E rank dungeon,

The combined classes moved cautiously through the winding stone corridors, their footsteps echoing faintly beneath the flickering blue glow of the dungeon crystals.

At the front, Maera walked with sharp focus, her wolf ears twitching at every faint sound while her olive eyes scanned the shadows. The tension in the air was thick — even the faint breeze brushing past the cracked walls carried unease.

Beside her, Aurelian Valmont moved in silence, his blond hair brushing lightly against his cheek as his cerulean eyes darted around, lost in thought.

Where is Class Solis...?

His expression tightened slightly. I need to make sure Celeste is safe.

Even if she didn't return his affection, as her fiancé — and as a Valmont — her safety was his duty. Her recklessness might ruin both their reputations if she got herself killed here.

Beside them, Kain Draven, the leader of Class Arboris, advanced with the same measured caution. His long braid swayed behind him as his sharp black eyes swept across every corner of the dim path, alert for even the slightest movement.

Along the way, they had encountered scattered groups of goblins — nothing too dangerous — and dispatched them easily.

But now…

The corridor was silent.

Too silent.

Not a single goblin remained in sight, not even the echo of movement or the smell of decay. It was as if the creatures had simply vanished from the dungeon altogether.

Kain's expression darkened slightly. "This isn't normal," he muttered under his breath.

Maera's wolf ears twitched again. "Yeah… they were here just a while ago. Every scent trail suddenly going toward on direction."

Aurelian frowned, tightening his grip on his sword. "Which means something—or someone—is forcing them to retreat."

The entire group felt it then — the uneasy stillness of a dungeon holding its breath.

They moved cautiously through the winding corridors of the dungeon, each step echoing faintly against the stone floor. The air grew heavier as they advanced—until suddenly, the faint metallic scent of blood reached their noses.

Up ahead lay dozens of goblin corpses, scattered across the ground. Some were split cleanly in half, others frozen mid-motion, their expressions twisted in pain. Signs of a fierce battle—yet strangely... organized.

Maera's eyes narrowed. "Stay alert. These must be Class Solis's traces," she said, her tone sharp and commanding. "Search for anything unusual."

The students fanned out, carefully inspecting the scene.

Moments later, Jax called out, "Hey! Over here!"

Everyone turned as he crouched near a corpse, holding up a small golden badge shaped like a rising sun.

Maera's olive eyes widened. "That's Class Solis's insignia." She took the badge from Jax and brought it close to her nose, her wolf ears twitching slightly. "Hmm... their scent still lingers. This can help us track them."

Meanwhile, Kain examined the surroundings closely, his expression thoughtful. "From what I can tell, there are no shattered weapons or torn uniforms... and not a single trace of human blood," he said, his tone steady but grave. "They handled these goblins with ease—and then moved on."

He turned toward Maera. "With that badge, can you follow their trail, Miss Maera?"

She nodded firmly. "Yes, it's faint but still there."

And so, the combined classes followed her lead deeper into the dungeon.

After several tense minutes, the path widened—and before them stood a massive double door, carved from ancient dark wood, adorned with faintly glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat.

The faint hum of mana resonated in the air.

Maera's expression hardened. "We've found it," she whispered.

"The boss room."

Maera turned sharply to face the gathered students, her expression serious, her wolf ears standing alert.

"Listen carefully, everyone," she said, her tone firm but calm. "We don't know what's waiting behind this door. Class Solis might still be fighting... and given everything that's happened, it's clear this dungeon isn't normal. That could be why they haven't cleared the boss yet—"

But before she could finish, a piercing scream cut through the air.

"Aaaahhhhrgh!"

A girl's voice—filled with agony and fear.

Maera's eyes widened in alarm, but before anyone could react, Aurelian was already moving. His body burst forward in a flash of golden mana, pushing the massive doors open with a thunderous slam.

"Celeste!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.

Everyone else barely had time to process what happened as he rushed inside—because that voice, that desperate cry... belonged to her.

Celeste Azurecrest.

His fiancée. The one he was sworn—no, obligated—to protect.

The boss chamber stretched vast and hollow beneath the eerie red sun that burned through an orange-tinted sky. The air shimmered faintly, heavy with mana and the scent of scorched stone. It was similar to the hidden chamber Ron had once described—only this one was far larger, like a colossal arena meant for a war.

At the center of that battlefield, Celeste Azurecrest knelt on one knee, her azure aura flickering weakly around her like a dying flame. Sweat ran down her cheek, mixing with the blood from the cut on her forehead. Her breathing was ragged, and her once-bright sword now trembled in her grip.

Across from her, the muted hob goblin loomed—its muscles bulging unnaturally, veins glowing faint blue, and that strange blue crystal embedded in its chest pulsing like a second heart. Every second, its presence grew more oppressive, its strikes heavier, faster, and more savage.

Celeste's lips quivered as she steadied her stance.

It's… getting stronger… with every hit.

She looked up just in time to see the monster raise its massive club high, shadows swallowing her in its towering form.

Her fingers tightened around her sword. "Sorry… Arin…" she whispered, her voice faint, defeated.

And then—

"Solar Reverberation: Flare Cleave!"

A voice thundered through the chamber.

A searing blast of light erupted, slicing through the air. The hob goblin roared as it was thrown back, its dark skin smoking under the brilliance.

Celeste blinked through the sudden brightness, shielding her eyes. For a moment, she thought she saw a familiar silhouette—the outline of someone she longed to see.

Her lips parted in relief. "Ari—"

But as the light dimmed, the figure came into focus.

A tall man stood with his back toward her, a massive sword resting effortlessly on his shoulder. His blond hair shimmered under the red sun, and his aura radiated calm confidence mixed with fierce power.

Celeste's eyes widened.

"…You."

Aurelian Valmont turned slightly, his cerulean eyes glinting with determination.

As the heavy doors burst open, the entire chamber came into view—and chaos ruled it.

Most of Class Solis lay scattered across the stone floor—some unconscious, others barely conscious, groaning in pain. The few still standing were locked in a desperate battle against mutated goblins, their muscles bulging grotesquely and their eyes replaced entirely by flickering blue light, pulsing and rippling like unstable mana. The eerie glow illuminated their snarling faces, making them look more like monsters born of nightmares than living creatures.

Yet, strangely, none of the fallen students were dead—only incapacitated, as though these creatures were under strict orders not to kill.

"Class Caelis, formation!" Maera's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

Her students instantly responded—fighters to the front, shields raised; ranged attackers and healers forming lines behind, with rear guards protecting their flank. The sound of synchronized movement filled the air.

"Lirael, Kain—get your classes into formation too!" Maera ordered.

Both leaders obeyed, echoing her commands, though their classes moved with visible tension—bodies tight, eyes flicking nervously toward the overwhelming number of enemies.

"Attack! Protect the fallen of Class Solis!" Maera shouted. "Healers—get them back on their feet!"

A surge of spells followed—light magic healing, fire spells roaring, arrows whistling through the air.

"Lia, Jax, Selene!" Maera called. "Go assist Aurelian Valmont—now!"

The three nodded and rushed forward, weaving through the chaos toward Aurelian, who was clashing against the black-skinned hobgoblin—its chest glowing with a deep blue crystal that pulsed in rhythm with the flickering light in its hollow eyes.

Amid the storm of attacks and spells, Lirael's sharp voice reached Maera. "You can see it too, can't you?"

Maera's olive eyes narrowed. "I know. That blue crystal in the hobgoblin's chest—it's the same as the two crystals that joined earlier."

She exhaled, her wolf ears twitching in agitation. "We don't know what'll happen to it once we defeat the creature… but either way—" her gaze hardened— "we have to bring it down if we want to escape this dungeon alive."

Lirael's expression darkened. She gripped her staff tightly and nodded. "Then let's make sure it falls."

Meanwhile,

Outside the dungeon, the atmosphere had grown tense—palpably so.

Professors stood before the ancient tree that housed the dungeon's entrance, the air thick with unease. The once-stable mana swirl engraved into the wooden doorway now flickered violently, sending unstable ripples through the surrounding air.

The instructors' faces were grim, their voices low and clipped.

"Try contacting the observers again!" one of them barked.

A communication crystal glowed in a instructor's hand—then dimmed, lifeless.

"No response… not from any of them," she said, her tone wavering. "We sent in more observers, but none have replied either."

A heavy tension fell across the clearing. The air grew dense with mana, sharp enough to sting the skin. Someone muttered under their breath that the dungeon's difficulty had suddenly surged — from E-rank to D-rank — something that should've been impossible.

But amidst the tension, one man stood utterly calm.

Zane Creed leaned casually against a nearby stone, his expression unreadable—almost bored.

Then, slowly, his faint smile returned.

He murmured under his breath, "My body really is the best."

His deep purple eyes glinted faintly as he looked at his own hand.

"I sent my consciousness into the weaker body through the device I made to fight that Abyssal. A little experiment… successful, but troublesome. I won't try that again—"

His smirk widened, "—though it was fun."

Straightening, Zane brushed off his coat and started walking toward the group of professors.

Among them, Varris Denholm stood like a fortress—arms crossed, his broad frame rigid with tension.

Zane's calm voice broke through the tension.

"Hey, Varris," he said casually, hands in his pockets. "I want to announce something to you and the others…"

He looked at the violently swirling gate, his smile deepening.

"…Something that might just save our students."

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