Chapter 84
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The gates to the Capital City were opened with countless people pouring in...
These weren't just ordinary people but tankers and warriors carrying different makeshift weapons, some clad in cool-designed battle armor that reflected faintly beneath the torchlight...
Some moved with confidence while others walked stealthily through the crowd like shadows...
Some took the streets while others moved across rooftops...
But all of them still had to pass through one massive gate guarded by two men donned in intricate black armor with long spears resting in their grips as cold mist drifted around their boots...
"Only Top 50 rankers can enter with one subordinate.." one of the guards announced.
"I'm with Kamira.." Socrates said as he grabbed her hand before passing through the gate.
"I'm with Greg.." Cleopatra announced as he strolled inside alongside a bulky man with two swords strapped behind his back.
"Master.. We should also go in.." Malena walked up to Judas who squinted his eyes slightly.
"I'm going in with her.." he said as Malena turned to see the Rank 10 of the Outer Ranking walking toward them.
"But Zina is already a ranker.." Malena protested.
"Your puppet is also a ranker... He should take you in.." Judas flashed her a smile before turning toward Zina.
"I thought you wouldn't make it.." Judas stretched out a hand.
"I'm not going to miss an adventure with you.." Zina replied with a face full of smiles as she accepted his hand and walked with him into the Capital City.
'Kamira and that red-haired fool... Now Master and this lady too... Why am I the only one left out?' Malena lamented inwardly.
"Mama.. I'm here for you.." Fatso spoke from behind her and she turned instantly, shooting him an angry glare that caused him to retreat two steps backward.
"Hmph... Let's go in." She clicked her tongue and proceeded forward since she had no choice but to enter with Fatso who was ranked 47th.
Meanwhile, the moment Socrates entered the Capital City, he realized the city was completely different from the outside world...
Rows of flame torches burned everywhere, their orange glow melting the drifting snowflakes before they could even touch the ground...
The cold wind still blew through the streets but it wasn't nearly as ferocious as outside the walls...
The structures were all built with similar outlines, layered stone buildings with slanted roofs and glowing windows that illuminated the snowy pathways...
There was no snow covering the houses but patches of hardened frost still clung stubbornly to the roads...
At both sides of the streets were citizens arranging stalls for passersby while steam rose from hot food stands into the chilly air...
"Are all these people living here?" Socrates asked while glancing around.
"Yes... There are a lot of people who call this place their home." Kamira replied softly.
"Then why stay here? Why didn't they remain in the outside world instead?" Socrates asked again.
"It's because this place is their home... Nothing more.." Kamira explained. "The dungeon isn't another world entirely... Everything you're seeing now was once part of Earth itself. Before the dungeon appeared, people were already living here... This was their home. The people you see now are descendants of the survivors."
She paused briefly as cold wind brushed through her purple hair.
"For example... I was born here and I've never been to the outside world before.."
"What about your parents?"
"They died... In the Ice—Flame Dungeon.." she answered quietly before walking ahead.
Socrates froze for a brief second.
'Kamira... You've gone through a lot..'
His fists tightened unconsciously before he quickly rushed after her through the crowded street. . . .
It was a giant...
A white giant...
And the first giant Socrates had ever seen in his life...
The man towered over everyone like a mountain of flesh and muscle while snow swirled around his enormous frame...
His white hair flowed down his back while his pale skin almost blended with the snowy atmosphere itself.
"He's White... The Number 1 of the Outer Ranking. A subordinate of the Giant King placed here to prevent too many people from entering the Inner Ranking." Kamira explained to Socrates.
"The Ice—Flame Dungeon is now open once again to give the Outer Ranking members an opportunity to temper themselves.." White began, his voice booming across the entire area like thunder.
"In the Ice—Flame Dungeon, one might encounter treasures, cultivation arts, techniques, secret spells, ancient manuscripts or even rune collections. Everything one encounters belongs to oneself..."
The crowd became restless instantly.
"The only thing required is to find the Ice—Flame. Once achieved, one automatically becomes an Inner Ranker and can freely live within the Inner City of the Capital."
White stretched out a hand toward the city behind him.
"You've all seen how the Outer City looks... Just imagine what the Inner City looks like."
The crowd erupted loudly.
Many warriors clenched their fists tightly while greed and excitement burned in their eyes...
Some wanted treasure.
Some sought strength.
Some merely wanted survival.
And others simply wished to kill.
"There's no rule within the Dungeon. Anyone may act however they wish..." White continued. "However, everyone will receive a digital card which can store items and also serve as a map. Rankings will update based on performance and skill count accessed by the digital card."
"The Top 5 rankers will also gain the opportunity to challenge me for the Number 1 spot."
The entire crowd roared loudly after hearing that.
"The Dungeon is now OPEN!"
White stepped aside as the guards before the portal pulled away the massive curtain covering it.
Purple otherworldly light exploded outward instantly...
The glow illuminated the snowy field and reflected against countless widened eyes...
A chilling pressure leaked from the portal itself as if another world was breathing from beyond it.
Warriors immediately charged toward it.
"Let's go too..." Socrates grabbed Kamira's hand before sprinting forward.
Judas glanced toward Zina and both of them rushed ahead together.
Greg merely jogged while Cleopatra walked with fast measured strides.
"We should stick together..." Malena reached out only to realize everyone was already gone.
"Mama.. I should carry you.." Fatso revealed his brown crooked teeth with a grin that instantly made Malena clench her fist.
"Let's go, you buffoon!" she snapped before dashing forward.
Lu Yarao grabbed Kurama's hand and both of them entered the Dungeon together.
More and more warriors rushed into the portal...
Then the moment the number reached one hundred—
The Dungeon shut forcefully. . . .
"The winner of the competition is Alyssa Ashur!" the referee announced.
The entire crowd erupted.
"Alyssa!"
"Alyssa!"
"Alyssa!"
The young lady raised her hand proudly in response as the students cheered even louder.
She had just defeated another Grade One student.
Medics quickly rushed forward to carry the unconscious opponent away while the referee handed Alyssa a digital card.
"Alyssa has secured the ninth slot to enter the Dungeon!" he announced again.
"You may step down."
She nodded before releasing energy outward.
The air around her distorted slightly as she manipulated it just enough to leap gracefully back toward the audience stand.
"Sister, congratulations!" another girl rushed toward her excitedly.
"Thank you, Terissa... It's your turn next.." Alyssa replied before hugging her twin sister.
"Next on stage is Terissa Ashur!" the referee called out.
Terissa disengaged from the hug before stepping forward confidently.
Energy flowed around her body as she leapt and landed gracefully on the stage.
"And her opponent will be... Amelia Trueblood."
The moment the name echoed out—
The crowd went silent.
Then from among the audience emerged a single woman dressed in a loose blue gown with a scarf wrapped around her red hair...
Dark bags hung beneath her tired eyes while every step she took looked as though she could collapse at any moment...
"Why is she even fighting?"
"What can she possibly do?"
"This is a guaranteed win for Terissa."
"She's still at the Early Stage of the Energy Cultivation Realm after an entire year while her mates have already entered Grade 2..."
"She's been in the academy for over a year and still hasn't improved at all..."
"All her peers are already in Grade 2... She's already a grown woman. Shouldn't she just get married?"
"I wouldn't mind making her my plaything though..."
"What are you saying? What if there are still Trueblood spies around here?"
"Trueblood? That family is already in decline... It won't be long before they get wiped out completely."
The crowd murmured among themselves while Amelia slowly climbed onto the stage.
"Go Terissa!"
"Don't let that Trueblood bastard touch you!"
"Defeat her already!"
The cheers all went toward Terissa who smirked proudly while staring at Amelia whose body trembled faintly beneath the cold wind.
She was only at the Early Stage...
While Terissa had already entered the Mid Stage.
The referee handed both of them identical swords before retreating backward.
The icy wind blew across the arena as snow drifted through the air between them...
"Let the battle for the tenth slot..."
The referee raised his hand.
"COMMENCE!"