How To Survive A Calamity

Dungeons were an intricate structure of Aethoria, and the only experience I've ever had with one was the Inheritance Dungeon of Laplace.

From what i knew so far, they were unnatural structures which emerged and started to appear during the invasion all those many years ago. So they were concepts and aspects that have even so deeply tied themselves inti the history books.

The invaders and Demons used various means to travel through worlds, and one of such is by widening cracks between realms and creating 'passageways'.

Those 'Cracks' were later known as Gates. And the "Passageways' became Dungeons.

So put simply, Dungeons were fragmented parts, or tunnels of a different world and realm entirely, and a Gate was the entrance of such a dungeon.

That meant, a Dungeon literally led to a different and far off world, parallel and inverse of Aethoria. That explained the kinds of weird abnormalities and absurdities one could find in a Dungeon, and the dangerous inhabitants and monsters roaming inside of it.

[At the height of the Cosmic War of Supremacy and Extinction, the appearance of Gates and Dungeons were what constituted a major resource in plunging Aethoria into the most chaos, and put the human race a wide feet backwards on the confrontation with the Demons and other races. Imagine having sudden supernatural entrances spewing out diabolical creatures appearing out of nowhere, all over the world one day.] With subtle vibrations, and subtle additions, Meta said in her usual deadpan and synthetic voice.

This was what truly made Dungeons incredibly high-risk in this world.

As Gates were entrances, and Dungeons were 'passages' to different worlds, and inverse realms, that meant if one wasn't lucky enough it wasn't impossible to suddenly run into a powerful Demon in a seemingly random Dungeon.

The monsters and traps in Dungeons weren't anything to scoff about, but the possibilities were the most dangerous risks.

But it was also those same possibilities and risks that also made Dungeons highly rewarding.

Imagine having access to various possible resources from a different world?

One way or another, otherwise mundane objects or materials found in a dungeon, could turn out to be priceless artifacts or resource to the Humans of Aethoria.

So Dungeons were incredibly high risk, and high rewards.

[But the appearances and presences of Dungeons in Aethoria remain a looming shadow over the human race ever since. As Dungeons are belived to be fragments and passages of the World of the invaders, with them constantly appearing all over Aethoria, certain specialists believe this world is gradually and slowly being swallowed up and devoured. If more Dungeons, or Gates continue to appear, it will no longer be a matter of extinction or supremacy. The world of Aethoria would simply cease and be devoured. Becoming something else.] Meta's words sent an ominous chill down my back.

That theory, i had already heard about it during one of my research.

After my encounter with the Dungeon of Laplace, i had taken some time to research more about Dungeons, Gates, Labyrinth and Towers and came across a few peculiar and interesting materials.

Like the theory that, not only were Dungeons means of our invaders to travel across to our world, but rather was a diabolical tactic to slowly swallow us up.

If you kept putting small fragments and shards of something together in place, wouldn't it eventually form a piece?

To Aethoria, Dungeons were like a ticking timer. A doom clock, so to say.

But needless to say, as horrific as they were, the concepts of Dungeons were deeply fascinating and intriguing.

Fragments, and passages to another world.

Imagine walking down an entrance and instantly finding yourself in a different universe.

Well...as someone who already experienced Transmigration, i don't know — it kind of already lost its taste for me...

But regardless, the idea was still fascinating enough, especially to those who fantasize about the theory of Transmigration between words.

And as such, over time, Dungeons have been intensely studied and replicated in various ways and formats by the humans.

There were even structures called Inheritance Dungeons, which served a slightly different more purpose than a regular Dungeon.

Inheritance Dungeons were the rarest types of Dungeons to have appeared from the beginning, up untill now.

They were also considered to be the most valuable and treasured type of Dungeon.

That was because, Inheritance Dungeons were primarily and intentionally designed with riches and treasures at its core.

It was according to it's name. Inheritance Dungeons housed the secret and valuable properties and inheritance of some unknown or ancient entity or power.

They were design with specific trials or patterns for specific challengers. And those who succeed in clearing the trials are finally deemed worthy for the wealth and inheritance sealer away in the depths.

Dungeons were a boon.

Inheritance Dungeons were treasure troves.

They undeniably left you with a reward, unlike a regular Dungeon.

You could challenge one with the thoughts that if you successfully meet the criteria, you will most definitely be rewarded with the hidden inheritance of a mysterious power.

I could definitely testify.

Dungeon of Laplace was one such Inheritance Dungeon after all.

These type of Dungeons were usually very tightly hidden and could only be stumbled upon randomly. And once they have been successfully challenged, unlike a regular Dungeon — an Inheritance Dungeon vanishes for good.

I had gone back to try and find the Dungeon of Laplace again a few times, but failed.

Even if i had obtained all of the intended rewards and the Will left behind, the environment of the Dungeon was still optimal for quick growth. I could just go in there to train faster in my free time.

But alas, i could no longer find the entrance, nor the exit where i was spat out from.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Gone.

The Dungeon of Laplace had completely been erased.

Just as suddenly as i had stumbled into it, Laplace Dungeon had disappeared.

It was like it never was even there, it was strange actually.

Perhaps it was some sort of mechanism for it to vanish after a suitable challenger had been chosen.

That was one of the things that set an Inheritance Dungeon apart form other Dungeons.

Unfortunately, means of completely closing down a Dungeon hadn't been discovered yet. You can only 'ware' one out, by plundering it's energy and resource to an extent for it to temporarily close down for some time.

Dungeons were like a reservoir of accumulated energy and resources. And once this accumulated energy is depleted to a certain extent, a Dungeon Gate closes down for a period of time to recover its lost power.

That was the only temporary measure Humans discovered to barely curb the threat and dangers of Dungeons.

Inversely, there was also something that would happen if the accumulated energy rises and hits a certain threshold...

And to avoid such an outcome, it is better to periodically plunder a Dungeon with multiple raids and keep it in check.

"With various Dungeons appearing all over the world in real time, Aethoria is continuously in a process of expansion and inflation. A Dungeon means a passage to another world after all. And to curb this, the various discovered Gates and Dungeon entrances are under jurisdictions of different powerful Guilds and Organisations, like the Association, and Aegis. As such, trespassing into a registered Dungeon with unauthorized access is illegal and highly punishable by the law..." The round and plunp instructor at the front of the classroom, with a blonde handlebar mustache, said exhaustively as he explained.

Heeding well into Wrenna's advice, i took the actual pain of attending a lecture about Dungeons and Gates before the Field trip coming soon.

Although i probably didn't need this, because all that was being said was something i more or less already knew, or could have Meta explain to me at anytime.

But curiously enough, i actually found myself quite drawn into this subject.

Maybe it's because of my past experience with a Dungeon, and wanting to know more about the secrets surrounding it, but the lecture didn't seem as much as a pain as usual.

Aside from that the other reason i was here was obvious.

Although Wrenna didn't say it explicitly, i was almost certain that attending this class during this period would also affect my overall result and Grade by the end of the Field trip.

In her words — Wrenna's accordingly; "results will be judged according to various factors related to it."

So it was safe to judge attending classes about Dungeons before an incoming Dungeon excursion would be judged as one of the aspects considered as 'related' in my my grade.

Wren, that softy had actually given her students a subtle hint.

-"Each and everyone of you are advised to make preliminary preparations and research into Dungeon." Is what she had seemingly said in passing, but held more significance.

[You're unexpectedly enthusiastic this time when it comes to your grade.] Meta said.

'What can i say, I'm a model student.' i quietly quipped dryly

All that mattered was how many of the cadets were smart enough to notice the point of this hint and take advantage of it.

Though that said, there were a few familiar faces i could recognise amongst the class, so i guess Wren's words weren't entirely wasted on buffons.

Truly, the more i saw it, wasn't Wrenna actually more softer to her students than she lets on?

To add to that, the Practical will be carried out with groups and in teams, meaning the marks and overall results will be shared across group effort.

What i did would affect the scores of my future teammates, and i didn't want to give them the excuse of pointing fingers at me when shit happens.

The same thing could be said in reverse.

So i would pull my own weight, and play enough of my part for the exercise while hoping they would too.

Sigh.

'Then all that will be left is to pray.'

Experience tales with empire

If there was one pain about group assignments...

It was the members.