Dungeon Raider System

The landing pad on the Dungeon Raider's headquarters was crowded with hundreds of hunters waiting in line to greet the one ship above all, the Pegasus. All the citizens peeked over their windows trying to get a glimpse of the ship and they would have killed to have the opportunity to see the ship land, though only those who belonged to the company were allowed in the premises. In its humble origins, the ship was but a shadow of its current updated version and the same could be said about the headquarters of which the only thing that remained the same was the location. It used to be a large abandoned factory that covered an entire block, but now it was larger than the Cryptid hunting agency spanning over a ten block radius and not without reason as it was the place that birthed the heroes that saved the world.

Medusa's tall figure looked prideful as she walked down the stairs followed closely by Lizzy Dragonfang and Phlox, both wearing a perfectly fitted military uniform along with a fedora hat which represented their allegiance to the company. Allowing such changes in the uniform was a small gesture of gratefulness by the army which they were more than happy to do since even though Mister Scofield was now retired, the responsibility had now fallen into the shoulders of his daughter, Lizzy herself.

Most often than not Nika remained inside the headquarters for months at a time, not just because she worked there but because there she had everything she could ever possibly wish. Including but not limited to an assortment of imported beers from different parts of the world, all donated to the company as a token of appreciation by the different nations that composed the new world government.

This, however, was a special occasion as Medusa came in person rather than just sending emissaries making it the first time in five years that the remaining founding members of the Dungeon Raiders were in the same city.

"I found him, I did it for real this time." Were the first words Medusa said.

"Hi, I'm Okay, thanks for asking." Nika scoffed.

"Where is Luna?"

"Hey, I thought you were being funny, but now you're hurting my feelings." Nika pouted.

"Fine," Medusa leaned in for a hug to which Nika replied with a single kiss on the cheek as it was her custom. "did you even hear what I said?"

Nika let out a sigh and accompanied Medusa inside with an expression that said it all. It wasn't that she didn't want to believe her, but the same thing had repeated so many times it was difficult even for someone as carefree as Nika to keep her hopes up. Especially after so long.

The headquarters were buzzing with activity as they should and Medusa was pleased to see that the original structure of place was kept intact. Rather than tearing it down, they added to it by linking new buildings and even digging underground basements. This unfortunately meant that the walk time increased and since some of the halls were made for very fewer people than their current employees the foot traffic was awful. Not that it mattered for the higher ups as the moment they showed up everyone cleared the hallways making Nika grin every time.

"Hi." Was all Luna said when she finally caught up with them. Her hair was disheveled and there were bags under her eyes indicating that she had once more stayed up too long, perhaps studying or maybe mourning the passing of a loved one. Whichever the case she was noticeably happy to see Medusa.

When they finally made it to the cafeteria, a tall man with black hair and a skin so perfect it seemed almost as if he was wearing make up was already waiting for them in general, but for someone in particular. His lean figure stood up the moment they drew near and greeted Nika with a passionate kiss.

"Hi, cariño." Nika said blushingly to the man.

"Do you really have to do that in front of us?" Medusa looked the other way a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"I don't mind." Luna butted in.

"Sorry, I forgot he looks just like Uriel." Nika apologized, but the atmosphere was already awkward.

"I don't look like him, it's his body." Water warlock said.

"Well, it's not... I found him, the real him." Medusa declared excitedly.

"I'm sorry to say this," Water warlock started the same way he always did and it hurt him the same every time. "but he's gone. When Dearest one and Father of many nations reunited in the mystical realm it was him instead of me the one dragged along with them."

"He's still alive, I can feel it."

"I'm sorry, but if there was a drop of luck left in him, he's dead." Water warlock shivered at the thought of a human soul trapped in between two titans, let alone one so terrible as Father of many nations.

"Well, Uriel was never known for his luck." Luna pondered, though she knew what Water warlock meant. Death was a mercy compared to the fate of being trapped with Father of many nations, also known as Father of horrors and with good reason.

"This time it might actually be true." Dragonfang chimed as she placed a folder in the table.

"This is interesting, but it's not much even when compared to the other times. Without a picture we can't even be sure if it's a cryptid or not." Nika shook her head.

"I think it's really him, skip to the last part."

"Let's see... archaeology professor working in the south hemisphere." She read out loud.

"It means he must be a hunter, humans still can't set foot out there and won't be for a few centuries at least and the fact that it's an archaeologist is also promising." Water warlock pointed out as he grew hopeful.

"And why hasn't he contacted us? I'm sorry, but it's not him." Nika sentenced covering her sadness behind a stony facade.

"What do you have to lose? It's one last trip..." Medusa insisted without much success and it was actually Dragonfang the one who managed to convince Nika.

"You missed something important. He's been trash talking Uriel."

"If it really was him, then why would he trash talk about himself?" Nika asked out loud.

"That's not the important bit. If it's him or not it doesn't matter, we have to kick his ass anyway," Miss Dragonfang said, then completed her sentence. "and if it really is him we'll still kick his ass, only with love."

With the Pegasus already landed just outside the building and the crew prepared to depart at any time they wished, Nika ran out of excuses not to go. She struggled not to keep her hopes up, but deep down she knew she was only saying out loud the things that had to be said to avoid getting hurt while inwardly thinking she really hoped it was him this time.

This time the trip to the southern hemisphere was much more safer compared to the last time. If they stumbled upon cryptids along the way, they didn't notice as the automated defense system Medusa installed took care of anything. Be it cryptids, rogue hunters, pirates or just about anything that crossed her path on a bad day.

Like most Dungeon Raiders she was always passionate to the point of obsession, but contrary to the others she always struggled keeping her emotions at bay. She wasn't one to throw tantrums, but losing control and venting on anything was not rare for her even back then and now things were much worse.

A shiver crossed Nika's spine as the ship penetrated what used to be the shadowlands. Although the shadows had dissipated long ago, the landscape remained grim and gray unable to bear any life. It was a scar on the planet that researchers studied extensively finding out that the only thing that could heal the land was prolonged exposure to sunlight.

"Why would people decide to live in a place like this?" Nika asked after the ship landed and the view of a city was presented to her.

"Some of them are outcasts, others prefer this kind of place due to their traits, but most of them are just scavengers looking to make quick money out of the flux orbs that were left behind when... that happened."

The city itself had not much worth of mentioning, other than most of it was built of stone with just a few exceptions, though materials like wood would decay into ashes rendering it useless for building. Which is precisely why they were all taken aback when they stumbled upon a rather small building made only of wood, grimy and gritty wood, that is.

It didn't look like it but it was actually a classroom in the middle of a college dedicated to preparing hunters for the challenges of the southern hemisphere. And the class being imparted in that place was precisely the most coveted one as they confirmed by the presence of so many students in its vicinity.

Some chatted about the handsome professor while others just remarked how strict he was and the hardships they endured with his particularly tough lessons. It sounded just like someone they knew and they rushed in as a pack almost bashing the door down and then they saw it. A brown leather hat, round and old looking it was impossible to mistake it. The person wearing it was reclined on his desk at the front dimming his face with the hat wing.

Medusa almost had a stroke right then and there, but that moment passed when the man spoke and the voice was not what they expected.

"What the fuck are you doing in my classroom." Scoundrel said.