1 Zen

The year 2025, the earth experiences a sudden and major change.

Did the world end? No. then did the economy collapse and wars broke out? No. it was nothing of those things because the only thing that happened was that the first ever [Dungeon] appeared from out of nowhere

It first appeared in the country of Japan, in Tokyo to be more specific. After that, it appeared in China, Brazil, USA, India, Philippines until it had spread all over the world.

At first, no one knew what to do until a group of people claiming they have awakened powers entered one of the mysterious Dungeons.

This group of people entered a dungeon and by the time they came out the dungeon quickly disappeared.

The people who first entered the dungeon became the first [Seekers] of the world and after twenty years, Seekers who roam the world and enter dungeons became the norm.

To this day there are still many dungeons appearing all over the world but the Seekers comes to clear them up while extracting as many resources as they could.

All in all, the year 2025 was not the year of the human race's demise, it was just the coming of a new era where humans gain powers and discover the unknown.

It was the age of seeking new heights and exploring unknown lands it was the era of Seekers.

****

The new country, [Whitehaven]'s capital city [New Dawn City].

Seekers are known as the adventurers who seek new frontiers, they kill monsters for material and new resources in order to sell them outside the dungeon and earn tons of money.

The higher your rank the stronger you are — the stronger you are the stronger the rank of monster you can kill — the higher the rank of monster you can kill the more money you can make.

These rules are basically the ones that revolve when you become a Seeker and earn the right to explore a dungeon to kill monsters.

A job that is so dangerous that even soldiers would think twice of doing that is what Seeker, you can kill humans with a normal gun but monsters inside the dungeons can only be killed by [Awakened] people.

The mortality rate of Seekers are high however, despite this obvious fact people just dive into dungeons in hopes of earning more money than they could ever count.

"Come and get what you need, I offer cold drinks, cigarettes, snacks and even alcohol for the drunks don't be shy everyone has bought from me at some point right?"

A nineteen-year-old young man was at the sight of the upcoming [Raid] as he carried the huge backpack that contains a bunch of warm foods, cold drinks, and even some medicines that helps the nerves.

With his sword like brows, affectionate eyes and well-toned facial features this young vendor was a treat for the eyes.

"Hey Zen give me two cold drinks, I at least want to have one drink before going to face death."

Hearing his name being called Zen turn around and saw a man wearing a bulk shiny armor. It was still showing a beautiful luster even though it was night already night its material was obviously not of this world.

Zen took two cold drinks from his backpack and handed it to the man.

"That will be two hundred [Credits] Mister Jun, oh yeah pay up your last debt already it had been a week you know?"

Jun took the cold drinks from Zen's hand and gave him the credits he added the credits he had missed before of course.

Counting the paper credit on his hands Zen nodded his head.

"One thousand two hundred credits, okay you're fully paid now Mister Jun and now that you're fully paid why don't you buy some cigarettes or some calming medicines? I sell cheap so I know you can buy some."

Mister Jun down one of the drinks he had bought before speaking.

"Not this time Zen, this is an A rank dungeon and smoking cigarettes will surely make me lose breath in no time."

Zen could only nod and smile understandingly.

"Gather around, we will be entering the dungeon after two minutes. Make sure you bring a part of the supplies."

A shout was heard and Mister Jun immediately got ready.

"I need to go Zen, you'll be going to the other raid right? Who am I kidding that's already a given with the goddess there even I'll be going if not for this raid. Haha, good luck and take care of yourself, my friend."

With that statement, Mister Jun left for his companions and got ready to enter the [Blue Gate] in front of them. Their party consist of around fifty people ten was A-rank and the rest were B-rank.

The party this time was the main attack force intended to clear and close the dungeon for good. The resources that could be taken were already collected, the monsters have to be slain and could be collected for materials have been collected too the dungeon has exhausted its usefulness.

This is the fate of all dungeons after the Seekers collect everything that has value inside the dungeon the boss will be killed next and the dungeon will be closed for good.

"Good luck with the raid."

Zen watch as the party enters the dungeon and left with a worried look on his countenance.

Getting ready to depart for the Serpentine Warehouse where the rare S-rank Raid was about to commence, before moving he checked everything in his possession so he could head there with a peace of mind.

He checked his earned credit and nodded his head, it was just about enough. It's about twelve o'clock by now and it was the time when the sun is glaring above but Zen chose to travel the next Raid area by foot.

He has enough money to pay for the ticket and take a train but he chose not to because he has his own priorities and these priorities cost a lot of money and even if he has extra money to waste he won't be wasting it and just save it in the bank.

'If I can earn at least six thousand more credits I can barely earn enough for the medical bills. I can't let Freya pay for Yin's medical bills forever, I am a man and I need to at least be capable of paying for my sister's medical bills.'

With that thought, Zen rushed himself and picked up his pace so he can get to the Serpentine Warehouse and sell some more.

It didn't take Zen too long for him to reach the Serpentine Warehouse. Just like in the Lotus District Zen didn't dally and started making sales.

He made his usual offers and after an hour he had already earned three thousand credits, he was already about to reach his quota for the day.

"That will seven hundred credits for the drinks and adding your previous balance that will be eight thousand credits in all."

Just as Zen was handing another sale a loud but effeminate voice was heard from behind. He turns around and saw a beautiful lady wearing a simplistic looking robe that's designed with streaking white lines.

The lady who walked up to Zen seemed to be just about his age, alluring lips, finely toned body, piercing but beautiful red eyes add to that her beautiful flowing red hair this lady was nothing short of a true beauty that can entrance any man.

"Zen you're here again? Isn't Yin's check-up today? As the older brother, you need to be there for her."

Zen heard the beautiful lady and scratch the back of his head.

"Don't worry about it Freya, I still have four hours before her check-up so I can still see you off and earn some money before I head there."

Answered Zen.

Freya heard Zen and nodded her head. She had known Zen and her sister for about three years now after they evacuated from their former home which has been overrun by an SS-rank dungeon well their relationship has taken a drastic turn since then though.

"Don't worry about Yin… her conditions have been stable for the time being. Also are you sure the captain of the raid has the time to talk to lowly commoners such as myself?"

"Don't worry about it, Silvia is taking care of things already so it won't be a problem if I slack off a little, also I'm not the captain, she is."

Zen smiled when he heard those words from Freya's mouth.

Silvia Storm, one of the eight SS-rank Seekers in the Whitehaven together with Freya who's also an SS-rank Seeker the two of them are called the twin roses of the [Devil Rose Guild].

"So you and the Guild Master will be leading the Raid, it seems like the monsters inside will be having a rough time with the two of you there."

In the bottom of Zen's heart, a sigh of relief was

Freya smiled when he saw Zen's face then spoke;

"That's right, we're already planning to close this dungeon an S-rank dungeon can only stay in a populated area for so long after all…."

She then leaned forward then continued her words as she whispered them in his ears.

"Well good luck with your sales today, I won't be home tonight so you don't have to wait for me, be sure to look after Yin o."

Freya gave Zen a quick glance before leaving and without anything left to say she left that place and went to the main camp where the Guild Master is staying.

Zen stood there looking at her back with an entranced look on his face, many men were looking at him with jealousy but all they could do nothing because he was the known close friend of their Vice Captain… that didn't stop them from marking Zen and adding that interaction to the list of his 'sins' though.

The whole preparation was finished after another two hours, the guild's plan was finalized and their supplies were all taken care of.

"Everybody gets ready, this is an S-rank dungeon so be careful, the two goddesses of battle is with us, don't get scared but don't act like a hero kill the boss with the intention of surviving in mind, with that all of you move out."

The one who spoke was neither of the two SS-rank Seekers but someone else. The person who spoke was a man who's known for being a top tiered S-rank Seeker.

Zen watch the guild enter and with after Seeing Freya enter the only thing he could do now would be to pray for her safe return.

After staying there for another twenty minutes Zen chose to stand up and get ready to meet his sister in the hospital. He still has at least forty minutes before going to the hospital so he chose to walk there.

"I'm really pathetic."

A frown was plastered in Zen's face when he spoke these words. However, what he said was true, his woman goes out and enter the dungeon so she can help him with his own sister and she can't say anything about it.

'I want to change myself. But I'm already stuck to being an F-rank for life and entering an F-rank dungeon doesn't even earn me more than three thousand Credits.'

Zen was in distraught, he had awakened as a [Enhanced Physicality Seeker] but his ability could only take him as far as F-rank which is the bottom of the rankings, he wanted to raise his rank but he had hit his limits a long time ago.

The only job that will let him earn a hundred thousand credit a week is by going to Raid by Raid to sell simple necessities like he had been doing for two years.

What he earns right now might not be enough for his sister's medical expenses but because of his years of experience and built connections along the way, Zen thought that in time he just might get far from doing this kind of simple task.

'I think in two years I might be able to buy the newest scooter and with that, it will be much easier for me to move around, hehe, wait for you husbands rise Freya.'

With those sweet delusions of his Zen manage to cheer pick himself up and went to the hospital in smiles.

[Mission Detail: Death inside a dungeon!]

'Shut up!'

Zen's smile went down a bit from irritation after seeing a blue panel visible only to his eyes appear from out of nowhere.