Perspective of King Arthur
When The Grand Party first reported of a corrupted core in a dungeon, I was completely shocked. In all my years of ruling, I had never seen or heard about something like that. I've dealt with many issues before, monsters, bandits, politics, and even ancient curses, but this was something entirely new. A corrupted core… It wasn't just a danger to the adventurers. If left unchecked, it may spread, affect other dungeons, perhaps even cause disasters across the kingdom. We didn't have any answer for anything. This was something I had to handle carefully and quickly.
But unfortunately, the timing couldn't have been worse. The Grand Carnival was just around the corner. Every year, the Carnival brings joy and unity to the people of Cero Kingdom. It's not just a celebration, it's a symbol of peace and strength. Canceling it would have caused panic and unrest. So, I made a difficult decision. I decided to put the dungeon matter on hold for a short while. Meanwhile, I worked on a plan. I couldn't ignore the danger, but I also couldn't let fear ruin what the Carnival meant to our people. I kept the information close, shared it with only the most trusted individuals, and waited for the right moment to act.
But fate has a strange way of reminding us that we're never fully in control. While the Carnival was going on, I received terrible news, there had been an attack at the Rookie Tournament. My heart sank. That tournament was supposed to be a celebration of youth, strength, and hope. It was a safe and proud event. But now, it was under attack. I was terrified. I couldn't hide it, not this time.
My daughters were there.
As a King, I've learned to stay calm during crises. But as a father, that moment shook me deeply. And to make things worse, the arena had been sealed by a powerful barrier. We couldn't get in. My best men tried everything to break through, using magic, weapons, and all their strength. I waited outside, helpless, praying that nothing terrible had happened inside. Minutes felt like hours.
And then, suddenly, the seal broke on its own. Without wasting a second, I rushed inside the arena. My eyes scanned the area, searching for my daughters. I saw chaos. Injured people. Shattered stands. Blood on the stone floor. I pushed forward, my heart pounding. I had to find them. Then I reached them, Lyra didn't suffered much, but Kyla took some damage.
Then, something completely unexpected happened, again. I saw a familiar face lying unconscious. It took me a moment to process it. I walked closer, and when I saw clearly, I froze.
It was Adrian, my son. My long-lost son.
For a brief moment, I forgot about everything else. I knelt beside him, seeing the bruises and injuries all over his body. He was now older than the last time I saw him, but it was him. I wanted to cry, but I held it in. As a father, I was filled with both relief and sorrow. But as a King, I had to stay composed. I couldn't let emotions take control, not in front of everyone, not in a time like this. The kingdom depended on me to lead.
So, I stood up and addressed the crowd, calming the situation. I made sure my daughters and my son was safe, and I gave orders to treat the wounded and repair the damage. The Carnival continued, though my heart wasn't fully in it anymore. I let it flow, knowing that the people needed it. But once it was over, I returned to what truly mattered, the mission.
I called for the Rising Heroes and The Grand Party. It was time. We had waited long enough. I had decided that these two teams would be the ones to handle any dungeon suspected of having a corrupted core. Yes, it was a gamble. Yes, it was risky. But I had faith. The Grand Party was experienced and strong. And The Rising Heroes, despite being young, had something even stronger, willpower and potential. I had ordered The Grand Party to train them over the past months. I believed in that decision.
I sent them to the northern region, in Avelya, under the supervision of Thaldrik Haildaleom. I knew he wouldn't be pleased. He's a man of strict values and experience. He believes in protecting young adventurers, not throwing them into danger. But he also trusts results, and I hoped he would see what I saw in The Rising Heroes.
Then came a long wait. Six months passed without any confirmed reports of a dungeon with a corrupted core. We received some updates on the Jewels, but nothing directly about the intruders from the Rookie Tournament. It was as if they had vanished.
Then, finally, we got the news we had been waiting for. A dungeon had been discovered with high chances of having a corrupted core. The information came from Black Sigil, one of the most mysterious and skilled groups in the entire kingdom. They had been trying to gather details about the Jewels, and during one of their missions, they found traces near a dungeon that pointed to both the Jewels and something more, something unnatural.
Black Sigil requested to join the dungeon expedition. They believed there might be a connection between the dungeon and the Jewels. It was possible that we could achieve two goals with one mission, investigate the corrupted core and uncover the secret of the Jewels.
I thought about it carefully. It was risky. But I approved.
There were two reasons. First, the members of Black Sigil are incredibly strong. They are expert scouts and possess deep knowledge about dungeons, magic, and ancient relics. Second, the dungeon in question wasn't just any dungeon. It was the Thunderclaw Dungeon, also known by the name, the Dungeon of Varnex.
This dungeon was on a different level.
Compared to the Dungeon of Karcanis, this one was far more dangerous. Even A-Rank teams had barely made it out of the upper layers. Many teams returned broken, wounded, or worse. The dangers inside were unpredictable. And now, we were planning to send three teams into its depths, The Grand Party, The Rising Heroes, and Black Sigil.
Their goal was simple but nearly impossible, reach the core, investigate it, and if it was truly corrupted, bring it back. But they would have to deal with many challenges, monsters that had grown wild due to the corruption, elite commanders twisted by its power, and at the heart of it all, a Dungeon Boss that might be entirely corrupted.
It was never going to be easy.
But now… now it was far more dangerous.
Still, this was our only chance.
I made the call. I gave the orders. The teams would leave within a week.
And as I sat on my throne, watching the sun set beyond the castle walls, I prayed silently.
That they would return. That they would survive. That they would succeed.