God of Destruction: Living Among Mortals

Right after the training was done, Marcus took the trio to the lobby to clear their second D-rank dungeon, so that they could get closer to the C-rank status before the beginning of the Tournament.

Nova was carrying the litter box, with the kittens safely tucked in, feeling drowsy. Some of them decided to take a nap, which was perfect since the trio had to venture into the D-rank dungeon and try to protect the kittens along the way, which would be too much for them to handle at their current stage.

Marcus stepped towards the trio from the reception, looking slightly gloomy. "Alright, you three," he said, his voice low and down, like he was trying to sound like a tough dad. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to assist you again in your D-rank dungeon, but here is a hint to solve it: it's open fields, with thick grass, mudgrubs, and white goblins. Also, don't step on the sharp vines, or you'll pay dearly."

"Yeah, yeah, we know you weren't going to come anyway," Nova said, with an arrogant smirk.

"Anyways," Marcus ignored Nova, as Elena crept up behind him, like a horror movie jump scare, which spooked all three of them. "Elena will assist you again, like always. She will provide more detail about the dungeon as you go twenty miles north from here, and as always, just fucking touch the checkpoint, and maybe don't end in China, again."

Marcus waved as he returned, going to his "important" meeting, which he usually skipped, but since the trio was going to the dungeon, this was the perfect time for him to use the excuse of attending the meeting to goof off in his office.

"Come on," Elena said, waving her sideways, making sure that the trio actually followed her, as they had lost her for a brief second in the last D-rank dungeon they had visited. "Follow my voice and hand. I don't want wanna lose you three idiots, again."

Elena walked in front, as Elesch was right behind, with Nova and Adam paired together, behind Elesch. They got in the car and drove off to the dungeon, which, again, was twenty miles to the north of the guild, much closer than the last D-rank dungeon.

"As you know, mudgrubs and white goblins can be found there, so be careful not to provoke the mudgrubs, and you will be fine from their poison. Secondly, the white goblins are ferocious and slightly bigger and bulkier than normal green goblins, so be careful, though you have already encountered them during that event."

She was referring to when Gluttony had emerged out of the dungeon break rift, nearly destroying the entire solar system, with an ability he had just mimicked. The powers of the Seven Deadly Sins and the Demon King were not to be underestimated; even gods have a tough time surviving against the strongest forces of Hell.

"The dungeon will be an open field, with a cave off to the side, but you don't venture into it, since it's not important, and just clear the village of white goblins, with their D plus-ranked chief, and you should be fine. There will be thick grass, so navigating may be more difficult at first, but you'll adapt, you have to, and there are also these vines that, if you step on them, can cut you really deep."

After twenty miles, they reached the dungeon. The trio wasn't nervous, far from it, as they were confident, but not overconfident, in their ability to carve out this dungeon from the inside out.

Elena hopped out and carefully took the litter box from Nova. The kittens, drowsy and curled into tiny meatballs, barely twitched a muscle. It was as if they had worked for twenty-five hours, even though a day had an hour less.

"I'll keep these little guys safe," Elena said, softening her voice, as she faintly, but brightly, smiled at the kittens, tugging them under her arm. "You can count on it. And you three focus on not becoming goblin stew. Touch the checkpoint rune, and for the love of god, don't end up in China again."

Marcus had rubbed off on her slightly, as her accent, her words, and the way she expressed herself, sometimes, were almost perfectly identical to those of Marcus.

Nova smirked, turning his back, rattling imaginary coins, then hurled up an arm to say his temporary goodbye. Elesch and Adam chuckled, but their eyes were already scanning the dungeon's entrance, preparing for the wild adventure they were going to have ahead.

They entered, seeing the three black pillars carved in the circle at the entrance of the dungeon door, then smiling all together. They landed in an open field, and the grass was so tall that it brushed their knees. It was dense and moving with the soft breeze in the air. It felt almost eerie.

Nova then noticed something, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. Elesch and Adam were dumbfounded, shrugging their shoulders, moving forward. Nova remained frozen for a brief interval, then shook his head sharply, and then caught up to the other two.

"Stay sharp," he muttered, his daggers materializing instantly, as whatever he saw sent a shiver down his spine, and it wasn't the good kind. "This grass is going to be a pain. I can't even see the ground. Be careful to not step on the vines that Elena and Marcus mentioned."

Elesch nodded as her rapier shimmered with the Void, pushing her void manipulation even further. Adam's palm, this time, extended into claws, his senses sharpening and skin hardening. He sniffed the air, like a police dog looking for cocaine.

Elesch advanced first, her rapier parting the stubborn grass, which didn't want to be cut. Adam's claws carved through stalks that pushed back, every step felt like a contest of force. Nova slipped between them, his movements as sharp and efficient as every.

The field stretched on, dotted with rough oaks and glowing, poisonous, mushrooms that Nova just wanted to lick, like candy.