-Asher Frostblade Viewpoint.
"As I said, the dungeon suddenly started to collapse when we had killed the boss a few minutes earlier."
There were suspicions about Asher's group.
This was because those in dungeon management realized that not only Asher's group had left just as the teleportation doors collapsed and were destroyed.
In addition, there were several cases similar to Asher's.
The dungeons were destroyed.
The doors were destroyed as if everything had been automatic.
It was hard to believe.
According to rumors, teleportation doors all over the world were destroyed.
This caused many cadets to sink into deep thoughts about the sudden situation.
It happened at the same time Asher's group got out of the dungeon, thanks to the help of the return stone, as the dungeon unexpectedly began to collapse.
Asher contained his emotions.
This situation was more serious and deeper than it seemed or than the professors were trying to make clear.
In fact...
"It is truly strange that all the teleportation gates in the world were destroyed at the same time."
It all happened in less than ten minutes, when everything was normal, and suddenly the gates were destroyed. Many more things happened an hour later.
It had been eight hours since Asher and the others had left the dungeon.
"You're free to go, cadet. It looks like it's business as usual, no suspicions."
This was due to one reason.
Asher and his group left right at the exact moment when everything happened.
Of course.
This would make anyone suspicious.
You get out of a dungeon and, the next second, the teleport door is destroyed and then it happens all over the world.
It was quite suspicious, and so not only Asher, but several cadets, were questioned for more information.
However...
"I would like to clarify something."
"There isn't much time, cadet. If you want to clarify doubts about the interrogation, then..."
Asher interrupted him.
This was because he wanted to know why he didn't have the complete information about the dungeon.
All the events inside the dungeon were strange and suspicious.
Because of this, a question arose:
Did the dungeon management really not check the dungeon properly and gave an incomplete report?
There were more things inside the dungeon than the report clearly mentioned.
Simply put, it was a report with only half the information.
Most of it was about the dungeon boss, the wraiths, the Wraith King, and the mana beasts.
Because everything indicated that there was something different.
An incomplete report, just like that out of the blue.
"The information I received from the dungeon was incomplete. There were semi-7 grade monsters, and the information about the dungeon boss was not true."
The dungeon boss information was otherwise.
It clearly stated that it was a grade 9 monster at the peak of its power.
However, none of that was true.
The truth was that he was an ancient guardian from the Age of Darkness, with a power close to a full grade 7.
If not for me, other cadets would have died.
It doesn't matter if you carry the return stone.
If you are slow or killed instantly, it will be the end of you.
The return stone does not ensure a 100% survival rate, as at any time you can die without realizing it.
So it was fortunate that Asher got in.
If it had been anyone else, he would definitely die.
"I understand, cadet. I'll check with the heads of dungeon management, and the answers will be delivered to you tomorrow."
"Good."
Asher took his leave.
Once outside, he wandered the halls as his thoughts churned.
The whole world went through something incredible in just ten minutes, and after an hour, supposedly more things happened as well.
It was clear that something in the world was beginning to stir.
Honestly, Asher didn't understand anything.
This world was still unknown to him.
For his adventures had not reached other continents nor had everything exploded on this one.
However, the sudden destruction of the teleportation gates was too unexpected.
It happened suddenly.
Something he never thought would happen so easily.
The dungeon suddenly collapsed, and when he got out, all the teleport doors in the world were destroyed. There was also something else, something even bigger.
However...
"I don't have any information at the moment, so I don't know what exactly is going on."
Everything he knew at the time was from hearsay.
It's true... It all happened pretty quickly.
But the rumors spread just as fast.
Some cadets with high-status families received information that reached their children not too long ago.
The rumors spread less than an hour ago.
With the current time, it should have been more than eight hours since it all happened.
It is said that those who did not get out of the dungeons were trapped.
Teleportation doors were destroyed, which means that it is impossible to exit dungeons that require such doors.
Of course.
It is possible to exit using a portal.
However, doing that is risky.
Because you don't know where the portal will take you or if it will actually work. You could die taking a step.
That's also why there was a shortage of mages capable of creating portals.
It would take too long to create one anyway.
The fact that the dungeons collapsed affected not only the one Asher had explored, but several others as well. Only the low grade ones, from grade 6 to 9, experienced collapses.
That means that now there are no more grade 9, 8, 7 and 6 dungeons, because they all collapsed and were completely destroyed.
This happened all over the world.
All dungeons of those grades were eliminated in one minute.
"It's true that this is good news, but..."
These dungeons contained mana crystals.
A source to become stronger quickly, and also a source of income. Mana stones are needed for many things.
Finding mana stones in high grade dungeons is rarer.
Because in those places the mana is dense, generated mainly by monsters and not so much by the dungeon.
In low grade dungeons there is more mana, and so mana stones are created naturally due to the high concentration of mana within those dungeons. Also, monsters are weaker and cannot use mana.
"Monsters use mana from grade 5 and up, but lower grade monsters rely on physical strength."
It was unbelievable.
But it was.
Soon, Asher's footsteps stopped as he felt a hand on his right shoulder and quickly turned his head.
He was met by red eyes, filled with an intense look of desperation wanting to sleep and rest for at least an hour.
Oriana was in a miserable state from lack of sleep.
No matter how strong you are, lack of sleep affects even the strongest. And, of course, that included Oriana, who was struggling to stay awake, wide-eyed.
If she fell asleep, she'd probably have more work to do later, or something even harder to do.
Such was Oriana's life.
Busy, with no time to rest or get a few minutes of sleep.
Asher spoke up when Oriana suddenly appeared.
"Are you looking for me for something?"
"..."
She frowned, but sighed and looked at Asher relatively calmly.
She had come to check on her disciple, but he spoke to her in a nonchalant manner, as if they were equals.
"You're supposed to respect your teacher."
"Oh, sorry, teacher."
A smile appeared on Oriana's face, but she quickly returned to her serious expression, looking at Asher as her lips opened to speak.
"Tell me what happened."
"Oh."
Asher understood and proceeded to explain to Oriana, after they arrived at a nearby coffee shop.
"I'll sum it up as much as I can."
Asher looked seriously at Oriana and began to explain in detail for a few minutes, until the coffee arrived.
The next few minutes were spent recounting what happened in the dungeon: everything that happened with the boss, the Wraith King, and how the dungeon suddenly collapsed at the end.
In fact, it had all happened in a surprisingly quick period of time.
As if everything was connected.
"I understand why they questioned everyone who came out of the dungeons at the same time the doors were destroyed."
Oriana had understood everything.
But, in truth, she knew more than Asher did. Still, she needed to hear his version of what happened inside the dungeon.
Because he, and many others, had different stories, and they needed to know everything.
In case there was any information about the sudden change in the world after the destruction of the teleport doors and the collapse of the dungeons.
Maybe there was some connection, and that was why they were interrogating all the cadets who came out of the dungeons.
Therefore.
Any information Asher and the other cadets had was crucial.
Because each cadet was in a different dungeon at the same time, and just as they came out, the doors suddenly collapsed....