Dark, ancient trees towered above, mist curled along the ground, and the air was thick with killing intent.
As soon as Zairon and the girls landed inside the dungeon, the oppressive energy struck like a wall.
Nyla whispered, "Something's wrong. We're being watched—"
BOOM!
The ground cracked. The mist parted. Ten monstrous figures emerged, each towering over 12 feet tall, covered in spiked obsidian armor — B-Rank Hellhounds. Their eyes glowed red, and their snarls rumbled like thunder.
Selene: "Ten B-ranks right at the start?! This is their welcoming party?!"
Zairon's lips curled into a wild grin.
"They really rolled out the red carpet for us, huh?"
His body trembled—not with fear, but with anticipation.
"Perfect."
His aura burst outward, golden and wild. The Hellhounds paused for a second, sensing something beyond what they were prepared for.
Ding!
[EXP Gained: 10,000,000]
[You have reached: B-RANK]
[Stats increased. Abilities enhanced.]
Zairon cracked his knuckles.
"Now then, let's dance."
He blurred forward—faster than before—his sword roaring with energy. One clean Sovereign Slash—BOOM!
A Hellhound's head exploded.
Selene spun into action, icy arrows raining down like death.
Nyla vanished, reappearing behind a beast, plunging a dagger into its neck.
Aria chanted, a pillar of flame bursting beneath another hound, tearing it apart.
Zairon: "Let's see how well we can work together in carnage, shall we?"
They moved like a unit.
Selene controlled the battlefield.
Nyla struck from the shadows.
Aria laid devastating support fire.
And Zairon? He was the storm — cutting, dashing, laughing maniacally as he killed.
Three minutes later.
Ten B-rank monsters lay in ruins. Blood soaked the earth. The mist was gone — evaporated by the raw intensity of their power.
Aria, breathing heavy: "This… this is insane. We're supposed to be warming up."
Zairon, holding up two fingers:
"Warm-up's done. Now it's slaughter time."
The system pinged again.
[Total EXP: 15,000,000+]
Selene raised an eyebrow. "That was just the start. How deep are we going?"
Zairon smirked, wiping blood from his cheek.
"Until this place begs for mercy."