Alex's Birthday

Alex was very disappointed right now when their family entered a park. Today was Alex's 18th birthday he wanted to spend it with his friends but his Dad and Mom decided to visit someplace with him. Alex thought it would be something cool as he had never noticed his parents acting so dramatic and all, creating suspense about stuff so he just decided to go along "won't be that bad, right" he thought.

But here he was watching kids shitting their diapers, parents playing as fools for children, giving them piggyback rides and whatnot. After thinking about how if he hadn't said yes to come here and instead went to the party, his hands would already be on a girl's slender waist, Alex became annoyed.

"Mom, Dad why have you brought me here, I know I loved the parks as a kid but right now it just embarrasses me to recall how stupid I was when I was small."

Alex's father started laughing while his mother berated,

"you are still a kid for us and it's not like we are going to take too much time, we know you want to go out with your friends and party but this is important, okay?"

Alex just sighed, looking at his dejected face her mother squinted her eyes and said, "I didn't hear you say okay"

Alex immediately coughed and replied with a fake smile, "okay, am fine let's do this"

Only then did his mother remove her gaze from him while a smile formed on her face.

The family then started walking the paved road, time passed by….

Alex had a feeling that something was wrong because as they started walking both his father and mother's hands had started shaking a little bit although very slightly.

Alex was their child, he immediately noticed this. It would be fine if it was only his mother but even his Father the 3rd division general of 'The Democratic Republic of Beljaris' was acting similarly. He had heard stories about his father killing enemies barehanded without even an ounce of fear but that same man's hands were shivering right now right before his eyes how could he not be curious.

But Alex still didn't say anything and continued walking as if he didn't notice.

Soon They came across a huge tree its aerial roots almost 3 to 4 m wide. Alex couldn't even fathom how much girth its main trunk would have.

The family then sat on a simple wooden stool arrangement inside the folly of the aerial roots with his mother at his side while his father sitting opposite them.

His mother took his hands in her hand, Alex could still feel her shivering and he finally snapped,

"Mom what's this all about, I am your child if I have done something wrong just tell me already but watching you and father like this, being vulnerable is making me mad you know"

His mother smiled while his father shook his head and continued,

"Alex…..what I am about to tell you I should have told you long ago but call it the selfishness of a parent or the fear of losing you which stopped us from doing exactly that."

Alex was slightly puzzled if this would have been a normal time he would have just thought his parents were joking but listening to his father's voice become hoarse mid-sentence along with his mother's eyes getting wet he knew this was something serious.

His father continued "without any further ado... let me tell you a story so sit patiently child, all your questions will be answered"

Alex's Dad then started telling him what happened

17 years ago…..

Mathew looked at his comrades as they were jumping through the dungeon portal one by one.

Mathew after seeing that the last one had made his jump went forward. He gave a nod to Silva Grey the president of The Democratic Republic of Beljaris before jumping through the portal.

Whoosh

Thud!

Mathew finally touched the ground on his knees and stood up just to see the eyes of all his comrade's fall upon him. Rocky a tall bulky man with dark skin and shaved head approached him and started reporting.

"Captain the area within 150 miles has been scanned by us and shows grade 1 and grade 2 level life signatures"

Mathew gave a nod and looked at his comrade's, 15 in total, he had done countless dungeon raids so he wasn't afraid of anything but this time the Dungeon raid was of grade 7 difficulty, it was far deadly to be precise.

Even under the Exo-Armor suits of his team members which were specially made by the government defense labs for such high-level missions, he could sense the nervousness of his team under their helmets.

"All members attention, Rocky send the drones to do the scouting, as we move ahead, we will kill all the grade 4 and above species, we come across so that our return path remains unhindered" with a short silence he again continued,

"Our goal is to secure the dungeon and stabilize the portal by killing the detected grade 7 beast and also collect its beast core if possible. I want to see all 15 of us return back here safe and sound, is that clear"

All the members roared simultaneously, "Yes Sir"

Mathew then laid the team forward. Mathew's confidence and watching his back made everyone reassured but it would be a lie to say Mathew wasn't nervous himself.