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The dungeon core continues to absorb the power of the Demon Realm.
When the accumulated power of the Demon Realm exceeds the core's endurance, a dungeon core amplification occurs.
This completes a dungeon core capable of holding even stronger demonic power.
This is what humans call the 'dungeon core amplification' phenomenon.
Dungeon core amplification.
This is the biggest reason monsters cross over into the human world.
Monsters drawn from the Demon Realm to the dungeon by the dungeon core's power rarely venture outside the dungeon.
This is because the environment inside the dungeon is better for them than the human world.
However, there are times when these monsters rush out of the dungeon, and that is when a dungeon core amplification occurs.
When a dungeon core amplification occurs, the first to cross over is the monster that will become the new owner of the dungeon.
Then, the existing dungeon boss must either fight the newly arrived monster or willingly relinquish the dungeon.
If there is a significant difference in their levels, the existing boss usually gives up the dungeon and retreats on their own.
Starting with the dungeon boss, a major overhaul of the monster ecosystem within the dungeon occurs.
The enlarged dungeon core continues to attract more powerful monsters, and the relatively weaker monsters that were there before are driven out of the dungeon.
The monsters expelled from the dungeon then settle in the human world.
"So Davian, are you saying a dungeon core amplification has occurred? Then that giant spider was a D-rank dungeon boss?"
"Yeah. If we hadn't come in here, it would have killed or driven out the minotaur, who was an E-rank dungeon boss, and become the new owner of this dungeon."
"When we came in, this was an E-rank dungeon, right? Does that mean it's now D-rank?"
"Yep, that's right."
"Hic, so Davian, you just took down a D-rank dungeon boss monster all by yourself? Just like that?"
"I guess so."
Nubes, who had been listening to Samantha and Davian's conversation, waved his hands urgently as if something had just occurred to him.
"T-Then we need to go back quickly and tell the academy about this! There's quite a big village east of this forest! Soon all the original E-rank monsters will be driven out of the dungeon, right? Then the people living nearby will be in danger!"
Samantha, her eyes wide, agreed with Nubes.
"T-That's right! When a dungeon core amplification occurs, a huge number of monsters suddenly appear in that area! The villagers are in danger!"
Davian said in a calm voice.
"Are only the villagers in danger? You guys here are in the most danger."
"Huh?"
"Ah!"
"Alright, the midterms are over. You two go back quickly and tell the academy about this."
"What about you, Davian?"
"I'm going to destroy this dungeon."
"What?"
"If we leave it as it is, this area will be swarming with monsters driven out of the dungeon, as you said. I'm going to get rid of this dungeon before that happens."
Nubes stared blankly at Davian, his mouth open.
He looked deeply moved.
"Alright. I'll join you, Davian. I knew you were a good guy, but I didn't know you were this awesome. Risking your life to destroy the dungeon for the sake of the villagers. I, Nubes Arbo, will stay here and join Davian Naone in his cause!"
Samantha, who was next to Nubes, clenched her fist and shouted.
"M-Me too! I'll stay here and join you guys too!"
They were two overly righteous and emotional friends.
However, Davian didn't care much about the safety of the people in the nearby village.
They were people he had never met.
The real reason Davian decided to destroy this dungeon was completely different.
In the game 'Elton Academy,' there are no concepts like levels or experience points.
Progressing through the given story and clearing events and quests is the fastest way for players to grow, earning Mana Points, skills, items, etc.
However, there are several ways to earn a large amount of Mana Points regardless of the main story, and one of them is the 'Dungeon Core Destruction Event.'
The Dungeon Core Destruction Event occurs every time the final boss of a dungeon is defeated.
If you accept the event and destroy the core of the dungeon where the final boss has disappeared, the dungeon will completely disappear from the human world after a short period of 30 minutes to a few hours.
Instead, a huge monster wave occurs inside the dungeon until it disappears.
This is due to the power of the Demon Realm emanating from the destroyed dungeon core.
And every time you defeat a monster in that monster wave, Mana Points are accumulated.
Davian in his third playthrough used the summer and winter vacations of his fifth year to destroy several dungeons and accumulate Mana Points.
The reason he could properly utilize the Dungeon Core Destruction Event only in his fifth year of the third playthrough was the difficulty.
He wasn't stupid enough to risk his life just to accumulate some Mana Points.
And now, in his fourth playthrough, he has the skills to clear a D-rank Dungeon Destruction Event alone.
'Now that I've even done a double major, there's no way I can just pass up an opportunity to boost my inner and outer power.'
Without hesitation, Davian walked towards the huge iron door on the other side.
Nubes and Samantha followed him.
Wind elemental magic arose from Davian's hands, pushing the huge iron door open.
Squeak.
"Wow, he opened such a big iron door without even touching it."
"Samantha. Is that really the thing to be surprised about with Davian now?"
"Ah. I guess not."
The three of them passed through the final boss's room and entered the place where the dungeon core was located.
Whoosh.
In the center of the room, where geometric patterns were engraved on everything from the floor to the walls and ceiling, a rough, spherical dungeon core floated in the air.
It was strongly vibrating and emitting a dark aura, as the dungeon core amplification had just taken place.
"So this is the room where the dungeon core is……."
"How are you going to destroy that, Davian?"
"It's not that difficult. It's usually difficult to get here."
Without hesitation, Davian walked to the dungeon core, grabbed the ice sword in both hands upside down, and stabbed it deeply into the upper part of the dungeon core.
Crack, crack!
Cracks formed in the dungeon core, and the vibration intensified.
"D-Davian! Is this okay?"
"A monster wave will start soon. Let's get ready."
"Huh? Okay. Are we going to do the same combination we've been practicing?"
"No."
"No?"
Davian pulled the ice sword out of the dungeon core and turned around.
"Nubes. It might be more dangerous than you think, so absolutely do not step forward. Stay close behind me with Samantha. Protect Samantha well with your shield."
"Just hide behind you?"
"Yeah. I'm saying this for your sake. Samantha, it would be helpful if you could shoot arrows from time to time."
It was then.
Even though it was a space blocked on all sides except for the entrance they came through, the wall opposite Davian's group slid back with a whoosh.
"Wh-What is it?"
"The wall is moving away!"
The wall wasn't moving away.
The power flowing out as the dungeon core was destroyed was creating a passage to the Demon Realm.
Before they knew it, the wall had disappeared, and in its place was a dark, deep hole with no end in sight.
They could even see the black aura blazing out of the hole.
Thump!
A huge green foot popped out of the abyss-like hole.
"Krrrk!"
Following the foot was the upper body. A green monster boasting great strength and extreme regenerative power, a troll.
Nubes, who was crouching with a shield and tense shoulders, opened his mouth.
"If it's just a troll, I think we can handle it."
Samantha, who had been drawing her bow behind Nubes, released the tension in her fingers.
Whoosh.
Thud!
An arrow that had cut through the air was lodged in the troll's chest.
"Krrrk!"
The troll looked down at its chest and raised its right hand to pull out the arrow. Green blood splattered everywhere.
But only for a moment.
The blood that was flowing out soon stopped.
The tissues of the wound where the arrow had been lodged were seen wriggling.
At that moment.
Whoosh.
Davian, who had jumped high and shot towards the troll, swung the ice sword in a long arc.
The troll belatedly tried to raise its club and swing it, but Davian's speed was much faster.
The ice sword passed through the troll's neck with precision.
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[D-rank Monster Wave Started]
―Troll Killed: +20 Mana Points (x2)
=====
"Is this it?"
"Yes, Dean of the Department of Magic. There should be a dungeon entrance around here."
Professor Stella looked around, turning her head this way and that.
"Professor! There!"
Professor Stella pointed in one direction with a surprised expression.
It was the place where the dungeon entrance that Davian's group had entered was located.
The eyes of Shirims, the Dean of the Department of Magic, who turned his head at Stella's shout, also widened greatly.
"The dungeon entrance is disappearing?"
"Yes, I don't think it's possible to enter anymore. Could it be that the students destroyed the dungeon core?"
"……Is there a village near here?"
"I know there's a fairly large village east of the forest."
The eyes of Shirims, the Dean of the Department of Magic, sharpened.
'Davian, that kid, did he do it on purpose……?'
Dungeon core amplification is a phenomenon that poses a major threat to the human world.
This is because the monsters in the dungeon are replaced with higher-ranked ones, and the existing monsters are pushed out of the dungeon.
Therefore, the royal family puts a lot of effort into preventing dungeon core amplification.
They explore dungeons regularly, rate their grades, and clearly record when dungeons are created and when amplifications occur.
And when dungeon core amplification is about to occur in high-ranking dungeons, they dispatch troops in advance to destroy the dungeon core.
However, it is impossible to destroy all the dungeons throughout the continent one by one.
Moreover, it is not easy to accurately predict dungeon core amplification.
"The royal family wouldn't send troops to a dungeon with only an E-rank scale, even if dungeon core amplification occurs."
"Yes? What are you suddenly talking about?"
"Of course, the village near here will be devastated, but it can't be helped. They can't dispatch royal troops just to stop the monsters that will be pushed out of an E-rank dungeon. To do so, they would have to use the entire royal army just for dungeon control."
"Ah, I know that too. At least when dungeon core amplification occurs in dungeons of B-rank or higher, they dispatch the royal army in advance to destroy the dungeon."
"But I heard that it was different a long time ago, when King Eriam Alkanzia, the first king, was alive. The first king, who valued the safety of his people above all else after unifying the continent, operated the entire army he had raised to unify the continent for dungeon control."
"But why are you saying that now……?"
"Davian Naone, who is inside there. I think he saw that dungeon core amplification had occurred and destroyed the dungeon core. Knowing that a big disaster would occur in the nearby village otherwise."
Professor Stella looked at the disappearing dungeon entrance with surprise.
"Yes? A D-rank monster wave will start if you destroy the dungeon core now that the dungeon core amplification has already occurred!"
"He must know that too. Seeing him destroy the dungeon core without fear means he has some knowledge of dungeon core amplification."
"Then what do we do now? Dean of the Department of Magic. There's no way to help the students inside anymore!"
"We have to wait. This moment will either be the end of a reckless, immature boy, or……."
Professor Shirims didn't bother to say the rest out loud.
'Or the moment when an academy freshman starts to take heroic steps.'
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