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.

were, none of them would flinch at the slightest sign

women who braved themselves for

so… they couldn't escape the

**********

~CREEEAAAK!~

massive gates opening caused everyone's excited faces

one smiled any

out from within the

come this

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

was already a massive fortress, so it made sense for its

Then—

now begin the first Grand Calamity Class Dungeon Conquest since three hundred years ago!" Guildmaster Richard's voice filled the

tightened their hold on their weapons

late for those having second thoughts

crowd of ten thousand was about to march forward at the signal of the Guildmaster. It would be

"CHARGE FORTH!"

crowd dominated the space and everyone rushed forward

for power…

matter what their motivations

that mattered was the Dungeon in front of them, and the sole

********

'The Miasma is bearable…'

this as he and his team stepped into the massive hall

was too large that massive felt

walls, so it wasn't entirely dark. Yet, the looming shadows around could not

an air of unease as Rey carefully observed his

the ground and ceiling was about a hundred meters, and the entire space around felt overwhelmingly big—even

the 99th Floor of the Royal Dungeon, where the

simply the influence of some kind of

Rey couldn't tell.

the Adventurers trailed in, having more than enough to occupy the room, and their numbers

of black stone, and the ancient

abandoned castle of sorts, with an unbelievably large flight of