Day One. Hiroto Makabe’s Squad. The morning sun spilled through the Radiant Guild Hall’s windows, painting warm streaks across the marble floor. Hiroto Makabe stood at the center of the hall, arms folded, still as a statue. His sharp gaze swept across the room, waiting. The first to arrive were Yoshinori Raikawa and a boy who looked more like he belonged in a bakery than a battlefield. Yoshinori glanced sideways at the round figure beside him, a short, wide teen with a soft gut peeking beneath his tunic, a face half-hidden by a mop of curly hair, and a bored, sleepy look in his eye. Yoshinori sighed inwardly. How did this guy pass the first part of the exams? Well, Hiroto picked him… must be a reason. Probably. Just then, the heavy doors creaked open. Two more figures stepped through, one slumped over the shoulder of the other like dead weight. Ryuji Sayo entered first, dragging Aiko Hanabi with practiced ease. Aiko’s short black hair was slightly disheveled, her sharp purple eyes bleary with what looked like the remnants of a long night. She groaned softly, still half-asleep. Ryuji with his wavy black hair, looked up with a lopsided grin. “Sorry we’re late. Someone didn’t want to wake up. I tried shaking her, yelling, cold water…” Hiroto’s expression didn’t change, but a single brow arched. He stepped toward Aiko, the air tightening. “Aiko,” he said flatly, “if you so much as sip alcohol during these five days, you’re out. No adventurer’s badge. No second chances.” Aiko straightened with alarming speed, throwing off Ryuji’s support and standing tall on her own. She gave a crisp, if slightly wobbly, bow. “Understood, sir. No drinking. Very sorry.” Ryuji raised a brow. “…What kinda beastly nose do you have, Hiroto? You smelled that from across the room?” “I don’t need to smell it,” Hiroto replied. “I can feel the lack of discipline in the air.” The tension broke with a small cough from Yoshinori, who was now more curious than skeptical. Hiroto scanned the group, making sure all eyes were on him. “You’ve all packed for five days?” A chorus of “yes” followed. “Good. Introduce yourselves. We leave in ten.” Ryuji took the lead, raising a hand with a lazy grin. “Name’s Ryuji Sayo. Body hardening’s my thing. I’m fast, strong, and not bad to look at. You’re welcome.” Aiko rolled her eyes but followed. “Aiko Hanabi. I drink too much and make bad choices, but I can swap places with people and things with energy.” She winked at Yoshinori, who looked mildly alarmed. The large boy stepped forward next, his voice low but friendly. “Grillin,” he said simply. “I hit things. Hard.” Yoshinori gave a short nod. “Yoshinori Raikawa. Lightning user. I’m… decent at group work.” Everyone turned back to Hiroto, who gave the smallest hint of a nod. “Solid spread of talents. That’s good. You’ll need it.” He turned toward the exit. “We’re heading into Dungeon Valley. Five days, four dungeon raids. You’ll face monsters, traps, and the pressure of the unknown. Think of this as your final test.” He paused. “Make it through, really make it through, and you’ll earn your right to be called an adventurer.” As he stepped outside, his voice echoed one last time: “Let’s move. Your first dungeon awaits.” The wooden wheels of the carriage creaked along the dirt path as the guild hall shrank into the distance behind them. Morning light spilled across the vast, open plains ahead. As they crested a low hill, the scenery changed, waves of tall, golden-green grass rolled like an ocean in the wind, and nestled between the slopes were dozens of gaping cave mouths. Some were jagged and narrow, others wide and dark like open maws, waiting. The carriage rolled to a stop at the edge of a small outpost. Tents, merchant stalls, weapon repair stations, and open fires littered the area. Adventurers bustled around them, some limping and bloodied, others laughing, polishing blades, or counting dragon coins. Dungeon Valley. Hiroto stepped down first, folding his arms as his eyes scanned the wild terrain. “Welcome,” he said, voice steady. “This is one of the oldest and most dangerous zones in the Light Continent. Dungeon Valley.” The others climbed down, eyes wide. Aiko squinted at the hills. “All of those caves are dungeons?” Hiroto nodded. “Each one unique. Each with its own monsters, terrain, traps, and rewards. Some are shallow. Some deeper than anyone’s ever mapped.” He pointed across the valley. “See the shimmer near the entrances? That’s the barrier. Monsters can’t pass through them.” Grillin looked mildly concerned. “So, uh… these dungeons… do they all have scary monsters or…?” Yoshinori ignored him and stepped forward. “How did these dungeons even get here?” Hiroto looked at him, then at the distant horizon where the caves dotted the grassy slopes like open scars. “That’s the big question,” he said. “Researchers think they were created around the same time as the Shadow Realm.” Aiko raised an eyebrow.  “Wait, Shadow Realm? That creepy place is real?” Ryuji smirked.  “You thought it was fake? Girl, you need to read more.” “Excuse me for not spending my nights researching demon dimensions,” Aiko snapped. Grillin shivered. “The name alone makes it sound cursed…” Yoshinori crossed his arms.  “What do you know about it, Hiroto? The Shadow Realm, I mean.” Hiroto glanced at the group, his face now serious. “Enough to tell you this, every adventurer worth their license should know at least the basics.” He looked to the south. “The Light Continent is surrounded in the South and East by the Shadow Realm. It’s a barrier, and the only thing keeping the Corrupted from spreading across the world unchecked.” Aiko frowned. “Corrupted… like, the monsters?” “Not monsters,” Hiroto said firmly. “Souls. Lost ones. Twisted by grief, rage, despair.” The air grew a little colder as he continued. “The Shadow Realm is where those souls go to rot. The sun doesn’t shine there. Everything’s darker. Heavier. Time feels slower. It’s not a place for the living.” Grillin gulped.  “So… we’re not going there, right?” Hiroto gave a short shake of his head.  “Not unless you have to. And if that day ever comes, pray you’re SS Rank.” Yoshinori blinked. “That dangerous?” “More than you know.” Hiroto’s voice was low now, almost reflective. “Even seasoned adventurers lose their minds there. If you do enter it, make sure you’re with a group, preferably all SS Rank or higher. Five at minimum. Ten if you’re smart.” Aiko leaned against the side of the carriage. “So… if we ever want to visit the Cosmic or Nature continents…” “You have to pass through the Shadow Realm,” Hiroto confirmed. “There’s no other way. No boats. No portals. Only darkness, and whatever walks inside it.” The group fell quiet. Ryuji broke the silence with a snort. “Welp. Shadow Realm sounds fun. Let’s go not there.” Yoshinori glanced at the nearest cave. “Still doesn’t answer whether these dungeons are natural or man-made.” Hiroto folded his arms. “Some think they’re just cracks in the world, leaking power. Others say they’re experiments, trials built by ancient beings who wanted to test us. But in the end…” He turned back to the group. “What matters is they’re here. They’re dangerous. And if those barriers ever fall, and all those creatures spill out into the continent, we’ll be looking at a warzone.” He paused, his tone shifting slightly. “That’s why we train. That’s why we learn. So if that day ever comes, we’re ready.” Around them, adventuring parties were gearing up, some sharpening blades, others unloading stretchers with injured allies, and a few shouting about bounty rewards for slain dungeon bosses. The tension in the air was thick with grit and anticipation. Ryuji clapped his hands, breaking the moment. “Alright, then. So what dungeon are we hitting first? Please tell me it’s not one with ghosts. Or slime. Or ghost slimes.” Hiroto smirked. “D-Rank Spider Dungeon. You’ll be clearing it before sundown.” Aiko groaned, shoulders slumping. “Ugh, spiders? I hate spiders. They move all twitchy and gross.” Grillin nodded solemnly. “Same. Eight legs is too many.” Yoshinori was already checking his gear. “Better than starting with something intelligent.” Ryuji leaned toward Aiko. “If you scream, I’m telling everyone.” “If one lands on my face, I’m swapping with you,” she shot back. Hiroto raised a hand, silencing them. “Listen. This isn’t just a walk. You’ll be responsible for each other. No one rushes in. No one plays the hero. Stick to your strengths. Learn from each other. And make it out.” He turned toward the dark cave nestled in the side of a nearby hill, its entrance framed by a faint blue shimmer. “Your first dungeon awaits. Let’s see if you’re ready.” The group approached the gaping mouth of the cave, a stone sign at its entrance carved with a simple: “D”. A subtle breeze rolled out from within, carrying the faint scent of rot and earth. Grillin squinted into the darkness and then turned to Hiroto. “Wait… you’re not coming in?” Hiroto crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “Nope. I’ll be waiting out here. This is your test.” Grillin groaned, his round face scrunching with concern. “Alright then… cool, cool…” Aiko clapped a hand on his back. “Cheer up, big guy. You’ve got us watching your back.” Grillin looked anything but comforted. “…That’s what I’m afraid of.” Yoshinori stepped past them, eyes fixed on the entrance. “Let’s move. We’ve got a deadline. It’s just a D-rank, shouldn’t be too bad. Finding the boss will be the real challenge.” One by one, they crossed the invisible magical barrier. It shimmered briefly as each of them passed through, then disappeared behind them. The light outside faded fast, replaced by an eerie blue glow from faintly luminescent moss and old webs that blanketed the cave walls. A few minutes into the winding tunnel, they came across a nest of glowing spider eggs, clustered like bloated pearls along the floor and walls. The pulsating orbs emitted a faint warmth, still alive. Ryuji raised an eyebrow. “Should we smash them now or…?” Yoshinori shook his head. “No. Leave them. If you pop one, we could wake up the nest.” They moved deeper. The webs began to thicken, clustering along the path like white vines. Grillin, trying to keep up, stepped on a slick patch of silk and slipped hard, landing flat on his back with a heavy thud that echoed through the cavern. “Ah-!” he winced, groaning as he struggled to sit up. He finally sat upright and looked down at his shirt, now streaked with dust and bits of web. With a tired sigh, he brushed off his round stomach, grumbling as he tried to clean the sticky mess clinging to the fabric. The others barely had time to tease him. The sound of clicking legs and chittering echoed from the shadows. Four dog-sized spiders emerged from the darkness, their fangs glistening, eyes glowing faintly. Ryuji stepped forward without hesitation. “I got this!” He charged the nearest spider, ducked under a stabbing leg, and hardened his fist, smashing it into the creature’s side and launching it into the others. But before he could recover, one spider lunged from the flank and sank its fangs into his arm. “Shit-!” he cursed, wincing. He’d failed to harden in time. Aiko rolled her eyes. “Idiot.” She swapped him instantly with a nearby rock, yanking him to safety. “Try using your brain next time!” Yoshinori stepped forward calmly, one hand gripping his other wrist. Sparks danced across his skin. “Let’s end this.” He extended his arm, and a crackling bolt of lightning surged from his palm, slamming into the nearest spider and arcing through the rest in a chain of brilliant light. All four spiders collapsed in an instant, twitching and sizzling. Aiko blinked. “Damn… remind me not to piss you off.” Ryuji flexed his bitten arm, watching faint purple veins pulse outward from the bite. “Hey uh… is it supposed to feel tingly?” Yoshinori glanced over. “Mild venom. F-rank spiders. You’ll live.” They pressed forward, the tunnel narrowing as they descended. The webs were now thick as vines, sagging from above and draping the walls in a sticky curtain. Then a lone spider scurried across the ceiling overhead. Its movements were sharper, faster. It paused. Hissed. Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a scout. It’s warning the others.” Before it could retreat, Aiko swapped places with a clump of webbing right next to it and slammed her foot into its body, knocking it down. Ryuji didn’t waste a beat, he leapt into the air, his body hardened like stone, and brought a fist down in a punishing arc, crushing the spider on impact. “Squashed it,” he grinned. But Yoshinori didn’t smile. He looked down the tunnel, eyes sharp. “Be ready. The others are coming.” The swarm came fast. Eight-legged shadows poured out of the cave holes, clicking, chittering, hissing. Eighteen spiders the size of large dogs scurried into the room, fangs gleaming, legs tapping on the stone like a chorus of knives. And behind them, two monsters twice the size, bloated, grotesque, with black, pulsing abdomens and long yellow fangs that dripped with venom. “Get ready!” Yoshinori shouted, slamming a fist into his open palm. “Focus on the small ones first, save your energy for the big two!” Grillin roared and charged without hesitation. A spider lunged at him, Grillin raised one meaty arm and smashed down with a fist like a cannonball. The spider’s body cracked and flattened under the impact. “Yeah!” Grillin grinned, sweat already dotting his forehead. “Let’s gooo!” Another spider leapt toward his back, but Aiko swapped him out just in time, placing him next to her and dropping the leaping spider onto a slab of stone where Ryuji intercepted it with a hardened knee. It cracked on impact, twitching once before going limp. “It takes a lot to move your ass so pay more attention, Grillin,” Aiko muttered, already pivoting to swap herself behind another charging spider. She kicked the back of its legs, knocking it off balance with a satisfying crack as its limbs buckled beneath it. Before it could recover, her fist flared with white energy as she drove it again and again into the spider’s side, each punch landing with pulsing force. The spider screeched and twitched violently before collapsing into a shuddering heap. Breathing hard, Aiko stood up and shook out her fist. “I hate spiders,” she muttered, already scanning for her next target. Ryuji laughed as three spiders bit down on him. Their fangs clinked uselessly against his rock-solid body. “Try harder, ugly bugs!” he barked, grabbing one by the legs and swinging it like a club into the others. Across the room, Yoshinori fought without his lightning, yet still moved with precision. He weaved through two spiders, ducked low, and uppercut the first into the cave ceiling. As it fell, he turned and drove a boot into the second’s face. The large spiders began to move. One of them hissed and launched forward, straight at Aiko. It was fast, much faster than its smaller kin. Fangs dripping venom, it darted low and jabbed. Aiko swapped out with a stone just in time, but Grillin, behind her, wasn’t so lucky. The spider’s fang pierced his side. “Argh-!” Grillin dropped to a knee, eyes wide as purple veins rapidly spread from the puncture. His limbs began to tremble. “I… I can’t move-!” “Got you,” Aiko whispered. In a flash of white light, she swapped him with a spider corpse near the wall. The poisoned Grillin now lay safe in a corner, gasping but alive. The live spider, now in his place, was confused just long enough for Ryuji to jump and slam both hardened fists down onto its head. “Don’t touch my squad,” Ryuji said, standing protectively in front of Grillin. Meanwhile, Yoshinori’s eyes locked onto the second large spider. It was inching forward slowly, cautiously. “Save your lightning,” he told himself, breathing steadily. “One hit. End it in one.” As the large spider lunged, Yoshinori timed it perfectly, he side-stepped, grabbed its leg, and in a fluid motion, surged his spiritual energy into his palm. Lightning arced through his arm, danced across his knuckles, and exploded in a point-blank burst into the spider’s chest. The spider convulsed violently and collapsed, smoke rising from its corpse. The smaller spiders were thinning now, Ryuji finished the last one with a running shoulder bash, sending it splattering into the cave wall. Yoshinori exhaled slowly. Aiko knelt beside Grillin and checked his pulse. Ryuji, panting and bloodied but grinning, gave a thumbs up. “That was just the warm-up…” Yoshinori exhaled slowly, his eyes scanning the cavern ahead. “Given the size of this dungeon and what we’ve seen so far, it’s safe to assume we’ve cleared most of the smaller ones. If there are more spiders lurking, they’re weak stragglers at best.” He turned to the group, his tone sharpening. “We need to start feeling for the boss’s energy signature. That’ll lead us to the core of the dungeon.” They all nodded, stepping deeper into the cave. As they progressed, the path narrowed and the ceiling dipped lower. A foul, musty scent clung to the air, and soon they stumbled into a chamber filled with clusters of large, pulsing spider eggs, some fresh, their translucent surfaces glowing faintly with life inside. “These are new,” Yoshinori muttered, crouching near one. “Too new.” Ryuji grimaced. “So this dungeon’s just… hatching?” “Looks like it,” Yoshinori said, rising. “Probably a newly created dungeon. Explains the lower numbers. The real threat’s still ahead. If we take out the boss, the rest of these things won’t matter. Leave the eggs. We move forward.” Their path led into an even darker tunnel, where webs hung thick like curtains. The strands clung to everything, walls, floor, even the air felt sticky. It slowed their pace to a crawl. “We’re almost moving in slow motion,” Ryuji muttered, cutting a strand with his hand. “This is the perfect trap.” Suddenly, Grillin grunted from behind. “Uh… guys?” he said, frozen in place. Thick webs had wrapped around his limbs and torso, pinning him against a wall like a trapped bug. From above, a massive spider dropped with a screech, its fangs gleaming with venom, diving straight for him. “Grillin!” Aiko shouted. In a flash, she swapped Ryuji into Grillin’s place just before the spider struck. The monster’s fangs slammed into Ryuji’s chest, but met the hard resistance of his fully-hardened skin. “Ha! Too slow!” Ryuji growled, grabbing the spider by one of its legs and twisting violently, forcing it to recoil. Grillin stumbled out of the webs, wheezing. “That was way too close. Thanks…” “No problem, big guy,” Aiko said, smirking. “Try not to get gift-wrapped next time.” But the terrain still gave the spider the upper hand. It leapt from wall to ceiling to floor, trapping them in place, each movement reinforced by more webs. The group was quickly losing room to maneuver. “Enough of this,” Yoshinori said, eyes sparking. He stepped forward and raised his arm, grabbing his wrist with the other hand. Electricity surged from his fingers, dancing like blue fire through the damp air. He unleashed a wave of lightning that tore through the webbing like dry paper, the electric crackle echoing through the cave. The thick strands disintegrated in seconds, revealing the hulking spider mid-pounce. “Go!” Yoshinori shouted. Aiko didn’t hesitate, she blinked to the spider’s flank, ducking low and kicking out its legs. As it reeled, Grillin surged forward with surprising speed for his size, his fist glowing with spiritual energy. “Get squashed!” he roared. His punch landed dead-center in the spider’s chest with a boom that rattled the stone walls. The spider’s body convulsed, then collapsed in a lifeless heap. Panting, Grillin wiped his forehead and glanced down at the crushed remains. Yoshinori narrowed his eyes and looked deeper into the cavern. “The boss has to be close. Stay alert.” And with the webbed tunnel behind them smoldering from lightning burns, the group pressed on. They emerged into a cavernous chamber, the largest space they’d encountered so far. The ceiling disappeared into darkness, and the walls were thick with layer upon layer of webs, sagging with the weight of what had to be over a thousand spider eggs. The air was suffocatingly still, heavy with the smell of damp silk and something sour and chemical. The sight of the eggs made them all pause. “…There’s so many,” Aiko whispered, her voice barely a breath. Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed, scanning the rows of soft, pulsing orbs. “If we came here tomorrow, these would all be hatched. This dungeon would jump in rank B, maybe even A.” Grillin scratched the back of his head nervously. “So we’re… right on time?” They advanced carefully into the heart of the room. The moment they reached the center, a low click echoed from above. The ground trembled as something massive dropped behind them. The Spider Boss. It towered over the others they had fought, easily the size of a large wagon. Eight glowing green eyes shimmered with eerie intelligence. Its long legs tapped lightly against the stone, as if tasting the air. Along its back, runic markings pulsed faintly with green spiritual energy, like ancient tattoos alive with power. “Found it…” Ryuji muttered. The spider’s runes flared suddenly, then it launched toward them. “Scatter!” Yoshinori shouted. The team dove out of the way just in time. The spider crashed into the earth where they stood, cracks webbing out beneath its weight. Dust and strands of web kicked up into the air. “Split up, don’t give it a target!” Aiko barked. The runes on its back glowed again, then the spider fired four web lines at once, each one locking on to a different member of the group. With frightening precision, two of the webs snared Grillin and Ryuji mid-dodge, slamming them against nearby rocks. “Gah, damn it!” Ryuji growled. “Little help!” Grillin called, struggling against the sticky cords. Aiko spun toward them, exhaled sharply, and swapped both of them out with chunks of rock. They hit the ground with a grunt but free. “Don’t thank me yet,” she said. “It’s getting faster.” The spider let out a sharp hiss, its body shuddering. The runes glowed again and this time, it vanished into the mass of webs along the ceiling. “It’s retreating!” Grillin yelled. “No,” Yoshinori corrected, tightening his stance. “It’s making its next move.” Suddenly, it dropped again, this time aiming for Aiko. She rolled out of the way, but the spider skittered sideways faster than expected and swiped at her with a bladed leg. Ryuji intercepted the strike, hardening his forearm and blocking it with a loud clang. He was sent sliding, but not pierced. “We’re getting nowhere!” Ryuji barked, frustrated. Yoshinori watched the creature’s movements carefully. His eyes tracked the glow of the runes, how they flared before each new move. “It’s got a pattern.” He raised a hand, lightning dancing along his fingertips. “Watch the runes. That’s how it prepares its next attack. It glows once for webs. Twice before it pounces. Three times, it’s about to vanish.” They paused. Just long enough. The runes flashed, once. “Webs incoming!” Yoshinori shouted. This time they dodged cleanly, each of them shifting position before the webs even launched. “Nice!” Aiko cheered, swapping behind the spider and delivering a series of fast punches charged with spiritual energy to its side. The blows staggered it, making it hiss again. “Let’s hit it while it’s open!” Ryuji roared. He barreled in from the right, his entire body hardening like black steel. The spider tried to meet him with a leg, but he caught it mid-strike and snapped it at the joint, forcing the spider to reel back. “Two flashes!” Yoshinori shouted, “Get ready, it’s coming!” They scattered just as the spider lunged, its rune-covered body blurring into a streak of motion. Grillin didn’t move. He stood his ground. “Gotcha!” As the massive spider crashed into the ground, Grillin’s fist came down like a hammer, slamming into the spider’s face with raw power, striking between its glowing green eyes. The force of the blow made the entire cave tremble. But at the same time. One of the spider’s serrated legs pierced Grillin’s side, and he let out a choked gasp as blood splattered across the stone. “Grillin!” Aiko screamed. The spider reeled back from the blow, staggering, but still twitching, its legs skittering weakly as the runes on its back began glowing again, dangerously unstable. Yoshinori’s eyes lit with lightning. “I’ve got it!” He sprinted forward, eyes locked on the glowing runes across the spider’s back. As he moved, Yoshinori grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, channeling energy with focused intensity. Crackling arcs of lightning surged down his arm, spiraling into his palm and shaping into a glowing, jagged lightning blade, its edges buzzing with raw voltage. With a sharp cry, he leapt into the air, the blade pulsing with power. He brought the lightning blade down in one clean, brutal arc, slicing straight through the spider’s massive body, from its head down through its bottom. The blade cut with a thunderous crack, and for a second, time seemed to freeze. The spider let out a horrible shriek as the runes across its back flared, then shattered completely. Its legs twitched violently, then curled inward. Its massive form collapsed, split clean down the middle. Green blood oozed across the floor. Its spiritual aura flickered then vanished. The boss was dead. A heavy silence fell over the chamber, broken only by Grillin’s strained breathing. Yoshinori landed beside him, immediately kneeling to check the wound. “Shit, he’s been poisoned. Deep stab, too.” “I-It’s fine,” Grillin grunted, sweat beading on his forehead. “I’ve had worse…” Aiko was already pulling a potion from her bag. “Stop talking, big guy. Save your energy.” She poured the liquid along the wound, and it sizzled faintly against the spider’s venom. Ryuji crouched beside them, scanning the shadows. “We need to get out of here. Fast. That stab was clean through his side.” “Got it,” Yoshinori nodded. “Help him up.” As Ryuji slung Grillin’s arm over his shoulder, Aiko turned and spotted something half-buried beneath layers of web. “Loot chest!” she called out, sprinting toward it. She slashed the silk aside and cracked it open. “Dragon coins and a healing crystal. Taking it!” She tossed the crystal to Yoshinori, who crushed it immediately, sending a soft healing pulse into Grillin’s side. Then a strange sound filled the air. They turned. The eggs were starting to shrivel and blacken. Webbing peeled away like burnt paper. The spiderlings inside never had the chance to hatch. Ryuji watched it all decay. “Guess killing the boss really was the keystone…” “Let’s hope it stays that way,” Yoshinori muttered. “Come on, we’re not out of the woods yet.” Aiko nodded and took point, cutting a path through the webs. Ryuji and Yoshinori followed closely, supporting Grillin between them. Their footsteps echoed through the now-silent dungeon, and though the threat was gone, the weight of what almost happened pressed heavily on them all. “Day one…” Ryuji muttered. “And we’re already bleeding.” “Then we better be sharper on day two,” Yoshinori said grimly. The group emerged from the cave entrance, the evening sun casting long shadows over Dungeon Valley. Webs clung to their clothes, cuts and scrapes marked their skin, and their breathing was still uneven. But there was a quiet sense of accomplishment among them. Hiroto stood at the base of the hill, arms crossed, watching them with his usual unreadable expression. “You cleared it,” he said flatly. “But slower than I expected.” Yoshinori stepped forward, brushing web from his shoulder. “We rushed a few encounters without thinking. Got caught off guard more than once. We’ll do better tomorrow.” Ryuji exhaled sharply, shaking out his arms. “Yeah. We were more reckless than we should’ve been.” Aiko flicked a small piece of spider leg from her boot. “One of us also tripped and nearly flattened the entire cave.” “Hey!” Grillin protested, raising a hand. “I got stuck in webs.” Hiroto ignored the banter and took a step forward, his tone calm but direct. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking dungeons are about how fast you clear them, or how strong the boss is.” The group fell quiet. “Dungeons are about patience. Awareness. Adaptability. You’re not racing a clock-” his gaze swept across them, “-you’re surviving a world that wants you dead. Every step is a test. Every room is a trap. The monsters aren’t always the most dangerous thing in there.” Yoshinori nodded slowly. “Understood.” “Tomorrow’s dungeon will be harder,” Hiroto continued. “Not because the enemies are stronger, but because the beast will be trickier to fight. It’ll test how well you move as a unit, not just how hard you can hit.” Ryuji crossed his arms. “So we’re going from brute force to brains, huh?” “Exactly. And from the looks of today…” Hiroto looked between them. “Some of you need to start using yours.” Grillin raised a hand again. “Are we getting food now?” Aiko sighed. “Man’s got priorities,” Ryuji muttered. Hiroto finally smirked, just slightly. “Yes. Dinner. Then rest. You’ll need both. We move again at dawn.” As the group began walking toward the temporary camp set near the valley base, Hiroto called out one last thing: “You didn’t do badly. You made it back. That counts.” They paused, surprised. “Don’t mistake my expectations for disappointment,” he added. “Every adventurer starts rough. It’s how you finish that matters.” The four of them exchanged glances. Even Grillin looked a bit taller in his stance. Yoshinori exhaled, his voice low. “Let’s make tomorrow cleaner.” Ryuji nodded. “And faster.” Aiko stretched, already planning. “And with less getting stuck in webs.” Grillin grumbled, “I said I’m sorry, okay?” The sun dipped lower over the horizon as they walked back together, already thinking about the trials that awaited them on Day 2. The fire crackled gently in the center of the makeshift camp, sending up soft spirals of smoke into the cool night air. The four new adventurers were gathered around the fire. The camp Hiroto had made was modest: two tents, one for him, and one for the rest. Aiko frowned when she looked at the tent. “We seriously all gotta cram into that?” she muttered. Ryuji snorted. “It’s gonna be shoulder-to-shoulder in there. Hope no one kicks in their sleep.” Aiko turned to Grillin and raised a brow. “You better not snore.” Grillin blinked mid-chew, a hunk of dried meat halfway to his mouth. “I don’t snore.” “You absolutely do,” Ryuji said, smirking. “Like an earthquake,” Aiko added. Grillin made a grumbly noise, but didn’t argue. Yoshinori hadn’t said a word. He sat at the edge of the firelight, hands resting on his knees, eyes distant. The others noticed eventually, their laughter tapering off. Aiko stood, brushing off her pants, and walked over to him. She plopped down beside him, arms crossed, purple eyes flicking sideways to study his profile. “What’s going on in that big brain of yours?” she asked, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. Yoshinori blinked, as if snapping back to the present. “…Just thinking about tomorrow’s dungeon.” Aiko raised a brow. “Already? You don’t even know what it is yet.” “Doesn’t matter. Preparation’s the same. Expect the unexpected. Plan contingencies.” “You’re always like this, huh?” she asked, leaning back on her hands and looking up at the stars. “Serious. Calculated. Sharp. Always thinking three steps ahead.” He gave a small chuckle but didn’t respond. She glanced at him again. “Why are you like that?” He hesitated. “I can’t help it. It’s just who I am.” “That’s not an answer.” He exhaled through his nose. “Some people are naturally carefree. Some aren’t. I’m just… not.” Aiko hummed thoughtfully. “That sounds lonely.” He turned to her slightly, meeting her eyes. “I’m not lonely.” “You say that like someone who’s practiced it.” There was a pause between them. The fire popped, a few embers drifting up into the night. Yoshinori eventually stood, brushing off his pants. “I’m turning in.” Aiko blinked. “What? That’s it? You’re just gonna dodge everything I ask like that?” He offered a faint smile. “You’re persistent.” “I’m curious,” she said, frowning. “There’s a difference.” Yoshinori gave a short nod and walked toward the tent. Aiko watched him go, annoyed and intrigued at the same time. “That guy…” she muttered. “He’s like a damn vault.” Ryuji plopped down beside her with a smug grin. “Oooooh, did Yoshinori just stonewall you? That’s a first.” “Shut up,” Aiko muttered. “You got a crush?” Ryuji teased. “Keep talking and you’re getting swapped into a beehive tomorrow.” “Alright, alright, damn. You’re mean when you’re frustrated.” The group eventually settled down. Grillin laid down outside the tent, arms folded behind his head, staring peacefully at the stars. The space he left behind in the tent made things just a little more comfortable for the others. His soft snoring soon followed, muffled beneath the night sky. Inside the tent, it was still cramped, but manageable. Ryuji sprawled out almost instantly, already half-asleep. Aiko lay on her side, facing away from Yoshinori, but occasionally glanced back at him. He was still. Calm. Eyes closed. But not asleep. She narrowed her eyes. And with that, the camp fell quiet. Morning arrived with a chill in the air and dew still clinging to the grass. The group rose early, fueled by leftover rations, a decent night’s sleep, and a growing sense of rhythm. After packing up their supplies and listening to a short briefing from Hiroto, they set off toward their second challenge: a D-rank Bat Dungeon. The entrance to the cavern yawned before them like an open mouth, jagged rocks forming crooked teeth. Faint screeches echoed from deep within. The group made their way through the winding tunnels, their steps cautious but confident. Swarms of shadowy bats darted from above and lunged from dark crevices, but this time, the team worked with smooth coordination. Yoshinori zapped through groups of them with small arcs of lightning, conserving energy while maximizing efficiency. Ryuji hardened his arms and swatted bats midair like a living shield. Aiko swapped positions with the bats themselves, disorienting them and knocking them to the cave floor where Grillin crushed them with well-timed blows. Despite the swarm, the team pushed forward cleanly. The dungeon was narrower than the spider den, and less tangled, no webs, no traps, just stone and screeching. After a long corridor filled with chittering echoes, they reached the boss room: a wide, domed cavern lit by a faint spiritual glow that pulsed from deep cracks in the ceiling. Dozens of bat wings rustled high above, but one silhouette was larger than the rest. The Bat Boss hung upside down at the center of the ceiling, easily the size of a grown man, with glowing violet eyes and razor-thin wings stretched tight like leather sheets. It opened its maw and screeched. A wave of sound exploded from the creature, slamming into the group like a gust of wind. Everyone stumbled back, clutching their ears. “Son of a-!” Ryuji cursed, falling to one knee. Aiko swapped behind a pillar just in time to avoid the brunt of the sound, while Grillin swayed, disoriented. “It’s a stun effect!” Yoshinori shouted, shaking off the dizziness. “Don’t let it hit you again!” The bat swooped down like a blade of darkness. Aiko quickly swapped Yoshinori out of its path, then kicked off a wall and hurled a rock to draw its attention. Grillin, still woozy, braced himself as Ryuji stood in front of him, body fully hardened, ready to defend. Yoshinori refocused, gripping his wrist with his opposite hand. Electricity crackled around his arms, lighting up the cavern in stuttering bursts of blue. “It’s coming down, get ready!” The massive Bat unfurled its wings and let out another deafening screech that shook the cave walls. The soundwave hit the group like a physical blow, staggering them. Grillin fell to one knee, blood dripping from his nose. Ryuji winced and forced himself up, hardening his skin just in time as the boss dove. The creature zipped through the air like a phantom, claws outstretched. Aiko tried to swap with it but it didn’t work. She threw herself into a roll as the claws narrowly missed her. The bat zipped back to the ceiling in a blur, hanging upside down again with its wings drawn close. Ryuji launched himself off the wall and tried to punch the boss down, but it vanished into the shadows mid-flight, reappearing behind him. It shrieked, and the force knocked Ryuji into a nearby wall, leaving a spiderweb of cracks behind him. “Ryuji!” Aiko shouted. “He’s fine!” Grillin called, leaping in front of the Bat Boss as it dove again. He swung, but the boss intercepted him mid-punch, raking sharp claws across Grillin’s arm. He grunted in pain, stumbling backward. “It’s got power and speed!” Yoshinori narrowed his eyes, tracking the boss’s movements through flashes of light and sound. “It’s waiting for us to group up. It wants to take us all at once with that screech.” The boss retreated once again to the ceiling, its glowing violet eyes narrowing like daggers. Then it opened its maw. “Split up!” Yoshinori yelled. The boss’s screech ripped through the chamber, but the team scattered in different directions, Aiko behind a pillar, Yoshinori pressed flat to the wall, Ryuji crouched beneath an overhang, and Grillin half-buried under rock debris. When the screech ended, the Bat Boss descended again but this time slower, its wings dragging a faint mist of spiritual energy with them. “It’s channeling something,” Aiko called out. “It’s charging up!” “Then we don’t let it finish,” Yoshinori said sharply. Aiko vanished in a flash swapping with a stalactite on the ceiling, reappearing midair above the bat and slamming both feet into its back. It screeched in surprise and dropped a few feet, just enough for Ryuji to leap and drive a hardened elbow into its side. “Now, Grillin!” Ryuji shouted. Grillin roared, slamming both fists together and charging forward. He punched the creature mid-wing, disorienting it and forcing it to the ground. “Yoshi!” Aiko shouted, leaping clear. Yoshinori sprinted in, lightning coursing violently down his arm. This time, he didn’t just toss a bolt, he created a crackling lightning blade along his forearm, the air around him humming with electricity. The Bat Boss started to rise again, its runes glowing brighter, more erratic. But Yoshinori struck first. With a shout, he slashed diagonally from shoulder to waist, his lightning blade slicing through spiritual flesh and runic bone. The boss’s entire form sparked and twitched as the blade cleaved it in two, spiritual energy bursting in a blinding flash. Both halves of the bat slammed into the ground with a sickening crash, twitching once… then falling still. Silence followed. Its spiritual aura flickered once more and vanished. Aiko exhaled deeply, sweat trailing down her temple. “Okay. That one was way more annoying than the spiders.” “Yeah,” Ryuji said, catching his breath. “Flying enemies suck.” Grillin was sitting now, inspecting the gash on his arm. “Still alive though.” Yoshinori stood over the split body of the boss, his breathing heavy but steady. “At least now we know what happens when we don’t treat it like a basic D-rank.” Ryuji smirked. “We still made it look easy.” Aiko rolled her eyes. “After getting rag-dolled for five minutes? Sure.” As they regrouped, the dungeon pulsed one last time. A faint glow from a side chamber revealed a small chest, loot. “We’ll grab it and go,” Yoshinori said. “Let’s not linger. We’ve still got two more of these to go.” The four moved toward the exit, stepping over the fading light of the boss’s remains. The group stood outside a towering cave mouth, the morning sun already rising high above them. This one was different from the others. The grass was scorched in patches near the entrance, claw marks raked across stone. Deep howls echoed from within. A sign posted outside marked it clearly: C-rank Wolf Dungeon. Hiroto stood with arms crossed. “This one’s no joke,” he warned. “C-rank dungeons are where most rookies hit their wall. If you make mistakes in there, it won’t be scratches you walk out with, it’ll be body bags. These wolves are fast, they fight in packs, and they’re intelligent.” Aiko wiped her hands on her pants and nodded. “Noted. Anything else?” “The Alpha is a spiritual beast. Dangerous. It won’t wait for you to attack first.” Grillin cracked his knuckles. “Then we don’t wait either.” Yoshinori looked over his team. Everyone was worn from the first two days, fatigued, slower but determined. “Let’s move.” Inside the Dungeon the air was thick. The stench of fur, blood, and damp stone filled their lungs. The walls of the cave were wider than before, allowing space for something bigger than bats or spiders to roam freely. They made it less than ten minutes before the first attack. A blur of gray fur and snapping jaws launched at Grillin from the side. He turned just in time, but the wolf’s bite sank into his arm. Grillin roared, slamming the creature against the wall. Two more wolves lunged out of the darkness. Ryuji hardened his body and blocked one with a shoulder-check, then slammed it into the floor. Aiko swapped behind the second, shoving a burst of spiritual energy into its back to knock it off balance. “They’re coordinated!” Yoshinori shouted. “They’re drawing us apart!” Just then, two more wolves descended from ledges above. One tackled Ryuji off his feet. Another narrowly missed Aiko as she vanished mid-swipe, reappearing beside Yoshinori. “These aren’t normal wolves,” Aiko hissed. “They’re not meant to be,” Yoshinori said, sparking lightning in his palm and firing it into the air. The flash briefly lit the entire chamber, and revealed a dozen pairs of glowing yellow eyes all around them. They were surrounded. “This is bad,” Ryuji muttered, wiping blood off his chin. “Really bad.” Yoshinori gritted his teeth. “Back-to-back! We hold position!” The group moved quickly, covering each other’s blind spots. Grillin took front, absorbing hits and dealing devastating punches. Ryuji was on his left, hardening his fists and body to crush skulls. Aiko zipped between them, saving anyone who slipped and swapping herself behind wolves mid-leap. Yoshinori was the eye of the storm, controlling the tempo, conserving his lightning for precise strikes. One shot to the eyes. Another to the throat. The wolves began to fall, but the group was bleeding, panting, overwhelmed. Then, it went quiet. All the remaining wolves stopped. And then, they came. The Alpha. It emerged from the shadows like a ghost, massive, its silver fur etched with glowing spiritual lines that pulsed like veins. Its eyes were bright gold, locked on Yoshinori. “No sudden moves,” Yoshinori whispered. “Let it come.” The Alpha roared and leapt. Yoshinori ducked, the Alpha’s claws slashing past his head. Ryuji charged in from the side, but the Alpha spun midair and kicked off the wall, slamming into Ryuji and sending him flying. “Ryuji!” Aiko swapped to his side just before he hit the rocks, catching his arm and saving his back. Grillin roared and punched upward, but the Alpha dodged and landed on his back, fangs sinking into his shoulder. Grillin screamed. Yoshinori acted fast, charging lightning through his entire body. He launched forward, lightning arcing from his palms as he slammed a thunder burst into the Alpha’s ribs. The beast flew off Grillin but didn’t fall. It landed gracefully, snarling, runes glowing brighter now. Its breath misted in the cold cave air. Yoshinori turned to Grillin. His shoulder was shredded. “Aiko!” “I got him!” she swapped Grillin to safety behind her. “You’ve got an opening!” Yoshinori didn’t hesitate. He sprinted at the Alpha, lightning lashing across his arms like twin whips. He knew he couldn’t overpower it but he could outthink it. As the Alpha lunged, Yoshinori dove beneath it, slid, and sliced both lightning whips across its stomach. The beast howled in pain, landing awkwardly. Ryuji was already on his feet and jumped onto its back, slamming a hardened punch into its spine. The Alpha’s legs buckled. “Now Yoshi!” With a roar, Yoshinori surged all his remaining energy into one final lightning blade and drove it into the beast’s chest. The Alpha twitched violently, glowing runes fading. Then silence. It slumped to the ground, its spiritual aura vanishing into the air. Everyone collapsed. Grillin clutched his wounded shoulder, gritting his teeth. “Still alive,” he said weakly. Aiko was breathing heavily, eyes locked on the Alpha’s body. “C-rank my ass,” she muttered. Yoshinori stood, barely holding himself upright. “Get the loot. Let’s go.” As they exited the dungeon, battered, bloodied, and quiet they knew one thing: Tomorrow’s dungeon might be even worse. And they’d need more than luck to survive. The group stumbled back into camp as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the hills. They were bruised, bloodied, and completely silent. Hiroto stood from his spot by the fire the moment he saw them. His sharp eyes scanned over each one, then narrowed on the deep gash in Grillin’s shoulder, still half-wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth. “You made it back,” he said, voice low. “But not without scars.” Grillin tried to play it off with a chuckle, dropping down onto a log with a heavy grunt. “Just a scratch.” “Don’t lie to me,” Hiroto said sharply. He crouched next to him and peeled back the makeshift bandage. The wound was deep, swollen. Grillin winced, just slightly. “You’re using yourself as bait,” Hiroto said flatly. Grillin’s eyes dropped to the ground. “I’ve seen that tactic before,” Hiroto continued. “I used to do the same thing. Big guy walks forward, takes the hits, lets the others strike from behind. And sure it works. For a while.” He looked him dead in the eye. “But there’s no glory in being a shield if it gets you killed.” The others stayed quiet, watching. Grillin clenched his fists. “I’m just doing what I can,” he mumbled. “I know,” Hiroto said, voice softening. “You’ve got a good heart. But strategy isn’t about who can take the most pain. It’s about who can stay standing until the job’s done. Let your team help you too. That’s what being part of a guild is.” A moment passed. Then Hiroto stood, glancing at all of them now. “And despite the recklessness,” Hiroto said, his voice growing firmer, “I’m proud of how far you’ve all come. You’ve survived spiders, bats, and wolves. But now it’s time for your final test.” The group immediately tensed. Hiroto motioned toward the horizon, where the wind howled low across the grass. “Tomorrow, we head toward your last dungeon. A B-Rank Shadow Beast Dungeon. You’ll have two days to defeat the boss.” Aiko’s eyebrows shot up. “Two days?” “B-rank?” Ryuji muttered, rubbing his sore shoulder. “We nearly died in a C-rank!” Even Yoshinori frowned. “What kind of creatures are we dealing with?” Hiroto’s expression turned grim. “Shadow Beasts.” The campfire crackled behind him as he continued, “This dungeon is classified as a Shadow Bear-type. That means the shadows you’ll be fighting… are bears. Large ones. Aggressive. Fast. Smart.” Aiko’s face twisted. “You mean, like, actual shadows? Like illusions?” “No,” Hiroto said. “They’re real. They’re creatures made of spiritual shadow, born from darkness and negative energy. Normal weapons and basic attacks don’t always work. They regenerate if not fully put down. And they can disappear into the walls of the dungeon and reappear behind you.” Hiroto continued, “This is the lowest-tier Shadow Beast Dungeon you’ll find, B Rank. Most others of this type are S, SS, even SSS. One this low is rare… and dangerous in its own way.” Yoshinori folded his arms. “Why give us something this difficult for our final test?” Hiroto’s expression didn’t waver. “Because if you can survive this… then you’re not just adventurers. You’re ready for the world.” The weight of his words fell heavy on all of them. “You’ll have two days to rest, plan, and defeat the boss. If you fail… the dungeon resets and the Shadow Bears grow stronger. If one of you dies… I intervene.” He stepped forward, resting his hands behind his back. “I’ll be stationed at the entrance. I won’t go in unless I have to. I believe in you. But understand something clearly, this dungeon has the potential to kill. I’m not sending you in there blind. You’re just the first group in years I trust to come back alive.” The silence that followed was absolute. Yoshinori finally spoke. “We’ll do it.” Aiko cracked her knuckles. “Shadow bears or not. We’re not losing.” Ryuji smiled through his bruises. “Let’s finish this right.” Even Grillin grunted, rolling his sore shoulder. “I’ll try to get hit less.” Hiroto nodded once, the faintest smile breaking his usually stern face. “Good,” he said. “Eat. Rest. You begin at dawn.” And just like that, the fire cracked louder, casting long shadows over the weary group of four… as they prepared to walk into darkness one last time.