Dungeons, Hunters, and Guilds

From the beginning of time, there was always a need for balance. If there are conflicts, there are bound to be solutions. And with it arises new conflicts that are to be solved once again. It was the current flow of time, a never ending cycle, but it is the balance needed for the world to maintain its order.

But within the peaceful days of humanity, a certain conflict arises that changes the whole world. And it was the discovery of the dungeons, a pit, a place where treasures and heavenly artefacts are bound to be plenty inside. However, it does not come without a challenge. With the appearance of the dungeons, came the existence of monsters. An unidentified existence, taking the form of whatever their respective dungeon's ecosystem was.

Fortunately for the humans, the monsters never leave their dens. Even so, it is in man's nature to plunder, even if it costs a life, theirs or the others. And so, they delve into the dungeons to loot the said treasures, but alas, they are overwhelmed, as they are merely humans with no special skills regarding extermination of monsters. However, as balance dictates it, one of the humans has discovered something.

In the brink of danger, this person awakened a certain power, dormant and lingering, he forcefully surpassed his limits and defeated each of the monsters one by one. Attribute system. A system that allows them to break past human limitations, gaining skills such as wizardry and much more. The only explanation that they could come up with was, of course, that it was a form of equilibrium imposed when the existence of monsters was affirmed.

Thus, more humans have become aware of their lingering attributes and skills. Those humans are now what are called, the Hunters. They fearlessly delve into the discovered dungeons, raiding and plundering the treasures and artifacts that it possessed. But there are dungeons that were impossible to challenge, those that delve into it never came back. These dungeons are now what they call, Abyssal Fronts.

Dungeons have been labelled into many categories since then. From the ascending order of lowest to highest rank: Thicket (Green), Rain (Blue), Star (Yellow), Blood (Red), Prism (White), and finally the Abyssal Front (Pitch Dark). With it, also comes the ranking of Hunters, based on their attributes in addition to the rank of dungeons that they could conquer. The rank titles of the hunters was also the same as the dungeons with the Human rank as an addition, which is the lowest of them. Though, never in history, that a hunter has reached the rank of Abyssal.

Many years have passed, the system of treasure hunting and licensing of hunters has been put into law just so there would be order. The most important and notable implementations that the enforcing agencies have added, was the guild system where hunters could form their own group to do dungeon raids and exploration. This system has been imposed for about 10 years already, though the discoveries of the dungeons were already a century ago.

As said back then, there were no hunters or even guilds that managed to reach or clear an Abyssal Front. However, this time in the present, one guild has successfully withstand the challenges of an Abyssal Front and plundered it. With a certain human leading them, this guild has reached the eyes and ears of the many, and will continue so in the future.

— — —

"Mmmh…just a few more minutes…"

Telmaris. The nation, boasting supreme fame and power due to the different high ranking guilds it houses. To add, more and more dungeons seem to be appearing near its borders and neighbouring lands, making it a haven for treasure hunters…but not for ordinary humans. Such as the one who is seemingly on the lookout for something.

"Yeah, I knew it already but guess what, I really am a fool thinking that I could skip breakfast and not worry about getting hungry until lunch…"

The man looks around, hoping for some good Samaritan to ask him if he needs help or rather, offer him even some biscuits.

He pulls his hood down as he decides to himself that he does not need anyone to help him.

"No, you can do this Zep."

He mumbles to himself.

The man's name is Zephyr. A young man who has a fair height and average build. His looks are normal as it gets, with his dead white hair and choice of clothes which is a plain white top under a long dark robe with white lace patterns. His eyes are heavy due to the lack of sleep and skipping breakfast which he wants to hide from the townspeople, hence, the hood he is currently wearing. He also wears a number of trinkets, specifically two rings on each hand, a bracelet and a necklace.

The town is currently lively today, as this day marks the schedule for the gathering of different famous guilds from each of their respective branches. This was announced right before the Elite Explorers have discovered numerous marks outside of the border area. Which basically means…that the monsters might possibly leave their respective dungeons in the future and invade towns. Some people are also free to observe them from the outside and astonish themselves with the high ranking guilds.

Going back to the plain Zephyr, as fate would have it, he collided with someone who is currently in a hurry.

"Ow ouchie…"

It was a woman who wears an insignia of a famous guild, and moreover, her badge is colored Red, a high ranking one.

"Ah, s-sorry! I didn't mean to-"

Zephyr looks at what she's holding: a letter of invitation, sent to guilds for the gathering. There he realized that he and this woman might just be heading to the same place.

"Ah, no it's fine. I'm the one who's not looking. Oh by the way, are you a local of this town?"

The woman rubs her hair as she bows down to him as a form of apology.

Zephyr puts his hands forward as if signifying the woman to stop bowing to him.

"P-please, don't bow to someone like me. And uh…to answer your question, well…I suppose I am?"

The woman tilts her head as the man she just asked, replied with another sort of question, moreover, rather a rhetorical one. She chose to shrug it off. She clasps her hands and breathes deeply.

"Please! Would you mind helping a lost girl find the way to a tavern called, Gringar!?"

Flustered, Zephyr steps back a little as the woman gets closer to his face.

"Alright!"

He answered willfully, as to stop her further.

"We're going to the same place anyway…"

Zephyr then scratches his cheeks lightly.

"Yeah! Thank you, good citizen! And I see, going to observe hmm? The fate of the land depends on this meeting after all. Lead the way then, general!"

The woman poses like a knight after those silly words of hers.

"Err, alright."

Zephyr sighs and proceeds to walk. As they do, his eyes secretly observe the woman. She is as tall as him, slim and has a perfect body for a guileful assassin, paired with equipment like belt pouches and light armor. Though, contrary to that, her brunette hair draws attention, as it looks shining when placed under the sun.

The woman looks towards him.

"My name's Erika, I'm currently representing the Guild, Shadow Core, along with two of my teammates who left me and are already at the site."

She speaks like it's normal for them to leave her behind.

Zephyr only looks at her without turning his head.

"Shadow Core…ah, the Blood Ranked Guild from West Zennovia. You came a long way from home then. Though, for assassins like you…maybe five or six days of travel time was possible."

Erika was surprised that a normal citizen like him knows a lot, and he guessed it right that they only took five days to arrive.

"Whoa, you sure know your stuff huh. Well, not to boast or anything, but you're right. Five days is all we need to reach this land, hehe."

She then looks at the sky with excitement reflecting in her glimmering eyes.

"I'm really looking forward to this day, you know!"

Zephyr smiled a little.

"Yeah, a lot of people do actually. It's the first time that the major guilds from different lands are able to fit in their schedule for a meeting."

"Right!? To finally have a day to meet legends, it's an honor!"

Erika breathes in and lets it out afterwards.

"Though, there is one thing I'm looking forward to the most. And I bet the others are also thinking the same."

They slowed down a bit as Erika kept on talking.

"It's to finally meet them, the Guild who is said to be composed of the strongest hunters in their own rights. The only Guild who has conquered an Abyssal Front and came back without any casualties."

Zephyr swallows his saliva as he knows what she's talking about. Erika then speaks in a more respective tone before speaking the Guild's name.

"The Abyss ranked Guild: [Grim Fate]!"