Chapter 424 - 423: Grand Opening Of The Dungeon (part 2)

Chapter 424: Chapter 423: Grand Opening Of The Dungeon (part 2)

For generations, monster races throughout this region had been treated as inferior beings.

Many had lived as servants.

Others had been sold as slaves.

Some noble families had considered them little more than property.

Those prejudices had not disappeared overnight.

Several humans still looked upon the monster races with old prejudices.

Years of tradition could not disappear in a single month.

For generations, beastmen had been sold in slave markets.

Stonekin had been forced to work inside mines until their bodies crumbled.

Forest races had served as personal attendants to noble families.

Those memories had been engraved into the culture of the former kingdom.

Many humans still found it difficult to accept the change.

Yet, the world had already changed.

The throne no longer belonged to a human king.

It belonged to Alix.

His kingdom was built upon a simple principle.

Every citizen who obeyed the law would be protected.

Every citizen who broke it would be punished.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

-----

Another long horn sounded across the capital.

The grand opening had officially begun.

The massive bronze doors of the Dungeon Hall slowly opened.

Sunlight poured into the enormous building, illuminating the colossal spatial crack floating silently at its center.

A wave of astonishment immediately swept through the crowd.

"So that’s the dungeon..."

"It’s enormous."

"I’ve never seen a dungeon this big before."

"The rumors were true..."

Even famous people from different cities couldn’t hide their amazement.

Many had expected an ordinary one.

Instead, an entire palace had been constructed around the entrance.

The building itself was magnificent.

Its towering pillars reached dozens of meters into the air.

Formation arrays glowed faintly beneath the polished stone floor.

Wide corridors surrounded the central hall, allowing thousands of people to move without congestion.

The scale alone demonstrated the kingdom’s determination.

Throughout the hall, monster race officials calmly directed the arriving crowds.

"Registration is to the left."

"Equipment inspections are straight ahead."

"Healers are available on the second floor."

"Please prepare your identification token."

Everything proceeded in perfect order.

There was no chaos. No pushing. No shouting.

Every process had been planned in advance.

Alix had specifically ordered his officials to spread news of the dungeon weeks before the opening.

Messengers had traveled from city to city.

Merchants had spoken of ancient treasures hidden beneath a crimson sky.

Bards exaggerated stories of powerful monsters and forgotten ruins.

Official notices had been posted throughout the kingdom.

As a result, the grand opening attracted far more visitors than anyone had anticipated.

Representatives from influential merchant guilds arrived with large caravans.

Independent experts who had secluded themselves for years finally emerged after hearing rumors of Tier 6 artifacts.

Mercenary companies registered immediately, hoping to establish themselves before their competitors.

Even several famous cultivators known throughout the former kingdom appeared in person.

Everyone wanted to become one of the first explorers.

Because being first often meant obtaining the greatest rewards.

----

Near the entrance...

Separate queues had been established.

The first was reserved for citizens of the monster races.

The second served everyone else.

Some humans frowned upon seeing the arrangement.

One wealthy noble quietly muttered,

"So monsters really enter first."

Standing beside him, an elderly merchant merely smiled.

"The kingdom belongs to them now."

"The king already announced the regulations."

"If you dislike them..."

"You’re free to leave."

The noble’s expression stiffened.

He said nothing more.

There was no point in arguing.

Everyone already understood the consequences.

Erevaris’ laws were strict.

Extremely strict.

Anyone causing trouble inside the cities would be arrested immediately.

Status.

Family background.

Wealth.

None of those mattered anymore.

Only the law mattered.

That alone had discouraged countless troublemakers.

Several beastmen calmly walked through the priority entrance.

As they passed a group of human cultivators, one young man intentionally bumped his shoulder against a tiger beastman.

The impact wasn’t strong.

It was merely meant as an insult.

The tiger beastman stopped. He slowly turned his head.

For a brief moment, the surrounding humans instinctively tensed.

They expected retaliation.

After all, if they had suffered such humiliation in the past, many would have responded with violence.

Instead, the beastman simply looked at the young adventurer before calmly stepping aside.

Without saying a single word, he continued walking toward the registration desk.

The young cultivator blinked in surprise.

"...He didn’t react?"

His companion quietly answered,

"Surprisingly, they are more civilized than we thought."

"And the king forbade unnecessary conflict."

The beastman had every opportunity to retaliate.

Yet he chose not to.

Not because he was weak.

Nor because he was afraid.

But because his king had commanded every citizen of the monster races to uphold discipline above all else.

Alix had made one thing perfectly clear.

No personal revenge.

No abuse of authority.

No settling old grudges.

The past would remain in the past.

The future would be decided by the law.

That order had spread throughout every military camp and every government office within Erevaris.

And every member of the monster races obeyed it without question.

----

The flow of people continued without pause.

Groups of adventurers entered one after another, each carrying different hopes as they stepped toward the enormous spatial gate.

Some sought fortune.

Others desired fame.

Many simply wished to become stronger.

Near the registration area, a party of five human adventurers quietly gathered before the entrance.

Judging by the quality of their equipment, they had worked together for many years.

Leading the group was a broad-shouldered man carrying a massive steel tower shield across his back. Countless dents and scratches covered its surface, each one proof of battles fought and survived. His weathered face and calm eyes immediately marked him as a veteran.

Behind him stood a lean swordsman with two curved blades hanging from his waist.

Beside the swordsman was a young female archer whose emerald eyes constantly scanned the surroundings with practiced caution.

Standing slightly farther back was a middle-aged mage wrapped in dark blue robes embroidered with silver runes.

The last member was a cheerful young woman carrying a wooden staff adorned with healing crystals.

The shield-bearing warrior adjusted the straps securing his enormous shield before looking toward the gigantic spatial crack suspended inside the Dungeon Hall.

A grin slowly spread across his rugged face.

"I hope we can at least find a Tier 5 weapon or artifact."

"If Lady Luck smiles on us today..."

"...our lives might change forever."

The twin-swordsman chuckled.

"You’re aiming pretty high for our first expedition."

"A Tier 5 artifact isn’t exactly lying around on every street."

The warrior laughed heartily.

"I know."

"But what’s the point of entering a dungeon without dreaming a little?"

"If we’re lucky enough to find even one Tier 5 weapon..."

"We could sell it for enough money to retire."

The mage adjusted his spectacles before shaking his head.

"Retire?"

"You?"

"I’d believe the sun would rise in the west before I believed that."

The others immediately burst into laughter.

The warrior scratched the back of his head.

"...Fine."

"Maybe not retire."

"But I’d definitely buy a better shield."

He patted the worn steel shield resting against his shoulder.

"This old thing has protected me for nearly ten years."

"I think it’s earned its rest."

The young healer smiled warmly.

"If we really find one..."

"I’ll finally be able to replace my healing staff too."

"The crystal inside is beginning to crack."

The archer folded her arms while observing the steady stream of adventurers entering the dungeon.

"Don’t get carried away."

"We haven’t even gone inside yet."

"Besides..."

She glanced toward the registration board displaying the dungeon’s danger rating.

"The official notice clearly says this place is filled with monsters comparable to Tier 5."

"We’re only entering the outer region."

The mage nodded in agreement.

"Exploring an unknown dungeon recklessly is no different from committing suicide."

The warrior’s expression gradually became serious.

He nodded.

"I know."

"We’ve survived this long because we never underestimated our opponents."

Just then, one of the monster race officials called out from the checkpoint.

"Adventuring Party Seventeen."

"Registration complete."

"You may enter."

The five exchanged determined glances.

Their nervousness slowly gave way to excitement.

The warrior inhaled deeply before gripping the handle of his shield.

He smiled.

"Let’s hope we come back richer than when we entered."

The swordsman smirked.

"And preferably alive."

The healer rolled her eyes.

"That should be your first priority."

The group laughed together before walking toward the enormous spatial crack.

The crimson gateway rippled gently before them like the surface of a tranquil lake.

One by one, they stepped forward.

The moment their bodies touched the spatial barrier, ripples spread across its surface.

Then...

Their figures disappeared without a trace.

Around them, countless other adventurers watched with anticipation.

Some were eager.

Some were nervous.