Skill Creation in the Fantasy World

As the people gathered in the Duke Castle Grounds stared at the imposing man with curiosity and anticipation, Theodore Ryeagon continued his speech.

"Today marks the first day of the guild wars. On the right side, we have the Crimson Dawn, Fanged Legions, Mad Wolves, Grey Talons, Raven Shields and the Flare Sky Guilds."

"Who have come together to face off against the two guilds on the left side, Mystic Society and Twilight Choas."

He deeply eyed the leaders of the eight guilds who stood forward from the rest and narrowed his eyes as he stated loudly.

"With the rules set by his majesty, King Balthazar Draken, the mighty ruler of the Drakovia Kingdom. I hereby announce that the guild wars will be of the type of Dungeon Defence War!! Taking place in the Edenmont Dungeon!!"

His words spread throughout the field, garnering surprise and shock amongst the crowd of thousands of people.

"What?! The war will take place in the Edenmont Dungeon?!"

"Wasn't that place sealed off a few years ago?"

"What's the meaning of this?! Do they want us to all die?!"

A series of questions and exclamations were raised from all the corners of the place, as many people found it hard to control their emotions.

Rhodes muttered as he made a sarcastic smile on his face.

"They really think sending us to the Dungeon will be enough to decrease our numbers."

Dante on the other hand frowned in confusion, the dots in his mind slowly moving together.

"I don't think it's that simple. Theodore wouldn't make such a hasty and open move. Not if they aren't involved in this...."

Behind them, Felix asked his teammates with a curious face.

"Edenmont Dungeon? There's a dungeon in this city? Hey Roven, can you tell me more about it?"

He knew about the dungeons and their information from a book he had read in the forbidden library, but it was the first time he heard there was one in Edenmont City.

Roven similarly had a shocked face when he heard the announcement, but he nevertheless explained it.

"Well, it's not strange that you don't know about it. The thing is....."

Dungeons were a separate realm of the world with their own ecosystem and life, attached to the main world like bubbles and had entrances at specific places.

They were also the primary reason why places like Edenmont City and the others were chosen as one of the Nine Great Cities including the Royal Capital, each having their dungeons.

Dungeons were divided into five tiers, based on their size and danger, they were called: Mini-Dungeon, City Dungeon, Realm Dungeon, Abyss Dungeon and Void Dungeon.

The dungeon found in Edenmont City was the city-size Dungeon, named after the city like most others.

But the dungeon present in the Royal Capital was of a higher tier, a Realm Dungeon.

A few years ago, the Edenmont Dungeon was closed off from any activities by the Duke Family due to unknown reasons, causing much hostility among the guilds who were often travellers of the dungeon for resources and experience.

But the Council of Guilds failed to revoke the order, thus refusing them any access to the dungeon from then on.

Today, the Duke announcing that the guild war would take place in the dungeon brought forward lots of questions and exclamations.

Theodore remained calm under the slightly aggressive nature of the crowd, his eyes making contact with a hooded man at the far back of the crowd.

The hooded man gave a small nod and turned around, swiftly moving through the crowd and disappearing out of the castle compound.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. As the venue for the guild wars has already been decided, let me explain to you the rules of it."

No matter how much restless the crowd was, they turned back quite as they wanted to hear the rules.

"The Dungeon Defence War will be having two groups participating, both of whom will be given an area to station and start in the dungeon."

"One guild flag of each guild will be placed at a high point in their area. The moment when one of the groups acquires all the eight flags of the eight guilds together, it will result in that group winning. And that will depict the end of the guild wars."

"The losing guilds will lose everything they own to the winning guilds, and will be exiled out of the Edenmont City."

Silence spread across the field as everyone took a few seconds to understand if what they heard was true.

The guild leaders of all the guilds had a surprised expression on their faces, but it turned into gleeful smiles and frowns as they realised what that could mean to them.

"This is too much, Dante! They're even eyeing all our properties and treasures, not to mention when we're at such a disadvantage. How greedy of them!", Rhodes argued as he clenched his fists in anger.

Meanwhile, Dante's frown turned into a look of hope as he grabbed his chin.

"No. Wait...This can be a good chance for us."

"Chance? How do think this is a chance for us when they'll take our everything if we lose?", Rhodes was confused as he questioned.

"I'm not talking about that part. I'm talking about the rules for the Dungeon Defence War.", Dante's lips curled up slowly as he mentioned.

"The biggest headache we had was about the difference in numbers in our groups. But if the guild war is a type of acquire and protect one, then with a good strategy we can win this war."

Rhodes understood what Dante was trying to say as he nodded with a sigh.

"You're always so positive, Dante. Even when we don't have any odds in our favour, you're still thinking of a way to win. While me..", Rhodes gave a forced smile,"I'm worried about losing here...."

Dante patted the man on his shoulder and shook his head with a deep smile.

"No, Rhodes. You are the man. The only man among all of them from the Council of Guilds who stood up to go against what they were proposing."

"You were the only one who understood what I was saying and nevertheless chose to side with me when nobody did, even as far as making so many enemies for it."

Dante looked at Rhodes as he took a deep breath.

"I know you didn't do that just because you're my friend, I know you well for that. You did it for your guild and for this city. So, it's very normal for you to be scared of losing."

Turning to look behind him at his guild members, Dante stared at them for a few seconds as he chuckled.

"Even I'm terrified of losing the people behind me. The ones who follow me for who I am. But that only makes me strive to fight for them more, and now, we both will be facing this together with our guilds. Are you with me, Rhodes?"

Dante gave the man his closed fist, a very playful smile on his lips.

Rhodes shook his head before connecting the fist bump as he chuckled.

"Hah! Shit's about to get real if you smile like that."

The Duke's words made everyone understand the rules of the guild wars, many of whom found it pretty simple and effective to conduct it this way.

Felix had a look of contemplation as he remembered what Mr.Dealer had said to him regarding the guild wars.

'This must be it. Mr.Dealer said that the dark guilds and the Duke had made a deal, where the dark guilds would refrain from harming the city if the Duke followed their orders regarding the guild wars.'

'He didn't know what the purpose of the dark guilds in this guild wars was, but he was sure that they would meddle in it.'

Felix bit his lip as he stared at the Duke in front of the crowd and calculated in his mind.

'The reopening of the dungeon, the dark guilds intervention, a total of eight guilds involved, this type of dungeon defence guild wars and the final decision for the winners and the losers...'

'.....It's all connected. There's a very thorough planning here from what I can sense.'

Felix sighed at the turn of so many events, he didn't know what was right or wrong, what were the truths and lies.

But what he knew was...

'There's going to be a lot of skill points for me to harvest in this guild wars, that's a fact.'

A crazy smile threatened to widen on his face, but he made sure to hide it from scaring the already panicked Steve beside him.

"Is that man for real?! The winner takes them all? Even Miss Elsa's under-"

Felix and Eric were quick to cover the boy's mouth from uttering his next words, with Roven turning around with a curious face.

"You said something about my sister, Steve?"

The two of them let go of him as Felix pinched his back and whispered into his ear.

"Will you die if you close that mouth of yours for a moment?"

Steve groaned in pain as he waved his hand at Roven with a wry smile.

"It was nothing. I was just saying the rules are simple yet harsh for us."

Roven nodded as he frowned seriously.

"I agree. There are only two guilds on our side, meaning we'll only have two flags while they'll have eight. They also have more numbers than us. It's a complete disadvantage for us."

Felix shrugged as he pointed out something that they didn't notice.

"Don't you think this is much better than doing a battle royale type or a one-on-one competition? We'll be entering a huge dungeon, and if we make a proper plan by using the surroundings and the terrain, then it wouldn't be impossible to win."

His words made them nod as they realised the dungeon defence type of guild wars wasn't that bad for them.

Eric had an impressed face as he muttered.

"Didn't know you were the smart type."

Steve folded his arms and chuckled.

"Nah, what he said was simple. It's just you who's dumb to even understand that."

"What'd you say? Huh?!", Eric gritted his teeth as he angrily stepped forward.

"Oh, you couldn't hear? I said you're pretty du-"

Steve got smacked on the head before he could continue by Felix, who pointed to the front.

"The Duke's saying something...."

Steve and Eric could only harrumph at each other before listening to the man as Roven nodded at Felix gratefully.

"Keep it up, Felix. You can change them."

Felix waved off his hand as he replied.

"As long as they're not annoying me."

Roven couldn't help but sigh at his words, as he thought at least there was another person in the team who'd help him contain the troublemakers.

'He's the bigger yet the silent troublemaker of them all....'

Roven felt like crying at the hardships he had to suffer at such a young age, but he nevertheless opened his ears to listen to the Duke's words.

"My men have already opened two gates leading to the edges of the Edenmont Dungeon. I request the two groups to walk towards the gate's path shown by the guides."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, now without further waiting, let us begin the Guild Wars!!"