Light.
Not the blue glow of the system. Not torchlight.
Real light.
Riven stopped so abruptly Kael nearly ran into him. Ahead, the corridor widened—and at the far end, stone stairs spiraled upward toward a cracked opening glowing with daylight.
"The exit," Riven whispered.
Kael exhaled slowly. He hadn't realized how tightly his chest had been locked until that moment.
"Not alone," Riven added.
Kael's eyes sharpened. "How many?"
"…Four. Hunters. Stronger than us."
Kael swore under his breath.
As they climbed, voices drifted down the passage—laughing, relaxed, careless.
"…told you this dungeon was picked clean."
"Still can't believe they bring porters in here."
Riven's jaw tightened.
Kael held up a hand. "Let me handle this."
They stepped into the light.
Four hunters stood near the dungeon gate, armor intact, weapons clean. C-rank at least. One of them turned, eyes flicking over Kael and Riven with mild surprise.
"…You two made it out?"
Another laughed. "Didn't think anyone fell down there and lived."
Kael said nothing.
Riven's Danger Sense pulsed—steady, controlled. Not fear. Awareness.
One of the hunters frowned. "Where's the rest of your party?"
"Gone," Kael said flatly.
"Figures." The man shrugged. "Dungeon's closing soon. Move aside."
Kael didn't.
The air shifted.
Riven felt it—pressure, intent, the sharp edge of possible violence. His grip tightened on his spear without thinking.
Kael met the hunter's eyes.
"You left me to die," he said quietly.
The hunter scoffed. "You were an F-rank. That's not dying. That's expected."
For a moment, Kael considered creating a quest.
Kneel.Regret.
He didn't.
Not yet.
Instead, he stepped aside.
"Go," Kael said.
The hunters hesitated, then laughed and passed them, disappearing into the dungeon.
Riven stared after them. "You could've—"
"I know," Kael said. "Later."
The dungeon gate rumbled.
A final roar echoed from deep within before stone sealed shut.
Silence followed.
Riven let out a shaky breath. "We're alive."
Kael looked at his hands.
At the knife.
At the world beyond the dungeon.
"No," he said softly. "We're just starting."