He had attempted to ask her who she was speaking about, but knowing she wouldn't reveal it, he remained silent.
"Sunshine," Elias finally spoke after a brief pause.
[Name registered: Sunshine.]
"Are you certain that's the name you want to choose?" Queen Anna asked, her tone strange.
"It's perfect," Elias responded through his thought. He didn't see anything bad in the nickname he had chosen since it was merely a nickname.
"Fine. Don't say that I didn't warn you," Queen Anna said with a sigh.
[As a new awakener who has not yet completed a dungeon, you currently possess no rankings on the classification board. The more dungeons you complete, the higher your classification rises, granting vital privileges and more. Welcome, Awakener Sunshine. The administrators wish you good luck.]
[You've logged into the viewing channel of the newbie area district #102,344,532,556,743,432,599,453. Currently, no one is watching you. You've received 0 donations. Your popularity is 0, and your overall rating is 0.]
[The dungeon is about to begin. Good luck, Awakener Sunshine.]
"Who are the administrators?" Elias asked, his expression tinged with confusion and curiosity. His mind reeled as he processed the information he had just grasped.
Queen Anna didn't respond this time.
Elias didn't ask again.
The status screen disappeared like a fading TV panel before his eyes.
A bright light flashed once more, and the next moment he found himself standing on a vast round platform stretching as far as the eye could see.
"It seems we aren't here alone," Queen Anna said.
Elias realised he wasn't alone. Several others were present on the circular platform. Surrounding them was a deep, impenetrable darkness, and the only illumination came from the platform itself. Elias spotted about four individuals. Though they weren't far apart, the dimness made it difficult to clearly see anyone.
However, the moment Elias appeared, the others noticed him as well. They scrutinised him just as he scrutinised them.
One of them abruptly walked toward Elias.
"Another one joins us."
Elias looked at the man who approached him.
He was a fair-skinned man with auburn hair slicked back. He wore black trousers fitted with armour plates along his legs and metallic boots. A fitted red chainmail covered his torso, and around his neck hung a necklace carved in the shape of a tree.
"I'm Lyrac. My nickname is Wolf. My Class is Summoner. I'm Level 15," Lyrac introduced himself. He stretched out his hand for a handshake. "How about you, friend?"
"Elias. My nickname is Sunshine. Level 13," Elias replied, shaking his hand.
He hadn't expected that the first individual he would meet in the dungeon was not only of a higher Level but had also awakened a Class.
Ever since the apocalypse began, Elias had kept his emotions tightly regulated so he could act decisively whenever needed. Now, facing individuals of a higher level in a dangerous, unknown dungeon, he was even more cautious, concealing his emotions.
Lyrac's expression shifted into surprise and astonishment. "You haven't awakened a Class?" he asked, his voice trembling in disbelief.
"Yes. I haven't had the opportunity to awaken a Class," Elias responded with a nod.
"Forgive me for asking, Mr Elias. But did you defeat a beast to enter this dungeon?" Lyrac asked, his voice trembling even more.
Elias's expression shifted, revealing traces of surprise at his words.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"That's because everyone here fought a beast to enter this dungeon," Lyrac responded, pointing at the other three individuals in the distance.
"Amazing… To think that you'd also encountered a powerful beast, and without even awakening a Class, had defeated it. Though it seems the beast you fought was far different from the one I encountered." Lyrac didn't think Elias would have survived if he had faced the same beast he had.
Naturally, he assumed they had all encountered different beasts with varying Levels, yet each one was still terrifying. Still, his expression became even more flabbergasted as he looked at Elias from head to toe, as though searching for anything he might be hiding.
His expression abruptly shifted into understanding and defeat.
"To be able to defeat such a beast at such a low Level… you're certainly a monster, just like the rest of them." He gestured at the other three individuals.
"Are you from Earth?" Elias asked.
Lyrac nodded. "I'm from the New America Federation. How about you?"
"I'm from the Federal States of Niral," Elias responded. He realised he wasn't the only one who had dared to enter the dungeon. Others had done the same. The only thing he couldn't understand was how they had levelled up so fast.
Since the beginning of the apocalypse, Elias had been facing terrifying zombies and monsters, levelling up nonstop, yet he had only reached Level 13. He couldn't understand how Lyrac had managed to level up faster than he had. Could it be that they also possessed powerful, unique abilities, or was this the power of awakening a Class?
"Okay. Since we've entered this dungeon and have no idea what we'll be encountering, I think we should cooperate so we can make it out of here alive. The others have also chosen to cooperate. I came over to hear what you think?" Lyrac asked.
"I think that's a good idea," Elias responded, shaking Lyrac's outstretched hand once more.
"Okay. See you on the other side, Mr Sunshine," Lyrac said with a light chuckle. He turned around and returned to his position.
Elias nodded. He watched Lyrac walk away before turning his attention to Queen Anna.
"Does he have any malicious intentions?" Elias wondered.
"How should I know if he has any malicious intentions? Aren't you the one who should know after speaking to him?" Queen Anna retorted in displeasure. "Besides, when did I inform you that I'd help you deal with issues like this, Mortal? Do I look like a malicious intention-sensing machine?"
Elias was silent. He no longer focused on communicating with Queen Anna.