Max was seated on a train that floated just above the tracks and shot into the distance. The interior of the train resembled any other, with many people seated beside him on either side. He had taken the train because the Burning Wilds dungeon was situated in the Outer Circle of the East Region.
The entire East Region could be summed up in three main regions. The first was the Outer Circle, where Max was headed. It was the most chaotic place in the entire region.
Many, if not all, kinds of dungeons could be found there, regardless of rank, making the area highly suitable for hunters. Because of this, each of the top guilds and other powers had built a base of operations in this region, while the Union Vanguard, the military or government organization, held the highest authority here.
Due to the abundance of dungeons, the Outer Circle hadn't been developed much. Deep forests, deserts, and other untamed terrains dominated the landscape. Worst of all, humans hadn't fully explored the area, making it the most dangerous place in the East Region.
However, the sheer number of dungeons also made it the most popular region in the East.
Meanwhile, the area where Max lived fell under the jurisdiction of the Inner Circle. This region could be described as the most basic place in the East Region. Excluding the top families and guilds, most people called the Inner Circle home.
Essentially, the Inner Circle was where the majority of the population resided, given its proximity to the Outer Circle and the rarity of dungeon appearances within it.
Even the few dungeons that did appear were of low rank and were usually handled by either the top guilds, the Hunter Association, or the local branch of the Union Vanguard stationed there.
[The train has reached Badlum District of the Inner Circle. It will stop here for ten minutes before departing.]
"That's my stop." Max stood up and exited the train.
What greeted him was a dense forest, with tall trees and vines hanging from their branches. Max surveyed the area and noticed numerous paths leading into the forest, each in a different direction.
He also observed several other people nearby. Some were seated in the resting area or at the station, while others formed groups of three or four, discussing their plans.
Seeing this, Max brought his left arm closer and tapped on his wristband.
A green holographic screen floated above his arm, casting a faint glow on his face. He tapped the screen a few times, and it transformed into a map marked with two symbols: a triangular marker and a red dot.
"It's good that the map to the Burning Wilds was free," Max muttered softly. "So, the triangular marker is me, and the red dot is the Burning Wilds dungeon. The yellow path among the various white paths should be the one I follow."
"Let's head in then." He smiled, took out a circular disc, and threw it to the ground. Before it could touch the surface, it transformed into a hoverboard.
Max jumped onto the hoverboard and flew away following the path displayed on his holowatch. Along the way, he noticed many others heading in the same direction, though their modes of transportation varied.
While many used hoverboards, the majority relied on vehicles provided by the Union Vanguard. These were large enough to accommodate at least 30 people but required a significant sum of money to use.
For Max, the hoverboard was the best option, given his lack of funds and his proficiency in using it. If an unforeseen situation arose, he could escape quickly.
Some time later, Max arrived at a large crowd.
'This is the place,' he thought as he dismounted and stowed away the hoverboard. He moved closer to the crowd.
Dungeons could be explored multiple times, but Max didn't know the specifics of this one. He had scheduled his entry for 12 o'clock sharp, meaning many others would also be entering the dungeon to clear it.
He checked the time and saw he still had half an hour before his party was set to enter. Deciding not to rush, he approached the portal.
That's when he noticed the portal's perimeter was surrounded by people in military attire. A group of them stood at a distance, observing the crowd.
"A lot of people have gathered for the dungeon," Max muttered, noting the large number of people waiting to enter the Burning Wilds.
As he scanned the crowd, his attention was drawn to a group making their way toward the portal. They appeared to be in their twenties, and all five members stood out for their strength at level 10 of the Novice Rank.
Max was surprised. 'All five of them are at level 10 of the Novice Rank. They must be experts,' he thought.
"Look, the Bouncer Squad is here."
"I heard they're very efficient with F-rank dungeons."
"They are, but they're also cowards for refusing to advance to the Apprentice Rank."
"Well, can you blame them? They're making good money clearing F-rank dungeons."
"Huh, they're just scared. If they advance to the Apprentice Rank, they'll start over at level 1 and become the weakest in that rank. Most importantly, they'll lose the ability to enter F-rank dungeons, which would lead to their squad's downfall."
"True, but the Bouncer Squad isn't the only group doing this. Plenty of squads stay in the same rank and earn a hefty sum every day."
"I also heard that one of the top five guilds have took them in. Though this is still a rumor as of now."
The crowd buzzed with discussions about the Bouncer Squad. Though their exploits were well-known, most people disdained their methods.
'Staying in the same rank just to earn money is stupid,' Max thought, shaking his head. He understood that the value of drops from monsters in E-rank dungeons and above would easily surpass what the Bouncer Squad earned in a month.
'Are they here for the Burning Wilds dungeon?' Max wondered. He wanted to test his strength against the boss, but with the Bouncer Squad involved, it would be difficult.
'But who hired them?' The question lingered in Max's mind.