Chapter 380: Maximum Alert

“Lord Dimik, I don’t think this is the time for idle chatter.”

Hulim Heyerar spoke up, her voice calm but urgent.

“If we don’t hurry, it’ll be too late......”

It didn’t take long for Dimik to learn the full story from the three of them.

“What?! This is actually happening?!”

Dimik was utterly astounded, his face hardening with solemnity as he stared at the trio.

“Everyone, the exam is suspended indefinitely! Results will be held in abeyance. We must return to Bongisto at once and inform the Guild Master of this crisis!”

“Of course, Lord Dimik. We can’t match your speed—please go ahead first.”

“Understood!”

Dimik nodded sharply.

BOOM!

His eyes transformed into golden slit pupils, and a pair of magnificent dragon wings made of flame burst forth from his back.

WHOOSH——!

A fierce gust of wind swept through the air.

With a single flap of his wings, Dimik soared straight into the sky.

“Please relay this message to any other adventurers you encounter on the way! Tell everyone to retreat to Bongisto immediately! I’ll take my leave first!”

BOOM——!

With a resounding sonic boom, Dimik’s figure streaked toward Bongisto, shrinking rapidly into the distance.

As soon as he departed, Hulim and the other two sprang into action without delay.

......

The morning sun chased away the last vestiges of night.

Countless adventurers in Bongisto stepped out of their inns, ready to begin another day of quests. Even those who had camped out in the wilderness stretched lazily as they emerged from their tents.

Everyone went about their daily routines, completely unaware that this day would be anything but ordinary.

That was—until—

DONG! DONG! DONG......

The urgent toll of a bell echoed across the entire city of Bongisto.

The peaceful rhythm of daily life shattered in an instant.

In every street and alley, whether people were haggling over goods, enjoying breakfast at an inn, or crowding around the guild’s quest board, every single soul in Bongisto froze in their tracks.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, the city erupted into a flurry of motion.

“Hey! What’s going on?! Why is the bell of the highest alert ringing at this hour?!”

“I don’t know, but something huge must have happened!”

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“......”

After a brief lull, the entire city sprang into frantic action.

Patrons who’d been eating breakfast grabbed their food and gear, bolting out of inns in a hurry. Adventurers who’d been bargaining turned on their heels and raced toward the guild. Even vendors scrambled to pack up their newly opened stalls.

Panic, tension, and confusion spread like wildfire throughout the city......

“Hey! What the hell is going on here?!”

“Has anyone seen my party members?!”

“Someone give us an explanation!”

“Where are the guild officials?!”

“All party members assemble over here!”

“......”

A dense crowd of adventurers gathered in front of the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters, blocking the entire street from end to end.

Every single one of them was fully armed, their faces etched with nervousness and unease.

The din of their shouting merged into a deafening roar.

“Everyone, please calm down!”

A powerful voice, imbued with a hint of magical resonance, spread across the entire street.

The noisy throng of adventurers fell silent instantly.

All eyes turned upward, locking onto the figure hovering high above the guild building.

Firuvin scanned the crowd below, then spoke slowly and clearly,

“I am Firuvin Pohl Karl, Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild.”

“The Guild Master...... Is that the legendary Rank S adventurer?!”

“I never thought I’d get to see him in person!”

“Wait a minute—if even the Guild Master has come out, doesn’t that mean this crisis is really bad?!”

“N-No way! Is there something even the Guild Master can’t handle......”

The crowd murmured among themselves, their voices hushed, afraid to speak too loudly.

“I understand your anxiety, but I regret to say that the situation is indeed that dire.”

Firuvin’s words silenced the murmurs once more, leaving the crowd hanging on his every word.

“Tonight, every single dungeon surrounding Bongisto will be destroyed. All the magical beasts within will be unleashed. Bongisto—and even the surrounding regions—will face an existential catastrophe.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the adventurers erupted in an uproar of disbelief and terror.

“Guild Master! Is this true?! Is there no way to stop it?!”

Someone shouted at the top of their lungs.

“It is true.”

Firuvin nodded gravely.

“And at best, we can only mitigate the damage. We cannot avoid it entirely......”

“What?!”

The crowd exploded into chaos.

Firuvin did not try to silence them. Instead, he delivered an even more devastating truth.

“Prepare yourselves, everyone. This time...... many lives will be lost.”

With that, his figure slowly descended toward the guild building.

Once he vanished from sight,

a guild clerk stepped forward in front of the building, holding a magic megaphone, and announced loudly,

“All adventurers! Effective immediately, all regular guild functions are suspended. A single emergency quest is now active: Defend Bongisto. All adventurers are required to participate. Those who flee will be held accountable afterward!”

“Additionally, all High-Rank Adventurers and Rank B or higher combatants within the city are ordered to report to the guild hall immediately for assembly!”

“That is all!”

As the guild clerk turned and walked away,

the crowd erupted into a frenzy of discussion.

Firuvin’s public announcement had been like a bomb dropped on everyone’s heads, and the shockwaves were still spreading.

“Dammit! I only came to Bongisto because I heard there was easy money to be made! Why did I have to get stuck in this mess?!”

“Quit complaining! Nothing good ever comes cheap! I swear I’ll never be greedy again......”

“Listen up! Don’t get separated on the battlefield! Stick to formation at all costs—if we split up, we’re dead!”

“Any healers here? Urgently recruiting a healer! Generous pay!”

“Need a powerful ranged DPS! Anyone available?!”

“......”

While the area outside the guild devolved into a chaotic recruitment market,

on the top floor of the guild building, inside the Guild Master’s office—

a group of people had gathered in the room.

In the center of the room hung a holographic map, marking every single dungeon in the regions surrounding Bongisto.

Firuvin stared intently at the map before him, his expression unreadable.

After a long period of silence,

he turned to look at Hulim, who stood off to the side.

“Hulim—are you absolutely certain the time is midnight tonight?”

“I am certain.”

Hulim nodded firmly.

“In that situation, Karimal had no reason to lie.”

“......”

Firuvin fell silent once more.

After a long pause, he nodded slowly.

“Very well. I understand.”

He glanced around the room, his gaze sweeping over each person assembled there.

“You all know what’s at stake.”

“......”

No one spoke. Everyone waited silently for his next words.

“There is no doubt about it—Bongisto is facing a fight for its very survival......”

Firuvin spoke slowly, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility.

“In the time to come, I will assign each of you a mission. You must complete them as quickly as possible. Once your tasks are done, all of you are to return here for a final briefing.”

“Dimik——”