The rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed through the dense forest trail as a group of scouts emerged into the outskirts of Melanos Village. The air was thick with the stench of damp earth and faint traces of smoke from poorly tended hearths.
Melanos was not a place one would willingly visit—a cesspool of shady dealings, unspoken alliances, and enough rumors of illicit activities to make even the most hardened adventurers think twice about staying too long.
"Why did the abyssal rift have to emerge in this dump?" one scout muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Nothing good ever comes out of this place. It's like the gods themselves turned their backs on it."
"Enough!" barked Ash, the leader of the group. His tone cut through the complaints like a blade through soft flesh, silencing the grumbles. "You've got a job to do, so do it. Or do I need to remind you why you're here?"
Ash's glare was sharp enough to cow even the most obstinate of his companions. Dressed in reinforced leather and bearing the unmistakable insignia of the Aegis of the Fates guild, he commanded respect—or at least compliance. With a sharp gesture, he urged the group forward into the heart of the village.
As they approached the Adventurer's Guild branch, a modest two-story structure that looked as though it had seen better days, an eerie stillness greeted them. The hall was almost entirely devoid of life. Only a single receptionist occupied a booth near the entrance, her expression flickering between surprise and relief as her gaze landed on the embroidered crest adorning Ash's cloak.
"We've been expecting you," she said, her voice a mix of urgency and weariness.
Ash's eyes narrowed. "Where is everyone? This place looks abandoned."
The receptionist sighed, stepping out from behind her booth. "We don't get many adventurers in these parts. Melanos isn't exactly... reputable. Most pass through without staying long. Please, follow me—the branch master is waiting."
She led them through a dimly lit corridor, past rows of unoccupied tables in the inn section that doubled as a makeshift tavern for travelers. The faint smell of stale ale lingered in the air, a reminder of the guild's more functional days.
The group entered a small office tucked away at the back of the building. Behind a desk cluttered with maps, parchments, and a half-empty mug of something that smelled like bitterroot tea sat the branch master. A burly man with graying hair and tired eyes, he looked up as the scouts entered, his brows furrowing.
"You're late," he grunted, though his tone carried more relief than irritation.
Ash straightened, his eyes meeting the branch master's. "We're here now. Tell us what you know about the rift."
The room fell silent, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders as the branch master began to speak.
The branch master's chair creaked under his weight as he leaned back, his gruff features darkening with contemplation. "I wish I could tell you more," he began, his voice heavy. "But we know just as much as the Tethlan branch. The dungeon appeared out of nowhere, right on our doorstep. One moment, the peak was calm; the next, a red beam shot into the sky. You know what that means."
Ash nodded grimly, taking a seat across from the branch master. "A high-tier rift. Dangerous. Potentially catastrophic if left unchecked." He turned to his scouts. "You two, guard the entrance. The rest of you, investigate the village. Quietly. I want to know if anyone's seen anything unusual leading up to the emergence."
The scouts nodded, dispersing with the sharp precision of seasoned operatives. The branch master watched them leave, waiting until the door clicked shut before leaning forward, his tone shifting. "Now that they're gone, let's get down to business."
Ash folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "The Tethlan branch has made its position clear. They know you don't have the manpower to handle this rift alone. The official decree is that they'll take Sixty percent of whatever's inside."
The branch master's hand slammed against the desk, causing a stack of parchments to tumble. "Sixty percent? That's absurd! The dungeon's in our territory. It's our right!"
Ash raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "I'm just the messenger, branch master. Those aren't my words. I'm following orders."
The older man glared at him, his breathing heavy. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint creak of the building settling. Then, with a curse under his breath, the branch master turned to his desk. He pulled open a drawer and retrieved a cigar, lighting it with a trembling hand. The faint aroma of charred tobacco filled the room as he took a deep drag, exhaling slowly to steady himself.
"You don't know what it's like out here, commander," he muttered, his voice quieter now, almost resigned. "We barely have enough adventurers to keep this place running, let alone deal with a damned high-tier rift. If we'd seen the signs sooner…" He trailed off, shaking his head.
Ash leaned forward, his tone sharp. "The clock is ticking. The main branch is sending their own group soon, and if you don't act fast, you'll lose more than 60 percent. We need to determine the ranks needed for the dungeon. The raid has to happen quickly, or we risk everything."
The branch master sighed deeply, his resolve crumbling under the weight of the situation. "Fine," he spat, grinding the cigar into an ashtray with unnecessary force. "But I don't like it. Not one bit."
"No one said you had to," Ash replied, standing. "But the longer we delay, the worse this gets. Gather what adventurers you have left. I'll relay orders to my team. We need to assess this rift and its dangers immediately."
The branch master nodded, his expression a mixture of frustration and reluctant acceptance. As Ash moved toward the door, he heard the older man mutter under his breath, cursing the gods and their cruel sense of humor.
Outside, the air was thick with tension. The scouts had begun their quiet investigation, blending into the shadowy alleys and dingy corners of Melanos Village. The red beam in the distance continued to pierce the sky, a grim reminder of the chaos that awaited them.
Ash glanced back at the branch master one last time. "Let's move," he said. "Time's running out."
The branch master grunted in response, already preparing himself for the daunting task ahead.