The air inside Floor 15 was heavy — not because of monsters, but because of the silence that followed hours of relentless movement. The stone corridors stretched endlessly, torchlight flickering against the walls, shadows bending along the uneven ground. The dungeon's rhythm had changed since the last floor — the walls seemed alive, vibrating faintly as if something deeper inside was breathing.
Arios led the group, his wooden practice sword replaced by a regulation steel one borrowed from the academy's field inventory. His eyes scanned the path ahead, marking the small distortions in the stone. The system interface hovered faintly near his vision, showing their team's current progress: [Dungeon Exam: Floor 15 Cleared — 1420 Points].
Lucy followed close behind, brushing dust off her sleeve. "This is the first floor where nothing attacked us right away," she said, her tone cautious.
