Arganthes: The Capital Of Dungeons

It was like the system mentioned a while back.

I had become a [PLAYER]. Was this what had been implied all along? The [???]...

Was this a way of rewarding those who would adept to the system?

Thoughts rushed through my mind only to remain unanswered...

Like why the map remained uncharted?

Or why the shrine I arrived at was still in tact as this wasn't the case with the remaining ruins...

I decided to approach the shire unaware that this would make the system react to my actions.

"Caution! Do not proceed without further preparation."

Why I didn't call the system by name was beyond me... It even introduced itself back in my own world... Didn't it?

"Say... didn't you have a name?"

I said knowing the system would react.

Knowing this it became irritated by my actions,

but honestly with everything that happened who could blame me if I had forgotten the name of anyone whom I had met just a short while back?

"You... Introductions weren't all that long ago...

Did you really forget?"

I couldn't believe myself, but I had indeed forgotten the systems name, even though we were stuck with each other.

*cybernetic noices*

"This tends to happen when inferior beings are being trusted with something beyond them... Seeing as how most things are a first for you, I'll restrain my frustration...

My name is Evaluating Virtual Entity or E.V.E. for short. Make sure you don't forget this time around..."

E.V.E. althought annoyed chuckled what sounded like a muffled laugh as it shut off.

The moment it did, a window popped up informing me about the relationship with the system.

Thinking I would get numerous chances to nurture the relationship I didn't really give it a second thought. But being how I am, I still wanted to give E.V.E. notice of my slight blunder.

So as I made my way back to the village I decided to try my hand at a conversation.

"E.V.E. I have to say, you're really sophisticated, I mean... there are countless possibilities and I haven't even scratched the surface! Then again... It was my fault for forgetting your name, there was so much to take in, hope we can be friends and work together again."

E.V.E. gave me the silent treatment, which is why I didn't know that she was listening to every word I had to say. She was happy to hear what I mentioned and thought to herself that it was true, a lot had happened. Maybe she should forgive him?

After a while I returned back in the village, most of the tribe had awoken and prepared what needed to be done for the rest of the day.

I walked though the village, wanting to tell Haruka about my findings. Along the way I crossed through the center where a huge wooden statue stood tall and proud. I wondered what significance it had and what it might represent. It had multiple

beast-like appearances with a sharp face, fangs and claws.

Althought covered with a lot of fur, the craftsmanship distinguishing a scale-like plating on its feet, legs and tails?

The elder saw how I admired the statue, observing me he then decided to approached me hpoing to get a better understanding of my intentions.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

Unaware of his pressence I answered honest and sincere.

"It is... I wonder what it might represent seeing as I'm not of this world..."

It didn't take me long to realize who was standing beside me, which made me flinch in surprise.

The old man laughed at the thought that an outsider could worry about something other than himself, the reaction like adding fuel to a fire made him laugh with all the more pride.

"Whahaha! You really didn't realize I was standing beside you, did you? Oh boy... don't do that to an old man's heart! T-this is priceless! Hohoho..."

I wanted to die of embarrassment seeing how the elder reacted... But it wasn't all bad, it felt like I was getting closer to him, being able to have a casual conversation with him like this.

"They are known as the ancestral guardians."

"Who?"

"The proud statues you're looking at,

the companions surrounding the one in the middle... Our direct decendants..."

I couldn't believe my ears, but didn't want to forget what I had found before the elder cut through my strain of thought. Not long after I had forgotten pointing my attention to the old man.

"Wait... the wolves... direct decendants?"

Again the elder surprised me, confused about what I heard it became a bit much to take in... These tribesmen & women where the direct decendants of the ancestral guardians?! Wouldn't that mean that they were kind of a big deal?

I looked at the village elder in disbelieve when Haruka came to pick me up.

"Heeyy you... had some fun this morning?"

"Young Shadowfang, seeing as how the legend might interest you, why don't you and your compenion join us later this week during the festival? There my younger daughter would be tasked with telling the annual tales of old.

It seems that getting to know as much as possible about the visitation of a new world would be called preparing for the journey ahead, is it not?"

Having to agree with what the elder had to say I thought to myself, that being informed would be for the best, not knowing how Haruka would feel about it.

I turned to her, bearing the curiosity of this world.

She could instantly see what I wanted to do and knew there was no way around it anymore.

*sigh*

"Okay... let's just join the festival, its better to be prepared, right?"

She said struggling a bit as she tried to appeal to me.

I didn't know why... should I ask? Or would I find out later? Maybe it's better not to pry...

"You know what? I'll agree to going to the festival, but only if we go together."

"W-what are you saying? Weren't we already together from the start?"

Not realizing what I said to her she jumped with joy.

But at the same time I thought the way she reacted prior to her proposal was rather unexpected.

As we both had agreed to go, I informed Haruka about the uncharted area I wanted to explore so she could join me after I had sent her ahead to inform the elder about the fact that we would join the festival. During this time I decided to head out one more time as somethinf mysterious had revealed itself within the window of the questline.

Making my way back to the ruins the [???] Became visible on the map-system. Why would this be?

Maybe I should try to find out?

Intrigued I moved closer...

Nothing really seemed to happen as I approached the impossible to register area. I looked around and really didn't saw anything out of the ordinary... Still... The window wouldn't close no matter what I tried...

Upon arriving in what looked like the center of the ruins, that's when it happened.

Static energy scorched through the area making cracking and rumbling noices. The area began to shake as the ruins began to collapse it dawned on me.

"Earthquake!!!"

I quickly drop down to the ground in the hopes of saving myself from collapsing rubble, all around me bricks crash down leaving nothing but dust. The shaking intensified. Holding on for dear life not noticing the message above my head. Scriptures on the ground and remaining ruins begin to light up.

Closing my eyes I hoped for the best, while in reality the situation couldn't have been worse...

Suddenly the rumbling stopped or rather it felt like it had never really happened in the first place.

Was this real? Was I alive? To find the answer I opened my eyes, darkness enveloped the area...

I wasn't at the same place anymore,

but where could I be? Was I still outside? Uncertain about the situation I tried looking around to make sense of it all,

still nothing was visible...

Nothing but the words revealed by the window.

[SECRET MISSION START]