n

n

n

"What the...why is the orb making noise all suddenly?

" Seeing the orb in the circle, Alon frowned slightly.

nAlon was a young man of the age of 19. He was 1.85 meters tall and had a brown hair color which was commonly seen in the Berum Kingdom.

nHe recently joined the guard post at the cursed lake dungeon. With only 2 years of training, he managed to join the ranks at the guard post in the forest.

nBeing able to join the ranks of the guard post was seen as a relatively high achievement for the common man. After all, joining them means having the ability to fight against the monsters of the dungeon.

nCause of this reason Alon was treated as a rookie with a bright future.

n

"Hey~! Do you guys know why this orb is making such noise?

"

nHearing the voice of Alon, three men with the same armor as Alon which currently were playing cards turned around and taken a look at the orb.

nHearing the orb the three men scorned out loud out of annoyment and continued playing their game.

n

"Forget about it Alon, it´s nothing important to look at. We just finished our game and we need another player, so instant of watching this boring thing come over and join us.

"

nSeeing that Maike, a muscular man in this late 30 calling him out, he scratched his neck awarding and joined them too.

nBeing with men as old as this father made Alon behave awkwardly towards them.

nAlthough he knew that this was a good man. The age differences between these groups were not easy to ignore.

nWith a shy face, he asked.

n

"So what are you guys playing now?

"

nSeeing the young man Alon getting interested in the game, Maike cleared this throat and started explaining.

n

"Cough, cough, What we are going to play is called

"Games

" which needs 2 teams.

"

n

"Games...? Like, the game is called games?

"

nSeeing the loss of interest in the face of Alon Maike hastily started to explain.

n

"Ah, it's nothing difficult of a game, here I show you.

" He picked the deck of the cards and started to deal with everyone's cards.

n

"Well, for starters this is a team-based game. So you are sadly forced to team up with the fool opposite to you.

"

nHearing that, the man opposite to Alon named Derrick frown and asked threately.

n

"Who are you calling a fool, Maike...!?

"

n

"You of course! Now let me explain.

"

nSeeing Maike ignore the disbelief look of Derrick he couldn´t help but smile wryly.

n

"Now hear me good kind cause I ain´t going to explain twice alright?

" Ignoring the background curses Maike started to explain.

n

"So after teaming up everyone gets 4 cards each and 4 cards are placed at the table. The cards on the table can only be replaced by one of your own cards. And when everyone is satisfied with their cards we replace the cards with new ones. Got it yet?

n

"Yeah, I mostly understood what you said. But what´s the goal of replacing the cards and how do you win?

"

n

"It isn´t as difficult as you think. It is rather simple. When you got 4 of the same cards in hand you simply have to make a sign which notifies your teammate that you have 4 of the same cards. If your teammate says out loud

"Games

" while having 4 of the same cards. Your team wins. But if the other team realizes that you have 4 of the same and calls first

"Stop games

" The opposite team wins. Got it?

"

n

"I think so...

"

nSeeing Alon nodding this head Maike laugh out loud.

n

"Hahaha! I like you boy, You with Derrick and me with Myke. We are betting 10 silver into this!

"

n

"Wait, what...?

" Before Alon realize what was happening, there were already 30 silver coins on the table.

n

"Wait we are betting on this!? Sorry but I am out...

" As Alon wanted to stand up and leave this bunch.

nA hand was placed on these shoulders similar to when a snake caught this prey in order to eat it right away.

nIt was Derrick.

n

"Man Alon, don´t ruin the mood so suddenly. I heard that your wife is pregnant right?

"

nHearing being mention, Alon's eye brown twitched.

n

"Well, I am just saying but wouldn´t it be nice to give her a gift to celebrate when the child is born?

"

nHearing Alon couldn´t help but freeze on the spot. Just imagine the smile that this wife would make made him smile unconsciously.

n

"Fine...I will just play 1 game.

"

nHearing that, all three of them had a smile similar to a wolf.

nSeeing the sheep walking right to their mouths they couldn´t help but grin viciously.

nBut as Alon had this hand on these silver coins. A loud voice came from behind.

n

"You idiots! How dare you guys play cards while being on duty!

" A man with red hair and a beard with a height of 1.95 meters shouted towards the group.

nSeeing this the three clicked their tongue.

n

"Tch, the red bear came.

"

n

"We even were so close....

"

n

"Damm bear...

"

nBut the reaction of Alon was quite different out of these 3.

n

"C-Captain Reck! I...

" Alon tried to salute but miserly failed.

nSeeing the young man being so polite he nodded this head and smile slightly, but this smile instantly went away when he saw what was going to happen.

n

"You fools, aren´t you guys too shameless to rip off the new rookie as seniors?

"

n

"W-We didn´t plan to rip him off! We were just going to play a game...

"

n

"Yeah right,

" Captain Reck rolled this eyes hearing this.

nBut then he noticed a strange voice.

n*Ping! Ping

nHearing this noise, he turned around and looked at the orb with a frown on this face.

n

"When did this started to make noise...

"

nThe group of four looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

n

"Well, around 5 mins ago?

" Alon answered.

n

"Why didn´t you guys report this to me?

"

n

"It is probably just a lone goblin by the sound that the orb is making, so we didn´t bother to report it...

"

n

"Why are you guys even here if you don´t do your job! Stand up and call the others! Bring the crossbows too!

" Seeing their enraged captain giving them orders they all stood up and followed their orders.

nThe confused Alon couldn´t help but ask Maike what was going on.

n

"Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to tell you. You see, when the orb is making noise it means that a monster is near the gate on the dungeon. The slower it repeats the noise, the lower the number of monsters there are.

"

n

"Ehm...Isn´t that important to report?

" Realizing what the orb was for, he couldn´t help but frown towards Maike.

n

"Well, usually yes but when the noise repeated itself in a slow rhythm it means that there is only 1 monster behind the gate, which usually is just a goblin or a skeleton.

"

n

"Stop talking already and follow the orders!

" Seeing this two talking he realized some killing intent towards them.

n

"Yes, Captain!

"

n*10 minutes later...

nAt front of the gate were 20 men with the same looking armor with some having crossbows while others used spears.

n

"Has everyone gather already Maike?

"

n

"Yes, Captain Reck! Everyone has gathered and is ready to head inside!

"

n

"Alright, as you guys should know we are going inside the dungeon though detecting a foreign threat at the front of the gate! Though the recent increase of security we are ordered to eliminate it at the moment of notice!

"

n

"Now, starting with the strategy we are going to take...

" Before Captain Reck could even continue a loud noise came behind the gate.

n*Boohm.

n

"What the...

" Seeing the gate shake for a moment and dust coming out Captain Reck frowned.

n*Boohm!

n

"Captain Reck! The barrier on the gate is breaking out!

n

"What!? How can something damage the barrier of the gate?

n*Twich!

nSome light appeared from a moment to only disappear the next moment.

n

"Sir! The barrier broke down!

"

n

"This isn´t a goblin! Hurry call the Darcy mansion and call lord Rapha for reinforcements! This thing must be...!

nBut sadly, before Captain Reck could finish this line, the gate broke apart and a wind blade made out of mana flew towards Alon.

nSeeing that, Captain Reck's legs glowed and jumped towards Alon.

n

"Move you **ty brat!

" Saying that he pushed Alon out of the way.

n

"Huh?

"

nAs he wanted to question this captain as to why he pushed him by such force.

nHe froze at the sight of this Captain's headless corpse standing at the place where he was.

n

"How...?

" As he wanted to question what just happened.

nA figure came outside the gate.

n`A skeleton?´

nBut after taking a better look Alons face palled.

n

"Humans...

" With a cold voice and a runed sword.

nA Draugr came out.

n