PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)

★CHAPTER 3★

    

      The portal shimmered and spun, then abruptly transported us, leaving us standing on solid ground.  The world around us was a vibrant green, a stark contrast to the sterile greyness of the city.  I took a deep breath, the air here crisp and clean, a welcome change from the polluted air of the city.  I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the breathtaking landscape. Lush meadows stretched out before us, dotted with colorful wildflowers.  The sky above was an endless expanse of blue, unblemished by the haze of pollution.

“Welcome to your first dungeon,” Kaito said, his voice echoing in the vastness of the space.  He gestured towards the rolling hills and valleys that surrounded us.

“WOW! It is beautiful, what is this place called?” I asked Kaito.

“This is a pocket world,” he explained, his voice gruff. “Nobody knows their origin, but these dungeons have been around for over ten millennials.”

“That sure is a long time. How is it even possible? ” I asked him again. I just couldn't help the questions.

He took a step forward, the ground crunching under his boots.  "They exist in a perpetual cycle, constantly mending and absorbing corpses, both human and monster alike. It's a strange thing, this constant cycle of death and rebirth.  They're almost like a living entity, constantly adapting and evolving."

His words sent a shiver down my spine.  The idea of a living dungeon, a world that consumed the dead and then gave birth to new life, was both fascinating and terrifying.

"You've probably heard of the Purge, right?" he asked, turning to face me.

"The Purge?" I asked, my brow furrowed.

He chuckled, a deep rumble that echoed through the meadow. 
“Yes the purge.”

“what is that?” I asked, having no idea what it was.

(Sighs) Maybe I should have done a lot more on world history too and not just combat trainings.

“It's when monsters are expelled from the dungeon into our world because of unknown reasons. They become mutated, stronger, more vicious due to the excessive Mana in the air.”

“Mana?” I asked, feeling even more confused.

He paused, his gaze fixed on me.  Then, he extended his hand, and with a flick of his finger, his hands lit up in flames.  The flames then moved downwards and concentrated around his sword, infusing it with a powerful heat energy.  With a swift, powerful stroke, he sliced the air and a line of flame flew through a nearby tree, the sound of the cut echoing through the quiet meadow.  The tree splintered and fell,  the energy from his sword leaving a scorch mark on the trunk.

“That’s Mana,” he said, his voice calm despite the demonstration.  “It is what we require to use our skills and spells. It's the lifeblood of these dungeons, the energy that fuels everything here.  When you awaken your system, you'll be able to consciously, see it, control it, take it in like food.  It'll be the source of your strength, and it's also what slows down our aging process.  That's why humans can live for hundreds of years, as long as they keep leveling up."

His words stunned me.  The implications were staggering.  I had no idea how much I didn’t know.

“wow, that changes my thoughts about advanced hunters who looked young. If what you say is true then there are people who are over 500 hundred years, right?” I said thoughtfully.

“Uhm, yeah. But they are rare to find as they are now ranked up and fight more powerful monsters.” Luna answered this time.

Kaito picks up from where she stopped.

“Once you start leveling up, your aging process literally slows down, so unless you're murdered, you could live for a long time”

“how old are you three? And what level?” I asked, still trying to process the information he'd just given me.

She chuckles before answering, “I'm 24 and I'm in level 87. Kaito is in level 92 and he's 25. Shadow's the oldest, he's 30 and he's level 130”

He wasn't joking about the age thingy. They looked younger than their actual ages .

“That is unexpected, but it's cool. You must be extremely strong” I said to her smiling.

“Yeah we're strong but Shadow's more stronger due to his advanced level” she replied.

“So... why did you choose this dungeon?” I asked,

Kaito answers this time  “It's a beginner dungeon, and it doesn't have a boss room.  It's too low leveled for that.”

“Am sorry for asking so many questions, but am trying to grasp everything all at once. What are boss rooms and beginner dungeons?” I asked looking into his amber eyes.

“(Sighs) it's okay, I understand the reason for your curiosity. We were all like that once.” he closes his eyes for a few minutes and then faces west.

“There are little energy readings in that part, too small for hunters. Let's check it out.” he says and we start walking.

“You sensed them from here?”

“Yes I did, and when you get stronger, you'll be able to do it too.” he says with a small smile playing on his lips.

‘Dude, you haven't answered my question yet’

I thought and as if sensing my thoughts he continues,

“To answer your questions, There are four types of dungeons," as he speaks, his gaze swept across the grassland.  "This one, the beginner dungeon, is the most common.  Then there are mini-dungeons, where advanced hunters like us grind for experience and gather rare materials.  They have boss rooms with powerful Boss's, but the monsters that spawn aren't that powerful.  The dungeons have respawning mechanics, after every boss defeat. A new one emerges. Then there are Mana Zones.”

He paused, his expression turning serious.  "They're a whole other level.  Filled with powerful monsters, and a boss that could sometimes, rival a double-ranked hunter.  No one has ever Soloed a Mana Zone before. It is always with a team. And after the boss is defeated, they disappear.  It's like a nightmare come to life. “

His words made me uneasy. The idea of a place so powerful, so dangerous, sent chills down my spine.

“And then there are labyrinths,” Luna said, her voice barely a whisper.  "They have all kinds of floors, each with its own unique challenges.  No one's ever completed a labyrinth either, they're too difficult.  Legend has it that they hold the secrets to even greater power. They rarely appear and there are only a handful of them in the whole world."

“And What’s a double ranked hunter?” I asked, feeling overwhelmed by the information.

...