Welcome, Player: Grand Quest

Chapter 77: The Guardian of a Thousand Souls

-chapter seventy-seven-
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SOLACE

THE DUNGEON is a long array of metal doors, with small windows on the front. May mga iron bars na nakadikit sa hard wall. Hindi kita kung ano ang nasa loob.

"Door 103." I muttered, glancing at every door numbers.

Kanina pa sina Cord at Aisling na nakapasok sa kanilang respective rooms. The Dungeon has a total of 150 guardian rooms and it's one fighter per room. Kaya ito ako ngayon, looking for Door Number 103 because the designer of this dungeon seems to be drunk when he made this.

Sinong normal ang magnu-number ng doors randomly? Walanghiya. Nakita ko kanina ang Door 148 na katabi ng Door 3 at Door 80.

"58... 86... 41..." bumuntong-hininga ako. "Bakit ba ang hirap-hirap hanapin ng pintuan na 'yon."

"There's no need to panic. The time limit starts once you enter the room and press accept quest, after all."

Napatalon ako sa gulat nang isang mababang boses ang narinig ko sa tabi. Astro raised his brows at my sudden movement. May dalawa siyang katabi na warriors din ang guildmate niya ata.

Of course, sumali ang Night Growlers. They're the gem of the Central Continent anymore.

"I'm not panicking," I muttered. "Gusto ko lang matapos ito agad."

"I doubt it will though."

Hindi na ako nakapagtanong kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin doon dahil sa may nakita akong pintuan na tatlo ang numero. Maybe it's my door number now!

Hinayaan ko si Astro doon at tumakbo papunta sa pinto, not noticing the man I bumped on the way. Napangiti ako nang makita ang door number. Finally!

Tiningnan ko si Astro para sana magpaalam pero natigilan ako nang makita siyang nakikipagtitigan sa lalaking katabi ng pinto ko. The two are sharing a somewhat heated and intense gaze. So rather than interrupting their private conversation, I opted to enter the room.

Mukhang magkaka-lovelife na din si Astro, ah. Nagsi-sideline pala sa dating game ang Arth Online.

A blue light screened over the room when I stepped in. May mga pixels na unti-unting nagma-materialize sa harap ko at isang screen na lumabas.

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[PRELIMINARY QUEST: COMBAT ARENA]

Welcome, Solace. This is the Dungeon where the Soul Guardian, Tomethos, resides. The Guardian holds the souls of players he defeated and uses it to amplify it's power.

To complete the quest, you must defeat the Guardian. You will need strength, patience and great perseverance to succeed. Your time limit of [20] begins once you accepted the quest.

Accept   |   Decline

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I clicked 'accept' after reading the announcement. The response was processed quickly, and another screen appeared. Safe battles, player., it reads.

I staggered when the ground moved, na para bang isang malakas na lindol ang dumating. Itinusok ko ang espada sa lupa para mabalanse ang sarili at doon ko nakita ang kalaban.

Fucking hell. The guardian is huge.

Para itong higante. He's almost the same height as the room, napakalapit ng ulo niya sa ceiling. I can't even reach the monster' knees! Well, mukha naman siyang tao. Parang isang old-fashioned warrior na sobrang taas at laki, gano'n din ang gamit niyang espada. His crimson eyes bore into me while his mouth stretched into a thin line.