The monsters, drawn to Serene and stripped of all will, were like empty bodies, waiting for someone to claim their lives.
Remedy ran in circles around her, a human reaper. No resistance, no meaningful counterattack. It was pure and simple cleanup.
---
Meanwhile, in the observation room, the duo's macabre efficiency had captured everyone's attention.
— That's Serene, from Class 3, noted Director Stern, his finger on the main screen.
— This girl is a walking mystery, commented Coach Steele, crossing his massive arms. Unpredictable.
— I wonder what Remedy said to make her cooperate so willingly.
— Speaking of Remedy… Can he even handle a weapon that size? asked Ms. Bloom, perplexed.
— A special artifact? suggested Dr. Glass.
— Or has he secretly awakened a profession? added Mr. Sharp.
All eyes turned to Mr. Stone.
— Mr. Stone, asked the Director, has Remedy awakened a profession?
The professor shook his head slowly, his expression impassive.
— He hasn't told me anything about that.
— Looks like Mr. Stone doesn't want to tell us! Dr. Glass said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
— Why would I hide my student's profession? Mr. Stone replied coldly.
— Who knows… Dr. Glass said with a sly smile.
— Enough, the Director interrupted in a calm but firm voice. Mr. Stone would not conceal such information. We will question the student himself after the exam.
---
In the dungeon, the monster corpses littered the ground. The job was done.
— Devour, Remedy ordered mentally.
The corpses were sucked into a swirling vortex before disappearing into the green, translucent mouth that had opened in midair.
A total of 32 monsters eliminated:
• 18 x Lv. 3 — +300 EXP x18
• 9 x Lv. 4 — +400 EXP x9
• 5 x Lv. 5 — +500 EXP x5
(Team experience sharing activated)
[DING! MONSTERS SUCCESSFULLY DEVOURD]
+3,000 RP x18 | +4,000 RP x9 | +5,000 RP x5
— You're not surprised? asked Remedy, turning to Serene.
— No, she replied, with not a trace of astonishment.
A smile played on Remedy's lips. Haa… Looks like it doesn't interest her.
He rested his hammer on his shoulder.
— Very well. Let's continue.
They moved to another part of the forest, methodically cleaning the area, unfazed by the carnage they left behind.
---
NAME: REMEDY
LEVEL: 5 ➔ 6
EXP: 80% ➔ 0 ➔ 79% (4,000 ➔ 0 ➔ 4,750 / 5,000 ➔ 6,000)
RP: 33,000 ➔ 148,000
NAME: SERENE
LEVEL: 4 ➔ 5
TEAM POINTS: 19,500
---
In the inner zone, the Frost clan heiress, Neve — (Lv. 10) — was surrounded by three aggressive players: two Lv. 7 and one Lv. 8.
They charged at her, weapons raised.
Neve took a single step. Immediately, the ground hissed. White frost shot out from her feet, racing to grasp her assailants' boots and legs, freezing them in an instant icy vice.
They didn't even have time to react. Her ice clone, eyes cold and piercing, was already on them. A few precise, silent movements, and the fight was over.
She had defeated them with disconcerting ease, as one would swat flies.
---
In this world, a Player's growth happened in two stages: biological evolution and magical development.
Leveling up didn't grant stat points. Each stage simply expanded the natural limits of the body and mind, pushing physical and magical boundaries.
Reaching a higher level did not mean reaching full potential; training was required to fill it.
Physical professions honed their strength through muscle, endurance, and technique training.
Magical or mental professions sharpened the mind, focus, and energy control.
Training was the true engine of power. Most students relied on standard dungeon sessions, using barely 50% of their latent potential.
By contrast, heirs from wealthy families, like Neve, had private dungeons rented at high cost and personal coaches, allowing them to develop 90%, even 100%, of their potential at each level.
It was this difference—not level, but power density—that created an abyss between two individuals sharing the same number after their name.
---
Three hours later, in the outer zone.
Remedy sat atop a pile of monster corpses, the last remnants of a long series. The forest around was eerily silent, emptied.
— This is the last spot, he announced, his voice a little hoarse.
Devour.
The bodies vanished, leaving the ground bare and stained with black blood.
A total of 281 monsters eliminated (33 Lv. 3, 21 Lv. 4, 16 Lv. 5), not counting the previous 32.
---
NAME: REMEDY
LEVEL: 9
EXP: 8% (720 / 9,000)
RP: 429,000
NAME: SERENE
LEVEL: 8
TEAM POINTS: 47,900
— Good. Time to head to the inner zone, declared Remedy as he stood.
Serene nodded, silently biting into a chocolate energy bar. Remedy took a small silver packet and did the same.
It was their second use within a 12-hour window. A wave of restorative warmth, albeit weaker, coursed through their tired muscles.
> > > CHOCOLATE ENERGY BAR (CONSUMABLE) <<< A bar rich in magio-synthetic nutrients. Instantly restores vitality.
• 1st use: +50% Health | +50% Energy
• 2nd use (within 12h): +25% Health | +25% Energy
• 3rd use (within 12h): +10% Health | +10% Energy
• 4th use: No effect (body saturated)
Limit: Max Level 10. Reset: 12h.
---
Remedy — [Health: 65% | Energy: 45%]
Serene — [Health: 90% | Energy: 100%]
Without a word, they turned their backs on the now-barren outer zone and stepped into the denser, more menacing shadows of the inner zone.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the dungeon.
A strange place where trees were too close and twisted. Thick, sticky darkness. No sound, not even the whisper of wind. A tomb-like silence.
A level 10 student advanced, heart pounding.
Unaware, he had crossed an invisible line: he had entered the Heart of the dungeon, its most dangerous part.
— …What is this place? he whispered, each step echoing too loudly in the oppressive silence.
A cold sensation, like a blade dragged along his spine, ran through him. He felt something watching. Viscerally.
Crack.
He spun, weapon trembling, pointed into the black. Nothing. Only the damp darkness.
Cold liquid fell on his shoulder. Panic gripped him before reason returned. Drops? Water? It's raining… in a dungeon?
Instinctively, he looked up.
And he saw.
Suspended above him in the shadows, a massive, gaping mouth, wet, lined with thin, translucent teeth like stalactites.
He didn't have time to scream or move. The jaws snapped shut with a wet, bony clack. The fangs pierced his throat with the precision of a thousand-year-old bear trap.
His head was severed cleanly. His body, useless, collapsed limply on the spongy floor.
The End.
---
SUMMARY (Elapsed time: 8h30)
Initial participants: 101
Returned (scroll): 50
Confirmed dead: 26
Students remaining in the dungeon: 25