The moment they stepped into the dungeon, everything changed.
The air thickened. The walls closed in. The portal behind them flared a dangerous red—and then vanished.
> "Warning: Dungeon classified as A-Rank."
Rai's heart sank.
Mina froze.
Far away in the village, alarms blared.
Uncle Baren, who had just returned from training drills, heard the news first.
> "WHAT?! That gate was marked E-Rank!"
He ran toward the guildhall, his voice thundering.
> "That's my daughter and my boy in there! Open that damn door—NOW!"
---
Inside the Dungeon
Mina and Rai stood still, hearts racing.
> "Rai…" she whispered, "I think we're trapped."
He nodded slowly, jaw tight.
> "Don't worry. I'll protect you—"
> "We'll protect each other," she corrected, stepping forward.
Even as fear crept into her voice, Mina didn't back down. She gripped her short blade tighter, eyes locked forward.
> Brave heart, Rai thought. Even when she's scared, she's stronger than me...
---
First Blood
From the darkness, shadowy creatures emerged. Small. Fast. Hissing like snakes.
Low-level scouts.
Mina didn't flinch. She dashed forward—graceful, fluid, deadly.
> Water and wind wrapped around her like dancing spirits.
She sliced the first monster cleanly, twisted, and froze the second with a blast of icy wind.
> "That's two down," she said, panting.
Rai stood frozen.
> "I… I don't have anything to fight with."
He clenched his fists. His heart thundered. His body refused to to move.
> Why now? Why haven't I awakened yet?
---
Hours Later...
Their bodies ached. Cuts and bruises painted their skin. Their legs trembled with exhaustion.
They had cleared half the dungeon.
No sign of the end.
No food. No rest. No mercy.
Mina collapsed to her knees. "Just… five minutes," she breathed.
Rai sat beside her, ashamed. "You did everything. I'm sorry."
She smiled through the pain. "We're alive. That's enough."
He stared at her—this girl who shined even in darkness. And deep in his chest, something stirred. Faint… but rising.
> Is it power? Or is it... something else?
---
In the Shadows...
High above, deep within the dungeon's core, something ancient stirred.
A giant throne. A dark presence. A pair of glowing violet eyes narrowed as it watched through a misty mirror.
> "The girl… she's awakened already."
> "But the boy…"
A grin stretched across a monstrous face.
> "He's still afraid. Still… incomplete."
> "And yet—why do I feel it?"
> "Why does something inside him tremble with more power than even she possesses?"
The Dungeon King leaned forward, hungry with curiosity.
> "Interesting…"
---
End of Chapter 4
Who is watching them from the shadows?
Will Rai awaken before it's too late?
And why… does the Dungeon King fear him most of all?