Night draped itself over Arcrest like a heavy shroud.
In the center of the city, cordoned off by layers of A.R.E.S. barricades, a new dungeon pulsed with a sickly green glow. Toxic mist curled around its edges, eating through stone and metal alike. Even the air tasted poisonous.
S-rank hunters arrived first.
Then SS-rank squads.
And finally—
The three pillars of humanity stepped forward.
SSS Rank Astra Valerian — constellation mage, robes shimmering with drifting star-patterns.
SSS Rank Bromm Stonecleaver — a mountain in human form, arms thicker than shields.
SSS Rank Eris Thornveil — silver hair, blade-sharp presence, eyes like moonlit steel.
Together, they faced the churning portal.
More than a hundred hunters assembled behind them, tense, whispering, checking antidotes, sharpening weapons, praying under their breath.
The toxin dungeon was classified as Rank Unknown.
Only one thing was certain—
It should not be here.
Rina Everhart arrived with her team in tow, coat whipping behind her as the toxic wind brushed past.
Dael jogged up carrying a box of sensors.
Kira scanned rooftops.
Merrin whispered prayers despite swearing she didn’t believe in gods.
Slyeph muttered about regretting every life choice that led to this moment.
Rina stepped toward the command table where Astra, Bromm, and Eris stood examining a holographic layout of the dungeon.
Without looking up, Astra began:
“Initial plan is standard. Enter, descend, neutralize the boss, destroy the core.”
Bromm cracked his neck, voice deep as thunder.
“Kill the boss fast enough and the toxin dissipates. Simple.”
Eris added quietly, “Precision over speed. A clean execution prevents collateral.”
Every hunter in earshot nodded.
“Kill the boss.”
“Right.”
“No questions.”
“Boss dies, dungeon dies.”
Rina inhaled slowly.
Then:
“Before we begin…”
Her voice cut clean through the air.
“…does everyone here intend to kill the boss?”
“Of course.”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
“We’re not here to negotiate.”
Even the SSS-rank leaders nodded.
Rina shook her head.
“I’m not asking if you want loot.”
She pointed toward the pulsing green gate.
“I’m asking what you will do if the boss doesn’t want to fight.”
A hush fell.
Astra blinked.
Bromm frowned deeply.
Eris tilted her head in sharp interest.
A hunter scoffed, “Bosses always fight.”
Rina kept her gaze steady.
“This one might not.”
Confusion.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Unease.
Murmurs like insects crawling through the crowd.
Dael’s sensor beeped, shrill and panicked.
“C-Captain!” he yelped, thrusting the tablet forward. “The toxin readings—these… these aren’t trying to spread!”
Astra stiffened.
“…Then what are they doing?”
Dael’s voice cracked.
“They’re flowing inward.”
Bromm’s brows drew together.
“Impossible. A dungeon pulls mana inward only during—”
Rina finished for him:
“—a containment reflex.
When the dungeon boss doesn’t want to break.”
The words struck the plaza like a hammer.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Even the mist hesitated.
Astra exhaled slowly.
Eris tightened her grip on her blade.
Bromm looked from the portal to Rina as if trying to find sense in this world’s new madness.
Rina’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“This might be like the titan dungeon. The boss might be aware. Afraid. Hiding.”
A single hunter muttered:
“…then what are we walking into?”
Rina swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
She truly didn’t.
But she knew one thing—
This dungeon was wrong.
Deeply, terrifyingly wrong.
She opened her mouth to speak again—
And that was when a commotion erupted at the barricade.
“SIR! PLEASE STOP—THIS AREA IS A RESTRICTED CONTAINMENT ZONE!”
Every head snapped toward the shouting.
A frantic A.R.E.S. officer stumbled backward, hands raised in helpless panic.
Before him strode a man in a cheap jacket.
Tired eyes.
Calm steps.
A cold can of cola in his hand.
Rina’s heart stopped.
Astra’s brows rose.
Eris stiffened.
Bromm instinctively reached for his axe.
The officer shouted again:
“C-CIVILIANS AREN’T ALLOWED HERE—PLEASE TURN BACK! THE MIST IS LETHAL—!”
The man took another sip of cola.
“If I die,” he said simply,
“That's your problem.”
He walked past the officer without looking at him.
“If I don’t die…
stay out of my way.”
The officer’s soul nearly left his body.
Gasps rippled through the hunters.
“Who is that?”
“Is he insane?”
“Is he drinking cola?!”
“Hold on… is that—?”
“—no, he wouldn’t…”
“—the broom guy?”
“THE WHAT?!”
Rina felt her spine collapse into panic.
No…
No, no, no—
“Teacher…?!”
Azhareth ignored everyone.
He walked through elite hunters as if strolling through a park.
Passed the SSS-rank trio without acknowledging their existence.
Stepped over toxin puddles like they were puddles of rain.
Astra murmured, “…This presence…”
Bromm muttered, “…My instincts are screaming.”
Eris whispered, “…He’s not normal.”
Rina finally found her voice.
“TEACHER!! WAIT—PLEASE WAIT!”
She bolted after him.
But Azhareth never looked back.
He approached the gate.
The toxin mist parted around him—
not dissolving,
not resisting,
but retreating…
…as if afraid.
Azhareth stared into the swirling green vortex, expression unreadable.
He finished the last sip of cola.
Tossed the empty can aside.
And stepped into the dungeon.
The light swallowed him whole.
Gone.
Just like that.
Rina reached the edge of the portal and froze, heart hammering.
“Teacher…”
Her fist trembled at her chest.
“Why…?”
Behind her, Astra whispered:
“…The dungeon responded to him.”
Bromm’s voice trembled for the first time in a decade.
“Who… is that man?”
Eris stared at the gate, blade half-drawn.
Rina could only breathe out:
“…Teacher… what are you doing…?”
The dungeon pulse softened—
not hostile,
not hungry,
…but relieved.
