Nether Crypt

'So this is the entrance,' Kimly thought, her dim blue eyes staring at the imposing Gateway of the Dungeon in awe. The structure before her was an otherworldly and mysterious dome, cloaked with various stripes of color that were swirling around like massive serpents.

The Gateway radiated a powerful energy and just by standing near it, Kimly began feeling a tingling sensation creeping all over her body. She knew how dangerous it is to a non-Awakened to venture inside it, but she was in desperate need of money.

"Move out girl!" Shouted a thin man as he came from behind. He had a rectangular face and his eyes looked creepy, but Kimly coped up with him. After all, he was the one who would pay her for carrying the large backpack.

Nonetheless, she grumbled to herself before following him, wondering why he had even bothered asking for her name if he wasn't going to use it, she followed him and entered the Dungeon's Gateway.

Behind them, the man with a medium build and wearing a battle suit followed, looking kind and caring toward Kimly.

"Don't worry about him. He may act like this, but he's caring inside." He assured the young girl, hiding his true intentions behind his mind and plotting something entirely different.

The thin man heard him speak and looked behind. Smiling viciously, he thought about how easy it is to manipulate little girls.

As they passed through one of the ancient-looking sturdy doors, Kimly's vision was abruptly obscured, turning entirely black. Her heart raced and her eyes darted around, everywhere she looked was black. As she began panicking, the kind man's assurance reached her ears, slightly making her calm.

"Relax girl. You'll see the light soon."

Just as he finished speaking, a musky smell filled Kimly's nose. After a moment, her vision returned. She found herself in a dark pathway, made of brick-like smooth stones on all corners, occasionally lit by the torches on both sides.

"We have to walk another 10 minutes before we enter the dungeon," the man ahead of them barked. Kimly flinched at his voice but followed him obediently.

"Don't mind him. He always acts like that," the kind man said with a warm smile, walking beside Kimly.

"Is the bag too heavy? Can you carry it all the way?"

"It isn't heavy sir."

"I see. Well, we will only hunt for half a day before we return. Can you manage until then?"

"Yes sir. I can."

Kimly answered with a weak smile, feeling a bit safer with the kind man. Ever since Kimly and Reaina had left their home in the middle of the night, things hadn't gone as smoothly as they had hoped. Now that Reaina was sick, Kimly had to do something to help her.

Hearing stories about how Awakened got stronger and rich by diving into Dungeons, Kimly decided to try her luck. Using her height and her mother's special pass, she fooled the security guards and entered this Stronghold, knowing how dangerous it would be to earn some money.

"Do you know how we entered?" the man continued, pulling Kimly out of her thoughts.

"No?" She answered somewhat reluctantly.

"Let me explain then," the man began telling Kimly about Dungeons and other things. Even though she had learned about them in textbooks, she still found the new information interesting. She started asking questions and became more and more curious.

In this world, there were two types of energy found in every living organism: Mana and Dark Matter. They were always together, like fish and water, one awakened and one dormant. Mana helped the Awakened, while Dark Matter corrupted their souls and made them lose control, turning them into destructive beings.

Dungeons were mysterious tunnels filled with both Mana and Dark Matter. They were also the source of valuable minerals that could be mined and used for various things. All the monsters inside the Dungeon were corrupted, and the more corrupted they were, the stronger they became. There were different State of corruption, ranging from Stable to Abysmal using a scale of 0-10.

0 - 3.9: Stable State - Dangerous. (Low chance of Losing Control)

4 - 5.9: Tainted State - Highly dangerous. (Equal Chance of Losing Control)

6 - 8.9: Perilous State - Highest Danger. (High Chance of Losing Control)

9 - 10: Abysmal State - Impossible to Defeat.

Non-Awakened people had a Corruption Rate of 0 to 0.9, but if it increased and they became Awakened, they could store Mana in their heart and use it. Otherwise, they would become mindless monsters attacking anything in sight.

To enter a Dungeon, you had to pass through a Gateway. Nobody knew who built the Gateways or what Dungeons truly were, but they had existed since ancient times, shaping the world.

Dungeons had a period called Expiration Time, which determined when they would change. During a Dungeon Shift, all the mana and monsters would replenish.

If all the monsters weren't cleared before a Dungeon Shift, it could lead to a Dungeon Break, where the core of the Dungeon split and allowed an infinite number of monsters to attack.

There are five stages of Dungeons, with Stage 5 having an Expiration Time of five months and Stage 0, with the highest Corruption Rate and three days to clear.

The Dungeon's Stage changes with each Shift, like a ticking time bomb.

"The Dungeon we're in is called Nether Crypt. It is filled with traps and it never goes below Stage 4," the man explained.

"What about the monsters found here?"

"They're mostly lizard types that can be killed with fire. The oxygen in the Dungeon never runs out, but we have to be careful," he answered.

"Umm."

"And remember," his voice turned serious, "this Dungeon is also filled with treasure chests. Don't go near them, even if they're filled with golden coins."

Kimly listened attentively, her ears perking up at the mention of coins.

"If you ever open a treasure chest..." he began but was interrupted by the thin man's shrill voice.

"We arrived," The other man announced.

Finally, they arrived inside the Nether Crypt. The entire tunnel is lit by strange, red-glowing rocks scattered throughout the area. The walls are rough and marked with mysterious symbols. The air felt heavy and carried a faint metallic smell.

The ground beneath their feet was a mix of dirt, gravel, and patches of moss. The Dungeon stretched ahead, splitting into three paths. The only sound that could be heard was the faint echo of droplets falling, reverberating through the corridors.

Kimly stood there, taking in the eerie surroundings. Goosebumps formed on her skin as she absorbed everything. Meanwhile, the two men took a step back and started discussing their plans.

"Did you make sure that no one followed?" The thin man whispered urgently.

"Yes. I kept an eye out the whole time. There is only a week before the Dungeon Shift so one actually bothered coming here." The kind-looking man replied.

"Perfect! Each part of her will fetch a high price in Eden," The thin man exclaimed happily. Eden is a common name for the underworld where every illegal gathering is conducted.

"But first, let's find a safer place. We can't be too sure about anything," the kind man advised cautiously.

As the men were discussing their planes, Kimly started to sense someone calling to her. When she began looking where the voice was coming from, her eyes landed on the treasure chest in the corner.

"No way…" She gasped, her eyes widening. Without thinking, she began walking toward the unopened chest. The closer she got, the stronger the calling increased.

"If I have all those coins, then I won't have to worry about my sick mother," Kimly whispered to herself, her eyes shimmering with hope.

When the men returned and began searching Kimly in panic, she was already a step away from the chest.

"Wait!"

"Stop!"

Both of them shouted, but Kimly was too interested in the chest in front of her. Before the men ran her way, she opened the lid.

BAM!

Thick fog engulfed the area with a loud sound. When the men finally reached the spot, they found it empty. Kimly and the chest had vanished without a trace.