Chapter 41 Re-Encounter
Oblivious to the devastating result of Melvin's reckless mistake, Nial had entered blacksmith Arnold's store, who was eagerly waiting for him.
Before he could announce his arrival, a draft of wind brushed into his face as he heard the blacksmith's desperate voice right in front of him.
"ì'm glad that you were able to come directly, Nial. Sorry for the inconvenience, but you are the only one I can rely on, I can feel it!"
Not sure whether the blacksmith was currently confused and thus misinterpreting his strength, Nial only gave him a hesitant smile.
He was unable to tell if the blacksmith was making him feel more powerful than he truly was, or if he was playing at something else.
However, what he was able to figure out was the fact that blacksmith Arnorld Birg was genuinely under the impression that he would be able to rescue his daughter.
Because of that, Nial nodded his head without saying anything. He knew that the anomalistic dungeon would be somewhat hard to conquer, but from what he had understood, the military had sent out their newest batch of cadets to be trained too.
It might be their youngest cadets' first mission, but it was better for them to be able to enter an unknown dungeon with others than alone.
With that in mind, he was reassured that nothing bad would happen and grew confident that he would be able to protect himself if he were to receive good equipment.
Thus, instead of beating around the bush, Nial simply stated his demands.
"If possible, I need a weapon that has similar, or at least, the exact same capabilities as the Viper spear. I have only fought with the Viper spear and my weapon proficiency is bad, to put it simply.
Other than that, a leather armor for my entire body, as well as serums for healing, replenishing stamina, antidotes, and the best disinfection serums would be great.
If possible, I would like to have ropes, preservable dishes, water, bandages, flash grenades, and a few more items.
To store everything and carry it around easily, I'll need a spatial ring too, please!"
Somehow, Nial's voice was extremely calm and his behavior composed, which was the exact opposite to the blacksmith's behavior, who was frazzled and anxious.
Thus, he found it oddly reassuring to hear the young blind man listing down more than 20 items he required to enter the dungeon.
Under normal circumstances, it was a little bit over the top, but the current situation was anything but normal.
As such, the blacksmith could only nod his head as he hastily replied,
"Of course, please choose any kind of weapon you need, while I will collect everything else!"
Nial nodded his head, and once he perceived that the blacksmith had left, he began to sweat profusely.
Wiping off the sweat, Nial was glad that his voice didn't crack when he nonchalantly demanded to receive items that were dozens of times more expensive than their house, including the permanent dungeon in their backyard.
However, considering that he had to risk entering an unknown, newly emerged dungeon just to save the blacksmith's daughter, it was more than feasible to ask for items that he could temporarily borrow.
He would simply hand over everything once he returned, while hopefully bringing back Shana and repaying the favor in kind.
The Viper spear was extremely valuable, and it had been gifted, if one excluded the payment of a meager amount of slightly more than 10,000$, which was nothing in comparison to the Myth weapon's true value.
With that in mind, Nial had decided to help and to demand nothing from the blacksmith in return for helping him save the resources that were necessary.
It might be dangerous to enter the dungeon, but Nial could clearly understand how one would feel at the prospect of a loved one being in danger while you could do nothing but just pray and wait helplessly for their safe return.
It would be more frightening if an accident with another family member had already happened.
Thus, Nial didn't even think of asking anything that could lead to the blacksmith's worry intensifying, except for the known information about the unknown dungeon.
There was not much to figure out because the information about the dungeon was shallow, but Nial still read the file he had received using his mana perception.
Meanwhile, the blacksmith returned with a spatial ring that had everything he had asked for stored inside.
The only items that were missing were the leather armor and a weapon.
Fortunately, searching for a suitable weapon didn't take long because there was a proper working prototype of the Viper spear which Nial had quickly found in the shop.
As for the leather armor, he also got knee protectors and seemingly ordinary boots with the sole difference of having a pointy, steel cap with which he could kick beasts without sustaining any injury himself.
Once everything was done, the blacksmith led him towards the dungeon that was in one of the outermost districts inside the Katu shelter.
After he was fully prepared, Nial grew confident in himself which made him feel a little bit weird. However, after thinking about it, he sensed that he had become relatively calm ever since the Odyssey seed and his origin had awoken.
Thus, he could calmly get out of the shuttle, and approach the dungeon portal that radiated weird transmuted mana currents of two repulsive energies.
Nial felt odd after sensing the mana currents that were transmuted by something that felt like endless darkness, and a trace of light that made him visualize a ray of hope at the end of a dark tunnel.
Somehow, this visualization struck Nial much deeper than it should, and it was at that moment that a premonition swept through his entire being, emerging from the depths of his conscience.
'Why...does it feel like I was just deprived of something extremely precious…and as if someone betrayed me?' He mumbled to himself in confusion.
How could Nial know that his best friend had unintentionally betrayed him by making a small, avoidable mistake, while his entire family had been snatched away from him with no clues of their whereabouts?
In the end, after getting out of the shuttle, Nial was able to sense the energy radiating from the mysterious rift.
At the same time, there were dozens of people standing around the portal, facing it, with another group of smaller figures standing around a woman whose outlines and mana fluctuations were oddly familiar.
"Isn't that…?" He suddenly mumbled, recalling the woman from the military academy, who had killed the Sekyr Sound Centipede inside the Melind dungeon.
'It really is her,' he thought after focusing his mana fluctuations on her the moment they passed by the barriers that had been set up to allow entry to a select few.
The dungeon was not only restricted according to one's mana core size, but it also radiated two repulsive transmuted mana currents.
Some dungeons were known for having a specific element and an easy way of identifying them was their signature trait of having transmuted mana found within the dungeon. It was similar to a signature, and apparently, the color of gates would sometimes change too.
Thus, dungeons that were in or near a volcano would naturally release fire transmuted mana.
Yet, after sensing the darkness mana that had faint traces of a light affinity within them, Nial couldn't help but feel odd because there had never been a dungeon with two elements.
However, there was someone who felt even weirder about the entire situation. It was, in fact, Nina Melion, who had noticed blacksmith Arnold, the moment he passed the barrier, followed by the young man she recalled from the Melind dungeon.
'What is he doing here? How do they know each other?... Did Mr. Birg…no he wouldn't do that, right? This kid has just awoken his origin…or would he?' Dozens of questions flashed through Nina's mind, but after a moment of confusion, she decided to mind her own business.
Some cadets she had trained had received their first mission and she wanted to give them as much information and tips before they would enter the dungeon to rescue the missing students that had mindlessly barged into the dungeon just because they thought that they would claim other worldly treasures inside it.
Some students that had emerged from the dungeon had said that they were told to enter the dungeon because treasures awaited them, others were simply challenged to enter and prove themselves, and some were even saying that their teachers had always told them to enter dungeons and gain experience.
Whether the last, small number of students were correct or simply making up stuff to excuse their misbehavior was still debatable, but that didn't matter because the lives of the Originals were the most important.
However that was only the opinion of the government, but Nina had a different opinion because she thought that her cadets of hers had to survive first in order to rescue others.
Thus, she told them to stay alive and protect themselves before others.
As such, she relayed the information she had received from her superior, only to see that blacksmith Arnold was approaching her.
Bowing lightly to the renowned blacksmith, Nina could see the worry in his expression, as he asked her.
"Are you Nina Melion?"
Nodding her head, she wanted to ask what he wanted, yet, before she could do so, Arnold Birg continued to speak, not wasting any time.
"I have received permission from General Tergan to let one Original enter the dungeon with your cadets!"
Hearing what the blacksmith said, Nina was momentarily dumbfounded, and her eyes automatically flicked to Nial, who simply listened to the blacksmith's words with a steadfast expression.
In the end, the government owned the dungeon owing to it being an anomaly which was something ordinary Originals couldn't control.
Thus, the first conquest was set up by the government and nobody other than the highest echelons, military and specific organizations that belonged to the government would be allowed to enter it right now.
With that in mind, blacksmith Arnold used his connections to allow Nial to enter the dungeon.
Yet, when Nina heard this she didn't believe her ears, because General Tergan was known for being conservative, strict, and for having an unbending will.
However, that was not all because she had seen Nial's combat prowess merely a week ago, which meant that she believed he was not suitable for the mission.
Thus, she wanted to object, but before she could do so, she received a voice message from General Tergan, which caused her to frown.
After listening to it, her frown deepened, and she swore under her breath, blaming the bad timing.
"Alright, but if he wants to enter the dungeon with my cadets, he shouldn't be a burden on my group! If he grows too weak, they will abandon him because they have better things to do than babysitting someone!"
Nial was not offended despite her harsh words, because they were not directly meant to insult him. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but retort with a faint grin on his lips.
"Don't worry Miss, I have become stronger since last week!"
This simple comment caused blacksmith Arnold to turn towards Nial as he mumbled.
"Do you know her? Are you guys acquaintances?"
In the end, they were not acquaintances, and more like strangers, but that was not something the already worried blacksmith had to know, thus he came up with something on the spot.
Shrugging his shoulder, Nial just answered,
"You could say so, one could say we helped each other…but that is probably a little bit far-fetched!"
Upon hearing his answer, Nina recalled that she had given Nial the [Shockwave Barrage] ability.
Thus, her eyes gleamed for a moment as she asked him curiously.
"Did you bind the [Shockwave Barrage] ability crystal to your mana core? If so, you might be useful!"
Somehow, Nial couldn't help but feel hurt by her comment, but instead of showing his discontent, he just shook his head and replied,
"We sold it, but may we proceed further, or do we have to wait for something. I would prefer rescuing the students as long as they're alive!"
Hearing Nial saying this, Nina couldn't help but raise her eyebrow, thinking that he had changed a little bit.
The change was in a good way, which made her feel a little bit more at ease, thinking that Nial might not turn into burden for her cadets.
Yet, the cadets that were several years younger than Nial couldn't help but stare at him with discontent.
However, instead of disapproving openly, they remained quiet, preventing themselves from harassing Nial in front of their teacher, which would in return earn them a lecture from her because they seemed to know each other.
Despite that though, the cadets didn't even think of conquering the dungeon with Nial owing to his blindness and evidently weak mana fluctuations.
Fortunately, this was not something he wanted to do, to begin with.
Nial might be glad that others would enter the dungeon, but so far, he had only relied on his family and Melvin when it came to saving his life.
As such, he felt more comfortable conquering the dungeon by himself.
How could Nial know that everyone he trusted his life on had either disappeared from his sight or would be the reason for the pain and agony he would have to go through in the future?