Death Guns in the Higher World-Chapter 18: Dungeon Raid

Slowly but surely, Alex's name began to circulate among those present. They recognized that it wasn't mere luck that led him to challenge an ancestral tradition. After all, casually handing over half a million gold coins suggested he was more than capable; such wealth implied strength and influence. He might have hailed from a powerful family, but if he lacked strength, he wouldn't dare to recklessly confront this tradition.

Some among the crowd started to entertain the thought that maybe he could be the one to pass this test—something no one had achieved in five hundred years. Others were more skeptical; while it was true that he was powerful, the final test was the most crucial and the most dangerous.

As Edna motioned for Alex to follow her, she spoke on their way to the next destination.

"You're not bad. Obad has taken a liking to you. Just one last test, and you'll become a Black-rank adventurer—the first to complete this test in five hundred years."

Alex nodded, already envisioning the impact of such an achievement. His name would spread far and wide, drawing the attention of his comrades.

Edna chuckled at his lack of reaction, as if he were already confident he had passed the test. He was an intriguing man, one she hadn't encountered in a long time. She continued with her explanation.

"As you know, adventurers like mercenaries are ranked from Yellow to Platinum, with the Platinum-Rank being the pinnacle. In this vast realm, the number of Platinum-Rank adventurers can be counted on one hand, and I'm one of them. The strongest among us is the guild master. Reaching Black-Rank is every adventurer's dream, but almost no one can achieve it due to several factors. One of those requirements is reaching level 6, a milestone that most rankers can only aspire to. Hence, most adventurers aim for the Black-rank, which is the second-highest rank, and even that is reserved for the elite of the elite. To put it simply, it's incredibly difficult. For every thousand adventurers, barely two to five can achieve the Black-rank.

Becoming a Black-rank comes with significant benefits. You won't pay any fees when transacting with the guild, and you'll have access to most dungeons, with only a few exceptions. If you happen to discover a new dungeon, you'll have ownership over it, keeping more than 70% of the resources harvested inside. You'll discover all the benefits that come with Black-rank upon completing the final test. This last test is a dungeon raid; you must clear a designated dungeon within a specific timeframe to pass."

Edna concluded her explanation as they arrived at their destination—a room with a teleportation portal.

Alex marveled at the intricate magical design of the portal. It was beautifully crafted, resembling a work of art in its complexity.

Edna gestured for Alex to step into the portal but paused to add a few important details.

"Dungeons are born from mana; you could say they are the remnants of fallen civilizations. What's crucial for you to understand is that dungeons, much like rankers, are classified into categories—Low, High, and Dangerous. There's no set number of floors for each rank. Some low-level dungeons can have only a few or a lot of floors, while some high and dangerous ones can also have just a few; it all depends on the dungeon's nature, I suppose.

You'll be sent to a high-level dungeon that has up to five floors, according to our mapping. Your limit to clear it is three days, and defeating the boss on the last floor will count as completing the dungeon. It goes without saying that you'll be monitored to ensure no one helps you. Be aware that if you find yourself in a perilous situation, no one will intervene; it wouldn't be a proper test otherwise. So, you're on your own. Just make sure you don't die after i've invested so much hope in you."

She smiled at him before giving him a gentle push into the portal. Alex didn't resist; he let himself be pulled into the swirling energy, transported to the dungeon ahead.

Edna watched as Alex disappeared into the portal, chuckling softly to herself as she murmured,

"What a peculiar man. There's an ancient scent about him. I should investigate further. I'll be keeping an eye on you, Alexander; hopefully, you'll bring some excitement to this monotonous life."

For a brief moment, her green eyes flashed crimson before returning to their usual hue. The dangerous aura that had threatened to erupt from her vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving no trace behind. Only a chill lingered in the air, felt by those nearby yet unnoticed. Like Alex, Edna had her own story—one she was keeping hidden.

Edna slipped away to her quarters on the highest floors of the Adventurer's Guild, just below the guild master, who had vanished somewhere else once again. Once in her room, she conjured a familiar using Spirit Art, a skill unique to high elves, and sent it to monitor Alex's dungeon raid.

°°°

Author's Note: Ranks are categorized into seven colors for both Adventurers and Mercenaries. These ranks are as follows:

☞Yellow

☞Orange

☞Green

☞Blue

☞Red

☞Black

☞ and lastly Platinum