A colossal chasm has torn open at the heart of the world, swallowing entire nations—whether they be tiny realms or sprawling empires—into its depths. Nothing escapes its grasp. Not the sovereign who once ruled the vast territories, nor the birds that fluttered desperately, seeking freedom with their fragile wings.
The EYE. The Dungeon. The Abyss. The Pit. These are but a few names for the same ominous void that haunts the minds of all. Fear looms large: when will the next beast emerge? Will the devil drag us into darkness? Will the dragon incinerate us? Will the Kaiju crush us beneath its weight? One truth binds them all: they all rise from the Eye.
Encircled by thirteen distinct nations, each harboring its own views on the Dungeon, there is a shared consensus: if the Eye at the bottom is left unchecked, it could awaken, devouring what little remains of our world.
"Please, I can't bear the thought of descending into that abyss."
"The Devil will surely feast on me if I venture down there!"
"Where is the King? Why aren't he and his family the ones stepping forward to face this threat?"
"We are nothing but prey for the EYE! They seek to protect themselves while dooming us!"
The prevailing sentiment among the survivors is one of despair. Yet, a handful—whether driven by desperation or sheer madness—believe the Dungeon holds untold treasures waiting to be unearthed. A wealth of gold and diamonds, artifacts that enhance the body, legendary swords capable of piercing the mightiest Kaiju and dragons, tomes that reveal the universe's secrets. Speak it, and it may manifest.
"Look!"
"She's lost her mind again!"
"Yet, she's survived every single time."
"It's all thanks to that Golden Scythe of hers. What else could explain it?"
"I heard she was absorbed into a colossal tome that granted her mastery over all forms of magic."
"Rumor has it she bargained her soul with the EYE, bestowing her with unimaginable power."
"She's our entertainment. The only adventurer who can traverse the depths and return alive, all on her own."
"It's starting! It's starting!"
"This will be a spectacle!"
"I still can't believe we get to witness anyone brave enough to enter the EYE."
"The authorities claimed it was a facet of their advanced technology. Yet, deep down, everyone recognized it as nonsense. It's the might of the EYE that casts those colossal images across the heavens."
"Seems like the whole world is keeping an eye on me through that sky projection" [Alfin]
"You've got guts, Alfin. Wishing you the best" [Elise]
"Thanks, Elise," [Alfin]
"Take care." [Elise]
"I will," [Alfin]
Just a brief exchange. As an A-rank adventurer in The World Adventure Guild, this is all in a day's work for me.