The news of the dungeons’ appearance reached the ice-locked Antarctic Research Station on the very same day they emerged. In a place where entertainment was a rare commodity, the topic spread like wildfire, and soon, the personnel could talk of nothing else.
"Hey, did you hear? Apparently, dungeons are appearing all over the world."
"Dungeons? You mean like the ones from video games?"
"That’s the word. Vicious monsters are supposedly inside them, too. I heard a lot of civilians who rushed in have already been killed or injured."
"Ugh, what are the police and military doing? If they’re that dangerous, they should have blockaded them immediately to keep people out..."
"It sounds like there are just too many of them to handle. Besides, information about treasure being found has been leaking online, so greedy people are dodging security and diving in without a plan. That’s why the casualties are so high. It hasn't been that bad in Japan, but from what I hear, things are a mess abroad."
With cups of sake in hand, the men used the dungeon news as a garnish for their drinks. Stationed at the edge of the world, thousands of miles from the mainland, their interest in this global catastrophe was exceptionally high.
"So, do you think one of those dungeons appeared here in Antarctica, too?"
"It’s a global event. It wouldn’t be surprising."
"I see..."
"What, you want to go in? Forget it. From what we’ve heard, it’s incredibly dangerous."
The man who had brought up the topic offered a sharp warning to his companion, who looked as though a reckless idea were taking root in his mind.
"Life here is already harsher than on the mainland. If you get seriously hurt, you’re dead. There’s no way the infirmary here could handle a major surgery."
"I know that. But there’s no harm in being curious."
"As long as it stays just curiosity."
The men ended their discussion there and moved on to other topics. Despite their interest, information was still too scarce for a deep debate.
The following morning, however, every member of the station was summoned to the briefing room. As the crew whispered amongst themselves, the Vice-Captain stepped onto the podium with a grim expression.
"Gentlemen. As the rumors have likely informed you, unknown structures known as dungeons have appeared across the globe. The entire world is currently scrambling to respond to this crisis."
The Vice-Captain’s stern demeanor made the gravity of the situation clear. The room tensed as the personnel leaned in to listen. After a heavy silence, he got to the point.
"And we are no exception."
"..."
"Our overwintering team has been ordered to conduct an initial exploration of the dungeons that have appeared on the Antarctic continent."
The room erupted into an uproar.
"Is that for real, Vice-Captain?!"
"We’re entering the season where a blizzard could strike at any moment!"
"We don't have fuel or supplies to spare for this! A wide-range outdoor mission wasn't part of the plan..."
Complaints and concerns flooded the room. The station’s supplies were carefully rationed according to a strict yearly plan; while they had a safety margin, they were far from abundant. Diverting resources for an unscheduled exploration meant eating into their emergency reserves—a move that was rarely advisable in such an unforgiving environment.
From February to October, the station was effectively cut off from the outside world. Without the possibility of resupply and with the weather turning treacherous, the crew’s opposition was only natural.
"Quiet! I’m not finished!"
The Vice-Captain’s shout silenced the room. Once order was restored, he dimmed the lights and powered on the projector.
"First, look at this satellite footage."
An image of the continent appeared on the screen.
"Is that... Antarctica?"
"Yes. This was taken yesterday and sent to us this morning along with our orders."
"Those dots scattered across the continent... are those the dungeons?"
"Precisely. Based on satellite identification alone, there are over a hundred of them in Antarctica."
"A hundred..."
The crew stared at the screen, stunned by the sheer number.
"And that’s a conservative estimate. These are only the ones visible from orbit. We have no way of knowing how many are buried under the snow or submerged beneath the ice. We won't know the true total without boots on the ground."
The team studied the markers. Most were clustered along the coastlines or near the peaks of high-altitude mountains, with only a few scattered across the deep interior.
"As you can see, the coastal and mountain sites are easy to spot. However, given it's winter, the ones inland are likely already buried. Therefore, our primary objective is to survey the dungeons along the coast."
The Vice-Captain marked several locations near the research station.
"These are the ones closest to us. For the safety of this station, we must explore these ten sites to determine if they pose an immediate threat."
A survey of ten dungeons would be a grueling task, requiring long marches through the snow.
"Exploration is already underway back home by the Self-Defense Forces and the police. We will wait until they’ve gathered more data, but I expect we’ll be heading out in less than a month."
The Vice-Captain’s tone left no room for negotiation. The mission was a certainty.
"I will announce the selection members later. Be prepared."
"What are the selection criteria?"
"I’ll prioritize volunteers first. If we don't get enough, I’ll select based on martial arts experience and fieldwork proficiency."
The crew looked at one another. After a moment, several hands went up. Though their faces betrayed a lingering anxiety, their eyes gleamed with an undeniable spark of curiosity.
"Very well. I’ll finalize the selection team centering on those who just volunteered. You’ll receive your assignments shortly. Dismissed!"
Three weeks later, a snowmobile carrying the selected team moved toward the nearest dungeon, located thirty kilometers from the station.
"Mainland reports say the monsters on the first floor usually appear one at a time and aren't that strong," the Captain said over the comms. "But don't get careless. They’re still as dangerous as any wild predator."
"Understood, Captain. No one wants to get hurt out here."
"Good. It looks like we’re here. Everyone, prepare to disembark!"
The team stepped out into the biting, sub-zero winds. Once everyone was ready, the Selection Team Captain took the lead and stepped through the dungeon entrance.
"...The blizzard isn't coming inside."
"You're right. It’s like there’s a wall at the entrance. Is the interior completely isolated from the outside?"
"I couldn't say. But it’s certainly different."
The Captain checked his thermometer. It was minus ten degrees Celsius—bitterly cold by normal standards, but a tropical reprieve compared to the storm outside.
"If it’s this warm, we might as well make ourselves comfortable."
The Captain began shedding his heavy outer parka. The thick jackets were essential for the Antarctic wind, but they were too bulky for combat. To ensure they could move freely against any monsters, the rest of the team followed suit, stripping down to their mid-layers and lightening their packs.
"Alright, let's move."
Armed with heavy-duty metal shovels and pipes, the team ventured deeper into the dungeon.
After twenty minutes of silent trekking, a pure white penguin rounded a corner and stood before them. It was about sixty centimeters tall. The moment it spotted them, it let out a low, earth-shaking rumble of a growl. Because it looked so much like the penguins they knew, the men froze in surprise.
Seeing their hesitation as a weakness, the creature crouched low and launched itself at them like a white bullet.
"Gah!"
The men scrambled to the left and right, barely dodging the penguin's sharp, lunging beak. The monster landed and immediately pivoted for a second strike.
"Look out! Move!"
The man at the rear was still on the ground, his posture too awkward to dodge the incoming leap. As the penguin took flight, everyone envisioned the beak buried in their comrade's back.
But the killing blow never landed.
"Hyaaah!"
"Gwaack!?"
One of the men stepped into the penguin’s path, swinging a heavy metal pipe like a baseball bat. He caught the monster square in the chest with a resounding thud, sending it flying toward the ceiling like a line drive.
"Ugh... gross."
The penguin hit the ceiling with a wet thud, leaving a crimson smear before tumbling to the floor. Its white feathers were stained red, and blood leaked from its cracked beak. After a few final tremors, the body dissolved into shimmering particles of light.
"Just like the reports said. The bodies don't stick around."
"And look, there’s the drop item."
"Our first subjugation reward. It should be something good."
Where the penguin had been, a silver bracelet now lay, set with a white stone and etched with intricate geometric patterns.
"A bracelet?"
"Probably a magic item. I saw similar engravings in the mission briefings. We can't identify the effect without an appraisal skill, though."
"I see." The Captain picked it up and handed it to the man who had delivered the blow. "Take it."
"Are you sure?"
"You killed it. It’s yours."
"But... aren't there orders to turn these in?"
"Our current orders are only to survey the dungeons. There’s nothing about collecting loot yet. That might change later, but for now, keep it."
"Well... thank you, then." The man tucked the bracelet into his pack, a small smile playing on his lips.
The exploration continued. By the time they decided to head back, the team had defeated ten monsters.
When the selection team returned to the station, they were greeted as heroes. Not because of their combat data, but because they had brought back meat and eggs. For an overwintering team that hadn't seen fresh food in months, it was a miracle. Since these were drop items from monsters and not actual Antarctic wildlife, they weren't violating any treaties.
They immediately cooked up a batch of oyakodon. The flavor of the monster meat and eggs was divine. Starved of fresh ingredients, the crew was instantly hooked.
Several months later...
"Alright, I'm heading out for a 'survey'!"
"Good luck! Bring back something good for dinner!"
The team members remaining at the base waved as the selection team headed out. By now, "dungeon exploration" had become a synonym for "hunting." Through their frequent excursions, the team had gained levels and cold resistance skills. They no longer needed snowmobiles; they simply ran the thirty kilometers to the dungeon. It saved fuel and kept them in peak condition.
No one complained. Once their stomachs had been won over, there was no turning back.
The following year, when the replacement crew arrived by icebreaker, they were greeted with a feast of monster meat. They stared in disbelief at the luxury spread, unable to fathom how such food was possible in the middle of a frozen wasteland.
When they asked the outgoing team how they lived so well, the Captain just smiled.
"Oh, this? We just went hunting. Don't worry—we’ll teach you how to hunt before we leave so you can eat well, too!"