Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

"It's weird seeing him so psyched up right after suffering those life threatening injuries. If it was me, I would need weeks or even months to get over that experience" Wyot added teasingly as he drank the ale from his mug.

"This is not a laughing matter Wyot, Blake almost died" Frida reproved "You should listen to me and get some more rest"…

"What do you mean, there is such a good party going over here. You want me to miss this?" Blake continued gobbling one food after another as if making up for all the nutrients his body lost during the previous fight.

"Haha, well said Blake, as adventurers how can we miss a banquet? Today let us drink and eat to our heart's content" Wyot raised his glass for toast.

"Sigh, these people" Sighing inwardly, Frida turned towards Cynthia and asked, "Your Highness as you can see they are like this and full of energy. I don't think they are gonna stop anytime soon. Anyways, where is that little girl? She saved Blake, I never properly thanked her".

After healing Blake, it was as if she had disappeared, she was nowhere to be found in the tower town.

"You mean Miss Maybell? She is somewhere around here, but since she doesn't like parties like this, I doubt you will find her inside" Cynthia answered "You can thank her when you meet her again"…

TREMBLE…

Just as she finished her words, the ground started trembling intensely. The shocks were so violent that the entire building creaked with small cracks appearing around the walls.

"Another earthquake? What is going on with the Tower Town? Don't tell me it's another catastrophe class monster?!!"…

"You idiot how can there be another catastrophe class monster? do you think monsters of such anomalous power grow on trees? If there was another one, wouldn't the town be destroyed already?"…

"Look outside, it's not an earthquake, the shocks are coming from the tower"…

At this moment, if one bobbed their head outside the window, they would be able to witness a phenomenal scene that an average human would be incapable of witnessing in their entire lifetime. A spectacle that defied the boundaries of the ordinary.

Outside, a colossal column of mystical energy surged from the very depths of the tower. It rose with an otherworldly brilliance, racing toward the heavens.

The mystical energy carried an ethereal glow, creating an aurora effect that painted the sky with brilliant colours. The sheer magnitude of this magical display left onlookers breathless, the ordinary facade of their town transformed into a realm of wonder.

It was a moment that transcended the mundane, an event that etched itself into the collective memory of the tower town, making them unable to forget it in their lifetime.

"Woah, what the hell, it's beautiful… but it's coming from the tower" A few people pointed at the distant tower, confused by the new event.

"Ah!! I remember now, I witnessed it before too. Though this time, the scale is on a whole another level" One of the adventurers inside the association muttered remembering something.

"What do you mean you witnessed it before? Is something like that normal here? Tell us what you know?"

On the insistence of the other adventurers, the man who opened his mouth earlier, explained.

"Everyone, calm down, this phenomenon has occurred in the tower town before too. It's nothing serious"…

"How can you say that after all the things that happened recently?"…

"It's because nothing happened the last time too. From what we have investigated at that time, we came to the conclusion that it is a phenomenon that occurs when a dungeon ranks up".

This was not the first time that something like this had occurred in the tower town, people who were the denizens of the town since way back had already witnessed such a scene before.

Nevertheless, that is not important right now.

"Did you just this phenomenon was the indication of the dungeon ranking up?" Blake walked out from amidst the crowd and questioned the man.

Seeing that it was one of the heroes who saved the town who asked the question, the man became a little nervous. However, he still replied honestly.

"Oi.. Oi… wait a second there, didn't you say that you witnessed a similar scene before too? Are you saying that in just the span of a few years, the dungeon ranked up twice?!!"

It was only after Wyot pointed it out, did the adventurers finally realised the seriousness of the matter. It was commonly known that a dungeon requires dozens if not hundreds of years to increase in rank.

It was not just the matter of climbing up an alphabet, the evolution of a dungeon was a slow and arduous process that required a vast accumulation of mystical energy, various esoterical conditions and a long gruelling period of time.

Even the Adventurer's Association was unaware of the exact conditions needed for a dungeon to rank up. Nevertheless, what was known was that the conditions were extremely rough and usually require a long period of time.

The higher the rank of the dungeon, the more true the case was. It was for this reason that many low ranking dungeons gets conquered before they even have the chance to become an intermediate ranking one.

But this… the Dungeon Laplace not only deviated from all the norms but was even ranking up at a speed that was utterly ridiculous to say no less.

"Isn't dungeon Laplace already a [C] rank intermediate tier dungeon? Since it's going through an increase in rank, doesn't it mean that it is about to become a [B] rank" Blake commented, staring at the tower and the dungeon underneath with solemn eyes.

At the mention of [B] rank, the entire hall became silent. What did it mean for a dungeon to be ranked as such? A [B[ ranking dungeon, even if one searched the entire Demon Continent, one wouldn't find that many dungeons that have actually reached that rank.

Once a dungeon becomes a [B] ranking dungeon, it means that it has reached the peak of the intermediate tier and has become a force in the world that couldn't be ignored. Not only it marked a significant increase in challenge and opportunity for adventurers, it also signified the increase in strength, complexity and dangers of the trials in the dungeon.

Even though [B] rank still falls in the category of the intermediate tier, there was a vast difference between a [B] and [C] ranking dungeon.

The monsters within a [B]-rank dungeon are notably stronger and more cunning. Their abilities are more diverse, requiring adventurers to adapt and strategize their tactics effectively.

The traps and puzzles within such a dungeon are more intricate, demanding a higher level of intellect and skill to navigate. Not only that, [B]-rank dungeons are known to house more valuable treasures, rare artifacts, and magical items. The risks are greater, but so are the potential rewards.

It may also contain unique resources or materials that are highly sought after in the wider world like Mythril, Adamantium and such.

Adventurers, who can successfully stir through the trails of a [B] ranking dungeon and clear floors gain a reputation that surpasses those who have only faced lower-ranked challenges. It's a testament to their growing prowess.

The clearance of floors of such dungeons becomes a rite of passage for many aspiring adventurers, a mark that they are ready to face the tougher realms.

Then there was the factor of environment and size. [B]-rank dungeons often exhibit a broader range of environments, from expansive caverns to enchanted forests within their confines.

This diversity challenges adventurers to adapt to various terrains and conditions. The size of each floors are also many times larger, causing adventurers to explore deeper and uncover hidden secrets. This expansion of territory makes mapping and navigation more complex.

Talking about advanced magical phenomenons, starting from [B] rank, dungeons show magical anomalies such as temporal distortions elemental anomalies, or zones with heightened magical influences, distortions that were absent in [C] and lower ranking dungeons.

That was not all, [B] ranking dungeon was said to be the gateway to lure Rankers. It was generally known that Rankers usually dive in dungeons [B] rank or above as the lower ranking dungeon did not have much appeal or challenge for them.

Now that the Dungeon of the Tower Town has become a [B] rank, soon this place would start attracting more and more rankers.

Laplace will have more political significance in the wider world with kingdoms and factions vying for control or seek alliances to harness the dungeon's resources.

Whatever the case was, everybody was certain about one thing, the tower town was going to see some significant change in the coming months.

"I guess I can't allow myself to get left behind" Blake clenched his hands in resolve.

As surprising as the event might seem, he had already known that the Dungeon Lapalce wasn't ordinary. Even when it was a low ranking dungeon, it displayed the propensities and characteristics of higher ranks.

Thinking that way, it was easier for Blake to accept the improbable notion that the dungeon was increasing in rank at an utterly baffling speed. In any case, he was an adventurer. His blood boiled in excitement just thinking about the trials and challenges lying in wait in the dungeon.

While the adventurers were looking at the tower with all kinds of dumbfounded expressions, Cynthia's attention was distracted by something else. Her eyes were blank as she dazedly looked at the space.

In front of her, appeared a screen that she had never encountered before.