The dungeon did not roar when they left ,It did not tremble, It did not collapse.
East Point stood exactly as it always had, quiet, dim, harmless that was what made it worse. Two bodies were carried out beneath the red banners of Rivergate.
The cloth fluttered in the morning wind deep crimson, stitched with a silver shield. Behind the shield, a spear and sword crossed in silent promise of protection.
Today, that promise felt broken.
No one spoke as they crossed the stone archway marking the dungeon entrance.
Snow was unconscious, bandaged tightly at the shoulder. Rey walked with support, jaw clenched, refusing to show weakness. Max followed behind them, fists closed so tight his knuckles had gone pale.Eragon walked last.The C-Rank crystal rested in his pouch, heavy, too heavy.A small crowd had gathered near the entrance. Civilians. Merchants. A few low ranking guards. Whispers began immediately.
"East Point?"
"Impossible…"
"There haven't been deaths there in years."
"Was it dungeon evolution?"
"No… look at the General's face."
The General walked ahead of them, silver armor stained dark with dried blood. His expression gave nothing away. But his eyes were sharp. Watching everything. One of the surviving knights finally broke the silence.
"This was an F-rank dungeon…"
His voice was low, almost hollow.
"Even the boss is only D-rank."
Max stopped walking.
"Don't say it."
"But it's true!" the knight snapped quietly. "That thing was C-rank. A Goblin General. That doesn't belong here."
Rey's voice cut in, strained but steady.
"It didn't belong."
He turned slightly, His eyes found Eragon.
"It wasn't here for the dungeon."
The words settled like stone. Snow stirred weakly in the stretcher.
"It called him… vessel…"
Max's jaw tightened, No one denied it.
The General stopped walking and everyone froze. He turned slowly, gaze sweeping across the group.
"This was not dungeon evolution," he said firmly.
"The dungeon core was stable. Mana flow unchanged. No corruption. No mutation."
He paused.
"That creature was placed here."
The implication was heavier than any accusation.
Placed..Not born….Not evolved….Sent….!
Max looked at him sharply. "By who?"
The General did not answer immediately.
"That," he said calmly, "is above our rank."
His eyes shifted briefly toward Eragon.
Subtle.Protective,then he looked back at the others.
"And we will not speculate publicly."
The message was clear.Silence this for now. They resumed walking. By the time they reached Gate Town, the rumors had outrun them. Red banners hung from stone towers each embroidered with Rivergate's silver shield. The crossed spear and sword gleamed in the afternoon light. The people stepped aside as the knights passed. Not in admiration.
In unease, Two coffins were carried toward the barracks. The whispers followed.
"East Point killed them…"
"Something's wrong."
"Or someone."
Max finally stopped walking. He turned toward Eragon.
"That thing spoke to you."
Not shouted…..
Not angry...
Just direct….
Eragon met his gaze.
"I don't know why."
"That's not good enough."
Silence again.
The General stepped between them not aggressively, just enough to break the line of sight.
"This discussion ends here," he said evenly.
Max looked like he wanted to argue.
He didn't. Instead, he turned and walked away. Rey watched Eragon a moment longer.Then followed, Snow was carried inside without another word. Eragon stood alone in the courtyard. The red banners above him fluttered softly. He felt smaller beneath them.
That evening, within the command hall, the General stood before three seated nobles.
Behind them hung a larger version of Rivergate's banner crimson cloth, silver shield prominent against torchlight.One of the nobles leaned forward.
"Two casualties. From East Point."
His voice carried irritation more than grief.
"Explain."
The General's posture remained perfect.
"A C-Rank entity manifested within the dungeon."
"Manifested?" another noble scoffed. "In an F-rank zone?"
"Yes."
The nobles exchanged looks.
"Dungeon evolution?"
"No."
The General's voice did not waver.
"External interference."
That changed the room. The third noble's fingers tapped the armrest.
"And your proof?"
"The dungeon core remains stable. No structural mutation. No mana corruption."
Silence.
Then,"Then someone breached Rivergate territory."
The words felt heavier than the deaths. The General inclined his head slightly.
"That is my assessment."
"And the boy?" the first noble asked casually. "The one it addressed?"
A pause…..
Small…..
Controlled…..
"The creature displayed irregular speech patterns," the General replied. "Likely psychological warfare."
He did not blink, He did not hesitate, He did not reveal anything. The nobles watched him carefully.
Finally, "Very well. This matter remains internal."
The General bowed once and turned to leave. But as he stepped into the corridor, his expression changed.
Slightly….Thoughtful…..Protective….
He did not trust the court. And he certainly did not trust the Mage. Elsewhere, in a quiet chamber lit by a single candle, the Mage dipped a thin quill into dark ink.
He wrote carefully. Not in common tongue.
In sigil-script, each stroke precise , each curve deliberate. At the bottom of the parchment, he pressed his palm against the page. A symbol flared to life a circular seal. At its center an eye bound by chains.
Around it are ancient characters spiraling inward. The symbol glowed faint blue.
"The vessel has awakened," the Mage whispered.
"Earlier than predicted."
The ink shimmered once then vanished.
The message was sent. To whom no one in Rivergate knew.
Far beyond Rivergate's borders, beyond forest and mountain within a black-stoned citadel ,a banner hung unmoving in still air.
Black cloth…..
Golden outline…..
At its center, a circle bearing a flame of deep orange and crimson,
Moonreach.....
A tall figure stood before it. Silver armor over dark fabric. Eyes calm,Aware, a faint pulse of blue light flickered before him.
He watched it fade.
"So," he murmured.
"The seal trembles in Rivergate."
His gaze lifted slightly.
"Interesting."
He turned away from the banner. But did not smile because something else had moved. Not by his command. And not by the dungeon's will. The game had shifted.
And pieces were moving on their own. Back in Gate Town, beneath the red banners of Rivergate, Eragon sat alone in the barracks courtyard.
The night was quiet too quiet. He reached into his pouch. The C-Rank crystal caught the moonlight faintly.
Cold...
Silent...
Unresponsive…..
Just a crystal...
But the words echoed again in his mind.
Vessel.He didn't understand and that uncertainty felt heavier than fear. Above him, Rivergate's crimson banners fluttered softly in the wind.
Strong…..
Proud…..
Unstable...
And somewhere beyond the borders of kingdoms something watched,
Not demon…..
Not human…..
Waiting.....!!!