"I want everyone to have a copy of this. Remember the topography, the format of the floors and the monsters there. It should be more helpful than simply hiring an adventurer who is a veteran here".
The various guild leaders nodded and copied the images and videos from the main orb.
"Now that everybody has a copy of this, I suppose we should talk about how we are going to tackle this dungeon…" the grey haired man finally started elaborating his plans.
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Dungeon Laplace, Training chamber, Floor 56th.
Simon was huffing and puffing as he slashed his sword forward. CLANG… an intense collision of metallic sound rang out, the huge axe that was clashing against the sword, was deflected to the side.
However, before Simon could relax his guard, a whip covered entirely with thick black scales, came smashing at him.
BANG…
Simon crossed his arms, two faint gauntlets took shape and absorbed the damage for him. Nevertheless, he was still pushed back a few meters from the force.
SKID... When he looked back at the thing, he could see countless snake heads glaring at him at the end of the whip. It was then retracted into the sleeves of the ominous looking black robed humanoid creature riding on a big menacing antler.
Soul Catchers, Gate Keepers,... Ogorath, it had many names.
The creature as the name suggested guarded the gates until the end of time and captured any unfortunate souls that dared to come closer. That was its sole role and the reason for this existence.
It rode on a wretched looking antler that feasted on the flesh and carried huge ominous weapons that harvested the souls. The creature had no soul itself and was a living corpse faithful and in eternal servitude to its master.
SHRIEKK… a cacophony of multiple anguished noises came out whenever it opened its mouth. Two more soul catchers silently rode and stood beside the first one.
Looking at this lineup, Simon nodded his head and remarked "Although they are unintelligent creatures and can only follow simple commands, their strength is without a doubt".
Just as he was about to start another round of training with these creatures, Bea teleported behind him and knelt on one knee.
"Master… according to the reports from the [helpers], the humans have arrived".
"Hoh, it took them around two weeks to arrive. Our guests sure are late. Have all the preparations to show our hospitality been completed?" Simon wasn't particularly fazed by this report, he raised his brows and asked.
Bea obediently nodded her head and replied "All preparations have been completed. Everybody is waiting in the hall for Master".
"In that case, let us go. The show is about to start" Simon commented, a crimson glow flashed in his eyes. He wiped his sweat with a towel and along with Bea, he teleported back onto the main floor.
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Two days later, Floor- Twenty-Sixth—
A large group of people comprising of more than seven hundred adventurers, were currently resting inside an ant hill. Mountains of corpses of Giant Beetle Ant, could be seen all around them.
From the looks, it seemed like this colony was cleared by this group of adventurers who were currently dissecting the biggest beetle ant that was supposedly the queen of this hill.
"Hey did you guys hear? According to the reports, the Savannah Beast Guild has already reached the thirtieth floor. While the Crimson Demolition Guild and the Sea God's Trident Guild are right behind us".
A woman of great beauty, said towards the two people seated at a table that they had set up to take some rest.
The woman that just spoke, was Anna White from the Mage Guild. She was also one of the participants that was competing in the Battle of the Finest tournament in the capital.
The two people that she addressed had a status equal to her, especially the girl named Hallie May who was the personal disciple of their guild master and their future guild leader.
Hallie May looked at Anna white and smiled, she waved her hand and asked the latter to come sit by their side.
"Anna you have returned? Tell me what other information did you manage to get from the spies of our guild" the woman who spoke was Tiana Lowe, the eldest of the three and ranked 11th in the battle of the finest tournament.
Hearing her words, Anna nodded, she sat beside the smiling Hallie and continued with the information she received from the spies.
"According to reports that could be trusted, Marcus's group have reached the 30th floor while the Lantz and Rees brothers are currently tackling the 28th floor. At this rate, the one to reach the 34th floor first will be the Savannah Beast Guild. What should we do elder sister Tiana?" Anna asked.
"The top five guilds and the renowned guilds each have their prejudices and own way of doing things. It is impossible for them to leave their animosity and work together. I heard from the guild master Karina that a great ruckus was created when the time came to elect the expedition leader of this operation".
"The meeting ran in circles and nobody could come to a conclusion. Thus it was decided that whichever guild first reaches the last floor that was shown in the transmission orb.. i.e the 34th floor, the guild leader of that guild would be the expedition leader for the combined forces".
"The groups that have dived inside the dungeon currently are all tertiary teams of their respective guilds. There is no need to worry, let Brutus and those guys in the front clear the path for us. Besides…"
Tina reassured, her eyes turned towards Hallie who was sending a sound transmission over to the other end of the conch.
"Our guild master isn't interested in becoming the expedition leader, so you don't have to worry. The task that we have been given is to closely monitor the dungeon and investigate if there is any anomaly".
"So that is the case" Anna nodded her head in understanding.
The decision that whichever guild first reached the lowest floor recorded in the transmission conch was all good and fine; however, the problem lay in the way it was to be executed.
The top five guilds and the other renowned guilds were the biggest guilds in the entire kingdom of Ellesmere. Naturally, they had thousands of adventurers, if all of the guilds rushed in together, the entrance and exit would be jammed and there may be numerous disputes and collisions arising.
To avoid that, it was decided that the twenty guilds would be sending their tertiary team first inside the dungeon first. If they wanted to, some guilds could also cooperate with each other by combing their tertiary teams. However, they cannot bring in more than a thousand people at any given time.
This decision was taken so as to prevent the guilds from clashing against each other and plotting behind their backs. Also, by sending the tertiary teams one could see the overall potential and foundation of that guild.
It is after all, a known fact that the weakest members and the newbie adventurers are usually kept in the tertiary team. So when any tertiary team reaches the objective faster than the other teams, it says a lot about that guild.
It proved that a particular guild has better overall adventurers, and the tactics and methods they used are also better than the other guilds. It wouldn't be unacceptable for these pedantic guild masters to accept a leader whose tertiary team achieved the best result inside the dungeon.
Nevertheless, this decision had somehow turned into a race for the top five guilds and the big guilds to see whose young generation was better than the other and a chance for them to gain experience.
While the tertiary team was clearing the dungeon and competing amongst themselves to see who would reach the 34th floor first, the primary team and the secondary teams of the respective guilds were resting and biding their strength on the 20th floor, which was declared as the Safe floor by the adventurer's association branch.
No monsters spawned or traps spawned on the 20th floor thus it was the ideal place to set up a camp. Thus the twenty guilds used this floor to setup their camps here and establish a headquarter.
Inside one of the biggest camps, the guild leaders of the various guilds were in attendance. Seated in the seat of honour, was the grey haired man with a mask on his face.
"How goes the exploration?" he asked with a sombre tone.
The guild leader of the Savannah Beast Guild Brutus Sarge gestured with his chin and the vice guild leader of his guild got up from his seat to give a report.
"Your lordship, the tertiary team belonging to our guild, has already reached the 30th floor. Four more floors before we can decide on an expedition leader".
The grey haired man nodded his head and his sharp eyes went on to the other guild leaders.
"It is only a matter of time then. I believe you have no qualms with Brutus Sarge becoming the expedition leader?".
Seeing that no one dared to show their discontent, the grey haired man proceeded with laying out his plans.
"Once they reach the 34th floor, we will get moving. The primary teams of all the twenty guilds will become our main unit. The objective of this unit is to spearhead the lower floors and break through any and all traps and defeat the monsters barring our way".
"This unit will be led by the expedition leader and the other guild masters would be there to assist him. Although I don't think we will need it, but the secondary unit will be led by Miss Karina".