A few minutes later, Lex arrived at the market. The place bustled with noise and activities. Even at this time of the night, it was densely packed with people. Stalls lined side by side; sellers shouted over each other, advertising their goods. The air was thick with the smell of spice and sweat. Meat sizzled in oily pans, and fried chicken brought a satisfying aroma.Lex joyfully walked into the market, merging with the dense crowd. His shoulders brushed the pedestrians as he walked by. A few minutes later, he arrived at a food stall, tucked tightly between two closed boutique shops. A bunch of tables were laid around the stall. Seating at a particular table was a bunch of high school students, chattering endlessly. A high school was not too far from the market, so it was usually filled with final-year students who were allowed to roam free at night."Lex!" "Long time no see," a woman who was around her mid-fifties spoke, a warm smile crossing her face. The warmth matched that of the

For thousands of years, the magical world of Aetheria stood strong, its land vast in an unending expanse could be varied as dozens of Earth joined together. It was ruled solely by the immortal emperor Gregor, who remained on the throne for centuries.During his reign, the world of Aetheria was invaded by evil magic beasts who arose from dungeons through portals, seeking only destruction and chaos. The death of Gregor in the peak of battle and sorrowful cry of the inhabitants of the land awoke the great primordial dragon, Zordon.Zordon empowered them to fight back, resorting in the awakening of mages, magical knights, and adventurers. It also created an onyx core with the ability to seal the portals immediately they appeared. Only if the seal was totally broken or the dungeon within cleared, there was no way out. After these, Zordon then went back to sleep.Since then, the world of Aetheria was ruled by various nobles who comprised the great three sets of warriors awakened by the dr

I have a request of mine too, Elle continued."A request?" Lex thought to himself, "what could it possibly be?"'Ask on, your highness," Lex spoke as he stole a glance of the noble's daughter; she was even more perfect than he had described in the story, she seemed stunned as she also got a clear look of his face.Elle then cleared her throat as she spoke, "I would like you to join the ongoing lower hand quest in the city of Greyl."Lex's face went blank; that was the least of his expectations.The noble's daughter had just indirectly asked him on what he would have called an earthly date, but through strenuous and dangerous means.The lower hand quest was a quest which could be tried by every man in the city or even beyond the city of Greyl, whether with the ability of a knight or not; that included servants like Lex.The competition involved going on various raids to dangerous dungeons and surviving in each; after the last raid, which would be the most dangerous, each of the knights

They were three large holes, dug through the ragged wall, a faint glimmer reflecting from each.Kate closed her eyes, sniffing through the holes."What do you sense, Kate?" Asked Lex."They're all filled with various crystalline rocks along with other treasures. Which should we go then?""None are safe; they are all teeming with monsters.""Wait here," interrupted Dane, "I'll go through the one on the left; when I'm done slaying the remaining goblins, you can all join, and mine."Each of the prisoners accepted.Except Elle, who had a mischievous smirk attached to her face.Lex watched the green armoured knight enter into the hole on the left.From the decision Dane took, it was obvious he didn't have a lot of experience with dungeons; if a dungeon never collapsed, it meant somewhere within, the boss of the dungeon was still alive."System?" Echoed Lex in his mind.{Yes host} The mechanical voice of the system answered."I know it's not a total part of your programming, but in order f

Lex slowly got out of the pond with the help of the green armoured knight; he hit the ground, shivering; his body stained with blood from top to bottom; an evil darting smile carved across his well-shaped face; he defeated the boss.{Congratulations!}{You defeated the blood lust Qalupalik!}{Job change quest accomplished}{Job change in procedure...}Lex turned to the side, shocked to see Kate laid directly beside him."What happened?" He asked Dane, quite agitated."She's gone," Dane spoke, shaking his head to and fro."That's all you ever do!" Snarled Lex as he positioned Kate well on his laps.He then felt her chest; Dane wasn't wrong about her being dead; he couldn't feel her heartbeat again!"This cannot be possible," thought Lex in his mind; "system, is there any way you could help me?""System?" Dane asked, confused.The system was silent for a second, then.. {Donate mana stones for an elixir of restoration.} The mechanical voice of the system answered plainly."How many do I