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Leveling Up As A Dungeon Hunter In A Game-like World

_Th3_Only_Jinx_
7
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 7 chs / week.
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Synopsis
After a celestial veil tore during a meteor shower, Earth merged with other realities for seven chaotic minutes, long enough to unleash monsters, mysteries, and dungeons across the globe. In the aftermath, people began awakening strange powers. These people later called Radiants formed guilds, risking their lives to explore and conquer the ever-evolving dungeons, and some became legends. _____________________________________ Lily Padstow, a fresh high school graduate obsessed with dungeon hunting, finally gets her shot by joining a rising guild led by her idol. But her power is weak, overlooked, and mocked. To survive, she'll need to level up faster, fight smarter, and carve her name into the world, one bloody raid at a time. Because in a world where power is everything, the only way forward... is up. But soon, she realises something unusual in one of her raids, one that leaves her to question years of humanities research. "What if the dungeons aren't trying to destroy us... but prepare us?" "What if the monsters aren't hunting humans... but training them?" "And what if the true enemy is still asleep and nearing its awakening?" "One these beasts fear above all else, one that could erase humanity the moment it wakes from its centuries-long slumber?" ___________________________________ Note: Update stability may vary per week, but it won't go below 7 chapters per week. If I won't be able to reach the quota, I will do well to inform you ahead of time. If you want more chapters, support me with power stones, and if possible, gifts. _____________________________________ For any questions, feel free to ask in the comments, or join the Discord group through the link: https://discord.gg/M6T4vEQRuZ
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Chapter 1 - Persuasion

"Are you sure about this, Lily? Your chances of getting into Lira's guild are next to impossible. You need at least a visible ability to get in, and I don't want to sound rude, but you awakened your ability last month and well... there's been no progress," Patricia said, trying to convince Lily to change her decision.

'That's always how it is, isn't it? You guys never try to understand how I truly feel about it. You just throw your opinions straight at me and expect me to accept it wholeheartedly.'

"I don't believe Lira would choose guild members solely based on their abilities. Sure, my ability isn't fancy like the others, but it isn't so bad either... I think," Lily responded, trying to sound calm so she wouldn't start an argument with her friends.

"Come on, Lily, face reality. You can't get into Lira's guild. That's why your parents are advising you to go to college instead. That way you'll study properly and end up earning a stable living, compared to when you become a dungeon hunter," Veyla, one of Lily's friends stepped in, tapping Lily on the shoulder as she spoke.

"You risk losing your life every single mission. Think about it. And if you die by chance, what happens to everything you've acquired over the years? It just doesn't make any sense."

'Why would it make any sense to you? You're all just part of the average humans who always try to play it safe. We're literally living in a world where seeing a beast is no surprise. What are your chances of living past a hundred years while living a normal, boring life?'

"It doesn't matter, Veyla. That's what I want. I don't care how risky it is, I just want to be like her. I mean, did you actually see her when she came for the sports event last month?! Lira is a symbol for female dungeon hunters." She shifted her expression toward the window and leaned her head on her palms.

"You guys won't understand.." she murmured to herself.

"Her parents also told her not to become a dungeon hunter. Now look at her. She's levelled up past most of her mates, and now she's a national figure. Everyone knows her, and her so-called parents are now living the life they rejected," Lily continued, trying to convince her friends why it was best for her.

"After seeing her in person, I feel like that's where my fate is supposed to go, and I will get there no matter the cost."

Patricia stood up from where she was sitting and sat closer to Lily, dropping a hand on her shoulder before using the other to draw her gaze toward her.

"Don't say stuff like that. Your life is precious. Everyone's life is precious. You shouldn't just be wasting it like that. Think about everyone around you before you say stuff like that."

She stared deeply into her eyes as she spoke, a tear streak rolling down her face for a brief moment.

'Fake tears!! You won't convince me to go to college, Patricia. I know my parents asked you to do your best to change my perspective, but that won't happen. I will achieve my goal no matter the cost!'

"What would happen to your parents if something by chance happened to you? At this point, you'd be protected a lot more than you'd be protecting anyone. Your ability can't do anything other than bloom flowers, Lily. There's nothing you can do!"

Out of frustration and a bit of anger, Lily pushed her hands off her shoulder and stood up from her seat.

"You won't make me change my mind, Patricia. Just forget it," she said before walking out of the classroom.

It was still break time, but even if it wasn't, she was done with her exams, so she could move around the school environment freely without being penalised. The only reason they were still ordered to keep coming to school was because of orientation and some important work. Other than that, they had no business in school.

'Telling me bullshit like "Give up on your dreams, it's the best thing to do. Go live a normal life like every other person your age."'

'Everyone keeps saying that like everyone is meant to follow the same path. What's the use of our abilities if we can't use them? Why do they keep treating them like they're some burden or something?!'

She angrily kicked a can off the sidewalk leading to the annex. At this point, she just wanted some fresh air from the suffocation.

When she reached the top of the building, she walked close to the rail and held it as she stared at the beautiful sight.

From there, she could view almost half of the city, the little cars driving on the road and the tiny humans from her perspective moving around. It was a beautiful sight and also a good place to let go of anxiety.

She let out a quiet sigh as she drew in a breath, her eyes drifting down to the ground that now seemed impossibly far below.

'This world needs someone to change their perspective about how they view hunters, especially my parents and friends.'

'They just don't understand it. This is what makes me happy, and I want to venture into it. What's wrong with that?'

As she stood there, taking in the scenery, the bell rang, signifying it was time for them to head home and the end of the school day.

'Just when I was getting used to this place.' She sighed, then headed back to the stairs so she could go back down to the ground floor.

She came back into class. It was almost empty as expected because no one really wanted to be in school. Her friends had left, but her bag was nowhere to be seen.

'I hope this isn't a prank of some sort.'

She stepped back outside her classroom and glanced around the hallway to check if she could spot them, but the corridor was clustered with students all hurrying to go home.

"Ahhhhhh!!! I'm not ready for this!" she yelled out loud, drawing attention from the passing students.

One of them, who recognised her, walked up to her. He seemed a bit shy but was confident in his speech.

"Hello, senior," he called out, waving his hand slightly as he approached.

She turned her face toward him, her expression a bit different from how she wanted to portray it.

'Shit!'

He flinched a bit as he saw her frustrated face, it almost looked terrifying. She wasn't the type to talk much in school; not everyone knew her, only some of the teachers because of her excellent grades.

She immediately changed her expression to that of an angel and smiled.

"What is it, young one?"

"Well, your friends said if I happened to see you around, I should inform you that they're waiting for you at the school's gate."

'So that's where they are. Lucky enough it isn't a prank!'

"Thank you," she smiled widely as she turned around and made it through the corridor.

'He seemed nervous though. I wonder what he was nervous about.'

After a few minutes of walking, she made it to the school gate, but there wasn't anyone familiar around or waiting for her. In fact, most of the students had already left school.

'Huh… so it was a prank after all.'

Just when she was about to conclude it, a hand came over her vision and closed her eyes from behind, followed by a whisper to her ear.

"Guess who it is?"

The voice sounded familiar, and so she easily recognised it.

"Leyla? When did you come back?"

The hand immediately pulled away from her face, and she slowly opened her eyes and turned around.

Her vision met with Leyla's, one of her closest friends who had travelled for some reason she refused to tell her, though it looked like her other friends already knew about it.

"I came back this afternoon, and so I decided to come visit you guys in school," she giggled.

'I wonder what she really travelled to do, for her to come back so early.'

"So where are the others then?"

Leyla held her shoulder and turned her around toward the school gate, where her other friends from class stood, waiting.

"Come on, let's walk home together."

"I was planning on going home alone though." She sighed, her inner introvert slipping out for a second.

She glanced at them from a distance, and for a moment, she caught an expression on their faces.

The first had that awkward, twisted smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. They were narrowed with quiet resentment. Her expression slightly betrayed her fake composure.

The other girls eyes were sharp, widened just enough to betray how much she was seething inside. There was a tension in her jaw, a slight curl to her lip like she was grinding her teeth behind it.

But when she stared closer, those expressions were gone.

'I don't feel so good about this, and I don't like this feeling...'