The Awakener Association hid the fact that a wyvern was roaming the Earth. They wanted to keep it a secret until they managed to convince awakeners from major guilds to participate in an exploration of the Bermuda Triangle, searching for the whereabouts of an undetected rift.
Unfortunately, the media sniffed out the facts sooner than they expected.
It all started when a social media user uploaded an image of a dragon-like black shadow in the night sky. Netizens believed that the photo was a fabrication or doctored. Some took it as a joke, and some took it seriously.
However, images and videos capturing similar objects appeared scattered across the internet. People began to worry, thinking a monster was coming out of the rift. However, they didn't hear the dungeon break happen.
It didn't take long for the situation to turn into mass panic. The internet became even more chaotic when some irresponsible people created a hoax that the black shadow was a dragon. Netizens who fell for the lie hit the share button, and the misinformation spread like wildfire.
Leading media outlets took notice of the issue circulating on the internet. They created exaggerated headlines that fueled public panic. Of course, they dragged in the Awakener Association. But this government organization did not give a clear answer.
That was until a video of a wyvern flying in the Florida daytime sky surfaced online. Influencers, content creators, and even national television channel news; were all talking about it. At the same time, hundreds of questions flooded the Awakener Association's emails for not responding to a life-threatening situation.
In the end, the Awakener Association decided not to keep it a secret anymore. The president of the organization, Amanda Carlsen, made a public statement. She admitted that they kept the truth from the public. Also, she talked about the possibility of an orange dungeon in the Bermuda Triangle.
Of course, it sparked public outrage. Condemnation from various parties came to the Awakener Association. To assuage their anger, the Awakener Association immediately formed a task force working to track down the whereabouts of the orange dungeon.
Of the many willing awakeners, around 6000 awakeners from 67 guilds were willing to join the task force. Among them, three were Five Pillars guilds.
Morning Star from New York.
Oathkeeper from Ohio.
And Sunstrike from Colorado.
Klaus and the rest of the product development team worked extra hard because the schedule was pushed forward.
While they were slaving away, Rays of Hope prepared for the search. Justin and the rest of the team increased the intensity of their combat time. Every time a dungeon appeared, they would rush into it and focus on killing the Alpha quickly.
As a result, many awakeners complained that they didn't have time to farm monster cores. They couldn't protest since Rays of Hope held exclusive raid rights in Manhattan.
Suffice it to say, they were busy with work until the day of the search.
...
The Port of Miami, Florida.
The sea breeze blew lightly, carrying the scent of salt that could rust iron, while the waves crashed and seagulls chirped. The soft light of the sun hit the gray concrete yard. The cargoes that used to fill the harbor were gone, replaced by thousands of awakeners ready to set sail.
Today was when the exploration began.
Dozens of white ships lined the docks, waiting for passengers to board them. The awakeners were fully armed, and their expressions were determined. Some were seen briefing, and some were seen sharpening their weapons. They looked ready to explore the Bermuda Triangle.
The awakeners lined up in their respective groups and adjusted according to where they came from. Most had come here under the influence of the Five Pillars. They thought that this raid would go smoothly with their presence.
"I can't believe I'm going on a raid with three of the Five Pillars. It's like a dream." One awakener seemed excited.
"Ah, stop being an admirer. We're no less than them." One of the more senior members reprimanded her.
"Well, that's understandable. She's still very young. I'm sure you are too."
Apart from the guilds, individual awakeners also joined this search. These people joined not because they were interested in saving the city or gaining profits from the dungeon. They attracted the attention of the major guilds.
Dozens of guilds from all over the country gathered in this place, and it became the perfect venue for unlabeled individual awakeners to show off their skills, hoping that some guilds would take a look at them and invite them to join.
Of course, the chances of them joining were very slim, especially for the caliber of the Five Pillars.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, a blonde-haired man in red armor caught the full attention of the awakeners. Dozens of similarly dressed men and women walked behind him. Whispers echoed like flies when these people in red armor crossed the crowd.
"Vincent Thomsen! Morning Star."
"Damn, look at these arrogant bastards. They act like champs."
"Shit, I have to fight well. They'll see my prowess this time. Hehe."
Whether it was praise or spite, they trembled in the air. Of course, Vincent heard it, but the man kept walking without looking at them. They were nothing more than flies flying over food to Vincent. There was no benefit other than ignoring them.
Vincent focused more of their attention on one of the groups of people in white robes and armor. Just like the Morning Star, these people were the center of attention. For 30 minutes, the other awakeners had been talking about them since they had gathered.
Among the dozens of strong men, a stunning subdistrict woman with golden hair flowing like silk looked out over the ocean with a serious look. In her hand was a wooden staff with a large green crystal ball. A strong mystical aura emanated from it. Anyone who saw it would instantly know that it was a Legendary-Class arcana.
As Vincent and his entourage arrived, the woman turned to him with a sharp gaze. Seeing eyes that implied dislike, Vincent widened his lips.
"The Angel of Battle, Elizabeth. Turns out you joined the battle in this raid, huh."
The blonde woman crossed her arms. "Has it become your habit to ask questions that have obvious answers? It's been almost a week since my face appeared on television for this day."
"Well, is that so? Hmm, I don't have much time to watch TV. There's too much nonsense or attention-seeking broadcasts on there." Vincent sighed sarcastically.
Elizabeth was silent in response to the sarcasm, but the handsome man next to her, David, seemed to clearly dislike Vincent.
"If you have no more business, get out of my sight."
Vincent chuckled. "Well, that was rude of you. I was going to say hello."
In the middle of their conversation, a sudden rumble of whispers vibrated the air. Naturally, Vincent and Elizabeth turned their heads, searching for the cause of the noisy awakener.
A group of crewmen in black walked through the crowd. They wore gray hoods and armor that wrapped around their chests. The masks covered all their faces except one in the front row.
He smiled confidently. His long black hair waved when the sea breeze hit it, and the sun tanned his skin. With a confident stride, he approached Vincent and Elizabeth.
Facing two great figures, he smiled.
"You seem close. I thought you hated each other."
Elizabeth snorted, laughing a little sarcastically, while Vincent just grinned.
"Vincent just can't make friends. He hates everyone but himself," Elizabeth quipped.
"Especially Jacob. HAHAHA."
Men laughed loudly when Vincent made a sour face.
"You love to ruin people's moods, Hugo."
Hugo giggled. "Just kidding, Vincent. Come on. We're friends."
Hugo Musgrove was the guild master of the Colorado-based Five Pillars, Sunstrike.
If Morning Star was famous for its semi-military guilds and Oathkeeper for its wealth, Sunstrike was a guild focused on pharmaceuticals. They had twenty factories that made medicines from materials found in the dungeon. They stock and control the market for drugs, including for awakener needs in the dungeon, such as [Potion] or [Ether].
They controlled not only the local market but also the international market. They export tens of tons of medicine every year and earn huge wealth.
But that didn't mean Sunstrike was a weak guild. It had 500 high-class awakeners ready for battle in the dungeon. They were equipped with medicines and potions that provided physical buffs.
However, that was just the beginning.
"It looks like this raid will be a competition between the three of us," said Hugo.
"Yeah, who else is going to match us?" Vincent sighed.
Even though 67 guilds were joining this search, none of them could be on the same level as the Five Pillars. They were too powerful for them to compete with.
At least until another camp came along.
"Hey! Hey! Look at that!"
An awakener shouted amidst the din. They thought nothing else would surprise them before the search, but they were wrong.
A black limousine appeared, and the awakeners were surprised to see the luxury car stop before them. The guild masters of the Five Pillars were no exception.
"What the hell is that?" muttered Elizabeth
Vincent hissed. "What idiot would come at a time like this."
"Looks like a rich man."
The car's back door opened, and a woman in an elegant dress got out. The men watching were mesmerized by her beauty.
"Ugh! Who is she?"
"Damn, she's hot."
"Wow."
A whisper echoed in the air. The woman shook her golden hair, and her lashes waved gently, revealing emerald green eyes.
The woman looked at the surrounding crowd. She could see the leaders of the Five Pillars gathered but ignored them. Her eyes narrowed as if searching for someone in this sea of people.
Not long after, a broad smile bloomed on her face. Waving her hands in the air, she shouted, "Klaus! Joanna!"
