The air inside the dungeon was unnaturally still.
Not the kind of silence that came with peace, but the kind that pressed down on the senses, wrapping around the lungs like an unseen weight. It was the silence before a storm, the pause between a predator's breath and its fatal strike.
A soft breeze swept across the endless grasslands, rustling the tall blades like murmurs from unseen phantoms. Yet, no one spoke. No one moved.
They simply stood there, staring at the scattered remains of the disasters that had—without warning—crumbled into dust.
Renji was the first to break the trance. Letting out an exaggerated groan, he threw himself onto the ground, his twin daggers clattering beside him. "Aww, man… So we really got nothing out of this raid?" His tone was light, but the frustration in his voice was undeniable.
Kaelin exhaled sharply, sheathing his blade with a practiced motion. "There's nothing we can do about it. This is beyond us. Maybe if we report it, someone will know what happened."
"That's assuming they even believe us," Garric muttered, crossing his arms. His voice carried the weight of experience, hardened by years of dealing with the guild's bureaucracy.
Renji sat up, brows furrowing. "But it isn't an excuse."
Garric lifted a hand, a subtle gesture to calm him before continuing. "I know. And there was nothing we could have done to stop it. But if we walk back empty-handed, we'll have to answer to the guild, and you know how they are about compensation." His sharp gaze swept over the group. "We need a plausible explanation."
A tense pause.
Then, he sighed, rubbing his temple. "So, here's what we'll say—we encountered a rampaging beast that wiped out the others before we took it down. That's our alibi."
Elara, who had been staring at the empty space where the bladed tiger's core should have been, let out a heavy sigh. Her fingers twitched at her side, as if grasping at something unseen. "I was really hoping to earn enough to buy my niece a birthday gift…"
Before anyone could respond, a low hum vibrated through the air.
It wasn't a sound that belonged here. It was something foreign—mechanical, yet ancient. An intrusion upon reality itself, as if the very fabric of existence was being stretched thin.
The ground beneath them trembled.
And then, as though forcing its way into existence, it appeared.
A colossal gate.
It flickered like a mirage, shifting between presence and absence, stone phasing in and out as if the dungeon itself was undecided on whether it should be real. Then, all at once, it stabilized.
With a deafening boom, it crashed into the earth.
The impact shattered the grassy terrain, jagged rock replacing the soft soil as if the land itself had been rewritten. Shockwaves burst outward, sending tremors through the air. Essence rippled in violent waves, wild and untamed, like the aftermath of a great calamity.
The wind howled.
Dust and debris spiraled into the sky, a raging vortex that swallowed everything in its path.
Garric reacted instantly.
"Get behind me!" His voice roared over the chaos.
Without hesitation, the team huddled behind his massive form as he slammed his shield into the ground, bracing himself. The wind and energy battered against them, pushing Garric back inch by inch, his boots carving trenches into the shifting earth.
Then—
Just as suddenly as it had begun, the chaos stopped.
The wind died. The dust settled.
And before them stood the gate.
Towering. Ancient.
Its double doors stretched impossibly high, adorned with intricate symbols that pulsed faintly with an eerie, golden glow. The engravings twisted and turned, shifting like living veins, forming an archaic language that Denwen almost recognized.
Almost.
The moment his mind attempted to decipher them, the meaning slipped away, dissolving like mist between his fingers.
A shiver crawled up his spine.
They shouldn't be here.
They shouldn't go near it.
Denwen's fingers curled into fists. Every instinct screamed at him, urging him to turn back. But before he could speak—
Roran stepped forward, reaching out toward the carvings.
"Don't touch it!"
Denwen's voice came out sharper than he intended, cutting through the stillness like a blade.
Roran halted mid-motion, turning with a frown. "What's with the outburst, Ren?"
Denwen didn't answer immediately. He swallowed, forcing himself to steady his voice. "I… I don't know. I just have a really bad feeling about this."
Korrin let out a dry chuckle, nudging Denwen's shoulder. "What, you scared of a door, kid?"
Denwen shot him a glare but didn't rise to the taunt. "I'm not scared. But this isn't normal. We need to report this to the authorities. Let them handle it."
Renji immediately scoffed. "Report it? So they can swoop in and claim everything for themselves?" He gestured toward the gate. "Look, Cap, we've heard of dungeons within dungeons before. The rewards are insane. This might be our only chance to recoup our losses."
Denwen's jaw tightened. "And what if it's a trap?"
Kaelin raised a hand, his tone measured. "The kid has a point. There are just as many stories of teams getting wiped out because they rushed into unknown dungeons."
Elara hesitated, shifting from foot to foot. "…I do need more things to sell for the gift tho."
Roran simply shrugged. "I'll go with the majority."
Korrin cracked his knuckles. "I say we check it out. We're hunters, not errand boys."
Garric, watching the debate unfold, exhaled deeply. Without a word, he pulled out the essence measurement tool. The small crystal pulsed for a few moments, then stabilized, displaying a steady reading.
He studied it.
Then finally spoke.
"Ren, I get where you're coming from. But the meter says it's safe. And we all need resources. Let's put it to a vote."
One by one, hands rose.
Renji. Korrin. Elara. Then Roran.
Denwen held onto a sliver of hope, looking to Kaelin.
The swordsman exhaled and raised his hand. "Sorry, kid. If the meter says it's safe, there's no reason to hold back."
Denwen clenched his teeth.
"Alright," Garric said. "Looks like we're heading in."
Renji pumped his fist. "Hell yeah."
Garric turned to Denwen. "Ren, I won't force you. But if you want to get stronger like the rest of us, this might be a golden opportunity. Last chance." He extended a hand.
Denwen stared at them, feeling like he was looking at lunatics. Was he being paranoid?
His mind replayed a promise he made to himself.
"I'll take any risk necessary to achieve my goal."
He inhaled. Then exhaled.
"…Fine."
With steady steps, he walked toward the towering gate. The others watched as he placed his palms against its stone surface.
And then—
With a low groan, the doors swung open.