Inside a bathouse, many people are seen. From civilians to the Adventurers, in the midst of stress relief from the steam made from devices developed long ago.
"Nothing like a good bath to soothe the nerves." A large, elegant bathhouse is seen, and many from across the world come and go to experience these delights. It just so happens that in the Castalix Kingdom that this one was a more advanced bathhouse in terms of features. Using a little mana, you can increase the temperature or decrease it, and there are always attendants, an amazing atmosphere, and plant life all around. Books too are present, including a play area for the kids, including many delights such as fruits and even, if you pay the extra fee, a nice drink to calm the nerves.
"..." Ashter thinks on the battles in that dungeon... It was extremely tough, as usual, he's assigned normal dungeons with cave-like structures on the inside...
"Mr. Janus," Ashter calls for him, the muscular man perks up to see him,
"Yeah?" Janus responds,
"Why did that dungeon look so different from dungeons that can be completed on your own?" He wondered, this is the first experience of a "Field Dungeon" after all. External or internal ones at that.
"... Difficulty. As you know, the quest boards are very organized and show the difficulty and requirements based on your party members, class, and your capabilities. Since we needed at least five members, Field Dungeons are not only a showcase of how difficult it is, but how important it is for qualified Adventurers like you to be with us. Other dungeons, like the typical ones that are more common, can be easily navigated by a single person, and despite it being C Class, it's easy to defeat because the capabilities of a C Class Adventurer are needed to defeat it. Hence why it's required by only C Class Adventurers to defeat a C Class Field Dungeon. You just can't beat it on your own because it's filled with C Class and the boss is a B Class, or a class above the dungeon's class ranking." Janus hopes he understood,
"... Ah, so that's why." He always wondered why it was difficult. Ashter even thought the dungeon was meant for those of-
"But... If you're stronger by two classes above Field Type Dungeons... You are permitted to enter and clear it out yourself." Janus smirked,
"!!!" Ashter's eyes widened,
"But I suggest you not take dungeons meant for the class that they're classified in," Lukas said, as he crossed his arms, his eyes closed as if meditating.
"Haha, Janus is right. While we're forced to always be in the ones we're classified in. Any more or less will end up getting our licenses revoked." Fran explained, breathing to herself,
"That's how mine was provoked..." She sighed, placing items in her bag,
"You? Your license?" Ashter was surprised, she seems like a responsible woman!
"Hehehe, yeah... I kinda did some illegal raids here and there... Made the guild back in my home kingdom, made... Hehehe..." She laughed to herself, as Ashter didn't know Fran had such a history.
"Much like Fran, we all had our upbringings. For me, I was once a delinquent who used my magic to... Kick some other kid's asses..." Janus chuckled, as Ashter noted,
"... I used to be a guard for a nobleman. Got kicked out after suggesting something to change with the men he hired." Lukas explained,
"... I'll keep to myself if you don't mind," Lola said,
"What about you?" Fran soon asked,
"What did you do before our lovely boss hired you?" She asked, as Fran was like a cat in a human's body.
"... Where can I begin...?"
***
Ashter is seen practicing the sword. His family was filled with wealthy merchants, and they were in the lower ranks of noble houses. The Lake Residence, a family whose ancestry dates back to the elves and the early humans of the Castalix kingdom. When Queen Lowel, the Demigod of Reason's mother, was first building her kingdom, she hired merchants like the Lakes to provide connections and trade for materials. The Lake family took the offer and became well known, but declined and remanded now and then with riches and then to rags once more.
In this current generation, things were different, as the head of the Lakes was pushing babies out like no tomorrow. He had 10 concubines of various races. Humans, beastmen, and elves.
Beastmen are a race similar to how elves came to be. A species emerging from the dungeons, they quickly integrated with the life of humans, and would you know it, the man Ashter has to call father was going at it with MANY beastmen.
His mother was a half elhalf-elfuman. She retained many features from the elves, glowing markings on her skin, but had beautiful pale skin, the markings glow wiglowed pink and purple light, very light in shade yet beautiful nevertheless.
But due to the difficulty for elves to bear children, due to their magical nature conflicting with human DNA, it took a long time. But with thousands of years to live, it wasn't an issue. Soon, she had him, a baby boy with brown skin with barely any glowing marks, prominent of the dilution of genetics and the integration of elvian blood as the generations continue. He had long, pointy ears, almost twice the length of normal ears, and dark brown hair and green eyes. He was essentially the "perfect" human, like an elf, as per all elves, they're complimented for their beauty.
The man wanted him to be the heir of the family, having integrated the "warrior's pride" in their name, having produced a few 10s of Adventurers who reached B Class or lower, respectable power. Ashter hated it and soon left home, where he took on a new life alone.
***
"And that's that." He concludes,
"YOU LITTLE RASCAL!!!" Fran cried as she hugged him,
"That... Wow." Lola was surprised, didn't expect such issues, and the life he lived before.
"So you would've helped the sword... Yet despite all that pritigeous training... You choose to wield magic?" Janus wondered,
"Yeah. Elves are kinda natural at it." He said, pointing at the slightly pointed ears.
"Right." Janus forgot about such a detail.
"Welp, break time's over." Janus gets up, as the group forgot they're in a DESERT.
"We have some cleaning up to do." Some stragglers were running about, due to the shortage of lesser prey...
"Let's get this party started." With a smile, Janus helped his blades... And the group charged into battle.
Many of the stragglers are killed. Their magic crystals drop, the shards being valuable as they are packed with energy. As the group heads further and further into the desert...
"A temple!" Fran noticed it, as a Beast Tame,r she's one with the beast, and her Bond Skill also takes form passively as she has not only enhanced physical capabilities but also the perks of the beasts she tames.
"Wow..." Janus is awed by it. In front of them is a large pyramid-like structure, trees and other plants surrounded an oasis, as Fran smirked,
"You thinking what I am thinking!?!" She wondered,
"No, we don't," Lukas said, as he knew what she was thinking.
"POOL PARTY! COME ON, FIFI!" She called to her Flyhound, either due to her not being able to come up with a name or doing so for no reason. She runs to the waters, as Lola sighed,
"She was always a free spirit. Besides... What better way to cool off than a nice, relaxing spring oasis?" Lola wondered, as she was dying for something to cool herself off.
"..." Janus sighed. he wanted to finish this now, but it seems the group wants to have a nice soak.
Soon, the group is seen in the pool of water. They wore some clothing to cover themselves.
"Does she usually do this?" Ashter asked, curious about her,
"Yep. In fact... Fran of a beastman. Remember how she got her license revoked?" Janus wondered,
"!" Ashter does... It also makes sense! Fran is VERY free-spirited after all, and to be a Beast Tamer, you must be one with your beast.
Normal humans cannot maximize the storage of 5 beasts you can tame, you must be a beast yourself.
"She's a wild one. Once she makes up her mind on something like the dungeons she illegally raided... She can get ahead of herself." Janus explained.
"Three humans, one elf, and one beastman..." Ashter didn't think he would find such a unique set of people. But...
"..." He also thinks he isn't cut out for this kind of life. He hates being held back... The fires he produces... Require a room free of anyone who can get hurt. So he isn't sure if this party is right for-
"!?!" Ashter's face is splashed, his short brown hair now stuck to his head flat and round,
"Don't look so down! The water is great! Come and have fun!" Fran was like a little sister to Lola.
"..." Ashter sighed, as he entertained her wild nature.
Lukas, on the other hand, only dips his feet, his pant legs rolled up to allow it.
"Do you think he's the right fit, Janus?" Lukas wondered, as Janus stared...
"... I don't know." He admits... He has seen tons of Adventurers come and go... But Ashter uses his powers to destroy his enemies, not to fight alongside others strategically.
Who knows if he is more human than he is an elf at this point? After all, humans love to show their true strength, and work alone when given power, they can handle themselves.
Janus was like that, too. His swordsmanship was beyond his family's comprehension. Noblemen want strong sons, and Janus was a firstborn. Ashter was the sibling of over 20 children, all his half-siblings.
"..." Fran, however, reminded him of his little sister. A beastman with bunny-like traits. Her skin was pale, her hair fluffy, and her legs weren't human but resembled a bunny that can walk on two feet. The rest of her body looked human, but her eyes were smaller and rounder. Fran reminded her of-
"Why don't you show your ears and tail, Fran?" Ashter asked,
"Oh..." Fran is surprised to hear that.
"W-Well, you know how it is. We have our reasons, ya know?" Fran seemed a bit worried as Lola looked at Ashter.
"Fran wishes to keep her ears and tail hidden. So please, don't take offense, Mr. Lake." Lola explained, as Ashter had tons to learn... If he agreed to join them...
***
Soon, the group dried themselves off, and eventually, they stood in front of the temple's entrance.
"The Desert Field Dungeon temple..." Janus said, as Ashter focuses...
"... There's one large power... It's the boss, it has to be." He can sense magic more vividly than Lola, but she has a sense like his. Just not as strong.
"Good. Fran, status?" Janus wondered,
"!?!" Fran is shocked,
"I-It's a Necromancer Pharaoh..." She said,
"!?!" Everyone is shocked, even Ashter knew of these things...
Necromancer Pharaoh... One of the strongest B Class monsters... They command an army of the undead... That meant...
"We have 51 monsters to fight," Janus said, as the 50 are risen undead beings. The Necromancer controls them, low C Class to high D Class undead creatures that need the effective help of a Priest to dispel dark magic.
"Damn it...!" Janus knew he should've taken the time to... Nevermind.
"..." Janus and the group aren't sure what to do. The man thinks...
"... We didn't bring any holy water..." He worried, as when they open this door... The Necromancer can escape. But if they don't... Then some other Adventurer can stumble here... This situation is as bad as it could be.
Many possibilities can occur if they leave this place.
"... Alright. Here's the plan." Janus soon huddles everyone over...
***
Deep inside the tomb... The Necromancer Pharaoh sits on a throne... Their body is like a human, but their face is a mask. They're adorned with jewels and blades, longer than a forearm., The Pharaoh was larger, almost ten feet tall. Their eyes glint with red, sensing...
"Humans..." It growls in a unknoann language spoken by monsters. The five entered, Fran stared...
"It spotted us..." With her advanced eyesight, she warned the group.
"Fwoosh..." Fire blazed lightly in Ashter's palm.
"Fire when we see him... Don't let them even think about summoning his army." Janus whispered. As when they are in view...
The Pharaoh gets up, as mana is seen being guided to his hand.
"NOW!" Janus shouts,
"FWOOSH!!!" Fire is shot at the Pharaoh, and an explosion is heard.
"DON'T LET UP!" He shouts, as Ashter fired plenty of fireballs, all hitting their mark, the seemingly endless explosion is seen, as the others covered their eyes from the burning light.
"!!!" Ashter, after a bit, it stopped,
"My mana is at half." He said,
"Let's go, Fifi!" Fran ordered, as the Flyhound dashes over, smelling the Pharaoh...
"RWUF!" It bit the arm of the Pharaoh, as when it lifts its dagger...
"HAH!!!" Fran's nails grew longer, a natural perk of the beastmen, as the Pharaoh dropped its dagger.
"Let's help Fran!" Janus shouts, as Lukas nods, rushing in, Lukas brings out his axe as Janus brings out his twin blades, rushing at the beast, the Necromancer's eyes squint a bit, as...
"BAM!" Wacked to the side, the Pharaoh's body shoots near the walls of the pyramid. But...
"!" A flaming arrow hits the Necromancer. A large explosive attack is seen as the group watches... Unsure if-
"ROOOOAAAAAAA!!!" The Pharaoh was enraged, roaring as a wave of mana overwhelmed the group,
"!?!" Everyone's eyes widened, as if they...
"Hng...!" Ashter raises his hand-
"!!!" The Pharaoh rushed over to him, as...
"RAH!!!!" Lukas shouts, as the Pharaoh's energy shifts as turning around...
"Come at me, you undead bastard!" Lukas ordered, the Taunt skill being used, the Pharaoh grabbed their dagger, which was jagged and snake-like. Rushing to Lukas, the Pharaoh clashed its dagger into the shield,
"Hmph!" Janus slashed at the beast, but the Pharaoh deflected the sword,
"WOOSH!" Lukas slammed his axe, as on one side is the sharpened blade, the other a blunt flat surface.
"Hng!" Lukas grunts, as a sharp pain-
"!!!" His body becomes tinted with...
"POISON!" Lola shouts as a fireball hits the Pharaoh, but it leaps away. Lukas coughed as he hit the floor,
"I got you covered!" Lola wawaveder hand, the magical power rushed and surrounded the wound, purging the poison.
"Hng..." But Lukas was furious. He HATES poison-using bastards!
"You can't keep up with my sword skills, huh, Pharaoh!?!" Janus keeps it occupied, slashing at the Pharaoh, but...
It was the Necromancer who wasn't allowing Janus to hit him. He was using one dagger to block rapid attacks, as...
"Bladestone!" A barrage of slashes crackling like thunder is heard, as...
"!!!" The Pharaoh is cut, as...
"An opening!" Janus soon takes advantage of said opening, finally getting clean hits on the Necromancer.. The masked beast faltered...
"HYAH!!!" And Fran from above, with claws longer than her forearm, rips into the front of the beast. Its blackened blood, like tar, leaks from the torso. Lukas grunts as he lifts his axe-hammer weapon...
"HA!!!!" He slammed it into the head of the beast, killing it.
Everyone breathes for a bit as Fran jumps for joy,
"We beat it! We bested this thing! WOO!!!" Fran said, as the now-named "Fifi" jumped with her. Janus chuckled, as he didn't think they could beat it if it wasn't for Ashter ensuring he didn't use his skill.
If the Pharaoh did... They probably could've left with little to no mana.
"Rwo?" But amongst the corpse of the Pharaoh, its body vanishes... It left behind...
"A necklace?" It left behind a necklace, a ring, and its Magic Crystal.
"Hm..." Janus isn't sure what these do, but...
"Alright! The boss dropped some items! You know what that means, right?" Janus wondered,
"W-What does he mean by that?" Ashter, having been near Lola, she explained...
"When the boss drops items, we have them appraised, and one of us gets to keep them if it aligns with our skills. For example... That shield is a Dwarf boss's shield that, if you use mana, a larger mana-like shield appears in front of it." Lola said, as Ashter nodded, as Fran was excited to finally get some new feed for her beasts. She has 2 (Possible retcon) beasts in the form of her Flyhound, Fifi, and her Swamp Viper.
Lola goes on to heal others of possible injuries. There, the entire place shakes a bit.
"That's our timer. An entire day before the thing collapses." Janus explained, as Ashter nodded. It took about an hour to get here, the blistering sun was not their best friend.
"Let's get going," Janus said, as they wear hats, the group ventures back.
***
"AHHH!!!!" Fran breathes in, letting out a satisfied gasp of air,
"Back home," Janus said, as turning around, the entrance collapsed into stone,
"The dungeon will reconstruct itself and become an entirely new dungeon with a different class ranking. So the Desert Field Dungeon will appear somewhere else... With brand new monsters." Janus explained, as Ashter nodded,
"What about those items?" Ashtewonderser, as Janus grabs it from the nearby, limitless, bottomless pit of the bag he has.
"..." Janus looked at them... And then to Ashter.
"... Ashter Lake. I want to ask you an important question." He said, before...
"Join the Justice Party. We can use a mage as capable as you." He asked, as everyone watched... Ashter stared.
"... I..." He isn't sure how to respond to that...
"..." He thinks for a minute...
***
Ever since he became an Adventurer... His skills were disregarded. He was given little recognition and was scammed plenty of times due to the party in question being made up of melee fighters. They intimidate him... They also threatened him with death itself.
Once monsters are killed off, the dungeon will close. They could easily betray him, injure him, and leave him there to be trapped in the dungeon forever.
But once that happened... He will be lost in whatever dimension these things come from... Forever.
"..." Ashter isn't sure-
"We all have a past, Ashter. We won't judge you... But we will also welcome you with open arms... Like how Janus did for all of us." Lola explained...
Fran, a beastwoman who was kicked out of her kingdom for illegal raids... Janus took her under his wing and helped her get back on her feet during their travels.
Lukas, a man who was once a guard for noblemen, nearly got himself killed if it wasn't for Janus buying him out. He taught Lukas the ways of the dungeon, granting him a second chance at life.
Lola, someone who was sold as a prostitute... Who escaped the man who bought him... Janus saved her and reminded her that not all men are horrid human beings...
Janus, who united them together, was once a nobleman with a bright future... Denied such luxury and went on his path...
There stood a choice. Join them... or once again roam as a freelancer or a solo Adventurer... Unable to get the best of what the dungeons can provide...
"... I... I think I need some time to think about it." Ashter explained, surprising Janus.
"... I understand." He said, as...
"If you wish to talk beforehand... We frequent the local bar after our raids." Janus explained, as Ashter nodded, soon leaving with his share of-
"Oh crap..." Ashter stood there selling his share of items...
"I forgot to give them their bag back..."
That issue stuck with him like the decision... Join the Justice Party... or continue to live alone.
What would it be?
What should he choose?
End of chapter 4.