On one fateful day, the world was at peace.
Humanity was striving for a greater purpose, as technology and innovation were at an all-time high.
Humanity was getting closer to reaching the stars beyond Earth's Moon.
Even though rivalries between nations and conflicts among humans still existed...
Humanity was at peace...
But... on that one fateful day...
Everything changed.
Out of nowhere... grand, ominous dungeon entrances appeared in the heart of every major city in the world...!
At first, people thought these were just sinkholes leading to underground lairs—believing it was a natural disaster or Earth's activity.
But... the truth was far more sinister.
Ferocious monsters—creatures of myth and fantasy—emerged from these entrances, causing chaos and destruction across the globe...!
Many fell to the jaws of these beasts... and for a moment, it seemed like the beginning of the apocalypse—the end of the world.
But... the governments all over the world called a truce and united against a common enemy.
They quickly mobilized the full might of their military forces, pushing these hideous monsters back into the dungeons from where they came.
Of course... they took the opportunity to "investigate" these dungeons, curious about what lay inside...
And what they found was beyond anyone's expectations.
A fantasy game system, akin to those found in RPGs.
When a human defeated a monster inside a dungeon, they would gain 'experience' and would 'level up,' becoming stronger with each monster they defeated...!
But that wasn't all these dungeons had to offer.
Riches of many forms could be found—diamonds, gold, silver, bronze—you name it, they had it. It was a literal "gold mine" of resources.
And that wasn't all they managed to procure.
These dungeons... held rare relics of ancient beings—gods, demons, myths, legends—of great power! Granting anyone who possessed them the power of these great entities!
Humanity immediately flocked to these dungeons, tempted by the seemingly unlimited riches lying inside these ominous dungeons and the chance to become something more than just a 'normal human,' disregarding any notion of safety or danger.
Nobody knew who said it first, or maybe the term itself was a natural word for these brave and foolish humans... as those who ventured into these treacherous dungeons were all labeled as...
Adventurers.
And the adventurers who gained the most fame and glory of all were called...
Heroes.
Thus began...
The Age of Dungeon Adventurer.
< | X | >
[5 Years Later]
Humming...
Walking down the familiar pavement sidewalk of this gigantic metropolis city, I couldn't help but hum a cheerful tune as I made my way toward work.
Another day of office drudgery awaited me, but my mood was light. I already had my morning coffee and a piece of bagel to fill in my morning, and I was ready to take on my usual office work.
The large sidewalk was filled with life, buzzing with activity.
All kinds of individuals could be seen here—students with their backpacks, young adults chatting animatedly, office workers like me heading to their jobs. Everyone was engrossed in their own little worlds, just as I was in mine.
Honk, honk, honk!
Of course, I couldn't forget the vehicles of all shapes and sizes as they were fighting for space on the crowded asphalt streets. Their horns blared in a faint hope of reaching their destinations even slightly faster... at the cost of their sanity.
Well, aside from that, it was quite peaceful, to say the least...
... Until a loud announcement echoed through the city-block I was currently in.
"This just in, the Hero Party 'Brave Heart' has just returned from conquering the 50th floor of Titan's Descent!"
The loud announcement came from the large digital billboard attached to the building near me. Everyone who heard it, including myself, turned and lifted their heads toward the screen, where a news broadcast was showcasing a live feed... of the entrance to a dungeon...!
On the screen, a few resilient figures clad in fantasy-like equipment stood proudly in front of the dungeon's entrance.
They looked worn out—dirt and even blood smeared their figures, most likely from the dangers lurking inside the dungeon, but...
They all held satisfied expressions... as if they had just achieved something incredible...!
And they had, of course.
People were already flocking to them, a crowd consisting not just of news reporters but also other adventurers, all celebrating the success of this heroic party.
One of the reporters even went so far as to approach the leader of the party, the handsome blonde man of the group, eager to capture his words of triumph.
"Hero Leon! Congratulations on conquering the 50th floor of Titan's Descent! Can you share with us what you discovered inside the dungeon?" the reporter eagerly inquired, thrusting the microphone toward the handsome blonde man who stood at the forefront of Brave Heart's party.
Leon, the party leader and one of the holders of the 'hero' title, flashed a confident smile as his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Thank you," he began, his voice steady but filled with pride. "It was a grueling battle, but we found some incredible treasures and a few rare relics!"
He revealed this excitedly to the reporter, causing the reporters and even other people crowding his party to become even more animated. Even the crowd of passersby here with me, watching the large billboard feed, shared in the excitement.
"Way to go, Brave Heart!"
"Leon, you're the best!"
"Those guys are amazing!"
Some cheered, others clapped, and a few even shouted words of admiration and encouragement.
Even I was amazed... My gaze remained fixed on the screen, captivated by the sight of those brave adventurers. They stood there, victorious and awe-inspiring, their figures larger than life.
After all, I was also a fan of these adventurers. I'd spent countless hours watching videos of not just Brave Heart's many expeditions, but also those of other adventurer parties. It was like watching an actual action flick...!
Of course, at the same time, I was also envious of these adventurers.
Obviously, I too wanted to become an adventurer myself, but... it was not easy, nor even cheap.
The government had already mandated strict controls over access to the dungeons, not just as a safety measure... but also because these dungeons were a source of vital natural resources.
They were gold mines in every sense of the word, and as such, entry was highly regulated.
You couldn't just casually stroll into a dungeon. No... you needed a license, and acquiring one was no simple feat. It was also expensive—very, very expensive.
The people who could obtain that license were either wealthy... or had significant influence, both of which I lacked.
But... despite these obstacles, my desire to become an adventurer burned brighter than ever...!
I was working hard to gather the funds for it! My office job provided a pretty solid income, and I had already started setting aside a portion of my salary for this dream.
And so... I had no time to idle around here! I needed to get to work as soon as possible so I could earn my well-deserved salary!
With determination fueling my every step, I turned away from the crowd of awestruck onlookers still focused on the billboard news, ready to head toward... work?
"Hmm?"
As I turned to leave, something strange happened.
I had taken a step forward, but instead of the familiar solid pavement, it felt... like I was stepping into thin air.
Suddenly, my vision tilted downward, and I realized with a jolt—I was falling. The world around me seemed to drop... as I plunged into void.