Before stepping through, Ryuzen had made the final adjustment to the dungeon settings — [Hard] difficulty. The monsters inside would be higher in level, deadlier, and far more aggressive. But the rewards, in both experience and loot, would be worth the risk.
The moment the Junior Blood Legion crossed the shimmering threshold, the world shifted.
They emerged into a colossal forest. Towering green trees rose like ancient guardians, their trunks so wide it would take ten men to wrap around them. Thick canopies blotted out most of the sky, letting only scattered shafts of golden light pierce through the leaves.
The air was dense with the scent of fresh soil, wild vegetation, and something else — an undertone of movement, of unseen predators lurking just beyond sight. Every step on the moss-covered ground made a faint crunch, a sound that seemed far too loud in the oppressive stillness.
