The D-Rank dungeon's cavernous depths reverberated with the steady drip of water and the faint skitter of wyrm scales as Leo trailed behind Torin, Kael, and Lin. The air hung heavy with a violet mana haze, clinging to the jagged stone walls that glistened with moisture. The raid had unfolded with surprising ease so far. Torin, the burly C-Class leader, unleashed torrents of fire that scorched the lesser wyrms into ash, his tattooed forearm glowing with each blast. Kael, the wiry E-Class with a nervous tic, darted through the shadows, his dagger flashing to dispatch stragglers with surgical precision. Lin, the silent D-Class, wielded mana-gloves that hummed with a protective aura, deflecting stray claws and keeping the team shielded. Leo, clutching his expired hunter card, stayed at the rear as ordered, his role limited to hauling supplies and watching in awe. The ring in his pocket pulsed with a warm, steady rhythm, a secret comfort he hadn't dared explore. For once, he felt like part of something—until they reached the boss chamber.
The cavern opened into a vast hall, its ceiling lost in shadow. At its center loomed the boss: a hulking wyrm with spines glowing like molten lava, its roar shaking the ground and sending pebbles cascading. Torin took the lead, his fire roaring to life, while Kael flanked and Lin raised her shields. The fight was over in minutes. The wyrm thrashed, spewing acid that Lin deflected, but Torin's final blast seared its chest, and it collapsed with a shuddering groan. Its core, a fist-sized orb pulsing with faint light, rolled to the ground.
"Clean work," Torin said, wiping sweat from his scarred face with a grin. "Let's grab the core and head out. Gate's that way."
As they turned toward the exit, a low, ominous hum filled the air. The cavern floor glowed with an eerie light, and a mana-screen materialized before them, its text sharp and urgent: Secret Mission Unlocked. Hidden Boss Detected. Accept to Face the Shadow Wyrm King? Rewards: 5000 points, rare mana crystal. Decline to Exit. The team froze, their breaths visible in the mana-charged mist.
"Five thousand points?" Kael whistled, his eyes gleaming. "That's a year's rent in the Low District. And a crystal? We could sell it or boost someone's rank—maybe even hit C-Class."
Lin nodded, adjusting her glowing gloves. "We handled the regular boss like it was nothing. This could be our big break."
Torin's grin widened, his cockiness flaring. "We're on a roll, lads. Let's do it. Leo, stay sharp—might need you to haul the loot if we pull this off."
Leo hesitated, the ring's warmth urging him forward, its pulse quickening. He thought of his expired card, his fading dream, and the voice from his dream promising power. "Okay," he said softly. "One last fight." They accepted the mission, and the cavern rumbled violently. The exit sealed with a grinding crash, trapping them inside. From the shadows emerged the Hidden Boss—a towering Shadow Wyrm King, its scales black as midnight, eyes glowing with a malevolent crimson light. Its presence crushed the air, a suffocating weight that made Leo's knees buckle. This wasn't D-Rank. Maybe B-Rank, he realized with a sinking heart—far beyond their league.
That was a mistake.
The wyrm lunged with terrifying speed, its claws raking Lin's shield. The mana-gloves flared, but the force sent her crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch, her groan fading into silence. "Lin!" Kael shouted, darting forward, but the beast's tail whipped around, catching him mid-step. The impact snapped his dagger and flung him against a stalagmite, his body crumpling with a wet thud. Blood pooled beneath him, his eyes staring blankly.
"Fall back!" Torin roared, unleashing a firestorm that splashed harmlessly against the wyrm's scales. The beast snarled, its jaws snapping down to clamp around Torin's leg. With a brutal twist, it tore him free, his screams echoing as it shook him like a ragdoll before slamming him into the ground. His fire tattoo dimmed, and he lay still, chest heaving once before stopping.
Leo stumbled backward, his breath ragged, heart pounding in his ears. The ring's pulse was a frantic drumbeat now, but fear paralyzed him. The Shadow Wyrm King turned its glowing eyes on him, its maw dripping with Torin's blood. This wasn't a fight—it was a slaughter. The team's arrogance had led them here, and now they were paying the price. Leo's legs trembled as he pressed against the cold stone wall, his mind racing. He was next. A blank with an expired card, no weapons, no mana—just a ring he didn't understand.
"Please," he whispered, eyes squeezing shut. "Someone… anyone… help me." It was a prayer, desperate and directionless, born from the terror clawing at his chest. The wyrm advanced, its claws scraping the floor, each step a death knell. Leo's thoughts spiraled to the Guild shelter, the hunger of the Low District, Mira's warnings. He'd wanted to be a hunter, to rise above nothing, but this was his end. The ring's warmth flared, and he clutched it through his pocket, tears streaking his face. "Please," he begged again, voice breaking.
The wyrm reared back, its roar shaking the cavern, and Leo braced for the strike. But then, a strange sensation washed over him—a surge of energy from the ring, foreign and wild. His body moved on instinct, dodging as the wyrm's claw slashed where he'd stood. He stumbled, confused, as the ring's pulse synced with his heartbeat. He starts to run.