As Daiki reached the neighboring city of Ashenford, he immediately noticed how much larger it was compared to Raventhorn City, where the dungeon break was occurring. His heart raced, and without wasting time, he headed straight for the Adventurers' Guild.
As he entered, the people around him couldn't help but notice his tense expression. His hurried movements suggested he had been running for a long time, and some whispered among themselves, wondering what had happened.
"What happened to him?" murmured the adventurers inside.
Daiki pushed through the crowd and approached the receptionist, his face pale and his breath ragged.
"Where is the Guild Master? Tell me where he is!" His voice was strained, desperate.
The receptionist looked at him, startled by his urgency. "Please, calm down, sir. Take a deep breath and explain what's happened."
Daiki paused for a moment, trying to steady his breathing, then spoke again, his words heavy with concern.
"In our city, not far from here, a dungeon break is happening. The number of monsters is overwhelming, and we can't handle it on our own." His voice faltered with exhaustion. "The Guild Master and an elite team went into the dungeon to try to stop it, but our forces are reduced. We need help, please!"
The receptionist's eyes widened in shock. "What?" she exclaimed, clearly taken aback.
"The Guild Master is upstairs," she added quickly. "Hurry, go now!"
Daiki nodded, his heart pounding as he rushed up the stairs. As he approached the Guild Master's office, his mind raced with worry. With a trembling hand, he opened the door.
Inside, an old man sat behind a large desk. His graying hair and battle-worn face spoke of years of experience. His name was Alaric Stoneheart, and his presence was commanding, despite his age. He and Daiki shared a similar build, both marked by many scars from past battles.
"Are you the Guild Master here?" Daiki asked, his voice strained. "Please, our city needs help. A dungeon break is occurring there. If we fail to stop it, the lives of innocent people will be at risk!"
Alaric looked up, his deep voice steady and calm. "Yes, I am Alaric Stoneheart, the Guild Master here." He listened intently as Daiki continued.
"You said your city is experiencing a dungeon break?" Alaric asked. "What city is that?"
"Raventhorn City, not far from here," Daiki replied, his voice tense with worry.
"Wait, Raventhorn City?" Alaric's brow furrowed. "And a dungeon break? And you can't handle them all? Where is your Guild Master?"
"Our Guild Master is leading an elite team to raid the dungeon and stop the break," Daiki answered.
"What dungeon?" Alaric asked.
"The IronClad Dungeon," Daiki said, barely able to keep his composure.
Alaric's eyes widened. "Wait, that dungeon? Get up. There's no time to waste. I'll request an emergency quest from the adventurers right away!"
"Thank you so much," Daiki said, relief flooding his exhausted body.
"Now move!" Alaric said, urgency in his voice. "If we don't help, many lives will be lost, and the monsters will eventually make their way here too."
Together, they descended the stairs, and Alaric strode into the middle of the guild hall, where a crowd of adventurers were gathered. His presence commanded attention.
"Listen, everyone," Alaric's deep voice rang out, silencing the murmurs. "I have a special request for any of you willing to help. We will compensate generously for those who choose to join us."
The adventurers looked around, confused and skeptical.
"An emergency request at this time?" one of them asked, raising an eyebrow.
Alaric took a breath, then continued. "I know this is sudden, and the morning is already well underway. But our neighboring city needs our help. They are currently facing a dungeon break. The reports we've received indicate that the monsters are much more dangerous per wave than a typical dungeon break."
He paused, making eye contact with the crowd. "For those of you willing to come, we will offer a large sum of gold as compensation."
Some adventurers still hesitated.
"Guild Master," one said, "it's their problem. Let them handle it themselves."
Alaric's expression hardened. "Are you a fool? Are you really willing to let innocent people die? What if your own family were in danger? Would you still say the same thing?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. "What kind of adventurer are you if you think this way?"
The adventurer fell silent, the weight of Alaric's words sinking in.
After a few moments of hushed discussion among the adventurers, they began to speak up, one by one, announcing their decision to join the emergency quest.
"I will go, Sir," one adventurer said.
As the others began to follow suit, one by one, more and more adventurers stood and volunteered for the reinforcement operation. Soon, 22 adventurers had stepped forward, ready to assist in stopping the dungeon break.
"Thank you," Daiki whispered, overwhelmed with gratitude.
With the team now assembled, Alaric gave a final command. "We depart immediately. Let's move out!"
The adventurers, now united with a shared purpose, made their way out of the guild hall, ready to face the dangers ahead.