[Year 33]

  As Hadro observed the world through the eyes of his believers, he noticed something unexpected: some of them were colorblind. It was a detail he had never considered before. Intrigued, he turned his attention to Kavo, wondering how far the young doctor had progressed in his studies.

  When Hadro checked on Kavo, he found the doctor in the middle of a mischievous lecture with his students. Kavo’s cackle echoed through the room as he pointed at a lumpy stool in front of a grimacing student.

  “This stool comes from one of our Ikkins. See that yellowish color? That’s pus. The Ikkin died a few days later.”

  The students around Kavo adopted sorrowful expressions. “It’s a shame the death was recent, so the mummification process is still ongoing. If some of you are still around forty years from now, you might be lucky enough to diagnose the poor Ikkin. The suspected cause of death is an upset stomach, though I’m not entirely sure. I suspect a hole in the stomach or intestines.”

  Hadro phased out of Kavo’s lecture and checked if the doctor had any pending quests. To his surprise, Kavo had already completed all his weekly and daily quests. The man was nothing if not dedicated to his work.

  Reflecting on Kavo’s memories, Hadro noted the doctor’s extensive knowledge of poisons, medicines, diseases, and even some understanding of bodily functions. Kavo had a particular fascination with bodies—not just human bodies, but all kinds. For now, though, his focus seemed to be on human anatomy.

  However, obtaining human specimens was a challenge. In Foreline, it was tradition to bury the dead with a sapling or seed, symbolizing the return of what had been taken from the earth. As a result, Kavo had limited access to bodies for study.

  Despite this, Kavo maintained high standards of hygiene. After examining the stools, he placed them in containers, washed his hands with running water, and applied alcohol to disinfect them.

  “Clean up, students! I have assignments for all of you!” Kavo announced.

  The students didn’t react with enthusiasm. Instead, they looked defeated as they filed out of the laboratory. Outside, they crossed paths with Mari’s students, who were brimming with excitement.

  “I can’t believe how easy these theories are!” one of them chirped.

  Hadro could see the envy in the med students’ eyes.

  “Oh, and don’t forget!” Kavo called after them. “You’ll need to bring your own stool samples for examination tomorrow!”

  Kavo giggled as his students trudged away, their faces filled with resignation. “We have another tool here, inspired by Mari’s telescope—the microscope! Ta-da! Don’t ask me how it works; that’s Mari’s specialty. Something about compound lenses. Anyway, don’t forget your assignments! Now, let’s talk about microorganisms!”

  As Kavo led the students to the microscope, Hadro finalized the quest he had been preparing for the doctor.

  **[Identify Physical Conditions]**

  Identify at least five different physical conditions, disorders, or traits.

  **Rewards:** [Intuitive Deep Diagnosis F+]

  When Kavo received the quest, his eyes widened with excitement. He quickly regained his composure and coughed, continuing his lecture. “This is the bacteria we found in our river…”

  Hadro left Kavo to his work and turned his attention elsewhere. However, as he did, he sensed something unusual on the West Coast—a faint, foreign presence. Intrigued, he decided to investigate.

  Since Hadro’s physical form was still being reshaped by his energy, he relied on his believers to act on his behalf. Garuk was still recovering, Shavik was out hunting, and Arkum was buried in paperwork. That left Arkum as the best candidate for the task.

  Arkum was shuffling through papers, sniffling as he reviewed the expenses for equipment and maintenance costs. Suddenly, his system panel opened before him, displaying a new quest.

  Arkum’s reaction was immediate. He set down the papers, grabbed his spear from its stand, and rushed out of his office. His officer, standing guard outside, looked at him in surprise.

  “Alvon?” the officer asked.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “I’ve received a quest,” Arkum replied. “We’re heading to the West Coast. Inform the Consuls.”

  Traveling west from Foreline meant crossing the Demon Forest and navigating a long, treacherous ridge that stretched from south to north. The journey would require significant effort, but Arkum was determined.

  The officer nodded and relayed the message to the Consuls. The administrative process was smooth, thanks to the efficiency of the Consuls, who had been working tirelessly since Eldoria’s founding. They had handled countless administrative tasks and bureaucratic challenges, and this expedition was no exception.

  Once the green light was given, Arkum’s expedition set out. It took several weeks to cross the Demon Forest, where an outpost had been established to monitor for Dungeon Overloads and harvest materials. The real challenge lay ahead: carving a path through the mountainous ridge.

  “Can we even do this?” one of the officers asked.

  “Since it’s a quest from our Patron God, the elves have eagerly joined us,” another replied.

  Elven geomancers had volunteered to assist, driven by their devotion to Hadro. Their expertise proved invaluable as they worked alongside human builders to create a wide tunnel capable of accommodating carriages.

  “Damn these mountains,” one of the builders muttered. “They’re enormous! I don’t know what we’d do without the elves.”

  “Brother, just admit you’re in love with one of them,” another teased.

  Arkum ignored the banter and focused on the ridge. It stretched endlessly in both directions, dwarfing even the mountains he had encountered in the east. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back, gripping his spear tightly.

  The initiates watched in awe as Arkum sprinted toward the ridge and leaped into the air. He soared higher than any of them could, his heart pounding with exhilaration. As he neared the ridge, he oriented himself and began running vertically up the jagged rocks and mossy cliffs.

  The cold air bit at his skin, but it barely affected him. When he reached the summit, he paused to take in the view. On the other side of the ridge lay an ocean unlike any he had seen before. The Marshlands’ rivers connected to a rocky, grassy coastline, but this ocean was bordered by golden sands reminiscent of the northern deserts.

  “Is this what you wanted us to discover, my lord?” Arkum whispered.

  After surveying the area, Arkum decided it was time to descend. A tug in his mind urged him to act without hesitation. Smirking, he muttered, “Right. If a monster can’t kill me, what can this mountain do?”

  With that, he jumped. His descent was swift and powerful, his feet skidding down the slope as his hands dug into the earth, spraying dirt and rocks everywhere. When he reached the bottom, he landed with a thud, creating a small crater beneath him.

  Arkum groaned, though more from satisfaction than pain. Dusting off his hands, which bore no injuries, he walked back to the tunnel.

  ---

  Meanwhile, an elf named Shazu stood before a group of teenagers dressed for battle. “Listen up!” he barked. “The reason you’re all here today is that you were rejected by Alpine.”

  Shazu turned sharply and paced in front of the group. “This program is your chance to prove yourselves.”

  The teenagers stood at attention, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. They had been rejected by Alpine, an organization modeled after the Spartan traditions described in Odigosgraphy, a book written by their Patron God. While families of Alpine recruits were honored, those who were rejected—or women who aspired to fight—were left without a path.

  Recognizing this, the Consuls had established a new military organization: the Legion. Unlike Alpine, the Legion welcomed those who had been overlooked, including female hunters and warriors from the elven and orc communities. The Legion’s standards were high, as its members would delve into dungeons filled with deadly monsters.

  “Now, captains, step forward!” Shazu commanded. “You’ll choose which dungeon you’ll be assigned to.”

  Three teenagers stepped up and selected sticks from Shazu’s hand. “This will be your first supervised delve,” Shazu explained. He gestured to three supervisors—an orc and two humans, one of whom was Rei. “They’ll guide you. Go.”

  The teenagers followed their captains to their respective supervisors. Rei, an Initiate of Alpine, felt the weight of responsibility as the young recruits looked at him with admiration. He was determined to ensure their safety and success.

  One of the captains, an orc named Luna, approached Rei with a bright smile. “Hello! I’m Luna. It’s nice to meet you!”

  Rei bowed slightly. “I’m Rei. The pleasure is mine. I hope you and your Legionnaires are prepared.”

  “Of course!” Luna replied enthusiastically.

  “Good. In a few hours, I’ll guide you to the Scorn Dungeon.”

  After a few hours, they finally traveled towards the dungeon. The monsters of Scorn were well-known to everyone, especially after the last Dungeon Overload had unleashed hordes of them into the Demon Forest. These creatures were either swarms of smaller, relentless foes or single, formidable monsters that were notoriously difficult to deal with.

  As Rei led the group deeper into the dungeon, Luna, the captain of the Legionnaires, seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation with him.

  “Rei! Uhm, what should I—” she began.

  “You may call me Supervisor,” Rei interrupted, his tone serious. He never underestimated the dangers of a dungeon, and this was no time for casual chatter.

  Rei hadn’t been born during the last Dungeon Overload, but his mother’s stories had left a lasting impression on him. Scorn monsters were the most common threats in the Demon Forest, and while Rei didn’t harbor any personal animosity toward them, he knew better than to take them lightly.

  “Supervisor, I’m just curious—what is Alpine like?” Luna asked, undeterred by his stern demeanor.

  “You mean what it’s like to live there?” Rei clarified.

  Luna nodded eagerly, and her peers leaned in, equally curious.

  “Focus on your surroundings!” Rei suddenly barked, causing the Legionnaires to jump and hastily scan the area. He sighed, his expression softening slightly. “You can ask questions, but never let your guard down.”

  Luna flushed with embarrassment but remained determined. Rei relented and answered her question. “It’s filled with training, day in and day out. But the places I’ve been to make it all worth it. The northern deserts, teeming with scaled monsters, are harsh but beautiful. And the view of the ocean from the plateau is breathtaking.”

  Rei struggled to find more words to describe his experiences, eventually shrugging. For Luna, though, his brief explanation was enough to spark a sense of envy and admiration.

  “Supervisor, do you think I’ll ever get to go there someday?” Luna asked, her voice tinged with hope.

  “There will be times when the Legion and Alpine conduct joint operations,” Rei replied. “I’m sure you’ll get your chance.”

  Luna’s eyes lit up with determination. Rei’s words filled her with a renewed sense of purpose, and she was more eager than ever to prove herself.

  After a few more hours of travel, they reached the dungeon’s entrance. Rei stared at it with an impassive gaze, his grip tightening on his spear. The entrance was a steep slope leading downward, with a rope staircase installed for those who needed to climb back up.

  “Be careful on your descent,” Rei warned.

  Without hesitation, Rei slid down the slope, landing gracefully at the bottom. He waited for the others to follow, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.