D&D

Chapter 14: D&D

"You really don't hold back kid. You were eager to try what I taught you right?"

"I was simply testing my power. Seems like I need to learn a small-scale skill to fight later"

"At this point, you don't even need any of your skills. You could just punch your way through the mass of monsters. I don't think any human could beat you now if you fight seriously"

"Yes, but... isn't fighting is all about those flashy skills? I can't just let my enemies use all those cool skills and I end up beating them with a lame punch! There's no romance in that!"

"Then shouldn't your skills would define that the most. Aren't skills are all about how much it could destroy? I could destroy a world with a single shot of my blast before. Which made everything glorified me."

"Yeah, my goal is to kill everyone who involved including destroying their world. But at this point, I might cause the earth to extinct. Look how much has been destroyed..."

"Can't you just made up some names kid?"

"Where's the fun of that? How do you even develop skills anyway? They just pop-up in your mind like that?"

"Can't really say anything. Somehow, we just know how to. Even my thousand years of wisdom is not enough to understand how the universe work. Let's just say there's a higher being that governs everything. It may be the same being that created mana in the first place"

"Like this dungeon?" Suddenly, Kim's eyes glow with intense light with the mention of a dungeon.

"..."

"Well, what to do. First thing first, let's have fun! I mean, explore this place."

Kim steps forward while humming the 'Rasa Sayang' tune. He felt as light as a feather the moment he heard the word dungeon.

When mana becoming more abundant, the frequency of monsters appearing would increase exponentially. This is especially true as monsters have high birth rate when compare to human. Some say that this is due to the fact their origin is from animals, some say it may be due to their adaptability to mana is better than human. Anyhow, no human in the universe has solved the mystery of the creation of monsters. Even monsters with intellects that have lived for thousands of years doesn't have the wisdom.

When mana of a world reaches a certain point, the number of monsters would be massive enough to endanger human. Somehow during that time, most monsters would settle down in their own territory as if there are invisible barriers that keeping them from fighting each other. They will continue to grow by absorbing mana in nature like a human. Some even become tame enough to be domesticated. And some animals don't even evolve into monsters and remained in their original state.

However, most monsters are born sensitive to mana. They have the desire to absorb more mana to become powerful. These vicious monsters would continue to kill everything in their sight, including monsters! The reason is their instinct tells them to. Survival of the fittest. Being weak would kill you!

As these kinds of monsters continue to massacre every living being in the world, eventually the universe created a law that when sufficient mana has evolved in a world, a dungeon would appear. Dungeons may seem to appear randomly, but it is actually a solidified mana that is born through the will of the world. When dungeon appears it would attract aggressive monsters who are highly sensitive to mana to its core.

By the time they reach deep inside the dungeon, the monsters would get lost, an unable to go out. Eventually, they will stay there for almost eternity, searching for the mana they were looking for, making dungeon a trap for monsters to ensure the stability of living being in the world.

Some less sensitive monsters would dry their thirst for mana and eventually get out. Ends up creating a community among them. The one who would stay will be full of killing intent, and they would grow more powerful absorbing the dense mana inside the dungeon, making the dungeon a

dangerous place to explore.

Even though the appearance of dungeons seems to be good fortune for human, it is also a benchmark saying the world is becoming too dangerous to stay because at one point the monsters inside would be strong enough to break out from the dungeon and to continue their massacring. When more and more dungeon appears, some human would be able to cope up, some would even migrate to another world by invasion or agreement, others would eventually get killed and the world would be governed by monsters.

To prevent this, kingdoms would send military or provide work called quests for adventurers to kill monsters inside the dungeon, reducing their numbers significantly. Even without the quest, adventurers would still explore dungeons as they could absorb more mana and the monster's body would become precious materials for crafting.

Some would even find treasures! No one knows how treasures existed but ancient recording concluded that it was created by monsters to attract human to get inside, killing them to absorb more mana. Due to the existing danger, a group of 7 to 8 people would go in to explore. Depending on the difficulties, a dungeon raid numbering to hundred of people may come in at one time.

Currently, a 12-years old kid is hopping around while humming inside the so-called dungeon!

"I can only sense this dungeon appearing in this world... strange it's too early for a dungeon... hey are you listening to me? KID!"

"Can't you disturb my happy time... I mean my focus to observe this dungeon?"

The voice feels like he wanted to slap himself in the face. Which he couldn't due to the seal binding him. Kim continues to walk around as if he is in a playground. Eventually, he stops in front of a massive wooden door three times bigger than him that seems ancient and archaic.

"Is this... the entrance?" Kim's eyes continue to glitter with excitement as his hand get closer to touch the wooden door.

Suddenly a tremendous amount of pressure roaring into his body. Kim retreated a few steps and blood drooling from the end of his mouth. It was not mana pressure, but purely death aura emanating from within. Kim felt like the moment he steps inside the door he'll be dead without lifting a finger.

The voice let out a cold snort and chuckled. "I knew it"

"W-w-what was that?" Kim is still trembling due to fear that shook his heart.

"Usually it would take almost a decade for the first dungeon to form. Because mana needs to stabilize before it could solidify. And... the will of the world of this world haven't awakened yet."

Listened to the voice, Kim squat down with both his hands on his head, pulling his hair.

"NOOOOOOOO! My dungeon! My fun time! My adventure! NOOOOO!" He then lay on the floor to his side, seems to be sulking.

"... anyway, don't you want to know-"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"This is-"

"Dungeon!!!!!"

"..."

"..."

To Kim, the voice might make a mistake so he tried to open the door forcefully but ends up spitting more blood from his mouth. After a few hours, Kim is now lying on the cold floor with a blank face, somewhat unable to accept the reality.

"Give it up Kid. It's a lair protected by a strong seal. Whatever inside there must be several times more powerful than you. Even if you manage to get inside it won't be the adventure you hope for. There will only be one monster waiting for you to engage in a fight."

Dungeons are designed specifically to trap monsters. Lairs are resting place for monsters. Not just any monsters, but monsters who has absorbed a large amount of mana to undergo evolution. They possess intellect and specification set of skills which makes them more dangerous than mythical beasts such as Alpha Cerberus and King Hydra.

One who fulfils the requirement may enter their lair for a challenge. Winning might give good fortune, but losing is equal to death. Not many would try as the number of survivors is almost zero. And those who survived is only known in legends and folk stories. Some even say that these people are the founder of kingdoms and nations! A being that could rule the world!

"So, no dungeon?" Disappointed Kim looks like he's almost crying. He glances back at the wooden door and decided to walk away. He made sure that the image of the wooden is printed in his mind, resolving himself to come back when he's stronger.

"Why are you so obsessed with a dungeon anyway?"

"You only sleep for thousand years here, how would you know? Humans have this so call things called games. And there's a game called D&D"

"D&D?"

"Yes! It's a roleplaying tabletop game where you gather with your friends to foretell quest, journey and adventure! I always played it with Nas, Rin and Tata back home. Ahhh! I wasn't able to go out from my small village, but my mind is like a new world. Inside I'm free! It's the only way for me to release my stress and express all my ideas!"

"What does it has to do with dungeons?"

"Well, the game is basically a role-playing game where each person will have a unique character of their own. One person will be some kind of a judge to determine the flow and progress of the game. I'm a full-fledged Story Master of the game"

"And..and during the game..."

Even though it's only been several weeks after the calamity, both of them has been together for almost eternity within Kim's mental domain. During that time, the voice can only see anger and deep resolution to avenge his friends and family. The feeling of revenge is deep-rooted inside Kim's heart that the voice couldn't even say anything to extinguished the burning flame.

A broken mirror will still have marks when fix and glued together. More or less of a broken heart that felt despairs and full of unforgettable scars which torment the owner. Especially when the heart belongs to a 12-years old kid who only knows nothing about the world. Much less the universe.

Throughout that time, never had he seen Kim smiled.

Now, looking at how excited Kim is sharing his past life unconsciously carved a smile on his face. He felt hopeful that maybe he could save Kim, but inside he is uncertain. A heart is not a simple thing to understand after all. Kim may be okay now, but later on, who knows what might happen?

In the end, he pretends to listen to Kim continuous blabbering.

"Hey hey, are you there? Hello?"

"Yes. Umm, So what does D&D stands for?

"Didn't I mentioned to you just now? You are not listening, aren't you? Well, nevermind. I haven't tell you my favourite part of the game anyway"

"Dungeons?"

"Exactly"

"Kid, don't you feel odd when you talk about D&D?"

"What do you mean?"

The voice seems to be hesitating, but after listening to what Kim has mentioned he eventually comes to a conclusion.

"That game... D&D. isn't it too similar to what I told you? If you don't know mana maybe you won't suspect anything. But now that you experienced it don't you realized how oddly similar it is?"

"Are you telling me... the creator of D&D is..."

"Well, it's just a theory. I can't really conclude anything yet. It doesn't matter anyway, it's just a game"

"Yes, probably"

Kim continues to walk the path going outside from the lairs. Now that he thought about it, most video games nowadays use the concept of mana that enables characters to fight against monsters. And D&D is basically one of the games that founded the system. He may be wrong, but the voice did mention migration of people from another world. Even the current calamity is caused by the invasion of people of another world. Which only him, and the voice know.

"Finally, outside again. It was kinda stuffy"

"By the way, kid, what does D&D stands for?"

"You really didn't listen to me didn't you" Kim let out a cold snort.

"It means... eh?!... the roasted snake... it's gone! I was going to eat it after I'm done exploring!"

"Damn it, kid! I told you to save some... " The voice suddenly fell silent as his heart filled with shock.

"Kim. Go"

"I know! I'm on my way!"

Kim runs at a very fast pace towards where the leftover meat of King Hydra. Unknowingly, a smile can be seen in his face. Someone is alive!