The wind whipped through Lilith's cabin, ruffling the entire room, while the murmur of several people echoed in the room.

-Ahhh! What time is it? Shit, we're almost there! - Lilith exclaimed, putting on her clothes. She quickly combed her messy hair with a comb she found lying around and hurried up to the bow of the airship. There, there were hundreds of other adventurers who, like her, had come to the summons. Lilith slipped away as best she could to get a front row view of the beautiful sight: an archipelago lay in the distance, several islands forming the image of a hurricane on the land itself. In the center, a huge island with a colossal mountain stole the audience's view, accompanied by the chants of the Cloud Leapers. "The Navel of the World" appeared before them.

-Thirty minutes to disembarkation! - shouted the captain of the airship. Most of the crew were young recent graduates of Vasparath schools, from aspiring historians to those who dreamed of becoming wizards of high renown, like Lilith.

-Marin, didn't you see my comb? I left it on the dresser and it's gone-, cried one of the girls with whom Lilith shared a room during the trip.

-No, I haven't seen it-, replied another girl. Lilith remembered that she had taken a comb she had found on the dresser in the room, but she had forgotten where she had left it.

-If you want, I'll help you look for it-, Lilith answered with a forced smile and blushing with embarrassment.

-Please come down one by one, calmly and without running-, shouted one of the airship's employees. The stairs went straight down to the ground and little by little all the crew members began to descend from the airship. Lilith was speechless; the airship had disembarked at the foot of the island, where a huge dock with 2 more airships greeted them. The word "Phily's" was engraved on those ships. She marveled at the sheer number of people gathered there and the great variety of races that had come to meet them. Several fishermen's stalls welcomed them with products harvested right there, some houses were also located at the foot of that island. What stood out the most was a large cable car that allowed them to climb the mountain.

-Form a line, the capacity is 8 people, keep calm-, shouted a man who was at the entrance of the cable car. About 15 minutes passed until it was Lilith's turn to go up. Excited, she entered the cable car with 7 other people, clutching her cane tightly in her hands. Her face took on a pinkish hue, reflecting her great excitement to be there.

From the heights, she could see a stone staircase that helped to climb the mountain on foot. Several houses were below her feet, beasts helping to carry goods, all going upwards. At a certain point, the clouds hid the cable car, making only a great fog visible, until they managed to get out of that cumulus. Finally, Lilith could see the main area: an esplanade on the east side of the mountain, a large concrete base. Hundreds of people were there, along with merchandise stalls ranging from amulet and artifact vendors to food stalls. It was Lilith's first time out of Vasparath after graduating as a mage. Almost as soon as she arrived, a large red Phaerhas passed right in front of the cable car, giving Lilith a big scare. Phaerhas are feathered dragons very similar to birds; the size varies depending on the place, this one would be at least 10 meters long. Every second that passed amazed Lilith more and more. The cable car reached the highest point and everyone descended. Lilith kept marveling more and more, from new races of humanoids she had only read about in the Academy books, fantastic animals of the area and beautiful flora that seemed to come out of another world. Lilith made her way to the main square.

All those who had attended the convocation were there, looking at some wooden boards that were arranged in a line. These boards contained the names of all the attendees, divided into groups of six. Never before had anything like this been done at the time of discovering a new dungeon. As here, the discovery of a new dungeon is usually made known to the public, which attracts a large number of adventurers and stimulates trade at the site. Adventurers often hire others or go in with a group they have participated with before, but never before had the time been taken to form groups. However, it was understandable: the town had welcomed over 1500 people that weekend, something that had never been seen before. Around the place you could hear people talking about tactics for exploring, people getting excited, others giving directions, and the local wildlife making its imposing presence known.

Lilith ran straight to see the big list in the middle of the square, sneaking through the people. Although her face didn't look it, she was probably one of the oldest in relation to the age of those present. At 52, Lilith looked like a 17-year-old girl, because elves age differently from humans. Lilith stood out from the crowd because of her appearance and her peculiar purple trench coat, which stood out with the white tone of her hair and skin.

-Lilith Valerius, Lilith Valerius-, she said as she searched through the endless lists of groups on the boards.

-Here-, she said loudly, marking the sheet containing the 47th scouting group, which included Ethan Reinhardt, Brogan Gardbush, Paypei Shuithpith, Rynar Faliex and Bubble Blichi.

-Wow, that makes six of us-. Just as she finished reading the list, a dwarf with a long unkempt beard approached her.

-Miss, do you also belong to group 47-, said the dwarf with a friendly smile on his face.

-Yes, I'm Lilith, Lilith Valerius-, she answered, a bit flushed with embarrassment.

-Nice to meet you, I'm Brogan Gardbush-

-Nice to meet you-, Lilith answered. This man, in spite of his unkempt beard, looked very clean and also carried a large bronze box on his back.

-Excuse me, did you say you are in group 47-, asked a boy with black hair, who would be about 5'6" tall, with a somewhat tanned complexion, probably from the sun. He was wearing iron armor, carrying a large backpack and a sheathed sword.

-That's right-, Brogan said.

-Nice to meet you, my name is Ethan. I arrived half an hour ago but I didn't find anyone, so I went to get something to eat. It's a good thing I came back at the right time-, said the boy.

-Nice to meet you-, said Brogan and Lilith, introducing themselves to the new member of the team. They were already 3, only 3 more were missing to complete the group.

-We are missing 3 more members and we would be complete-, said Lilith while looking at the sheet.

-But there are only 10 minutes left before the announcement-, said Brogan stroking his long beard.

-I think it would be good to stay near the board, they have to come to verify their groups, besides, they will give the indications right here-. Ethan was right: the center of the square would be the place where the indications on how this somewhat eccentric exploration would be carried out would be given.

It was only 2 minutes before the directions were to begin and our group had not increased in number.

-Damn, no one is coming-, Lilith exclaimed. Brogan and Ethan looked from side to side, as if searching for the people they would be teaming up with. Nearby, a small ball of fur was making its way through the crowd, asking for permission to pass between people's legs.

-Hey you-, the little guy said to Ethan, in a toddler-like voice. Ethan didn't know who was talking to him and turned in all directions, but he couldn't locate the source of that somewhat humorous voice.

-Down here-, said the little boy. Quickly, Ethan looked down and found a ball of hair with big brown ears, big half-closed eyes and huge glasses just above them, all on a big head.

-You're from scouting group 47-, said the little guy, trying to open his eyes.

-A Rift Furndling-, said Ethan to himself.

-Err, yes-, he answered.

-Nice to meet you. My name is Bubble, Bubble Blichi-, said the little one with a serious tone while he extended his hand to greet Ethan in a formal way.

-Nice to meet you-, replied Ethan, accepting Bubble's greeting.

-The directions begin, please pay attention-, shouted a man in uniform.

-Hey, I found one of the 3's-, said Ethan to the others.

-Hello-, said Bubble from below, scaring Lilith and making her scream.

-Ohhh, a Rift Furndling. Nice to meet you, I'm Brogan-, said the dwarf as he extended his hand in greeting.

-I'm Lilith-.

-Lilith, Brogan, I'm Bubble-, said the little one.

-I've never seen a Griet Furnling before-, said Lilith until a soldier yelled at her to shut up. With Lilith's ears down, showing how embarrassed she was, they began to give the directions.

-Good morning to everyone who came to the convocation-, said a gray-haired man with a huge smile.

-More came than I thought. For those of you who think they will all come down, they did not. Most came to support the expedition preparations and others came as labor. We have called in everything from adventurers, biologists, botanists, zoologists, archaeologists, geologists, anthropologists, hunters, trackers, cartographers, mages and even mercenaries. All are gathered here to carry out the first expedition open to the public of the 'Navel of the World'. You all have important roles, hehehe. You will also have seen that going into this dungeon is unlike any other dungeon you have been to. For starters, you didn't choose your companions. We thought it would be a better decision if we divided everyone's trades strategically so that everyone works in their fields. Also, I would like to announce that you are not the first to go down. Our team went in since the beginning of last year, but don't worry, it was just to set up safe relegation zones.

But hey, I know you're all gnawing at the need to go in and find out what's down there, but I have some bad news for some and good news for others. The expedition will be divided into 2 groups: one will leave today at noon and the other tomorrow at the same time-, as I said this the crowd began to murmur loudly. Apparently, they didn't like this idea. Bubble tried to see, but his small size prevented him from doing so.

-Hey, do me a favor-, he said to Ethan.

-Sure, I'll help y…-. He hadn't even finished saying the sentence when Bubble was climbing on Ethan until he managed to get on top of his back, highlighting a pair of little brown ears in the crowd.

-I know, I know you didn't like to hear that-, said the gray-haired man.

-But we didn't think they were going to get that far. Some parts of the entrance to the Abyss don't support much weight, and lowering 300 people in one sitting could be dangerous. That's why exploration groups 1 through 28 will be going down today. Some were excited by the news.

-For the rest of you, I recommend you take the day to get to know your teammates; that's your advantage over those going down today. Now then, I'll give you the directions.

Number 1: Follow the instructions of the exploration team: During your expedition, you will follow the instructions and guidelines of the assigned exploration team. Please cooperate fully with them and follow any instructions they give you to ensure the safety and success of the expedition.

Number 2: Avoid any use of spells or runes of high destruction, especially for mages and wizards. In addition to being a dungeon, it is also home to many beings that only dwell here. Please be cautious.

Number 3: Also for mages and wizards, do not use reanimation spells. We do not know 100% how maná acts in the abyss, so avoid reviving your companions. If any of them should die, simply bring them back up. Our team of specialized wizards and mages will do their job. By the same token, don't be reckless. After saying that, a tall elf in the same uniform approached them and whispered something in their ears.

Number 4: Respect wildlife: The Navel is home to a unique variety of magical creatures and beings. It is important to respect their natural habitat and avoid any actions that may cause them harm or discomfort. Please refrain from hunting, capturing or harming local wildlife, and keep a safe distance from any unfamiliar creatures.

Number 5: Everyone will be given a bandana made of Briparpos fur. Please tie it in a visible place on your body. This will help the search and rescue group and the body search group to find you more easily.

Number 6: Constant communication. Maintain constant communication with your group members and other groups. We recommend that you keep each other informed of the location and status of other group members at all times.

Number 7: Respect artifacts and relics. During your exploration, you may encounter ancient artifacts, magical relics, or other objects of historical interest. Please refrain from taking or handling these objects if you do not know how to handle them. Let an expert handle them.

Number 8: Maintain cleanliness and order. During your exploration, be sure to pick up and properly dispose of any waste or trash you generate. Keep your equipment and surroundings clean and tidy at all times to avoid contamination and minimize environmental impact.

Number 9: Prepare for sudden weather changes. The weather in Navel can be unpredictable and can change rapidly. Be sure to carry adequate gear to protect yourself from rain, wind, cold, or extreme heat. Be prepared to adapt to changing weather conditions during your expedition.

Number 10: Watch for signs of danger. Be alert to any signs of danger or potential threat during the expedition. This includes sudden changes in terrain, unusual local wildlife activity, or any other signs of danger. If you encounter any dangerous situations, immediately inform the exploration team and follow their instructions to ensure your safety.

Number 11: Be prepared for darkness. Some parts of the Navel may be dark or have limited lighting. Be sure to carry additional light sources, such as torches, flashlights, or glowing crystals, to illuminate your path and avoid getting lost in the dark, especially for those without a wizard in your group.

Number 12: Keep detailed records: Keep detailed records of all observations, discoveries and important events during your expedition. This includes taking notes, making drawings, or taking photographs as necessary. These records can be valuable for further research and analysis of the expedition.

That would be all for the directions. I hope we have been clear. Anyway, it will be repeated to the groups leaving today before going down and to those leaving tomorrow in the same way. I hope you enjoy the expedition and the instance here. Good luck, explorers-.

Finishing, they all shouted. Ethan almost knocked Bubble over with excitement, and Brogan noticed that Lilith was a little nervous.

-Are you all right?- he asked her.

-Yes, it's just that it's my first dungeon expedition-, Lilith replied.

-Don't worry, little one, everything will be fine-, Brogan told her with a big smile that almost closed her eyes.

-Well, I think everyone is splitting up. The ones leaving today are buying supplies and heading to the entrance of the abyss, while the others are going to get to know the place-, Ethan examined.

-We don't even know who the other two members are-, said Lilith a bit annoyed.

-Right. Bubble, what is your profesión-, asked Ethan as he carefully lowered it from his back.

-I'm a biologist, or rather a ferornithologist. I specialize in ornithological beasts, so I'm excited to know what inhabits Phaerhas in this place-, he answered with determination.

-Don't you think it's too dangerous for you-, said Lilith looking at him with concern.

-What do you mean-, answered Bubble with an angry tone, knowing what he meant about how dangerous it could be to study such big and dangerous beings with their small size.

-Calm down, we still have to look for the rest of the members-, said Ethan.

-Let's split up. Bubble and I will search the restaurant and tavern area, you two ask around this part of the square. Let's hurry, maybe we can see the first group leave-, said Ethan, walking away with Bubble towards a large busy street.

-It's too energetic-, said Lilith as she and Brogan questioned several of the remaining people in the plaza, both locals and staff. It was an hour before the first group left.

Half an hour later they hear Ethan in the distance.

-Guys, I think I found them-, shouted Ethan running towards them with Bubble on his back.

-They saw Paypei and Rynar in a tavern-.

They headed to a nearby tavern called "The Burning Croaker", where the place was bustling with life. Several adventurers were there, singing, discussing the expedition and telling anecdotes of past expeditions.

-I was told that Rynar Faliex is that one over there in the corner-, said Ethan pointing to a Therian sitting alone.

-A Therian-, said Brogan.

-And not just any Therian, it's a Vulpes, I've never seen one of that breed before-, exclaimed Ethan as he got excited at the sight of the fox-like man.

-You're an idiot. You say it like it's any creature. He's a person too. You don't know how hard the Therians in general have fought to stop discriminating against them like that-, said Lilith very angrily. Our group headed straight for the lone hairy man in the corner.