The golden light faded, and Raven's feet touched familiar crystalline grass. They'd materialized in the same clearing where they'd first entered the beta realm—the safe zone just outside Maple's Blaze. The Eternal Flame Tree was visible in the distance, its perpetual fire casting dancing shadows even in the afternoon light.
But something felt different.
"Look at the gates," Axel said quietly.
The settlement's entrance had changed. Where before there had been two guards casually checking arrivals, now there were six—three on each side, all armed and alert. A wooden barrier had been erected, creating a checkpoint system. People lined up to enter, being processed one at a time with deliberate thoroughness.
More concerning was the signage. Large wooden boards flanked the gates, painted with clear, harsh lettering:
STRANGERS: MANDATORY REGISTRATION
WEAPON CHECK REQUIRED
CURFEW: 10 PM - 6 AM
VIOLATION = EXPULSION
"Well," Ava said, her voice tight, "that's new."
They approached the gates, joining the line of awakened waiting to enter. Raven recognized the same mix they'd seen before—mostly Strangers like themselves, but now their body language was different. Defensive. Wary. Several kept hands near weapons, watching the guards with barely concealed hostility.
When they reached the checkpoint, the lead guard—a broad-shouldered woman with a scar running down her left cheek—examined them with professional suspicion. Her hand rested casually on a sword hilt that looked well-used.
"Names and purpose," she demanded.
"Raven, Ava, and Axel," Raven said, keeping his tone respectful. "We were here three days ago, escorted Effel Thornheart and her brother back safely. We're returning to trade and hunt."
The guard's expression shifted slightly at Effel's name. Not friendlier, exactly, but more cautious. "Thornheart sponsorship?"
"Yes."
She made a note on a wooden clipboard. "Ranks?"
"All A-rank," Raven lied smoothly.
The guard pulled out that same scanning device they'd seen at the Exchange in Queen's, waving it over each of them. It beeped confirmations, though Raven wondered what exactly it was reading. Could it detect his true EX rank? Apparently not, because the guard just nodded.
"Weapons visible at all times within settlement walls. No aggressive magic use. No theft, violence, or intimidation of natives. Strangers caught violating curfew will be detained. Three violations and you're permanently banned." She handed them each a small wooden token, stamped with today's date. "These expire in seven days. You'll need to renew or leave."
"What happened?" Ava asked. "Three days ago, this place was welcoming."
The guard's expression hardened. "Three days ago, we hadn't had five incidents of Strangers attacking natives for their possessions. Hadn't had two families robbed at knifepoint. Hadn't had a Stranger use fire magic to burn down Old Man Gerald's workshop because he wouldn't give a discount." She leaned forward slightly. "You want to know what happened? Your people happened. Some of you are fine. Most of you think power means you can do whatever you want. So now we have rules."
She waved them through before they could respond.
Inside the settlement, the change was even more obvious. The streets were divided now—literally. A painted yellow line ran down the center of the main thoroughfare, with wooden signs indicating "NATIVE SIDE" and "STRANGER SIDE." Most people were respecting the division, natives clustering on the left, Strangers on the right, both groups watching each other with varying degrees of suspicion or hostility.
Some shops had changed their signs:
"NATIVES ONLY - NO EXCEPTIONS"
"STRANGERS: DOUBLE PRICE FOR GOODS"
"NO STRANGERS AFTER DARK"
Other shops had taken the opposite approach:
"STRANGERS WELCOME - FAIR PRICES"
"WE SERVE EVERYONE"
"POWER DOESN'T INTIMIDATE US"
"This is depressing," Axel said, watching a group of Strangers loudly argue with a shopkeeper who was refusing them service. "We've been here less than a week and we've already ruined everything."
"Not we," Ava corrected firmly. "Them. The assholes who think power makes them special. We're not like that."
"Try telling that to them," Raven said, nodding toward a group of native children who were watching them pass with wide, frightened eyes. One mother pulled her child closer, whispering something that made the girl shrink back further.
They made their way toward Effel's home, navigating streets that felt hostile in ways they hadn't before. Several times, they passed scenes that made Raven's jaw clench—Strangers throwing their weight around, demanding service or discounts, using their ranks as intimidation. Each incident reinforced why the natives had implemented such harsh restrictions.
When they reached Effel's house, they found a small crowd gathered outside. Not threatening, exactly, but definitely interested. Mostly Strangers, Raven noticed, ranging from teenagers to adults in their thirties. They were talking quietly, some checking invisible status screens, others discussing strategy or trading information.
"What's going on?" Ava asked one of them, a young man who looked about twenty.
"Waiting to see if Effel's taking anyone else on," he said eagerly. "She's apparently got connections to Settlement Leader Magnus. She's his great-niece or something. If she vouches for you, you get special treatment—no curfew, better trading rates, access to restricted hunting grounds."
"She's not a ticket to special privileges," Raven said, his tone sharper than intended. "She's a person."
The young man shrugged. "Person with connections. Same difference in this place."
Raven pushed past him, approaching the door. Before he could knock, it opened, and Effel's father stood there, his expression weary but brightening slightly when he recognized them.
"Raven! And your friends. Come in, quickly."
He ushered them inside and closed the door firmly, shutting out the murmurs of the crowd. The interior of the house was the same as before—warm, welcoming, filled with the smell of cooking food. But there was tension in the air now, something that hadn't been there during their first visit.
Effel appeared from the kitchen, her face lighting up when she saw them. "You came back!"
"We said we would," Raven replied. "Though I wasn't expecting... all that." He gestured vaguely toward the door and the crowd beyond.
Effel's expression clouded. "It's been like that for two days now. Ever since word got out that I'm related to Uncle Magnus. Strangers keep showing up, asking for introductions, wanting me to vouch for them, offering gold for 'connections.'" She looked exhausted. "I can't even go to the market anymore without being followed."
"That's awful," Ava said sympathetically. "Is there anything we can do?"
"Actually, yes." Effel glanced at her father, who nodded encouragingly. "I was hoping you'd come back. I wanted to repay you properly for saving our lives, and I thought... well, I could guide you. Show you the best hunting grounds, introduce you to the Iron Depths Dungeon. It's the most popular hunting spot for Strangers right now—safe enough for beginners but challenging enough to provide real growth."
"The Iron Depths?" Axel asked.
"It's a Rank 1 dungeon about two hours north of here. Three floors, each progressively harder. The first floor is mostly Rabid Horned Rabbits—Rank 1 Low-tier monsters. Easy enough for parties to handle safely, but they spawn continuously, so you can level up quickly." She looked between them. "I go there regularly to harvest alchemical ingredients. The dungeon has plants and minerals you can't find anywhere else. If you're willing to let me gather while you hunt, I'll guide you there and handle all the monster corpse harvesting. Plus, I can show you the safe routes, the best camping spots, all the things you'd need days to figure out on your own."
Raven exchanged glances with Ava and Axel. It was a good offer—more than good. Effel's knowledge would save them time and probably prevent them from making costly mistakes. And having an alchemist in their party, even temporarily, could be valuable.
But he saw something flicker in Ava's expression. Something complicated.
"That sounds great," Ava said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Having a local guide would definitely help."
"Then it's settled," Effel said, relief evident in her voice. "We should leave soon though. The dungeon gets crowded in the afternoons, and it's better to arrive early before all the good camping spots are taken."
"Camping spots?" Raven asked.
"The safe zones inside the dungeon," Effel explained. "They're scattered throughout the floors—areas where monsters can't enter and you can rest safely. But space is limited, and parties claim them on a first-come basis. If we don't hurry, we might end up sleeping in a corridor."
"That sounds unpleasant," Axel said. "Let's move."
They spent the next twenty minutes gathering supplies. Effel had clearly been preparing—she had a pack already filled with alchemical equipment, collection vials, and a small camping kit. Her parents provided food for the journey, despite Raven's protests that they could purchase their own.
"You saved our daughter," Effel's mother said firmly, pressing wrapped bundles into each of their hands. "The least we can do is feed you properly."
When they finally left the house, the crowd had grown. At least twenty Strangers now waited outside, some calling out questions or offers the moment Effel appeared.
"Is it true you can get us audience with the Settlement Leader?"
"I'll pay fifty gold for an introduction!"
"Effel! I just need five minutes of your time!"
Effel's father stepped forward, his voice carrying surprising authority. "My daughter is leaving to hunt. She will not be conducting business, accepting offers, or making introductions. If you continue to harass her, I will report you to the guards for intimidation. Disperse. Now."
The crowd grumbled but began to break up, though several Strangers continued to follow at a distance as they made their way through the settlement.
"I'm sorry," Effel said quietly to Raven. "This is humiliating."
"It's not your fault," Raven replied. "People are desperate for advantages. They see you as a shortcut."
"Uncle Magnus is furious about it. He's considering publicly denying any special treatment for people I vouch for, just to stop the harassment. But that would also impact people I genuinely want to help, like you."
They reached the northern gates, where a different set of guards processed them for departure. These guards were less suspicious—people leaving the settlement were less of a concern than people entering. They checked the tokens and waved the party through without incident.
The moment they passed beyond the settlement walls, the atmosphere changed. The tension faded, replaced by the wild beauty of the beta realm. Crystal trees caught the light, glowing mushrooms dotted the underbrush, and the air carried that same charged quality that made everything feel more vivid, more real.
Effel visibly relaxed, her shoulders loosening as they moved deeper into the forest. "This is better. Out here, I'm just another alchemist gathering materials. No crowds, no expectations."
"Just monsters trying to kill us," Axel added cheerfully.
"Well, yes. But at least monsters are honest about their intentions."
They traveled north, following paths that were clearly well-established. Other parties moved through the forest as well—small groups of Strangers, usually three to five people, all heading in roughly the same direction. Some called out greetings, others ignored them entirely, too focused on their own objectives.
Effel proved invaluable as a guide. She pointed out safe routes, identified dangerous plants, and warned them away from territories claimed by particularly nasty monsters.
"See that grove with the purple mist?" she said, indicating an area off to their left. "Shadow Stalkers nest there. Rank 2 monsters that hunt in packs. Even experienced parties avoid them."
"Noted," Raven said, giving the grove a wide berth.
As they walked, Raven found himself beside Effel, naturally falling into conversation. She had fascinating insights about the beta realm, explaining things that the Strangers were only beginning to discover.
"The realm is old," she said, ducking under a low-hanging branch. "Our oldest records go back a thousand years, but there are ruins that predate any written history. Some scholars think this place existed long before humans arrived, built by something else entirely."
"Do you know what?" Raven asked, genuinely curious.
"No one does. Just that whatever built the dungeons and created the monsters was powerful beyond imagining. And possibly not entirely gone."
A few paces behind them, Ava was walking with Axel, but Raven could feel her attention on him and Effel. He tried to include her in the conversation several times, calling back questions or observations, but Ava's responses were clipped, her focus seemingly on the surrounding forest rather than the discussion.
Axel, perceptive as always, gave Raven a knowing look that clearly said, You're in trouble, mate.
After two hours of steady hiking, avoiding or dispatching the occasional lone monster that got too close, they crested a ridge and Effel pointed ahead.
"There. The Iron Depths."
The dungeon entrance was impossible to miss. A massive stone archway stood in the middle of a cleared area, at least thirty feet tall and carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and flow when you looked at them directly. The arch framed pure darkness—not shadow, but absolute void that seemed to drink in light.
Around the entrance, dozens of parties had set up temporary camps. Tents dotted the clearing, campfires burned, and the sound of sharpening weapons and casual conversation filled the air. It looked less like a dungeon entrance and more like a military encampment.
A wooden sign had been erected near the arch:
IRON DEPTHS DUNGEON
RANK 1 DIFFICULTY
FLOOR 1: RABID HORNED RABBITS
FLOOR 2: STONE WOLVES
FLOOR 3: ARMORED BEARS
BOSS: ARMORED BEAR ALPHA
RECOMMENDED PARTY SIZE: 3-5
SOLO ENTRY AT OWN RISK
"Popular place," Axel observed, watching two parties argue over whose turn it was to enter.
"The most popular beginner dungeon in the territory," Effel confirmed. "Safe enough that people rarely die, but challenging enough to provide real experience. Plus, the monster drops are valuable. A single day of hunting here can earn a party twenty to thirty gold coins, sometimes more if you're lucky with rare drops."
They approached the entrance, drawing curious glances from other parties. Most seemed to recognize Effel, nodding respectfully or calling out greetings. Raven noticed that the Strangers treated her differently here—less like a celebrity to exploit and more like a respected peer. Out in the wilderness, reputation was earned through competence, not connections.
"Effel! Back again?" called a woman in leather armor, clearly a native. "How many trips is that this week?"
"Fourth," Effel replied cheerfully. "Can't let my stock run low. These Strangers are consuming healing potions faster than I can brew them."
"Truth," the woman laughed. "Well, be safe in there. First floor's crowded today. Lots of new parties grinding levels."
They stood before the archway, the void inside seeming to pulse with anticipation.
"Rules," Effel said, her tone becoming serious. "Once we enter, the dungeon will separate us from other parties. You won't see them even though they're technically in the same space—the dungeon creates individual instances for each group. We can't leave until we reach a safe zone or complete the floor. Monsters respawn continuously, so don't get comfortable. And most importantly—in dungeons, monsters don't leave corpses. They dissipate into light and drop items directly. You'll need to collect everything quickly before it despawns."
"Different from the forest," Ava noted.
"Very different. Dungeon monsters are pure mana constructs. They're not really alive the way forest creatures are. They exist to provide challenge and rewards." Effel adjusted her pack. "Ready?"
"Ready," Raven confirmed, his hand moving to his sword hilt.
"Let's do this," Axel said, gripping his axe.
Ava simply nodded, her expression focused.
They stepped into the void together.
---
The transition was disorienting but brief. One moment, empty darkness. The next, they were standing in a massive underground chamber lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The ceiling arched high overhead, at least fifty feet up, supported by natural stone pillars that looked like they'd been there for millennia.
The chamber was huge—Raven estimated it was easily the size of a football field—with multiple corridors branching off in different directions. The floor was smooth stone, worn by countless footsteps. The air smelled of earth and something else, something metallic that made his teeth ache.
[DUNGEON ENTERED: IRON DEPTHS]
[FLOOR: 1/3]
[PARTY SIZE: 4]
[DIFFICULTY: RANK 1 (SCALED TO PARTY)]
[OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT 25 RABID HORNED RABBITS]
[OPTIONAL: LOCATE FLOOR BOSS]
[SAFE ZONE: EAST CORRIDOR, 200 METERS]
"See?" Effel said, pointing to the notification that appeared in all their visions. "The dungeon tracks your progress. Kill twenty-five rabbits and you can proceed to the second floor, or you can search for the floor boss—an enhanced version that drops better loot but is much harder."
"Do we need to fight the boss to proceed?" Raven asked.
"No. You can skip it entirely. Most parties do on their first runs." She gestured to the various corridors. "The rabbits spawn randomly throughout the floor. They're aggressive and will attack on sight. Rank 1 Low-tier, so individually weak, but they often attack in groups."
As if summoned by her words, a notification flashed:
[MONSTER SPAWN DETECTED]
Three creatures hopped into view from one of the northern corridors. They were... rabbits. But wrong in every way that mattered.
Each one was the size of a large dog, their bodies bulky with unnatural muscle. Their fur was matted and dirty, colored in splotches of brown and gray that seemed to shift and blur at the edges. But most striking were their horns—wickedly sharp, spiraling bone growths that emerged from their skulls and curved forward like lances.
Their eyes glowed dull red, and when they spotted the party, they screamed.
It wasn't a sound rabbits should make. It was high-pitched and grating, like metal scraping against metal, and it set Raven's teeth on edge.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT x3]
[RANK 1 (LOW)]
[HP: 30/30 EACH]
The rabbits charged.
"Spread out!" Raven commanded, his training as party leader kicking in. "Don't let them group up on one person!"
They scattered just as the rabbits reached them. Raven's Sword Mastery activated instinctively, showing him angles of attack and defensive positions. The first rabbit leaped at him, horn aimed directly at his chest.
He sidestepped, his enhanced Agility making the movement smooth, and brought his sword down in a clean arc. The blade caught the rabbit mid-leap, cutting deep into its flank.
[CRITICAL HIT!]
[DAMAGE: 23]
[RABID HORNED RABBIT HP: 7/30]
The creature hit the ground hard, screeching in pain and fury. It tried to turn for another attack, but Raven was already moving, his second strike taking it cleanly through the neck.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT DEFEATED]
The corpse didn't slump or bleed. Instead, it dissolved into motes of golden light that swirled upward before condensing into physical objects that clattered to the stone floor—two items that glowed faintly, waiting to be collected.
But Raven didn't have time to examine them. The other two rabbits were attacking his friends.
Ava had engaged one, her spear work significantly improved from their first fights. She kept the creature at distance, jabbing whenever it tried to close. Each strike drew blood, and though individually the damage was small, it added up quickly.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT HP: 18/30]
Axel was having more difficulty. His rabbit had gotten inside his axe's effective range, forcing him to use the weapon's shaft to block rather than attack. The rabbit's horn scraped against the wooden handle, leaving deep gouges.
"Axel, down!" Raven shouted.
Axel dropped immediately. Raven's sword whistled over his head and caught the rabbit square in the side, the enhanced Strength attribute driving the blade deep.
[DAMAGE: 19]
[RABID HORNED RABBIT HP: 11/30]
The rabbit spun toward this new threat, giving Axel the opening he needed. His axe came around in a powerful overhead chop that split the creature's skull.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT DEFEATED]
Ava finished hers moments later, her spear finding the creature's heart in a thrust that showed remarkable precision.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT DEFEATED]
The three corpses dissolved into light, leaving behind six items total scattered across the floor. Effel was already moving, collecting them efficiently.
"Rabbit Horn, grade 1," she said, holding up a wickedly sharp spiral of bone. "Good for daggers or arrowheads. Rabbit Fur, grade 1—decent for basic armor padding. And..." She picked up a small crystal that glowed faintly blue. "Mana Crystal shard, grade 1. These can be absorbed for small mana gains or sold for good prices."
[OBJECTIVE PROGRESS: 3/25 RABBITS DEFEATED]
"Twenty-two to go," Axel said, breathing hard. "That wasn't so bad."
"They're Rank 1 Low," Effel reminded him. "The weakest monsters in the dungeon. Don't get overconfident."
As if the dungeon heard her warning, the notifications flashed again:
[MONSTER SPAWN DETECTED]
[MONSTER SPAWN DETECTED]
Two groups appeared simultaneously—one from the eastern corridor with four rabbits, another from the west with three more. Seven total, and they were all charging at once.
"Formation!" Raven called out, his mind processing tactics at lightning speed. "Ava, take the three on the left! Axel, I need you on the four! I'll float and assist whoever needs it! Effel, stay back and call out threats!"
They moved without hesitation, their coordination improving with each fight. Ava intercepted the three-rabbit group, her spear spinning in wide arcs that kept them at bay. Axel charged the four-rabbit group with a roar, his Mountain King strength letting him bully the creatures with pure force.
Raven moved between the two groups, his Sword Mastery guiding every strike. He could feel the ability growing, evolving, becoming more intuitive with each battle. His blade found weak points without conscious thought—the gap in muscle, the angle that bypassed bone, the precise amount of force needed for a clean kill.
One rabbit died to a thrust through the eye.
[CRITICAL HIT!]
Another fell to a slash across the throat.
A third tried to leap at Raven from behind, but his Saint's Endurance seemed to warn him somehow. He felt the attack coming half a second before it arrived, giving him just enough time to spin and catch the creature with a backhand strike that sent it tumbling.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT HP: 12/30]
"Finish it!" Effel called out, and Raven obliged with a quick thrust.
The fight lasted less than two minutes. When it was over, seven more rabbit corpses dissolved into light, leaving behind their drops.
[OBJECTIVE PROGRESS: 10/25 RABBITS DEFEATED]
They gathered the items quickly—more horns, more fur, more mana crystal shards. Effel produced a collection bag from her pack, storing everything with practiced efficiency.
"You're all good fighters," she observed, genuine respect in her voice. "A-rank, you said?"
"That's right," Ava replied, though there was something strained in her tone as she glanced at Raven.
They pushed deeper into the first floor, fighting groups of rabbits every few minutes. The dungeon kept spawning them in waves—sometimes three, sometimes five, once even eight at the same time. But never more than the party could handle.
Raven noticed that the dungeon seemed to scale its difficulty. The larger waves came when they'd established a strong defensive position. The smaller waves hit when they were resting or distracted. It was almost like the dungeon was testing them, pushing them to improve without overwhelming them completely.
Their coordination improved dramatically over the next hour. They developed an efficient rhythm—Ava and Axel handled the bulk of combat while Raven floated between them, providing support and finishing wounded creatures. Effel called out warnings and collected drops, her eyes sharp for any threats they might miss.
By the time they reached fifteen kills, they were working like a machine. Silent communication, perfect positioning, no wasted movement.
[OBJECTIVE PROGRESS: 15/25 RABBITS DEFEATED]
"Safe zone ahead," Effel announced, pointing to a side corridor that glowed faintly blue. "We should take a break. You've been fighting for an hour straight."
They entered the safe zone—a small chamber about twenty feet square with smooth walls and a gentle pulse of protective energy. The moment they crossed the threshold, Raven felt the tension drain from his muscles.
[SAFE ZONE ENTERED]
[HP REGENERATION RATE INCREASED BY 500%]
[STAMINA REGENERATION RATE INCREASED BY 500%]
[MONSTERS CANNOT ENTER]
They collapsed against the walls, drinking water and catching their breath. Raven checked his status:
---
HP: 87/100
MP: 45/50
STAMINA: 60%
EXPERIENCE TO NEXT LEVEL: 68%
---
"We're leveling fast," Axel said, clearly checking his own progress. "Another hour of this and I'll hit level 3."
"The dungeon experience is generous," Effel confirmed. "That's why it's so popular. Forest hunting is safer in some ways, but dungeons provide concentrated experience and better drops."
They rested for fifteen minutes, eating some of the food Effel's mother had provided and discussing tactics. Ava sat slightly apart from the group, her attention on her spear, cleaning blood from the iron point with methodical precision.
Raven noticed but wasn't sure how to address it. Every time he tried to engage her in conversation, her responses were brief, almost dismissive. And whenever Effel spoke to him directly, that tension in Ava's shoulders grew more pronounced.
"Ready for the next push?" Raven asked finally, standing and stretching.
"Let's finish this floor," Ava said, her voice determined.
They left the safe zone and returned to hunting.
The final ten rabbits proved more challenging. Whether the dungeon sensed they were close to completing the objective, or whether it was simply random variation, the spawns became larger and more aggressive.
They fought a wave of six rabbits that coordinated their attacks, circling and striking from multiple angles simultaneously. Then a group of four that seemed faster, their movements blurring at the edges.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT (ENHANCED)]
[RANK 1 (MID)]
[HP: 45/45]
"Enhanced versions!" Effel warned. "Be careful! They're stronger!"
Raven engaged the first enhanced rabbit, and immediately felt the difference. It was faster, its movements less predictable. When he swung his sword, it dodged with surprising agility, the blade whistling through empty air.
The rabbit's horn caught him in the side, tearing through his jacket and scoring a line across his ribs.
[DAMAGE TAKEN: 12]
[HP: 75/100]
Pain flared, but his Saint's Endurance pushed it back, keeping him focused. Raven adjusted his approach, using his Sword Mastery to predict rather than react. When the rabbit lunged again, he was ready, his sword meeting its horn and deflecting the attack before following through with a slash that opened its flank.
[DAMAGE: 25]
[RABID HORNED RABBIT (ENHANCED) HP: 20/45]
Beside him, Ava was locked in combat with another enhanced rabbit. Her spear work was flawless, but the creature's speed was giving her trouble. It wove between her strikes, always just out of reach, waiting for an opening.
"Ava! Drive it toward me!" Raven called.
She adjusted immediately, her attacks becoming more aggressive, forcing the rabbit to retreat—directly into Raven's range. His sword caught it across the back legs, crippling its movement.
[DAMAGE: 18]
[STATUS EFFECT: CRIPPLED]
Ava's spear found its heart a moment later.
[RABID HORNED RABBIT (ENHANCED) DEFEATED]
Axel was having more success with his enhanced rabbit, his raw strength compensating for the creature's speed. Each blow from his axe drove the creature back, and though it dodged more attacks than it took, the ones that landed did devastating damage.
They fought for another thirty minutes, systematically clearing the remaining rabbits until finally:
[OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: 25/25 RABBITS DEFEATED]
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 250 XP (SHARED)]
[AVARICE GAINS 62 XP]
[BLOSSOM (AVA) GAINS 62 XP]
[KINGSLAYER (AXEL) GAINS 62 XP]
[EFFEL GAINS 62 XP]
Golden light erupted around all four of them simultaneously.
[LEVEL UP!]
[CONGRATULATIONS! AVARICE HAS REACHED LEVEL 3]
[CONGRATULATIONS! BLOSSOM HAS REACHED LEVEL 3]
[CONGRATULATIONS! KINGSLAYER HAS REACHED LEVEL 3]
The sensation was intoxicating. Raven felt power flood through his body, his muscles strengthening, his reflexes sharpening, his endurance deepening. It was like every cell in his body had been upgraded simultaneously.
[NEW STAT POINTS AVAILABLE: 3]
Three points. His EX rank advantage continuing to provide more growth than his friends would receive. He'd allocate them later, when he had privacy.
A new notification appeared:
[FLOOR 1 COMPLETE]
[ACCESS TO FLOOR 2 GRANTED]
[FLOOR BOSS AVAILABLE]
[RECOMMENDED: COMPLETE FLOOR BOSS BEFORE PROCEEDING]
[REWARD: ENHANCED DROPS]
"Floor boss," Axel said, reading the same notification. "Do we go for it?"
Raven considered. They'd just leveled up, were relatively fresh, and had good coordination. But floor bosses were always significantly harder than regular monsters.
"What's the floor boss?" he asked Effel.
"Enhanced Rabid Horned Rabbit," she replied. "Rank 1 Peak-tier. Much larger, much more aggressive, and it has an ability—it can call reinforcements. Usually summons four or five regular rabbits to assist it."
"That sounds terrible," Ava said.
"It is," Effel confirmed. "But the drops are worth it. Boss monsters always drop grade 2 items minimum, sometimes grade 3 if you're lucky. Plus, the experience is substantial."
Raven looked at his party. They were tired but not exhausted. Injured but not critically. They'd been working well together, improving with each fight.
"We vote," he said. "This is a party decision. All in favor of attempting the floor boss?"
Axel raised his hand immediately. "We came here to get stronger. Boss fights provide that."
Effel raised hers. "I can harvest better ingredients from boss-tier monsters. It's worth the risk."
Ava hesitated, then raised her hand. "Together, right? That's how we do this."
"Together," Raven agreed, raising his own hand. "Unanimous. We find the floor boss."
They collected the last of the rabbit drops, storing away horns, fur, and mana crystals. Their haul was already impressive—twenty-five rabbits' worth of materials that would sell for good money. The boss would only add to that.
"The boss chamber is always at the deepest point of the floor," Effel explained as they began moving deeper into the dungeon. "We'll know it when we see it—the entrance is always marked with glowing runes."
They traveled for another fifteen minutes, passing through corridors lined with crystal formations that pulsed with faint light. The architecture was ancient, older than anything Raven had seen in the beta realm. Whoever or whatever had built this place had possessed power beyond imagination.
Then they saw it.
A massive archway, at least thirty feet tall, carved with intricate runes that glowed a brilliant crimson. The runes spelled out words in a language none of them could read, but the meaning was clear enough: danger lay beyond.
[FLOOR BOSS CHAMBER