Martyr's Mercy 1 Week Ago

“The time is fast approaching that those of you here will no longer be mere initiates but full-fledged members of the guild. You make this old bear proud to be one of your teachers for these past five months. Before some of you go and get big heads, we have one final test to administer. Now form up in your 5-man teams and prepare to fight.”

Having received their orders from Captain Glint all the initiates started moving, gathering equipment and forming up in their teams. When finished, 10 teams stood before the mighty Bastion, ready and waiting to face his challenge. Teams Dynamo, 8-Bit, Static, Gunnar, and Baxie stood on the first row while Indie, Ex O Pest, Razor Rest, Stumpkin, and Bluster Force stood on the second. While the teams awaited further orders the rest of the Guild’s Instructors arrived and took their places at Glint’s sides.

The young guild members stood ready, eager to prove themselves one final time and finally be granted true admittance to the Adventurer's Guild. Five months of hellish training that pushed them to the breaking point. A few bruises and shattered pride were some of the prices they paid for their education, now in this test they would finally pay in blood.

“Time after time, trial after trial you initiates have shown talent and mettle in your studies! You have faced every challenge we have laid before you and succeeded! There have been times that we have intervened on your behalf when you made a mistake, but for this final trial you will be alone! Only your coordination and practice as a team will save you!”

Glint’s voice carried out over the initiates once again, warm and full of care. Which is why deep down it pained him for he knew what awaited them, and this may be the last time he laid eyes on some of them while they were still alive. The dungeon practical examination kills a few initiates every time it’s held, and Glint felt that this time would be no different. Where 10 teams of five stood tall and proud in the next few hours that number is expected to drop.

“Now then initiates the test is quite simple, to become full-fledged members of the guild you will have to clear the first floor of a dungeon.”

When it was revealed that the final test is an actual dungeon dive without the instructors to help them a lot of the initiates dropped to the ground. Mummering whispers of “Were not ready for this”, “How do they expect us to survive”, and a single “About damn time” were heard, before Alice’s honeyed voice caught everyone's attention...

“Initiates calm yourselves we know some of you may think the guild is cruel for this, but it is not. Like it or hate it the guild cannot afford to have the weak amongst its members. As all of you know there are no dungeons near this city, and none within a week's travel. So instead of an actual dungeon being the location you will be tested in the arena with boss monsters that have been captured by the Slayer Corps. Since this is the first time some of you have heard the name Slayer Corps, I will explain their purpose a little. They are charged with hunting down and either killing or capturing dungeon monsters that grow too powerful for their dungeon to contain. Now let's get ready, the positions in which you will be tested will be decided by drawing lots.”

With Alice’s explanation over and a temporary peace fallen over the initiates they step forward to draw lots and await their positions in the upcoming test. As the final team approached and drew their number a tremor struck the city. It didn’t do much damage as it was a small one but as soon as it passed a stronger tremor hit and another and another. One after another each growing in strength. Screams rang out from the city surrounding the guild building as it was wracked by tremor after tremor. The initiates remained somewhat calm due to their training but their instructors, the ones who trained and taught them to embrace the unknown, were almost crawling on the ground laughing.

“Oh, this is just too good to be true! Either fate has a plan for you, or this is a literal cosmic middle finger to your happiness!” Vasil cackled while holding her sides, tears streaming down her face.

One concerned initiate walked forward on shaking legs and asked. “Instructors, why are you laughing? The city is in the middle of a crisis, we need to do something to help. Surely with your strength you could stop the quakes, right?”

“That we could lad, if this were a normal earthquake, but it isn’t. That’s the reason Vasil here is cracking up so much. What you're seeing and feeling is a new dungeon breaching the surface. That's why we're laughing, it seems as if you all will get a proper final trial after all.”

Instructor Cairbre’s words resonated with the initiates, and many fell to the ground the joy they felt at having to avoid going into a dungeon crushed. But while some despaired others were all too happy with the news. They could prove themselves and put the past four months' training to use.

Another initiate approached the instructors to ask a question but before she could an explosion unlike any they had heard before rocked the entire city sending them to their knees. As some of them stood up their eyes bulged, threatening to spill from their heads at what they saw in the distance. A massive brightly colored tornado had burst from the ground out in the distance and turned the sky into a kaleidoscope of colored lighting and storm clouds as far as the eye could see.

“Magnificent, isn’t it? You never get used to seeing one this close but, it just takes your breath away, right? Haha anyway enough gawking looks like you all get a break, all teams are hereby ordered to practice and return here to the arena in one week when the storm dies down and the dungeon opens. We will begin your final trial then do you understand!”

“YES, WE UNDERSTAND CAPTAIN GLINT SIR!”

Meanwhile out in the Tyrannis Plains

“Well, it seems the information the Dread Fiend gave us 10 years ago was right. The dungeon he brought has finally decided to make an appearance, funny how it almost took 11 years though.”

“Confessor, we have been over this, do not doubt the Dread Fiend, he is a monster that is beyond us and our gods. Besides, this day is of great significance to those who know the truth.”

“But” *THWACK* “ouch.”

“Ah, ah, ah don’t interrupt your elders when they are speaking. As I said, this day is important, and since you don’t know I will shed some light for you. On this day exactly 750,000 years ago Lady Faun Sway struck down Deanbeak the Vile and secured the Belfa Pantheon’s victory. After we celebrated for a full week, which also happens to be the amount of time it takes a breach storm to die down. Still, even for him a dungeon is a very peculiar gift to bestow a world.”

Martyr Roslyn took her time with her explanation. At least she believed she did. It was up to the Confessor to put the oblivious answers together.

“Alright Martyr, so that means the dungeon is an anniversary present for the gods from another god.”

Roslyn smiled happily. I didn’t take the Confessor nearly as long as she thought to put it together. Maybe, just maybe some of her intelligence was finally rubbing off on him.

“Pretty much Confessor.”

“Okay that I can understand but, how do you know so much about what happened back then? I don’t think any of the High Priests know this information so how do you?”

“Easy I was there.”

“How old are you anyway Roslyn?”

The smile vanished from her face at his question. It seems the Confessor still had a lot to learn, and Martyr Roslyn was more than happy to correct his mistake.

“Driver?”

“Yes Mistress?”

“Please stop the carriage for a minute.”

“As you wish.”

Confessor Owen watched Martyr Roslyn wondering why she had ordered their carriage to stop when she was the one to give the order that nothing would slow them down. He didn’t have to wait long before the Martyr’s staff smashed into his head and sent him flying out of the carriage and into the dry sun baked ground of the Tyrannis Plains. Rolling ass over head as he came to a stop 30m away from the carriage. Roslyn stayed in her seat and sang to herself. The now terrified driver nervously asked if he should continue onward, to which she replied “Yes let's go and don’t bother waiting on the Confessor he will catch up on his own. After all, he should know better than to ask a woman her age.”