It was late afternoon as the sun cast a warm light in the streets of Hesa City.

The market district was now active after the matter with the previous Beast Horde calmed down… The business had already opened as the scent of roasted spices drifted from nearby food stalls.

Amid the bustle, the Eterna Mayonnaise Shop stood proudly on the corner of a busy intersection in the southern district…

Within the shop, there was a faint aroma of herbs and vinegar wafting from within.

Inside, Rayven was behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, assisting a pair of regulars with their order.

He assisted them with their various requests as he learned that these regulars would use the mayo not just for making sandwiches but also for salad… The vegetable salad here was actually becoming more and more popular thanks to the mayonnaise he had created.

When they asked how the mayonnaise was being sealed, Rayven scooped generous dollops of his signature blend into glass jars, sealing them with wax, and handed them over with a smile.

"Two jars of the garlic-basil blend, and one of the smoked pepper," he said. "That should last you through the week with this size..."

Just like that, the customers thanked him and left, chatting about dinner plans and the upcoming harvest festival.

Rayven wiped his hands on a clean cloth and turned to the next visitor.

It was a man with a wide-brimmed hat, a traveler's cloak, and a worn satchel that looked like it had seen every corner of the continent.

"Afternoon," the man said, tipping his hat.

"Name's Garlan. I'm a merchant out of Gloria City. Heard about your mayonnaise from a tavern cook near the gorge. Said it made snake meat taste like heaven."

'Snake meat?' Rayven mused… He hadn't tried it yet, even in his previous life. He may have eaten exotic foods before, like crocodile, capybara, and yak, but not the snake meat…

Rayven chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment. I heard snake meat's not easy to work with."

Garlan nodded as he leaned on the counter and scanned the rows of labeled jars behind Rayven.

"I'm looking to buy in bulk," he said. "Planning to take a few crates back to Gloria. Folks there are always looking for new flavors, and we've got plenty of meat to pair it with."

Rayven raised an eyebrow. "You deal in snake meat?"

"Among other things," Garlan replied. "Gloria's near the Orange Gorge. That place is crawling with Feral Rainbow Snakes. Nasty things, but they drop good loot… meat, snakeskin, fangs, even venom glands if you're careful when capturing them."

Rayven nodded, intrigued. "I've heard of them. Multi-colored scales, fast movers, right?"

"Exactly," Garlan said. "They shimmer like jewels when the sun hits them. Dangerous, but worth the risk. I've got a few hunters who bring in fresh kills every week. I trade the parts here in Hesa… I trade fangs for alchemists, skins for tailors, meat for taverns. Thought I'd add your mayonnaise to the mix."

Rayven smiled. "You've got yourself a deal. I can prepare three crates by tomorrow morning. That'll be thirty jars per crate… mixed flavors, unless you want specific ones."

"Mixed is fine," Garlan said. "I trust your judgment."

After negotiating the price, they shook hands, and Rayven noted the order in his ledger. Garlan paid upfront, tossing a pouch of silver coins onto the counter.

As they chatted further, Rayven learned more about Gloria City's trade routes, the snake hunters' group, and the strange alchemical experiments being done with venom extracts. Garlan was a friendly sort...

He was sharp, but easygoing. He had a way of making even the most dangerous beasts sound like business partners.

Rayven enjoyed the conversation. It was a welcome distraction from the usual routine.

But then, the bell outside the shop rang… Not the one on the door, but the one mounted on the city's central tower.

A moment later, a cryer ran down the street, voice raised in alarm.

"Attention! All citizens of Hesa City! The Mage Guild has confirmed a Dungeon Outbreak! Thousands of Iron Golems have emerged from the 17th Dungeon! The outpost has fallen!"

The street fell silent.

People stopped mid-step. Merchants froze at their stalls. Children clutched their parents' hands as they heard the Dungeon Outbreak!

They heard that it had happened in several Dungeons before, and it didn't end very well!

They could only think the troops sent by the Capital weren't doing their job properly and allowed this to happen!

Rayven stepped out from behind the counter as he continued to process the situation.

"What did he say?"

The cryer continued, breathless but loud.

"The golems are marching toward the city! Iron types have breached the valley! Silver Golems have been spotted! All able-bodied adventurers are to report to the guild! All merchants and civilians are to prepare for lockdown!"

Garlan's face darkened. "Silver Golems? That's not good."

Rayven looked around. The calm of the afternoon had shattered. Panic hadn't set in yet, but tension was rising fast.

He doesn't have an idea about the power of Silver Golems but it seemed that they were terrifying if the Arcanum Circle and all other factions or organizations weren't able to handle them...

He turned back to his shop, eyes scanning the jars, the crates, the ledger.

Soon, Rayven ordered the helpers to close the shop as they had to quickly take shelter. However, since Rayven was also an adventurer, he had to participate in this battle…

Suddenly, the black sludge on his boots moved a bit without Rayven's knowledge…

Up until now, Rayven was unaware that the very substance clinging to him was the reason the golems were coming.

Unaware that the Silver Golems weren't just marching toward Hesa City.

They were marching toward him!

***

After some time, Rayven arrived at the Adventurers Guild Hall just as the sun dipped below the rooftops.

The streets were no longer bustling with merchants and shoppers.

Instead, they were filled with movement of a different kind… There were guards in formation patrolling the surroundings, and there were also militia units hauling crates of arrows and spears, and mages from the local academy nervously waiting to be deployed…

As for Rayven, he started feeling something off about this Dungeon Break…

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