By the end of the week, Yoshinori’s reserves were finally stable again. The faint tension that always lived behind his eyes when he overextended his lightning had faded. When he flexed his fingers now, static sparked lightly between them. Shunjiro noticed immediately. “You’re back,” he said from across the training yard. Yoshinori didn’t answer at first. He lifted one hand and snapped his fingers. A sharp bolt cracked down from the clear sky, striking a stone target dead center without scattering. No recoil. No stagger. Just precision. “…Yes,” Yoshinori replied calmly. Tetsuo grinned. “Good. I was getting bored watching you sip tea all day.” “I was stabilizing,” Yoshinori corrected. Aiko leaned against the wooden fence, arms folded. “Same thing.” Ryuji rolled his shoulders and looked between them. “Alright, so what’s the plan? We’re C-rank now. We can’t just go back to escorting merchants and clearing out goblin nests.” Shunjiro stood at the center of the yard, arms crossed, staring at the ground like it had personally offended him. The S-rank fight still replayed in his head. Daichi’s wind slicing his arms. Hikari’s punch lifting Ryuji off the ground like he weighed nothing. Roki’s flame aura swallowing attacks. They had survived. They had even impressed them. But impressed wasn’t enough. “I want something hard,” Shunjiro said finally. Itsuki looked up at him immediately. There was no fear in her expression now, only quiet understanding. “We all do,” she said. The S-rank spar hadn’t discouraged them. It had made them hungry. Tetsuo cracked his knuckles. “Then let’s take something big.” “Within reason,” Itsuki added firmly. Yoshinori adjusted his sleeve and stepped forward slightly. “I have an idea.” Everyone turned toward him. He didn’t rush the words. “If we truly want to grow at a rate beyond our rank… we need pressure beyond our rank.” Shunjiro narrowed his eyes. “…What are you thinking?” Yoshinori met his gaze evenly. “An A-rank dungeon.” Silence. Even the breeze seemed to pause. Tetsuo blinked once. “…You’re joking.” “I’m not.” Aiko straightened off the fence. “You mean… a real A-rank dungeon?” “Yes.” Ryuji let out a low whistle. “That’s not ‘hard.’ That’s suicidal.” Shunjiro exhaled slowly. “We’re C-rank.” “Yes,” Yoshinori said. “And we fought three S-ranks and didn’t collapse in thirty seconds.” “That’s not the same as clearing an A-rank dungeon,” Itsuki said gently. Yoshinori nodded. “Correct. An A-rank dungeon requires coordination, stamina, adaptation under sustained threat, and the ability to fight opponents who will not hold back.” He looked at Shunjiro again. “That’s exactly why we should attempt it.” Shunjiro ran a hand through his messy black hair. “We’re not allowed,” he said. “Guild regulations. You can’t take missions two ranks above your classification. We’d need to be B-rank to legally request an A-rank dungeon.” Yoshinori didn’t flinch. “I know.” “Then what’s the point?” Tetsuo asked. “The point,” Yoshinori replied calmly, “is that rules are designed to protect incompetence. Not to restrain potential.” Aiko smirked slightly. “That’s a very Yoshinori way of saying ‘let’s break protocol.’” Ryuji laughed. “I like it.” Itsuki looked between them, thoughtful rather than dismissive. “You’re saying we ask,” she clarified. “Yes,” Yoshinori said. “We request special clearance. Evaluation supervision. Conditional authorization.” Shunjiro stared at him. “You’ve already thought this through.” “Obviously.” Tetsuo grinned. “I’m in.” Ryuji pumped a fist. “If Kaito says yes, I’m not backing down.” Aiko shrugged. “Worst he can say is no.” Itsuki folded her hands in front of her staff, considering. “If we attempt something like that… we prepare properly. No recklessness.” Shunjiro looked around at all of them. There was no hesitation in their eyes. No fear. Only ambition. The S-rank fight had done something to them. It had shifted their ceiling. “…An A-rank dungeon,” Shunjiro muttered under his breath. It sounded insane. It sounded impossible. Which was exactly why he wanted it. He straightened. “…It’s worth asking,” he admitted. Yoshinori gave a small nod. “Then we speak to Kaito.” Shunjiro grinned slowly, energy building in his chest. “Alright,” he said. “Let’s go see how much he trusts us.” The energy in the group carried them straight through Radiance’s main guild hall. Shunjiro pushed open the heavy doors to Kaito’s office without hesitation and stopped. Empty. The curtains were drawn halfway, sunlight cutting across the desk in angled beams. Papers were stacked neatly. A cup of tea sat untouched, long since cooled. The room felt… paused. “He’s not here,” Tetsuo muttered unnecessarily. Yoshinori stepped inside, scanning once like he expected Kaito to materialize out of thin air. “He’s never out during this hour,” Itsuki said quietly. Ryuji crossed his arms. “Maybe he’s avoiding us.” Aiko smirked. “Smart man.” Shunjiro turned back into the hall and flagged down a passing official wearing Radiance insignia. “Excuse me,” he called. “Have you seen Kaito Ishiro?” The official slowed, recognition flickering in his eyes when he saw the C-rank badges pinned to their cloaks. “Guild Illumina,” the man said politely. “Congratulations on your promotion.” “Thanks,” Shunjiro replied quickly. “Do you know where Captain Ishiro is?” The official’s expression shifted, professional, composed. “Captain Ishiro and the Gilded Blades departed early this morning.” Shunjiro’s brows knit together. “Departed?” “Yes. An urgent matter beyond the kingdom’s borders. I’m afraid they won’t be returning for some time.” “How long is ‘some time’?” Ryuji asked. The official hesitated just long enough for that to be unsettling. “Indefinite.” The word hung heavy. Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed slightly. Shunjiro exhaled through his nose. “So we can’t request clearance.” “Not until Captain Ishiro returns,” the official confirmed. “It may take weeks.” Weeks. Tetsuo groaned immediately. “We are not waiting weeks.” Aiko tilted her head. “There has to be another way.” They stepped aside from the flow of guild traffic, gathering near one of the stone columns. Shunjiro ran a hand through his hair again. “We can’t take an A-rank dungeon without approval. If we do it unofficially and something goes wrong, we’ll be suspended.” “Or worse,” Itsuki added softly. Yoshinori stood still, thinking. Then something shifted in his expression. “…There is another option.” Tetsuo perked up. “You have that look again.” “What look?” Yoshinori asked. “The illegal one.” Yoshinori ignored him. “Dungeon Valley operates with semi-autonomous oversight,” he began calmly. “Technically under Radiance jurisdiction, but administratively independent.” Shunjiro blinked. “You mean Cal. You know he does not bend rules for free.” Yoshinori folded his arms. “I am aware.” Shunjiro stared at him. “You’re suggesting we… bribe him?” “I’m suggesting,” Yoshinori corrected smoothly, “that we offer compensation for special access.” “That is bribery,” Tetsuo said. “Terminology is flexible.” Itsuki looked conflicted. “If we do this without official sanction…” “We won’t,” Yoshinori interrupted gently. “Not fully. Cal can log us under ‘independent evaluation clearance.’ It’s rare, but not unheard of.” “You’ve thought about this before,” Aiko accused. “Of course.” Ryuji laughed. “You’ve been planning to break into an A-rank dungeon since the day we got promoted, haven’t you?” Yoshinori did not deny it. Shunjiro felt something dangerous flicker in his chest. An A-rank dungeon without supervision. Real monsters. Real stakes. “…If Cal says no?” Itsuki asked quietly. “Then we wait,” Yoshinori replied. “But it is worth attempting.” Tetsuo cracked his knuckles. “What would we even bribe him with?” Yoshinori glanced at Shunjiro. “Money.” Shunjiro winced. “We just bought groceries.” Aiko raised a brow. “Not that kind of money.” Ryuji snapped his fingers. “Recognition.” They all looked at him. “We’re the guild that subdued Makoto Ryuzen,” Ryuji continued. “The guild that survived three S-ranks. Cal loves risk. He loves stories.” Aiko’s smirk returned. “Dungeon Valley thrives on reputation.” Yoshinori nodded slowly. “If we present this as a calculated test of a rising C-rank guild, he may see value.” Itsuki exhaled. “And if he thinks we’re reckless?” “Then we convince him we’re not,” Shunjiro said. They all looked at him now. There was no hesitation in his voice. Just resolve. Shunjiro straightened slightly, eyes sharp. “We don’t ask to prove we’re reckless,” he said. “We ask because we’re ready to grow.” Yoshinori’s lips curved faintly. “Then we go to Dungeon Valley.” Tetsuo grinned wide. “Now this feels like a mission.” Aiko pushed off the column. “I love when plans start illegal.” “They are not illegal,” Yoshinori corrected. “Yet,” Ryuji added cheerfully. Itsuki looked at each of them, then nodded once. “If we’re doing this… we prepare properly.” Shunjiro’s heart pounded harder. An A-rank dungeon. “Let’s go talk to Cal,” he said. They didn’t leave immediately. If they were going to attempt something this reckless, even Yoshinori admitted it needed preparation. The rest of that evening was spent turning their guild house upside down. No one said it out loud. But they were packing like they might not come back quickly. “Over a week,” Itsuki reminded them gently as she folded another spare tunic. “Minimum.” “Longer if it’s complex,” Yoshinori added. Shunjiro tightened the wraps around his forearms. The cuts from Daichi were gone, but the memory of them wasn’t. An A-rank dungeon. He didn’t feel fear. He felt anticipation. By the time they stepped outside, the kingdom was already deep in night. Radiance looked different after dark when you weren’t returning from a mission. Lanterns flickered along the streets, casting long shadows across stone. Patrol knights moved in measured pairs, armor glinting softly. The air was cool, almost hushed. Their carriage waited near the outer gate, hired under the pretense of a “supply run.” Tetsuo climbed up first, tossing his pack inside with a heavy thud. “This feels illegal,” he whispered loudly. “It’s not illegal,” Yoshinori replied for the third time that evening. Aiko smirked as she stepped up into the carriage. “It feels like we’re sneaking out past curfew.” Ryuji leaned back against the wooden frame once seated. “That makes it better.” Itsuki paused before stepping inside, glancing back at the kingdom walls. “Once we leave,” she said quietly, “we won’t be under Radiance protection.” Shunjiro stood beside her for a moment. “We’ll be fine,” he said. She nodded, then climbed in. The driver cracked the reins. The carriage rolled forward. The gates opened slowly with a low groan of wood and iron. And just like that they left. The wheels hummed softly over the stone road as Radiance’s lantern glow faded behind them. The forest line ahead swallowed the path in darkness, moonlight filtering through the trees in pale streaks. Inside the carriage, the mood shifted. The thrill of planning quieted into something more grounded. Tetsuo stretched out along one bench. “Wake me up when there’s monsters.” “You won’t like how that happens,” Aiko replied. Ryuji folded his arms behind his head. “We’ll arrive early morning, right?” Yoshinori nodded. “Dungeon Valley by sunrise.” Itsuki tucked her legs beneath her slightly, hands resting in her lap. “Try to sleep,” she said softly. “We’ll need clear heads.” The carriage rocked gently as it traveled deeper into the night. Shunjiro leaned back against the wooden wall, staring at the ceiling. The rhythmic rocking of the carriage blurred into something distant. Shunjiro didn’t remember the exact moment he fell asleep. One second he was staring at the wooden ceiling, listening to the quiet breathing of his guild around him. Next there was light. Soft, golden light pressed faintly against his eyelids. The carriage had stopped. He opened his eyes slowly. For a moment, he didn’t remember where they were. Then he heard it. Steel clanging. Distant shouting. The low hum of spiritual energy thrumming in the air like a second heartbeat. Dungeon Valley. “Morning,” Ryuji muttered from across the carriage, already awake. Tetsuo stretched with a groan, nearly kicking Aiko in the process. “Did we die?” “No,” Yoshinori said calmly. “But we’re close.” Itsuki sat up and pushed a stray lock of black hair behind her ear. She looked rested. “Everyone slept?” she asked. There were nods all around. Shunjiro rolled his shoulders and stepped out of the carriage first. Dungeon Valley was already alive. It wasn’t like Radiance. Radiance felt organized. Polished. Dungeon Valley felt… raw. Adventurers moved in and out of the central staging plaza carrying weapons too large, armor too dented, eyes too tired. Notices were nailed to thick wooden boards. The air smelled of iron, dust, and something faintly magical. Cal noticed them long before they reached him. He was standing near the dungeon registry board, a thick ledger balanced in one hand while the other absentmindedly flipped a page. The morning light filtered through the jagged cliffs of Dungeon Valley, casting long shadows across the stone courtyard. Adventurers moved in small clusters around them, the air filled with the familiar tension of people about to walk into places that did not guarantee their return. Without looking up, Cal spoke. “That’s an interesting group to see this early.” Shunjiro slowed as they approached. “Morning, Cal.” Only then did Cal lift his gaze. His sharp eyes moved over Shunjiro first, then Yoshinori, then Tetsuo. When his attention shifted to Aiko and Ryuji, it lingered just a fraction longer. “You multiplied,” he observed flatly. Aiko placed a hand on her hip. “We prefer ‘expanded.’” Ryuji grinned and offered a casual wave. “Nice to finally meet you.” Cal closed the ledger with a soft thud. “And who are these two?” “They joined,” Shunjiro replied simply. Cal studied them again, reassessing. “Permanently?” “Yes,” Yoshinori answered. “They’re part of Illumina now.” Cal’s gaze returned to Shunjiro. “And what rank are you now?” Shunjiro didn’t hesitate. “C.” Cal’s brow lifted slightly. “When did that happen?” “Recently,” Tetsuo said, unable to keep the pride from his voice. Cal gave a small nod, as if filing the information away rather than reacting to it. “Did you bleed for it?” “Yes,” Shunjiro replied. “Good. Then it counts.” There was no congratulatory tone, no disbelief, just acknowledgment. Cal shifted his weight and tucked the ledger beneath his arm. “You didn’t ride all night to update me on your badge,” he said. “What do you want?” The question was direct, and it hung between them without hostility. Shunjiro glanced at Yoshinori, then stepped forward. “We’re looking for something that doesn’t match our rank.” Cal’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How far off the mark are we talking?” Yoshinori answered this time. “Two ranks.” For a brief moment, the only sound was the distant rumble of a dungeon gate activating somewhere across the valley. “You’re C-rank,” Cal said carefully. “That means you have access to C-rank dungeons. B-rank with supervision. You’re not cleared for A.” “We know,” Shunjiro replied. “That’s why we’re talking to you.” Cal regarded him in silence. “And you think I should bend that?” “We think we’re capable,” Itsuki said softly. Cal’s gaze shifted to her. There was no arrogance in her voice, only quiet conviction. Ryuji stepped in, less bravado than usual in his tone. “We fought three S-rank adventurers yesterday. Titans Guild.” That drew a subtle change in Cal’s posture. “Which three?” “Hikari Balrik. Daichi Takeda. Roki.” Recognition flickered across his face. “And you’re still standing.” “Barely,” Yoshinori said dryly. “But we didn’t fold,” Shunjiro added. Cal exhaled slowly and turned toward the glowing map projection embedded into the stone wall beside the registry board. With a subtle pulse of energy, the map shifted and expanded, revealing layers of dungeon signatures and risk classifications. “You want pressure?” Cal said, eyes scanning the projection. “Pressure doesn’t care about your promotion. It compounds mistakes.” “We’re aware,” Yoshinori replied. “No,” Cal corrected calmly. “You’re aware in theory.” His finger tapped a darker region of the map. The projection flared and reorganized, forming a detailed structure of interconnected chambers. “Shadow Elf Dungeon,” he said. The image displayed tiered platforms, narrow corridors, and branching paths that suggested coordination rather than chaos. “It was escalated to A-rank recently,” Cal continued. “Organized units. Confirmed captains. Structured ambush patterns. You won’t be fighting mindless monsters. You’ll be fighting strategy.” Silence settled over the group as they studied the projection. Cal finally turned to face them fully. “You have, at best, a twenty percent chance of coming out alive.” There was no exaggeration in his tone. No attempt to intimidate. It was simply a number. Ryuji swallowed, but didn’t step back. Aiko’s expression sharpened rather than wavered. Tetsuo looked almost energized by the challenge. Yoshinori’s eyes grew more focused. Shunjiro remained steady. Cal noticed that too. “I’m not offering this because I think you’ll clear it easily,” he said. “I’m offering it because you might survive it. And because you look like you’re smart enough to retreat if the situation collapses.” Itsuki nodded. “We are.” Cal studied them for another long moment, then reached into the inner lining of his coat. Instead of paperwork or a registry slip, he withdrew a small, dark crystal the size of a coin. It wasn’t polished, it looked dense, almost smoky inside, faint currents of energy swirling beneath its surface. He held it between two fingers, and even from where they stood, they could feel a subtle pulse coming from it. “This isn’t a standard clearance token,” Cal said as he stepped closer. “It’s bonded crystal.” Shunjiro extended his hand instinctively, but Cal didn’t release it yet. “It will attune to your collective spiritual signatures once you enter the dungeon,” Cal continued. “As long as at least one of you is alive and conscious, it will maintain resonance.” Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And if it doesn’t?” Cal’s expression did not change. “If the resonance collapses entirely,” he said evenly, “the crystal goes dark.” The weight of that settled over them. “When it goes dark,” Cal continued, finally placing the crystal into Shunjiro’s palm, “I’ll know your spiritual signals have extinguished.” Itsuki swallowed faintly. Ryuji shifted his weight but didn’t look away. “I’ll dispatch a recovery team immediately,” Cal went on. “They’ll track your last recorded position through the crystal’s echo imprint.” Tetsuo exhaled slowly. “And if they don’t find us?” Cal met his gaze directly. “They search for ten days,” he said. “If there are no remains, no trace, no recoverable signature after that… you’re declared lost.” No dramatic pause. No softening of the words. “After ten days,” he finished, “the dungeon keeps what it took.” The crystal in Shunjiro’s hand gave a faint, almost imperceptible hum as it began responding to his energy. Thin strands of light flickered inside it, reacting to the presence of the others nearby. Cal stepped back. “This isn’t permission to be reckless,” he said. “It’s insurance that your deaths won’t go unanswered.” Aiko let out a slow breath. “Comforting.” “It’s not meant to be,” Cal replied. He looked at each of them in turn, lingering briefly on Itsuki, then Yoshinori, then the two newest members he had only just met. “You have ambition,” he said. “That’s good. But ambition without discipline feeds dungeons.” Shunjiro closed his fingers around the crystal, feeling its steady pulse align with his own. “We’ll come back with it still glowing,” he said. Cal’s gaze sharpened, not mocking, not dismissive but measuring. “See that you do,” he replied quietly. “If you overextend, you die. If you hesitate too long, you die. If you lose formation, you die. This dungeon won’t give you time to correct your mistakes.” He paused, then added, “And if you ignore your limits because you’re chasing growth, it will bury you.” The warning didn’t feel like doubt. It felt like instruction. Cal did not send them off with directions. He walked them there himself. Dungeon Valley was already awake by the time they left the main compound. Adventurers moved between entrances carved into the canyon walls, some laughing too loudly to hide nerves, others silent and focused. The air carried the scent of stone dust, iron, and something older, something that felt like pressure sitting just beneath the skin. Cal walked ahead with steady, unhurried steps, coat shifting behind him in the morning breeze. He didn’t speak at first, but his presence alone kept the mood grounded. They passed several marked dungeon gates, B-rank stone caverns, C-rank beast nests, even a sealed SS-rank rift with layered barriers humming faintly around its perimeter. Then Cal turned toward a darker section of the canyon. The air changed almost immediately. The entrance wasn’t grand. It wasn’t dramatic. The stone archway was carved with ancient, spiraling sigils that pulsed faintly with a violet undertone. Thin black vines crept along the rock, not alive, but not entirely inert either. The interior beyond the threshold swallowed light unnaturally, like it bent inward instead of spreading. “A-rank,” Cal said quietly. “Shadow Elf territory.” Even Tetsuo didn’t joke. A faint chill crept along Itsuki’s spine. Shadow Elves weren’t mindless beasts. They were intelligent dungeon-born entities, agile, tactical, and cruel in a deliberate way. Illusions. Assassination tactics. Coordinated ambushes. This wouldn’t be a brute force clear. Before anyone moved forward, Yoshinori raised a hand. “Wait.” They all looked at him. His expression had shifted. Not nervous, but serious in a way that pulled the energy down around them. “We should go over this,” he said. “Properly.” Shunjiro nodded. “Shadow Dungeon 101?” “Something like that,” Yoshinori replied. He stepped closer to the entrance, stopping just short of the mist. “Shadow Dungeons are rare,” he began. “Most of them are ranked S or higher. S, SS, SSS. That’s why Cal gave us that look.” Ryuji folded his arms. “The ‘you’re probably going to die’ look?” “Yes,” Yoshinori said flatly. “That one.” Aiko leaned against a rock, watching him. She’d been there before. She knew this tone. “I went into a B-rank Shadow Dungeon during the entrance exams,” Yoshinori continued. “So did Aiko and Ryuji.” Tetsuo blinked. “That was your test?” Ryuji grinned weakly. “Surprise.” Yoshinori ignored them and kept going. “The one we entered was a Shadow Bear Dungeon. B-rank. That’s already abnormal. Most Shadow-type dungeons don’t manifest below S-rank because the energy required to sustain them is massive.” Itsuki stepped closer, staff resting lightly against her shoulder. “What makes them different from normal dungeons?” Yoshinori glanced at her. “Shadow Dungeons aren’t just filled with monsters. They’re saturated with shadow-realm energy.” Tetsuo tilted his head. “Like corruption?” “Not exactly,” Yoshinori replied. “Corruption infects and twists living things. Shadow energy constructs.” He gestured toward the entrance. “The creatures inside aren’t flesh and blood. They’re manifestations. Made from spiritual shadow.” Shunjiro crossed his arms. “So… if I punch one-” “It won’t matter,” Yoshinori cut in. “Not unless your spiritual energy is greater than the beast’s.” Tetsuo frowned. “Wait. So pure strength doesn’t work?” “Not by itself,” Yoshinori said. “If your energy output doesn’t exceed theirs, your attacks won’t properly connect. You’ll hit something that feels solid but it won’t break.” Itsuki’s brows furrowed. “They regenerate too, right?” Ryuji nodded. “Fast. If you don’t destroy the core of their energy, they reform.” Shunjiro’s expression hardened slightly. “So we have to overwhelm them.” “Yes,” Yoshinori said. “Or disrupt them.” Shunjiro looked at the dungeon entrance again. The mist seemed to shift slightly, almost as if listening. “And the environment?” Itsuki asked quietly. Yoshinori nodded once. “Don’t trust it.” Tetsuo squinted. “That’s not helpful.” “When we entered ours,” Yoshinori continued, “we expected a cave. We stepped into open sky. Grass. Water. Sunlight. It looked real. It felt real. But something was always off.” “How?” Shunjiro asked. “You’ll feel it,” Yoshinori said. “Like pressure behind your eyes. Like the world is slightly misaligned.” Itsuki swallowed faintly. “So it manipulates space?” she asked. “Yes. And perception.” Aiko added, “Shadow Dungeons distort logic. Distance might not be consistent. Directions might loop.” Ryuji scratched the back of his neck. “And the deeper you go, the heavier it feels. Like the dungeon itself is watching you.” Tetsuo cracked his knuckles slowly. “Good. I like when things fight back.” Yoshinori shot him a look. “You like punching things. That won’t be enough here.” Tetsuo huffed but didn’t argue. Shunjiro stepped closer to Yoshinori. “What’s the worst part?” Yoshinori didn’t answer immediately. “The worst part,” he said after a moment, “is that Shadow Dungeons test your spiritual foundation.” They all went quiet. “If your energy control is unstable,” Yoshinori continued, “the dungeon amplifies that weakness. If your mind wavers, the environment reacts.” Itsuki looked down at her staff. “And if we push too hard?” she asked. “Then we burn out faster than the enemies do,” Yoshinori replied. Shunjiro glanced at Aiko and Ryuji. “And you two survived.” Aiko smirked. “Barely.” Ryuji nodded. “We learned when to stop.” That hung in the air. Tetsuo broke the tension. “Alright. So summary: Shadow creatures made of spiritual energy. They regenerate. The dungeon messes with your head. And brute force isn’t enough.” “Yes,” Yoshinori said. “And this one is A-rank.” “Yes.” Shunjiro inhaled slowly, letting the weight of that settle. Itsuki looked at Yoshinori. “Is there anything else we should know?” For a moment, Yoshinori didn’t answer. The wind shifted across Dungeon Valley, brushing against their cloaks and armor. Even Aiko noticed the pause. “…Yoshi?” she asked lightly, though her eyes were sharp. He hesitated. “Yes,” he said finally. The word hung in the air. Tetsuo frowned. “That doesn’t sound optional.” Yoshinori exhaled slowly, gaze drifting toward the dungeon entrance. “There’s something I didn’t tell you about Shadow Dungeons.” Aiko crossed her arms. “You love doing that.” “It’s not tactical information,” he replied evenly. “Not yet.” Shunjiro narrowed his eyes slightly. “Then what is it?” Yoshinori met his gaze. “Something I found in the Shadow Bear dungeon during the entrance exams.” Ryuji stiffened a little. “Found?” Yoshinori nodded once. “I’ll explain inside.” Tetsuo groaned. “Inside?” “Yes,” Yoshinori said. “If this dungeon behaves the way I think it will… it will be easier to understand once you feel it for yourselves.” Itsuki studied him carefully. There was no arrogance in his tone. No drama. Just calculation. Cal, who had been standing slightly apart with his arms folded, let out a quiet breath through his nose. “…You’re holding back information on purpose,” Cal observed. Yoshinori didn’t deny it. “Timing matters.” Cal’s eyes flicked between them, then settled on Yoshinori a moment longer than the rest. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “…Your odds just went up.” Shunjiro blinked. “Because he’s keeping secrets?” “Because he’s thinking,” Cal corrected. He stepped back from the dungeon entrance, coat shifting as he turned away. “You’ve got ten days,” he reminded them. “Token fails, I send a team. No signal after that, you’re declared lost.” His gaze sharpened slightly. “Don’t make me file that report.” Tetsuo grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Cal snorted once. “Confidence gets people killed.” He started walking back toward the valley path, not looking at them again. “Try not to die,” he called over his shoulder. “Kaito Ishiro would hang me.” With that, he was gone. Silence returned. Only the dungeon remained. Shunjiro stepped forward first. The darkness swallowed the light at his feet. He didn’t hesitate. “C-rank,” he said quietly. “First real test.” Ryuji cracked his knuckles. “Let’s make it count.” Aiko rolled her neck, violet eyes gleaming. “Shadow Elves, huh? Sounds dramatic.” Itsuki took one steadying breath. No more standing in the back. Yoshinori moved beside Shunjiro. “This won’t feel like a normal dungeon,” he warned softly. “Stay close. Watch your instincts.” Shunjiro nodded. Together, Guild Illumina crossed the threshold. The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped. The light from outside did not follow them far. The dungeon swallowed it. And the shadows began to breathe.