"To cease to think is to cease to belong to oneself."
We rob ourselves of an amazing feature only humans possess. Every day, we stray further from how we are supposed to function—our duties to ourselves and to this world. Through dissonance, we lose our ability to doubt and question our own minds.
The busy streets of the brick-paved city echoed with life and transactions. Every individual had an agenda, whether going to the market to buy ingredients or to the docks where fishermen unloaded their catch. Children ran playfully after each other, careless of their surroundings; it was a blessing, as the only problem a child has to consider is what they will eat later—food provided to them by their parents.
"We are recruiting new adventurers!" a decently equipped warrior shouted from a busy corner of the city. Flyers were in his hands, and he handed them out to anyone who seemed interested. "Come, come! We are a newly formed dungeon raider group!"
It was not just him. Other fighters, who seemed more experienced and wealthier, did the same. However, the difference lay in their purposes.
Take this cleric, for example: "Are you perhaps interested in the ways of our divine progenitor? The one from whom we all came! The alpha of our time!"
She seemed fairly decent and inconspicuous, but her religious beliefs far exceeded those of people lukewarm in their views.
On the other hand, a knight of the royal family stood proudly, chin high and eyes straight. His armor and sword were forged by a great blacksmith, of a quality only the royal guards possess. "The capital is in need of brave men and women who want to serve their kingdom! Just take a flyer and head to the training facility!"
On the notice board of the bustling city, flyers and wanted posters were pinned. Some overlapped previous notices, while remains of prior announcements stayed pinned beneath. A slender hand of a young man reached for one of the many notices. He gently tore it off, leaving a trail of paper behind.
"A massive mobilization of individuals from different parts and groups of the empire..."
Beside him stood his identical twin, whose eyes wandered. "That one is nice... plump and curvy. I'll buy that apple later." He turned to his brother and glanced at the torn paper. "A month-long expedition to the mountains of Catan. It says here that it has become a hollow mountain where a dungeon has manifested. Apparently, its inhabitants relocated due to invasive monsters."
"Catan... That's in the north, right?"
Both twins wore sewn leather shirts and pants. Their boots were tattered yet durable. Their distinguishing features were the tiny crescent birthmarks under their eyes; together, they formed a whole circle, resembling a yin and yang.
"Yes, the terrain is nice and traveling is convenient. Wagons and carriages will be provided to participants. Moreover, food will be sufficient."
"If they are willing to provide that much, then it must be a difficult request."
Left nodded. "Based on the reports from the villagers, high orcs and hobgoblins have occupied the mountains. They don't usually work together, but apparently, a highly intelligent shamanic lich has united them."
"Oh, so the lich is controlling the orcs and the goblins?" Right's eyes wandered again. This time he spotted a luscious treat, licking his lips and muttering to himself, "Peaches are good as well."
"That's the surprising part." Left browsed through the remaining papers on the board. "It isn't. It's like a mutual parasitic bond. All three benefit from the relationship."
Another piece of paper was ripped off the wooden board. This one described a requirement for personal encounters. "To join, we must first have a party of at least five—an attack group consisting of a healer."
"Blessed are we from the heavens and above."
A tall and stout clergyman stood behind them, having overheard the twins' conversation. He held a staff propped against the ground, his robe fluttering in the wind. "A great opportunity. If you are looking for an attack group, we happen to have recently formed one."
Behind the clergyman stood three more individuals, their clothes representing their respective jobs and personalities. Left and Right looked at each other. It was convenient, and they saw nothing suspicious about the approach, considering they were just about to look for a party.
"Our group is also aiming to join the subjugation of Mount Catan, so this is a great opportunity for both of us," a mage spoke up from behind the clergyman. Her wand wavered as she pointed with it.
"What do you think, Left?" A sly smile played on Right's face.
"Contain yourself, Right," Left whispered, his tone lower than his twin's. He turned to face the group. "I don't see anything wrong with it. Why not? It's less hassle for us."
The group was delighted, especially the mage and the party member beside her. Signs of relief crossed their faces; exhaustion seemed to leave their bodies as the twins agreed to join.
"We've been looking for other members since morning! Thank you for joining us!" She held Right's hand, which brought joy to his face.
"Forgive her. She can get excited quickly." A faint smile was on the clergyman's face. "By the way, we have already gone to the information office and guild establishment. They said that in order to participate, our attack party has to clear a nest and bring back loot."
"So it's a test to see if we are up for the job," Left agreed. "When do you plan on going?"
An individual equipped with minimal armor and a holstered dagger stepped in; his body was average, and he carried an aloof vibe. "We've already made preparations and plans for this confirmation raid. We just need to adjust our tactics based on you two—your jobs and your fighting styles."
"We can talk on our way."
As the clergyman led the way, they exchanged introductions. Formalities began with the twins.
"This is Left, and I am Right. He is quite awkward, so don't mind him."
"What peculiar names! Ah, by the way, I am Alrakim. Just call me Kim." She was a petite mage who swung her wand around when speaking—an expensive-looking wand crafted from the Tree of Tranquility. "This beautiful person beside me is Narra. We're sisters."
The resemblance was there, although they were opposites in both physique and personality.
"I-It is nice to meet you. I am a cleric," Narra remarked softly, her eyes lowered. "I can cast Tier-B enchantments and heals."
"Neat! We've got two buffers!" Right grabbed Narra's hands, shaking them enthusiastically. The woman was flustered by his behavior.
"Stop acting so informal and touchy, Right—especially with women. You know how society works nowadays," Left reprimanded, glancing at his twin and then at the team's assassin.
Pressured by the eyes upon him, the assassin let out a defeated sigh and introduced himself coolly. "I go by Xin. As you can see, I am an assassin. I recently took a sub-job: Thief."
Both twins bowed their heads. "It is nice to meet you, Xin, Kim, and Narra."
Lastly, the clergyman cleared his throat, his radiating vibrance emanating through the formalities. His glasses clicked as he tapped them to adjust them. "I am Marx. I can cast enhancing buffs, such as speed and damage increases. As for defense, I only have a single spell, but don't worry—I have recovery spells."
Together, they set out for the guild office. Their test was a subjugation mission: they were to bring back ingredients needed for large-scale potion brewing.
"A bronze-tier raid for an attack party. The information says it involves sewage rats contaminated with liquid waste—apparently a discarded quantity of berserk potions."
"So they mutated upon being exposed to such dangerous chemicals?"
"Yes, the report says the sewage rats grew in size and began emerging to the surface in an insatiable rage."
In a small city northeast of Mount Catan, rampaging rats the size of children roamed the empty streets. Soldiers and knights had been tasked with keeping the citizens safe; Left and Right's group was expected to annihilate the remaining rats along with their breeding ground, located deep in the labyrinthine sewers.
The City of Cattlea was kilometers away. The group traveled by carriage, a journey that would take a week. With proper food and strategy, they set their sights on Cattlea.
"Things are going smoothly," Marx uttered, bored from sitting. "I was expecting some bandits to intercept our journey."
"Not just bandits. The outskirts of the city and neighboring villages are rampant with criminals hiding from the system," Left noted.
"Perhaps the knights and orders have already dealt with the criminals lurking around?" Kim clasped her hands, hopeful.
Beside her, Xin had his eyes closed, but his ears were tuned to the conversation. "No... It's a trap to let our guard down."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Narra asked, looking outside. "I don't see anyone."
"That's the point. They want us to feel safe so they can strike when we are unwary."
"But how do you know?" Kim pressed.
Xin's 'Thief' sub-job allowed him to focus his senses over a wide range. He could numb other sensations to enhance his hearing, though he had to bear the consequence: any sudden noise could disrupt his focus and overwhelm him.
"It's a newly acquired skill from branching out of my main job."
"If that's the case, we should be extremely careful," Left suggested. Right, meanwhile, was managing the horses while chewing on beef jerky.
Everyone grew wary as the carriage proceeded toward the outskirts, where criminals lay low, waiting to create more atrocities. However, the journey remained anticlimactic, and they reached their destination without incident.
"I guess they didn't go through with an ambush. Lucky."
At the entryway, guards were stationed to check all incoming and outgoing citizens. "Wait a moment!" a guard halted them. "Anyone without an entry pass will not be allowed inside! The city cannot allow wandering bandits and criminals in!"
Thankfully, the guild office had provided an entry pass. They showed the papers and were allowed inside without further inspection.
"This city seems pretty rundown... minimal repairs have been done on the houses."
The guards led them to the infested area in Block A, where the main market and the mayor's office resided.
"Unlike the streets of Catania... it's empty. No children running around."
"That's to be expected, considering the danger."
The guard left them upon reaching the closed area of Block A. There were no stationary guards, only a puny magic barrier that kept the sewage rats contained. Narra felt a chilly gust of wind on her nape, twitching.
"Hiie!" she squeaked, not because of the cold, but because of what she saw. "T-The rat!"
A few feet away, a sewage rat the size of a Golden Retriever was gnawing on a dead man. "It's eating his brain... I feel sick," Kim's stomach turned.
"Close your eyes if you can't handle the brutality, but this is the job. You have to get used to it."
Marx cast a light spell to illuminate the path. The sewage rat noticed them but was unable to leave the barrier. It rampaged, tearing the corpse apart in an instant.
"What cruelty..."
"Are we just going to go in and fight them?" Right asked. "We're here for the elimination of the threat and the breeding ground, but what about the ingredients? Is there a whole environment underneath our feet?"
The mission objectives listed ingredients for recovery potions: the femur of an undead, the bile of a horned owl, and mana crystals.
"Maybe we can just buy them in a store?" Narra suggested hesitantly.
"Not a bad suggestion," Marx applauded. "But what if they don't actually want us to bring something back? What if bringing those ingredients means we failed the test of honesty?"
Left nodded. "It might be a test of wit as well as skill. A clue would have been nice."
"Let's set that aside. The sewage rats are gathering... fighting them in large hordes will be a pain."
A swarm of rats mobilized nearby, waiting for them to enter Block A. In the narrow alleys, the rats would be cramped, but they seemed aware of this and scattered to other sections, some even climbing onto rooftops to maintain mobility.
"Tch! They are hyper-aware! The monsters are waiting for us to enter so they can surround us!"
"Actually, they are trying to cover an entrance to the sewer," Left noted. He realized they weren't just waiting; they were protecting their den.
"Is that the only way in? Don't cities usually have multiple entrances?"
"We should have been given a map."
Right bumped his fists together with a smug look. "Cast some buffs on me. I'll create an opening for Xin. Kim, Left, support us from range."
With a limited party, Right took on the role of both tank and warrior. Kim began her chants, waving her wand to create magic circles.
"[Le Bleum]. [Mathaya Ergona]."
At Kim's command, Right and Xin were granted buffs to strength, agility, and defense. These spells were highly beneficial, though Marx noted his own buffs didn't stack, so he would save his mana for when Kim's spells faded.
With a massive increase in speed, Right went full throttle, crossing the barrier. His display of skill caught the team off guard; he and Xin fought as if they had been partners for years.
"Paving the path like it was nothing. Job well done," Left remarked as severed rat bodies lay scattered across the bricks. The smell of death and sewage was pungent. "Let us proceed inside."
A foul, gut-turning stench welcomed them beneath the city. The sewer stretched as far as the outskirts of Cattlea. Kim and Narra pinched their noses. Surprisingly, the interior was spacious, illuminated by lamps induced with magic ores.
"What are the droppings for?"
"I'm leaving a trail of magic droplets so we don't get lost," Narra explained. "It's a common practice in my hometown."
"Won't that consume too much mana?" Right asked.
Narra shook her head. "No, it's a small portion. Even if they dry out, a magic user can track the particles."
They proceeded as a group, unable to afford splitting up. Soon, they encountered more rats. Right and Xin intercepted them immediately.
"My turn!" Marx shouted. "[Chervil Acrue]!"
Their stats doubled, allowing them to tear through the horde easily.
"We are totally unneeded here," Narra said sarcastically. All she had done was leave magic trails.
"It's best to conserve our resources," Marx replied.
Eventually, the group came to a halt. In an empty, wide field, a magic spell was active.
"A magic circle?"
"Is this the barrier preventing the rats from leaving?"
Kim examined the intricate design. "N-No... this isn't a barrier. This is—"
Before she could finish, a haughty, raspy voice resonated through the space. Behind them, a tall, frail figure of clothes and bones stepped toward the magic circle, followed by two red-skinned high orcs with engraved tattoos and large maces.
"Oho," the dark figure uttered. "Have we found the cause of the disturbance in our transportation chamber?"
"Intruders!" the high orcs exclaimed.
"This is bad!"
Their guts told them to run. The monster was far beyond their capabilities.
"What does it mean by 'transportation chamber'?"
"The spell is a teleportation spell!" Kim cried. "I don't know what they are doing with it, but it's a bad omen!"
The dark figure stretched out a hand. "Death to all who stand in my way. [Ze Plague]."
Thick black smoke oozed from the monster, forming reaching arms with long, pointy nails. It moved with incredible speed. Narra and Kim acted instantly.
"[Aur Blockade]! [Barrienor]!"
They used shortened chants—a technique created by a genius magician to save time. Defensive circles formed under Xin and Right. The shields held, but barely; the lich's magic was overwhelming.
"Unscathed? This time, there is no escaping. [Noar de Bur]."
The ground grumbled, shooting up sharp spikes that impaled the group. They coughed up blood, unable to react in time.
"S-Shit! We've been had!"
With her remaining strength, Narra cast a spell. "[Dispel]!"
The black thorns vanished, but the wounds remained.
"Quite nifty, lady. But it won't be enough. [Morir]."
"If you don't want to die, jump into the magic circle!" Left screamed.
Unaware of where it would lead, the group hurled their ragged bodies into the teleportation spell. They vanished just before death could reach them.
"They've teleported! Should we follow?" the orcs asked.
"No," the lich replied. "They'll be scattered throughout the mountain. I doubt they will survive."
The lich, conqueror of Mount Catan, did not give chase. He simply proceeded with his plan.
Darkness loomed overhead; moonlight showered down on the dead, and survivors fought for what lay ahead.
"I need to stop the bleeding."
Marx sat up on the damp earth, his body failing. "[Restoration]."
His wounds closed, and energy returned. "But where am... I?"
He looked around. The area was black and pungent, filled with rotting corpses. Marx created a simple light above his head. His heart sank as he realized where he had been sent.
"I am in Mount Catan?"