Chapter 55: Underground Labyrinth

Dungeon, first floor, outer zone, the northern area of Atlantis City.

"Is this the place?"

Rayleigh and the others finally arrived at the location of the underground maze where they had to gather information.

"The arrow leads to that cave. It should have become" Hancock said seriously as she stared at the entrance of the underground maze, "What terrifying energy is this?..."

The door of the underground maze was almost like a cave in general. The entrance has a height of up to 4 meters and a width of up to 2 meters. That size still supports Sandersonia and Marigolds to get in there.

By the time they arrived at the entrance of the underground maze. They can all feel deadly energy coming out of the underground maze through its Observation Haki.

"Whatever is in there..." Rayleigh's gaze became very serious, "We have to keep going and collect the information that is there"

Rayleigh paused and continued, "From now on, I want to remind you all. Our current strength is not our strength that exists outside and you know that too. We will protect ourselves. Whoever still survives, continues the mission until he sees the entire underground maze so that our journey here is not in vain. For anyone to die first and be resurrected again, immediately waiting at the resurrection place for us to gather, and after gathering we will go to report related to the information we got"

They all nodded. They know the consequences of this mission. Although they will later lose whatever they previously got, especially Exp points. Fortunately, the reward of this mission is relatively high and there is no worry at all about losing it. The only thing they worry about is the pain later associated with death.

"Let's go"

Rayleigh immediately led them to walk toward the direction of the underground maze.

"This is... The longer this terrifying energy is, the stronger... What monsters are inside this place?"  Rayleigh thought where his face at this time had begun to sweat coldly.

The closer Rayleigh got to the underground maze, the stronger their energy felt him. That energy has the essence of death. Rayleigh knew that the owner of this energy was a monster that was so terrifying that even he was not sure that fighting him would win despite using his power in the outside world.

Instantly they entered the underground maze, and the Observation Haki they had was instantly canceled or could not be used to check the inside of the underground maze.

"This is..."

"What is the ability of your Observation Haki that can't be used either?" Rayleigh asked immediately.

"Yes," Hancock answered her, "What about you?"

"Same" Rayleigh said, "I had predicted this before. By the time we arrived at the entrance earlier. I have used my Observation Haki to check directly the inside of this underground maze. But, instantly my Observation Haki went inside. Like something canceled my Observation Haki to do a live check"

"Does this place have some kind of item that can restrict abilities such as the Observation Haki ability?" Hancock asked, frowning.

"I don't think it's just this place," Rayleigh said back.

"It's not just this place? What do you mean that the entire underground maze that exists in the dungeon has the same mechanism?" Sandersonia asked immediately.

Rayleigh nodded, "Along the way, we have passed several caves. Every time I pass by the cave, I always try to use my Observation Haki to do checks related to the caves. However, my efforts always failed like I did a check related to the underground maze. It seems that the entire underground maze in this dungeon has this kind of mechanism. We can't know what's inside instantly and can only check directly inside."

"Isn't it a loss for our side?" Marigold asked seriously.

Rayleigh shook his head and said, "I think Ars had considered this at the time of the manufacturing process of this place. This place itself was built by Ars to facilitate people to become strong regardless of talent and others. There is also his desire for people to adventure for fun and for others. The creation of this underground maze seems to be aimed at this as well and also the construction of this mechanism aims at those of us who have the ability of Observation Haki to be able to feel the pleasure of exploring."

Rayleigh's face instantly smiled slightly and said, "I haven't felt this kind of exciting feeling for a long time. Since I mastered the ability of Observation Haki, there are almost many things that are no longer interesting. The fight is easy to guess because almost the attack can be known its direction. However, here. There are many interesting things to discover"

Hancock rolled her eyes at this and said, "It's just your enjoyment. Let's complete this mission immediately. I don't want to linger here and those rotten Marines immediately get ahead of us."

Rayleigh nodded and immediately pulled out his sword. Followed by Hancock and others who increased their vigilance to their highest point. They can't currently use their Observation Haki abilities. This means that they do not currently know what will appear in front of them, beside them, or from any direction. The thing they knew was that they would later meet a very scary enemy.

"Remember what I said before. No one can protect ourselves here but ourselves. Pay attention to the surroundings and stay alert. Let's make a move!"

Rayleigh immediately took the lead forward into the underground maze. Luckily the underground labyrinth they entered had lighting where the lighting was obtained through blue crystals scattered in the dungeon ground and also moss plants that could emit light.

Hancock and others are quite interested in the blue crystal, especially because the light emitted by the blue crystal are very beautiful even if it is only small in size. However, considering that they are currently carrying out a mission. They immediately threw out the thought of taking it for use and focusing on the mission they were currently carrying out.

Grand Line, Saboundy Archipelago Island, Mangrove Tree 13, Guild.

"I have already confirmed that it is related to the mission you performed. Your reward is in. Please check it out directly"

Mihawk has finally returned to the Guild and soon comes to Ars to collect rewards for the success of the mission performed by him. Mihawk immediately opened his status panel and saw that his mission reward had been entered and then began arranging his free points distribution to be added to his status window.

Mihawk's current Status panel.

Name: Dracule Mihawk

Level: 2

Status Information:

Strength: 13 (+5)

Defense: 8

Speed: 9

Free Points: 0

Finance: 0 white gold coins 3 gold coins 06 silver coins 0 bronze coins.

Exp: 6.6% (500/7500)

List of Abilities

· Armament Haki (S)

· Observation Haki (A)

· Sword Ability (A)

Equipment:

· Normal Sword - Level 1 (Strength +5)

"Level 2, huh? You are the third person who has reached level 2 to date" Ars said calmly and also full of interest.

"The third person? Who is the first and second?" Mihawk asked immediately re-closing his status panel after successfully adding his free points.

"Garp and Aokiji," Ars said calmly, "Some time ago there has been a change in the ranking list of the highest-level adventurers. Aokiji and Garp are currently ranked highest with Aokiji first and Garp second. However, after you successfully advance to level 2, that position has changed. You currently occupy the first position and are followed by Aokiji and Garp. How? Are you happy?"

"Hmph! I'm not interested in that kind of thing"

"Cold as always" Ars shrugged his shoulders.

"Compared to such boring things, I want to challenge the coaches on the training ground" Mihawk's eyes looked full of enthusiasm and determination, "Where is the training ground located?"

"Oh? Challenge the coaches there? Well, it's not unusual to come from you. It would be strange if you didn't say this, especially considering you've earned enough money to challenge them" Ars said calmly, "You can go to the Colosseum and then walk around the place. You will later find a place that says "Training Place" with the symbol of a sword crossed and then a spear in the middle that points vertically upwards and there is also an arrow bow that adorns the sides. If you get the place, it is the training ground you are looking for"

Mihawk nodded and asked back, "Can I use my sword there?"

"Your sword? Yoru?"

Mihawk nodded.

"Your current level is not enough to use your sword there. The training ground itself has two options for fighting. The first choice is to use your current strength. The point is to use your abilities in dungeons which means level 2 strength. If you have this choice, later the strength of the coaches will also be arranged to be equivalent to your strength. The price for this type of battle is according to your level of strength. The stronger your strength, the more expensive it will be. It also has to do with the strength of the coaches. While the second is to fight in an equal state. It means that you two will have equal strength and equipment. This choice is what distinguishes only the abilities you have. I think this is also the most suitable for you, especially those of you who pursue swordsmanship"

Mihawk nodded in agreement with Ars's words.

"If you want to use your sword, level up to the level where you can use your sword. Right now you can't use it and can only use your current sword to fight in the dungeon"

"I see. Thank you for the information"

Mihawk then immediately turned back into the dungeon with eyes full of strong fighting intent. He couldn't wait to find the training ground immediately.

Ars sighed at Mihawk's leaving back and muttered, "I think, in the future, it will be easy to find that person. As long as someone is looking for him, it is enough for him to go to the training ground. Maybe he'll even become a unique icon there. Hmm?"

As soon as Mihawk left, Zephyr and the others returned to the guild The period between Mihawk and Zephyr did not last long and it is likely that they met while in the city park. However, considering Mihawk's character. Mihawk must not be interested in people who are not swordsmen, especially now that he has set his purpose on something.

"Want to take on a new mission?" Ars asked with a smile.

"Sure" Zephyr nodded and immediately handed the mission sheet under him to Ars.

[Needed! Adventurers or Party to destroy the Bandit Camp that is 5 kilometers that are in the northern area of Mogre Village! Mission reward of 35 silver coins and 3500 Exp points]

[Needed! Adventurer or Party to collect 100 units of Grisal and Exas Grass medicinal plants! Mission time 1 day! Mission reward of 10 silver coins and 1000 Exp points]

[Needed! Adventurer or Party to go on a hunt for horned cows and collect 10 kilograms of meat and 15 liters of horned cow's milk! Mission time 2 days! Mission reward of 20 silver coins and 2000 Exp points]

"Oh? The mission that exists in the village of Mogre? I didn't expect you to distract yourself regarding the location of the mission you are about to perform" Ars said with great surprise at the time of reading the mission to be performed by Zephyr and others.

"The mission rewards in the city are quite small compared to those in the village" Zephyr said calmly.

"Hmm, well, that is indeed the fact. After all, it is usually rare for people to like to do missions there, besides that there are also some facts such as monsters around the villages as well as stronger and more aggressive in strength than those near the main city" Ars paused and continued, "Well, but, considering that shortly this place will soon be known to many people. You must have anticipated this immediately. The missions themselves are quite small in number and the more people come to this place, the fight for that mission will happen soon."

"We don't have a problem with that" Zephyr said, "After all, that's already the rule. Who's first served? In addition, although later there will be such cases. In the future, our strength will become stronger than it is today. We don't need to grab each other's lower-level missions and can do other top-level missions."

"Accurate points" Ars nodded and immediately confirmed related to the mission performed by Zephyr and others.

"By the way, Ars. Have Gion and the others completed their mission?"

"Gion? Not yet" Ars shook his head, "It's been quite a while since they came back. They may have completed their first mission and are currently still in the process of completing the second mission."

"I see" Zephyr nodded.

Soon they immediately received a report related to the mission they wanted to perform. On their left view where the mission panel is recorded. The three missions they took have already entered there and are ready for them to carry out.

"Well, your mission has been confirmed by me. Please feel free to get it done right away"

"We understand" Zephyr immediately turned around and said, "Ain, Binz. Let's go"

"Okay, Sensei!"

Ain and Binz immediately followed Zephyr back to the dungeon. Ars's gaze immediately fell on Ain and muttered, "Is he still not aware of the terrifying potential of his devil fruit? It's a pity~ He just thought of using that ability to restore a person's age. As long as he knows how to use that devil fruit, he will become the most wanted person in the dungeon later. All the forces will want him to be by his side in the future, especially the higher the adventurers go up, the more unpredictable the dungeon will be. I want to know, who will later be the challenger to this dungeon throne? Thinking about it, I got pretty excited"

Ars smiled and immediately returned to his seat and continued reading his book.