Abarith
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Chapter 16: The First Delve
🕑 Added 2024-11-22 05:52:10 +0000 UTCThe air shimmered as the teleportation circle activated. In an instant, the academy’s grounds were replaced by a vast, untamed landscape. Jeremy stood with his classmates, all scanning their surroundings with quiet focus.
They had arrived on a Tierless world—classified as such because they did not need to Tier up to be strong enough for its dungeons. Unlike higher-tiered worlds that required higher Tiers and better Skills to survive, the dungeons here were accessible to beginners like them.
The landscape stretched wide under a deep purple sky, with dense forests and towering trees rising beneath a deep purple sky. The air felt unnaturally fresh, almost as if untouched by civilization.
Beside him, Perci’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Marcus’s usual confident smirk had softened into a look of quiet determination, while Mia scanned the horizon with calm intensity. Timothy let out a low whistle. “So, this is the Tierless world, huh? Looks peaceful enough.”
“Don’t let it fool you,” Jeremy cautioned, his focus hardening. “We’re here for a reason, and this isn’t the time to relax. ”
A few paces ahead, Instructor Mira waited, her stern gaze sweeping over them. “This assignment has two purposes,” she began, her voice carrying easily across the quiet field. “First, to familiarize yourselves with the workings of dungeons in a controlled, safe environment. And second, to gather 1,500 essence—enough to level a Basic Skill halfway to its maximum.”
“This Tierless dungeon is classified as a beginner dungeon, meaning that they are essentially harmless,” Mira continued, gesturing toward the darkened entrance framed by twisted roots. “The slimes inside cannot hurt you unless you allow one to fully envelop your head. They move slowly—slow enough that simply walking away is sufficient to escape them. They’re also fragile enough that no weapons are required, hence why I did not mention yesterday the need to bring any. A simple kick or even tossing them around will dispatch them easily.”
Timothy exhaled in relief beside Jeremy. “That sounds manageable.”
Marcus crossed his arms. “Harmless slimes? Not exactly exciting.”
Jeremy shared his sentiment, feeling both the pull of curiosity and the letdown of a missed challenge.
“All right,” Mira instructed, pointing toward the dungeon entrance. “Form your groups and prepare to enter. Remember, this is a lesson in cooperation, focus, and discipline. Treat it seriously.”
As the groups assembled, she stepped forward, holding a small crystalline device that pulsed faintly with light. Its intricate design caught the eye of many students, including Jeremy, who recognized it as an E-Scanner, a tool used to measure a person’s Essence levels with absolute precision.
“Before entering the dungeon,” Mira began, her tone sharp and commanding, “each of you will undergo an Essence scan to record your current count. After completing the delve, you will be scanned again to ensure the Essence you gain is properly logged. This is mandatory for all delves during your time at the academy.”
The students murmured among themselves, some fidgeting nervously, others standing calmly. As the first student stepped forward, Mira raised her hand to quiet the chatter. “Before we begin, let me remind you: Essence is earned, never given. It is humanity’s most valuable resource, and every drop you gain here will reflect your worth.”
Her words silenced the group. Jeremy noticed a few students stiffen as the seriousness of the statement sank in.
The students began lining up to place their hands on the E-Scanner. A faint hum emanated from the device as each student’s Essence count—zero, as expected—lit up on the screen. Mira nodded briskly each time, sending them to wait near the dungeon entrance.
When Jeremy’s turn came, he placed his hand on the scanner. The hum resonated through his palm, and the number zero glowed brightly on the screen. Mira gave him a curt nod. “Proceed.”
He joined Marcus, who had just finished his own scan. “Guess no surprises so far,” Marcus murmured, though his tone held a hint of wariness.
The line moved quickly until it was nearly finished. Then, as one of the students—a tall boy named Calen—placed his hand on the device, the number that appeared caused Mira’s sharp eyes to narrow. The screen displayed a staggering 1,200 Essence. Gasps rippled through the group, and Calen visibly tensed.
Mira’s gaze snapped to Calen, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Step aside.”
Calen’s face went pale. “I—I don’t know—”
“Silence,” Mira barked, her voice colder than ice. “Explain nothing until I ask. Guards!”
Two black-uniformed academy guards materialized from the teleportation circle, their expressions stern as they moved toward Calen. “Let me make something very clear,” Mira said sharply, her tone cutting through the murmurs. “Receiving Essence illegally is punishable by death. Humanity’s survival depends on the worthy receiving their fair share of Essence. There are no exceptions.”
Students exchanged wide-eyed glances, the full weight of the academy’s rules striking them like a hammer.
“No, please,” Calen stammered. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t—I don’t even know how—”
“Enough,” Mira interrupted sharply. “You will be detained and questioned. Guards, take him back to the academy.”
The guards moved swiftly, securing glowing cuffs around Calen’s wrists. He didn’t resist as they led him toward the teleportation circle. The class watched in silence, the gravity of the moment sinking in.
Jeremy glanced at Marcus, who shook his head grimly.
Mira turned back to the group, her gaze sharp and unforgiving. “Let this be a lesson. The academy does not tolerate cheating or shortcuts. Humanity’s survival depends on the responsible use of Essence. Anyone who violates that will face the consequences.”
She scanned the remaining students, her expression hard as steel. “The rest of you, step forward for your scans.”
The students filed toward the dungeon entrance, their steps slower, weighed down by the tension left in the wake of Calen’s detention. The darkened entrance loomed ahead, half-hidden by ancient, gnarled roots that twisted around the opening like skeletal fingers. The faint hum of energy emanated from the portal, visible as a faint shimmer in the air, marking the boundary between the world they knew and the dungeon within.
“Groups will enter one at a time. Once inside, stick together. Do not attempt to separate from your group. Even a harmless dungeon has risks if you disregard basic protocols. The first group will enter now.”
Mira motioned to a group of five students, who approached the shimmering portal. As they stepped through, the energy rippled like water disturbed by a stone, and they vanished from sight. The second group followed shortly after.
“Next group,” She called, gesturing toward Jeremy’s group.
Jeremy took a deep breath and stepped forward with his friends. The closer he got to the portal, the more his heart raced. This was his first real step into the unknown, into the life he’d been dreaming about.
“Stick together,” Mira reminded them as they approached the entrance. “Observe, learn, and most importantly, don’t waste this opportunity.”
Jeremy glanced at his group, catching each of their eyes in turn. Marcus gave him a curt nod, Perci offered a small smile, Mia remained calm and focused, and Timothy took a steadying breath. They stepped through the portal together.
The sensation was instantaneous and disorienting. One moment, they were in the Tierless world, and the next, they were inside the dungeon. The air was much cooler here, with a dampness that made it harder to breathe. The cavern was dimly lit by moss that coated the walls, casting a green glow.
Stalactites dripped water onto the rocky, uneven floor below, creating pools of stagnant water. The faint sound of slow, almost wet movement echoed from deeper within, hinting at the presence of the slimes.
Jeremy squinted, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, and caught sight of their first target—a small, quivering, blue slime, its translucent body shifting and wobbling as it moved.
“That’s it? Looks easy enough,” Marcus muttered.
Perci stepped forward, her curiosity overtaking her apprehension. “I guess so. It looks… harmless.”
Jeremy approached cautiously as the slime wobbled closer at its slow pace. “Harmless or not, let’s not underestimate it. This is still a dungeon.”
Marcus rolled his eyes but stepped forward, unsheathing a sleek sword he’d brought, despite Mira’s assurance it wasn’t necessary. The blade caught the faint glow of the moss as he raised it, delivering a swift slash to the nearest slime. The creature wobbled for a moment before splitting apart with a wet splat, dissolving into a faint mist of Essence. The shimmering Essence drifted briefly before being automatically drawn to Marcus, disappearing into his body with a faint glow.
Marcus froze for a moment, his eyes widening as he felt the surge of Essence for the first time. “That was… incredible.”
“What’s happening?” Perci asked, stepping closer.
He closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the sensation, gripping his sword tighter. “I’m adding it to Swordsmanship,” he said, his voice filled with excitement.
“Essence collected,” Mia murmured, watching him intently. “It’s fascinating to see it happen so clearly. I didn’t think it would be that... intense.”
Before anyone else could comment, Perci stepped forward, a determined grin on her face. “Alright, let me take a shot.”
Without hesitation, she sprinted, her movements fluid and precise, the result of her Running kicking in. Reaching the nearest slime, she planted her foot firmly and delivered a powerful kick. The slime flew across the cavern, splattering against the wall with a wet pop. Just like before, the faint mist of Essence swirled briefly before surging into Perci.
She stood there for a moment, catching her breath as the Essence settled within her. “Woah,” she said, eyes wide with amazement.
Marcus crossed his arms, smirking. “Not bad. You’re quicker than I expected.”
Perci stuck her tongue out. “Let me see you kick something with speed like that, Marcus. Running has its perks, you know.”
Jeremy chuckled as he watched their banter but couldn’t help staring at Perci’s look of awe as she processed her first Essence. She didn’t say it aloud, but the way she straightened and adjusted her stance told him she was already hooked.
Timothy crouched to examine the spot where the slime had dissolved, even though no trace of it remained. “So, it really does go straight to the person who kills it.”
Jeremy nodded, stepping forward. “It also means we can’t rely on anyone else to carry us. We’ve got to earn every drop ourselves.”
Mia glanced at Timothy. “What about crafters? They don’t usually have combat Skills.”
Timothy shrugged. “We find ways. Usually, crafters tag along with people they trust. In exchange for gear or potions, they’re helped to land the final blow and get their Essence. ”
Marcus chuckled lightly. “Makes sense. It’s still within the rules, technically, but it’s gotta be frustrating for people who want to go it alone.”
Timothy nodded. “That’s why alliances are so important. It’s not just about getting stronger. You have to build relationships too. This system forces people to work together—it helps build trust and teamwork, especially for people who’ll rely on each other outside the academy.”
Jeremy agreed. “It’s smart. They play to their strengths instead of pretending to be something they’re not. And learning to work as a team… that’s going to matter later, especially when the stakes are higher.”
The group moved deeper into the dungeon, the faint sound of wet, squelching movements growing louder as more slimes appeared. Jeremy stepped forward, his eyes locking onto a slime wobbling aimlessly a few feet away. It was his turn. He squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and delivered a sharp kick to the gelatinous creature. The slime flew through the air and splattered against the cavern wall with a wet squelch, dissolving into a faint mist of Essence.
For a brief moment, the shimmering Essence hung in the air before surging toward him. Jeremy felt a strange warmth flow into his body, unlike anything he’d experienced before. His heart skipped a beat as the energy settled deep within him, filling him with an exhilarating sense of vitality.
Allocate 10 Essence
He froze, staring at his hands as if expecting them to glow. So this is what it feels like. His chest tightened with apprehension. The Essence hummed faintly within him, and he knew he needed to make a choice.
