“My name is Haxks,” Daisuke said politely, a sense of reassurance washing over him as he realized he was no longer in danger. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kaizyreus. If you don’t mind my asking, what brings you to this pce when you have a home and a family? Is there really no way to leave?”
The reptilian turned his gaze toward a rge skeleton that was remi of a long-dead dinosaur, his eyes gleaming as a memory stirred within his mind. “A demon, wielding the might of a vast army, id siege to my home.”
Daisuke’s lips pressed to a thin line.
“While the lesser demons fought tirelessly to subdue my kin, their general and a sorcerer were occupied etg a sinister magic circle at the heart of the vilge. I seheir dark iions and unched an assault, yet the mysterious spell activated just as I struck down the mage.
In that moment, both the general and I were whisked away to this wretched realm. The desotion you see before you are but the aftermath of our csh. Sihat fateful day, I have been ensnared in this pce—days, weeks, years blur together, for time has lost all meaning in this unging void.
To survive, I was pelled to feast upon the enemy,” he fessed, gesturing mournfully to the vast skeleton, like a samurai revealing a shameful truth. “After the demon, I turned my hunger upoher souls birthed from this accursed pce.”
Souls? Daisuke pondered quizzically. Oh, he must be referring to the mobs he absolutely destroyed earlier—that also expins the mountains of bohat could probably fill a football field.
“Any idea why the demons attacked?”
Kaizyreus shook his head slowly, his expression somber. “We are but a humble and nomadic tribe, tending to our own affairs. I ot fathom ould draw the ire of such a calcuted invasion.”
Daisuke cupped his elbow and in deliberation. “In that case, you recall anything specific prior to being teleported? It could be anything at all, no matter how trivial.”
The tip of Kaizyreus’ tail flicked with agitation as he rifled through the pages of his mental journal. “…I do recall, albeit faintly, the mage casting a wary g the magic circle when the demon general and I first cshed.”
“…Do you think the circle might have been damaged in that instant?” Daisuke specuted, his gaze shifting to the patch of nd where Kaizyreus had sought shelter. “Perhaps that disrupted the spell’s inner ws ao you being trapped here.”
“Mmm. That seems a sound clusion.”
Daisuke frowned, his thoughts refusing to end there. Those damned demons… what exactly were they really up to? Were they maybe attempting to teleport the entire vilge here? But if so, why? How could they possibly be from doing something so extreme?
“Regardless of the circumstances,” Kaizyreus tinued, his tone heavy with , “I fear for my kinsmen and my family. As the leader of my tribe and the head of my household, it is paramount that I return to my home. I must ensure my legacy is passed on to my son so that the knowledge and teiques do not fade into obscurity with the passage of time.”
Legacy? Daisuke thought inwardly. Does that maybe have something to do with his ons Master title? “Don’t get your hopes up too much, but I might be able to get us out of here.”
“What? Truly?!” Kaizyreus excimed, bounding toward Daisuke, his tail wagging like that of an eager hound, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Daisuke’s expression turony as the reptilian brazenly invaded his personal space. Did I not just say not to get your hopes up?
While the chibi representative of his inner self mournfully picked up the shattered pieces of his once grand perception of the warrior, Daisuke stepped bad cleared his throat.
“I don’t know how to put this, but… I possess a special kind of magic bag that lets me store living beings. I think it rovidehat I was sent to this pce, to perform a kind of divine uaking. This has happened several times before in the past—but once my objective is plete, I usually get teleported bay world.”
If I try to expin that I’m a pyer and the System will teleport me ohe dungeon is cleared, it’s unlikely he’ll uand. Locals aren’t desigo prehend anything outside the game’s tailored framework.
“And your task was to vanquish the evil that dwells in this pce?” asked Kaizyreus, his gaze unwavering.
Daisuke nodded.
“I trust you.”
Eyes widening in surprise, Daisuke allowed a warm smile. Is this the effect of genial Denizen? “Thank you. Before we try to leave, there’s just ohing I o do,” he said, moving toward the bodies of the retly sin monsters and promptly adding them to his iory. Lastly, he approached the skeletal remains of the demon general and carefully secured its femur bone.
DING!
[Raash’vir’s remains have been acquired.]
[Tuskanthos Swine’s remains have been acquired.]
[Demon General Zar’ignar’s Femur Bone has been acquired.]
Kaizyreus chuckled, fasated by the way the corpses were promptly coated in what seemed like blue pixie dust before vanishing into thin air. “Ah, I see you remain true to your nature as a human,” he mused, more in humor than patronism.
“True,” Daisuke ceded, butterscotch eyes stirring with warm emotions. “But I’m not salvaging the monsters out of selfish greed. Just as you’re itted to your family, I need power and resources to protect the ones I love.”
Kaizyreus pced a hand over his chest and bowed with an air of humility, his grace rivaling that of any knight. “I implore you tive my folly; my insight has proven woefully ie.”
Daisuke raised his hands in a dismissive gesture, a small smile pying on his lips. “There’s o apologize. I drew my on when we first met because I thought you were a savage monster—and an incredibly powerful o that. But you’ve proven me wrong, remindihat we really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”
Kaizyreus grinned, showg a row of sharp fangs. “Wise words from a respectable human. I am fortuhat it is you who stands before me. Much like your divine quest to eradicate the evil that lingered here, perhaps our meeting is the will of the gods.”
“I’d like to think that too,” Daisuke replied with a sincere smile. “Are you ready to do this?”
The burly Lizardman stepped forward with fidenostalgia flickering in his oic eyes. “I have beeranged from my home for far too long.”
“The’s not keep you waiting any longer,” Daisuke said as he summohe Mithrilcrest Deer from his iory. With Zephyr absent, he fed the deer several Vitaberries aherberries, hoping it wouldn’t attempt to flee.
“Thank you for your kind offer,” Kaizyreus murmured, any trace of nostalgia fading from his expression. “But I find myself g an appetite at the moment.”
Daisuke smiled awkwardly. “She’s not food; I just o make some space for you. Anyway, I’m going to take you in now. I don’t think it should be unfortable.”
Kaizyreus nodded, determinatioched into his features. He holy didn’t care about disfort. At this point, even sacrifig an arm or a leg was a small price to pay if it meaing with his family and firming their safety.
His eyes drifted close as he was taken by the same mysterious power that had id cim to his enemies. As a gentle calm and an inexplicable urge to sleep washed over him, the wishful reptilian ted a prayer in his mind before drifting into unsciousness.
“Okay, looking good so far,” Daisuke said as the deer delicately nibbled the berries from his hand. Tentatively, he ran his fingers along the length of the creature’s long neck, hoping that this physical e would allow it to teleport out of the Instant Dungeon with him.
DING!
[gratutions! You have sin the Hidden Dungeon Boss ?Kaizyreus, The ons Master?!]
[Celestial Cube (Gold) x3 has been acquired.]
[Ruablet x2 has been acquired.]
[Boundless Rune has been acquired.]
[Armocidian Quartz ×4 has been acquired.]
[Cobalt Ore ×5 has been acquired.]
[37,295 gold has been acquired.]
***
Kaizyreus blinked his eyes open, his vision hazy as he adjusted to the bright, natural light filtering through the trees. It felt like a tury since he had seen the open sky, since he’d smelled the crisp autumn air that now filled his lungs. He drew in a deep breath, sav the st of fallen leaves ah.
Slowly, he raised his arms, watg with fasation as sunlight danced across his red scales, eae gleaming in a vibrant, fiery hue. There was a warmth here he hadn’t felt in what seemed like eons, a reminder of life beyond the dungeon’s endless darkness.
Turning his gaze, Kaizyreus locked eyes with Daisuke. For a long moment, he simply looked at him, his fierce expression softened by gratitude. Then, with a low, rumbling voice, he spoke. "For freeing me... I owe you a debt I ever repay. Ahere is something else that I must request of you.”
Daisuke smiled back. “Sure, if it’s something within my power.”
Kaizyreus bowed respectfully. “Thank you. Before I seek your aid, I must share the tale of my ins. Long ago, an a dragon named Dragnir—once a mighty Guardian Spirit—was grievously betrayed by its own kin. Enraged by this treachery, Dragnir vowed to wage war, wielding the unique ability to e itself. With this power, it decided te an unstoppable army to crush its foes. Every ninth night, eight new dragons would emerge frnir’s essence.
Fortune smiled upon the realm, as Dragnir was sin shortly after the first eight es were birthed. With the death of their progenitor, the offspring lost their source of power and regressed into what we now know as lesser-dragons. Though they retained only a fra of their inal might, these lesser-dragons remained formidable, and their kind came to be named in honor of their forebearer, Dragnir.
Haxks, these are my direct kin. Each of the eight is a master of a distinct discipline, and we share an unbreakable bond. The instant I set foot upon the surface again, a deep sense of foreboding washed over me; they are in grave danger. I ask only this: should you enter any of my kin, I implore you to lend them your aid. Show this stoo any of them, and they will instantly reize you as a trusted ally.”
DING!
[Kaizyreus’s Dragonite Ore]
[Category: Monster Material
Quantity: 1
Rarity: Unique
[Fed within a dragon’s belly, Dragonite Ore is among the rarest and most coveted materials known to humankind. Few bcksmiths have ever id eyes on this preetal, and even fewer possess the mastery o work it.
This particur piece, bestowed by Kaizyreus, bears a finely etched symbol and pulses with the extraordinary life force of the Dragnir, making it an invaluable treasure for any craftsman bold enough to wield its power.]
DING!
[The hidden css adva quest ?Forlorn ons Master? has been pleted!]
[Forlorn ons Master]
[Quest Difficulty: Unknown
Kaizyreus is not only a desdant of the a dragnir but also wields godlike proficy with any oragedy often shadows those of remarkable skill or lineage. In Kaizyreus’s case, his home was raided by demons, and his valiant efforts to defend his kin earned him a lifetime sentehin a dungeon.
Clear ditions: Earn Kaizyreus’s trust and secure his escape from the dungeon.
Rewards:
?? ons Master Css
?? Kaizyreus’ Dragonite Ore
?? EXP +1,900,000
Quest Failure:
?? Death]
Before Daisuke could even begin to pale at the quest’s ridiculously huge EXP reward—or the daunting sequences of failure—notification windows kept popping up oer another.
DING!
[1,900,000 Experience Points have been acquired.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[ons Master css has been acquired.]
[Kaizyreus’ Dragonite Ore has been acquired.]
Daisuke accepted the Dragonite Ore with genuine appreciation, st it in his iory. “Thank you for fiding in me, Kaizyreus. I promise to assist your kin if I ever e across any of them in my travels.”
“Thank you. It has been an honor to meet you. I am eternally in your debt for freeing me from that accursed realm. May our paths iwine once more. Until then, my friend, may the gods bestow upon you all that your heart desires.”
Daisuke waved. “Safe travels.”
