"Back already, son? I just received a message from the talent scholar, Orrick Vael. Word of your talent has spread throughout the empire, and he wishes to study it. I wouldn't be surprised if Emperor Rose wasn't aware of you now."
Levian stood before his father in the throne room, hardly taking in what the man was saying.
His mind was elsewhere. On the interaction he had just had with Malachi.
Sweat constantly beaded down his forehead at the thought of his secret being revealed.
"Father, I'd like you to open a platinum portal for me," Levian spoke suddenly.
Lord Odin's eyes squinted, as he glared down at his son from the seat of honour.
"A platinum portal? You're aware that the minimum recommended rank for one of those is high-gold?"
Levian nodded his head.
Of course, he knew; however, golds did not own mythicals, and most didnt even have legendaries.
Levian was different.
"If I want to make a change in this world, I need to become strong, fast. I have to catch up to Malachi... and Adam."
He almost forgot to add the name of his other brother.
"I understand, but you haven't been in enough combat even to raise your stats above twenty. Even though you're silver, without your talent, you fall behind the standards of the average."
After his father's words, Levian summoned Nyx.
The flaming sword materialised in his hands, boasting a attack power of 321.
That number itself was enough to close the gaps between him, and any regular silver, who most likely didn't even own an epic.
Lord Odin's eyes went wide, and a smile spread across his face.
"It's a good thing I have my talent then, right? I need to make it to gold as soon as possible, Father."
After a few moments of consideration, Odin rose to his feet and prepared to use TRUTH, the platinum talent.
"If you have not returned within five hours, I'll have to close the portal. As you know, that is the limit before dangers arrive."
Levian nodded his head and tightened his grip around Nyx.
"Five hours is all I need."
---
Dungeons ranked bronze to gold were simple pocket dimensions, usually a few acres in size.
They followed the typical formula of a boss fight, sometimes with smaller enemies beforehand.
Those with access to TRUTH, the mysterious ability known only to high-rankers were easily able to locate such dungeons.
A platinum dungeon was different.
Not only were they harder to find, large in size, and much more difficult, but they also had a side quest, which had the chance to drop legendary items or even high rank skill scrolls.
For an awakened to clear a platinum dungeon alone, they were recommended to be of gold rank minimum, own a legendary weapon and have 500 health points.
For a low-silver like Levian's, whose health was only 180, and his other stats all average at best, he would need nothing short of a miracle.
---
[Platinum Dungeon: Doors of Jericho
[Quest: Find and save Ephelem, the tongueless.]
[Side Quest: Slay Jericho (Automatically saves Ephelem)]
Levian opened his eyes and found himself standing in a dark room, roughly the size of the grey hall.
The walls, floors and ceilings of the empty space were riddled with eyeballs that followed Levian wherever he went.
"What the... can these dungeons get any weirder?"
On the other side of the room were two wooden doors, both identical.
Levian could sense a powerful presence coming from them.
As he stepped towards them, feet squelching on the eyeballs beneath him, his system filled with new information.
[The Doors of Jericho]
[Beyond one of these doors lies Ephelem, the slave princess, and beyond another lies the fortress of Jericho. One door leads to safety, and the other leads to sure death for anyone who comes unprepared.]
This dungeon caught Levian off guard.
"So you're giving me a chance to clear this dungeon without having to fight anybody, and it all comes down to luck?"
It hardly sounded true.
If I end up opening the door that leads to Ephelem, I will still receive the main quest reward, but will miss out on the side quest reward.
I'll also miss out on the boss fight.
Jericho doesn't sound like a guy I want to meet; however, it's not like I have much say in the matter anyway.
Both doors were identical, even after he pushed them open. Beyond lay another portal, which gave no hints as to what lay on the other side.
So Levian took the risk.
He entered the door to his right and stepped through the portal.
It felt like he was swimming through darkness, though only for a few seconds.
Then, he was spat out on the other side, landing face first into red sand.
He heard two doors slam shut, and turned his head to see both doors had led to the same place.
"What... so it didn't even matter which one I chose?" He groaned, pushing himself to his feet.
And then he saw and heard a proud, powerful voice that boomed through the entire area.
"Of course they do, for I am Jericho, Watcher of the Wall. Whoever dares step into my world will do exactly as I say."
The red sandy field stretched out in front of Levian, and in the distance in front of him was a castle surrounded by walls made from sandstone.
Atop the walls, staring down at him was a figure greater than any he had seen before.
He wore nothing, only loose-fitting pants that flowed down to his ankles. His body was at least 8 feet tall, and his pure white skin rippled with muscles even greater than Odin's.
His hair was snow white, and fell over his face like a veil. It acted as a cover for his all black eyes.
On his back was a giant greatbow, standing even taller than himself. It was made from material red like the sand, and in his hand was a singular arrow, long as a man's arm.
Jericho leapt down onto the sand below, now facing off against Levian, who wielded Nyx, the longsword.
[Jericho, Watcher of the Wall]
[Health: 2500]
Levian felt fear wash over his body.
He had never expected to run into a boss with such a humane form.
But it did not matter.
His mission remained the same.
Defeat the boss, and clear the dungeon.
---
Don't forget to gift power stones if you're enjoying the story!