Dungeons

Alexis met with the four new Blessed in the early morning. The main study was inviting, warm wood tones, with a large desk with various piles of paperwork laid out in orderly files upon it. Alice, Ren, Leo and Michael Stood before the desk.

"I have a mission for you. A strange beast has been seen in the woods outside of town. As Blessed, it is your duty to investigate and eliminate the dangers posed by beasts and monsters in the wild. Further, one will not be admitted into a dungeon without having first slain at least one beast or monster in the wilds.

"Your mission is to track the beast, slay it, and bring me the magic crystal it drops as proof. The reward for the crystal will be distributed evenly between the slayers.

"Should you succeed, you will accompany me when I return to the capitol. Should you fail, you will not.

"Dismissed."

As Alice, Ren and Michael left the room, Leo remained behind for a moment.

"Master Alexis, will you update my status sheet?"

---

Stats

Rank - 1 (0.00%)

Strength - 7 (E)

Agility - 12 (E)

Dexterity - 5 (F)

Wisdom - 18 (E)

Intelligence - 11 (F)

Charisma - 7 (E)

Constitution - 22 (D)

Luck - 17 (F)

Blessings:

Script of Aranyani

Mark of the Lady of Spring, Aurora

Severed Fate

Skills:

Nature's touch

Traits:

Hunter's Sight

Abilities:

Staff Wielding: Novice

---

Leo's mouth dropped open in shock while reading it. Every stat had grown exponentially.

'How did I get so strong in only a few days? Is it from all those beatings I took? And my wisdom shot up so high?!?!'

"Intense training like what you have undergone does show remarkable effects." Alexis said with a smile. "Keep training as you have been, and you should be able to handle a goblin alone. But remember, your team members have four years of this training."

Leo shook his head. With his current stats, he was still too weak to even face something as weak as a goblin alone? With a sigh, he left to catch up with the party.

-

The four slowly made their way through town, collecting supplies for the trek ahead. As they left town, Leo approached Alice.

"Hey Alice?"

"Yes, Leo?"

"What can you tell me about dungeons. I've heard of them before, but I don't really understand what they are."

Michael smirked condescendingly towards Leo, and continued forwards. 'Idiot,' he thought silently.

Alice frowned for a moment. "Every major city is built around a dungeon. Whenever one is discovered, people and guilds immediately gather in an attempt to claim it and it's riches. When they first appeared, hundreds died whenever the monsters within escaped, not to mention the thousands who entered looking for magic stones dropped by the monsters.

"It wasn't until the gods themselves intervened that the various races finally began to hold their own, or even profit off the dungeons. While each race varies in their basic abilities, there was always an upper limit to what their bodies and minds could grow to. But when the deities of heaven descended, granting their Blessing, suddenly those limits disappeared. People could grow stronger, rank up, and reset their maximum capabilities.

"With that, dungeons became coveted, and many factions sought them out. The gods once again intervened. By Divine Law, no deity may intervene with those who willingly enter into a dungeon. But only those with the gods' blessing may enter. And no one may deny a Blessed their right to enter for any reason.

"Inside, monsters spawn and grow through the rich mana within. The deeper you enter, the stronger the beasts that form. When killed, the mana they've absorbed condenses into a stone, called a magic stone or mana gem. Adventurers collect these for all sorts of purposes.

"We use them to craft, power cities and villages, cast spells, make potions, even assist in growing crops and fields. Occasionally, items found in the dungeon or off the monsters even gain some kind of mana attribute, and these are often sought after as well. Adventurers with the Blessing turn these in at guild halls in exchange for money and resources.

"If it weren't for the Blessed entering the dungeons regularly, the monsters inside would escape, and begin hunting outside the dungeons."

Leo continued walking silently for a moment. "So, dungeons are controlled by the guilds and factions?"

Alice smiled at his question. "Once, yes. But with the intervention of the Gods decree, any Blessed is granted entry into a dungeon. It's all managed by the Adventurer's guild. They collect the stones, regulate the pricing, sell them to the cities.

"But it the dungeons, anything goes. No one will know what happens to you once your inside, and no one will intervene or protect you. Dozens of adventurers die every year in Lizantia dungeon alone. And that's just one dungeon, in our small nations capitol."

'Seems like nothings changed then,' Leo thought. The strong prey on the weak, and the weak die.

"We should stop talking now, we're about to enter the woods." It was the first time Ren had spoken since leaving town.