Dungeon King: The Hidden Ruler-Chapter 32

The forge was silent now.

Not just emptied—but calmed. Controlled.

Raven stood alone near the Soulbrand Smithy. His cloak rustled softly in the ambient heat as he retrieved the three original runestones and the fourth, now faintly glowing from its role in the reforging ritual. They slid into his inventory with a quiet pulse—simple items, easily overlooked.

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The true reward was already hidden in his gear window:

Visage of the Hollow Forge, unequipped, quiet. Its clamps retracted, folded neatly into their dormant configuration.

But before he left, he stood still and listened.

The dungeon's final chamber had only one exit now—an active dungeon portal, glowing blue in the distance, leading back to the scorched canyon ridge above.

Time to surface. But not with this face.

His hand hovered near the Dominion Chain, and the still-cooled mask resting in his equipment menu.

He scanned the area one more time.

Even without the chain and mask, he had decent perception skills—but unequipping them lowered both his stealth and detection thresholds by a noticeable margin.

No hidden players. No tracking flares. No camouflaged movement.

He tapped the air twice.

[Unequip: Visage of the Hollow Forge]

[Unequip: Dominion Chain – Outer Bind State]

His silhouette softened. The burning eyes dimmed. And once again, he looked like just another high-level rogue-type player—no title, no aura, nothing special.

With a final glance at the dormant forge, he stepped into the portal.

The sky above Emberstone Burrow had returned to its usual dusky red, the smoke from distant skirmishes curling lazily across the canyon. Raven emerged from the portal without fanfare, boots crunching against broken stone.

Players and NPCs milled about the edge of the outpost, quest boards flickering, warbands forming. Few paid him any attention.

He moved straight toward the central firepit, where a familiar voice called out.

"Well well—look who made it back."

Sergeant Grenthor, still posted near the worn-out battle map, raised an eyebrow as Raven approached.

"You got something for me, mercenary?"

Raven nodded and opened his inventory, selecting the Forgekeeper's Core and the three runestones.

[Quest Turn-In: Emberstone Burrow - Control Runestones Recovered (3/3)]

[Bonus Turn-In: Forgekeeper's Core (Optional)]

A low chime echoed from the system.

Grenthor grunted in approval. "The Core, too? Hah. Didn't expect that." He took the items and turned toward the map.

"The fire sleeps once more. The smiths of Emberstone will rest easy in the Hall of Brass."

[Quest Complete – Rewards: XP Granted, Reputation +120 – Velkarin Axis Faction]

[System Log: Normal Dungeon Progression Concluded]

Raven gave a short nod, turning as if to leave.

But fate, as always, had other plans.

"Yo."

A voice rang out nearby.

Unfamiliar. Relaxed. A little too friendly.

Raven turned—carefully, casually.

A tall rogue-type player stood a few steps away, dressed in dark leather with a crimson-bladed insignia stitched into his shoulder guard. His name hovered above him: Kargelus – Crimson Blades.

The man gave a casual nod. "Didn't expect to see someone from Crimson out here this early."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "I'm not with Crimson."

Kargelus blinked. "Oh—huh. My bad. You've got the same vibe. Quiet. Creepy cloak. Thought you were one of ours."

Raven offered a faint smile. "Easy mistake."

Kargelus glanced toward the Emberstone portal behind him. "You waiting on someone?"

Raven shook his head. "Just finished raiding with my three friends."

Kargelus squinted. "Huh. I didn't see anyone else come out."

Raven didn't miss the edge in the question. He answered smoothly, "They already logged out inside the dungeon. It was their second run—just came for the loot and dipped."

Kargelus gave a slow nod, still watching him a moment longer than necessary. Then shrugged it off. "Fair."

A brief silence passed.

"You here for the war?"

Raven tilted his head. "War?"

Kargelus grinned. "Yeah, guild war, man. Full war schedule dropped last night. Crimson's setting up camp to get rid of Ebonreach Covenant. We're claiming Emberstone for good."

Raven didn't reply immediately.

Then: "I see. Sounds messy."

"Hell yeah," Kargelus said, already half turned to leave. "But it'll be worth it. No more split runs. No more randoms farming our loot. We lock it down, suppress the gate, and farm this place dry."

He gave Raven a lazy salute. "Unless you're with Ebonreach—then it's on sight."

Raven chuckled. "Nope. Not with them either."

"Cool. Then you're good." Kargelus waved, then disappeared into the canyon path beyond the ridge.

Raven stood still, gaze lingering on the Emberstone portal, then drifting toward the ridge below.

A war between Crimson Blades and Ebonreach. In his dungeon.

Not ideal.

Not yet a problem.

But if left alone? It would be.

His mind ticked through the possibilities—spawn rotations, drop rates, PK patterns, guild respawn cycles.

Then, quietly, he turned back to the dungeon.

Here we go again.