An Extra’s POV

Fear of the UNKNOWN.

It is a popular term coined by those who lived in the world.

But how true is it, really? Do humans really fear the unknown?

What of children—babies, even?

They know nothing, yet fear is such a distant emotion for them.

For most, fear is taught… alongside pain, in a way to determine the difference between right and wrong.

… Good and evil.

The fear of the unknown does not exist.

Ignorance never breeds fear—at least not directly. Instead, it is the catalyst for a process that eventually leads to fear.

When we come into the world, we know nothing.

We fear nothing.

But, we grow curious. Then, we learn. We receive the taint of knowledge, which then brings us to a particular point.

The point where we know that there are things that we do not know—blots in existence that hide forbidden truths from us.

This is what breeds fear.

And so, as they stood before overwhelming gates that lead to a place none of them understood, the Adventurers weren't scared because of their ignorance.

No, they were frightened because they had knowledge.

They knew what had happened to their predecessors who took on this impossible task. They knew how fatal Miasma was. They knew what it meant to feel pain… to suffer… to watch others die, and to nearly die themselves.

That was what caused the fear to sprout.

They were not innocent lambs being led to the slaughter, neither were they babies who embodied ignorance.

of them would flinch

and women who braved themselves for the darkness to come were

so… they couldn't

**********

~CREEEAAAK!~

gates opening caused

one smiled any longer—not

from within the

this far

entrance was almost fifty meters in height alone, and it was so wide that a hundred people could walk

so it made sense for its entrance to

Then—

first Grand Calamity Class Dungeon Conquest since three

tightened their hold on their weapons and readied their trembling

was too late for those having second thoughts to

of ten thousand was about to march forward at the

"CHARGE FORTH!"

a thunderous yell from the crowd

for power…

motivations

of

********

'The Miasma is bearable…'

this as he and his team stepped into the massive hall of the

too large that massive felt

flames burned eternally atop vials that hung on the walls, so it wasn't entirely dark. Yet, the looming shadows around could not be

of unease as Rey carefully

a hundred meters, and the entire space around felt overwhelmingly big—even for the

99th Floor

was simply the influence

Rey couldn't tell.

having more than enough to occupy the room, and their numbers didn't even exceed the first half of the room's total

of black stone, and the ancient walls

like an abandoned castle of sorts, with an unbelievably large flight of stairs standing an impossible