The rain poured relentlessly over the city, washing the streets in an endless sheet of water. The once-vibrant neon lights now flickered weakly through the gray mist, reflecting off puddles as cars drove by with their headlights cutting through the thick downpour. The hum of the city's nightlife buzzed faintly, drowned out by the sound of raindrops pelting the pavement.
Kian Ansel trudged through the wet streets with his shoulders hunched, his jacket soaked through. His worn sneakers squelched with every step, but the discomfort was the least of his worries. His eyes were locked on the cracked pavement beneath his feet, avoiding the world around him, like he did every day.
"Just another day," Kian muttered under his breath, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He wasn't tired from work or classes — no, Kian was simply tired of being ordinary.
He had grown up in a world that was anything but ordinary. Since the appearance of the first dungeon over a decade ago, the world had changed. Dungeons, portals to other realms teeming with monsters, treasure, and ancient knowledge, had become a global phenomenon. Those who entered the dungeons and survived came back as Ascendants, gaining powers that far surpassed the limits of the human body.
But not Kian. He had tried. Oh, how he had tried. His body had endured training after training, and yet he had never awakened. He was a failure in a world that demanded extraordinary strength.
"Maybe... I'm just not cut out for this." The thought echoed in his mind as he made his way to the university. Kian had tried to ignore the whispers of his classmates, the snickers behind his back. He had learned long ago not to let their words get to him. Still, it stung, a constant reminder of his inadequacy.
He walked through the university gates, passing groups of students chatting about their latest dungeon raids, their newly acquired powers, and the monsters they'd slain. Kian felt out of place among them, like a ghost who couldn't touch anything.
"Hey, Kian!" A voice called from behind him.
Kian turned, forcing a smile as he saw Adelaide Rothschild jogging toward him. Adelaide, with her long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, was an Ascendant — one of the strongest in the country. While Kian struggled to make sense of his lack of ability, Adelaide's powers were widely respected. She could manipulate ice, conjuring blizzards or freezing enemies in their tracks.
"You're soaking wet," Adelaide said with a laugh, her voice full of warmth. "You should've called me to pick you up."
"I'm fine," Kian replied, brushing off her concern. "Just the usual, you know?"
Adelaide narrowed her eyes, always seeing right through him. "You're still brooding about your results, aren't you?" she asked gently.
Kian shook his head. "I'm not brooding. Just... thinking."
"You don't have to prove anything, Kian," Adelaide said, her tone serious now. "Everyone goes at their own pace. You'll figure it out."
Kian wanted to believe her. He really did. But the truth was, he had tried everything. He had been through every test, every trial. He had even volunteered for the low-level dungeons, but nothing ever happened. He was stuck in this endless cycle of disappointment.
Before he could say anything else, the loudspeaker overhead crackled to life, breaking the brief silence between them.
"Attention, students. A new dungeon has been detected. The Dungeon of Souls. Please report to your designated zones immediately. This is an S-Rank dungeon, and a raid team will be assembled."
Kian's heart skipped a beat. An S-Rank dungeon? Those were the most dangerous — and the most rewarding. Ascendants who ventured into S-Rank dungeons were often the ones who became legends. It was a chance to rise, to become something more.
"Are you going?" Kian asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Adelaide's expression shifted. "Of course. They've been assembling teams for days. I'm on the squad, along with a few others. You should come too."
Kian blinked. "Me? But... I'm not an Ascendant. I can't even get through a basic dungeon."
"I know you don't think you can, but you don't have to do it alone. We'll look out for each other." She smiled reassuringly, but Kian could see the worry in her eyes.
Kian hesitated, torn between the fear of failure and the hope of something more. This could be his chance. But he wasn't an Ascendant. What if he just slowed them down? Or worse, what if he became a liability?
Before he could respond, the air seemed to grow heavier, as if the world was holding its breath. Then, without warning, the ground trembled beneath his feet. Kian stumbled, catching himself against a nearby wall.
"What the hell—?" Kian's voice caught in his throat.
A loud, resonant sound filled the air, like the universe itself was being torn open. A brilliant light appeared in the sky above the university, a swirling vortex of energy that seemed to pulse with power. The ground shook again, stronger this time. People screamed as they scattered, seeking shelter.
"The dungeon... it's here," Adelaide whispered in awe, her gaze locked on the sky. "It's starting. The Dungeon of Souls..."
But something was different. Kian felt a strange pull, like an invisible thread tugging at his very being. His heart raced as the light from the swirling vortex intensified, growing brighter until it consumed everything around him.
"Stay back, Kian!" Adelaide shouted, grabbing his arm. "This is too dangerous!"
But Kian couldn't move. His body was frozen in place, the pull of the light growing stronger with every passing second. His pulse thundered in his ears.
And then, before he could react, a powerful force dragged him into the air. The world blurred around him, and Kian could barely make sense of what was happening. His vision flickered, and everything went black.