Pan Kun moved to the windows. “Doesn’t seem to be any damage.”
“What the hell was that? It felt like a massive pulse of mana,” Aditya asked Evernight as she finished with her sound transmission device. Did someone find us? Are we under attack?
“Something happened in Alva. All the floors connected, and the power that was being stored is now being directed below. Don’t know why or what is going on, yet. Orders are to mobilize, make sure that no one takes the opportunity to attack. Cover it up, say it was an anomaly,” Evernight’s answer stopped Aditya’s spiraling thoughts.
“How did that much power get out? That will change things in the Beast Mountain Range. People will ask questions. They could find Alva, or if not, attack us thinking we have some great power or tool,” Old Quan said.
“What kind of anomaly should we say?” Aditya asked.
“We’re investigating,” Evernight said.
“Tell the council to come up with a good explanation for why this happened. We need to distract the people.” Aditya used his sound transmission device to send a message out to the other outpost leaders.
“I’ll ready the army,” Pan Kun said.
“I hope it didn’t go beyond the Beast Mountain Range. Check the readiness of everyone. There are plenty of people with connections to the different powers surrounding King’s Hill. Evernight, pass on any information you get on the surrounding forces moving.”
“What?” Erik and Rugrat asked at the same time. Erik’s brain fought to catch up. He already felt like there was a cannonball sitting on his chest, and he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Rugrat turned from his drawings.
They were in the Vuzgal City Lord’s office, their office. Behind them, the window showed Vuzgal’s growing sprawl between the distant mountain ranges. Modern apartment buildings mixed with massive estates, towering Sky Reaching Restaurants, and opulent Wandering Inns. Closer, one could see Association Circle where the Ten Realm’s associations had settled down.
“Egbert collapsed, and the power of the linked dungeon floors reversed. Instead of going into the mana-storing formation, it shot through all the floors,” Gong Jin, Captain of Special Team Three said with a dark expression.
“What the hell for?” Rugrat asked.
“Unknown. It seems structurally sound. People are ready to evacuate as we speak. Those that can have already left. Delilah reported that there has been a series of notifications from the dungeon itself.”
Erik walked toward the door. “We’re heading to Alva. Now.”
Rugrat followed him. Gong Jin quickly talked into his sound transmission device.
Han Wu and a new member of Special Team Four were waiting outside. They followed Erik and the group as they strode out of their office.
People cleared a path as the group grew in size as they passed through offices and hallways. Gong Jin’s team, which had been deployed at different points or resting, rushed to meet them.
Erik reached the main door of the castle and put his fingers in his mouth, letting out a piercing whistle.
“Protective detail to the totem. Get mounted!” Gong Jin ordered. They summoned their mounts from their storage crates, climbing onto their backs.
There was a growl from above as George flapped his wings, as large as two grown men. He halted his speed as he landed next to Rugrat, who swung his leg over George’s back.
Gilly appeared through a side entrance, turning and sliding to a stop. Erik grabbed her harness and pulled himself up with practiced ease.
“Sirs, I suggest wearing masks,” Gong Jin said.
Erik and Rugrat pulled out their masks as Gong Jin cast an illusion spell, covering everyone and altering the appearance of their weapons and armor. The masks shifted. One couldn’t tell they were fakes unless they had a strong detection spell or touched their faces.
“Move out!” Gong Jin yelled.
The group snapped their reins. They picked up speed as Gong Jin guided them away from the main entrance into Vuzgal Castle and toward the academy. There was more traffic there, making it easier for them to blend in along the roads to the Vuzgal totem.
“Move it!” The leading special team members released some of their aura, clearing a path. The rest of the group’s faces were emotionless, on edge, ready for anything.
The Ten Realms’ totem, which connected all the different realms and cities across them, came into sight as they increased their pace. Defense gates around the totem opened, providing a clear path forward. Gilly pulled back, trying to slow her momentum as Gong Jin worked the totem controls.
Vuzgal disappeared; Alva and status screens appeared as a flood of experience hit Erik and Rugrat.
==========
Quest Complete: Restoring Beast Mountains Dungeon Part 1
==========
Congratulations! You have taken control of the Beast Mountains Dungeon. Its condition isn’t the best, and it will require work to repair. I hope you brought a hammer! Or crafters.
==========
Requirements:
Repair the main Mana Gathering formation
Repair the secondary Mana Gathering formations (10/10)
Repair the Metal Beast controlling formations (3/3)
Repair the containment formation
Repair containment formation sub-arrays (12/12)
Repair the Metal Floor’s Main Control formation
Repair Metal Floor’s Secondary control formations (12/12)
==========
Rewards:
Up to 200 ore per day
+100 Sky Mana stones per day
+1,200,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest Complete: Restoring Beast Mountains Dungeon Part 2
==========
Congratulations! You have taken control of the Beast Mountains Dungeon. Its condition isn’t the best, and it will require work to repair. I hope you brought a hammer! Or crafters.
==========
Requirements:
Repair the main Mana Gathering formation
Repair the secondary Mana Gathering formations (10/10)
Repair the Earth Beast controlling formations (3/3)
Repair the containment formation
Repair containment formation sub-arrays (12/12)
Repair the Earth Floor’s Main Control formation
Repair Earth Floor’s Secondary control formations (12/12)
==========
Rewards:
+1,200,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest Complete: Restoring Beast Mountains Dungeon Part 3
==========
Congratulations! You have taken control of the Beast Mountains Dungeon. Its condition isn’t the best, and it will require work to repair. I hope you brought a hammer! Or crafters.
==========
Requirements:
Repair the main Mana Gathering formation
Repair the secondary Mana Gathering formations (10/10)
Repair the Fire Beast controlling formations (3/3)
Repair the containment formation
Repair containment formation sub-arrays (12/12)
Repair the Fire Floor’s Main Control formation
Repair Fire Floor’s Secondary control formations (12/12)
==========
Rewards:
+1,200,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest Complete: Restoring Beast Mountains Dungeon Part 4
==========
Congratulations! You have taken control of the Beast Mountains Dungeon. Its condition isn’t the best, and it will require work to repair. I hope you brought a hammer! Or crafters.
==========
Requirements:
Repair the main Mana Gathering formation
Repair the secondary Mana Gathering formations (10/10)
Repair the Wood Beast controlling formations (3/3)
Repair the containment formation
Repair containment formation sub-arrays (12/12)
Repair the Wood Floor’s Main Control formation
Repair Wood Floor’s Secondary control formations (12/12)
==========
Rewards:
+1,200,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest Complete: Restoring Beast Mountains Dungeon Part 5
==========
Congratulations! You have taken control of the Beast Mountains Dungeon. Its condition isn’t the best, and it will require work to repair. I hope you brought a hammer! Or crafters.
==========
Requirements:
Repair the main Mana Gathering formation
Repair the secondary Mana Gathering formations (10/10)
Repair the Water Beast controlling formations (3/3)
Repair the containment formation
Repair containment formation sub-arrays (12/12)
Repair the Water Floor’s Main Control formation
Repair Water Floor’s Secondary control formations (16/16)
==========
Rewards:
+1,200,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest Complete: Restoring Beast Mountains Dungeon Part 6
==========
Congratulations! You have taken control of the Beast Mountains Dungeon. Its condition isn’t the best, and it will require work to repair. I hope you brought a hammer! Or crafters.
==========
Requirements:
Repair and Control the Metal floor
Repair and Control the Earth floor
Repair and Control the Fire floor
Repair and Control the Wood floor
Repair and Control the Water floor
Repair and Control the Living floor
==========
Rewards:
+1,200,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest Completed: Dungeon Master
==========
As the Master, you have returned your dungeon to its former glory. Advancement quests are unlocked. Grow your dungeon’s power!
==========
Requirements:
Increase your dungeon core’s grade to Sky Grand
==========
Rewards
60,000,000 EXP
Dungeon Master Title V
==========
==========
Quest: Upgrade the First Realm
==========
Well, it looks like you went the hammer route! For the greatness of the Ten Realms, you are forging ahead! With your contributions, we will all become stronger!
==========
Requirements:
Continue drilling into the depths of the First Realm.
==========
Rewards:
Ten Realms Dukedom
Receive a Four-Star Hero Emblem; must be collected from the Tenth Imperium’s Quartermaster
+400,000,000 EXP
==========
==========
Quest: Dungeon Master II
==========
As Master, you have returned your dungeon to its former glory. Advancement quests are unlocked. Grow your dungeon’s power!
==========
Requirements:
Increase your dungeon core’s grade to Celestial Common Grade
==========
Rewards
100,000,000 EXP
Dungeon Master Title VI
==========
==========
You have reached Level 62
When you sleep next, you will be able to increase your attributes by: 5 points.
==========
==========
26,219,539/172,300,000 EXP till you reach Level 63
==========
Erik glanced at the screens quickly, then flicked them away.
“Well, that’s not supposed to happen,” Rugrat said in a gruff voice.
“Let's hurry up.” Erik pushed Rugrat toward the inner dungeon.
The illusion-breaking formation spells forcefully removed their disguises, revealing the masks as well as the Special Team members’ gear. The Alva soldiers standing watch at the defensive structure around the totem lowered their weapons, standing at ease.
Erik gritted his teeth, waiting as they were cleared one by one by the guards and their scanning formations.
“The council is at the military command center. With the changes in the dungeon core, they had to evacuate the dungeon headquarters,” Gong Jin reported as the last member was checked.
“Lead on, Captain,” Erik ordered.
Gong Jin led them through the thick walls of the totem castle.
“Fuck me!” Rugrat stared at the dungeon headquarters.
Snow fell from above, but they could both feel the pull from the sheer power being channeled below.
“Shit,” Erik agreed, glancing up at the mana stones above. He held out a hand, rubbing the shiny white snow between his fingers “This is dust from depleted mana stones.”
Alva cast a beautiful sight: a land of stone and wooden houses intermixed with parks, small streams, and comfortable inns and bars. In the middle of it a pillar of light, five meters in diameter, connected the glowing ceiling, covered in mana stones, through the cylindrical Alva Dungeon Headquarters down below.
The pure, refined mana moved at such speeds and with so much volume that the very air shimmered around it. The plants —even those seen as weeds—were stronger than common ingredients in the second realm.
They rode toward the barracks and the command center underneath it.
What the hell did you do, Egbert? And what the hell is the Tenth Realm Imperium?
They arrived at the barracks. Word had made it ahead of them. Half the gate was opened for them to squeeze through. Soldiers wearing their complete body armor, with sealed helmets and their rifles at the ready, were watching over Alva. Their presence was ominous, though Erik couldn’t help but look at them with pride, feeling reassured.
Erik and Rugrat dismounted before George and Gilly came to a complete stop in one of the parade squares. The barracks had been expanded, and a second barracks was being built adjacent to the teleportation pads.
The barracks were arranged like a nine-digit number pad. The outside squares were training areas, ringed by walls, sleeping quarters, cafeterias, and all the things the troops might need day-to-day. Walls separated it from the rest of the base. The interior square was its own world made up of classrooms, advanced training areas, medical facilities, as well as the command center of the Alva Military. It was the beating heart of Alva’s military.
The special team members pulled on their helmets and drew their weapons, making sure they were loaded.
Gong Jin guided them through the stairwells and corridors as if the confusing maze underneath the barracks was his second home.
Erik and Rugrat wore their regular clothes: boots, hiking pants, long-sleeve insulated sweaters, t-shirts, and an expression that told one that they would go through whatever stood in their way.
Soldiers cleared a path. Doors of metal beeped, recognizing their identification medallions, and allowing them access.
Another scan and the special team members took positions outside of a doorway.
Erik opened the door.
“Wh—” Jia Feng’s words died in her throat as everyone in the room glanced over.
Glosil, Yui, and their aides stood up. Glosil snapped off a salute.
“At ease.” Erik snapped off a replying salute as Rugrat closed the door.
Glosil indicated two empty seats on either side of Delilah.
The young woman looked like she had aged overnight. Her expression was grim as she nodded at Erik, then Rugrat.
Egbert’s skull lay behind Delilah on a table with formations carved into it. Roska and her people watched his bones with rifles drawn.
Erik nodded to them, took one of the rol
ling chairs, and pulled himself forward. “So, what the hell is going on? The dungeon was functioning perfectly before we left,” Erik said, trying to inject some levity into the tense situation.
Their lips shifted slightly in the attempt, but there was little more.
Erik looked along the right side of the table. Jia Feng was head of Alva’s Academies, the new Consortium in Beast Mountain Range, Kanesh Academy in Alva, and Vuzgal Academy that Erik and Rugrat had ridden through. Elise led the Trader’s Guild, a powerhouse of a woman with the ability to move each of the lower realms with just a few orders. Thousands were under her direct command. It wasn’t wrong to say that she was the reason that the Beast Mountain Range and Vuzgal had grown to their current power and remained stable. Blaze, the old leader of Alva Village and the Adventurer’s Guild leader, a guild he had grown to hundreds of thousands of members across four realms and was looking to advance into the Fifth Realm.
Erik’s eyes moved to the left side where he found Glosil the commander of Alva’s forces, Alva Village’s old guard captain and subordinate to Blaze, Colonel Yui Silaz—who led one of the two regiments of Alvan Soldiers—and, finally, Elan Silaz, Yui’s father and Director of the Alva Intelligence Department, the spy leader of Alva.
His eyes tracked to Delilah beside him, who cleared her throat. Council Leader of Alva, and an expert alchemist, she was the true manager and ruler of all Alva. She was also his student, even though she had beaten him to the expert level of alchemy.
“Something that we weren’t anticipating, and it seems the real purpose of the dungeon,” Delilah said, taking charge. “Formation masters have been looking at everything. The formations that activated were buried in the old formations running through the dungeon. Simply put, we thought that all the power was going in one direction—up. Though it was all supposed to be going down.”
“How did we not see this?” Rugrat asked, sitting down on her other side.
“When repairing the dungeon, we reverted everything back to the plans made by the gnomes, and then built on top of that. It was easier, at the time, to take someone else’s plans and modify them instead of starting from scratch. It would have taken years to come up with our own formations and implement them,” Jia Feng informed the table.
Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8) Page 2
