Ethan had stayed inside the dungeon for an entire week.
Outside the gates, the guards had long since begun to give up hope. Only the captain still clung to a faint belief that the young man might return alive, but the rest had already accepted the truth in silence. To them, Ethan was gone.
After all, he looked far too young to endure a nightmare-level dungeon for this long. Most likely, they thought, the City Return Scroll had been shredded by monsters before he ever got the chance to use it.
On this particular day, the dungeon received new visitors.
At the head of the group was an elderly man, walking with three young professionals trailing behind him. The guard captain clearly recognized him. He strode forward with respect.
"Mr. Charles, bringing students here to train again?" the captain asked warmly.
Indeed, this old man was Charles, a tutor from Ravenshade University. Charles gave a polite smile and nodded.
"That's right. Just bringing these worthless brats to see the world," he said, half-joking but half-truthful.
The captain hesitated, then asked a question that had been gnawing at him.
"Tell me, does Ravenshade University have any… special students this year?"
Charles blinked in surprise. "Special students? Our Ravenshade doesn't have that privilege. Special admissions are for the prestigious academies, not us."
The captain's face fell. Yes, that made sense. Only top-tier universities could afford to recruit talents with unusual methods. What was he thinking, asking about Ravenshade?
Still unwilling to give up, he pressed, "Then do you have any students strong enough to enter the nightmare-level of this dungeon?"
Charles laughed bitterly. "Don't make fun of me, Captain. I wouldn't dare enter the nightmare-level myself. How could our students possibly manage that?"
The captain sighed. He described Ethan's appearance in detail, clinging to one last shred of hope, but Charles only shook his head. He was certain no such genius existed among his students.
Resigned at last, the captain let out a heavy breath. It seemed the young man he had once seen enter really had perished inside.
As for Ravenshade's newcomers? The captain wasn't naïve. A rookie awakened for less than half a month with the power to challenge nightmare-level monsters? Impossible.
Charles soon led his three students into the dungeon, leaving the guards outside.
One of the team members chuckled. "Captain, why didn't you give them the City Return Scroll this time? Didn't you used to do that?"
The captain frowned. "Those kids look like they're on a picnic. They don't have the aura of geniuses. Besides, they've been in university for one or two years already and still need their instructor to shepherd them through the easiest level. Who knows when they'll ever mature? Any investment must depend on the other party's strength."
Another soldier raised an eyebrow. "Captain, do you still expect that young man from before to come back?"
The captain's lips tightened. "It's been a week. By now, the giant python inside has probably digested him down to dried waste. Even the tutor from Ravenshade can only guide his students through the simple level. The boy entered the nightmare level. How long could he have survived?"
"Curiosity killed the cat," another muttered. "One wrong move and—death."
The captain shook his head helplessly. "Forget it. My strength has reached its limit anyway. Tonight, let's go to Baiyinhan and drink."
"Hahaha, finally, Captain!"
"You've figured it out at last?"
"Everyone, Silverman walks up tonight!"
The guards cheered, their laughter echoing, already making plans for the night.
---
Meanwhile, inside the dungeon, Ethan faced the colossal boss.
For the past week, he had fought countless wild monsters, accumulating over three thousand units of the rare material known as Dark Gold Level: King of Windblade Python. He could have chosen to undergo alienation, a transformation that would let him crush this boss instantly, but that was not his plan.
Instead, he wanted to test and train his companions—Anti-Bone Boy and Da Dao Zai.
At first, they had struggled even against ordinary Windblade Pythons. But now? They cut them down with ease. Their growth was undeniable. This battle against the boss would be their true trial.
The boss was a terrifying sight. Its massive body stretched over a hundred meters, coiled around a towering tree like a living fortress. Its mere presence radiated dread.
Without waiting for Ethan's command, Anti-Bone Boy activated Broken Army and charged straight ahead.
The python's jaws opened wide, and with a hiss, dozens of massive wind blades whipped out, sharp as storms.
But Anti-Bone Boy had been hit thousands of times during training. He had mastered the art of dodging. The moment the boss attacked, he rolled aside, evading the barrage.
He moved with uncanny precision, slipping past the serpent's gaze, until finally he reached the monster's side. His jaws clamped down, biting into a narrow gap between the python's thick scales.
The giant serpent roared in agony. Its massive body shook the entire tree, sending leaves pouring down like rain. With a violent thrash, it hurled Anti-Bone Boy away.
But the creature's sheer size slowed its movements. Anti-Bone Boy scrambled back, relentless, targeting the same wound again and again.
Meanwhile, Da Dao Zai had circled around unseen. He climbed up the python's massive head, stared into its slit pupils, and unleashed a flurry of strikes.
Cuts spread across the serpent's face in quick succession.
The monster hissed, but its fury wasn't aimed at Da Dao Zai—it was at Anti-Bone Boy.
Still in Broken Army state, Anti-Bone Boy had forced his way deeper into the wound, tearing through flesh as he burrowed inside.
The serpent howled, and a wave of wind blades exploded across its body. Da Dao Zai, who had gone invisible, was forced to break cover and retreat.
The monster's huge tail whipped through the air like a black thunderbolt.
CRASH!
It struck the ground, throwing Da Dao Zai high into the air, smashing shrubs and earth like a bomb blast.
The python reared back to strike again, its tail descending with unstoppable force.
But when it landed—nothing. Da Dao Zai wasn't there. It had been an illusion.
Confused, the serpent turned back toward Anti-Bone Boy, who was still inside its body. In desperation, it bit down on its own flesh, tearing away a bloody chunk and dragging Anti-Bone Boy out with it.
Even the monster didn't dare swallow him whole.
Though battered, both warriors survived. In truth, the serpent's frantic efforts had done little real harm. Its fate was sealed.
Ten minutes later, the boss collapsed with a thunderous crash.
System Prompt: "You have successfully slain the Dark Gold-Level Windblade Maniac King (BOSS). Experience points gained."
System Prompt: "You have obtained the skill: Wind Blade Disperse (Blue)."
System Prompt: "You have obtained equipment: Dark Gold-Level Python King Blade, Dark Gold-Level Python King Leather Armor."
Ethan smiled in satisfaction. His companions had passed the test. They had become true fighters.
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