Solo Apocalypse

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

As it turned out, it was a Dungeon. I had no context for what that meant, or what it was. Someone did though or at least had a hunch.

Im telling you. We cant leave, not with this here! A harried bespectacled man was yelling. I have to convince them. Dont they see?

Youre out of your mind! Its dangerous! A gruff, heavyset man responded. We have no idea whats happening. Every hint of the unknown could kill us! You saw what a Field Boss did!

Lets just wait for the police! The military! Someone chimed in, shrinking at a few immediate glares.

Are you stupid? Were in the middle of a swamp. Our entire building was teleported. You can hope to be saved all you want but I doubt the governments gonna be the one to do it. Everythings gone to hell.

Someone will come by! Theyll fly jets overhead, send soldiers through the swamp. Well be rescued in no time. The woman didnt even sound like she believed herself. Her voice cracked.

A few eyes softened, someone sighed. Someone escort her back to the camps.

A man snorted, stepping up wordlessly. Come on, Julia. Everything will be okay, alright? Well figure it out. He brought her away from the group, bringing our numbers down.

A few people watched them go, the scene leaving a somber mood.

Damn apocalypse. Someone muttered.

Its fine, we cant expect everyone to keep their heads. A voice said. Itstheres no precedent. He said softly, finding his thought.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Can you imagine whats happening across the world? That [World Notice]? Think about what that means. The entire world is experiencing this. Were the lucky ones, we probably A man spoke ponderingly, watching the two leave.

Lucky ones? Another man laughed, fatalist. We got fucking mind-controlled. We were about to run into that thing's mouth! He yelled. How many of us died? You think were fucking lucky? He scoffed.

I do, Gary responded, voice steel. Were lucky because the most dangerous thing in this entire swamp is also probably that pile of ash. His eyes drifted to the skyscraper. The worst wed ever have to worry about is already dead.

That shut the man up.

Enough, Parker spoke, cutting into the silence. Gary, everyone, lets hear what Rickson has to say. Hes the one who found the Dungeon, lets let him talk. He said, gesturing.

The man in glasses, Rickson, took a breath, seemingly nervous with all the attention. He was the [Seeker], which I found to be an interesting Class. He looked caught off guard by the sudden prompt but eventually found his words. I leveled when I found it. He said shakily. A few brows raised. We need to level. Thats how we guarantee our survival. Skills, attributes, you all saw the screens. If something like another Field Boss happens we need to be ready.

Gary was a middle-aged man with greying hair, strict, but he didnt strike me as unreasonable. He eyed Rickson, whose determined eyes broke through a nervous posture.

Whats that have to do with the Dungeon? Gary asked.

I think I think, beyond doing things according to your Class, we can level by well, experience. He said. This Dungeon is that. Its like a natural resource. Remember that person who found that [Common Chest] around the roots? He got an Item. I think we can probably get those from the Dungeon too.

Rickson was small against the backdrop of that gateway as he continued, leaving me staring moments longer. I kept pace with him easily, a detail that was not lost on either of us. The roots became larger the nearer to the base and wed climbed the whole way.

Most of the group was flagging. I was doing only a little better, knowing how to move across the roots. My clones physicality was actually more than my previous original selfs, before Id gotten the Title. I dont think my actual self wouldve tired at all.

Im surprised you can keep up with me, Rickson commented, looking at me. Ive got [Terrain Traversal] as a Skill. It helps me move across this like its nothing. Its amazing.

My mind caught up to what he said, so lost in the sight. [Terrain Travesal]? Hows that work? I asked, looking at him.

Its like Ive always known how. My feet move before I can think. Not really any different than how we normally move around. I dont really think about it. I just do. It sounded like he was more in awe of himself than anything else. More in tune with this world than the last.

I had the sudden, quiet, realization that that made two of us. I saw him there, one foot a step higher on the root, eyes roaming the path up, and wondered if I looked like that. If someone could stare at me and say that I looked almost like I belonged.

And you? He asked, turning around to check the others progress. He sat down, waiting for them to catch up and I took a spot nearby.

Im not from the building, I said after a moment, gesturing to the remains. A marvel of humanitys mastery over nature, succumbed to this new reality. I was roaming the swamp for two weeks before getting here. I guess I learned a thing or two moving across the roots. I tried to help as much as I could when I saw what was happening.

Alone? Rickson blinked, immediately looking at me differently. Whats your name?

Evahn, I replied. And youre Rickson, right?

Nice to meet you. He replied in turn.

Likewise. And we left it at that, both of us soaking in the sounds of the swamp.

When the voices drifted upward, Rickson broke the silence and called for a break. Theyd climbed high enough to peek over the ridge of roots and see the gateway. It didnt take long before we started moving again.

Youll see it soon! Rickson called back, he and I leading the pack.

I was about to ask what he meant when I did see it.

Dungeon: [Sleepywood]

A lethargic glade shrouded in twilight, where creatures both wonderful and dangerous stalk freely. A haven for both fauna and flora that thrive between night and dawn. To venture forth is to cast away fear and enter the shadows of looming trees and watchful eyes.

- Vastly increased emergence of twilight-related, light-related, and dark-related rewards.

- Greatly increased emergence of nature-related rewards.

Note: This Dungeon has not been explored yet. As such, the first group to enter will have the quality of their rewards vastly increased. Upon the first group's exit, the [Sleepywood] will undergo a period of 24 hours in which the quality of all rewards will be raised for all who enter thereafter.