At the break of dawn, golden sunlight bathed the kingdom as the Haiskel royal family departed from the castle gates on their majestic steeds. Hundreds of citizens gathered on either side of the path, cheering for the royal family and their accompanying soldiers. The air was filled with the sound of applause and cheers, while children waved excitedly, and mothers whispered prayers for their safety.
Ahead of them stretched vast green plains, with the grass swaying gently in the cool breeze. The sky above was a clear blue, dotted with scattered white clouds. It was a scene straight out of a dream, but Kingoro's attention was fixed on his companions.
Riding beside him was Yorio, a sly grin plastered on his face. Turning to Kingoro, he spoke in a mischievous tone:
"The armor suits you, little brother. I picked it out just for you."
Kingoro, trying to mask his unease, replied with a faint smile, "Yes, it's good. Thank you, Yorio."
Yorio, brimming with confidence, responded, "You're welcome, brother."
The group moved forward with steady strides, surrounded by the serene beauty of nature. But as hours passed, the scene began to change. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and the light gradually dimmed. Soon, droplets of rain began to fall, and the once peaceful atmosphere turned ominous.
At that moment, Lawrence spoke with a serious tone:
"This is the nature of our world. Gates appear suddenly, at varying levels, bringing with them monsters and danger. It's our duty as the royal family, alongside our soldiers, to close these gates by defeating the leader inside before it fully opens."
He turned to one of the soldiers, who carried a special sword meant for sensing magical disturbances. The soldier raised the sword, which began to glow faintly with a blue hue. After a few moments, the soldier spoke with confidence:
"The gate ahead will open in seven days."
The group halted in front of a massive blue circle radiating an overwhelming magical aura. The sight was terrifying to Kingoro, who trembled at the mere presence of it.
Lawrence, his voice laced with cold sarcasm, said:
"A D-ranked gate… A weak one, yet it frightens you? You never fail to disappoint me, Kingoro."
Kingoro said nothing, lowering his head in shame. Lawrence continued, his voice firm:
"This world, Kingoro, is far larger than you can imagine. There are other kingdoms hundreds of kilometers away and small villages constantly under threat. Some areas are fortified, while others are sealed with magical power to protect their people from gates. But not everyone is so fortunate. Many rely on hired hunters to close these gates. You must gain strength, or you'll become just another victim of this harsh world."
The group resumed their journey, traveling for hours until they encountered another gate. But this time, it was different. The gate was enormous, and its crimson aura made the air around it feel heavy. The overwhelming magical pressure nearly caused Kingoro to collapse, and he would have, if not for the armor Yorio had given him.
The sensing soldier spoke with a nervous tone:
"This is a B-ranked gate. It will open in one day."
Lawrence issued his command with determination:
"We'll close it now. Prepare to enter."
Everyone stepped into the gate, with Kingoro's heart pounding in his chest. As they moved, Yorio approached him, a supportive smile on his face.
"Prove to Father that you're strong, Kingoro."
From behind, Hans added in a mocking tone, "He probably won't be able to—not in a hundred years."
The world inside the gate resembled a massive cave, its walls illuminated by an eerie red glow. Endless staircases stretched ahead of them, branching into different levels. Lawrence pointed forward and explained:
"This is a B-ranked dungeon. Dungeons like these usually have three levels. The higher we go, the stronger the monsters become. Stay alert—monsters on the first level are typically level 30 and above."
Before Lawrence could finish, a massive beast emerged before them. It resembled a lion, but its mane was ablaze with faint flames, and its glowing red eyes radiated malice.
Name: Hell Lion
Level: 30
Weapon: Scythe, Level 20
Raising his sword, Lawrence commanded with authority:
"Prepare yourselves!"