Early morning came, the sky still painted a deep violet, the sun not yet brave enough to rise over the horizon. A cold mist clung to the grass as both Illumina and Mars Guild gathered at the outpost edge, stretching, tightening armor straps, and shaking off sleep. Shunjiro stood among them with dark bags under his eyes, his expression hazy from the night he definitely didn’t sleep through. Yoshinori caught sight of him first. He raised an eyebrow. “Rough night?” Shunjiro forced a laugh. “Heh… barely slept.” Yoshinori crossed his arms. “Whatever’s eating at you, leave it behind before we enter. We don’t need our leader zoning out inside a dungeon.” Shunjiro exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “…Yeah. You’re right.” Itsuki nodded gently beside Yoshinori, offering Shunjiro a soft smile. “Just stay focused. We’ll handle everything together.” Tetsuo stretched his arms behind his head. “Yeah, don’t worry boss. Worst case, I’ll pick you up and throw you at the goblins like a rock.” Shunjiro blinked. “…That is the worst case, Tetsuo.” Before the conversation could devolve further, Cal walked up between the two guilds, clapping his hands loudly. “Alright, kiddos. Let’s move out before the sun gets jealous you’re up earlier than it is.” Both guilds followed as Cal led them down a winding hillside path. The morning breeze carried the smell of damp earth and the faint metallic tang of dungeon energy pulsing from the cave mouths scattered across the valley. Cal gestured ahead with a thumb. “Your dungeons are near each other. Might even connect underground if the rumors are true.” Ryota gulped. “C-connect? Like… one big goblin party?” Cal grinned. “Pretty much. Goblins breed like rabbits and think like rats. Most of what you’ll fight inside a C-rank goblin dungeon are gonna be D-ranks, maybe even F-ranks. Weak individually, but in swarms… they’re nasty little shits.” Itsuki shivered. “Great…” Yuki offered her a sympathetic smile from the Mars Guild’s side. “Hey, don’t stress too much, Itsuki. You’ll do fine in there. Just trust your team.” Ryota nodded, though he looked nervous himself. “Yeah. You guys got some heavy hitters. Goblins won’t stand a chance.” Itsuki managed a small smile back. “Thanks. You three be careful too.” Sora scoffed, rolling his shoulders. “Speak for yourselves. I’ll be clearing my entire floor before Shrimpy over there even finds a goblin.” Shunjiro shot him a glare. “Oh yeah? Let’s see who beats their dungeon faster.” Sora immediately smirked, stepping closer until they were almost forehead-to-forehead. “You’re on, Shrimp.” Lars sighed loudly. “Sora, can you not start beef this early in the morning?” Yoshinori leaned toward Itsuki. “Honestly? Better to have him like this than overthinking himself into paralysis.” Itsuki giggled. “True. It’s kind of… refreshing seeing him fired up.” Tetsuo cracked his knuckles. “I’m fired up too! Let’s see who clears faster, Illumina or Mars!” Ryota raised a shaky hand. “I vote… we do not make it a competition…” Sora ignored him completely. Cal finally stopped in front of two large cave entrances about forty yards apart, jagged stone mouths yawning like twin beasts. “Alright,” he said, pointing at the left cave. “Mars Guild, that’s yours.” He pointed to the right cave. “Illumina, that one’s yours. Bosses inside should be high C-rank, so expect an actual fight at the end.” He folded his arms, eyeing both groups with a grin. “I’ve seen a lot of rookie guilds freeze when the boss jumps them, but for some reason… I got a good feeling about both of you.” Shunjiro’s chest warmed with pride. Sora smirked. “Tch. Obviously we’re winning this.” Shunjiro smirked right back. “We’ll see who comes crawling out first.” Lars placed a hand on Sora’s shoulder. “Okay, enough. Let’s get moving before he pulls your hair.” Sora smirked at Shunjiro as the Mars Guild entered their dungeon. Shunjiro turned to Illumina, inhaling deeply. “You guys ready?” Yoshinori adjusted his gloves. “Ready.” Tetsuo grinned wildly. “Goblins, here I come!” Itsuki steadied her staff, swallowing her nervousness. “Let’s do our best.” The four stepped forward. The cave exhaled a cold breath of stale air as they crossed the threshold. And with that, Illumina entered their very first dungeon. The air turned cold and the sound of wind vanished entirely. The walls were jagged stone, slick with moisture, and the ground crunched beneath their boots with bits of gravel and scattered bones. The faint glow of bioluminescent moss traced eerie veins along the ceiling, painting the cavern in pale blue and sickly green. Shunjiro stepped forward, his breath puffing out in white clouds. “…Creepy in here,” he muttered. “That’s a dungeon for you,” Yoshinori replied calmly, though his eyes scanned every corner. A soft skittering echoed somewhere deeper inside. Then a pair of glowing yellow eyes snapped open in the darkness ahead. A small goblin, no taller than Shunjiro’s waist, locked eyes with them. Its skin was pale green, almost gray, and its ribcage stuck out visibly like it had barely eaten. For a moment, it froze. Then it turned and sprinted as fast as its stubby legs could carry it. Tetsuo instinctively took a step forward. “I’ll grab it!” Shunjiro lifted a hand sharply. “Tetsuo no. Let it go.” Tetsuo blinked, confused. “But-” Yoshinori shook his head. “Shunjiro’s right. The newborn ones panic. They aren’t smart enough to scout or coordinate. If it runs, it’s probably the lowest class in its tribe.” Shunjiro exhaled, unsure how he somehow sensed that but glad Yoshinori backed it up. “Come on. We keep moving.” They pushed deeper. The dungeon twisted sharply like a maze carved by shifting earth. More glowing moss pulsed faintly from the walls. Faint clicking and snarling noises multiplied. And then a pair of yellow eyes appeared. Then ten. Then dozens. The group skidded to a stop at the edge of a wide chamber only to see the floor crawling with goblins. Head after head turned toward them, sharp teeth flashing in the dim light. Some held rusted daggers, others had rocks or sharpened sticks, and some held nothing but their claws. “How many…?” Itsuki whispered, voice trembling. “Too many to count,” Yoshinori murmured. “But these look like F-rank. Don’t lose focus.” Shunjiro stepped in front, raising his fists. “Alright, guys… let’s do this.” A goblin shrieked, a high-pitched, ear-splitting call. Then the entire horde lunged at them. A goblin leapt at Tetsuo first, screeching wildly. Without hesitation, Tetsuo coated his fist in stone, thick, jagged pieces forming around his knuckles like natural gauntlets. “Hell yeah!” he roared. His punch connected. The goblin’s head flew back, separated clean from its body in one brutal blow, bouncing across the cavern floor. Shunjiro blinked. “…Okay. Tetsuo’s enjoying himself.” “Yeah I am!!” Tetsuo yelled, charging straight toward another cluster of goblins. He slammed his hand into the ground, stone erupting around him like a geyser. Three goblins were launched into the air. Tetsuo leapt after them and punched each one mid-air with wild laughter. Yoshinori sighed. “Why is he like this?” A goblin swung down at Itsuki from behind with a jagged piece of bone. Itsuki froze, raising her staff too slowly- A fist shot past her shoulder. Yoshinori punched the goblin square in the face, sending it skidding across the rocks. Itsuki gasped. “Th-thank you!” “Stay alert,” Yoshinori scolded, sliding into a fighting stance. “And get ready. More incoming.” Three goblins rushed him at once. Yoshinori didn’t use a single spark of lightning. He met them head-on, parrying one with his forearm before elbowing it in the throat. The second he grabbed by the wrist and flipped into the stone wall. The third tried to bite his leg and Yoshinori kneed it in the jaw, knocking it unconscious instantly. Shunjiro stared. “You’re surprisingly good at hand-to-hand…” “I said I was working on it,” Yoshinori muttered. Meanwhile, a pair of goblins charged Shunjiro, claws raised. Shunjiro inhaled sharply. Okay… energy. Energy. Just like Sora said. Don’t think, move. He threw a punch. It connected but with only raw force, no spiritual energy behind it. The goblin flew back but wasn’t crushed. Another leapt from behind, and Shunjiro ducked just in time before slamming his elbow into its ribs. “What’s wrong…?” he muttered. He tried to summon energy into his fist, tried to feel the warmth, the pressure in his body but only static flickered inside him, faint and unstable. Then it sputtered out completely. Again. Damn it… why won’t it come out when I need it? A goblin grabbed onto his leg from below. Another leapt onto his back. Shunjiro flailed, slamming himself back into the wall to knock it off before kicking the one clawing at his shin. He managed but only with brute strength. He felt stupid. Weak. Burdensome. Tetsuo laughed in the background, still annihilating everything in sight. Yoshinori fought elegantly without needing a drop of spiritual energy. Itsuki, despite being terrified, swung her staff and cracked a goblin in the chin, knocking it flat. She went wide-eyed, shocked at her own hit. “I-I got one!” Shunjiro shoved two goblins off him and grinned. “Nice job, Itsuki!” Another goblin lunged at her but this time, she spun her staff, striking it again and sending it crashing into two others. “I-I did it again!” “You’re doing great!” Shunjiro shouted. But he felt it again. That emptiness. He looked at his palm, frustration rising. Why can’t I use it…? Aren’t I supposed to be someone with potential? Why am I still this weak? Another goblin leapt at him from behind, and Shunjiro threw his fist back blindly, knocking it down. Strong, yes. But no energy. Useless potential. His chest tightened. Come on… work… work already… Nothing. Again and again, nothing. The goblin shrieks grew louder as more flooded the chamber. It felt endless a tide of small green bodies clawing and swarming toward them. But Illumina held the line. Tetsuo formed a stone wall, blocking a wave of goblins before crushing them beneath falling rock. Yoshinori unleashed precise, fluid punches and kicks, sweeping enemies aside like he was sparring instead of fighting for his life. Itsuki used the end of her staff to push goblins away, slowly growing more confident with each hit. Shunjiro fought tooth and nail, smashing goblins with strength alone, trying desperately not to think about his failures. Still, he slipped. A goblin jumped from above, claws ready- “Shunjiro!” Itsuki cried out. Before he could react, Yoshinori appeared in front of him, grabbing the goblin out of the air and slamming it onto the stone floor. “Focus,” Yoshinori snapped. “You zoned out.” “Sorry,” Shunjiro muttered, breathing hard. “Don’t apologize.” Itsuki hurried to Shunjiro’s side, gripping her staff as she scanned him for wounds. “Shunjiro, are you hurt? Did it scratch you? I can heal you right now if-” He shook his head quickly. “No, no, I’m fine. Really. Didn’t get me.” She searched his face for a moment, worry softening her features. “Are you sure?” “Yeah,” he forced a small smile. “Promise. Just… slipped for a second.” Itsuki nodded slowly, though concern lingered in her eyes. “Okay. Just be careful. Please.” Her voice trembled slightly on the last word. Shunjiro swallowed hard, guilt twisting in his chest but he nodded. “I will.” Yoshinori exhaled sharply beside them. “Good. Because we’re not done yet.” Tetsuo cackled from across the chamber. “Guys! I’m making goblin stew over here!!” “This isn’t a kitchen, idiot!” Yoshinori yelled back. Itsuki giggled softly just for a moment before returning to her stance as more goblins approached. Even surrounded by chaos, the group was functioning as one. Learning. Growing. And slowly… the tide began to shrink. Goblin after goblin fell to the cavern floor until only three remained and Tetsuo bulldozed through all three with a single shoulder charge. Silence settled. The chamber was littered with unconscious and defeated goblins. The four of them heaved breaths, sweat coating their brows. Shunjiro wiped his forehead, still frustrated at himself. But they had won as a team. Itsuki lifted her staff, its crystal tip glowing with a soft, warm light. “Is anyone hurt? I can treat you now before we move on.”  Yoshinori rolled his shoulders. “I’m fine. Didn’t take a single hit that needs healing.” Tetsuo grinned wide, patting his chest proudly. “Same here! I coated my whole body in stone. Those little green dudes were punching a wall.” Shunjiro forced a small laugh. “I’m good too.” Itsuki’s brows knit together. “Even if you’re not injured… I can still ease your fatigue.” She didn’t wait for objections. A gentle warmth spread through the chamber as her healing aura washed over the group like a soft breeze. The golden glow pulsed, crossing from her staff into their bodies. Yoshinori inhaled deeply, the tension in his muscles easing. Tetsuo’s stone armor cracked slightly as the strain melted away. Shunjiro felt the warmth settle inside his chest… familiar. Just like back during the exams… Back then, after Itsuki healed him, something strange happened. His spiritual energy didn’t increase, it moved smoother. Clearer. Stronger. Like she’d given him some kind of “buff.” He stared at his hand, squeezing it experimentally… but nothing shifted inside him this time. No sudden flow of energy. No hidden power awakening. Just… normal. Itsuki lowered her staff, slightly out of breath. “Okay… that should help a little. You’ll all feel lighter on your feet.” “Thanks, Itsuki,” Shunjiro said, masking his disappointment as he unclenched his hand. They continued forward, navigating a narrow passage that opened into another cavern, a larger one, ceiling high and jagged like broken teeth. Shunjiro could hear faint scuttling deeper inside, echoing against the walls. Tetsuo stepped forward, peering into the shadows. “Oh boy… this place smells like a whole nest.” Yoshinori crouched, narrowing his eyes. “These won’t all be F ranks.” In the dim light, faint silhouettes moved, bigger shapes, heavier breathing, deeper growls. “D-rank goblins,” Yoshinori continued, voice low. “And a few stronger ones… C rank. This is the real structure of a C-rank dungeon.” Itsuki tightened her grip on her staff. “So this is where it starts getting dangerous…” Shunjiro exhaled slowly, letting the tension settle in his muscles. “Remember what we came here to work on.” They all nodded. “Right.” A shriek tore through the cavern then the horde charged. The fight erupted instantly. Tetsuo was the first to move. He slammed his palms down. The ground rumbled and stone spikes erupted upward, skewering goblins by the dozen. Their screeches bounced across the cavern walls. Before the bodies even fell, Tetsuo launched himself into the air, stone coating spreading across his arms and torso like armor. He crashed down like a meteor into another cluster of goblins, sending them flying. That was the signal. Shunjiro and Itsuki sprinted left, a pack of goblins screeching as they gave chase. Yoshinori veered right, drawing an entire wave toward himself. “Split them up!” Yoshinori called over his shoulder. “Less chaos that way!” Shunjiro and Itsuki skidded to a stop, spinning around just in time to meet the incoming swarm. The goblins leapt at them, teeth bared, claws out. Itsuki swung her staff desperately, knocking two back. “Go away-!” Another lunged for her leg but Shunjiro intercepted, grabbing it by the throat and slamming it into the cave wall. He ducked under another swipe and punched a goblin so hard it tumbled back into its allies. They were holding their ground barely. Then Shunjiro froze. One goblin stepped out from behind the swarm. Taller than the rest. Lean, wiry muscles stretched under its sickly green skin. But most noticeable… Dark purple markings spiraled along its arms, glowing like embers. Its eyes were sharper. “…You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Shunjiro muttered. “Why is this one here?” Itsuki’s eyes darted between the glowing markings and the horde surrounding it. “That’s the boss, isn’t it?” “Yeah.” Shunjiro swallowed. “Great. Out of the three groups, the boss just had to follow us.” Itsuki let out a nervous laugh. “C-calm down.” “You say it like it’s easy!” More goblins shrieked and leapt at them. “Breathe,” Itsuki said firmly, even though her hands trembled around her staff. “If we panic now, we’re dead.” Shunjiro sucked in a breath, long, shaky, but steadying. “Right. Okay. I’m calm.” “No, you’re not,” she whispered. Shunjiro inhaled again. They shared a quick nod. Goblins screamed behind them. The boss goblin cracked its knuckles, purple veins pulsing under its skin, waiting for its moment. Shunjiro stepped forward. Itsuki raised her staff beside him. “Alright,” Shunjiro muttered, lowering his stance. “Let’s take them on.” The goblins swarmed again, a screeching wave of claws and teeth. Shunjiro stepped into their charge. One goblin lunged straight at his face. His fist connected, and the goblin’s torso detonated, purple blood erupting like a burst of ink across the cavern. Shunjiro froze, staring at his hand. A faint glow coated his knuckles, thin, barely visible, but unmistakably spiritual energy. It crackled, flickered, and pulsed once before dimming. “…What-” He didn’t understand it. He didn’t call for it. He didn’t even feel it coming. But the power was there. It answered him. I don’t know how… but I’m not wasting this. Adrenaline surged through him. His stance lowered, his breath steadied, and he sprinted toward the boss goblin, weaving between F-rank stragglers like a ghost. Across the cavern Tetsuo was unleashing hell. Stone pillars erupted like spears, launching goblins into walls. Quaking shockwaves blasted through the floor under his stomps. He laughed wildly, riding the high of destruction. Then the roof cracked. Dust and stones rained from above. Tetsuo paused mid-swing, fist still buried in a goblin’s skull. “Oh yeah…” he muttered as another rock fell beside him. “I gotta be, uh… sneaky.” He blinked twice. A rare thought drifted into his skull like a lost bird. The reason I’m here is to not collapse the dungeon. He slowly looked around at the shaking cavern. “…Right.” Tetsuo let the stone armor crumble off his arms. The ground stilled beneath him. He cracked his knuckles and grinned. “Guess I’ll just use these bad boys instead.” And he did. With no stone coating, no armor, no quakes, Tetsuo bulldozed through goblins with pure muscle. Goblins went flying like dolls tossed by a storm. It wasn’t quiet… but it was quieter. Meanwhile Yoshinori was bored. He weaved between attacks effortlessly, delivering punches that shattered goblin jaws and elbows that dropped them instantly. His movements were precise, clean, and efficient. But his face was flat with irritation. A goblin leapt at him and he dodged. One tap to the neck. Down. Another charged and he sidestepped and swept its legs. Yoshinori flicked a speck of blood off his glove with barely a glance. “This,” he muttered as another goblin collapsed behind him, “is a waste of time.” He hadn’t used a single spark of lightning. He wasn’t learning anything. He wasn’t being pushed. A C-rank dungeon… against newborn goblins… “This isn’t training,” he said quietly, eyes narrowing. “This is babysitting.” He threw another goblin aside like trash and scanned the cavern. Shunjiro powering up. Tetsuo finally using his head. Itsuki holding her ground. They were getting something from this. But him? He felt stuck. That irritation simmered deep in his chest as if waiting to be stoked into something bigger. “Shunjiro!” Itsuki called behind him half warning, half awe. But he was already gone. He barreled through the swarm like a storm. Goblins leapt at him and each punch sent them flying, bursting into purple splatters against the cavern walls. He wasn’t graceful. He wasn’t strategic. He was raw force. But it was enough to carve a path through the chaos. The boss goblin snarled, purple markings pulsing violently. It lowered its stance, muscles tensing and then they crashed into each other. Shunjiro slammed into the boss with a shoulder strike. The boss skidded back, digging its claws into the stone floor to anchor itself. Shunjiro wiped purple blood from his cheek. The boss lunged. It swung a clawed arm, purple energy streaking behind it. Shunjiro ducked under the swipe and countered with a right hook, his fist glowing faintly. The blow rocked the boss’s jaw. Purple markings flickered but the monster didn’t fall. Instead, it stabbed forward with another slash. Shunjiro tried to block. A sharp pain ripped through his arm as the claw carved a deep cut from elbow to forearm. “Gah!” Itsuki gasped. “Shunjiro!” For a second, Shunjiro faltered, blood dripping onto the stone floor. The boss roared triumphantly, lunging again Shunjiro spun his body, letting the momentum guide him. Don’t think. Move. He ducked under the second strike and drove a knee into the boss’s gut. The impact echoed, sending cracks spidering across the ground. The faint glow on his fist flickered… then returned stronger. “Alright…” he panted, wiping sweat from his brow. “I guess this is the part where I stop holding back.” The boss screeched, markings blazing as it charged, arms flailing with wild, brutal power. Shunjiro met it head-on. They exchanged blow after blow. The boss lunged with a guttural snarl, its claws slashing through the air with blinding speed. Shunjiro tried to pivot, but he was a heartbeat too slow. The boss’s claws raked across his ribs, cutting through cloth and skin. A sharp, burning pain tore through his side as warm blood dripped beneath his shirt. The blow forced the breath from his lungs, but he snapped his stance wide to stop himself from falling. The boss didn’t relent. It raised both arms, markings pulsing, prepared to follow up with a killing blow. Shunjiro didn’t give it the chance. He stepped in, twisting from his hips, and threw a punch with everything he had: not finesse, not technique, just raw force fueled by survival and stubbornness. His fist slammed into the boss’s sternum. The impact shook the cavern, dust drifting from the ceiling. The boss’s chest caved inward, bone and muscle denting beneath the sheer force of the hit. Purple blood sprayed from its mouth as it stumbled back, wheezing, ribs collapsing around its heart like splintered wood. But it didn’t fall. Snarling, the boss grabbed Shunjiro by the shoulders with its grip like iron and with a furious heave, it slammed him against the wall. The stone cracked on impact. Air exploded from Shunjiro’s lungs. His vision blurred, buzzing with pain. The boss pressed forward, claws digging into his shoulders like hooks. Its breath was rancid, hot against his face. Shunjiro gritted his teeth, refusing to let fear take over. His fists trembled, nails digging into his palms. “Let go!” He jerked his forehead forward. His skull collided with the boss’s face. The goblin reeled back, purple blood dripping from a newly broken nose. Its glowing markings flickered violently, the creature momentarily stunned. Both of them staggered, panting. Shunjiro’s ribs throbbed with every breath. The wall behind him was cracked in a spiderweb pattern. Sweat and blood mingled on his skin. But his eyes stayed locked on the boss. Neither moved. Neither blinked. Neither dared back down. Shunjiro planted his feet, raising his fists despite the shaking. The boss snarled, purple markings flaring like wildfire. No-just a little longer. He forced it, feeling his arm burn as the glow sputtered, then reignited. The boss raised both claws, markings flaring bright. Shunjiro roared, charging forward. His fist smashed into the boss’s chest, spiritual energy bursting upon impact. The blow didn’t explode the monster. It didn’t obliterate it. But it drove the goblin boss to its knees, cracks spreading across its torso like shattered glass. The beast wheezed, purple blood spilling from its mouth. Shunjiro staggered back, clutching his bleeding arm. “This… is the end!” He stepped forward, summoned one last flicker of energy and drove his fist straight into the boss’s heart. The goblin let out one final shriek then collapsed lifelessly onto the floor. Silence washed over the cavern. Only ragged breathing remained. Itsuki ran toward him, eyes wide in relief. “Shunjiro! Are you-” Behind her, Yoshinori clapped dust off his gloves, Tetsuo leaned on a broken stalagmite, and the cavern floor was littered with goblins. They’d done it. They had cleared their first C-rank dungeon. Shunjiro leaned back against the cavern wall, clutching his ribs. The adrenaline in his veins finally began to fade, leaving the sting of pain in its place. Itsuki rushed to his side, dropping to her knees. “Shunjiro hold still.” A warm golden light flowed from her hands into his wounds. Shunjiro let out a soft exhale as the warmth spread through him. Itsuki blinked, worried. “Does it hurt a lot? Did it cut too deep?” He chuckled weakly. “No. Actually… I used my energy because of you.” Itsuki froze, her healing light flickering. “M-Me? What-what do you mean?” Shunjiro smiled, lifting his hand to briefly squeeze hers as the healing washed over him. “This is the second time it’s happened. Back during the exams, remember? I told you your healing felt like a buff.” Itsuki’s face flushed a bright red instantly. “I-I-it’s nothing like that, I’m just doing my job, my healing duties th-that’s all…” But her voice was trembling, betraying her embarrassment. Shunjiro continued gently, “Your healing… it doesn’t just fix injuries. It calms my spiritual energy. Makes it easier to control. If I didn’t have that today, I wouldn’t have killed the boss.” He laughed softly. “Honestly, I would’ve been useless.” Itsuki stared at him for a heartbeat then looked away shyly, cheeks glowing as brightly as her staff. “I-I’m… glad I could help,” she whispered. “That’s all.” Before she could say anything else, Yoshinori approached, kicking a goblin body out of his path. “Tch. This dungeon was way too easy,” he muttered. Shunjiro raised an eyebrow. “Easy? You saw me almost get ripped in half, right?” Yoshinori shrugged. “And that’s good.” “What?” “You won’t grow unless you’re pushed to your limits.” Yoshinori crossed his arms, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “You were forced to rely on raw instinct today. That’s how your power grows. Next dungeon, you’ll get pushed even harder and your energy will evolve with it.” Shunjiro grinned. “You sound like Kaito when you talk like that.” “Don’t insult me,” Yoshinori replied flatly. Tetsuo wandered over, brushing dust off his shoulders. “Guys… did you see me? I destroyed like… a hundred goblins. With no stone at the end! I’m basically unstoppable!” Yoshinori pinched the bridge of his nose. “You nearly collapsed the dungeon.” “Oh… right.” Tetsuo rubbed the back of his neck. “Guess I gotta work on that sneaky stuff.” Itsuki finished healing Shunjiro’s ribs, the wound closing into smooth skin. “You’re good now… but try not to get hit like that again. I can’t fix everything instantly.” Shunjiro stood, stretching cautiously. “I’ll try. No promises.” The cavern around them was littered with goblin bodies and purple blood. Yoshinori wiped a streak of purple blood from his glove and surveyed the cavern. “The boss is dead, but we shouldn’t leave yet,” he said, voice calm and analytical. “Dungeons sometimes have loot after the boss falls. If there’s anything valuable, it’s ours by right.” Tetsuo grinned. “Loot? Now we’re talking!” Itsuki exhaled in relief. “At least we don’t have to fight anything else…” But she spoke too soon. As the four spread out, searching the cavern’s perimeter, Shunjiro noticed something odd, a crack in the wall that hadn’t been there before. A dark slit in the stone, widening with a soft grinding noise, dust sliding down the edges like falling sand. “Uh… guys?” Shunjiro called. “This wasn’t here earlier.” Yoshinori jogged over, brow furrowed. The crack widened further, splitting open into a narrow tunnel sloping downward into deeper darkness. A new layer of the dungeon. “That’s not supposed to happen,” Itsuki whispered. Yoshinori crouched, examining the floor. “Bosses normally anchor the dungeon. When they die, the structure stabilizes or collapses… It shouldn’t open further.” Tetsuo raised an eyebrow. “Shunjiro, you sure you didn’t screw up and leave the boss alive?” Shunjiro threw his hands up. “What?! I punched a hole through his chest! He’s very dead!” “Prove it,” Yoshinori said flatly. They walked back to where the boss had fallen. The corpse was still there, broken, purple blood dried around it. Yoshinori crouched beside it, running fingers along the glowing purple runes etched into its arms. “These markings confirm it,” he said. “Only dungeon bosses have rune channels like these. This is definitely the C-rank boss.” He stood, eyes narrowing toward the newly opened path. “So something else caused that tunnel to open.” The four exchanged uneasy glances. Tetsuo cracked his neck. “We going in?” Shunjiro hesitated for a beat… then nodded. “We cleared the dungeon. Whatever’s down there, if it spawned because of us we should at least take a look.” Yoshinori gave a faint smirk. “Good. Besides… that fight was pathetic. We haven’t been pushed at all.” Itsuki swallowed, clinging to her staff. “I have a bad feeling about this…” Still, they pressed forward. The deeper they descended, the heavier the air grew. The energy pressing against their skin was thicker, almost suffocating like the cave itself was alive and watching them. Even Shunjiro, who wasn’t experienced at sensing energy, felt goosebumps rise along his arms. Tetsuo whistled. “This… doesn’t feel like a C-rank place anymore.” Yoshinori nodded, jaw tight. “Be on guard.” As they reached the lower chamber, something moved in the shadows. A goblin. But not like the others. This one was larger, twice their size muscles bulging under mottled green skin. Its eyes glowed a sinister orange, and jagged black markings crawled up its body. The pressure radiating from it made the air vibrate. “This one’s strong…” Itsuki whispered, staggering back. “Really strong.” Yoshinori’s eyes widened not in fear, but in anticipation. “B-rank. Easily.” The goblin roared, and the cavern shook. Then it charged. Tetsuo lunged in first, coating his arms in stone and throwing a punch with enough force to smash a horse. The goblin caught his fist. And squeezed. Tetsuo’s eyes widened. “Oh shit-” His stone armor cracked under the creature’s raw strength before he managed to wrench his arm free. Shunjiro rushed in next, his fist glowing faintly again but weaker this time. He uppercut the goblin, staggering it but barely hurting it. Itsuki tried to send a wave of force with her staff, but the goblin shrugged it off and lunged at her “Move!” Shunjiro shoved her away, taking the hit instead. Claws raked across his chest. He stumbled, gasping. Yoshinori’s patience snapped. “Enough.” Lightning flickered around him small arcs crackling across his forearms as he stepped past the others. The goblin roared and rushed him. Yoshinori met it calmly. He placed one palm against the goblin’s chest and unleashed a contained bolt of lightning directly into its heart. The goblin’s body convulsed violently before collapsing into a smoking heap. Itsuki gasped. Tetsuo blinked. Shunjiro let out a low whistle. Yoshinori exhaled sharply, flexing his hand. “We’re leaving.” “What? Already?” Shunjiro asked. Yoshinori’s eyes hardened. “This dungeon is evolving beyond its rank. That shouldn’t be possible. This is something Cal needs to know about immediately.” A distant rumble echoed from deeper inside the new layer. Then dozens of orange eyes opened in the dark. “Uh-oh,” Tetsuo whispered. “Looks like we pissed off the whole family.” A wave of B-rank goblins shrieked and charged straight at them. “Run!!” Shunjiro yelled. They sprinted back toward the upper floor as goblins poured out behind them, their pounding footsteps shaking the cavern. Tetsuo fell back, slammed his palms into the ground, and summoned a massive stone wall that shot up instantly, blocking the tunnel. The goblins slammed into the other side, snarling and clawing. But the wall held. Panting, sweating, and bruised, the four of them made it back to the entrance. Yoshinori wiped his brow. “We report this now. A C-rank dungeon shouldn’t produce creatures like that. Something is… wrong with this place.” Shunjiro nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go find Cal.” The moment Illumina stepped out of the dungeon’s mouth, gasping for clean air, Cal was already there waiting, arms crossed, leaning casually against a boulder. When he saw them, his face split into a wide grin. “Well I’ll be damned,” Cal said, pushing himself upright. “Two hours? That’s it? You kids don’t mess around.” Tetsuo threw his arms up triumphantly. “Told ya we’re awesome!” Itsuki wobbled slightly, still catching her breath. “N-Not… that awesome…” Shunjiro didn’t waste a second. “Cal, we need to talk. Something’s wrong with the dungeon.” Cal raised a brow. “Wrong how?” Yoshinori stepped forward, eyes sharpening. “A new layer opened after we killed the boss. Inside it was a goblin far above C-rank at least B-rank. And hundreds more.” Cal’s grin faded, the lines on his face tightening. “…That so?” Shunjiro nodded. “It attacked us. We barely got out.” Yoshinori added, “The boss was dead. The path opened after. That shouldn’t happen under normal circumstances.” Cal clicked his tongue thoughtfully. “Hmph. Well… it’s not impossible.” Shunjiro blinked. “Wait what?!” “Yeah,” Cal said casually, waving a hand. “Dungeons can evolve. Rank up. Grow new layers. Usually happens over months, though. Sometimes weeks, if the dungeon’s been ‘fed’ enough energy.” Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed. “Then why didn’t you tell us that beforehand?” Cal shrugged. “Didn’t think it was important.” All four members of Illumina stared at him in disbelief. Shunjiro sputtered, “Not important?!” Itsuki paled. “We could’ve died…” Cal clapped Shunjiro on the shoulder. “But you didn’t! That’s what matters. And you reported it. That’s good. Now I’ll have to send a group of higher-rank adventurers to investigate and reclassify the dungeon.” Yoshinori rubbed his temples. “Unbelievable…” Cal just stood there smiling proudly. “Anyway!” Cal said. “Good job not dying. You handled yourselves better than most newbies I’ve seen.” Shunjiro exhaled, shoulders dropping in relief. Then he looked around. “…Wait. Where’s the Mars Guild?” Cal blinked, then burst into laughter. “Oh right! Those little goblin-brains went into the other dungeon. They haven’t come out yet.” Shunjiro smirked. “So… we beat them?” “Oh yeah,” Cal said with a grin. “Looks like you won.” Sora was going to hate that. Shunjiro pumped a fist in the air. “Yes!” Itsuki giggled softly. Tetsuo whooped loud enough to scare birds out of nearby trees. Even Yoshinori smiled. Cal stretched his back. “Welp, I’ll go send word to the officials about that new layer. You four go rest, eat something, or… I dunno, scream into the grass. Dungeon Valley’s unpredictable.” Shunjiro exchanged a look with his team, exhausted, battered, but victorious. Their first quest was complete.