".
Rio could tell that Cain had his own reasons for helping him and this was his best chance to hear those reasons.
"That's what you want to know, I suppose I can tell you", Cain said nonchalantly.
"What do you know about Zephyr academy?", he asked.
"It's the largest academy on the continent. The students that attend are the best of geniuses in the continent and those who graduate go on to accomplish grand and heroic feats", Rio responded with an ecstatic look on his face.
It was one of his goals to attend Zephyr academy and that was also why he set out on his mission to fix his core.
"Well said, and every year the school sends out agents to search for talented young people that are not from prestigious families. I had already found and sent two to the school but then, I decided to stay in this city for a few days, who knew I'd find another talent. With this, I'll definitely get more than him", Cain said with a look of pure bliss.
"You talk too much....I zoned out halfway", Rio said bluntly.
"I'll explain everything later, for now we've got company ", Cain said, his look becoming cold.
The two smelled the creatures before they saw them. It was the same putrid odor that was over the dungeon only this time it had increased tenfold. The creatures they faced were humanoid but had scales all over their bodies and from the waist down were long serpent-like tails.
"Nagas!", Rio exclaimed.
"And a lot of them", Cain injected.
"Nagas are usually found in areas with large bodies of water and high mana density and they have a high affinity for water magic and are very powerful in their natural habitats", Cain said.
"Keep your guard up, from this point on we'll have to fight for our lives", Cain stated to which Rio simply nodded.
The creatures hissed at the two intruders and charged. A green liquid coated their claws as they charged forward, some of the substance dripped to the floor, instantly melting the portion of earth it touched.
Rio's eyes widened as he saw that and thought,' Acid'.
Cain also noticed the acid but he had a different reaction. With a smile he said, "this should be fun".
************************************************
The alliance arrived at the dungeon some time later and immediately got to work.
They set up stations of command both in and outside the dungeon.
"We have completely secured the area around the dungeon", a member of the city guard reported.
"Good work soldier", Commander Bale said dismissing the guard.
"Let's begin shall we?", He said to the two guild masters.
"We never did discuss how we'd split the treasures once we found any", Norman stated.
Reina and the commander sighed as though they had expected this from him.
"The cores of any beasts slayed by members of any guild go to that guild but any and all mana crystals found will be shared among all", Commander Bale said.
"Seems fair enough", Norman said.
"But what of the main artifact of the dungeon?", he asked as they already knew that this was an artifact dungeon.
"That will be decided after we deal with the dungeon boss", the commander said.
Norman wanted to speak up again but noticed the glares of the others then decided against it.
Just then Reina received a message from one of her members that were sent to scout further ahead into the dungeon.
"We've found something or rather what's left of it", Selina's voice echoed from the gauntlet.
"I'll leave some lieutenants in charge, let's move", the commander said.
The three set out to meet the scouts and noticed that as they got closer to the rendezvous point, the humidity in the air seemed to reduce.
"The air seems pretty dry for a water dungeon, doesn't it?", Norman said.
"True", Reina replied.
As they got closer the three heard the frantic voices of the other members of the alliance and wondered what was causing such a commotion. Their questions were answered as soon as they met up with the others.
"I think it will be better to show you rather than explain ", Selina said.
She led them to a large clearing and they were immediately shocked by the scene they witnessed. It was littered with the charred corpses of some serpent-like creatures, the remains of some were burnt and nearly unrecognizable and the ground was smoldering in some areas as if this place was near a volcano.
"Alert the others", Reina said, a grim look on her face." You guys are thinking the same right?" she said asking the commander and Norman.
"Indeed, someone is here", Commander Bale spoke softly.
"Someone strong.... maybe stronger than we are", Norman added.
************************************************
"Well that was overkill, wouldn't you say so?", Rio asked rhetorically.
"I have no idea what you're talking about" Cain feigned ignorance but his smile gave him away." I didn't even use that much magic power", he said trying to defend him self.
Rio couldn't help but be in awe at the person walking with him although he was not surprised to meet someone of his level, he just wasn't used to being in close proximity when that level of power was demonstrated.
"I think we've been walking for about an hour now", Rio said as he brought out a compass from his spatial ring." This compass points in the direction of powerful sources of magic energy", He explained.
Cain was once again surprised again by Rio, 'how does a kid who's barely 15 years old possess an artifact compass', he thought.
The compass arrow went in circles for a while before it suddenly stopped and pointed directly west of where they were standing, following its direction they came across another clearing with four different tunnels.
Rio moved towards the entrance of the first one and stood there waiting, the gem embedded into the compass glowed a dim red color.
" A low level artifact", Rio grumbled as he walked towards another tunnel, this time the gem glowed brighter but Rio just frowned and moved on, "I hope this won't be another failed expedition" He said to himself.
As he approached the third tunnel the compass began to heat up with the gem glowing bright red. He returned it to his spatial ring and called out to Cain, "This way".
"I was hoping you'd choose that way", Cain said with a smile.
"If you could tell what was down there why did you wait so long?", Rio asked.
"To see if I made the correct decision ", He replied.
"About what?", Rio asked.
"About my choice to scout you to Zephyr academy, the academy doesn't admit cowards", Cain said as he walked towards Rio.
"We'll probably have to fight at least a warrior rank beast, are you sure you want to continue?", He asked.
"Of course, I expected to face beasts of at least warrior rank, besides the worst we'd face is a general rank beast", Rio replied calmly although he was getting nervous.
"Raise your guard even more from this point on", Cain instructed as he stepped forward.
"Let's send them a little gift", He said flames dancing around his hands.
'Crimson flare'.