'...Mira.' Nael held his breath. '...She's changed so much.'
She was no longer in her academy robes or usual clothes. She wore tailored combat leathers in a deep midnight blue, etched with subtle silver patterns that caught the light. A delicate golden circlet rested on her brow, making her stand out among everyone.
"Whoa! She's so beautiful!"
"She really does look like a princess now!"
Her silver hair was tied back in a practical braid. She looked every inch the Legendary-class Sun Princess(except the hair color), a world apart from the nervous girl she'd been just yesterday.
"Welcome~ Welcome~"
Instructors from the examination committee hurried forward to greet them, their demeanor respectful and deferential. They were clearly not meant to wait in line or ride in wagons.
"Look! It's the Sun Princess!"
"And Brennon's team! They all have Epic classes!"
The murmurs around Nael intensified, now filled with awe and envy.
"They got a griffon escort... must be nice."
"Are they taking the exam too? That's not fair!"
Nael didn't join the whispers. He just watched, his face a neutral mask. He saw Mira glance over the crowd, her new, sun-touched eyes scanning the faces.
For a heart-stopping second, he thought her gaze might have lingered on him, but it passed over without recognition, moving on to assess the dungeon entrance.
'...'
Even though he had steeled his heart and resolved himself, a faint, bitter ache still lingered in his chest. Seeing her there, so effortlessly transformed and surrounded by her new, powerful 'friends', was a stark reminder of the chasm that now lay between them.
'No, I need focus.' Nael shook his head a few times, took a deep breath, and forcefully shifted his focus.
Just then, a senior instructor with a voice amplified by a minor enchantment stepped onto a small raised platform, calling for silence.
"Listen up, all of you!" his voice boomed across the field, instantly quelling the chatter. "The Howling Caves await. This is your entrance exam, your first true test as Awakened. The rules are simple: you have three days. Reach Level 10 within that time, and you pass. Your temporary arconometers will track your progress and maintain a basic map of your explored areas."
Nael listened intently, his analytical mind cataloging every word.
"The dungeon is segmented into sectors," the instructor continued. "The outer caves are filled with weaker creatures: Rock-Tails and Gloom-Bats. Ideal for finding your footing. Deeper in, the tunnels branch into more dangerous territory. Cave Weavers, Shrieking Terrors, and worse. Do not overestimate your capabilities."
A grim seriousness settled over the crowd.
"This is not a game," the instructor's voice hardened. "The monsters are real. They will not hold back. If you die in there, you are dead. Party leaders, you are responsible for your members. Solo delvers..." His eyes seemed to sweep over the few who stood alone, including Nael. "...your survival is your own responsibility. If you find yourself overwhelmed, retreat. There is no shame in living to fight another day. The goal is to reach Level 10, not to become a hero on the first day."
Nael nodded to himself. They were already taught about it in the lyceum.
Efficiency and safety were his goals as well, while his plan involved meticulously grinding in the outer sectors to avoid risks rather than seeking glory.
"Now," the instructor said, his tone shifting to one of ceremony. "To represent the bright future and hope of Aethelgard, our city's newest Legendary class and her team will have the honor of being the first to enter!"
All eyes turned to Mira's group.
"Sun Princess, whenever you are ready."
Brennon puffed out his chest, and with a confident wave, he led his team of Epic-class elites toward the archway. Mira followed a step behind, giving a feeling of a princess being escorted by her guardians.
"Whoa!"
Their team didn't even break stride as they passed through the shimmering barrier of the entrance and vanished into the darkness beyond.
A moment of awed silence was followed by a surge of movement as the rest of the examinees, now officially cleared to begin, started streaming toward the entrance in a less organized mass.
Nael didn't rush; instead, he waited for the initial crowd to thin, his eyes fixed on the spot where Mira had disappeared.
'Now's the time.'
Finally, when the crowd had diminished to a trickle, Nael moved. He approached the shimmering archway. After taking one last look at the overcast sky, he stepped through.
A strange, disorienting sensation washed over him, like being pulled through a sheet of cold water. The world twisted and blurred for an instant before snapping back into focus.
"Huff..." He quickly straightened up, observing his surroundings.
The bustling staging area was gone. He was in a dim, rocky tunnel, the only light coming from faintly glowing moss on the walls and the blue interface of his temporary arconometer flickering to life on his wrist. The air was cool and carried the damp, earthy smell of stone and something else... something metallic and wild.
'A spatial translocation effect,' Nael realized, his mind latching onto the logical explanation. The entrance portal didn't just lead in; it randomly distributed entrants across the safer, outer sectors of the dungeon. It was an efficient way to prevent immediate overcrowding and fighting over monsters.
'Perfect!'
He could now hunt without competing for targets, exactly what he needed for a solo delve.
Tap... Tap...
He moved cautiously, his footsteps quiet on the stone floor. He held the quarterstaff at the ready, his senses straining against the oppressive silence, broken only by the distant, echoing drip of water.
Soon, he heard it... a skittering, scratching sound. Peering around a rocky outcrop, he saw his first monsters: a pack of five Rock-Tails.
They were low, reptilian creatures with tough, grey hide and a club-like bony protrusion on the end of their tails. They were gnawing on patches of the glowing moss.
Five was too many. Engaging them would be suicide. He backed away silently, recalling the info about them.
[Rock-Tails]
[Level: 1-3]
[Status: Common Dungeon Vermins]
[Note: Low threat individually. Aggressive in groups. Weak spot: eyes and underbelly.]
And their tails were their strongest weapon, but also their biggest blind spot. Their attack pattern was a simple lunge followed by a tail whip. But if you got hit, it could injure you pretty badly, and you would be at its mercy. And monsters don't show mercy, at least the ones in the dungeons.
He moved away silently, continuing his search. After a few minutes of navigating the winding tunnels, he found a lone Rock-Tail scavenging in a side passage.
'...'
Nael positioned himself between the creature and the tunnel exit, then kicked a loose pebble against the far wall.
Clack.
The sharp crack echoed through the passage.
The Rock-Tail's head snapped up immediately, its beady eyes scanning for the source of the sound. When it spotted Nael blocking its path, it let out a threatening hiss and charged without hesitation.
The creature moved exactly as his research had indicated, a straightforward lunge aimed at his legs, trying to knock him down before finishing him with its tail.
'...Wait.'
Nael forced himself to stand his ground until the last possible second, his muscles coiled with tension.
'Now!' At the critical moment, he sidestepped smoothly to his right, letting the creature's momentum carry it past him.
The Rock-Tail skidded on the smooth stone as it tried to halt its charge and began to pivot for its signature tail whip. But he was already in motion.
He thrust the iron-shod end of his quarterstaff like a spear, aiming for the creature's front legs. The blow connected with a solid thud, the impact jarring up his arms as the staff struck scale and muscle. The Rock-Tail stumbled, its pivot disrupted, and its tail whip went wide, slapping harmlessly against the cavern wall with a wet smack.
Before the creature could recover its balance, Nael stepped in close and drove the other end of his quarterstaff straight down into its exposed underbelly, putting his full weight behind the strike.
The Rock-Tail let out a choked, gurgling shriek as the staff punched into its soft underside. It thrashed weakly, but the fight was already leaving it.
Nael didn't hesitate.
He pulled back and struck again, and again, gritting his teeth against the jarring impacts and the creature's pained cries. He reminded himself to be decisive. Mercy would only get him killed.
[ Ding! ]
After the seventh strike, the Rock-Tail went still.
"...Huff... Huff."
[ Rock-Tail defeated: +10 Essence ]
'...I did it.'