Chapter 488: The Day the Dungeon Appeared

The first tremor struck Greyfen shortly after dawn.

Deep within the wilderness, birds erupted from the treetops as the earth shuddered beneath them. Animals scattered through the undergrowth, while several hunters who had remained in the region stopped what they were doing and looked toward the distant ancient ruins.

For several moments, the disturbance subsided. Then another tremor followed, considerably stronger than the first, accompanied by an enormous surge of mana that swept through the surrounding forest.

Near the northern woodland, five mercenaries were preparing to resume their investigation when the disturbance reached their campsite.

"What in the heavens was that?" one of the mercenaries exclaimed, stumbling against a tree as the ground shifted beneath his boots.

Their leader, Hektor, immediately rose and reached for his sword. "Everyone, stay alert! Something’s happening beneath us!"

Another mercenary turned toward the ancient ruins, his expression changing as he sensed the gathering mana. "Captain Hektor, it’s coming from that direction! The mana concentration is increasing!"

Hektor frowned. He had encountered newly manifested dungeons before, and the signs were familiar enough. However, the sheer intensity of the disturbance was unlike anything he had personally experienced.

"Gather your equipment," Hektor ordered. "We’re heading toward the ridge. I want to see what’s happening before we decide whether to approach."

His men quickly obeyed, exchanging uneasy glances as another wave of mana passed through the forest.

---

Meanwhile, Sage and his companions had already departed the Royal Capital.

They had left shortly after dawn, carrying only essential provisions and equipment. Rowan guided them along the southern route, while Leon and Lucan remained attentive to their surroundings.

Mina, unsurprisingly, appeared considerably more enthusiastic about the journey than Sage.

"Uncle Sage, do you think we’ll encounter powerful monsters inside the dungeon?" Mina asked, walking beside him with an excited expression.

Sage glanced toward her. "Mina, I would prefer a dungeon filled with harmless creatures that politely surrender their treasures. Unfortunately, I suspect the heavens aren’t feeling particularly generous."

Mina grinned. "That sounds boring. What’s the point of entering a dungeon if there’s nothing worth fighting?"

"The gold, Mina. The gold," Sage replied solemnly. "Some of us appreciate the finer things in life, such as wealth, comfort, and returning home without requiring expensive healing potions."

Leon chuckled at their exchange. "Whatever awaits us, Guildmaster, we should remain cautious. We still don’t know the dungeon’s rank, and an unusually powerful manifestation doesn’t necessarily mean its dangers will be manageable."

"Exactly," Sage agreed. "Our objective is the Dungeon Core. We’re not entering to compete over who can defeat the most monsters."

Mina gave him an innocent smile. "Don’t worry, Uncle Sage. I’ll only fight whatever gets in our way."

Sage studied her suspiciously. "Somehow, that doesn’t reassure me."

Their conversation continued until Iris suddenly slowed her steps.

A powerful disturbance had swept through the surrounding mana, causing her expression to tighten as she turned toward Greyfen.

"Guildmaster, something’s happening," Iris announced, raising her hand.

Sage immediately stopped. "What is it?"

"The mana formation," Iris replied, concentrating on the distant disturbance. "I can feel an enormous amount of mana gathering in Greyfen. It’s far stronger than the fluctuations I observed during our previous reconnaissance."

Rowan frowned. "Could the dungeon be manifesting already?"

"It’s possible," Iris admitted. "But I can’t confirm it from this distance."

Leon looked toward the distant wilderness. "Then we should continue moving. If the entrance appears before we arrive, our advantage will begin disappearing."

Sage nodded immediately. "Agreed. Rowan, take us along the fastest safe route. We can’t afford unnecessary delays."

---

Back in Greyfen, the disturbance reached its peak.

The ancient ruins trembled as enormous cracks spread across their weathered structures. Mana erupted from beneath the earth, illuminating the clearing with brilliant streams of light.

Several abandoned pillars collapsed, sending clouds of dust rolling across the ground.

Then the earth at the center of the ruins split apart.

With a thunderous rumble, an enormous stone archway began emerging from beneath the ground, its surface covered in ancient runes that glowed with an unfamiliar radiance.

But the appearance of the entrance wasn’t what made the phenomenon extraordinary.

The moment the archway fully emerged, an immense pillar of golden-white light erupted from its center and shot toward the heavens.

The pillar pierced the clouds, illuminating the surrounding wilderness as though a second sun had appeared above Greyfen. Waves of mana spread outward, causing trees to sway violently and sending powerful beasts fleeing from their territories.

The radiance was visible from distant settlements, and even Warriors who had witnessed numerous dungeon manifestations found themselves staring in astonishment.

Ordinary dungeons sometimes announced their arrival through mana disturbances, tremors, or brief eruptions of magical energy.

But a phenomenon of this magnitude was exceedingly rare.

From a rocky hillside overlooking the ruins, Hektor and his mercenaries stared at the towering pillar of light.

"Captain Hektor..." one mercenary murmured, his voice trembling with excitement. "That’s a dungeon manifestation, isn’t it?"

Hektor nodded slowly, his eyes fixed upon the extraordinary sight. "Yes. But I’ve never witnessed one produce anything remotely like that."

Another mercenary stepped forward eagerly. "Then it must be incredibly valuable! Captain, we should enter before anyone else arrives!"

Hektor turned sharply toward him. "Have you lost your mind? We don’t know its rank, and you want to rush inside because you saw a pretty light?"

The mercenary immediately fell silent.

Hektor returned his attention to the entrance, his expression growing increasingly complicated. A manifestation of this magnitude suggested that the dungeon might contain extraordinary resources, powerful monsters, or treasures far beyond those found in ordinary dungeons.

However, greater potential rewards usually came with greater dangers.

"Two of you will return and report what we’ve discovered," Hektor ordered. "The rest of us will remain nearby and observe the entrance. Nobody approaches it without my permission."

His men obeyed immediately.

Unfortunately, they weren’t the only people who had witnessed the phenomenon.

Throughout Greyfen, hunters, travelers, and investigating mercenaries had seen the enormous pillar rising above the wilderness. Some immediately recognized it as an extraordinary dungeon manifestation, while others hurried toward nearby settlements to spread the news.

Within hours, reports began circulating that a dungeon had appeared beneath the ancient ruins.

And unlike an ordinary dungeon discovery, the extraordinary pillar of light ensured that the news wouldn’t remain a local matter for long.

---

By late afternoon, Sage’s group had traveled considerably farther than originally planned.

Rowan had adjusted their route to avoid unnecessary detours, while Leon’s presence discouraged the occasional beast that wandered too close.

Nevertheless, Sage could feel the urgency growing.

Iris had remained unusually quiet since sensing the earlier disturbance, occasionally turning toward Greyfen with a troubled expression.

"Iris, you’ve been staring in that direction for quite some time," Sage remarked as they paused beside a narrow stream. "Please tell me you’re not about to announce something that will ruin my afternoon."

Iris looked toward him apologetically. "Guildmaster, I believe the dungeon has manifested."

Sage immediately straightened. "You’re certain?"

"Not entirely," Iris admitted. "But the enormous accumulation of mana I sensed earlier has suddenly changed. The formation appears to have released much of its gathered energy."

Lucan frowned. "Then we may already be running behind."

"Possibly," Iris replied. "Although we should still have an advantage over organizations that haven’t prepared an expedition."

Sage turned toward Rowan. "How much farther?"

"If we maintain our current pace, Guildmaster, we should reach the southern approaches tomorrow," Rowan answered. "From there, we can reach the ruins relatively quickly."

"Then we’ll continue until evening," Sage decided. "I’d rather lose a few hours of sleep than discover that someone else has already secured the entrance."

Leon studied the distant horizon before speaking. "If the manifestation was as powerful as Iris suggests, we should expect considerable attention. Noble Houses and mercenary organizations already control numerous dungeons, but an exceptional manifestation could convince them that Greyfen is worth competing over."

"Which is precisely why we prepared in advance," Sage replied, his expression serious. "We know where the entrance is, we know the safest approach, and we’re already moving. Everyone else will need time to gather information and organize their forces."

Mina tightened her grip on her weapon. "Then let’s hurry, Uncle Sage! We can’t let those people take our dungeon."

Sage gave her a faint smile. "That’s the spirit, Mina. Although I’d prefer securing it without having to fight half the kingdom."

Lucan chuckled quietly. "Considering the amount of attention this could attract, Guildmaster, that might be easier said than done."

"Then let’s hope everyone else is feeling unusually reasonable," Sage replied. "It would be a refreshing change."

Despite his humor, Sage understood the seriousness of their situation.

He had already claimed more than fifty dungeons in Evergreen, but those claims had occurred in a relatively neglected region where powerful organizations rarely bothered competing for individual discoveries.

Greyfen was different.

The enormous mana accumulation suggested that the dungeon might possess exceptional value, while its proximity to the Royal Capital meant that influential factions could mobilize quickly once they learned what had appeared.

And unlike the dungeons he had claimed previously, this opportunity was unlikely to remain uncontested.

As the six companions resumed their journey, the first messengers were already riding toward the Royal Capital with extraordinary news.

A new dungeon had appeared in Greyfen.

More importantly, its manifestation had produced a pillar of light visible across the surrounding region.

Sage glanced toward the distant wilderness, unaware that the extraordinary radiance had already faded above the ancient ruins.

For now, his advantage remained intact.

He knew the dungeon’s location, understood the route toward it, and had begun moving before his competitors realized what was happening.

But once the news reached the capital, that advantage would begin shrinking rapidly.

The race for the Dungeon Core had officially begun.