The next day, the class stood in front of the academy gate.
Everyone wore black training gear. Their bags were full—potions, scrolls, food.
Instructor Rovan stood in front of them. He had a thick beard and scary eyes.
"Listen up," he shouted. "Today, we enter a beginner dungeon. You will move in groups. Stay close. No hero work. Understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the class replied.
Eiden stood in the back, quiet.
Sera waved at him. Elara looked away.
Kai was bragging to his group, saying, "Easy job. I'll finish it alone if I have to."
Eiden sighed.
He had seen real dungeons before—this world's version felt… different.
Not just beasts, but something darker.
---
They reached the dungeon gate in the afternoon.
It was a glowing blue crack in the air, floating in the forest.
Students whispered.
"So this is it…"
"It feels cold…"
"Why is my mana shaking?"
Eiden narrowed his eyes.
The mana inside… felt unstable.
Too unstable for a beginner dungeon.
His hand moved to his sword.
He didn't like this.
---
The instructor spoke again. "Three teams will enter. Team A, with Kai. Team B, with Elara. Team C, with Eiden."
Everyone turned.
"Wait, Eiden?" someone said. "He's a beginner!"
The instructor shrugged. "He ranked high in the last test. He's in."
Eiden stepped forward.
Sera smiled and joined his team.
Another student, a shy boy named Len, also joined.
Elara looked at him for a long second—then turned away.
---
Inside the dungeon, the air was thick.
Cold.
Dark.
The walls looked like stone, but pulsed with weak light.
Team C moved carefully.
Eiden walked in front, sword ready.
Behind him, Len shook with fear.
Sera stayed close, whispering spells for support.
Soon, they heard it.
A growl.
A shadow moved.
A monster jumped out—a four-legged beast with red eyes.
Len screamed.
Sera cast a light spell.
Eiden moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
One strike.
The monster's head dropped.
Len blinked. "W-What…?"
Sera looked shocked. "You're really… fast."
Eiden just cleaned his blade.
---
As they walked deeper, more monsters came.
Eiden defeated them with clean cuts. No wasted moves.
He never used flashy magic. Just fast swordplay—boosted with hidden mana.
But inside, he knew.
Something is wrong with this dungeon.
The mana was wild. Not normal.
It reminded him of ancient places… places where chaos leaked through.
And then—they heard screaming.
From Team A.