The dim light of the dungeon corridors flickered across the Silver Fangs' weary faces. The scent of blood and smoke hung thick in the air as they made their way back up toward the surface after a long expedition to the 17th floor.
Lior trailed slightly behind, his pack filled with monster cores and loot he'd carried for the team. Despite his exhaustion, a faint smile curved on his lips. These people — Darius, Selene, Rogar, and Finn — had treated him kindly, even if they thought he was just a humble porter.
"Hey, kid," Darius said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You did good back there. We might've had a tougher time without you keeping us steady."
Lior blinked, a little surprised. "Thank you, Captain."
Darius rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Actually, about that… our supporter's still recovering from an injury. We'll need someone reliable to help us until he's back. You interested in working with us for a while?"
Lior paused. His mind drifted briefly — he'd been saving coin, cooking his own meals, and training quietly. Working with an experienced party meant steady income… and more opportunities to learn.
He nodded. "Alright. I'll take it."
Darius grinned, patting his shoulder. "Good man. You'll fit right in. We'll make sure the pay's worth your time."
Selene chuckled softly from the front. "Welcome to the Silver Fangs, Lior."
For a brief moment, everything felt… peaceful.
But peace in the dungeon never lasted long.
They were ascending the 12th floor when the atmosphere suddenly shifted. The air thickened — an unnatural silence pressing against their ears. Even the flicker of the torches dimmed.
Rogar raised his axe cautiously. "Something's off…"
Lior stopped walking. His instincts screamed danger. The faint hum of mana rippled beneath his feet. "We're surrounded," he murmured.
"Surrounded? By what?" Finn asked nervously, gripping his dagger.
Before anyone could answer, the walls trembled. Cracks split through the stone — and from the shadows, a wave of monsters burst forth.
Hundreds of glowing eyes gleamed in the darkness. Dire wolves, shadow trolls, and skeletal beasts poured in from every direction, growling with bloodlust.
Selene's face drained of color. "There's too many!"
Darius cursed under his breath. "Form up! Rogar, front line! Selene, rear guard! Lior—"
"I'll handle supplies and keep behind," Lior interrupted quickly, slipping the pack from his shoulders.
"Good," Darius said, though sweat beaded his brow. "If things get bad, you run. Got it?"
Lior hesitated. "Run?"
"Yeah," Rogar growled as he swung his axe. "You're our only non-combatant. We'll hold them off."
The beasts charged.
Flames, steel, and spells collided in chaos. Rogar's axe cleaved through the first wave, while Selene's staff flashed with light magic, purifying the air. Darius barked commands as he unleashed a volley of flaming arrows, piercing through the oncoming tide.
But for every monster that fell, three more took its place.
Lior's fists tightened. He could feel his elementals stirring in the void — ready to fight. But he couldn't. Not yet. They didn't know he was a summoner, and revealing it now could create questions he wasn't ready to answer.
Then, the unthinkable happened — the ground collapsed beneath Rogar's feet. He roared as he fell to one knee, beasts swarming him.
"Rogar!" Darius yelled.
Selene tried to cast a barrier, but a shadow troll lunged at her, shattering her defenses.
"Captain, we can't hold—!"
Darius gritted his teeth. "Lior! Run! Get out of here now!"
Lior froze. His instincts screamed at him to stay, to fight, but he couldn't blow his cover. He stepped back slowly — and then a blinding light filled the corridor.
BOOM!
The explosion of mana knocked everyone backward. From the upper tunnel, several powerful figures leapt into the fray — elite adventurers, clad in enchanted armor, their weapons glowing with high-tier runes.
"Looks like we arrived just in time," one of them said, her voice calm and sharp. "You Silver Fangs always manage to find trouble."
"Selina?" Darius gasped, recognizing the leader of the Iron Hawks, an A-rank party.
"Save the talk for later," Selina said, thrusting her spear forward. A wave of golden energy erupted, clearing the entire left flank of monsters in one strike.
The Silver Fangs regrouped immediately, fighting alongside the new arrivals. Lior hung back, aiding where he could — tossing potions, using his knowledge of terrain to guide their positioning. Though he didn't summon his spirits, his calm under pressure didn't go unnoticed.
Minutes passed like hours until finally, silence fell again. The dungeon floor was littered with corpses and the stench of smoke.
Selina lowered her spear. "That was… far too many monsters for this level. Something's wrong with the dungeon core."
Darius nodded grimly. "Yeah. We need to report this immediately."
She looked around, then rested her gaze on Lior. "Who's the kid?"
"Our new porter," Darius replied with a faint smile. "He held his ground."
Selina's sharp eyes lingered on him. "You've got composure. Keep that. It'll take you far."
Lior bowed slightly. "Thank you, ma'am."
As the adventurers prepared to continue their climb to safety, Darius walked beside Lior, speaking quietly. "You handled yourself well today. Sorry we almost got you killed."
Lior shook his head. "It's fine. You all fought bravely."
He smiled faintly. "Still… I can't shake the feeling that something's changing in these dungeons. Monsters don't move in hordes like that for no reason."
Darius exhaled slowly. "Whatever it is, we'll be ready next time. And I'm glad you're part of the team now, Lior."
Lior looked ahead — eyes calm, but his mind racing. The dungeon's balance was shifting, and he could feel it deep within his summoner's core. Something ancient was awakening.
And next time… hiding his power might not be an option.