Deep beneath the paved roads of Baidu City, inside the dark, damp sewage tunnels, a cold breeze carried the stench of stagnant water and decaying waste.
Water dripped rhythmically from cracks in the concrete ceiling, echoing through the cavernous underground network.
Three figures dressed in thick, pitch-black cloaks stood together in a dimly lit junction where four massive drainage pipes met.
Two of the men were tall and scrawny, their pale faces drawn tight over sharp cheekbones. Their eyes gleamed with a sinister, unsettled light as they fidgeted with small silver daggers strapped to their wrists.
Despite their restless energy, neither of them dared to make a sound or take a step forward.
They kept their heads bowed slightly toward the third figure in front of them: a quiet woman whose entire face was concealed behind a thick, dark veil.
She stood perfectly still, her hands folded neatly inside her wide sleeves. Although she did not display any visible aura or unleash any magical pressure, both men were sweating profusely under their heavy robes.
They knew better than anyone else in the city that her sheer power was far beyond their own comprehension.
A single displeased glance from her meant instant death.
"Are the core arrays set?" the veiled woman asked, her voice calm, cold, and melodic, cutting through the silence of the underground tunnel.
"Yes, Lady," the first scrawny man replied hastily, his voice trembling slightly. "The spirit markers have been buried beneath the four main drainage junctions as instructed."
"Good," the woman said, her eyes narrowing behind her veil. "Do not mess up this time. I will not tolerate another failure. The high-ranking Raiders from the local guilds are currently deployed deep in the Northern Wilderness for their seasonal hunt. The city defenses are at their absolute lowest."
"They will be completely caught off guard when a dungeon opens right in the middle of the city," the second scrawny man chimed in, grinning wickedly as he rubbed his palms together. "No one will be able to defend the area before the first wave of monsters devastates everything."
’First wave?’ the woman thought wickedly, ’it’s more than that...’ But she didn’t tell that to these two men, as dead men didn’t deserve to know more.
"That is the entire point," the woman said quietly. "We chose the city center specifically because it is barely thirty minutes away from Greymoor Academy. The government loves to preach about absolute security and safety. When a portal erupts right under their noses near their flagship institution, the morale of the citizens will shatter. They will realize that even with the academy present, they are never truly safe."
Both men nodded eagerly, their eyes flashing with cruel excitement.
"Activate the markers in ten minutes," the veiled woman commanded, turning her back to them and walking silently into the deep shadows of the northern tunnel. "Ensure the chaotic energy spreads cleanly. I expect total panic."
"Understood, Lady," the two men chorused in unison, bowing deeply until her shadow vanished completely into the dark.
Up on the surface, bright morning sunlight washed over the bustling streets of Baidu City’s central district.
Oscar walked calmly along the smooth stone pavement, his hands casually shoved into the pockets of his trousers.
Slung across his back beneath his light gray coat was the concealed frame of the Ironbite Crossbow, secured tightly with a leather strap.
Looking around the city center, Oscar could not help but feel a sense of genuine awe.
Unlike the towering glass skyscrapers he had seen in his past life, the architecture here was a striking mix of medieval European design and clean, high-tech modern infrastructure.
Multi-story stone buildings with steep pitched roofs, intricate arches, and stained-glass balcony windows lined the wide avenues.
Yet, embedded directly into those ancient stone facades were glowing neon signboards, automatic doors, and holographic city maps guiding pedestrians.
The streets were broad and lined with neatly trimmed green trees, while sleek, quiet electric transport buses moved smoothly alongside open-air markets.
"This place looks like a high-fantasy town built with modern technology," Oscar muttered softly to himself, taking in the vibrant atmosphere.
He was currently making his way toward the northern transit station to catch a ride to Greymoor Academy.
According to the city map on his phone, the main entrance of the academy grounds was only about a thirty-minute commute from where he stood.
Everything felt peaceful, civilized, and orderly.
Suddenly, a strange vibration rippled through the soles of his shoes.
Oscar stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he felt the stone pavement beneath his feet tremble slightly.
At first, he thought it was just a heavy construction vehicle passing nearby. But within seconds, the faint vibration transformed into a heavy, violent shudder that rattled the surrounding store windows.
A loud, ear-splitting sound echoed from the main plaza just two blocks away.
CRACK!
It sounded as if the earth itself were splitting in half. The heavy stone tiles on the pedestrian walk cracked open, and a pillar of murky, blood-red light erupted into the clear blue sky, towering over the four-story shops.
A collective wave of panicked screams instantly tore through the peaceful crowd.
"Dungeon portal! It’s a dungeon opening!" someone shrieked from the front of the avenue.
"Run! A wild dungeon is spawning in the center!" another voice screamed in sheer terror.
Pedestrians scattered in every direction, dropping their shopping bags and knocking over outdoor cafe tables in a desperate attempt to flee the area.
Parents grabbed their children, and shop owners scrambled to pull down their heavy steel shutters.
Oscar stood firm amidst the fleeing crowd, his hand instinctively reaching back under his coat to grasp the wooden grip of his Ironbite Crossbow.
’What the fuck?’ Oscar thought, his eyes locked onto the surging pillar of crimson energy. ’Didn’t the articles say wild dungeons almost never spawn inside the city limits? And why now?’
Was this main-character-level coincidence? Oscar suddenly recalled the meme that shows a peaceful city in one frame and destruction in another with the text, ’after MC visited’.
Before he could process the situation further, a guttural, bloodthirsty roar echoed out from the base of the crimson light pillar, shaking the dust off nearby rooftops.
ROAAAAAR!
The ground shook violently as a massive shadow burst through the red portal light and charged straight down the paved avenue.
It was a wild, monstrous bull the size of a large commercial car. Its skin was covered in thick, dark gray armor plates, and two massive, curved crimson horns extended from its thick skull, dripping with dark green saliva.
Its burning red eyes locked onto the fleeing citizens, and it lowered its massive head, smashing through parked vehicles and wooden market stalls like cheap toys.
"Get out of the way!" people screamed as the giant bull roared again, charging directly toward the crowded intersection where Oscar was standing.