“Pos, calm down.”

  “Calm down? Calm down? How can I be calm? I've already told you; they are not trying to clear it. They are going to destroy the dungeon core!”

  Pos screamed, rubbing his hand against his forehead. He could hardly believe it. A dungeon core, an incredibly rare and magical being which, if given time, could become a source of riches for generations, is in danger. Kingdoms go to war to claim dungeons, countless adventurers die in them, and some fool is planning to destroy one.

  It is the worst thing they could do.

  “Are you sure?”

  Pos fumed at Jes' concerned face as he knew what the [Scholar] was thinking. He thinks Pos is going crazy.

  “No, no, I'm not insane! I've leveled up enough times to know. I heard a voice in my head, and words appeared before my eyes. The same way the Voice of the World announced a level up and the gaining of a new Skill. No one imagined that. Jes, I've received a quest.” Pos tried to keep the edge of desperation from his voice.

  Jes' eyes widened. “What does it say exactly?”

  Pos looked over at him.

  “That the dungeon is going to be destroyed. And I need to stop them.”

  “The Baggio party?” Someone commented, and everyone murmured in agreement. All the adventurers on the second floor gathering point had heard Pos’ shout and were now surrounding Pos. Most were skeptical, and Pos understood. Dungeon cores cannot give out quests.

  Well, this one just did!

  Pos nodded, feeling his stomach sinking. “Must be, but... how am I supposed to do that?”

  He turned to look at the entrance of the Bamboo Forest Room, which was now clear. That meant the Baggio party had either fallen to the Boss or had beaten it. Pos did not say anything, but he does not need to. Everyone knew the Baggio were levels above everyone here.

  “Pos, what does the quest say? Repeat it word for word.” Jes asked. The [Scholar] had a quill and a small scroll in his hands, and he wasn’t the only one. More than one adventurer was waiting to record down Pos’ words.

  Pos took a breath to calm himself and tried to remember what the quest said. Then, something appeared before his eyes.

  “Oh, that’s new. I can make the quest message reappear.” Pos said as he looked at the message before him in disbelief.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Interesting. The System of War and Magic doesn’t do that.” Jes commented as he wrote in his scroll. “Now, what does it say? Word for word please.”

  “Dungeon Quest: [Save the Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques]

  Quest:

  Some adventurers have come to destroy the dungeon core. Kill them before they destroy the Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques. Stop them by any means necessary!

  Reward: Favour with the Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques, a Dungeon Technique scroll, ten thousand gold and a treasure.

  Failure: Death of the Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques. Loss of your Dungeon Technique.”

  “Ten thousand…ten thousand gold? Are you sure that’s what it said?” Nog’s voice shook along with her whole body. She was excited, every adventurer at the gathering point was. Pos was not quiet when he read out the quest.

  “We need to send the word to the Guild.” Everyone turned to Vorma who shrugged. “What? There’s no way we are going to stop the Baggio on our own. We’ll need help, and the Guild will most definably help.”

  That was true. The Adventurer Guild would be very cross with anyone who destroyed a dungeon, even if he was from a family as powerful as the Baggios.

  “Wait a moment, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.” one of the older adventurers quickly objected. “How can we trust this? Even if this ‘quest’ is from the dungeon core, that doesn’t mean we can trust the core. This may be a trick. After all, this is a Trick Dungeon.”

  Everyone turned to look to Pos, and he frowned. That made more sense than Pos was comfortable with. The Tomb of Ten Thousand Techniques is deadly, and it was named a Trick Dungeon for a reason. However, as much sense as the old adventurer had, something deep within Pos told the dwarf this was no trick.

  “No, I think we can trust it.”

  “You do?” The old adventurer was surprised. “And why is that? What is your reasoning?”

  He had none. At least, nothing that’ll sound logical. “I just do,” Pos admitted. “You make a good point, but the dungeon core is telling the truth. This quest is real, and even if it’s not, I can’t ignore it. I just can't. It would be wrong. Everything in my bones tell me that's the worst thing I could do.”

  The words came out of Pos in a rush, and he took a breath to see the reactions of the adventurers. Some were excited, some were skeptical, and a few looked worried. For him!

  Pos took a deep breath. He knows he sounds like a lunatic, but he is sure he is right. He decided to roll the stones.

  “I am going down there. I’m going after them. If any of you are willing to come with me, I’ll share the reward with you. If not, you better get out of the dungeon. When the Biaggio destroyed the core, this dungeon will collapse. You don’t have to come with me; this is my quest. But no matter what, I am going. I must.”

  Without another word, Pos picked up his axe and started for the Bamboo Forest Room. The dwarven [Warrior] knew he looked like he was going to his death, and that was fair. He felt that way, but he had no choice. Pos knew he had to stop the Baggio…or die trying.

  He entered the opening and kept walking till the Bamboo Forest appeared. The forest was beautiful, but Pos was displeased, He would much rather die in a cave. Then, he heard noise behind him. Pos turned around and saw a big group of adventurers running towards him. His party was in the lead, but there were more than twenty adventurers behind them.

  That was more adventurers than should be allowed in the room.

  “The opening didn’t close off after you entered,” Vorma shouted with a smile.

  Jes quickly agreed. “Clear evidence that the dungeon core is helping us. That convinced more than a few of us to follow you. The rest are leaving the dungeon; they’ll report everything to the Guild.”

  “Never thought there would be a day I’ll be on the same side as a dungeon core.” Nog laughed. “Now, let’s go get them!”