“When attributing a dungeon its rank, four things need to be considered. Monster density. Average monster rank. Environment. Rate of outbreak,” the professor explained. “Monster density and average monster rank are most often than not the defining factors in what rank a dungeon is given, with environment and rate of outbreak taking on a secondary role. An example of that is how the Vultures’ Nest, a dungeon situated in the Dolomites, despite being in outbreak during most of the year, is classified as a D-ranked dungeon.

“As you probably have already guessed, the ranking doesn’t necessarily correspond to a dungeon being more or less perilous to explore. There are many across the world that even if ranked lower cause more deaths than those ranked higher. Take for example Australia. Ever since the entire country turned to a dungeon, many delvers, including even A and S-rankers, have died trying to retake the land. Yet, the Australian dungeon is ranked lower than most dungeons are, as its rank, at least on paper, is E.

“In today’s lesson, we will analyze how a dungeon is assessed, using the Orcs’ Lair’s records on its evaluation to better understand the mechanics behind the procedure. For those who don’t know, the Orcs’ Lair is the name of a dungeon spawned almost ten years ago in our city. It’s currently owned by a consortium of guilds led by the guild Torre, and to this day still hasn’t been conquered. Now, you might be wondering why we are focusing on the Orcs’ Lair and not on a more infamous dungeon. The answer to that question is very simple: the Orcs’ Lair is one of a kind dungeon. Despite having an elevated monster density and the average monster’s rank being C, the dungeon is ranked D. The reason behind that, besides the null rate of outbreak, is the environment.

“The Orcs’ Lair is a subterranean dungeon. Normally such an environment would be considered very dangerous, and it tends to increase the rank of a given dungeon. In its specific case, it’s not. The first part of the Lair is in fact organized in a system of communicating caves, which house monsters whose ranks progressively increase until the deeper regions. The possibility to make an educated guess on what rank the monsters in the following cave will hold makes the Orc’s Lair one of the less dangerous dungeons to explore.”

“Marco,” I heard Franco call from beside me. “Are you in for a delve this afternoon? I was thinking of going to the Great Forest.”

“Yeah, why not,” I told my blond friend before quickly turning back to the professor to keep taking notes.

The course was named Fundamentals on Magic and Dungeons, or FMD in short. It was an international university course of study lasting three years, mandatory for all Awakened. Not attending, or failing to graduate, wasn’t tolerated and would result in the complete sealing of a person’s abilities.

The lesson ended around one p.m. It hadn’t been one of the most interesting so far, but getting to know more about the dungeon I delve in most had been nice.

“Come on,” Franco urged as we vacated the class along with the other students. “We need to hurry. I don’t want to get stuck in the traffic during rush hour.”

“You know we will. You need to get your equipment, and I need to get mine, and both are at our guilds. We will never make it.”

Franco groaned but didn’t argue further. We made for the parking lot sitting just outside the Sapienza—one of the most renowned public universities in Rome—and boarded Franco’s car, the umpteenth iteration of the Italian most symbolic brand and model.

We ended getting stuck in a traffic jam on the roads coasting the Tiber’s shores minutes later the both of us had recovered our equipment, which, albeit not optimal, was better than what I had initially hoped.

Thirty minutes later, Franco drove his car to one of the military checkpoints through which each and every person who had to enter the Great Forest had to pass. After a quick check of our documents and ranks, we were allowed in.

The area around what had once been Villa Doria Pamphilj was deserted as no non-awakened individual was permitted in a 500 metres radius from a dungeon, even if that dungeon was a conquered one. The risk of a monster ‘outbreaking’—wandering outside the zone’s premises—was too high to ignore.

Franco pulled his car to a sidewalk and we vacated the vehicle. We recovered the equipment from the trunk and started getting dressed. Despite I being a mage and Franco being a knight, our equipment was quite similar as we both had a complete set of enchanted leather armour reinforced with metal plates and a Thracian metal helmet to cover our heads.

“Finally given up on those robes?” Franco gloated when he saw my new attire.

I didn’t deign him of an answer. Franco had tried to get me to give up on the standard mage attire—Kevlar enchanted robes—in favor of that of warriors and knights—armor crafted from monster leather and dungeons alloys—since we first delved together. Initially, I had refused him, preferring the lighter set up, but after the meeting with the high orc, I decided to try it out. If Alessandro hadn’t been there, had the monster’s last blow landed, I would have been reduced to patty with only the robes, while with armor, even as light as the one I wore, I may have survived.

“Where are your sword and shield?” I asked him when it became apparent he hadn’t brought either with him.

“I’m training in close-quarter combat,” he said, showing the reinforced knuckles of his metal vambraces. “Mr. Porto says I rely too heavily on those, and that I need to be able to hold my ground even without.”

“You sure it is wise to delve without your weapons when it’s only the two of us?”

“It’ll be fine. I’m competent enough to hold C-ranked monsters at bay, and so are you.”

After Franco closed the car’s trunk, we marched towards the trees marking the confines of the Great Forest. Despite having visited the dungeon twice already, my pulse, knowing the history of the place, sped up. The Great Forest, now one of 47 conquered dungeons across the whole world, had once been an A-ranked dungeon with a tremendous rate of outbreak and four Furiae guarding its core. It was responsible for the destruction of almost a quarter of the city when it first appeared and later on also of the death of two S rankers.