Paragon of Skills

"It's a deathtrap!" Felisia says.

"Is it?" I say with a smile, turning to the Guildmaster Dorn. "Is the entrance very expensive?"

"Usually, considering the certainty of obtaining Skill Crystals, it's five hundred Platinums," the Guildmaster Dorn says. "Because some Crystals can drop more than once. But given your recent exploits, if you were to enter immediately, the guild would waive its fee."

"Oh my," I say, "how generous."

"Jacob, don't even think about it! First, have Sir Greyson—"

"No non-authorized personnel can enter a Dungeon, Lady Felisia," the Guildmaster Dorn says."

I glance at Felisia. She's fuming. She glares at the Guildmaster Dorn like she's about to stab him through the counter.

"No authorized personnel, huh?" I ask, still grinning. "So, nobody can go in ahead and sweep the traps for me?"

"That's correct. If you want the Smoldering Glass Crucible, you're on your own. It's a full solo-clear. If you die, the Guild will send a team to retrieve your corpse."

The Guildmaster Dorn smiles like he thinks I'm about to back down. The crowd is already buzzing, and I see Mira's eyes flick between me and the Dungeon list.

"Leonard," I say to the noble guy who challenged me before. "Give me the money while we're at it. I'll need it, I think."

"You're accepting?" the Guildmaster Dorn smiles.

Felisia steps closer, lowering her voice so only I can hear. "Jacob, the Crucible isn't like the Hollow. Nobody's run it in months. There are at least three trap arrays that even Gold-ranked adventurers avoid. And the golems on the fourth and fifth floors are not just Silver-ranked. They're Elite. I wouldn't do that myself!"

I nod, pretending to listen. "That's why it's worth it," I reply, voice even. "The Meditation Skill Crystal is there. The golems drop Glass Cores—which are used in Alchemy—and rune starters. If I survive, I'll have enough money to get ready for the Sky Hunt. Don't worry. I got this."

"I see you've made up your mind," the Guildmaster Dorn says.

She stares at me, not convinced.

I take the permit from the Guildmaster Dorn and tuck it into my belt.

"Is there anything else I need to sign? Any waivers? Last wishes?"

"No," the Guildmaster Dorn says, barely hiding his anticipation. "Just step through the portal south of Clearwater. I'll arrange for a guide to show you the place. Once you enter, however, you can't leave until you reach the exit or die."

"Jacob! We usually have a Knight sweep it! Don't do this!"

"Young man, the Smoldering Glass Crucible is a Dungeon that many wait months, if not years, to enter. Its rewards are great and it still contains many secrets. You might lose your life, but consider the type of rewards you might get."

"Rewards?" I smile.

"The Smoldering Glass Crucible," an adventurer intercepts the conversation by the side, not happy with the Guildmaster and trying to make a point, "is an Elite Dungeon. Those are rare. There are barely a handful in Clearwater. These are higher, more powerful versions of a normal Dungeon. The monsters are stronger, but you get more experience. Much more experience. You get rarer materials from them and the Skills are much more likely to drop. However, kid, the traps are no joke. To make sure no one dies at the first sweep, it takes a Platinum-ranked Knight with Platinum-ranked Trap mastery. You'll see arrays and small formations. They'll be not exceedingly strong, but they'll be beyond anything you'll be able to take. I advise you not to do this."

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Guildmaster Dorn seems displeased at that.

Before the man can reprimand the Adventurer, I just smile.

"You said the entrance would be how much?"

"Five hundred Platinums. It can be completed only thrice a year. And the first sweep usually goes to a Knight, as the gentleman just said. So, that leaves two runs. Nobles bid for this from afar and make the trip for it. A great talent on the verge of Bronze Rank could break through Silver Rank from this Dungeon alone. Some go even higher. And since it's still not fully clean, there are still rewards to be reaped."

"Sounds good, then. Perfect, I'd say," I raise a thumb. "Anything else or can we go?"

The whole Guild starts murmuring, and more than a few adventurers step outside, probably to place bets.

"Don't worry," I say, giving her a small smile. "I'll be back. With Meditation. And more."

She doesn't look convinced, but she lets me go.

* * *

The guide the Guildmaster Dorn assigns me turns out to be a bored-looking apprentice in a threadbare cloak. He gives me a map that's half warnings and half scribbles, and he barely meets my eyes while rattling off the standard speech.

"Stay on the blue-lit paths. Don't touch the crimson crystals. If the glass golems start singing, you run. The Crucible is a special, Elite Dungeon that can't be exited unless it's cleared. Are you sure—"

"I'm sure," I say, smiling at the guy.

He rightfully thinks I'm going to die there. It's a reasonable concern, honestly. If I didn't have the Grimoire, I'd never attempt anything like this.

A Dungeon that shuts itself off behind you?

But Felisia is Silver Rank and I only have three weeks before the Sky Hunt.

This is the perfect way of getting stronger in the least amount of time possible. I'll be taking risks, but now that I have a Class, it's just a matter of leveling up.

"Right," I say, already rolling the map and tucking it into my jacket. "Anything useful, or is this all I'm getting?"

He shrugs, too jaded for his age.

"Just one thing—if you see a silver reflection in the floor that doesn't match your movement, break it. That's how the mimic shades hunt. There's usually only one per run, but sometimes there's two. If you break it before it moves, you're safe. If not, it'll try to drag you under and suffocate you."

"Got it." I offer him a nod. "Thanks."

He unlocks the entrance gate to the cage that contains the Dungeon and then is already walking away, not bothering to see if I understood. The only thing that really matters is the location of the entrance—a huge, twisting spire of glass half-buried in the hills south of Clearwater, surrounded by a massive cage. It has many warnings posted, but a handful of gawkers and low-level adventurers are already circling when I get there.

"You're sure you want to do this?" She's standing a few paces back, arms folded tight. I can see real fear in her eyes for the first time.

"It's now or never. If I'm going to catch up for the Sky Hunt, I need this."

"Young Jacob," Sir Greyson said. "Be careful. I know you trust your abilities. Just… be careful."

"I shall," I wink at both of them and walk straight toward the portal in front of the giant glass spire.

I take a deep breath, and I stop in front of it.

In another life, I'd be scared.

But I've come here from a mine, from a town everyone calls Shit's Creek.

I might die here, who knows?

But if I die, I'll die much closer to my dream than I've ever been.

One day, I'll be a Knight.

The strongest Knight to ever exist.

This is just the start.

This is just the beginning of my Legend.

I step into the portal, and everything goes black.