The System's hum pulsed in the minds of every survivor across the island, its voice cold and absolute:
[Global Event Notification]
The Crimson Eclipse shall rise in next 6 days.
– During the eclipse, the power of monsters will double.
– Their levels will surge unpredictably.
– New dungeons will emerge across the globe, offering immense rewards and equally immense dangers.
– Survivors are advised: prepare, explore, adapt—or perish.
The message ended, leaving a chill hanging in the evening air. Kane stared at the horizon where the red moon already loomed faintly, its surface cracked with veins of light. The world had been brutal before—soon, it would become monstrous.
Kane gathered his chosen party in the central square before dawn. His eyes swept over them one by one.
Lyra and Lena, the twins, still shaken but with new determination burning in their eyes. Their profession path as Mages had begun, and though they were untrained, he intended to keep them close—protected, yet growing.
Reina, his little sister, sitting cheerfully on a bench with her toys lined up in a row. Innocent and oblivious to the true dangers, but Kane wasn't taking chances. Her toys, animated by mana, were guardians in their own right—the rabbit and the robot especially capable of swelling to massive size when danger demanded.
Maya, sharp-eyed and dependable, always at his side when things grew dire.
Four fighters, the strongest among the survivors, each carefully chosen for their combat level and reliability. They stood straight-backed, ready to prove themselves.
"This is the team," Kane said. "We're heading to the portal that appeared where my mountain once stood. It could hold answers—or nightmares. Either way, we'll face it together."
He knelt briefly beside Reina, brushing her hair back. "Stay close. If I can't reach you, your toys will protect you. That's why they're coming along."
The little girl giggled and hugged her stuffed rabbit, unaware of the seriousness in his tone.
Before setting out, Kane ensured the island would not falter. He convened the council of four:
Amara – calm and calculating, her leadership carried weight.
Selene – quick to act, with instincts sharpened by battle.
Nadia – watchful, pragmatic, always speaking when it mattered most.
Ivy – nurturing yet iron-willed, earning the trust of the survivors.
"All of you are near level 15 now," Kane said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "In my absence, you are the representatives of this island. Coordinate defense, oversee construction, keep morale high. Most importantly—continue the rescue process. Survivors may arrive at the docks in response to my broadcast. Save them. But vet them. Trust no one blindly."
The four women exchanged firm nods.
He added, "The drones will obey your commands. But understand this—if anyone tries to backstab or sabotage the settlement, the drones will override. They'll act to protect you, the survivors, and the island—even if that means executing the traitor on the spot."
The weight of his words lingered, but none argued. They knew betrayal was not a possibility—it was inevitable.
As Kane checked his gear, his thoughts churned. The portal, glowing with unnatural blue light, was a wound on the world. Whatever lay beyond it could be treasure or terror.
But he couldn't ignore it. Not with the eclipse so close.
He looked at his team—at Reina's bright smile, Maya's steady hand on her weapon, the twins clutching each other but refusing to waver, and the hardened fighters standing at attention.
"This won't be easy," Kane muttered under his breath. "But we'll carve the path forward."
The System had issued its warning. The clock was ticking. And Kane was ready to step into the unknown.
The morning fog curled low across the sea, pale and heavy, when Kane's strike team set out from the docks. The island grew smaller behind them until it was a shadow on the horizon, their boat cutting through the still water with a steady hum of the engines.
No one spoke much—each person was locked in their thoughts. The air carried both anticipation and dread.
Maya kept her bow drawn across her lap, eyes sharp and ready. Lena checked the straps of her blades again and again, a ritual for calm. Reina hummed softly as she played with her toys, the rabbit and the robot perched like tiny guardians at her sides. The fighters, hardened but silent, polished their weapons.
Kane stood at the bow, the salt air filling his lungs. His gaze was fixed straight ahead. The portal is waiting.
By midday, they reached the shore near where Kane's mountainside home had once stood. The familiar coastline was warped now—stone shattered, trees leaning at odd angles, the ground scarred by past destruction.
The group disembarked, weapons ready. They entered the forest, its once-tranquil trails overgrown and shadowed. Twisted roots jutted up like skeletal arms, the canopy dimming the sunlight. The deeper they went, the quieter it became—no birds, no insects. Just the crunch of boots on dead leaves.
"Feels like the whole forest is holding its breath," Maya muttered.
Kane nodded but said nothing. He already felt it—a pressure in the air, unnatural, tugging faintly at the mana around them.
After a long hour of weaving through dense undergrowth, they emerged into a clearing that shouldn't have been there.
The mountain that once held Kane's home was gone, ripped away by his own hand when he had reshaped the land to create the island. In its place was a cavern—vast, dark, and thrumming with a faint, otherworldly glow.
From within, faint blue light pulsed, flickering as though alive. Strange markings had begun to etch themselves into the stone walls around the cavern mouth, forming runes that pulsed with the same hue.
The team instinctively tightened their formation. Even Reina stopped humming, clutching her rabbit.
And then—
[Dungeon Discovery!]
Location: Collapsed Cavern Rift
Status: Active Portal Detected
Dominant Monster Types: Goblin Variants, Wolf Mutants
Difficulty Estimate: Tier I Dungeon
Reward Potential: High
The glowing message lingered before their eyes, cold and absolute.
"Goblin and wolf types," Lena read aloud, her lips curling in distaste. "Common in stories. But with what we've seen so far, I doubt they'll be anything close to ordinary."
"They won't," Kane said firmly. His mind replayed the abominations they had already faced—the Flesh Congregant, the mutated swarms. Even a so-called "common" dungeon would not be forgiving.
Kane crouched near the cavern mouth, placing his hand against the cool stone. The portal's energy hummed faintly under his palm, steady as a heartbeat.
He turned to one of the fighters. "You'll stay here."
The man stiffened but nodded. "Orders?"
"Monitor the portal at all times. I'm assigning one of the scout drones to remain stationed with you. If anything emerges—or if hostile creatures approach—you'll signal the alert drone. The entire island will be notified. No hesitation."
The fighter saluted sharply. "Understood."
The drone whirred to life, hovering beside him like a silent sentinel. Its lens flickered with a faint red glow as it locked onto the cavern.
Satisfied, Kane straightened. His team stood behind him, weapons ready, determination etched on their faces.
The blue light of the portal shimmered like water in the dark cavern. Every instinct screamed danger—but also opportunity.
Kane drew in a slow breath. The first step into the unknown.
"Form up," he ordered, his voice low but steady. "We're going in."