Free Web NovelChapter 10: Resenia Town
Stepping out of a tall glass building, Dan Moriarty let out a slow breath. He had successfully registered as a Streamer, as a sleek GSA card rested in his hand, its surface containing his identity details.
But before that, he had already gone to the Metro City Institute of Astronomical Science and completed the necessary paperwork for his withdrawal. The process had been smoother than expected, almost as if that part of his life had been waiting to be closed.
"Good," he murmured. "No loose ends."
Everything was proceeding exactly as he had planned.
Now, he was heading toward his next target, a dungeon located not too far from the city. It was roughly two hours away from the GSA Metro City headquarters. Without wasting time, Dan Moriarty hailed a cab and got in, giving the driver the coordinates.
The vehicle soon merged into the flow of traffic, speeding toward the outskirts of the city. As the buildings gradually gave way to open roads, Dan Moriarty leaned back slightly, organizing his thoughts. The reason he had chosen this particular dungeon for his next stream came down to three key points.
First, after browsing through several forums frequented by beginner Streamers, he learned that the monsters in this dungeon averaged around Level 15. That was relatively high for a publicly accessible dungeon, which meant no major guild had claimed it as an exclusive territory.
Second, there was a hidden opportunity. At the end of a specific left path within the dungeon, a secret boss was rumored to appear. This boss had a chance to drop a Skill Core, a rare item capable of granting a random skill. While the exact skill varied across instances, the potential was undeniable. One Streamer had even claimed to obtain a short range teleportation ability from it.
Third, and most importantly, this dungeon belonged to a special category known among Streamers as a Living Realm. Unlike ordinary dungeons, it functioned as a gateway into an expansive, open world environment, filled with numerous NPC’s. And within that world existed multiple sub-dungeons, hidden zones, and evolving combat scenarios. It was immersive, unpredictable, and far more engaging for viewers.
"A perfect stage," Dan Moriarty thought.
Time passed quickly as the cab continued its journey. The scenery outside shifted from urban sprawl to quieter outskirts, and eventually to a more desolate terrain where the faint spatial distortions could already be seen in the distance.
"Hey, we’re here," the driver said, slowing the car to a stop near a restricted zone marked by warning signs.
Dan Moriarty stepped out, his eyes immediately drawn to the dungeon rift ahead. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Dan Moriarty mumbled, almost to himself, "It’s been two hours already..."
The driver cleared his throat, and announced, "That’ll be eight dollars."
Dan Moriarty turned to him, his eyebrow lifting slightly. "Eight dollars? For just this distance?"
The driver gave a slight shrug. "There’s a remote area surcharge, you see. And I’ll have to drive back empty."
Dan Moriarty’s arms crossed loosely over his chest. "Seven. I think that’s more than fair."
The driver shook his head instantly. "Impossible. At least seven-fifty."
Dan Moriarty’s gaze flickered from the driver to the long, empty stretch of road ahead, and he let out a quiet sigh.
"Alright then," Dan Moriarty conceded. "Seven-fifty. Not a penny more."
The driver hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Deal."
Dan Moriarty transferred the payment and turned away without another word, his gaze once again settling on the dungeon rift ahead.
Without wasting any further time, he stepped through the rift, entering the dungeon.
[Entering Dungeon...]
[Dungeon Entered: Resenia Town]
[Recommended Level: 9–15]
*****
A bright white flash engulfed his vision, and when it faded, what greeted Dan Moriarty was a bustling town. It was already night within this dungeon instance, and the setting was unmistakably western medieval. Stone paved roads stretched ahead, lit by flickering lanterns. People dressed in tunics and cloaks moved about, their chatter blending perfectly. Even the language, though automatically understood, carried a distinct foreign tone.
Everything pointed to a highly immersive and well simulated medieval world.
’Just like those online RPGs,’ Dan Moriarty thought as he scanned his surroundings. "If that’s the case, then gathering information comes first."
His gaze shifted toward a warmly lit building not far away. The sound of laughter, clinking mugs, and loud chatter spilled out from within.
A tavern.
"That’s the place."
A faint smile appeared on his lips. freēwēbnovel.com
"It’s best to head there first, pick up some leads, and then..."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"Begin the stream."
*****
Entering the tavern, Dan Moriarty’s gaze found the tavern keeper, a burly man with a thick beard and soot stained apron. Then, as Dan Moriarty stepped closer to the counter, nearing the burly man’s direction, the burly man froze mid-pour as his eyes locked onto the sword at Dan Moriarty’s hip.
He set the tankard down slowly.
The Tavern Keeper, raising an eyebrow said, "That’s... not something you see every day in these parts. Most folks here carry sticks or pitchforks at best."
A hush fell over the small crowd. Then, the keeper leaned on the counter slightly closer to Dan Moriarty, his voice dropping low. "You’re not one o’ them mercenaries from Auston... are ya? Or maybe... a hero fresh outta Ralia?"
"I am indeed a hero, and I came here after hearing that this town is facing a rather peculiar situation," Dan Moriarty replied calmly. He chose his words deliberately, neither too direct nor too vague, with the clear intention of drawing out information about the monsters in the area.
The tavern keeper’s expression darkened instantly. Around the room, a few patrons exchanged uneasy glances, and one man quietly made a warding gesture.
"Aye... that’s right," the keeper said in a lower voice. "Three days ago, the northern mine shaft, deep within Dwenia territory, collapsed during excavation. But it weren’t no cave-in... nor falling rock."
He paused, his jaw tightening slightly.
"...It was a beast attack."
A hushed murmur spread through the tavern. The air grew heavier.
Then, from one of the tables, a miner stood up. His clothes were stained with dirt that seemed impossible to wash out, his hands rough and calloused from years of labor. His voice came out hoarse, as if the memory still clung to his throat.
"We didn’t know at first," he said. "Just heard screams from down below... then nothing. Dead silence."
He swallowed hard.
"When we dug toward the source..." his eyes flickered, "we found claw marks. Wide as a man’s palm. And blood on the stone..."
He paused briefly.
"...blood that wasn’t ours."
Another patron spoke up from the side, his tone grim.
"And it weren’t no ordinary beast neither. Folks say it roared like something straight outta them old demon legends."
Dan Moriarty nodded, and it seemed his presence alone brought a sense of relief, as people gradually began to share their personal experiences with the beast attacks. These attacks weren’t limited to the mines alone; they had also been occurring along a dangerous stretch of road, making travel increasingly perilous for anyone passing through the area.
From what he gathered from everyone talking about their experience, the situation was worse than it had first appeared.
Dan Moriarty quickly understood, ’So this is how the dungeon is set up... I’ve been designated as the town’s sole hero. No wonder they’re all reacting like this,’ he thought.
He did not expose his thoughts. Instead, he stepped forward slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Do not worry," he said calmly, yet firmly. "Since I have arrived, I will deal with every single one of those monsters."
His tone carried confidence, and to the townsfolk, it sounded like a solemn vow of protection, as relief spread across their faces.
The tavern keeper nodded, then spoke with a more serious expression.
"If you’re thinking of heading out tonight, I won’t allow it," he said. "I’ll have my daughter prepare a room in the basement for you. Rest well. Judging by your appearance, your journey here must have been long. At dawn, you can strike with full strength."
Dan Moriarty shook his head lightly.
"There is no need. I am more than capable of fighting at night."
The tavern keeper frowned and immediately replied, "No, lad. You don’t understand. The mines at night are a different beast altogether. It’s as if some kind of demonic mist fills the place once darkness falls. Visibility drops, senses dull... even seasoned men don’t dare step in after sunset."
But then, after a brief back and forth, Dan Moriarty finally gave a small nod. "Very well. Then I shall rest for the night."
The tavern keeper’s expression eased.
"That’s more like it," he said, letting out a breath. "Come, I’ll have the room prepared."
