Draven and his team stepped onto the first floor, greeted by an intimidating maze of iron walls. The air felt thick with tension, and the ground beneath their feet trembled with each passing moment. Something monstrous stirred from below, its movements shaking the very foundations of the dungeon.
Before they ventured deeper, Draven paused. He had been so focused on the task ahead that he realized something important. He still didn't know the names of all the adventurers with him.
"Wait," Draven said, raising a hand to stop the group. "I still don't know the names of everyone here, except for the Guild Master and Sofia. Also, what are your specialties?"
His eyes shifted to the blonde man in front of him, who wielded a sword that radiated an undeniable power. The blade was legendary—its gleam sharper than any steel.
"You're the S-rank adventurer, right? I've seen your name in the news," Draven said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "What about your team?"
The man, confident and composed, met Draven's gaze with a smile.
"Yes, I'm Leonhardt Cromwell. One of the S-rank adventurers in the city," Leonhardt said, offering a firm handshake. "It's nice to meet you."
He adjusted the sword at his side. "I'm primarily a swordsman, though I can also use a bit of magic—mostly to enhance my blade for battle."
Draven returned the handshake with a nod. "Nice to meet you. I'm Draven Vorstheim, once an S-rank adventurer myself. I used only a sword back then, but I don't have any magic abilities."
The others chimed in one by one, introducing themselves. Sofia, a young mage , stepped forward next.
"I'm Sofia Valtor. I specialize in elemental magic—Fire, Water, and Earth," she said with a smile that lit up her face. "Nice to meet you all."
As she spoke, the atmosphere shifted. Several of the adventurers around her visibly froze, momentarily struck by her beauty. A few of them cleared their throats, embarrassed.
"Ahem," Gerald, the Guild Master, interrupted the moment. "We should focus on the task at hand."
With that, the group continued their introductions, each adventurer revealing their skills and specialties. Among them were five A-rank adventurers. One of them, a mage like Sofia, could use healing magic, while the others were masters of swordsmanship. One, in particular, was a shield bearer with incredible defensive abilities.
Once the introductions were out of the way, the group steeled themselves for the raid.
"Stay alert, everyone," Draven said, his voice low and serious. His eyes scanned the area, taking in the eerie stillness.
Gerald, always vigilant, turned to Draven. "I've heard reports about this dungeon. It has 100 floors. Is that true?"
Draven nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. It's one of the most dangerous dungeons in the region."
Gerald's gaze hardened. "And no one has managed to reach floor 76, correct? Not even the best adventurers?"
Leonhardt, standing beside them, sighed. "Yes, that's true. The deeper we go, the more unpredictable it becomes."
The dungeon monsters were relentless. They respawned each day, and each time they fell, they left behind a treasure chest with random rewards. Sometimes, the treasures were valuable; other times, they were mere junk. But the real prize came after defeating a boss: a hidden door leading to the next floor.
"Let's move quickly," Draven said, his voice urgent. "We can't afford to waste time."
As the group pressed forward, they halted abruptly. A rumble shook the ground, signaling the arrival of monsters.
"Stay low," Draven ordered, pulling the group behind a pillar. They watched as wave after wave of creatures spilled into the hall. The creatures were grotesque, their red eyes glowing with an insatiable hunger.
"Look at how many there are!" Leonhardt said in awe, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his legendary sword.
Draven's face tightened. "This is why we need to move quickly. If we don't act fast, we'll be overwhelmed."
The adventurers held their breath, waiting for the creatures to pass. After a tense few minutes, the hall cleared. They continued their descent deeper into the dungeon, knowing that every step could bring them closer to the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows.
Meanwhile, far outside the dungeon, the adventurer they had sent to request reinforcements from another country had just arrived. Without wasting a moment, he made his way straight to the Adventurers Guild, ready to bring whatever help he could.