We landed right in Kruk’s courtyard.


    — If you need to grab anything, do it quickly! — the teacher said, hurrying toward his house. — We have little time.


    I had a lot of questions for him. Though, I suspected he had just as many for me.


    — Let’s go! — He handed me a cloak with a hood. — I’ll suppress our aura completely. It’ll feel a bit unpleasant.


    A bit… Kruk was clearly understating it. I felt as if I had been submerged under deep water. We stepped out of the courtyard and quickly made our way toward the city’s exit. If we were trying to leave Matan unnoticed, then the situation was truly serious—so much so that even my teacher, with all his power, resorted to these precautions.


    — Once we’re out of the city, I’ll explain everything to you.


    — Alright, I have something to tell you as well, teacher.


    He hummed in response, and we picked up the pace, reaching the city gates in about an hour.


    — Aney, we’ll have only a few seconds to slip past the guards and the aura detectors. Once we’re through the gates, we’ll run using aura.


    — Understood!


    The teacher snapped his fingers, and all the guards collapsed to their knees, clutching their ears as if in excruciating pain. Strangely, neither I nor anyone else around us heard a thing; we just stared at them in confusion. Kruk grabbed my shoulder, and like lightning, we shot through the gates, sprinting away from the city, gaining speed.


    — Boy, forgive me. — Those were the first words he spoke after some time.


    I glanced at him in surprise. What was with him? Kruk… apologizing?


    — It seems my selfish desire to take on a disciple has put you in serious trouble.


    — It’s nothing, teacher. Even before meeting you, I was already knee-deep in shit. One more problem, one less—makes no difference.


    I was lying through my teeth. And not even to ease his guilt—no. Holy hedgehogs, my teacher was the God of War! How many people on this continent could boast about that? One in a billion? Or even fewer?


    — Teacher, I’m truly glad to be your disciple, and no matter what trouble it brings, I won’t change my mind!


    — That’s good, — Kruk smiled. — I wasn’t wrong about you.


    He fell silent for a moment.


    — I don’t even know where to begin. I really was the God of War once. But at some point, realizing my power, I refused to abide by the rules set by the White Twins. So, a few other Gods of War and some zealots, backed by two Ninth-Circle Mages, attacked me and sealed my power, placing ten seals on me. They didn’t dare kill me, fearing I’d detonate my aura core and take half the continent with me. So we made a pact—I’d live an ordinary life but never pass my techniques on to others. That’s what those old bastards fear most. That’s why, right now, I’m only slightly stronger than a high-stage Battle Ancestor.


    Kruk sighed and fell silent again.


    — But I’m still working on it. That brew I constantly sip—it’s not just alcohol. It’s an alchemical concoction that slowly erodes the magical seals. I’ve already removed seven out of ten. Another three or four years, and we wouldn’t have to be running like this now. But after meeting you, I couldn’t let you go. Not every God of War finds such a worthy disciple. You were probably my only chance. I’ve lived a long life and observed many young candidates, but none were as worthy as you! Still, by choosing you, I’ve put you in danger. They will definitely want to kill you. And while they are bound by the pact and won’t do it themselves, that won’t stop them from sending powerful mages or Battle Ancestors after you. Even without proof that I taught you my techniques, they’ll act preemptively.


    We kept running, even as night fell.


    — So, the main thing now is to erase your trail. Fortunately, the only Battle Ancestor who saw your aura is dead, which means not even a God of War can track you by your true aura. They’ll only have the trace you left when entering the city. I’ll return to Matan after a while and spread the story that you went to gather ingredients for alchemy. You, meanwhile, need to go into hiding and train in silence until you reach at least the level of a high-stage Battle Ancestor. I know that even for you, this will take decades, but I see no other way, unfortunately.


    — I have something to tell you as well, teacher. Please, hear me out before making any decisions. Teacher, with your level of power, you must have sensed the remnants of monster mana in the arena when you saved me. I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, but I need to confess. I can manipulate monster mana a little and use it to grow stronger.


    I fell silent, watching his face, hoping for some kind of reaction. But it was in vain.


    — That’s… unusual, — he finally chose a word after a long pause. — Only demons can manipulate monster mana, but you’re definitely human—I can see that. Well, go on, do you have more surprises for me?


    — Teacher, I think you are overestimating the time I need to reach the level of a High-Stage Battle Ancestor. Not long ago, just a few months back, I was only a beginner warrior…


    At these words, Kruk stumbled but didn’t interrupt me with questions, simply listening in silence.


    — Go on…


    — I believe I will need only a few years for this, though there is one “but.” And it is a rather complicated one. To develop, I need a place where there are many powerful monsters. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. I will only be able to reach the High-Stage Battle Ancestor level by slaying that many.


    We ran in silence again. After some time, I decided to add another detail.


    — There are also some important conditions, teacher. My breakthroughs to higher stages cause massive energy surges, which are hard to conceal, so the place must be as deserted as possible. The last time I advanced to the Mid-Stage Battle Master level, I think it was visible for dozens of kilometers.


    Kruk suddenly stopped.


    — I know exactly where you need to go! — He took off running again, his face practically glowing with excitement. — You must head west, to the Kingdom of Rango. There, you’ll find the city of Vangan, and next to it—the largest dungeon on the continent!


    I pulled out my map and unfolded it.


    — Here! — Kruk jabbed his finger at a mark in the neighboring kingdom before continuing. — I visited that place when I had just become a young God of War, but I only managed to descend to the thirty-second level. Even the White Twins don’t know its true depth. It’s a terrifying place where the weak perish, but the strong grow even stronger! There are millions of monsters. The lower you go, the higher their class. But hiding there to train is the best idea. Even the gods won’t find you there, hahaha! But promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks and will only go deeper when you’re absolutely sure of your strength!


    — I promise, teacher! But what exactly is a dungeon?


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    — A dungeon? It’s quite simple. It’s a small world underground, about the size of a medium kingdom. Or rather, multiple worlds. One floor—one world. I believe the total area of the worlds in the Vangan Dungeon is even larger than our entire continent.


    — Whoa! — I couldn’t even imagine something like that.


    — But to enter it, you’ll have to register as an adventurer at the local guild.


    — Alright, teacher, I will do that.


    Kruk pulled out a storage ring and handed it to me.


    — Take it. This is my legacy as a God of War, for you. Inside are my works on martial arts and alchemy. I promised to teach you if you won the tournament, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to do so personally.


    — Teacher, you…


    — What nonsense are you thinking, you brat! — I received a light smack on the back of my head. — This is so you can study while I wait for you in Matan.


    — Ah, I see.


    I felt a bit relieved.


    — Teacher, please tell Sui that I will definitely return her notes, just a little later.


    — Alright, don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her.


    — Thank you, teacher.


    — And now, it’s time for a little trick. — Kruk laughed. — I will envelop you in my aura, and you will run west, while I will mimic yours and take a wide detour south. My aura will last for about a day. During this time, you must cover as much distance as possible. Once you feel my aura fading, simply suppress your own and continue moving like an ordinary person. Got it?


    — Yes, teacher.


    — Well then, take care, kid. Don’t forget your teacher!


    — A teacher once—forever a teacher!


    Kruk laughed and cast his aura onto me. It was an unpleasant sensation, but I didn’t resist, only sped up, once again leaving my friends behind. I gritted my teeth. I was still too weak, and everything happening was because of my weakness. I had to become so strong that attacking me would be more costly than any possible benefit.


    I hoped the Kingdom of Rango would give me that chance.


    After several hours of that mad dash, I crossed into the Kingdom of Lygote—if my map was to be believed. Strangely, there was no guard post at the border, just a lone marker.


    Occasionally, I overtook traveling merchants and carriages, but I was running so fast that they likely couldn’t even make out my features or remember me.


    By the end of the day, my teacher’s aura began to fade, so I stopped and dispersed it while suppressing my own.


    To any potential pursuer, it would seem as if Kruk had leaped into the sky after a long run. I pulled my hood lower over my face and continued forward at a steady pace, occasionally checking my map. It showed that my destination was still a few days’ walk away.


    Time passed. Occasionally, now it was me who was overtaken by riders and carriages.


    I stopped at roadside inns to eat and listen to the locals’ chatter. However, I didn’t manage to overhear anything interesting. On the sixth day, the map showed that I was already approaching the city of Vangan, so I began to think about how to get in. After all, I didn’t have any identification, and I didn’t want to reveal myself by exposing my aura to the detector at the gates.


    Should I try using the silver plaque from the Merchant Guild that Hek gave me? But wouldn’t that raise suspicions? It was a rather long journey for a merchant from some minor principality. In the end, I decided to try passing through with the silver plaque.


    At the city gate, there was a queue of several dozen people, each showing their identification to the guards and paying a fee. The fee wasn’t fixed, as I noticed—it depended solely on the guard’s whims. So, the local authority here was more of a bandit organization than a centralized royal administration, it seemed. But for me, that was even better. I held the plaque up to the guard’s face.


    — Atun? Where’s that? — He turned it from side to side.


    — It’s near Lygote.


    — So what do you want here?


    — I’m here on Merchant Guild business, sir.


    — Business, you say? — He raised his hand, about to call another guard from the crowd.


    — Sir, — I placed two silver coins in his hand, — the Merchant Guild would be very grateful if you didn’t interfere with its work.


    — Go on in! — He returned the plaque to me.


    I quickly entered the city through the gate. At first glance, it was clear that it had seen better days.


    — Good sir, — I addressed a passerby, — could you tell me how to get to the Adventurers’ Guild?


    — Head straight to the central square, and you’ll see it on the left.


    — Thank you.


    I headed in the indicated direction. Strangely, even in broad daylight, the streets were quiet for a city of this size. Even from the houses along the road, there were almost no sounds. At first, I wanted to scan the area around me, but I decided to be more cautious and not reveal my strength just yet.


    Ultimately, it wasn’t my concern what was happening here. I spotted the Guild immediately as soon as I stepped into the square. Quite an impressive building—perhaps the largest around. Inside, it was clean and welcoming, completely unlike the Adventurers’ Guild in Atun Principality.


    — Good day, — I greeted the receptionist girl. — I’d like to join your guild. To be honest, my goal is the Vangan Dungeon, and I heard that the only way to get in is through your guild.


    — Good day, sir! We’re very happy to see you, as not many have been willing to join the guild in recent years.


    — Is there a reason for that?


    — Yes. To be frank, after the prices of monster cores dropped, many adventurers left our guild, which led to a massive increase in the number of monsters. It’s gotten to the point where there’s a serious risk of a dungeon break. Because of that, more than half of the city’s residents have left—no one wants to take the risk.


    — What about the local authorities? Or the royal court? Surely they have to respond to the threat?


    — Oh, please… As long as the monsters stay in the dungeon, they won’t lift a finger.


    — What nonsense.


    — Exactly. No one wants to take responsibility or bear the financial burden.


    — That’s unfortunate, but let’s get back to business. So, how do I join your guild?


    — It’s quite simple—fill out this form, and then we’ll proceed to test your strength. Are you a mage or a warrior?


    — I’m a mid-tier Battle Master.


    — Oh wow! You look very young. Twenty years old?! — The girl exclaimed, peeking at the form I had just handed her.


    — Yeah, I just got lucky, — I said as I returned the form.


    — Shall we proceed with the strength test?


    She led me to a separate hall with a device for measuring strength. I struck twice—once with aura and once without. The device confirmed the data I had provided in the form.


    — Congratulations! — The girl handed me a silver plaque. — You are now officially a member of the Adventurers’ Guild!


    — Can I head to the dungeon right away?


    — Of course, you can, but I’d recommend waiting for a raid party to assemble. That should happen in three or four days.


    — That’s unnecessary, — I shook my head. — And one more question. Is there a map of the dungeon, and where can I buy one?


    — We do have one. Which floors do you need a map for?


    — Give me all the ones you have.


    — All of them? But that will be expensive…


    — I prefer extra preparation over extra savings.


    The girl turned to a large cabinet and began pulling out sheets, one from each compartment.


    — Here you go. That’ll be forty-five gold. The atlas covers floors one through thirty. The last five floors have only sporadic mapping since adventurers rarely descend that deep.


    — Thank you! — I paid her. — Now, which city gate should I use to reach the dungeon?


    Before she could answer, we were interrupted.


    — Jara, any letters?


    Two people approached us—a man and a woman in their middle years. The woman was a third-class mid-tier warrior, while the man was a third-circle mage.


    — Yes, just a moment.


    She sat behind the counter and pulled out a stack of letters.


    — Well then, we’re off, Jara. Wish us luck.


    — Wait, could you escort our new member to the dungeon?


    — A newcomer? — The man glanced at me. — Why not? Let’s go!


    — Goodbye! — I waved to the receptionist and ran after the mage and warrior.


    Unable to suppress her curiosity, the warrior asked:


    — First time here? Never been to a dungeon before?


    Dungeons? So there are others, not just this one?


    — No, I haven’t. This will be my first experience.


    — Don’t worry about it. Everyone had a first time once, heh. Just stick with experienced adventurers at first, and you’ll be fine. With time, once you know all about the monsters, you’ll be able to hunt more freely.


    I remained silent. No point telling them that I had studied all nine volumes of the monster encyclopedia.


    — Our party is currently working in the depths of the seventh floor. Want to join us? It’s not as dangerous as it might seem. We mostly deal with second-class packs and the occasional third-class monster. We have a large party, so we can handle them easily. You could gain experience and strength.


    — Sorry, but that’s unlikely. I wanted to try solo hunting.


    — Oh, so you’re heading to the first floor… — she muttered in disappointment.


    As we talked, we had long since left the city and approached a massive rock formation, at the center of which a jagged-mouthed cave loomed.


    Monsters! Even from here, I could feel their aura and scent. Impatience pushed me forward. At the entrance, our tokens were checked, their numbers recorded, and we were let inside.