Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 31: Don't Be Ridiculous

Ethan Walker began his live stream at 5 in the morning. At present, he was outside the No. 3 White Tower in District 179, one of the marked dungeons of the Emerald Tempest Guild. The screen wobbled briefly before Ethan's face appeared in

the center.

"Hey there, can you hear me?" Ethan inquired into the camera.

The chat exploded with reactions:

- "Ethan, the legend!!"

- "Wow, Ethan Walker himself?"

- "You ghost, finally remembering to come back! Where have you been these past few days!"

- "Almost didn't recognize you."

- "Thought you might have accidentally perished in some dungeon."

- "Didn't you say you started your own guild? Why still soloing?"

- "Short on cash to hire members?"

"Haha, I know you all missed me," Ethan responded, his tone light but confident.

The chat was a mix of compliments and playful banter. With fame comes controversy; Ethan had no shortage of fans, but there were plenty who didn't see eye to eye with him. Ethan chose to treat all comments as friendly greetings. "Today's just a casual dungeon run, nothing too challenging. Just sit back and enjoy," he announced.

It was undeniable that Ethan was a star player of the White Tower, naturally attracting a large audience. Even at such an ungodly hour, his stream quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of viewers.

The chat continued to buzz:

- "Lol, Ethan Walker says 'nothing too challenging'."

- "For the newbies here, this guy has only ever completed two dungeons, both 3S-rank."

- "He seems physically fine, though mentally a bit off."

- "A bit off' might be an understatement for his mental state."

- "This side recommends prompt hospitalization."

- "Wonder what's the difficulty of today's dungeon?"

- "Ethan Walker's luck is notoriously bad, always ending up in 35 dungeons."

- "The Avalon Guild incident was more like an open-book test."

- "Here he goes, opening the box!"

- "Wait, is that a logo at the entrance?"

This time, Ethan didn't rush into the dungeon as he had in previous streams. He deliberately lingered at the entrance, appearing to some viewers as simply chatty after a long absence. However, the more observant among them spotted something intriguing.

- "Isn't that the emblem of the Emerald Tempest Guild?!"

- "Holy smokes, it's a marked dungeon!"

- "What's a marked dungeon?"

- "It's a dungeon scouted and prepared by top 20 guilds for recent expeditions. Ordinary players should steer clear, too risky."

- "I heard other guilds avoid these marked dungeons too, don't want to offend anyone."

- "Oh? Does Ethan not know?"

- "Ethan Walker, please read the chat! This is urgent!"

- "Run, Hammer, the Emerald Tempest is too big for us, a newly started guild, to handle!"

The chat became frantic, but Ethan seemed oblivious. He didn't glance at the stream's comments, instead surveying the tower's exterior thoroughly before finally noticing the palm-sized, celadon-colored guild emblem.

"What's this?" Ethan rubbed the emblem, but it remained intact. "Looks like a child's scribble," he commented nonchalantly and then stood up, pushing open the door of the White Tower.

The chat was frantic with concern:

- "Ethan Walker, use your brain for once!"

- "Ethan Walker's IQ has left the chat. Who lets kids play near the White Tower?!"

- "Is there anyone nearby to warn him? Offending a major guild isn't a joke!"

The White Tower treats all equally, but there are unspoken rules among guilds and players. Offending a top-ranked guild could lead to dire consequences. Such a guild might blacklist the offender, making other guilds and their members reluctant to associate or team up with them for dungeons. While Ethan is a lone wolf who prefers solo runs, not everyone possesses the strength for soloing. Many dungeons in the White Tower don't have a player limit, but ideally, a team should consist of 4-7 members. It's been calculated that teaming up significantly increases survival rates compared to soloing. Being ostracized by a major guild could spell doom in the White Tower's world.

The chat was worried for Ethan, but he seemed to ignore it.

"What's everyone talking about? You're typing too fast; I can't keep up. Anyway, let's start the dungeon," he said dismissively.

- "Wait! Look at the chat!"

- "I can already picture Ethan Walker being hunted by the Emerald Tempest."

- "Aren't the Emeralds showing up?"

- "After this, no one can say Ethan Walker has his wits about him. He's blind."

Ethan wasn't ignorant or inexperienced; he deliberately chose to venture into the marked dungeon. The members of the Emerald Tempest Guild, especially those at the teleportation room the previous night, knew it too. He was doing this on purpose!

Early in the morning, the duty officer responsible for monitoring the marked dungeons had woken up everyone, reporting that a player was about to enter a dungeon. Typically, this meant another guild was stirring up trouble, and the combat teams needed to assemble quickly at the White Tower, ready for both in-game and real-world confrontations.

The Emerald's three combat teams were prepared for action. But when they got dressed and arrived, they found a solitary figure outside the marked dungeon: Ethan Walker.

"Ethan Walker..." The monitoring room was bustling with activity, surrounded by key members of the Emerald Tempest Guild. Isabella Martínez watched the screen, her teeth gritted with frustration. Henrik Jensen observed silently. As the camera zoomed in, Ethan seemed to notice something. Was it a coincidence or deliberate? He turned towards the camera, which also meant facing the members of the Emerald Tempest, and curled his lips into a smirk. Members of the first team couldn't contain themselves.

"Captain, this is a provocation!"

"Yeah, Captain, he dares to tamper with our marked dungeon alone!"

"Usually, if another guild is causing trouble, they bring at least a dozen members!"

The usual strategy was to have five members enter the dungeon for combat, while the rest engaged in fights outside. The combat team members, young and brimming with confidence bolstered by the guild's prestige, were flabbergasted by Ethan's actions.

Tampering with a marked dungeon was like raiding a home; live streaming it was akin to making a public spectacle. It was as if a thief was beating drums and gongs outside your vault, ready to blast the door open. No one could tolerate such audacity.

Not only the regular viewers in the live stream but other guilds were also watching the spectacle unfold. The top 20 guilds had a group chat primarily consisting of guild leaders and key members. Usually, it was quiet except for a few chatterboxes, but at 5:30 AM, these night owls were stirred.

Sen MiaolJames Wilson: [Image]

Sen Miao James Wilson: Passing by on my morning run. Isn't this the Emerald's marked dungeon? Why's the door open

The other members in the guild group chat were eagerly watching the drama unfold in the live stream, waiting for someone to take the lead. With the unintentional provocation from James Wilson, the captain of the Sen Miao first team, the chat exploded.

Crystal Alliance Robert Green: He didn't open it himself, it's been pried open [Link to live stream]

Northstar Alliance Charles Mitchell: Who dares to tamper with a marked dungeon?

Titan Vanguard Samantha Carter: It's Ethan Walker, the rising star recently.

Eternal Dynasty Natalie Clark: Ethan Walker? Didn't he disappear for a few days? Where are the Avalon people? Speak up! @Avalon Guild Emily Johnson Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: ?

Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: Why am I being called?

Eternal Dynasty Natalie Clark: Why?! Your guild's Ethan Walker is entering a dungeon!

Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: First, Ethan Walker isn't part of our guild.

Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: Second, he's entering a dungeon? I'll take a look.

Emily Johnson entered Ethan Walker's live stream and casually sent a yacht emoji.

Eternal Dynasty Natalie Clark: ?

Eternal Dynasty Natalie Clark: Bro, don't be ridiculous. Open your eyes and see whose dungeon Ethan Walker is opening!

Emily, lounging in bed with her legs crossed, chuckled. Her fingers flew over the keyboard.

Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: Oops, my bad, didn't see it properly.

Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: That's the Emerald Tempest's marked dungeon. Natalie, why are you in such a hurry from Eternal Dynasty? I'll call someone. Avalon Guild Emily Johnson: @Emerald Tempest Guild Henrik Jensen, @Emerald Tempest Guild Isabella Martínez