The next two weeks at the luxury villa were a whirlwind of intense training, tactical discussions, and an unexpected amount of laughter. Kenji, with the System's constant guidance, pushed himself and his team to their limits.
Every morning began in the villa's state-of-the-art training room. Kenji, leveraging his Spiritual Enhancement (LVL 3), refined his blinding speed, making his movements almost imperceptible. He practiced his Spiritual Manipulation (LVL 5), turning his raw blasts into precise, piercing attacks, and forming more intricate Spiritual Chains (LVL 1) that could bind and disarm with startling efficiency. He even began to experiment with his new A-Rank Combat Skill: Divine Light, learning to channel it into devastating offensive surges.
But the focus wasn't just on individual power. Kenji was determined to make Dawn Breakers a truly cohesive unit.
"Saki, I need you to anticipate our needs," Kenji instructed during one mock combat session, dodging a simulated energy blast. "Don't wait for the order to heal. If Renji takes a hit, you move."
He worked with Yuna on her covering fire, helping her understand optimal angles and spiritual signature detection. With Hiroki, he refined his aggressive charges, teaching him to conserve energy and recognize when to pull back. Goro, the veteran, shared his knowledge of creature weaknesses and dungeon layouts, complementing Kenji's System-enhanced tactical insights.
Their Teamwork skill (LVL 2) visibly improved. They developed non-verbal cues, learned to cover each other's blind spots instinctively, and communicated with a fluidity that impressed even the occasional Academy observers. Kenji's leadership was natural, yet firm, earning him not just respect but genuine trust from his teammates. The former timid boy was steadily becoming a formidable leader.
Aoi, true to her word, became a frequent visitor, ostensibly to "check on their progress" but often lingering to subtly flirt with Kenji or offer strategic advice that subtly hinted at her desire to join their ranks. Kenji found himself enjoying her presence, and his comfort around others grew with each passing day.
The Call from the Upper Circle
Two weeks to the day after their Dungeon Gamma-7 triumph, the quiet hum of the villa was broken by an urgent communication from the Academy's Upper Class Academy Covenant – the elite council of the highest-ranked fighters and strategists.
A holographic projection of Headmaster Sato materialized in their living room, his face grim.
"Dawn Breakers," he began, his voice devoid of his usual warmth, "we have an urgent situation. An A-Rank Dungeon known as 'Death's Doorstep' is on the verge of a Dungeon Break."
A collective gasp went through the team. A Dungeon Break meant the Dungeon's core was destabilizing, threatening to unleash its entire demonic population directly into the human world. It was a catastrophe scenario.
"This Dungeon is notorious," the Headmaster continued, his gaze specifically settling on Kenji. "Its boss has already claimed over 14 different teams, Kenji. Including one from our Upper Circle just last month." His voice dropped, a heavy weight of expectation in his tone. "However, the Covenant and I have faith. We trust that Kenji and his team can get it done."
The weight of the mission settled heavily on them. An A-Rank Dungeon on the verge of breaking. A boss that had annihilated 14 teams. The rewards and money for pulling this off would be astronomical, far more than they'd ever conceived. But the risk was just as immense.
"Prepare yourselves," the Headmaster concluded. "A hovercraft will pick you up in thirty minutes."
Death's Doorstep: A Grim Welcome
Thirty minutes later, the sleek, black hovercraft settled silently onto the villa's landing pad. Kenji and the Dawn Breakers, clad in their reinforced Academy combat gear, boarded. The atmosphere inside was tense, a stark contrast to their usual easy banter.
The hovercraft journey was brief, taking them to the outskirts of an old, abandoned industrial district. As they descended, a vast, weary cemetery came into view, stretching into the moonlit distance. Crumbling tombstones leaned at impossible angles, ancient trees with gnarled branches clawed at the sky, and a chilling mist snaked through the graves.
Even Hiroki, usually boisterous, was subdued. Saki looked visibly unnerved. Goro, the veteran, pulled his collar tighter, a shiver running down his spine. "Death's Doorstep," he murmured, his voice tight. "This place… it always felt wrong. Even before the Dungeon appeared."
As Kenji stepped off the hovercraft, his feet sinking slightly into the damp, cold earth, a profound sense of unease settled over him. It wasn't just the chill of the cemetery. It was a spiritual pressure, an ancient, malevolent presence that seemed to leech the warmth from the air itself. It was far more intense than anything he'd ever felt before.
He looked towards the Dungeon entrance, a swirling vortex of deep purple and sickly green energy at the heart of the cemetery, emanating a faint, mournful wail.
Just as he was about to give the order to advance, a chilling, disembodied voice echoed in his mind, audible to only Kenji. It was the System, but unlike its usual calm, analytical tone, this warning was gravely serious, laced with a sense of immense danger.
[WARNING: SPIRITUAL DEITY LURKS INSIDE.]
[S-RANKED BOSS DETECTED. BEWARE: IT IS ABLE TO HIDE ITS RANK.]
[CRITICAL MISSION PARAMETER: IF HOST IS ABLE TO DEFEAT THIS DUNGEON WITH TWO PARTY MEMBERS ALIVE, HOST WILL GET 10 SKILL POINTS AND ONE NEW SKILL.]
[HOST WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP EVERYONE ALIVE.]
[GOOD LUCK.]
The final words resonated with a cold, terrifying finality. Not "everyone," but "two party members alive." The System, for the first time, was telling him that sacrifice was inevitable.
Kenji's eyes hardened. He looked at his team, their faces drawn but determined. He had to protect them. All of them. He refused to believe the System's grim prophecy.
"Let's go," Kenji said, his voice firm, masking the chilling dread that now coiled in his stomach. He would defy the odds. He would save them all.