The Ancients World

{I want to let everyone know that I have a p-a-t-r-e-o-n with two new exclusive stories on it. One is The Aeternus Universe, and I've also started up a new VRMMORPG called the Libertas Dive. If you wish to read that as it develops, head to my p-a-t-r-e-o-n. I won't be uploading The Libertas Dive on webnovel until I've reached 30 pages on it. So get it while it's young and cheap. I hope you guys will give it a chance. The link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Remove the dashes. NovelFull censors the word.}

The group's leader is waiting for me to ask what I want to ask. "How long will it take to reach the boss?" Dungeons differ in length and duration. Some of them even have time limits, and if you go past that time limit, you'll wipe and be sent to the outside. The members all look at the group leader, and I see him open his player menu, likely looking for the information written down in the player journal. It's definitely a nice feature to have. He looks up from his player interface and shakes his head. That's disappointing.

I sigh and fold my arms. I'd like to know how long this dungeon is going to take. "Is there any chance you know where the legacy class is? If the boss even drops it? Cause if you don't get it from the boss, that means it's in a different location in the dungeon." I've come to learn a lot from going into dungeons and fighting by myself. Everyone is looking at the group leader. He shakes his head, and that ends any questions that I have. People have been going into this dungeon blind without the slightest clue where the legacy class actually is.

The leader of this group clears his throat and rolls his neck. "Indeed, we don't know this important information, but that doesn't mean we don't have a chance of getting the legacy class. All the known information is enough to get to the boss room. The hardest part about this dungeon is the fact that it changes. Paths to the boss aren't the same. It makes it quicker or longer." This is betting a lot on very little. These players are risking their levels and aren't really getting anything in return other than gold. None of them are getting the legacy class.

I wonder if they've even considered that they stand to gain nothing other than some gold and reputation bonus within the guild. If any of them knew what they were doing, none of them would be here. I step away from the group with Jasmine by my side. This is going to make things a little more complicated. From what I know, the best group to go in with is the one that's been in it the most. "What are we going to do? Are we going in ourselves or going in with another group?" Jasmine reminds me that we still have a decision to make. 

While Hailey and Jasmine try to decide what to do, the war in Bellvia is progressing bit by bit as time goes by. Bellvia has successfully moved its troops into the remaining important locations. However, Zenith and The Dryads have already captured very important locations. The war is at a cold low point, getting ready to heat up again. Jackson is at the new foothold that was secured by Queen Elenore and her forces, along with one of his generals. It's another important location that's been captured.

There are many discussions happening around me, but I'm in my own head. I have a bad feeling about this war, something that's going on I haven't prepared for. I close my eyes and really consider Gregory's role in this war. He's a supposed ally of Bellvia, but he isn't here helping defend. I don't know what he's planning, but I have to go with my intuition. I'm going to have to ask a big favor of Queen Elenore. "I need to discuss something with everyone." My voice breaks through the conversations, and the attention of the room falls on me.

I open my eyes, and everyone can see the serious look in them. "I have a big favor to ask of you, Queen Elenore." She looks at me and prepares to hear my request. "I have a feeling that Gregory is planning something, one that'll change the tide of this war. I want you to take all your forces and one-fourth of mine and head to the capital of Zenith. Gregory might be planning an attack on my kingdom while I'm preoccupied with the conflict here." There is silence around the room. I watch Elenore and try to get an answer from reading her perspective.

I'd defend my kingdom myself, but The Dryads can't win the war here. Not with our help. "I can do this for you, Gregory, but I want something in return." There is always a price when it comes to war. I nod my head, and she straightens up. "I want a 50-50 split of the winning of this war. While Bellvia doesn't have much to take, they still have way more than we do. I want to bolster my kingdom's armory." That isn't an unreasonable request. Splitting the winning s right down the middle. I smile and nod my head in confirmation. Some of my Generals disagree, but they're only Generals. 

Queen Elenore and I both shake hands, and she begins to gather her forces and one fouth of mine. I'd rather be safe than sorry. The meeting continues and goes off without a hitch. We've planned out how to attack and take the next targets. I leave the tent that the meeting is being held in, and I make my way towards my private tent. I walk in, and I see Tessa sleeping on the bed. She's actually sleeping for the first time in... I don't even know. Weeks? Moving such great distances and staying up for days at a time has really messed up my internal clock.

While Queen Elenore moves the forces, she's in charge of to the Kingdom of Zenith. Hailey and Jasmine are making their way into the dungeon right behind a group of players that have given the dungeon multiple runs. They're not the best group, but they've seen most of the encounters and minibosses so far. Only one group has made it to the boss room so far and hasn't since. Hailey and Jasmine are in the back and basically running bitch. They're only there to help when it gets really tough. Hailey was smart and didn't inform them of her level.

The group we're running with right now is decently leveled and geared out. Jasmine and I have decided once we make it to the boss room and defeat her, we'll eliminate this group and take the winnings for ourselves. While wrong and crude, it's common. I'm not above playing dirty, and I prefer to be underhanded if I'm honest. It's one of the best ways to win the majority of the time. However, it goes both ways. Once the boss is defeated, I do not doubt in my mind they'll try and do the same to us.

Jasmine walks beside me, and we're quiet as we make the initial descent into the beginning of the dungeon. "The first encounter is through the door down this staircase. It's a bunch of monsters, and all of them have high defense ratings and can kill you in three hits if you're not careful. Everyone, drink the speed enhancement potions once we make it to the door. I don't want anyone on this team getting hit." The group leader, Victor, starts repeating the plan that I've heard him go over 3 times for this first part.

You can hear a thick Russian accent when he speaks. How he's with us Americans is something only he can answer. My best guess, he was living in the US and playing the game when we all got transported here. "Newbies." We both look towards him as he walks. "You two will help rotate from attacking and defending, and Felicia will give you some speed boost potions so you can keep up with us." If that's the plan, I'm fine with it. Jasmine and I can hold our own. If things do start to get too sticky, Jasmine will use the emergency exit scroll.

We make it to the bottom of the stairs, and we all gather in front of the door. Everyone starts to drink their potions, and Felicia hands us some. We both drink it, and since everyone has finished their potions, Victor pushes the door open. I look at the monsters on the other side, and they look like half flesh and half wood monsters. They give off a terrible smell. Everyone draws their weapons, and Jasmine and I do the same. It's time to get this show on the road. Hopefully, we can get this dungeon cleared by nightfall. I'd love to sleep in that bed at the inn.