The sun had not yet risen.
The world was still quiet, as if holding its breath.
In the forest outside the city, the ground trembled lightly.
A new dungeon gate hnew dungeon gate ad appeared.
It was smaller than the one before—but it pulsed with danger.
Its surface looked like a pool of dark liquid standing upright in the air. Cold wind blew from it, carrying the scent of rust and stone.
And standing in front of it, heart racing, was Rin.
Her hands were covered in thin gloves.
Her backpack carried water, bandages, and a few tools.
But her strongest weapon was not in her bag.
It was inside her.
The Spark.
Behind her stood Eon, arms crossed, face calm.
"This is your first real dungeon," he said. "Are you ready?"
Rin swallowed. "As ready as I can be."
Eon nodded. "Good. This gate is weak. It won't hold more than three hours before collapsing."
"Will it trap me inside?"
"No. But if you stay too long, the energy inside could break your body apart."
Rin blinked. "Oh. Cool."
He smiled faintly. "Don't worry. You're stronger than you think."
She nodded and looked at the gate again.
It shimmered like a mirror made of ink.
"I go in alone?"
Eon shook his head. "Not yet. I'll follow. But I won't help unless you're truly in danger."
"Thanks for the pressure."
"You'll thank me later."
They stepped through the gate.
The dungeon was cold.
Not freezing, but cold in a strange way—like walking into an old memory.
The air felt heavy.
Rin looked around.
They stood in a stone tunnel lit by faint red crystals on the walls.
Strange symbols lined the ground.
The deeper they walked, the darker it became.
The silence wasn't natural.
Even her footsteps were quiet.
Rin kept her flame low, just enough to light the way.
"Why is it so quiet?" she whispered.
Eon answered softly, "This dungeon is from the Echo Layer."
"What's that?"
"A forgotten place. It feeds on silence and fear. Creatures here are blind—but they listen."
Rin froze.
She stopped breathing for a moment.
"So I shouldn't make a sound?"
Eon nodded.
She gulped.
They moved carefully.
Rin stepped lightly.
Every breath she took felt loud.
She passed strange carvings on the walls. Shapes of creatures with wide mouths and no eyes. She wanted to ask more, but stayed quiet.
Then she heard it.
A click.
Something was moving.
She crouched behind a pillar.
A creature crept into view.
It looked like a spider—but longer.
Its body was made of smooth bone. Its limbs scraped against the stone.
It had no eyes.
But it turned its head slowly.
Listening.
Rin held her breath.
The creature moved closer.
Her heart pounded.
The Spark inside her began to stir.
But she remembered Eon's words.
"Control it. Don't let fear guide your flame."
She slowly raised one hand.
Her fingers glowed faintly.
The creature stopped.
It twitched.
Its head turned.
She pressed her hand to the floor.
Fire flowed silently like a ribbon.
It circled the creature's legs.
Then—she tightened her fist.
The fire flared.
The creature collapsed.
No scream. No sound.
It was over.
Eon stepped from the shadows.
He looked pleased.
"You stayed calm."
"I was terrified."
"You used fear to focus. That's good."
"I killed it."
"You survived."
Rin looked at the ashes.
"I don't feel good."
"You shouldn't," Eon said. "That means your heart is still human."
She nodded slowly.
Then took another step forward.
The next room was larger.
A stone arena.
Six pillars. No ceiling. Just black above.
And in the center…
A chest.
Rin raised an eyebrow.
"That's… easy."
Eon smiled. "That means it's not."
She walked toward it.
As she stepped onto the platform, the air shifted.
The pillars cracked.
And from above, three more creatures dropped.
Larger than before.
Their limbs were blades.
Their bodies shimmered with strange armor.
And they didn't wait.
They charged.
Rin moved fast.
Flames danced in her hands.
She dodged the first creature, rolled, and sent a blast of fire to the second.
It hit, but not hard enough.
The third slashed her side.
Her shirt ripped. Skin burned.
She hissed—but didn't fall.
Instead, she turned and screamed.
"ENOUGH!"
The fire surged from her chest.
It wasn't wild.
It was sharp.
Precise.
The first creature burst into dust.
The second followed, legs burning as it screeched.
The third leapt—
But Eon appeared beside her, caught it midair, and crushed it in one hand.
He let the ashes fall.
"Not bad," he said.
"You said you wouldn't help," she groaned.
"You were bleeding. I stepped in."
She touched her side.
The wound was shallow.
The flame was already closing it.
Eon helped her stand.
"You fought well," he said.
"I panicked."
"And still won. That's more than most."
They walked to the chest.
Rin opened it carefully.
Inside was a glowing shard.
It pulsed with warmth.
"A Fragment?" she asked.
"Yes," Eon said. "Dungeon essence. Rare. It boosts the Spark inside you."
She held it close.
The flame inside her pulsed in response.
She smiled.
"I'm getting stronger."
They exited the dungeon through a light portal at the end of the tunnel.
Outside, the sun had finally risen.
Birds sang.
The wind was soft.
Rin fell to the ground and lay in the grass.
"Let me stay here forever."
"You survived your first dive."
"Barely."
"You learned quickly."
She looked at him.
"You really think I can become strong like you?"
"No," he said.
Her face fell.
Then he smiled.
"I think you'll become stronger."
Rin stared at the sky.
The clouds passed slowly.
"I've never felt so alive."
"That's because you've started listening to your fire."
She sat up.
"Will the dungeons get harder?"
"Yes."
"Will the Conquerors come again?"
"Yes."
She looked at her hands.
Her flame danced softly on her fingertips.
"Then I'll be ready."
Far above them, hidden in the clouds…
A shadow moved.
Watching.
Waiting.
A Whisper assassin, sent by the Conquerors.
It vanished into the air.
But not before whispering two words:
"She awakens."