Chapter 78: Rank-S Dungeon

Arrived at a remote village. Ray immediately saw a light blue portal in the middle of the village which had been surrounded by several dozen Homunculus soldiers, barricading the portal while the villagers mostly ignored the portal's existence and lived as usual. Showing the level of trust they have for the soldiers to protect their lives.

As soon as both of us arrived. The soldiers saluted and gave us full control of the site. I simply entered the dungeon with Charlotte without unnecessary talk.

Inside the dungeon was a clearing within a forest. The tree canopy is dense and thick which left most of the ground to be dark or barely getting any sunlight.

"Interesting. It's like a section of a world cut off and kept in a separate dimension." Ray spread his senses to investigate this world.

"What should I do, Master?" Charlotte was excited and eagerly awaiting an order but Ray patted her head and shook his head.

"There's no need to fight them." Ray said as a few figures appeared from the forest, leaving their hiding spot of ambush and kneeled before him.

"Goblin?" Charlotte looks at the green, short and hideous creature with mild disgust while basking in the affection of her master.

"G-Great Monarch… please spare us weak goblins. We swear loyalty to the Monarch." An outlier among the goblins, a hobgoblin walked out the treeline and joined its tribesmen and submissively kneel to Ray.

The term 'Monarch' sounds familiar to Ray but he couldn't quite remember it right now. That's something to investigate later.

As much as he wanted to accept the willing followers. The goblins are weak. Even the hobgoblin are several times weaker than a Wraith horseman.

The goblins shifted uncomfortably as no answer was given to their swear of loyalty. However, their instinct screamed something very primal and very evil inside him. The only one similar to Ray imare those Monarchs.

Ray summoned a Wraith horseman which shocked the goblins.

"I will accept your loyalty if you all could defeat my weakest soldier." Ray spoked and the horseman brandished his zweihander to carry out his master's order.

Those goblins were massacred like a properly armed knight against hundreds of toddlers. Not even the quantity can even the odds.

Ray and Charlotte sit back and watch. But Ray was interested in this piece of land which he planned to steal from whatever controlling the dungeon's emergence.

Unsurprisingly, none survived and the Dungeon was cleared because the hobgoblin turned out to be the boss. He stowed away the piece of land and opened a portal back to the outside.

Ray proceeds to investigate and clear out a few more low ranked dungeons before stopping after figuring out the nature of the dungeons.

The dungeons are most likely formerly a complete world but somehow torn into pieces with each containing specific species of monsters that could be duplicates, especially lower ranked ones like Goblins and Kobolds which he found four dungeons having the same monsters.

Besides that, the monsters are somehow similar to those in Teyvat where killing them will make the killer gain a portion of the monster's soul and strengthen their body or cultivate abilities in a similar manner to his System.

"Interesting… perhaps I could recreate the effects." Ray mused as he returned with Charlotte.

While Ray was peacefully settled down to investigate the dungeon. The world around him is slowly descending to yet another turmoil now that humanity has the power to oppose the supernatural side.

With power comes greed and greed leads to conflict.

———

"They are too weak. Even a mere Rank-A Hunter can wipe out the entire group and we made profit from the good stuff they had, just like the boss said." Few Hunters group together and raid a small magic cabal.

"Yeah, those Mystic Code things really are good stuff. None of the Hunters are able to make any without the necessary skills but they can create them using their magic." A low ranked Hunter grunt said while smiling very pleased with the enchanted dagger they found.

"That's why the boss told us to bring them alive. Those freaks are useful to the organization. With these magic weapons, we can dominate the dungeons and soon break ourselves free from the constraint of laws." The leader sighed at his underlings who killed all the Magus. Not that he is blaming them as the Magus put up fierce resistance.

Meanwhile, without the Hunters noticing. There was a familiar crow spying on them.

———

"What is the Lords decision?"

"None for now but the Queen and Wizard Marshall ordered the Magic Association of Europe to stay put for now and avoid any conflict."

Within a dimly lit room, a gathering of various representatives of families and smaller organizations in the supernatural side gather up to discuss the recent rebellion of their 'herded sheeps' turning into wolves and now baring their fangs at them.

"Fuck the Magic Association! Do they want us to be killed by half before they are going to implement any countermeasures?!" A representative with more aggressive ideology left after having no solution from the Magic Association and decided to bring the matter into his own hand.

Few were inspired and also left to join the person that had decided to fight back instead of letting themselves to be picked apart by the newly formed underground organizations made up of normal people and Hunters to make profit in the turbulent world.

"It's partly our fault." One person spoked. "We believed in our superiority too much and thought that Magus was able to easily suppress the common people, never did we think they could turn on us."

"Look at the new sovereign of Germany. They had long infiltrated the government of the people and subtlety took control of it long before everything happened. Now, they basically own the nation because the people are relying on Einzbern to safeguard the land while they are able to monopolize the dungeon and profit from it like the Hunters."

"Yes, our spies said their vassals are using the dungeons like the Hunters to increase their power with 'leveling' and become top Hunters of the Rank-A."

Everyone becomes silent as Rank-A level Hunters are very strong as their power is measured at the amount of devastation they could create single handedly. If Rank-S is able to dominate a state, Rank-A can dominate a region.

"That's only the tip of the iceberg. The real reason Einzbern stayed unchallenged is due to the brilliant leadership of Tanya von Einzbern. She is the right-hand of the Einzbern family Head and brilliant strategist to control not only their territory but also their businesses unlike us that get seized by the government around the world." The man punched the table in anger because their businesses being seized also weakened them immensely as they were unable to get supplies necessary for their magecraft.

In the background, a few more people slip off. Intending to jump ship from the Magic Association to the Einzbern. Fuck the Magus and their pride. Pride doesn't put bread on the table or make them live another day.

"Are you suggesting we abandon the Clock Tower and beg the Einzbern to join them?"

"Then what do you want us to do? Keep waiting until everything is too late while sucking up to those Lords and big families that care none about us and only themselves?" A man said and left.

The other participants look at each other before deciding that the previous guy isn't wrong. Magus cares only about themselves and their family. Not the others. They as small families and cabal groups are merely convenient pawns for them.

———

In an undisclosed location, the Lords of Clock Tower are discussing rather fiercely and almost becoming a fight as the more sensible one wants to seek help in such dire times while some prideful Lords rather let their people die than admit their helplessness. Even Lorelei Barthomeloi is helpless to lead this meeting into a proper conclusion as Zelretch is still missing to help her deter these stubborn mules.

Waver Velvet was also present in the meeting as the Lord El-Melloi II. He also supported the suggestion to seek help from Einzbern because they are the only one left unaffected by the loss of Mystery but he was immediately called out as dogs of the Einzbern because of the connection between Einzbern and El-Melloi family.

Suddenly, a portal opened up and the only one capable of doing it was none other than Zelretch as this space was sealed off to others by himself.

"I heard you need my attendance for this meeting? I sometimes wonder how the Clock Tower still has yet to crumble with such incompetent leadership but my decision is simple. Stop being so judgemental and use the dungeons to your benefit. Lord El-Melloi II's decision to obtain help from Einzbern is also good to help us stabilize for now."

"Anyway, I cannot provide any help as my hands are still tied, dealing with the aftermath of the last incident." Zelretch said his piece and left immediately before anyone could voice out.

After Zelretch had spoken, even the most stubborn Lord had to agree and respect his decision.

"Since our decisions are clear. Lord El-Melloi II will be our spokesman between the Einzbern. The rest will make progress towards raising our power similarly to the Hunters using the dungeon. Any disagreement? None?"

"Good. This meeting is dismissed."

———

Back at Einzbern palace.

Ray joins everyone for dinner before spending a night with his women who clearly missed him while he is training.

"So, how is your investigation?" Tanya asked while dressing up for the night. Picking a red lace nightgown instead of usual pajamas because it's obvious everyone is going to have a sleepless night tonight.

"Fruitful I would say." Ray replied while on the large bed with Charlotte already latched to him.

A second later, Artoria knocked the door and entered.

Everyone joined Ray on the bed and Ray was helpless to deny their request since he didn't attend to them for a month. Artoria was especially restless and going to pin him down the moment she saw him this morning if not for Ray teached her to restrain herself.

"Enough about me. I want to know if the Hunters have been difficult to you. I heard from Charlotte that some underground groups are causing problems in our territory."

"Nothing I couldn't deal with. But, indeed the Hunters are lacking restraint because the government relied too much on them and forced to give them a lot of privileges. Although, I heard there will be a special governing body specifically for Hunters made by the government to control the increasingly unruly Hunters." Tanya replied and made her way to the bed with everyone.

"This organization is a Hunter Association made by the top Rank-S Hunters, using their strength to rule other Hunters because law no longer constrains them and only power will make Hunters listen nowadays. Korea is the leading one, having already established the Korean Hunter Association and followed by America, China and Japan."

"Listen only to power huh…" Ray mumbled and thought for a bit while he absentmindedly lifted Tanya to his lap with Telekinesis.

Tanya lifts both her hands and holds Ray's head to look at her. "Leave those for later. For now, just look at us only." She purred. Just a second ago, she was normal. Her expression just changed like a flick of a switch to an eager kitty seeking for affection.

"Me too, Master."x2 Charlotte and Artoria also joined.

"Alright alright. I just thought it was a good opportunity to establish ourselves in the human side through the Hunter Association." Ray voiced his thoughts before putting it aside to start the foursome session.

———

Six long intense hours later, all three had fallen asleep after they were satisfied by Ray. Artoria unsurprisingly lasted the longest considering she had her dragon heritage, it isn't odd.

Then he crawled out the sticky and sweaty pile of bodies before he went to clean himself with a bath. After all, sleep was unnecessary for him. So, he might as well make good use of those times.

His current interest is to recreate the phenomena where the soul of the monsters in the dungeon will nourish it's killer and reverse engineer it to instead create a tool of some sort to consume the soul of his prey to nourish him.

It wasn't hard after the sufficient data he collected from his investigation. He uses the help of the Demon God Pillars as his mental processor and created a device that does exactly that in under three hours.

It was a ring that contained a magic inside that would absorb the ownerless and deceased soul in the vicinity, break it down and nourish the body.

To try it out. Ray opens a portal to Australia that is currently infested by draconic monsters.

First, he tried to kill a wyvern but surprisingly. The soul of the wyvern can still be absorbed by his body automatically even outside the dungeon which debunks the theory that the effect was imposed by the dungeon and confirmed it was in fact an effect carried by each monster that originated from the dungeon.

Next, Ray put on the ring. On the first attempt, only around half of the wyvern soul was absorbed but with the ring on, the soul was fully absorbed. The effect when the ring is worn is 100% absorption rate of the soul. Basically means it increases EXP acquisition rate in RPG terms.

"I wonder if I should try and kill the boss of this dungeon?" Ray wondered as he had finished what he wanted to achieve but still had a few hours before morning.

"Eh… might as well. Why not." Ray picks himself up and starts to move closer to the first and only Rank-S dungeon that ever appeared of now.

The Rank-S dungeon appeared too early and only 80+ Rank-S Hunters around the world. 35 of them participated in the clearing of the dungeon in fear it would break. However, none of them survived the dungeon and it broke, causing the entire Australia to be infested by these lesser dragons.

While they are incredibly strong physically and have resistance to magic attack, surprisingly none of them could last even one hit from a casual beam that Demon God Pillars shoot.

'Shall we exterminate these lesser dragons, king?'

"Go ahead." Ray gave his permission before summoning all the Pillars to cover more ground and clear those monsters faster.

As he flew closer to the place where the dungeon gate supposedly appeared, Ray found it wasn't just lesser dragons but actual dragons also popping up from the dungeon too. A four legged dragon with a pair of wings with wingspan of 10 meters, breathing fire at him but Ray dispatched it easily with a red beam.

"Interesting… could it be that the real boss is a true dragon?" Ray couldn't help but get excited at the prospect of taming another dragon. Nothing wrong with wanting more of these majestic beasts under his command.

———

"Sir, you might want to see this!" A soldier tasked with surveillance of the recently inhabitable land urged his superior to take a look at the screen.

"What is it, John? Did another one fly out of the country?"

"No, better if you take a look at it yourself, sir." John said and pointed at the image that the surveillance drones caught.

"This person appeared suddenly at 3:47 am and started killing two wyvern before he suddenly did something and summoned 72 of these things which started killing those dragons left and right." John recounted.

"Could it be, he is a Hunter?"

"Negative, sir. Can't find him on any official records."

They watch through all the cameras and find more of those monstrosities with multiple eyes, exterminating the lesser dragons while the monsters and swarming inward the land to fight the new enemies.

"Hmn. Keep observing and report your progress. I need to report this to the higher ups immediately." The leader quickly left, leaving John and few of his fellow brothers to keep an eye on Ray.

—————