Chapter 34: March Toward the Hollow Bone Cemetery
Vale entered the dining room, his presence powerful yet perfectly controlled.
He walked toward the head of the long dining table and sat at the high seat while the others remained seated along the sides.
Once everyone settled down, Vale began speaking with them. His attention, however, was mostly focused on Fate.
Vale asked many questions, and Fate answered every single one of them.
After a while, Fate spoke.
"Father, may I ask for your favor...?"
Vale calmly replied.
"Go on. What is it?"
Fate answered immediately.
"My friends and I want to get stronger by clearing dungeons. Is there a dungeon that you know that we can clear?"
Vale fell silent for a moment, thinking about Fate's request.
After a few seconds, he finally spoke.
"There is one. The dungeon's name is The Hollow Bone Cemetery, and it's Rank-D."
Vale continued.
"Since it's an undead-themed dungeon, it's best for you all to have at least someone who possesses light magic to counter the undead."
Fate turned his head toward Chloe.
Chloe immediately understood and nodded in agreement.
Fate looked back at Vale.
"We will clear that one."
Vale smiled as he stuffed food into his mouth.
"Good."
A few moments later, everyone finished their meals.
Fate and his friends began heading toward his room.
But before he could leave, Vale called out to him.
"Fate."
Fate turned around.
"Yes, father?"
Vale spoke in a calm voice.
"I want to talk to you in private."
Fate glanced at his friends.
Kyle immediately responded.
"Go. Don't worry about us."
Fate nodded before turning back toward Vale and following him.
The two of them eventually arrived at a familiar location.
It was the very place where Fate had undergone his rebirth and awakened as a Crystal Dragon.
Vale spoke first.
"Fate, do you remember the red-like rock that one of your competitors used last Monday...?"
Fate hesitated for a moment.
That memory was unpleasant.
But eventually, he forced himself to answer.
"Yes, father. It was like a crimson crystal that released an ominous aura."
Vale nodded.
"During my investigation, I discovered that the crystal is called the Shard of Madness."
Fate frowned in confusion.
"Shard of Madness...?"
Vale explained.
"Yes. That shard grants whoever consumes it a rise in strength, mana, speed, and endurance in their stats."
He paused briefly.
"But in exchange, it drastically lowers the Intelligence stat. So much that anyone who consumes it will eventually behave like a wild, mindless beast."
Fate listened carefully before asking another question.
"But... where did it come from?"
Vale crossed his arms before answering.
"It came from a group of criminals that call themselves—"
He paused.
"The Renegade Association."
Fate listened attentively as Vale continued speaking.
The Renegade Association was a criminal organization involved in illegal trade, murder, terrorism, and many other crimes.
Vale also explained how to identify one of their members.
"Members of the Renegade Association carry a red tattoo on the right side of their back. The tattoo looks like a skull pierced by a dagger."
After hearing everything, Fate spoke with disbelief.
"Such a group actually still exists...?"
Vale gave a serious warning.
"You should be careful around them."
Fate frowned slightly.
"But... why are you telling me this?"
He continued.
"There must be a reason, right? It's not just because of my safety."
Vale fell silent.
He looked at Fate with quiet amazement.
In his eyes, Fate was no longer the greenhorn he once knew.
His son had grown into someone capable of making his own decisions.
Finally, Vale spoke.
"The real reason behind this conversation is to give you an order."
He paused before continuing.
"More precisely, I'm giving you a mission."
Fate immediately understood.
"The mission is about capturing people involved with the Renegade Association inside Valhalla Academy, right?"
Vale nodded.
"You catch on quickly. That means I don't need to explain further."
"Yes, father." Fate said.
Vale then dismissed him.
"You may go now. Your friends must be waiting."
Before leaving, Fate slightly bent his body and respectfully bowed.
After Fate left, Vale remained alone.
He looked toward the distance.
(That boy is growing faster...)
(Just like me in the past...)
Fate returned to his room and saw his friends preparing their weapons.
Kyle looked at him while sharpening his claymore, Vanguard.
"Should we get going now?"
Fate shook his head.
"Wait. There is still someone coming with us."
Isabelle raised a brow.
"Is it the butler who drove the carriage earlier?"
Fate replied.
"No. It's someone else."
His mind drifted back to something that happened earlier.
While walking toward his room, Fate had encountered two people.
His mother and his little sister.
Elizabeth Kindspring and Emily Kindspring.
Elizabeth called out to him.
"Fate, come here for a second."
Fate approached her.
"Yes, mother?"
Elizabeth explained.
"I plan on sending someone to accompany you and your friends during your dungeon expedition."
Fate picked up Emily after she happily jumped toward him.
"Someone? But we are more than enough to clear the dungeon ourselves."
Elizabeth smiled calmly.
"I know."
"But it wouldn't hurt to have extra safety."
"And besides, that person will only interfere if you or your friends are in serious danger."
Fate snapped out of his thoughts.
Then suddenly—
Knock. Knock.
Someone was knocking on the door.
Chloe spoke.
"That must be the person who will accompany us."
Fate nodded and opened the door.
Standing outside was a man wearing armor engraved with the crest of the Kindspring Family.
He had short brown hair and carried a bow made of black wood reinforced with steel.
The armored man spoke respectfully.
"Young Master, it is nice to finally meet you. My name is Eugene Rosfield, a member of the elite forces of the Kindspring Family—"
"The Azure Dragon Guard."
Fate greeted Eugene back.
"Nice to meet you too."
Fate nodded before turning to his friends.
"Alright. Everyone seems ready."
"So let's not waste any more time."
"Let's go."
Kyle, Autumn, and Isabelle stood up.
Meanwhile, Lisa and Chloe stopped gathering their mana.
Fate then turned toward Eugene.
"Lead the way, Eugene."
Eugene bowed.
And the group began leaving the manor.
Before leaving, Fate walked at the back of the group.
He turned his head and looked at the manor.
It felt like he was searching for someone.
Then he saw it.
Through one of the windows—
Vale was watching him.
Fate smiled.
He turned around and raised his fist.
At the same time, Vale formed a grin.
(That's my son...)
(Keep moving forward... and never look back...)
After several hours of traveling through the Forest of the Hidden Beasts, Fate and the others finally saw it.
A giant portal stood among the trees.
It was as tall as the surrounding forest.
The portal glowed with a brilliant blue light.
Suddenly—
A system window appeared before everyone.
[The Hollow Bone Cemetery]
Type: Survival Dungeon
Rank: D
Objective: Reach Wave 3
Fate carefully read the system window.
After finishing, he looked toward the dungeon entrance.
Then he turned to his group.
"Let's go."
"Let's get stronger."
With those words, Fate stepped into the dungeon.
His friends followed immediately after him.
Chapter 34 End