Chapter 12: The Dungeon Entrance
Kaelen didn't allow himself time to rest. After ensuring Emily was safe and eating in the room, he headed towards the shelter's gate. This was his first mission as a "Guardian," and he knew that any mistake could have severe consequences for their existence in the shelter.
The shelter was located in what appeared to be an old university research laboratory, now transformed into a fortified labyrinth of corridors. At the main gate, there were two guards armed with primitive weapons, a mix of fear and boredom on their faces. When they saw Kaelen, they took two steps back, their eyes cautiously watching his movements. His reputation had preceded him.
"I'm on a reconnaissance mission," Kaelen said in a calm voice. "What's the last thing seen in the area?"
The two guards exchanged glances, then one of them, wiping sweat from his forehead, said: "We heard sounds coming from the north side, near the old subway entrance. It's not a major threat, but it might attract larger creatures."
Kaelen nodded, then headed towards the gate. This was the first time he had left the shelter since his arrival, and the System had already begun analyzing the surrounding environment, warning him of dangers.
The two guards opened the massive metal gate, and Kaelen stepped outside. Cold air hit his face, carrying the scent of old rain and dry blood, reminding him that he hadn't escaped the catastrophe, but had only entered a new chapter of it. The surrounding area was rubble and ash, with crumbling buildings standing as relics of a world that was no more.
Kaelen wasted no time. He began moving towards the subway entrance, hidden among the ruins. His eyes moved quickly, scanning every shadow and movement. He knew that every step outside the shelter carried risks, but he trusted his strength, and the System that had granted him the ability to endure in this harsh world.
When he reached the subway entrance, he suddenly stopped. There were no creatures as the guards had mentioned, but something far stranger. In the middle of the collapsed subway entrance, a massive crystalline structure rose from the ground. The structure emitted a faint light and pulsed rhythmically, as if alive. Kaelen had never seen anything like it before.
A message appeared in his mind:
[New Location Discovered. Classification: Random Dungeon][Level: 5 - 10][Danger: Increasing. Creatures: First Wave Monsters (Type: Plague, Type: Combat). Boss: 'Leader' type monster.][Potential Reward: Essence Crystals, Rare Resources, chance to obtain a First Artifact.]
This was the moment Kaelen realized that the world had fundamentally changed. It was no longer just a struggle for survival; it had become a new game, and this "Dungeon" was his first prize in it. This wasn't just a routine mission. It was an open invitation to conquer the unknown.
"Essence Crystals..." Kaelen muttered to himself, extending his hand towards the crystalline structure. "I need to see what these new rules are."
With a touch of his hand, a bright light enveloped his body. In seconds, Kaelen vanished inside the structure, leaving the ruined world behind, to face his unknown destiny.