After a few minutes, the ground at the dungeon entrance trembled with approaching footsteps. Illumina turned as the Mars Guild finally emerged from their own cave. Sora stomped out first, brushing goblin blood off his knuckles. “Ugh, finally done-” Then he froze. His sharp eyes locked onto Shunjiro. For a moment, Sora didn’t say anything. He just stared… studying him. Shunjiro’s aura, subtle but noticeable, had shifted. He looked different. More grounded. More aware. More dangerous. Sora’s expression went from confusion… to recognition… to a slow, wolfish smirk. “Well, well,” he drawled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Looks like the shrimp grew a little.” Shunjiro blinked. “Huh?” Sora leaned in just enough for Shunjiro to tense. “Don’t get cocky. I look forward to round two. And three. And four.” Shunjiro grinned back, despite himself. “Yeah? Then bring it on.” Sora clicked his tongue, satisfied with the answer, and strolled off without another word. Lars, Yuki, and Ryota hurried after him, Lars sighing, Yuki giggling nervously, and Ryota limping a little. When they reached Illumina, Lars gave a polite bow. “Sorry about him. Sora’s… Sora.” Ryota nodded rapidly. “He’s still salty you beat him at the exams and now this? Oh, he’s gonna be insufferable.” Yuki gave Shunjiro a soft, kind smile. “But he respects you. He won’t admit it, but he does.” Shunjiro rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Lars continued, “Anyway, we wanted to let you know we’ll be moving our camp a bit farther down the valley. Sora keeps wandering over here and, uh… bothering people.” Tetsuo snorted. “Yeah, that sounds right.” Yuki clasped her hands together. “But! Before we move, we wanted to say… great job today. Really. You guys cleared in record time.” Ryota brightened. “And, uh, we’ll be here all week too, training, doing a few more dungeon runs.” Lars stepped forward and offered Shunjiro his hand. “If you ever want to challenge a higher-rank dungeon… we’d be open to teaming up.” Shunjiro’s eyes widened. “Seriously?” “Of course,” Yuki said warmly. “Two new guilds working together, it’d be a good experience.” Shunjiro exchanged glances with Yoshinori, Tetsuo, and Itsuki before shaking Lars’s hand firmly. “I like that idea. Thanks.” With a final wave, Lars gathered his guild. “Alright, Mars, let’s move.” Illumina watched them go, the two guilds parting ways under the rising sun, each carrying their own victories, their own bruises, and a strange but budding respect for each other. Shunjiro turned to Yoshinori, eyes bright with possibility. “I like their idea,” Shunjiro said. “What do you think? Should we stay the whole week and take on more dungeons?” Yoshinori looked at him like the answer was obvious. “What? About staying and diving into more dungeons?” He crossed his arms, tone firm. “That’s exactly what we should do. There’s no point leaving Dungeon Valley until we come out stronger.” Shunjiro nodded, energized by the conviction in Yoshinori’s voice. “Yeah… you’re right. I feel like we need at least a B-rank dungeon next.” Tetsuo pumped both fists into the air. “B rank?! Let’s gooo!!” Itsuki, however, placed a hand on her stomach. “Before that… can we get some food? And rest? And maybe… water?” Shunjiro laughed. “Yeah, okay. Fair. Food first, training later.” Everyone agreed, so they followed the outpost path toward a wooden building nestled between two large boulders, a cafe specifically for adventurers. The warm scent of baked bread, roasted meat, and spiced broth drifted through the air, inviting them in immediately. Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with life. Guilds crowded wooden tables, papers and maps spread out as they strategized. Laughter echoed from the back corner. The walls were decorated with monster skulls and retired weapons hung in crisscross patterns. Shunjiro spotted an empty table by the window. “There! Let’s sit.” They all collapsed into their seats with heavy sighs, muscles still humming from the dungeon. A moment later, Cal swaggered up to the table and plopped himself down beside them as if he’d been invited. “Well, well! Illumina survived their first dungeon.” He leaned back, grinning beneath his graying beard. “Drinks and food are on me. Order whatever you like.” Tetsuo nearly fell off his chair. “Free?!” “Tetsuo,” Itsuki whispered, mortified, “please don’t yell in a restaurant…” But Cal just laughed loudly, waving down a waiter. “So!” He folded his hands on the table. “You kids want a B-rank dungeon next, huh?” Shunjiro straightened. “If possible… yeah. We want something that’ll push us.” “Something that’ll help us grow,” Yoshinori added. Cal nodded slowly, rubbing his chin. “Hm. Ambitious. I like it. Not a bad idea either, considering what you ran into down in that evolving dungeon.” He tapped the table with two fingers. “I’ve got some ideas for you. A few B-rankers in the valley haven’t been cleared in a while. Good training, tough bosses… plus they shouldn’t kill you unless you do something stupid.” “That’s reassuring,” Itsuki murmured. Cal pushed himself up from his chair. “Alright. Sit tight. Eat. Rest those legs. I’ll go check which ones are open and get back to you.” He started walking away, then paused and glanced back with a grin. “Oh and don’t worry about the bill. You’ve earned a free meal today.” Tetsuo’s jaw dropped. “I love this man.” Itsuki giggled, Yoshinori shook his head, and Shunjiro leaned back in his chair, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. Illumina lingered at the cafe table long after their plates were empty, laughing, teasing, and replaying moments from the dungeon. Tetsuo reenacted his “goblin stew” move with exaggerated punches. Itsuki nearly spit out her tea when Shunjiro tried mimicking Sora’s dramatic hair flip. Even Yoshinori cracked a smile, proof that the day had gone really well. Eventually, they left the cafe, stepping back into the warm Dungeon Valley afternoon. Cal was waiting just outside, arms crossed, grin already forming. “Well, look at that, you four survived lunch. Impressive.” Shunjiro laughed. “Barely.” Cal waved them closer. “Good news. I found a dungeon for you.” The group perked up instantly. “It’s the same goblin dungeon you were just in,” Cal continued, scratching his beard. Shunjiro’s smile froze. “…Huh?” Cal held up a hand. “Before you start whining, yes, it evolved. Official report came in just now. That new layer changed the dungeon’s structure and rank. It’s now classified as a B-rank dungeon.” Yoshinori’s eyes lit up. “Perfect.” “Exactly what you wanted,” Cal confirmed. “A natural evolution dungeon like this is rare. You kids got lucky, you get to train in a dungeon that’s growing with you.” Shunjiro crossed his arms, thinking. “So… back to goblins, huh?” Tetsuo shrugged. “As long as I get to punch stuff, I don’t care.” Itsuki smiled nervously. “I-I don’t like goblins but… if it helps us grow, I’ll handle it.” Yoshinori nodded. “We came here to get stronger. Rank doesn’t matter.” Shunjiro exhaled. “Alright… we’ll do it. We’ll take the dungeon.” Cal slapped his hands together. “Great! One problem though, no one goes in today.” “Huh?” Shunjiro blinked. “The dungeon’s stabilizing. Walls shifting, tunnels forming new layers… it needs a few hours to set.” Cal pointed toward the valley. “Come back tomorrow morning. We’ll be ready for you then.” “Works for us,” Shunjiro said. “Thanks, Cal.” Cal gave a lazy salute. “Don’t thank me yet. You’ll regret it halfway through that B-rank section.” With that ominous encouragement, Cal headed off. The four guildmates looked at one another. “So…” Shunjiro asked, “what do we do for the rest of the day?” Yoshinori tapped his chin thoughtfully. “We test your energy.” Shunjiro blinked. “My what?” “Your energy flow,” Yoshinori said. “You accessed spiritual energy again, clearly thanks to Itsuki’s healing. We should try to recreate that outside the dungeon.” Tetsuo snapped his fingers. “Wait! Shunjiro remember the waterfall training? The one Kaito made us do?” Shunjiro’s eyes went wide. “The waterfall… Tetsuo, you absolute genius!” Itsuki tilted her head. “What waterfall?” Shunjiro explained, excitement climbing into his voice. “During our 5-day training, Kaito had us meditate under a freezing waterfall. The goal was to bring out our energy and coat our whole body in it. Only then could we move on to advanced training.” Itsuki’s eyes sparkled. “That sounds intense… but perfect for training.” Yoshinori nodded firmly. “Exactly. If Shunjiro could even use a fraction of his energy in that dungeon… then we need to force it out in a controlled environment. That waterfall technique is perfect.” Shunjiro felt his heartbeat quicken with hope. “I couldn’t do it before. Not once. But now… with Itsuki’s healing helping stabilize my energy, maybe I actually have a chance.” Itsuki blushed lightly. “I-I’ll help however I can.” Tetsuo raised his hand. “Uh only problem. There’s no waterfall anywhere near Dungeon Valley.” Everyone paused. Yoshinori shrugged. “We don’t need a waterfall, technically. A forest is nearby. If we find a clearing, we can simulate meditation training.” Shunjiro’s eyes lit up. “That’s perfect!” Tetsuo pumped his fist. “Forest training arc!!” Itsuki giggled. “Let’s go then. Before Tetsuo makes it sound any more dramatic.” The walk from Dungeon Valley stretched across rolling grass and dusty paths, sunlight warming their shoulders as the four members of Illumina moved in an easy, relaxed line. For the first time all day, there was no rushing, no fighting, no adrenaline, just the calm rhythm of footsteps and the soft rustle of wind through the long valley grass. After several minutes of peaceful silence, Tetsuo suddenly piped up. “Yo, Shunjiro,” he said, hands laced behind his head, “I was thinkin’… we’ve known each other for a while now, but I don’t actually know much about you. I figured it out in the carriage, you’re from Suncrest Village, right? What’s it like there?” Shunjiro’s expression softened instantly. A smile formed without him even trying. “Yeah… Suncrest is home. It’s small, quiet, really quiet, but a lot of travelers pass through. Merchants, adventurers, supply wagons. Sometimes you meet someone interesting just by sitting outside and watching the road.” He gazed off over the hilltop, nostalgia brushing across his face. “It’s also got the best sunsets in the world. That’s literally why it’s called Suncrest. The sky turns orange and gold like it’s on fire. It’s… peaceful. I miss that part the most.” Itsuki listened with a tender expression. Yoshinori nodded thoughtfully. Tetsuo grinned. “Man, sounds nice. Bet the food is good too.” Shunjiro laughed. “My mom makes the best curry on the continent. That’s not an exaggeration. Takeshi and I used to fight over it.” They shared a small moment of laughter before Shunjiro looked toward Tetsuo with curiosity. “Speaking of homes… What about you? Tell us more about the mountains.” Tetsuo shrugged but with a proud grin. “My place? Oh, it’s nothing fancy. Me and my pops lived in one of the high ridge villages.” His voice softened as he continued. “After my mom passed from sickness, it was just us. Medicine’s hard to get up there unless someone brings it in, so… we kinda just had to deal with whatever happened.” Shunjiro, Yoshinori, and Itsuki slowed their pace, giving him their full attention. Tetsuo kicked a pebble down the road. “My dad worked the fields, but after Mom… he couldn’t keep up. So I decided to become an adventurer to support him. Send him money. Make him proud. That’s my whole reason.” Itsuki’s eyes softened with sympathy. “That’s very kind of you, Tetsuo…” Shunjiro clapped him on the shoulder with a warm grin. “That’s awesome, man. Your dad must be proud already.” Tetsuo grinned sheepishly. “He better be.” Yoshinori, who had been quietly listening, allowed himself a small, approving smile, rare, subtle, but genuine. These people… he thought. Yeah. I definitely made the right choice joining them. Shunjiro slowed his steps until he was walking backward in front of the group, facing Itsuki and Yoshinori. “We’ve been talking a lot, but what about you two?” Shunjiro asked. “Tetsuo and I have been hogging the conversation. Tell us about your homes, your families.” Itsuki blinked, surprised, then placed a hand to her chest. “Well…” she began softly, “I grew up in a quiet farming village surrounded by hills and a lot of open land. My parents, my older sister, and I lived a peaceful life. Simple, but happy.” A wistful smile touched her lips before fading. “But when my sister got older… she wanted to become an adventurer.” The others leaned in, hearing the shift in her tone. “She left a few years ago. She sent one letter saying she made it safely to some other continent… and then…” Itsuki swallowed, her fingers tightening around her staff. “She vanished. No more messages. No sightings. Nothing. She’s just… gone.” Shunjiro’s heart clenched, a familiar ache filling his chest. “Vanished…? You mean you don’t know where she is at all?” Itsuki shook her head slowly. “Not a clue. My parents tried everything. They hired trackers, sent letters across the continents… but you can’t track someone who doesn’t want to be found. Or someone who can’t send a message back.” Her voice trembled. “That’s why I became an adventurer. To get strong enough. Smart enough. Brave enough… to go find her and bring her home.” Silence wrapped around them. Shunjiro stepped closer and placed a warm, steady hand over hers. “Itsuki… I had no idea.” His voice was quiet, sincere. “But now I see why you understand me so well. You’re searching for someone too.” Her eyes shimmered, not with tears, but with fierce determination. “That’s exactly it. When you told me about Takeshi… I just… knew. You and I are chasing the people we care about. We’re carrying the same kind of hope.” Shunjiro’s hand squeezed hers gently. “Then let’s do it together. We’ll find your sister… and my brother. We won’t stop until we do.” Itsuki’s breath caught. Her cheeks turned pink, and she quickly looked away, heart fluttering wildly. Shunjiro turned his attention to the quieter member of their group. “Alright, Yoshinori. Your turn. We know you’re from a mountain region too, but not much else.” Yoshinori inhaled slowly… then nodded. “My father is… a scholar,” he said, a small respectful smile forming. “No, that’s not strong enough. He’s obsessed with knowledge. He researches extraordinary phenomena, old legends, strange events in the world.” He softened. “My mother cares for our home and my younger sister. They’re… my quiet place in the world.” Tetsuo grinned wide. “Ohh, so like ruins? And ancient stuff? And weird energy anomalies-” “Yes,” Yoshinori cut in, pinching the bridge of his nose. “All of that. But here’s the thing, normal people can’t access restricted archives or high-level information. Only high-ranking adventurers can.” Itsuki’s eyes widened. “So you want to become an adventurer to reach those archives… for your father?” Yoshinori nodded, expression sincere. “My father got sick. Bedridden. He can’t continue his research. So I took up the mantle.” His eyes sharpened with quiet fire. “If I reach SSS rank, I’ll have access to everything he dreamed of studying. Hidden knowledge. Forbidden history. Lost truth.” A breath. “That’s my goal.” Shunjiro stared, genuinely impressed. “Wow… I never realized your goal was that big.” Yoshinori smirked faintly. “Don’t underestimate me.” Itsuki smiled warmly. “I think it’s wonderful.” Tetsuo nodded. “Super cool, man.” Shunjiro grinned. “We all came here with our own reasons… but now we’re walking the same path.” “Illumina,” Yoshinori said quietly, almost to himself. “It fits even more now.” By then, the dirt path had transitioned into soft forest soil. The shade cooled the air, and tall trees rose like guardians around them. Ahead, a wooden sign stood half-covered in moss: Whispering Woods. Tetsuo leaned forward. “Whispering… Woods? Sounds haunted.” Yoshinori eyed the treeline seriously. “These woods aren’t dangerous, but they’re easy to get lost in. The paths twist. The trees echo sounds. We need to remember every turn we take. Stay close.” Shunjiro nodded, excitement rising again. “Let’s find a clearing.” He clenched his fists, determination burning. “Time to unlock this energy once and for all.” The group walked deeper into Whispering Woods, the air cooling beneath the dense canopy until they stumbled upon a perfect clearing: a wide circle of grass where sunlight poured through the leaves in warm, golden beams. Dust motes drifted lazily in the rays, and the air was quiet, peaceful, almost sacred. “This is perfect,” Yoshinori said, stepping into the light. “Alright, Shunjiro. What exactly did Kaito have you do during training?” Shunjiro and Tetsuo exchanged a knowing look. “Kaito had us sit on these big rocks under a waterfall,” Shunjiro explained, gesturing with his hands. “He told us to close our eyes and try to guide our spiritual energy through our entire body.” “Yeah,” Tetsuo added, puffing his chest proudly. “We had to keep the flow smooth and steady. Total control. Kaito said it was our ‘foundation.’” Yoshinori nodded. “Makes sense. Controlling the flow is essential. Let’s give it a try.” They all took seats on the soft forest ground, legs crossed, hands resting on their knees. Tetsuo went first. He closed his eyes. A low hum of energy rippled from him steady, grounded. Within seconds, a faint gold aura coated his body like a thin layer of dusted stone. Tetsuo grinned without even opening his eyes. “Easy.” Yoshinori smirked. “Move over.” The moment he inhaled, his energy crackled to life. Bright blue sparks danced across his skin, forming a clean, controlled coating around him that pulsed rhythmically like a heartbeat. Tetsuo’s jaw dropped. “Bro what!? How!?” Yoshinori shrugged modestly. “I listen to instructions.” Itsuki giggled softly before settling into her own stance. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. At first nothing happened… then a soft, warm glow began blooming from her chest outward. A gentle, golden light wrapped around her body, flowing in smooth, calming pulses. “I-I think… I did it?” she whispered. “You definitely did,” Yoshinori said. “Cleanly, too.” Now all eyes turned to Shunjiro. He inhaled deeply… Exhaled… Closed his eyes… For a moment there was nothing. Then a violent eruption of energy burst from his body, rattling leaves and sending a shockwave through the clearing. Itsuki gasped and shielded her face. Tetsuo tumbled backward. Yoshinori’s eyes widened not in fear, but in awe. Shunjiro’s aura roared around him, black as ink, swirling aggressively without rhythm or restraint. It clawed at the air like a living shadow. “Holy…” Tetsuo whispered. “Dude, your energy’s pissed.” Yoshinori observed sharply. “That density… it’s incredible. There’s enough raw power there to flatten this clearing if you lose focus.” But Shunjiro couldn’t control it. His body trembled as the aura lashed violently around him. “Stop,” Yoshinori instructed. “You’re losing control.” Shunjiro exhaled sharply and just like that, the aura vanished. He slumped forward, forehead damp with sweat. Itsuki hurried to his side. “Are you okay?” “Yeah…” Shunjiro panted. “I-I brought it out. For the first time on command. I just… couldn’t control it. It felt like trying to hold onto a storm.” Itsuki tilted her head. “Isn’t it good that you were able to stop it on command? Before, you couldn’t turn it off at all.” Shunjiro blinked. “…You’re right. I actually stopped it before it hurt anyone.” He looked at his trembling hands, a mix of fear and excitement rising inside him. “I didn’t know I had that much energy. It felt like it was going to swallow me whole.” Yoshinori crouched beside him. “Your output is enormous. Control will take time… but there’s progress.” Shunjiro nodded slowly. “Let’s try again. But… Itsuki?” She blinked. “Y-yes?” “Can you use your healing on me again? It helped before.” Her eyes softened. “Of course.” Shunjiro sat up straight. Itsuki placed her hands on his shoulders. A warm glow flowed into him, washing away tension and calming the raging storm inside. “Okay,” he whispered. “Again.” He closed his eyes. This time, when he inhaled… The aura rose softly. No violent eruption. No black flares. No turbulence. A pale white glow began spreading across his arms, his chest, his back, light as feathers and smooth as flowing water. Itsuki gasped softly. “…Shunjiro… it’s beautiful.” Shunjiro’s eyes opened, glowing faintly with the same white light. “I… did it.” The light gently faded, settling harmlessly into his skin. Shunjiro’s joy exploded out of him in an instant. He sprang to his feet, grabbed Itsuki around the waist, and lifted her clean off the ground. Itsuki squeaked, a tiny, startled yelp as her arms flung up over her head. “Sh-Shunjiro!!” Shunjiro spun her once then set her down quickly, stepping back with the biggest grin on his face. “Thank you, Itsuki! Seriously, thank you! I couldn’t have done this without you.” Her entire face went red. Her ears, too. Even her neck. “I-I-I… um… I-I’m…” she stammered, hands fidgeting. “D-Don’t say things like that so suddenly…” Shunjiro, still glowing with excitement, laughed. “I mean it! You helped me control it. I’ll definitely need you by my side. Like… forever!” Itsuki froze. “F-Forever…?” she whispered, voice cracking. Before Shunjiro could register what he had said, a deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the clearing. Tetsuo. He was rolling on the grass, wheezing. “Broo Shunjiro, you can’t just say stuff like that!! She’s gonna pass out!” Yoshinori rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath. “These two are going to give me a migraine…” Shunjiro turned bright red as the realization sank in. “I-I didn’t mean it like that! I mean-uh-I mean-” Itsuki was still glowing pink, clutching her staff like it was the only thing keeping her alive. “…Forever…?” she whispered again, eyes dreamy and panicked all at once. Tetsuo continued cackling. Yoshinori sighed. Shunjiro covered his face in embarrassment. Yoshinori dusted off his hands, still analyzing the lingering shimmer of energy that clung faintly around Shunjiro’s shoulders. “…So that was the whole training?” he asked. “Just meditating under a waterfall?” Shunjiro nodded. “Pretty much. Kaito had us do it until we were nearly out of energy. Then, right when we were exhausted, he’d make us spar.” He laughed awkwardly. “That makes sense. Meditation tests control. Sparring tests instinct. If that’s what got you your first breakthroughs, then we should keep going.” He looked directly at Shunjiro. “Try again. Without Itsuki’s help this time. Eventually, you’ll have to do it alone.” Shunjiro inhaled sharply but gave a determined nod. “Yeah… you’re right. I don’t want to depend on Itsuki every time. Let’s keep at it while I’ve still got some momentum.” Across the circle, Itsuki lifted her staff to her chest, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. If he keeps needing me… would that really be so bad? Her heart fluttered at the thought. She quickly shook her head, trying to chase away the warmth blooming inside her. Focus, Itsuki. Focus. Shunjiro sat back down, legs crossing beneath him. Tetsuo cracked his knuckles like he was warming up for round two. Yoshinori positioned himself behind Shunjiro to observe his energy flow from different angles. Itsuki steadied her breathing, ready to help if Shunjiro lost control again. But before any of them could begin. A scream tore through the quiet forest. A raw, panicked sound that split the peaceful clearing in half. All four jolted upright instantly. “What was that?” Itsuki whispered, clutching her staff. Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed, his stance shifting into alert readiness. “That wasn’t an animal.” Tetsuo gritted his teeth. “Someone’s in trouble.” The scream echoed again this time closer, desperate. “Someone… please! Aya!! Aya!!” Shunjiro exchanged a tense look with his teammates. “We can’t ignore that.” “Obviously not,” Yoshinori said, already moving toward the treeline. “Let’s go.” The four dashed deeper into Whispering Woods, following the frantic shouts. Branches whipped past them. The forest darkened overhead, the canopy growing heavier and thicker as they pushed forward. The scream came again, straining with fear. “Aya! Aya!! Where are you?! Please!!” “That’s definitely a man,” Tetsuo said, jaw tight. “Sounds like he’s searching for someone.” “Someone who’s not answering…” Itsuki murmured, dread building in her stomach. They sprinted faster. Crunching leaves. The smell of damp moss. A pulse of raw fear humming through the air. The voice cracked again, trembling and frantic. “Aya!! Answer me!! Aya!!” Shunjiro clenched his fists. Whoever this “Aya” was, she was missing.  And whoever this man was, his voice sounded broken with terror. Yoshinori slowed near a dip in the forest floor, motioning for the others to move quietly. “He’s close,” he whispered. They crouched behind a cluster of trees and parted the branches. A man stood alone in a clearing, hair disheveled, clothes torn, hands shaking violently as he cupped them around his mouth. “Aya!! Please!! Where are you?!” His voice cracked, raw and desperate. Itsuki stepped forward, eyes softening with concern. “We should help him.” Shunjiro nodded. “Yeah… let’s go. Whoever Aya is… she might be in danger.” The four members of Illumina moved toward the clearing ready to face whatever waited for them deeper inside the Whispering Woods.