Chapter 45: Openg Of The Dungeon (part 1)

Words : 1055 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Her eyes narrow. That chest wasn't there before. Sorin approaches cautiously, her steps silent, her body poised to react. When she gets close, she stops, staring down at the ornate engravings on its surface. She exhales through her nose. "...This better not be a trap." Sorin crouches beside the chest, running a hand over the cool metal. No visible locks. No obvious traps. But that doesn't mean it's safe. She presses her lips into a thin line, then—swiftly—lifts the lid. A soft glow illuminates her face. Inside, nestled on a black velvet cloth, are two daggers. They are unlike any she has seen before. Midnight black with silver etchings that pulse faintly, as if alive. The air around them hums with power. Sorin hesitates only a moment before reaching in. The moment her fingers wrap around the hilts— A rush of information slams into her mind. Her vision blurs. Her breath catches. It's not pain, but the sheer force of it leaves her momentarily stunned. Words. Symbols. A skill. A Tier 3 skill. Her eyes widen as the knowledge settles, as natural as if she had known it all her life. Slowly, she exhales. "This dagger... has a Tier 3 skill," she whispers. Her voice is barely audible, but in the vast silence of the cavern, it feels deafening. She stares at the weapons in her hands, her fingers tightening around them. She only has one Tier 3 skill—Abyss Fang. And even that... Her heart beats faster. She almost died getting it. The memory flickers—breaking into that nobleman's estate, slipping past powerful guards, barely making it out alive. She almost got killed for Abyss Fang. Yet now— She swallows hard. Sorin takes a shaky breath, trying to steady the thoughts racing through her mind. It's not just the Tier 3 skill. The daggers themselves—they're high quality. She lifts one, studying its edge. The craftsmanship is leagues beyond anything she has wielded before. The weight, the balance—it feels like an extension of her own hand. Her grip tightens. "If I had these earlier," she mutters, voice tinged with frustration, "I could've stabbed that bastard without a problem." She exhales sharply, shaking off the thought. No use dwelling on what-ifs. Just as she's about to test the blade— A soft hum fills the air. Light. Blinding white light engulfs her, swallowing everything. Sorin tenses, instinctively raising her daggers, but the sensation is weightless—like being pulled through space itself. Then— A blink. The air shifts. She finds herself standing in a familiar place. The stone floor beneath her feet. The faint scent of parchment, steel, and something distinctly regal. She's back. Her eyes snap up, and sure enough—there he is. Alix stands before her, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Sorin exhales sharply, still gripping the daggers. Her mind reels from the sudden shift, but she forces the confusion down. Sorin takes a step forward, her grip on the daggers loosening slightly. Her eyes flick around, confirming that she is indeed back. After a brief pause, she exhales. "I'm back, Your Majesty." Alix nods, as if her return was expected. "You must have a lot of questions." His voice is steady, measured. "I'll explain it to you." Sorin listens in silence as he begins. "That place you were in—it's called a dungeon." She furrows her brows slightly, still gripping her weapons. "A dungeon?" she repeats. Alix nods. "Yes. And the human bandits inside? They weren't real people." Sorin's expression shifts, a flicker of surprise crossing her usually composed features. "That's impossible." Alix smirks slightly. "I know it feels real. The fights, the blood, the pain—it's all designed to be that way. But the moment you left, everything inside reset. The bandits will come back, the chests will close, and someone else will have the chance to go through it all over again." Sorin's grip on her new daggers tightens. "A place where enemies revive..." Alix chuckles. "It's a perfect hunting ground." Sorin gives him a sharp look but says nothing. "Listen," Alix continues, his tone turning serious. "We're going to open this dungeon to the public. It will attract those monsters to settle in the city." Sorin tilts her head. "That's right, the monster are too proud to live in the same place as other monsters..." "And because only the citizens can use the dungeon," Alix explains. "They need to become a citizen of Misorn city, they'll have access to a place where they can get items. Who wouldn't want that?" His smirk widens. "Who wouldn't want the chance to kill humans while also getting stronger and collecting weapons and items?" She lowers her head slightly. "As you wish, Your Majesty." A thought crosses her mind, and she lifts her gaze again. "Can I ask... are all the weapons and items I obtained real?" Alix nods. "They're real. Everything you bring out of the dungeon exists in the real world. But whether you get something good or not depends entirely on luck." He gives her a pointed look. "And you? You were lucky. That dagger you got is high quality, and the ring boosts your agility." Sorin frowns slightly. "Agility?" "It makes you faster," Alix simplifies. Sorin's expression shifts as realization dawns. "After I put this ring on, I felt a little faster. Even if it was just a small change, I noticed it." Alix nods. "That's agility for you. With enough of it, even an average fighter can become fast enough to dodge attacks that should be impossible to avoid." Sorin looks down at her hand, flexing her fingers as if testing the change again. Sorin's expression turns serious. She lifts her gaze, her eyes locking onto his. "Your Majesty, there's one problem." "Go on." "The leader of the bandits," Sorin says, gripping her new daggers. "He's strong—too strong. I don't think the monsters in this forest have the capability to kill him." Alix doesn't seem surprised. If anything, he looks amused. "Don't worry," he says easily. "Before anyone enters, the receptionist will give them an item that lets them teleport out of the dungeon, even if they don't defeat the leader."

Chapter 45: Openg Of The Dungeon (part 1)

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