The trees gave way to a jagged rock formation that split the forest floor like a blade. Nestled between the cliffs was a weathered stone archway, etched in dull blue glyphs, pulsing faintly with mana.
A chilly breeze rolled from within.
Rael stood at the front, stretching his arms. "Yup. Here it is. Our first promotion request — 'Clear a dungeon successfully.' Simple enough."
He held up the scroll as if it were some divine decree.
Nadia brushed a few strands of her black hair behind her ear. "It's a D-rank dungeon. Shouldn't be hard unless one of us spontaneously combusts."
Rael raised a brow. "Kinda funny coming from the girl who literally uses black fire."
Nadia smirked. "Touché."
Behind them, Sela stood quietly, staring at the entrance. Her eyes were fixed, narrowed slightly. She hadn't spoken since they arrived. The heat from her mana was subtle — but those close to her could feel it, like the heartbeat of a volcano under control.
Rael glanced over. "Sela? Something up?"
She blinked. "No. Just listening."
"To what?"
"Everything," she answered cryptically, then began walking toward the entrance.
Rael and Nadia exchanged glances.
"She's intense today," Rael muttered.
"She's always intense," Nadia whispered back.
The moment they stepped inside, the air changed.
The sunlight vanished. The stone walls were damp and veined with glowing moss. Thick roots had broken through parts of the ceiling and floor. A narrow corridor stretched forward, torches flickering on their own — a sign the dungeon had awakened.
"Feels older than the reports said," Nadia muttered.
Rael ran a finger across the wall. "There's blood dried into this stone. A lot of people didn't make it far."
They advanced with caution, Sela leading, Nadia in the middle, Rael covering the rear.
A few meters in, the first enemy appeared — a skeletal wolf, jaw unhinged and glowing green. It lunged out from a side passage with bone-scraping howls.
Sela was already moving. One slash — clean, precise — and the wolf shattered into ash and bone dust.
Rael gave a low whistle. "I didn't even see you draw."
Sela's eyes stayed forward. "It screamed too loudly."
"Okay… noted."
The next stretch opened into a wider hallway — tall arches, broken columns, and rows of dormant statues that looked vaguely canine. An unnatural hum echoed around them.
"Trap?" Nadia asked.
"Definitely," Sela answered.
Rael nodded. "I'll poke one."
He tossed a broken bone across the hall. As soon as it clattered against the far wall, every statue lit up with green fire — and the corridor erupted in howling growls.
Dozens of spectral wolves burst forth from the shadows.
Nadia's eyes flared. "Time to test something new."
She inhaled and thrust her hand forward. Black fire spiraled outward in a wave — licking the walls, consuming a few of the phantoms.
Rael shouted over the chaos, "You're definitely getting better with that stuff!"
She grinned. "It doesn't backfire anymore!"
Rael slammed his palms together. "Good enough!"
A brilliant red flame surged from his core, forming into a fiery hammer. With a roar, he leapt into the pack and brought it down like a comet on the nearest wolf's skull. Bone exploded outward.
Nadia stayed at mid-range, releasing fireballs — bright crimson and deep obsidian, a fusion of traditional flame and her darker affinity.
Meanwhile, Sela moved like liquid fire — weaving through enemies, blades carving arcs of molten heat. She didn't stop moving. Every movement was measured. Efficient. Beautiful, in a deadly sort of way.
They cleared the corridor in less than three minutes.
Nadia wiped a bit of sweat from her brow. "These things keep screaming at us."
Sela cleaned her blades with a cloth. "Good. Let them scream. We're still walking."
"Okay, this place is… weird," Rael said, stepping onto soft grass.
The dungeon had opened into what looked like a ruined garden. Trees without leaves. Dead flowers. A broken fountain at the center. The sky was false — clearly an illusion — but somehow the breeze felt real.
"I've seen this terrain before," Sela said, crouching. "This is part of the old elven structure beneath the main range."
"Didn't know D-rank dungeons could have elven layers," Rael said.
Nadia looked uncomfortable. "You guys hear that?"
Faint laughter — like a child's giggle — danced between the dead branches.
Rael's shoulders tensed. "...Okay no, I'm out."
The laughter stopped.
Five hound-like beasts emerged from the mist. They were larger — half spectral, half flesh. Twisted, incomplete. Their eyes glowed with a golden light.
"Hybrids," Sela muttered.
"Wanna explain what that means before we're bitten in the face?" Rael snapped.
"They're between spirit and corpse. Difficult to kill with just raw strength."
Rael smirked. "Good thing I've got more than that."
He clapped again — this time creating a spinning wheel of fire blades and launching it forward. One wolf got shredded on impact.
Nadia backed away, using narrow, controlled beams of black fire to pierce vital points. Her accuracy had clearly improved.
Sela ran ahead, dancing through their attacks — slicing throats, limbs, and heads in a blur. When she landed beside Rael, she spoke softly.
"They're slower than they look."
Rael huffed. "Still ugly though."
Eventually, they reached a massive iron gate. Ancient carvings — wolves with wings, snakes curled around moons — adorned its surface.
They braced themselves. Weapons drawn. Mana channeled.
Rael grinned. "Alright. I'm calling it — some multi-headed hellhound with a name like Devourfang or Skullbreaker."
Nadia snorted. "That's exactly why you don't name monsters."
Sela opened the door.
The room inside was empty… except for a single creature sitting at the center.
A wolf.
Not giant. Not glowing. Just… a wolf. Sleek white fur. Calm eyes. Its aura was strong — but it didn't move.
The three of them stood in silence for a long moment.
Rael tilted his head. "That's it?"
Nadia blinked. "This is either a trap… or the laziest boss ever designed."
Sela didn't wait. She stepped forward and whispered, "Careful. That wolf… it's not normal."
As if on cue, the wolf raised its head. Its body shimmered for a moment — and five afterimages split off from it, rushing them like bullets.
Sela met one head-on, blades sparking against claws. Rael formed a whip of fire and lassoed two illusions before they struck Nadia. She responded by creating a wall of heat behind her, incinerating the fourth.
The real wolf vanished from view, reappearing behind Rael — who only barely blocked it.
"Okay! Nevermind! Lazy boss my ass!"
Sela appeared above the wolf, crossed her swords, and brought them down in a spiral slash — the blades dug in, burning bright.
With a flick of her wrist, a flash of lava burst from her palms — the wolf was engulfed.
Nadia followed up with a spear of black flame.
Rael slammed the final hit with his fire hammer — the impact cracked the floor and finally knocked the creature down.
Silence.
Smoke curled in the air. The wolf faded into dust.
Rael sat down. "Well… not too bad."
Nadia nudged him with her foot. "Still wanna name it Skullbreaker?"
He grinned. "Nah. I'm going with something cute now. Like… Fluffy."
Sela actually smiled. "That's worse."
They all laughed — just a little — as the room's mana began to settle.
Their first dungeon cleared.