23

With the death of the [Grizzly Owl Bear (B)], the dungeon was bound to meet its demise. The [Owl Bear Dungeon Core] was probably looted by whoever killed the guardian.

Alab had already witnessed a dungeon that underwent devastation firsthand. He knew that being caught up in this devastation could cost one's life.

"It's happening, it is slow but the destruction is happening"

Alab could feel the tremor. It was sluggish yet apparent.

"This dungeon is meeting its end", Alab muttered.

It appeared that even the system couldn't prevent the downfall. It altered the duration of the exam instead.

[Remaining time: 59 minutes]

Alab didn't have that much time left. He had to locate the [Owl Bears] right away.

*Clang clang*

Locust elatedly led the way, behind him was Alab, vigil for monsters.

58 minutes later, a piercing cry pricked the ears of Alab. The disoriented cry was calling for help. He was in danger.

The voice spurred familiarity toward Alab. Immediately, he quickened Locust to stride to the location.

And there he saw it, with a little 30 seconds left, the familiar face was drowned in tears. Its wistful eyes yearned for help.

"You need a mana crystal?"

The familiar face was desperate cause, after all, he was ranked bottom.

-----

An hour earlier, Han Seo Yeon and Girth were in the middle of their game when the death of the dungeon guardian's notice obscured their eyes.

[The Dungeon Guardian "Grizzly Owl Bear" (B) has been killed]

[The dungeon will crumble in an hour]

[The examination duration has been changed...]

[Remaining time: 1 hour]

"What should we do? ke", Girth was clueless about their next action.

The notice was too sudden and their plan of steadily looting mana crystals for the entire day was thrown off. Girth couldn't comprehend which species had the power to kill the guardian.

Erratic, Girth urged Han Seo Yeon to think of a suitable plan.

However, Han Seo Yeon began sweating profusely, his sweaty arms were rigid as he shifted his dilated eyes to the deepest part of the dungeon where a mountain of chaotic fumes bore witness to the intense fight that just happened.

Han Seo Yeon couldn't help but get worried about Anastasia. His shoulders drooped knowing her reckless tendency to challenge the impossible.

Han Seo Yeon had a hard time concentrating as he incessantly tapped his foot on the ground.

"A--- Anastasia...", he stammered.

Girth saw his distressed state and regardless of how much he disliked the person, Girth needed his intellect at the moment. He needed to survive.

"WAKE UP! KE!"

*slap*

Girth slapped the rigid cheeks of Han Seo Yeon. It directly pulled the latter of his trance. His dilated eyes were still as he shifted his gaze to Girth before him.

"Think, cat eyes! She is fine, keke, look at the ranking! Idiot!", Girth didn't hold back with his cursing the same way he didn't hold back in the slap.

"Keke", Girth cackled.

Han Seo Yeon regained his rationality as he scribbled through the ranking. As Girth said, Anastasia's name was still there.

"S--- she is fine", Han Seo Yeon heaved a sigh.

It was obvious to Girth right at this moment that Han Seo Yeon was feeling something special toward Anastasia. He was torn between telling it to Anastasia and disrupting their special relationship before it even bloom. Or he could keep it to himself and use it to blackmail Han Seo Yeon in later times.

"Keke, clever, I am so clever!", Girth blurted out.

Han Seo Yeon caught his breath as he shut his eyes for a while. Only after a minute did Girth urge him for their next plan.

'Why does he seem excited?'

Han Seo Yeon felt strange at the sight of Girth with puffed cheeks seemingly holding his laughter. A vigorous tear escaped his eyes along with a suppressed cackle.

"Keke!"

'Did he finally lose his mind?'

"For our plan, I think we should go as far as possible from the dungeon heart.", Han Seo Yein shrugged Girth.

The commotion would definitely horrify the [Owl Bears] looming close to the dungeon heart. It was obvious that a monster that was driven by nothing instinct would flee from the dangerous scene.

Engaging them as they fled would be reckless. They didn't know how many monsters were left. A myriad of monsters could ignite a stampede. They didn't want to be trampled on.

"It is best to pull back and engage in a battle once they are finally scattered. We could battle 3 at most monsters anyways", Han Seo Yeon added.

Girth didn't give it much thought as he just nodded his head. In their time venturing into the dungeon, Han Seo Yeon came to learn the obedient side of Girth.

He learned that once fed with confidence and reality, Girth would obey the person given that he was reliable. Though, Han Seo Yeon also believed that it was also because Girth had something to gain in return.

"keke. should we continue the game then?", Girth insisted on continuing their little game.

However, Han Seo Yeon was given no time to utter another word as suddenly, a pack of 5 [Owl Bears] emerged from the depth of the dungeon. The tremors brought by their disorderly rush were overshadowed by the chaotic tremor from earlier that remained echoing through the dungeon.

It was too late for them to notice the 5 massive owlbears that dashed right in their direction.

"KEKEKE!"

Girth grew disoriented. He just knew that battling these monsters would result in one thing - their helpless death. T

They just couldn't win against 5 owlbears.

*dash*

"Girth, don't go there!", Han Seo Yeon had a hard time catching his breath but he had to look for Girth. However, as he turned his head, Girth had already fled the scene, erratic.

Girth stepped on a spherical item camouflaged in the piled-up dried leaves. It was a trap. The trap shone with light as Girth's foot pressed on it.

"ke!"

In a breath, Girth vanished in the area...

"Girth!"

----

About 55 minutes later, Girth huddled inside a crevice as his face drowned with beads of sweat. His hunched shoulder quivered, and inner turmoil overcame him.

He was beyond anxious. And fearful.

[Rank 962: Girth Libra (0 mana crystals) (-3)

Rank 963: Felix Malekith (0 mana crystals) (-1)]

Girth was among the bottom two. He would die.

"Keeee, help, kee", Girth was pleading to the void, his wistful eyes hopeful to reach his team members.

"blonde girl, cat eyes, reckless boy, ke, help me..."

[Remaining time: 6 seconds]

"ke"

Ticking of the time pricked his ears like a needle. A waft of chaotic air seemed to mock his pitiful state as a tear finally escaped his eyes. Girth had lost all hope.

Only 3 seconds remained. He would die.

Or so he thought... At this moment, a silhouette of a man became apparent through the crevice. Girth spurred familiarity from the image and eagerly called out the person.

*roll*

Several mana crystals rolled to his side in no time...

-----

On the other hand, Felix was awoken by the turbulent eruption of fumes. A binding hugged his arms and feet, deeming him unable to make even the slightest move.

He was imprisoned behind the tangled woods of a large hollow tree. Felix tried to recall what caused this situation.

As he scrambled through his memories, he was led to the image of the goblins. The occurrence two days ago then began flooding his mind.

He recalled recuperating from the damage he received from the battle with an [Owl Bear] on the very moment he arrived in the dungeon. Then, the goblins who were so intent on crippling him appeared in his hiding spot.

Krok pulled him out and what came after was tragic. A bat hammered his head, leaving him unconscious for three days now.

"Those goblins...", Felix couldn't comprehend why the goblins hated him to the bones.

Only an hour remained now but Felix doubted that he could escape this entanglement.

"Argh!"

He moved an inch and an excruciating pain overwhelmed his body. Felix halted as he panted for air.

"This item, it is C-grade at least. Just where did they get this?", Felix wondered how the goblins acquired such an item this early.

[Remaining time: 30 minutes]

*spurt*

Blood gushed out his body as Felix grew desperate. He had to escape no matter what! And at the soonest time possible as killing and acquiring mana crystals was another matter to think about.

*pant pant*

Felix heaved a deep breath then hold it as he moved his limbs disregarding the excruciating pain that seemed to prick his brain. He felt that his arms were about to break but Felix could care less. He had to escape.

*splash*

At last, Felix freed himself from the entanglement. He immediately threw his body of out the tangled woods, leaving behind a pool of blood and dismembered limbs...

Felix ran in search of monsters, armless...

The fearful monsters fleeing from the dungeon depths seemed to fulfill his wish sooner yet rather exaggeratedly.

Alas, 10 [Owl Bears] greeted Felix!

"Brother", Felix couldn't help but think of his brother at this last moment.

His arms regenerated in an instant as vigor visibly left his body. Heaving a breath, he made sure to get even a single mana crystal or at least, drag a monster to death with him.

"ARGH"

The coward, naive, and vulnerable Felix brimmed with desperation.

However, all his gathered wills were deemed futile. He just couldn't stand even a bit of chance toward this pack of owlbears.

In the end, Felix, once again armless, lay on the ground as he watched his death descend with his dilated eyes.

"I... I hope you will at least remember my name, brother", Felix yearned in the air...

But, he was not readily to succumb to death after all as a loud voice escaped his mouth, betraying his thoughts. Tears drenched his eyes.

"HELPPP!", Felix cried for help.

Before the ravenous paws could pierce his little figure, an entity dashed toward the area, killing the monsters in an instant.

Then, an unfamiliar person arrived. A question was raised followed by the sudden rolling of mana crystals.

[Remaining time: 1 second]

Felix had survived the examination...