When it was around ten in the morning, Leon gathered everyone including the newly evolved who had been training with Old Pipe's squad.
Standing before them, his expression was serious as he spoke.
"In a few hours, we'll be advancing to a dangerous location. I can't guarantee that you won't die. However, the benefits are going to be worth the risk. If you feel like you're not up for that level of danger right now, you can stay back and guard the camp."
His eyes moved from one face to another, noting their expressions.
"Now then, if you want to stay back, raise your hand."
No one moved for a few seconds before someone hesitantly raised their hand. It was one of the newly evolved.
"I... I'm sorry but I can't. Although I have the power of an evolved right now, I don't have the heart yet."
Leon nodded. He already expected that much. Still, he was surprised that no one else raised their hand.
'Hmm, that's alright.'
"Rebecca, Aisha."
He said, calling two evolved girls whom Anna had personally trained previously. They hadn't participated in the zombie raid and stayed back in the camp. Because of this, he had mentally made them guards responsible for protecting the tower in their absence. Now however, he could see their obvious desire to go for the new raid.
"You also want to come, no?"
The girls nodded with serious expressions.
"Alright." He turned to the older evolved among them. Cassie couldn't be left behind, lest she explode in anger. Also, she was now a second level evolved after the zombie raid. This would be a great training opportunity for her. Anna was the same, she couldn't be left behind. Ye Ming and Professor Oliver were strong evolved, their absence would be detrimental.
As for Amelia, Little Tiger, and Shadow, although they weren't too strong, they were necessary.
Thus, Leon turned to Bob and Johnson. They both flinched when they met his gaze then looked away.
"You two. You'll stay behind with him."
He pointed at the evolved who had backed out of the raid. They weren't that necessary. Also, he didn't really like them.
Seeing the look in his eyes, Bob knew he couldn't refuse. Even his thoughts of checking out the beautiful girls around vanished. Who knows what this monster would do to him if he found out?
'Damn it!'
Unwilling but powerless to refuse, he nodded. As for Johnson, the one-eyed man didn't really care. Unconcerned, he simply nodded his agreement.
"Then it's settled."
Leon clapped, then gave the armors he crafted to a select few. Anna, Cassie, Daddy Ye, Old Pipe, Ice, Little Tiger, Scarface, Shadow, Rebecca, and Aisha. Thankfully, he had made one big enough to size Scarface's burly physique.
He himself didn't bother getting any armor. His Silver Hide was better than those anyway. As for the new evolved, he had equipped them with swords he personally crafted. It was at least as good as a One-Star Sword from the crucible, if not slightly better.
With all the preparations ready, he led them out of the gates and into the desolate streets. There were no zombies around, a testament to Old Pipe's squad's efficiency. They were responsible for keeping the environment safe.
This time, they weren't taking vehicles since their destination was quite close.
"Um, where exactly are we going?" Ice took a moment to ask.
"A dungeon."
"Dungeon?" She tilted her head, not in the slightest bit familiar with the term. Noticing her confusion, Leon gave her a peculiar look. Woman, what were you doing when you were young? No movies? No webnovels? He wanted to ask, but chose to remain silent.
Instead, Little Tiger spoke for him. "Dungeons are pocket dimensions where monsters appear! It's usually in those stories and anime."
"So you're saying one is going to appear?"
Ice asked with a skeptical look, not believing them one bit. Still...
"Suit yourself. You'll see when we arrive."
As they walked, Leon tried to remember the exact location of the dungeon that opened up in this city. He had once visited it during a mission given by the Solaris Domain. That was also why he discovered the Glass Tower.
'It should be somewhere around here...'
He paused, scanning the surroundings keenly. Little Tiger was the first to notice something.
"Hey, Brother Leon. Isn't space distorting over there?"
Leon's eyes snapped to the place the boy pointed out. Indeed, the space was folding as if being sucked by a black hole.
"W-what is that?" Ice's voice quivered, shocked by the event occurring.
Everyone ignored her question, eyeing the opening dungeon with interest. Finally, a portal the size of a large gate opened. It opened directly in front of a coffee shop, making it seem like the coffee shop's entrance.
Immediately it opened, every awakened all over the world received a notification from the apocalypse system.
[Ding! Stage One Dungeons are now open. Evolved may now proceed]
[Level Restriction: Fourth Level and above are not allowed to enter]
This was a piece of worldwide information that everyone saw. Seeing it, the others cast a look of surprise at Leon. How did he know dungeons would open up? And at this time and place. They had their questions, but didn't voice them. Since he hadn't taken the initiative to tell them, he definitely didn't want to.
Among them, Little Tiger couldn't help but eye Leon in admiration. This brother is just so amazing! Could he be a regressor?
His thoughts were wild and foolish, however, he didn't know how close he was to the truth.
Leon didn't mind their questioning looks and stepped forward.
"We're entering. I won't say much except you shouldn't spread too far."
Trailing behind him, the group of twenty evolved eventually disappeared into the shimmering obsidian portal. Unknown to them, several hours later, several of the evolved groups and forces all around the world started mobilizing their groups to enter these dungeons. Many of them simply rushed in because of the obvious benefits. Unfortunately, only Leon knew the true dangers these dungeons posed.
If they weren't continuously subjugated, the dungeon would produce too many monsters which would soon spill across the surface of the earth. Still, this was an information the world would only find out later.