Chapter One: Vow

I'd often pondered what it felt like to be afraid of the dark.

" Run! Don't look back "

no

I had no idea it meant the urge to be conscious at all times.

"Take him, Juelle, and protect your brother forever."

No

Because if you close your eyes inadvertently, your heartbeat quickens and you sweat profusely.

"Elvan, come to your senses; do you wish to ruin their efforts to save you?"

NO

You get a rendezvous with the god of death.

"Elvan and Juelle, we shall be looking after you both henceforth."

NO

On December 11, 2024, I turned 19, and despite having spent much of my days inside the four walls of my bedroom, I had three pals.

One of whom, Andrés, a gaming geek renowned for his compassion and caring attitude, decided to utilise his free coupons from Daneys, the only notable eatery in the heart of Brares, to host a surprise party.

It was indeed a special day for me, but even after everyone knew, no one revealed any about the innate trigger for the celebrations, which was certainly surviving two years of working as a D-Class hunter.

Unlike some other worlds in which the gates naturally emerged and the risk of dungeon release was very low, our gates were constructed and put up with substantial peril, prompting their release to be frequent.

It evolved to a stage at which S and A-class hunters opted to forgo their duties because the tales of the fallen warriors eclipsed the number of soap operas.

But just as all faith seemed crushed and many began heralding the end of civilization, a proposed regulation materialized.

It vowed to compensate D-class hunters with luxuries in trade for uncovering where the dungeon's horrors are housed and to confer fame on the remainder for sweeping out those areas ahead of its release.

Provided how charming the suggestion was, it took little time for it to be endorsed and garner widespread backing from folks of all walks of life.

And so, as a result, they failed to notice a covert stipulation that barred them from departing their profession after embracing it.

From the first, it was a two-edged rapier: either live and prevail, or perish and let the others prevail by the scent of your death.

However, there was little anybody could do about it as it was then too late.

"Behold ... Behold." Claire looked around. She is a natural stunner with sparkling hazel eyes and flawless skin that accentuates her tresses alongside an athletic frame who became known for her detection prowess in lesser dungeons. "We're all going to be free tomorrow."

"Hey! We shouldn't bank on the Chevalier guild since they are a dishonest bunch and nothing great will emerge from handing them the essence of life. " Andres sighed. He was intent on shattering the milestone for a title that has existed for over five years, but he was conscious and sporadically peeked at everybody else.

"There are some dependable friends we can rely on; we won't be wrecked as long as we stick to their party, and after that, we very well could go down in history as one of the fabled D-rankers who took possession of the accursed blades of the 70th floor," Danez kissed his saber. Because of his exceptional insight, his innate loyalty and modesty, and the fact that he is always there for her through her highs and lows, Danez is Claire's bond.

"Well, I just recalled that this incursion also includes Elvan's sister. Why is a gravitational caster essential in an undead dungeon? Their charms only affect the living. " Andres furrowed his brows and sought an explanation from me with a sneer and amusement.

"You know, she barely fills me in on anything pertaining to her profession, but supposedly the undead in that dungeon are being manipulated by an ex-ranker." I stated as I scrolled through the Dtube profile of a shadow creator. My motions were light and uncomplicated, and I was in the rear observing them as a by-product of a passion I had scooped up throughout my countless spells of confinement.

"Whoa, Shadow Creator! You must have paid a premium to subscribe to one of them! How on earth did you amass such a laughable sum? " Andres crept up on me. His wrists were perpetually encompassed by some red, shimmering splinters which appear only when he exercises his translocation power. What are you keeping from us?

"You don't need to be alarmed; Juelle merely wanted to give it to me as a present so that I could keep my intellect sharp," I breathed loudly. I could feel their stares digesting the serene ambience around me as I quietly slipped my gear into my dimension belt.

"I believe you're uninformed that an S-rank hunter is barred from forming any connections with shadow creators since it can trigger confusion and manipulation in the world." Danez mumbled a hex to stop me from moving while he crossed his arms. "You're not going to leave without being honest."

"Fine! Okay, I will tell you the whole story, but it can't be this sudden. There really are matters I ought to resolve, and so I hope you can hold on till the raid tomorrow. We can converse within the dungeon. " I replied. Despite knowing it was fruitless, I kept making efforts to burst loose of the mental shackles binding me, given that they were taut and crushing my heart with their fatal intent.

"Let him be Danez, He definitely merits this much time. Calling into question one another at this juncture is the last thing we should be doing. He must have had a cause. " Claire insisted. Her hand was softly stroking his shoulder, which discreetly granted him a moment to find solitude "Let's go home alright."

"Don't forget your own vows, Elvan, and convey my regards to Juelle and the others in your family. We will be eagerly waiting for you. " Danez waved