Wallace, Butler Mendez, and the soldiers stood frozen as they watched the strange sight in front of them. Mage Markus and the seven Mana Knights, who they knew to be brave and strong, were now crying and comforting each other like a group of broken hearted fragile damsels.
The scene was overly dramatic, making Wallace, Butler Mendez, and the soldiers feel like they were just watching a sad play of broken masculinity.
It was almost unbearable.
In the middle of this spectacle, Wallace noticed one of the Mana Knights who had a faint, ghostly glow around his body. He felt uneasy and asked, "What's happening to you?"
Everyone immediately looked at Wallace with curiosity in their eyes.
Gideon, one of the Mana Knights, felt that something was wrong. When he tried to search for it, he found Wallace looking at him. And then, as he looked at his own hands, he realized they were bathed in a soft, familiar light, indicating a change in him.
Confusion appeared on his face as he expressed his bewilderment, saying, 'What's happening? Am I... leveling up?'
Somehow, he felt as if his body was so light that he checked everything within it, and indeed, he was glowing with a familiar light.
Among the group, Gideon had the lowest rank and was called the "Initial Mana Mana Knight - fourth stage." However, during their dangerous journey in the game, he had managed to kill a significant number of fierce creatures.
Although he hadn't reached the required thirty kills, he had successfully defeated at least twenty-two of them.
The other Mana Knights—Rederic, Alistair, Cedric, Eldric, Ivander, Jasper—and even Mage Marcus himself were astonished by this unexpected progress.
How could Gideon have leveled up?
It was widely known that progress in a 'Nobles Dungeon' remained stagnant even days after leaving due to its suppressive effects.
The only exception would be if Wallace's dungeon was a natural one that allowed for rapid advancement.
It's impossible!
It was so fast!
So why?
Why did Gideon experience this extraordinary growth?
Breaking the silence, Mage Marcus cleared his throat and asked Gideon with a mix of curiosity and concern, "What did you do inside that dungeon?"
Soon, Mana Knight Gideon told his story like an unraveling tale.
"Oh, I just followed the guide that says, 'Rules: prove yourself, defeat or kill as many creatures as possible, and bathe in their fresh blood to access powerful weapons.' So I ruthlessly defeated any creature that dared to cross my path and soaked myself with their fresh blood as soon as I took the life out of them."
And then he added, "You know, I was too lazy for everyday needs, so I just did what I was told to do, and to my surprise, whenever I soaked myself in blood, I would be energized. Although it didn't heal, that's enough for me to take twenty-two of those creatures…"
Mana Knight Rederic, Alistair, Cedric, Eldric, Ivander, and Jasper, along with Mage Marcus, were frozen, their minds buzzing. They also saw the message but chose to ignore it as they were so used to thinking of their daily necessities first.
They also acknowledged Gideon's laziness, which is why they accepted him as the weakest among their ranks, and the reason why he is only in the 'Initial Mana Mana Knight - fourth stage.'
Earlier, they accepted and were thankful that the Wallace dungeon didn't kill the Mana Users who entered it, and now, once again, they felt that something was amiss.
Meanwhile, Wallace, the young Baron felt he missed out something, he broke the silence, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Butler, what's happening? What are they saying?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.
Meanwhile, Butler Mendez, his eyes widened in disbelief, struggled to find words.
Something unexplainable stirred deep within Sir Baron Wallace's dungeon. It not only claimed the lives of Mana Users but also held a mysterious anomaly, a phenomenon that defied logic.
Against all odds, Wallace found himself also capable of monitoring the trapped Mana Users within his dungeon. And now this???
The mystery deepened, leaving Butler Mendez stunned and speechless.
Finally, Wallace's voice broke through the silence once again. "Butler, enlighten me," he urged, consumed by curiosity and his tone was serious.
This prompted Butler Mendez to snap out of his daze, clearing his throat as he prepared to respond.
"Sir, every noble's dungeon hinders the progress of those who enter for a few weeks, rendering them unable to reach higher levels regardless of their efforts or what they do to improve their rank as Mana Users in different categories.
"It's a rule or, in a way, a limitation of 'Noble Dungeons.' If they desire growth or want to rank up, they must turn to meditation, defeat hordes of magical creatures, or enter a different dungeon known as the 'Natural Dungeon.'"
The Mage and the seven Mana Knights stood in front of Wallace, their faces filled with surprise and disbelief.
Wallace, realizing the seriousness of the situation, nodded slowly, trying to put the pieces together in his mind. "I understand," he whispered to himself, starting to grasp what was happening. 'It looks like my tricks are at play once again.' he thought.
Suddenly, Wallace's stomach let out a low, grumbling growl, sounding like a hungry animal waking up from sleep.
Gurraaaaaahhh…
The noise broke the tension in the room for a moment as it echoed through the air.
Butler Mendez, always attentive to Wallace's needs, spoke up urgently. "Sir, if you'll excuse me, I'll go fetch you something that can satisfy your hunger… Please wait for me," the butler's words hung in the air, clearly indicating his intention.
Wallace nodded gratefully, acknowledging the butler's understanding of his desires. "Go ahead," he replied, his voice filled with anticipation. "I only crave delicious meat."
Left alone with the group of curious Mages and Mana Knights, Wallace noticed their unwavering gazes fixed on him. Perplexed, he couldn't help but ask, "What is it? What do you need from me?"
The seven Mana Knights and one Mage exchanged meaningful looks, their silent communication filled with curiosity and a touch of unease. Mage Marcus, the one who spoke for them, finally broke the silence. "Sir Baron, may we have permission to enter again?"
They wanted to check something out, something that was tingling inside their head, to make sure if that was truly what they thought it was.
Reacting quickly, the soldiers standing beside Wallace stepped forward, their bodies trembling with fear yet determined to protect their leader.
Wallace felt a hint of annoyance, but he understood—they were simply doing their duty as loyal guards.
Waving his hand dismissively, Wallace signaled for them to stand down, clearing a path for the Mages and Mana Knights. His gaze locked with that of the Mana Knights and Mage as he responded, his tone subtly challenging. "If you possess Magic Crystals, you're welcome to go back and play again and seek revenge for the humiliations you've endured. But check your wrist first…"
A flicker of embarrassment washed over Mage Marcus and his companions, momentarily stinging their pride.
Nevertheless, they nodded in agreement, aware of the truth in Wallace's words.
Without hesitation, they glanced at their wrists, silently acknowledging their past failures and promising to exact revenge, as well as to uncover something new.
When suddenly, as they looked at the hologram projected from their futuristic bracelet, the message on the screen stunned them.
[ 'Guest players' playtime is over.
[ Please come again tomorrow.
[ Thank you! ]
Nobles Dungeon