The sun dipped low behind the city spires of Celestia, casting long golden rays over the estate's training field. Dust still lingered in the air—evidence of hundreds of duels, spell clashes, and hard-fought sparring that had continued over the past four days.
Now, silence reigned.
Every recruit stood assembled on the stone-paved courtyard, armored and weathered, eyes fixed on the one figure who stood alone at the front.
Alter.
His cloak stirred faintly in the breeze, but his stance was immovable, divine blade sheathed at his back. Lira and Kaela stood to either side of him, dignified yet quietly proud.
Alter's gaze swept over the 130 gathered.
"You've all shown strength," he said, voice calm but resonant. "Discipline. Potential."
He paused.
"But not all of you are ready for the weight I carry."
Murmurs rippled through the ranks, but one glance from Kaela quieted them.
"I've selected twelve," Alter continued. "Not just the strongest—but the most resolute. You will train under me directly. You will lead your class divisions. And one day... you may be called to stand at the edge of the world beside me."
He raised a hand.
"Step forward when I call your name."
1. Selene Virellia – Vanguard Commander (Swordswoman)
A High Elf with unmatched precision and spiritual resonance. Calm, graceful, and disciplined. The first chosen.
2. Darius Coalbrand – Shield Commander (Tank Division)
A towering black-haired human with a magma-infused greatshield. Former mercenary captain. Fights like a mountain.
3. Revyn Mistclaw – Shadow Commander (Rogue Division)
Beastkin (Panther-tribe). Silent, agile, master of illusions and close-range assassination. His strikes barely leave a sound.
4. Mira Snowveil – Frostweaver Commander (Mage Division)
A half-elf frost caster with hair like silver snow. Specialized in wide-area control magic and frost containment.
5. Thorne Ironstride – Warborn Commander (Heavy Infantry)
Dwarf. Axe-wielder and earth-based brawler. Has never lost a ground-hold in mock combat. Loud but loyal.
6. Arinelle Dawnwhisper – Spirit Caller Commander (Summoner Division)
Elven summoner with a pact to ancient forest spirits. Her magic sings through the battlefield like a symphony.
7. Cidros Vane – Arcblade Commander (Spellsword Division)
A former noble with lightning-fast reflexes. Wields a twin blade-channeling mana strikes like lightning bolts.
8. Ilyra Faen – Warden Commander (Defensive Support Division)
Cleric-Paladin hybrid. Graceful, firm. Protects with divine barriers and heals in radiant pulses.
9. Garran Flamecoil – Pyre Commander (Fire Mages & Siege Division)
Flame-element specialist. Muscular, wild-eyed, carries a greatstaff like a battering ram. Explosive personality and spells.
10. Sorei Windshaper – Scout Commander (Recon & Archery)
Falcon-tribe beastkin. Dual-wields shortbows and leads fast recon teams. Known for deadly accuracy and insane agility.
11. Veyna Lux – Crystal Commander (Utility & Enchantment Division)
Half-crystalborn. Speaks few words, but crafts spells and barriers that enhance allies with razor efficiency.
12. Caelum Dray – Skyreach Commander (Aerial Division)
Winged demi-human with rare sky-magic affinity. Commands wind currents and airborne formations.
Alter watched as each of them stepped forward and knelt—one by one.
"You twelve," he said, "will no longer be mere adventurers. You are the blades that will pierce darkness before it rises. You are the foundation of Mythral Dawn's legacy."
He drew Astral Requiem.
With a slow, solemn gesture, he tapped the blade against each of their shoulders, one at a time. A shimmering sigil flared across their chests—an emblem of starlight etched with the shape of dawn breaking through shadow.
[SYSTEM NOTICE – ELITE COMMANDERS ASSIGNED]
Twelve Commanders of Mythral Dawn: Confirmed
Unique Command Tier Unlocked: Dawnmarked Champions
Training Access: Primordial Architect Protocol – Authorized
Alter sheathed his blade.
"Your training begins at sunrise. Eat well. Rest harder."
Lira smiled faintly, arms crossed. "They'll need it."
Kaela cracked her knuckles. "I'll start with the scouts."
Selene rose from her kneel last, her emerald gaze flicking once toward Alter—not in gratitude, but in readiness.
And for the first time... he smiled.
Scene: The Fire Before Dawn
Night had settled over the capital. The lanterns within the estate's central hall glowed with soft, golden light, casting dancing shadows across polished wood and engraved stone. The large hearth crackled gently, filling the wide chamber with the faint scent of cedar and the comfort of warmth.
The twelve newly appointed commanders were gathered loosely around the long circular table at the heart of the estate, still dressed in light training gear, some with cloaks draped over their shoulders. They were quiet, respectful—but unmistakably alert. The room held the energy of warriors who knew they had stepped into something far beyond mere titles.
Alter sat at the head of the table, his posture relaxed, yet commanding by nature alone. His presence drew their focus like gravity. To his right, Lira rested with her fingers wrapped around a steaming mug, golden hair cascading freely over her shoulders. To his left, Kaela leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, eyes lazily scanning the group with the same sharpness she showed on the battlefield.
Selene sat a few seats away, back straight, her emerald gaze thoughtful as she studied the room. Her silence wasn't shy—it was listening.
Thorne grunted, breaking the quiet. "So… we're the blades of dawn now, eh? Never thought I'd get assigned anything fancier than 'frontline bruiser.'"
Revyn, seated across from him, offered a faint smirk. "You nearly flattened half the courtyard during trials. I'd say you earned it."
Mira stirred her tea with a slender finger of ice, speaking coolly. "Strength matters little without control. It was discipline that got us chosen."
"Discipline, heart, and instinct," Kaela added, lifting her cup. "Don't get used to titles. You earn them every day."
"I agree," Lira said softly. "This team... it's something special. But it won't stay that way unless we sharpen one another. Together."
A nod passed between the commanders. Even Garran, whose wild grin hadn't faded since the trials, sobered slightly.
Alter finally spoke, voice even. "None of you were chosen at random. You carry the weight of your classes now. Lead with strength. Lead with integrity. And when I am not present… your word becomes law."
The firelight danced across the twelve. Veyna's crystal-lined gloves glinted softly. Caelum's wings folded more tightly behind him. Darius gave a single respectful nod, a soldier's answer.
"I'll begin training with the blade divisions tomorrow," Alter continued. "Kaela will oversee recon and formation drills. Lira will rotate between mage specializations and support alignment. You'll receive your personal schedules in the morning."
"Dismissed?" Revyn asked.
Alter tilted his head, smirking. "Go to bed before I give you drills tonight."
A ripple of soft laughter followed. Chairs scraped gently back as the commanders stood and offered their respectful bows or nods. One by one, they filtered out of the hall, voices low with newfound camaraderie as they made their way to their quarters.
Only Selene lingered a moment longer, watching the trio before offering a small, graceful bow.
"I look forward to the morning," she said. Her tone was calm, but something flickered behind her gaze—eager, searching.
Alter met her eyes. "So do I."
When she finally departed, only Alter, Lira, and Kaela remained.
Kaela stretched, letting out a yawn. "I'll start scouting the new housing units tomorrow. I still think we need better perimeter enchantments."
"You'll get them," Alter said.
Kaela gave him a lazy salute, offered Lira a knowing smile, and exited.
Lira waited until the door closed.
"Still World?" she asked softly, sliding her chair closer.
Alter smiled faintly. "Of course."
He stood, extending his hand. She rose with him.
Scene: Within the Still World
The transition was seamless.
The moment they entered, the night and noise of the estate faded like mist. A vast starlit sky stretched above an endless meadow of crystalline grass and scattered luminous stones. The air shimmered faintly, thick with mana, time stretching gently like silk.
Lira exhaled in quiet awe, even though she'd seen this place before.
"It always feels like I'm stepping into the space between heartbeats," she whispered.
Alter nodded. "It's where I come to forge... to breathe."
They walked for a time, hand in hand beneath the starlight. No words were needed. The bond between them had deepened into something unspoken—a thread of warmth, of presence.
When they returned to his celestial forge, Alter set down a scroll of designs for additional Mythic gear.
"I'll continue the surplus stock tomorrow," he said, voice quieter now. "But tonight... I wanted you here."
Lira's eyes sparkled as she looked at him—at the subtle glow along his skin, the golden mana-etched veins tracing beneath his armor.
"I'll always be here," she whispered, and stepped close. "But... I'm warning you now. If you keep spoiling me with staves and starlit views…"
Her arms wound around his neck. She kissed him slowly, deliberately.
"…I'll have no choice but to keep thanking you properly."
And Alter, divine strength and all, could only surrender to her once more—beneath the stars, where time bowed to their desire.
The shimmer of the Still World's boundary dissolved with a quiet sigh of starlight.
Alter stepped out first, the crisp predawn air brushing against his skin like the breath of a world just beginning to stir. Dew glistened across the grass beneath his boots. Above, the sky had begun to pale—hints of soft gold bleeding into deep violet.
Lira followed close behind, robes flowing like woven flame and starlight. She didn't falter. She didn't blink in surprise.
She simply exhaled with ease, her senses already aligned with the slowed pulse of reality.
"The timing was perfect," she murmured, stretching her arms skyward with a quiet hum of satisfaction. "You always calculate it down to the minute."
"I had to," Alter replied, eyes narrowing toward the edge of the estate's training field. "The others will wake soon."
Lira's golden gaze turned toward the horizon. "Sunrise in less than five minutes."
A pause passed between them—peaceful, unhurried. The kind of moment only made possible when one had lived countless more beneath a slower sky.
She stepped closer, brushing her shoulder against his. "Still... I'll miss the quiet of the forge. And the way your hands moved when you shaped the air into fire and steel."
Alter gave her a sidelong look. "You watched?"
"I always do." Her smile curved with unspoken affection. "And I always learn something."
He allowed himself a small smirk. "You already learned enough to shake the world with that last spell."
Her voice dropped an octave. "Not yet. But I will. Just don't leave me behind when you do."
"I never will."
They reached the edge of the field. Just ahead, the first figures of the Twelve Commanders stirred from meditation and sleep, gathering in preparation for the morning drills. Kaela was already present, longbow over one shoulder, barking light instructions to the early risers. The energy in the air was shifting—subtle, but purposeful.
The moment of quiet between Alter and Lira ended as seamlessly as it had begun.
He turned toward the group. "Let's begin."
And the sun crested the horizon.
[Training Grounds – Personal Sparring Ring, Mythral Dawn Estate]
The estate grounds were quiet, save for the occasional clash of steel. Morning light cast long shadows over the ring, and the air shimmered faintly from lingering magic residue.
Selene stood at its center—her silver-trimmed armor marked by thin scuffs from earlier drills, platinum braid falling neatly behind her back. Her emerald eyes never left Alter's.
He stepped into the ring without his armor—only his training vest and bracers. Yet the weight of his presence made the space feel smaller, tighter. Like gravity bent toward him.
Selene bowed with precise grace.
"Begin," Alter said simply.
She moved like wind slipping through forest—fluid, deliberate. Her blade came in fast from the left, twisted upward, then spiraled in a feint that redirected with blistering speed. Alter leaned back, sidestepped, deflecting with the flat of his palm.
Another strike came—low, then upward—a test for his guard. He parried again. No wasted movement.
Selene didn't falter. She pressed forward, each motion a seamless continuation of the last. Her blade hummed faintly, reacting to her spiritual resonance—a trait Alter had noted since her trial.
She's not just mimicking sword forms. She's listening to the flow. Reading the gaps like a language.
He advanced.
With the flick of his wrist, Astral Requiem manifested—not to kill, but to guide. He swung once, a controlled arc. She met it with both hands on her hilt, sliding her body with the recoil, grounding her stance. Their swords locked. She didn't budge.
For a breathless moment, her eyes met his—unflinching.
Then she pivoted, disengaged, and launched into a spinning strike with a sharp mana-coated thrust. The ground beneath her shimmered with her spirit.
CLANG!
He deflected it, but only barely.
Alter smiled. Not out of mockery, but approval.
He stepped back and lowered his blade.
"That's enough."
Selene halted mid-motion, breathing lightly, sweat just beginning to form across her brow.
"You read the momentum correctly," he said. "You adapted without relying on brute power. That last thrust? Nearly caught me off guard."
Selene exhaled, lowering her sword with slow reverence.
"Your spiritual control is... far beyond your years. You don't just feel the flow of battle—you interpret it."
A faint flicker of pride passed behind her expression, quickly smothered by discipline.
"You have talent," Alter continued. "But it's your heart that sharpens it. That's rare."
He stepped closer, resting one hand briefly on her shoulder—a subtle gesture, but one that carried weight.
"You'll become far stronger," he said. "Stronger than even you realize."
Selene bowed again, lower this time. "Thank you, Master Alter."
Kaela, who had been watching from the edge with arms crossed, smirked. "She's going to give a few veterans a run for their gold soon."
Lira simply nodded. "I felt it. She's already changing."
And Alter—watching Selene silently sheathe her sword, head held high—knew one thing for certain:
She would walk beside him in battles that even fate dared not predict.
And she would be ready.
2. Darius Coalbrand – Shield Commander (Tank Division)
The training field shook under his footfalls. Darius held his magma-infused greatshield steady as three warriors slammed into him. He didn't budge.
Alter watched from the edge. "Hold longer. React slower. A tank doesn't just absorb force—he shapes the pace of battle."
Darius nodded. "Understood."
Then blocked the next assault with such weight it knocked the attackers back five paces.
3. Revyn Mistclaw – Shadow Commander (Rogue Division)
Revyn was barely a shadow against the training walls, darting between barriers, slipping past magical wards unnoticed. When a trainee tried to follow him, they fell flat into an illusion trap.
"Rely less on your claws," Alter advised. "More on what they don't see."
Revyn nodded once, vanishing into a ripple of false shadows, already ten steps away.
4. Mira Snowveil – Frostweaver Commander (Mage Division)
A dome of frost expanded from her palm, freezing training dummies and terrain in glacial hold. Mira's incantations were fluid, her control absolute. She layered AOE spells like woven silk.
Lira watched with a scholar's eye. "She doesn't freeze the battlefield. She composes it."
Alter agreed. "She'll shut down entire warzones if pushed."
5. Thorne Ironstride – Warborn Commander (Heavy Infantry)
Thorne bellowed and brought down his axe like thunder cracking mountains. He split stone training posts as dust plumed into the air.
"Try using the earth beneath you," Alter said. "Make it your ally."
Thorne grinned, stomped, and sent a tremor outward, toppling another row of dummies without swinging.
"Like that?"
"Better," Alter said.
6. Arinelle Dawnwhisper – Spirit Caller Commander (Summoner Division)
In the western grove, Arinelle knelt among forest runes. Spirits encircled her, listening. Her hands glowed green, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Call two simultaneously," Alter instructed. "Support and offense. Make them harmonize."
She breathed deeply. A flame stag and wind hawk materialized at her side, dancing in unified rhythm.
"Good," Alter said. "They don't follow you because of force. They trust you."
7. Cidros Vane – Arcblade Commander (Spellsword Division)
Twin mana-blades sang through the air, each swing accompanied by bursts of lightning. Cidros moved like a duelist and a dancer, always precise.
Alter parried his strike mid-air. "Channel deeper. Don't just guide mana. Shape it."
Cidros closed his eyes. The next strike wasn't a slash—it was a bolt of condensed light shaped like a blade.
8. Ilyra Faen – Warden Commander (Defensive Support Division)
Ilyra raised her radiant shield, protecting trainees from a magical barrage. She healed one with a pulse of golden light, then reinforced the perimeter with a divine ward.
Kaela blinked. "She controls the fight without drawing blood."
"Balance," Alter said. "She can hold a line without crossing it."
9. Garran Flamecoil – Pyre Commander (Siege Division)
In the siege pit, Garran conjured waves of fire, hurling explosive orbs into high-resilience barriers. Each blast roared louder than the last.
"Don't just burn," Alter said. "Shape destruction. Target it."
Garran grinned, crafted a fireball the size of a melon—and collapsed it into a laser-thin inferno that cut stone like butter.
10. Sorei Windshaper – Scout Commander (Recon & Archery)
High above the estate, Sorei danced between tree limbs, her dual shortbows firing tracking mana-arrows that looped around obstacles.
"Double the speed, reduce draw time," Kaela challenged.
Sorei narrowed her hawk-like eyes, fired again—and split an incoming projectile mid-air.
"She's faster than me," Kaela admitted. "But I taught her that."
11. Veyna Lux – Crystal Commander (Utility & Enchantment Division)
Silent and focused, Veyna carved crystalline runes mid-air, layering enchantments across a squad's armor and weapons. A shimmering dome expanded, shielding her allies.
Alter touched the dome. "Seven layers. And stable."
She nodded, eyes glowing faintly. "Eight tomorrow."
12. Caelum Dray – Skyreach Commander (Aerial Division)
Wings outstretched, Caelum soared high, commanding wind currents to shift formations. He descended in spirals, casting air magic in wide sweeping zones.
Alter raised a hand, casting a gale barrier. Caelum pierced through it with a lance of compressed air.
"Sky command secured," he said, landing with grace.
Alter nodded. "You are the storm."
Under a sky streaked with fading twilight, the central training grounds of the estate thundered with clashing blows and radiant energy. Dust swirled, magic flashed, and the roars of unleashed techniques echoed between the marble pillars that ringed the arena.
At the heart of it stood Alter—calm, focused, and radiant in divine stillness. He didn't wear armor this time. Clad in a dark sleeveless tunic threaded with golden mana veins, his form shimmered faintly, a testament to the barely-contained power that pulsed beneath his skin. Astral Requiem hung loosely in his hand, glowing with cosmic pressure.
Surrounding him were all twelve of the Commanders, each one panting, marked by bruises or burns, yet eyes locked in unyielding determination.
The battle had gone on for nearly an hour—longer than any single training session prior.
Selene, blade shimmering with spectral echoes, lunged from the side—her strikes a flurry of spiritual precision. Alter parried one blow, dodged the second, and redirected the third with a twist of his gauntlet.
From behind, Garran Flamecoil unleashed a wide flare of crimson fire that seared through the air. At the same time, Mira conjured a ring of frost around Alter's feet, binding his step. Caelum dove from above in a whirling lance of wind.
Alter's aura flared. One graceful twist, a measured pulse of movement, and all three attacks were redirected or halted in place, caught within a spatial pocket of celestial force.
"Good," Alter said quietly as his blade flicked upward, forcing Revyn Mistclaw to disengage from a stealth assault. "But you're still moving as individuals."
Thorne's roar followed immediately, charging from the front with his twin axes in a crushing arc. "Then we move as one!"
Ilyra was behind him, casting radiant shields to form a path. Cidros blurred in next to her, blades dancing like lightning. Arinelle's summoned beasts surged from the backline—spirit lions and ethereal serpents weaving around their allies in coordinated attack.
For the first time, Alter smiled faintly.
"Better."
He sheathed Astral Requiem.
And raised his hand.
A pulse of divine pressure rippled outward—not with brute force, but with command. The spell Celestial Dissonance did not manifest this time, but the resonance that lingered from his authority made it feel as though the heavens themselves watched.
Even holding back, Alter was overwhelming.
But the commanders didn't stop. They adapted. Covered for one another. Darius blocked a blow meant for Veyna, who immediately snapped a barrier to cover Mira's exposed flank. Sorei's arrows redirected Kaela's blindside as she moved in tandem with Cidros and Selene.
Kaela fired one last phoenix-shot upward. It arced, curved—and Alter looked up just in time to parry it.
The moment his stance shifted, Mira's spell cracked the frozen bindings beneath him.
A second passed.
Then a third.
Alter chuckled.
"Well done."
With one final pulse of mana, he stepped back, halting the fight.
The commanders collapsed to one knee, panting, sweating, but smiling.
"You've improved," Alter said, his tone steady. "Not just individually. As a force."
He turned, glancing at the dozens of team members gathered around the arena's edges. They had stopped their own exercises to watch. Some had even begun cheering by the midpoint. Now, they clapped and hollered in support.
Ardria Valen stood at the back, arms folded, her silver eyes gleaming. She didn't speak—but the respect in her gaze was unmistakable.
Lira approached from the shade of the nearby pavilion, her long golden hair bound back, her robes lightly dusted with chalk from her earlier training with Kaela. She watched the twelve kneeling commanders, then met Alter's gaze.
"That was... impressive."
"They're ready," he said simply. "But we'll push further. This was only the beginning."
From beside her, Kaela grinned and crossed her arms. "They didn't die, so yeah—I'd say we're doing fine."
Selene rose slowly, stepping forward. Her eyes met Alter's—not with pride, but quiet hunger for more.
"Thank you," she said. "We'll earn the name you've given us."
Alter nodded once. "You already have."
And above them, as the stars began to dot the darkening sky, the emblem of Mythral Dawn shimmered from the banners surrounding the training field—proof of unity, growth, and a legacy just beginning to take form.
The morning sun glinted off polished steel and freshly cleaned stone as the full expedition force of Mythral Dawn stood in formation, rows upon rows of battle-hardened adventurers forming a disciplined arc around the central platform.
A hundred strong, and then some.
Their chatter fell silent the moment Alter stepped forward.
Clad in a long, flowing coat of woven cosmic threads—draped in the shadow of Astral Requiem, the divine blade sheathed at his back—he moved with the ease of someone who stood between reality and something far greater.
Behind him stood Kaela and Lira, their gazes sweeping the ranks. To his left, the Twelve Commanders stood at full attention—each one already a force in their own right.
Alter raised his hand.
"We will soon be entering an Extreme Mode dungeon."
His voice was calm. Measured. But it carried through the courtyard like a ripple of gravity.
"This one I've cleared before. Its dangers are real—but manageable. And it will be your proving ground."
A pause.
"However, I do not send my people into battle unprepared."
He extended his hand.
In a flash of prismatic light, spatial seals unraveled behind him—dozens of black obelisks marked with radiant glyphs phased into view. They opened with a hiss, revealing rows of armor, weapons, and tools—each crafted by his own hands within the Still World.
A quiet gasp rippled through the crowd.
"You've earned this."
He gestured toward the Twelve Commanders first.
"Step forward."
One by one, they did.
To Selene, he offered a sleek, crescent-edged longsword forged of silver auracite and divine starlight. Its edge shimmered with spatial ripple, perfect for her style.
Darius received a magma-core tower shield paired with scaled blacksteel plate—unmovable, enduring.
Revyn was handed twin dagger-claws that phased between dimensions.
Mira's robes pulsed with frostbound enchantments, laced with leyline weaves.
Thorne's great-axe vibrated with tectonic resonance, crafted to channel shockwaves on impact.
Arinelle received a nature-etched staff crowned with spirit gems that shimmered with ancient sigils.
Cidros's twin arcblades thrummed with voltage, balanced and lethal.
Ilyra donned radiant plate inlaid with warding runes and divine pulse sigils.
Garran's flame-glyph greatstaff practically radiated heat, runes spiraling with siege magic.
Sorei was gifted enchanted shortbows that glowed with avian sigils and mana-focusing grooves.
Veyna's crystal-bound gauntlets projected sigil-based support fields with precision.
Caelum's lightweight armor was tuned for aerial maneuvering, channels of wind magic embedded in the seams.
Each of them received not just weapons—but Divine-Rank equipment, low-tier but pure, fitted perfectly to their role. These were tools worthy of generals.
Then Alter turned to the full team.
"Step forward."
With a thought, the rest of the obelisks began to open.
From inside—Mythic-rank equipment gleamed under the sun: swords, spears, bows, shields, robes, and more. Enchanted, durable, many embedded with elemental affinities. Every piece designed not just to empower—but to survive the brutal laws of an Extreme Mode dungeon.
Adventurers stepped forward, awe and disbelief etched into their faces as they received the armaments. Some dropped to one knee. Others muttered reverently.
Alter didn't speak again until the final piece was distributed.
He stepped back and looked across them all.
Unified.
Armed.
Armored.
Kaela whistled lowly. "Now that's a damn army."
Lira smiled softly. "No… that's a legacy."
And when they all stood in full formation—gleaming mythic steel, cloaks of mana-thread, eyes set and determined—they looked less like a guild and more like a legend ready to be written.
The estate grounds thrummed with power and unity.
Lined in precise formation, over 130 adventurers stood assembled—each adorned in glinting gear freshly forged by Alter's divine craftsmanship. The Twelve Commanders, resplendent in their newly gifted low-tier divine armaments, stood at the forefront—radiating authority, power, and cohesion.
Behind them, the full expeditionary force of Mythral Dawn waited in silence, weapons sheathed, eyes trained forward. The golden banners of the guild fluttered behind them, etched with the sigil of a radiant dawn crest rising over a blade-shaped horizon.
From the estate's central steps, Alter emerged.
Lira walked beside him, calm and regal, her Artifact staff Starwoven Grace gently pulsing with mana. Kaela followed on his other side, wearing her phoenix-formed Artifact bow, and her gauntlets—Iron Howl—resting on her hips like hidden fangs.
Alter halted before the formation. He didn't need to raise his voice.
"You've trained. Fought. Failed. Grown," he said, eyes sweeping the assembled warriors. "Today is not a lesson. It's not sparring. This is real."
The breeze stirred as the silence deepened.
"This dungeon will not adjust to your strength. It is calibrated to kill." His words were cold, measured. "But I believe in your survival—because I made you strong enough to defy it."
The Twelve Commanders bowed in unison.
"Selene."
She stepped forward, voice crisp. "Mythral Dawn, form up by division. Commanders, lead your squads."
In perfect harmony, the formation reshaped. Divisions aligned by specialization—Frostweavers, Warborn, Skyreach Scouts, Crystal Shields—all standing proud beneath their respective leaders.
Lira glanced at Alter as the portal began forming behind him, a swirling mass of cold blue and deep silver mana—stabilized and tuned by his Creator Authority.
"You're not going to say what the dungeon is?" she asked.
Alter shook his head faintly.
"They'll know once they're inside."
The gate opened fully.
The atmosphere sharpened, turning brisk. Mist and snow seeped outward—tainted with the scent of frozen mana and distant decay.
[Extreme Dungeon – Entry Phase: Hollow Glacier of Draumunt]
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Extreme Dungeon Activated: Hollow Glacier of Draumunt
Environment: Frozen Ruin | Curse Saturation: 74%
Status: Dungeon Previously Cleared (S-Rank: Alter)
New Entry Conditions: Multiple-Party Engagement | Adversity Level Increased
The instant the team stepped through, a jolt of biting cold surged across their bodies. Snow fell upward. The laws of motion twisted subtly, and strange ethereal figures danced along the ridges of shattered ice bridges above.
Massive chasms yawned on either side of the cracked glacial path. In the distance, a skeletal dragon's ribcage was frozen mid-roar, half-buried beneath a mountain of crystal frost.
Kaela drew in a slow breath, her eyes narrowing. "I can already feel how wrong this place is."
"It's worse than the last one," Darius muttered, gripping his magma-forged shield.
Alter looked across the silent march of his expedition.
"This is the place where I forged my intent," he said softly.
Lira looked to him.
"Then it's where they will forge theirs."
He nodded once.
The journey had begun.