Mark returned to the agency with a singular focus: to find missions that would grant him access to the dungeons, a crucial step in his investigation. The notice board was filled with various assignments, but one in particular caught his eye.
Mission: Retrieve a rare White Mana Crystal
Rank: C
Location: Ironclad Dungeon
Details: A rare Mana Crystal has been detected within the Ironclad Dungeon. This crystal is vital for our research on mana manipulation. The dungeon is classified as C rank due to the presence of various hostile creatures, including lesser demons and enchanted constructs.
Requirements: Minimum of three team members.
Reward: 500 Points
"I'd like to take this mission," Mark said, handing the brief to the clerk.
The clerk looked up from her work, her eyes scanning the brief before turning to Mark. "This is a C-rank mission," she said, her tone serious. "Are you sure you're ready for this? You're still a beginner."
Mark met her gaze with determination. "I've trained for this. I know what I'm capable of."
The clerk sighed but nodded. "Alright, but you'll need to form a team. You can't do this alone. And remember, this isn't just about your skills—it's about working together and staying safe."
Mark thanked her and left the desk, his mind already working on a plan. The Ironclad Dungeon was the perfect place to encounter demons, and with his limited access, this mission was his best shot.
Bjerg was a rugged mountain range known for its treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather. The peaks were home to ancient ruins and hidden dungeons, making it a prime location for hunters seeking powerful artifacts and dangerous creatures said to contain remnants of ancient angelic battles. The Ironclad Dungeon had been discovered by an archaeologist researching the angels.
Located far to the north, Mark decided to take a train to avoid using his wings. The trains, powered by mana crystals, would get him there swiftly. At the station, he found a train bound for Bjerg, boarded, and settled in for the journey.
As the train wound its way through the rugged terrain of Bjerg, Mark gazed out at the landscape, his mind racing with anticipation. The peaks loomed large and forbidding, their jagged silhouettes stark against the sky.
Upon stepping off the train, Mark was immediately struck by the harsh beauty of Bjerg. The air was crisp and cold, the mountains towering above him like ancient sentinels.
The entrance to the Ironclad Dungeon was a dark and forbidding cave, its walls lined with jagged rocks and its floor covered in a thick layer of dust. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the faint, lingering smell of burnt mana.
As he delved deeper into the dungeon, the temperature dropped noticeably. He encountered various hostile creatures—goblins, undead warriors, and enchanted constructs—but managed to dispatch them with relative ease. His true goal, however, was to find a demon. He ventured further into the dungeon, battling various monsters until he reached the dungeon boss: a lesser demon.
The demon stood at about eleven feet tall, with horns like a bull. His body was covered in thick, bulging muscles, giving him an almost exaggeratedly powerful build. His arms, chest, and legs were particularly well-defined, emphasising his physical prowess. A dark aura emanated from him, and he wielded a massive axe.
"I have some questions for you," Mark shouted at the demon.
The demon roared and lunged at him, swinging the axe down with deadly force. Mark dodged the attack, leaping forward to land an uppercut that staggered the demon. Recovering quickly, the demon lunged again, but Mark sidestepped and kicked him in the face, sending him crashing into a wall. Mark then ran up, stepped on the wall, and leaped to deliver another kick to the demon's face.
The demon stumbled back but quickly regained his balance, striking again with his axe. Mark dodged, stepped on the axe, jumped, grabbed the demon by the horns, and threw him into the wall. Seizing the demon's axe, Mark severed both of the demon's legs, stepped on his neck, and repeated, "I have some questions for you."
The demon, still defiant, tried to strike again, forcing Mark to decapitate him. "That was a failed attempt," Mark muttered to himself. He doubted he would find another demon, so he decided to focus on finding the mana crystal.
Using his mana sense, Mark scanned the area and located the crystal two levels below. He used the demon's axe to smash through the floor, creating a path to the crystal. It was as large as his fist, emitting a white light and calming energy. He pocketed the crystal and began his ascent out of the dungeon.
As Mark emerged from the dungeon, the crisp mountain air filled his lungs. He had completed the mission, but his investigation was far from over. He headed back to the station, boarded the train, and made his way back to Eldoria. The journey gave him time to reflect on the encounter with the demon and the questions that still lingered in his mind.
Upon arriving in Eldoria, Mark went straight to the agency to report the completion of his mission. He stood before the same clerk who had assigned it to him, handing her the White Mana Crystal. The crystal's glow filled the room with a soft, calming light, catching the clerk's attention.
"You did it," the clerk said, her eyes widening in surprise and respect. "You've completed the mission. Here are your 500 points. This will definitely help you move up the ranks."
"You'll need to complete more missions to increase your rank," the clerk explained. "As you accumulate points and experience, you'll gain access to more dangerous and restricted dungeons."
Mark nodded, his resolve hardening. "I understand. I'll keep pushing forward."
As he left the agency, Mark's thoughts raced. Where would he come across more demons? Where would he find the answers he sought about his father's disappearance
Meanwhile, back in the ruins, Aeliana and Callum were investigating the angel they had just seen. The sighting had left them with more questions than answers, and they were determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious apparition.
Aeliana and Callum continued their investigation, asking around among the few inhabitants of the ruins. They questioned the locals, hoping to find any clues or hints about the angel's presence. However, their inquiries were met with blank stares and shrugs. No one seemed to have seen or heard anything about an angel.
"This is strange," Aeliana muttered, her frustration growing. "It's as if the angel appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as quickly."
Aeliana approached a hunter, his spectacles glinting in the dim light as he carefully examined an ancient manuscript. "Excuse me, have you seen or heard anything about an angel in these ruins?" she asked.
The scholar looked up, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "An angel, you say? That's a rather fanciful notion. These ruins are old, but I've never heard of angels appearing here."
Undeterred, Callum joined in. "We saw one ourselves, just a while ago. It was unmistakable. Surely, someone else must have noticed something unusual."
The hunter adjusted his spectacles, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Well, there was one unusual event. A few months ago, a very powerful individual battled a demon here. The fight was so destructive that no hunter could remain in the vicinity. But after the battle ended, nobody knew what happened to either the man or the demon. It was as if they vanished without a trace."
Aeliana and Callum exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. "Tell us more about this fight," Aeliana urged.
The scholar leaned back, his eyes distant as he recalled the details. "It was a battle unlike anything we've seen in these ruins for a long time. The power radiating from both combatants was immense. They clashed with such force that the very ground trembled. The demon was a fearsome entity, shrouded in darkness, while the man wielded a light so intense it was almost blinding. They fought for hours, the air thick with mana and raw energy."
"And then?" Callum prompted, leaning in.
"Then, as abruptly as it began, the battle ceased. When the dust settled, there was no sign of either the man or the demon. Some say the man was an angel in disguise, others believe he was a powerful mage. No one knows for sure. But one thing is certain—since that day, the ruins have felt... different."
Aeliana's mind raced with possibilities. Could the angel they saw be connected to this mysterious fighter? Was there a deeper connection between the angelic sighting and the battle against the demon?
"We need to find out more about this battle and the fighters involved," Aeliana said, determination hardening her voice. "There has to be a connection."
Callum nodded in agreement. "Let's start by examining the area where the fight took place. Maybe there are clues we overlooked."
As they made their way through the ruins, the air grew heavy with anticipation. The echoes of past conflicts seemed to whisper around them, urging them forward. They reached the epicentre of the battle, the ground still scarred from the intense clash. Aeliana and Callum began their search, sifting through the debris, their senses heightened.
With each step, the mystery deepened. The ruins held secrets long buried, and Aeliana and Callum were on the brink of uncovering truths that could change everything they knew about angels, demons, and the delicate balance between light and darkness.
As they followed the trail, a sense of urgency propelled them forward. The answers lay ahead, hidden within the ancient stones and the echoes of a forgotten battle. And as they delved deeper, Aeliana couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the verge of something extraordinary—something that would forever alter their understanding of the world and their place within it.