Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain-Chapter 370: Meru dungeon

"You should all be curious about why we have called you here? So instead of going around in circles and wasting your time, I'll tell you the answer directly." Elder Xander stepped forward first and started speaking, "The world association has recently assigned all the academies a few dungeons, so the senior students can train and get used to fighting in different environments and worlds.

We've called you all here because we hope our first years can train in dungeons too."

"As you all know, the first year classes mainly consist of tutoring theory and friendly training battles, coupled with VR events, but after much thought the principal has decided to change some rules."

"You should know that this isn't a necessary test, or something that may affect your reputation or rankings in the long run, it's just an experimental thought for now.

You should all know the risks involved in a dungeon trip, the injuries, the fatalities and what not, so we can understand if someone wants to_ "

"And you said you won't waste time, tsk,." Hearing the whole lecture continuing, the Viking elder lost his patience and directly interrupted Xander.

"Listen up, you little twats, you're all going to a dungeon. If you're scared, getting cold feet, turn around and leave right now. Otherwise, raise your feet and go sit in that ship over there. You have half an incense of time to decide."

As soon as his words finished, the clouds in the sky parted ways and a huge mechanical ship appeared in the air.

Hearing the words of the elders, all the 50 top students were surprised. None dared to voice their thoughts out loud for elders to hear, so some discussions started amongst people through telepathy. Whatever friends and groups they had formed started discussing things amongst themselves.

Hearing the announcement Rio also looked at the stage and frowned.

'The plot of dungeon trainings should've only been started after the first semester.' He thought in his heart, wondering what change led to this situation.

[According to the novel, the principal always wanted to employ this method, but the academy council never approved it. It was only after the attack from Sin guilds during the semester exams which led to many deaths, that this idea was widely accepted. But now… .]

'Things are changing.' Rio said and closed his eyes, trying to guess what kind of dungeon he could be sent next.

Will it be something from the plot, or something new and never mentioned. An opportunity for Leon written in the novel, or something that's been made now just to accommodate his current situations. Thousands of thoughts raced into his mind in a matter of moments, yet none could give him a satisfying answer.

When he opened his eyes, the discussions around him were over, the half an incense of time that the elder allowed was soon over too. Rio watched as everyone looked at each other and after some hesitation and thoughts all the rankers started boarding the flying ship.

It was clear from their strength and expressions that no one wanted to back down, as for risks of dungeons and the rewards in return, no one dared to ask a question.

If the academy gives them something it's better, if not, it's just nice to have another dungeon experience. Plus many still had the illusion academy staff guarding in shadows, will save them if something happened.

"Let's go." Rebecca said as she held his hand and walked ahead. Her face brightened in a happy smile, after thinking it was their first adventure after two long years.

"See, you don't need to babble so much." Once all the students were gone from the ground, Elder Ragnar said and started walking on air in steady steps. His feet leading towards the deck of the ship.

Elder Xander looked at everyone's back and focused on the setting sun in the sky before turning to look at Leon walking away with broad shoulders, smiling as Vanessa explained something to him and he quietly listened.

Apparently this was his first dungeon trip. He had never set a foot outside the original Arcadia till now. All the adventures he had, all the strength he received was just honed by the guidance of Apollo and various runes and lucky encounters he could take part in.

He always wanted to clear the dungeons and towers, root out the threat of monsters from this world, and bring about a new dawn of peace, but somehow he was never able to do anything till now.

Looking at Leon's excited and carefree attitude, Elder Xander sighed and looked at the sky again, 'God Apollo, are you really sure it's him?' he couldn't help but give birth to a doubt in his heart, before shaking his head and pushing that rebellious thought aside.

The God of sun had prophesied years ago, that he will bring about a champion who will finish this war of emergence once and for all. And now Leon bears this responsibility on his shoulders.

'I will follow your commands and keep my faith in him too, god of sun. Let me train him to become the sharpest sword of justice this world has ever seen.'

. …

On the deck of the ship, Rio watched as Elder Xander disappeared into his private cabin, leaving only students in the open, who marveled at the methods of this magical artifact.

The flying ship was moving high above the clouds, turning the world at bottom into tiny dots and simple chunks of land.

The appearance of the airship was similar to what comes into one's mind hearing these words. Most of the parts were made out of high quality wood, parts of sanite tinder and laid with markings of runic inscriptions.

The edges of ship all had a covering of smooth metal that looked like simple iron or aluminum , but actually was an alloy called Dresta, carved and mined from the cores of materialistic dungeons and worlds of primitives.

According to archaeologists Dresta was something found only in the newly born worlds or planets who still haven't tapped into their original richness and resources. It's like the world had too much energy and too few people and too weak a vessel to hold it, thus it started mutating the metals and lands of ground. Hence came Dresta.

A marvel for metallurgy, which holds one of the highest magical conductivity and least mana resistance properties.

Other than this, at the head of the ship was a statue of an old man pointing forward with his cane, probably the man who owned this ship, or made it.

Flying artifacts are common in Arcadia, which can be bought with money at will around the various markets. But ships like these which can accompany so many people, plus have the functions of protection, mana gathering, aura refining and much more, are something very rare. These things can only be custom made with rich resources and trickier requirements.

Making only the rich and nobles afford to have them.

Ignoring everything around him, Rio walked at the front and stood beside elder Ragnar who was resting with his eyes closed. Feeling the cold wind brushing past his figure and clouds parting in fog after hitting the ship's structure, bringing a little moisture to skin's touch.

"Was it you?" Rio asked in a slow whisper, afraid to let anyone else hear his words.

Hearing the blunt and questioning tone by a youngling, elder Ragnar didn't frown or get angry, he just opened his eyes and smiled.

"What if I am." He replied, and looked at Rio with some interest in his eyes.

This kid was the first that actually dared to refuse him , in so so many years.

"Why?" Rio raised his eyebrows and asked again.

He was really curious about how this dangerous idea got accepted by the whole council without any opposition so soon.

"No reason." Elder Ragnar replied nonchalantly.

"The students can die in dungeons.."

"We didn't force them to enter."

"The academy hasn't informed anyone's parents yet, that's breaking a rule."

"We're the one who made them in the first place."

"What if something happens, a dungeon break, spatial shift, collapse - or anything else. Everyone here can die."

"They all know it, and they all still agreed to come."

After going back and forth in conversation with the professor, Rio couldn't help but frown even deeper. If it was just elder Ragnar nodding to a fight and death, he could accept it. The Vikings welcomed death with open arms.

But other elders and council members also agreed to let dungeon training happen for no reason so suddenly, there has to be something in shadows that he didn't know.

And that annoyed him.

"What's special about that dungeon?" He asked after some more thought.

But hearing his question the elder who was carefree till now gave a surprised look and then burst out laughing.

"Hahhaha hahaha you _ you're good, kid. Really good."

Hearing his answer, Rio looked at him and frowned, there was only one possibility and he didn't like it, not one bit. But just to confirm his doubts he opened his mouth and asked slowly, "An age restrictor…?"

"Meru dungeon."

Without waiting for Rio to finish his words, the elder interrupted and gave him an answer that stunned him for a few seconds.

"...You all are really greedy, aren't you?" Rio said and turned back to leave with a dark face. He already got the answer to why those old foggies in the academy council agreed to let freshies enter this time so suddenly.

They simply had no other choice.

The gains of conquering a meru dungeon were much too heavy to ignore just because of a little risk.

"Doing this for students, training the future generations, what a load of bullshit."

Rio couldn't help but curse as he looked below at the slowing down ship and noticed a portal emanating with green light ahead of them.

'He's mad, Something's wrong.' Not far away Amaya, who saw him leaving the place with an angry look, frowned and followed him.

No one else found anything wrong with this sudden new training method and accepted it easily, but just like Rio, she did. And it sure as hell bugged her even more after seeing him now.

'Should I ask him?' Amaya thought, but remembering that they weren't that close yet, she chose to wait a little and observe him more first.