"Un?"

Raith was met with dry land, with dried-up tries that have been rid of life.

Darkness and the serene cold that crawled into Raith's skin were what the environment made the most of itself. The silence was enticing, could almost be mistaken for a safe space.

But No

[Activating Transcendent Sense]

Thanks to the new upgrade of Raith's perk, he could feel the distant glare, those murderous auras that shot at him like a knife, making his gut itch.

[Dungeon Information]

- This dungeon is the habitat of Black Panthers. They are four-legged ferocious beasts that tear anything in their path.

- Dungeon rank: C(according to Felfhiem ranking)

- Dungeon rank: level 4(according to Therut ranking)

It was getting clear and clear that the ranking in Therut was inferior to that of Felfhiem. For example, what would be likened to a rank C dungeon according to Therut ranking is level 5.

Rank G ~ level 1, Rank F ~ level 2, Rank D ~ level 3, Rank C ~ level 4, Rank B ~ level 5, Rank A ~ level 6, Rank R ~ level 7, Rank S ~ level 8, Rank SR ~ level 9, Rank SSR ~ level 10, Rank SS and Rank SSS.

The two last ranks did not have an equivalent in Therut which meant there were stronger dungeons in Felfhiem than in Therut but it is expected since Felfhiem was sitting directly on one of the planes of cosmology and Therut was just around it.

Raith again was met unprepared. No weapon, the only thing he could depend on was his skill '[Lavaration]'

He nodded slowly.

'It should be enough to handle them'

With lurking beasts around him, he couldn't dare to give thought to any other thing. But he was deeply worried about the presence of a dungeon in Felfhiem. Since he had not completely understood the construction of the world.

And trying to seek out knowledge about it would take a toll on him. He had to somehow connect the dot to the detriment of not knowing if he is right or wrong.

Raith cocked his head left and right, stretching his muscles as he walked forward, tightening his fist and squeezing his eyes to a slit as he took off.

~tthwack!~

Surely his speed had increased explosively, his image blurred through the distance between him and an ominous black tree that was twenty meters ahead of him.

~fuuuu~historical

Not wasting a second as he reached the tree, he pulled back his punch letting out a steamy breath that served as a force control as he blasted his punch through the tree.

He didn't even need to say the word, barely expecting what should happen was enough to activate the skill.

[Activating 'Lavaration']

[Skill activation failed]

[You do not have any energy points]

[Skills can be activated using either magic energy, aura energy, or shadow energy]

[Your shadow energy is locked due to the locked attribute 'Shadow Lord']

'...how could I forget t-the fundamentals!'

~Raaawwwwrrr~

From above the panther pounced—

[Activating Transcedent Sense]

The panther's actions suddenly got slower and a red marking flew from its jaw to Raith's shoulder.

Raith who was already tilting left would have put his shoulder right into the jaw of the panther– He shifted rightward going in the opposite direction and rolling on the ground as the panther landed and gnarled at him.

Several other panthers began to pounce down from the dead trees while some emerged from behind, they had carefully hidden themselves waiting for a perfect moment of ambush. Raith was surrounded by seven panthers and several more stared down from the branches of the trees with glowing white eyes.

***

Pomei Empire.

They could be mistaken for the strongest nation in Therut because of their military strength and their rule of monarchy. They are the only country that goes strictly with that rule and since ages of the dawning of Therut have always lived by it.

Another reason as to why they are strong was their overly cautious nature, and the impressive training that they give heroes regardless of the archon they are from. In Pomei Empire all of them are one.

This is what gave everyone overwhelming confidence in clearing this dungeon. It was a level 10 dungeon and tens of scouts had died trying to figure out the length and breadth of the dungeon, and what kind of monsters are inside to formulate the best possible strategies of attack that will work and prevent too many losses of men.

Regardless of what they were going in there to meet, the faces of the heroes were stiff and brazen with the ambiance of courage, several heroes showed a little nervousness here and there.

But let's take a look at the soldiers. In golden armor and a red tabard with a golden coffin-shaped shield engraved on the shield was a golden red cross on a red background.

The array of the army was in rolls and columns stretching down one side of the road and the glittering of their armors set them apart from every other hero.

This army wasn't necessarily full of heroes. Heroes or not, they were men that have trained to support their limit and leading those men himself, Andres Eugene Pemilion, younger brother of the Emperor, his red hair flaring up as if it wants to catch the wind. And gus brought round eyes like a flame set to burn its enemy to the ground. His only fault was his frequent glances with gritting teeth toward where Amber Rose stood.

"Your highness... focus"

The tall, white-bearded man behind him whispered and he immediately returned to order as they began to march into the portal after everything was clear.

As the leader of today's battle. Prince Andres was the first to match into the dungeon, behind and beside him were prominent heroes such as The Empire's General Kollen Asbury himself, Leif Ouderward, Ethan O'Brian, Brandon Lee, Chachi Banks, Fionna Graham, Amber Rose Mor'Deus and Curtis Dellagado.

The dungeon as they had already known and expected was a widespread land of caves, although there were trees but according to the scout whose deaths were not in vain.

The monster that existed in this dungeon was a cave animal.

Andres looked up into the sky.

"It's rare to see dungeons have a moon. And it's a full moon."

"Creatures of the night that gain immense power under the influence of the full moon. This entire environment is meant to favor them."

Ethan O'Brian, a level A hero of the justice archon said as he strapped his large and thick-muscled hand with gauntlets.

"That is why they are dungeon. Your Highness, what will we do?"

Leif Ouderward, with purple-colored spiked hair and thin eyes, bowed to the prince.

"We have come here to play a game of numbers, they are monsters, this whole place is built to favor them so will at least shift a little favor to our side too. Going into the cave will not give us the privilege to fight with numbers, and we are liable to be ambushed– no, we will definitely be ambushed. So, we will blow up the cave, disturb it until they can't stand it any more, and the moment they start to pour out...

The prince paused as he glared toward the mountain cave ahead of them. His eyes glittered as his brows lowered and tightened.

"It will be an all-out war!"