Chapter 102: S-CLASS DUNGEONS

After breakfast, Rowan and Logan remained on the terrace for a while before heading to the library.

The palace halls were calm, but others’ presence could be felt. Their footsteps echoed softly as they passed a few guards and servants. After a short walk, they reached the library and stepped inside.

Like yesterday, Logan pulled out a chair and sat down.

Rowan marched toward the shelves and started selecting books for Logan.

Then, placing the books Rowan kept selecting on the table, Logan began reading. And soon, he again lost himself in those history books. It couldn’t be helped. It was like a thirsty person gulping down water. Each sentence, each para was like a revelation. The more he read, the more his eyes narrowed.

Cultivation was already lost within the first two hundred years after the dungeons first started to appear. Not a single one of them was left who practiced martial arts, cultivation. With cultivation gone, people started relying on magic instead. It was easier, more welcoming, no physical hardship.

And these dungeons? They all weren’t the same.

There were six types of dungeons. Starting from F-Class as the lowest, the ranking progresses through E, D, C, B, and A-Class, with S-Class being the strongest.

Since the emergence of dungeons, not a single S-class dungeon had ever been cleared. Who ever went inside, never returned again. And the more the S class dungeons kept appearing, the more the quality of the mages continued declining. In the beginning, the environment was filled with enormous amount of mana like an ocean brimming with water, when the dungeons first started appearing. But with passing time, as S-class dungeons kept appearing, the mana continued decreasing. Many began to notice these connections, but no one could explain why it was happening.

Then there were the A class dungeons. In the beginning these dungeons were difficult to be cleared but still not impossible. But now! Even they are as hard as those S class dungeons.

The more S-class and A-class dungeons kept appearing, the more territory kept shrinking. Because hunters were unable to clear them and reclaim their territory. Compared to the dawn of mankind, humanity is left with only sixty four percent of total usable lands. Remaining thirty six percent is overrun by dungeons.

If it continues, within another five hundred years, all territory will be lost.

Logan didn’t find anything else about his past self or about Nolan. Only that one book mentioned their history, which Logan had picked up by chance.

He didn’t find any information about why the dungeon monsters had spiritual energy either. There was nothing mentioned about these.

Rowan was picking up one book at a time, then going through it a bit to decide if Logan should read it. If yes, he would keep it beside Logan. If not then keep it back in its previous position and go for the next one.

This continued for hours. And neither of them had any track of time.

Logan kept reading and reading but found nothing new and his frustration started to grow.

Suddenly… Rowan yelped.

“Look at this.” He brought a book to Logan.

“THE FALL OF THE STRONGEST.”

Logan slowly picked it up from his hand.

Then turned the cover page.

“The last man at the peak of cultivation: Nolan Ashborn.”

Logan’s hand trembled slightly, but he kept turning the pages.

“Nolan Ashborn….when the dungeons first appeared, he was 273 years old. Martial emperor was a realm that denied age restrictions. He was 273 years old but still looked like a man in his early forties and was hailed as the saviour of mankind until he decided to go inside a dungeon. It was 3 years after the 1st dungeon appeared. The dungeon he went in was a S-class dungeon. He went inside but didn’t come back again. His companions waited outside for months. But he still didn’t come back. No one knew what happened to him. Everyone believed he was dead.”

Logan continued reading the book for almost two hours.

After handing the book to Logan, Rowan had again started selecting books but he would steal a glance at Logan from time to time. Because he could tell that the book had crucial information.

And he wanted to confirm it from Logan. Maybe this would help them understand the course of history.

Finally Logan finished reading the book and closed it with a light click.

Noticing this, Rowan walked toward him.

“Did you find out why body strengthening ceased to exist? And why magic keeps declining?” He asked with eager anticipation.

But Logan was still in his thoughts.

“I must go inside the dungeons. Only then can I find my answers.” Being lost in his own thoughts he whispered, not even realising that Rowan was calling out to him.

“Logan,” Rowan shook him gently and called again.

“Huh!” Finally Logan snapped back to reality, like waking up from a dream.

“Did you find out the answers?” Rowan asked again.

“No, not what we needed to know.” Logan replied.

Though Nolan’s information was crucial to him, it won’t satisfy Rowan’s curiosity. Because this is not what they were looking for. And he couldn’t tell Rowan about him being reincarnated either.

“Oh!” Rowan said with sigh. Like he just woke up from a good dream with regrets. He was expecting some answers this time. But it’s not like he could control the flow of nature. Every event has its time.

Pushing aside his disappointment, Rowan suggested, “Let’s leave for lunch break. We will again continue after lunch.”

“I won’t be coming back.” Logan then paused for a bit before continuing again, “these books only contain the records of events. Not why or how. If we want our answers then we must….” He paused and didn’t finish his sentence.

“We must?” Rowan asked with anticipation.

Logan didn’t answer right away. His gaze drifted to the window.

“To know the actual truth, I think we have to go inside the dungeons. That’s the only place our answers are buried.” Logan explained.

“Go inside dungeons?” Rowan was shocked.

“Yes. But not the lower ones. I think, we will only find our answers in S-class dungeons.” Logan finally dropped a bombshell.

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