[Sector 2]
The aftermath of the cataclysmic battle between Dinio and Gernold sent shockwaves across the continent. Stories of the sky itself being split in two spread like wildfire, carried by frightened whispers and the frantic writings of bards and messengers.
Nobles and commoners alike were gripped with curiosity and fear. Who could wield such unimaginable power to carve through the heavens themselves? The site of the devastating strike quickly became the center of attention, drawing interest from every corner of the land.
Royal guards, clad in shining armor adorned with their kingdom's crest, arrived in droves, tasked with investigating the incident and ensuring no further calamities arose. Adventurers of all calibers, from seasoned warriors to inexperienced thrill-seekers, flocked to the area in search of answers and perhaps a chance to claim glory. Merchants and scholars, sensing an opportunity, also joined the surge, their goals ranging from wealth to unlocking the secrets behind the colossal event.
The site itself was unlike anything they had ever seen. A deep scar in the ground stretched as far as the eye could see, its edges scorched and crackling faintly with residual energy. Above, the sky still bore a jagged rift, a testament to the sheer force unleashed in the battle.
Rumors swirled among the gathering crowd. Some claimed it was the act of a forgotten god, others whispered of the Quinens ascending back to wreak havoc again, and a few even spoke of legendary weapons of the heroes long thought to be myths. Despite their speculations, all who arrived shared the same feeling, a sense of awe and trepidation.
[Dungeon Area]
Royal Guard General Selvine Archwins arrived at the scene, her imposing presence silencing the murmurs of the gathered crowd. She surveyed the devastation with sharp, calculating eyes. The vast scar in the earth, the lingering traces of energy, and the fractured sky above all painted a chilling picture.
"What in the world happened here?
She muttered, her voice heavy with concern.
"Whoever or whatever caused this must possess power beyond imagining."
A soldier approached in a hurry, saluting before speaking.
"General, you need to see this the dungeon... it's gone."
Selvine's gaze snapped toward the soldier, her brow furrowing deeply.
"Gone?"
she repeated, incredulous. She marched to the site where the dungeon once stood, now a massive void in the landscape. The faint, unnatural hum of energy still resonated in the air.
"This is impossible," Selvine declared, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and urgency. "The dungeons were crafted by the Great Heroes, designed to be indestructible and eternal. If someone has destroyed it... this is no longer just a mystery. This is a crisis."
She turned to her officers, her expression grim.
"Sound the alarm. If the dungeon is gone, the Quinens that were sealed inside may have escaped. That would be a catastrophic threat to the continent. Send an immediate order to the Adventurer's Administration. I want a quest posted with a 1 billion Aira bounty for the one responsible for this disaster. We need answers, and we need them now."
Another soldier rushed toward her, his face pale.
"General! We've found dead beastmen lying on the battlefield."
Selvine paused, her mind racing through the implications.
"Beastmen? Were they the aggressors here? Or victims caught in the aftermath?"
She crouched near one of the lifeless bodies, inspecting the brutal wounds.
"Gather all information possible about these beastmen. If they were here, they must have had a purpose. I want their identities, their kind, everything."
She rose, her voice taking on an edge of steel.
"This isn't just random destruction. Whoever caused this whether it's a god, a monster, or something far worse, we will find them."
"General! Over here! This must be the leader of the beastmen!"
a soldier called out, gesturing toward a massive, lifeless figure among the bodies.
General Selvine made her way towards Gernold, her piercing gaze locking onto the fallen beastman. His body, riddled with wounds and scars, exuded a faint trace of the sheer strength he must have possessed in life. Her eyes then fell upon the sword still clutched in his massive hand, its edge dull but emanating an almost imperceptible aura of energy.
As Selvine moved closer, a sudden tingle coursed through her senses. She froze momentarily, then narrowed her eyes as she recognized it a faint but undeniable trace of spirit energy leaking from the blade. Her expression darkened, and she leaned in, carefully analyzing the weapon.
"This sword...," she murmured.
Her brow furrowed, her thoughts racing as the truth began to piece itself together. She straightened and turned to the soldiers around her. "He must have been the one who cause this damage, he must have made a deal with a spirit."
The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances. "A deal, General?" one of them asked hesitantly.
Selvine nodded, her tone grim.
"Only a pact with a spirit could explain why his weapon still carries residual energy even after his death. To wield this kind of power, he must have sacrificed something significant, possibly even his life force."
She cast one last glance at the sword, her eyes narrowing as her thoughts deepened.
"Whoever his opponent was... they were far stronger. He pushed himself beyond his limits to stand against them, yet even that wasn't enough."
Inwardly, she felt a chill, though her face betrayed no sign of weakness. A battle capable of splitting the sky, a destroyed dungeon, and a warrior who gave everything for a fight he still couldn't win. This situation is worse than I feared.
Turning to her officers, Selvine's voice hardened.
"Seal off this area. Preserve the body and the sword. We need to study every fragment of energy and trace this back to its source. There's no telling what or who we're dealing with yet, but they're a force capable of shattering everything we know."