The halls of REF Guild Headquarters buzzed as Kael and his party finished recounting their journey. Maps, sketches, monster records, and strange crystalline fragments covered the long obsidian table. Elder Guildmasters leaned forward, barely breathing as Kael summarized the unimaginable.
"…and that is how we cleared the dungeon floor by floor," Kael said, voice steady. "The traps were not ordinary traps—they were crafted by something beyond mortal understanding. Illusions that rewrote memories. Walls that turned into living flesh. Corrupted zones that tried to warp our bodies into different forms."
Luminor pushed his glasses up as he added, "The manipulation arrays were older than the First Era. Some were designed to infect the mind with artificial emotions. Depression. Rage. Despair. Even false love." He shivered. "No normal dungeon should have systems like these."
Amara unfurled a scroll filled with glowing symbols. "And these ruins… they weren't human. Not elven. Not dwarven. They were written in a lost language tied to the Outer Gods. Even fragments of their power were embedded inside the walls."
A Guildmaster slammed his fist down. "Outer God fragments inside a dungeon?! That's impossible!"
"Apparently not," Kael replied. "We fought one. Its presence wasn't complete, but even a fragment almost tore reality apart."
Whispers filled the room. Panic. Awe. Disbelief.
Malina crossed her arms. "We also found relics that shouldn't exist on this continent. Hieroglyphs from the desert kingdoms. Symbols from the Beastkin tribes. Ancient celestial runes. All hidden between floors."
Lyra nodded. "It felt like the dungeon was a graveyard of forgotten histories."
The Guildmasters bowed deeply. "Your team has given us knowledge worth more than any treasure."
Kael exhaled slowly. "Use it wisely. Because this dungeon… is not the end."
---
COUNT MORGAN'S SCHEME
Far from the Guild, in a grand gold-trimmed courtroom inside the royal palace, Count Morgan slammed his fist on the polished table.
"The dungeon must be placed under my command!" he roared. "I have the king's blessing to oversee any newly discovered threat!"
A minister calmly raised a document. "Your Majesty, this request is rejected. The dungeon is classified as a world-grade hazard. Turning it over to one noble house would risk national security."
Another minister spoke sharply, "And we are fully aware of Count Morgan's ties with several questionable groups. Including corrupt nobles in REF."
Morgan's eyes darkened like struck coal. "So you deny my authority… in front of the king?"
The king remained silent, his expression unreadable.
"You dare insult me?" Morgan growled, nostrils flaring. "You dare deny ME access to a dungeon that could change the balance of the kingdom?!"
"Your request violates protocol," the ministers replied sternly. "The answer is final."
Morgan's face twisted with fury.
"This… is not over."
He stormed out, cloak flaring like a shadow ready to swallow everything in its path.
---
THE DIMENSIONAL COMMAND
Back at the guild, Kael and Brown sat on a balcony overlooking REF. The sky burned gold as the sun descended.
Brown sat stirring a cup of hot shara tea. "Kael… the gods spoke to you again, didn't they?"
Kael nodded, leaning forward. "Yes. The Abyssal Dungeon was only a test. The gods want us to move beyond this world—into other dimensions. To clear corrupted realms. To stabilize collapsing domains."
Brown frowned. "Dimensions… different realities. That means different laws of magic. Different physics. Different monsters."
"And different dangers," Kael said quietly. "We won't survive unless we prepare."
Brown smirked. "Well… good thing I have a growing army of undead and the bosses of ninety-nine floors."
Kael looked at him, half worried, half amused. "Just don't let them revolt."
"No promises," Brown chuckled.
---
THE SCHOLAR OF LIGHT
Since returning from the Abyssal Dungeon, Luminor barely spoke to anyone. He practically lived in the Guild's massive library, surrounded by glowing books and half-transcribed scrolls.
Kael found him late at night, buried in a pile of ancient texts.
"Luminor," Kael called softly.
The Keeper didn't look up. "Not now. Busy. Studying."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Studying what, exactly?"
"Everything," Luminor muttered. "The Outer Gods. Dimensional gates. Spirit laws. Rune-lineage theory. Keeper lineage mysteries. Ancient sealing methods. My class… the Keeper… I barely understand its true potential. That dungeon showed me how much I don't know."
He scribbled faster. "Knowledge is my weapon. And right now, I'm unarmed."
Kael smiled lightly. "Just don't forget to sleep."
"No promises," Luminor murmured.
---
SHADOWS IN THE SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST
Amara and Malina stood at the guild gates, cloaks flapping in the wind.
Malina strapped her beast-taming gauntlet tight. "Demons and vampires working together… if that rumor is true, the kingdom is in trouble."
Amara's eyes glowed faint purple. "We'll confirm it. And we'll crush their forces before they multiply."
They bowed their heads to Kael.
"We'll return soon," Amara promised.
Then they vanished into the horizon.
---
THE SECRET CAVE
Deep within a silent canyon outside REF, Kael stood alone in a hidden cave. The walls glowed faintly with ancient runes.
He clenched his fist as shadowy energy spiraled around him.
"Copy… no. Gluttony."
The evolved skill pulsed like a living heart. It wasn't just copying anymore. It was devouring. Assimilating. Strengthening him with the essence of those he defeated.
Kael struck forward—
BOOM!
The cave floor cracked.
He struck again—
CRACK!
An entire section of wall collapsed.
Sweat dripped from his chin as he activated Gluttony again. "I have to master this… or it'll consume me instead."
---
PALLAS AND THE DRAGON COUNCIL
At the mountains far to the west, Pallas stood before a swirling portal made of dragonfire.
She looked back once toward REF. "Kael… I'll return soon. But dragons must train with dragons…"
With a deep breath, she stepped into the Dragon Realm, disappearing in a blaze of light.
---
EMBER AND THE ROTTEN NOBLES
Inside REF's administrative hall, Ember sat on a towering throne of obsidian steel—the City Lord's seat.
Scrolls, reports, and financial ledgers lay scattered before her.
A noble kneeled, trembling. "L-Lady Ember, we swear we had no dealings with Count Morgan—"
"Lies," Ember said coldly. "Your signatures are on smuggling documents. And your mana traces were detected in the illegal meeting."
Flames flickered in her eyes.
"You will pay fines, restore stolen resources, and confess your crimes publicly. If you refuse…"
Her aura burst forth like a raging inferno.
"…I will burn your corruption out of this city myself."
The nobles bowed lower, shaking in fear.
Ember sighed, rubbing her temples. "Politics… I hate this. But REF needs order."
---
As night fell across the realms, each member of Kael's team moved along their separate paths.
And in the distance, unseen by all, a crack formed in the sky—
A thin line between worlds.
A warning.
A beginning.