Chapter 12: Preparing for the Worst

Chapter 12: Preparing for the Worst

Outside the dungeon, a crowd had gathered, their eyes fixed on the portal's sudden transformation. What had been a simple, blue-hued rift was now a bone chilling dark red, signifying a sudden and drastic shift in it's rank.

Murmurs of concern quickly escalated into alarm as people realized the implications of this change.

"Did you see that? It just jumped from F to A rank!"

"Whoever went in there is doomed! They wouldn't stand a chance."

"They were probably all F or E ranks."

"An A-rank dungeon is way out of their league. It's a death trap now."

In the growing chaos, someone shouted urgently, "Get a Union official here! We need an explaination!"

Minutes passed, and the atmosphere grew tense. The crowd watched anxiously, their eyes darting between the portal and the distant horizon, raid teams that were about to raid before couldn't help but pause, hoping for an explaination from a Union official so they wouldn't meet the same fate. Finally, two figures approached, pushing through the crowd.

The first was a tall man with a stern expression, his black hair neatly combed and his Union insignia prominently displayed on his suite. He had a sword sheathed attached to a belt by his side. He gave of the aura of someone used to taking charge in crisis situations. His name was Viktor Anders, a high-ranking Union officer known for his decisiveness and calm under pressure.

Beside him walked a woman whose demeanor was very different when compared to his. She gave off this playful confidence, her ample curves were perfectly complimented by her form-fitting attire.

Her bright green eyes seemed to sparkle with a mischievous glint in them, and a teasing smile could be seen on her lips, though one could tell a sharp mind lay beneath her playful exterior. This was Celia Marlowe, another Union official, known for her quick wit and unconventional approach to problem-solving.

Celia, Then turned to face Viktor, "So, what's the plan, Viktor?" she asked, leaning slightly toward him.

Viktor, who had been staring intently at the portal, turned his gaze to meet Celia's. "Given the situation, once the people inside die... And the rift opens again, we'll have to step in and clear it ourselves,"

"We can't afford to let this A-rank dungeon pose a threat to the city."

Once a dungeon failed to be cleared, there was a very high chance for it to break because the earlier team would have already expended the time limit. This meant the monsters inside could pass through the rift and enter their world. Given that the portal was within the city, this was not a welcome thought.

Celia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "And what about the Berserker Guild? Aren't they usually the first to handle these high-risk situations?"

Viktor sighed, a look of frustration crossing his face. "Normally, yes. But they've been issued another mission out in the wastelands. Most of their top-ranking members are engaged there, dealing with a surge of high-tier monsters. That leaves the city with only a handful of their lower-ranking members, who frankly lack the experience and strength to handle an A-rank dungeon."

A high-tier talent didn't make someone a combat genius or a battle warlord; it simply meant they had a lot of power. However, power without the proper skill to wield it was often pointless. It's not that the low-ranking members were unskilled; they simply lacked the experience in fighting monsters that their seniors had.

They were primarily trained to fight humans and had sparring sessions with other humans. It's very obvious that monsters and humans fought differently; therefore, it was always best to let them try their hands at low-ranking dungeons while being supervised.

Celia's brows furrowed as she listened to what Viktor said, her fingers drumming lightly against her arm. "So, it's just us then? We'll have to handle the cleanup once this rift resolves?"

Viktor nodded grimly. "Yup, it shouldn't take too long if we put in a bit more effort than we usually do."

Celia let out a slow sigh, then straightened up, her playful expression returning just a bit as she gave Viktor a confident smile. "Well, at least it won't be boring. So, now we play the waiting game."