[14th Everdusk 2103], Verdant Hollow Dungeon, CGA Branch
"Well, these stats look good. Just need to hunt a few more of these monkeys, and I'll be done here," I muttered to myself, convinced that the first stage wouldn't pose much of a threat—it was meant for beginners, after all. Should be easy, right?
I began walking toward the next area, but then—
Pop!
Two of my summoned skeletons burst into a flurry of sparkles, their remains collapsing onto the forest floor like discarded props.
"Oh... so you both have left me too, huh?" I said in an overly dramatic voice, pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears. "No worries, I'll continue this journey to the bitter end."
Without looking back, I walked off with my last remaining skeleton, head held high.
A quick check of my mana told me I still had some juice left. Not great, but enough to squeeze out a few skills.[43/160 MP]
I ventured deeper into the jungle, searching for the final pack of monkeys. My thoughts drifted as I walked.
How many students have already cleared the first stage? Lucas and Lyre… they've probably reached Stage 2 by now—maybe even Stage 3.
I quickened my pace. Despair won't get me anywhere.
Then I heard it—leaves rustling violently above me.
Looks like the hunt had resumed.
Meanwhile, in another dungeon…
Lucas stood amidst a circle of snarling wolves—but this time, they didn't flee. At the center of the pack stood a larger wolf, calm and composed.
The Mini-Boss.
Shit.
The Alpha didn't rush in. It was smart—waiting for Lucas to exhaust himself.
But this was the life of the male lead. Obstacles didn't mean defeat—they were just setups for comebacks.
As the battle dragged on, Lucas found himself cornered. But then—[Your skills 'Fireball' and 'Arcane Strike' have leveled up!]
Power surged through him.
"Perfect timing," he smirked.
With renewed strength, he tore through the normal wolves one after another. When only the Alpha remained, the beast snarled, saliva dripping onto the soil.
"Pissed, huh? Don't worry—you'll see your pack again soon."
With a shout, he launched himself forward.
The Alpha finally moved.
In a flash, the beast vanished—then reappeared right in front of him.
But Lucas was ready.
A translucent barrier appeared just in time. Seizing the opening, Lucas hurled a fireball straight into the wolf's mouth. It didn't fall.
So he followed up—his sword gleaming with arcane energy.
The blade pierced deep into the wolf's face.
The Alpha stumbled back, madly thrashing in agony, trying to pull the sword out. Blood gushed out like a broken faucet.
Moments later, it dropped dead.
Lucas stood over the corpse, panting. Then came the notification:
{You've defeated the Mini-Boss: Alpha Wolf and 8x Lv.6 Forest Wolves. You've gained 380 EXP.}
[540/400 EXP]
{You've leveled up: Lv.7 → Lv.8}
{You've gained 10 Unassigned Stat Points.}
{Stage 2 Complete. A Portal is Being Generated.}
Stones on the ground shifted and formed an oval frame. Two portals appeared: one to the next stage, and one to exit.
"Haaaah... almost died back there. That skill—
He looked at the two glowing gates.
"Exit? Hell no. I've got a title to win."
Without hesitation, he walked into the portal to the third stage.
But before he vanished, he muttered:
"Where's Lyre now? Still stuck at Stage 2... or maybe she's already in Stage 3. Her class is high. And Evan... probably still struggling in Stage 1."
He laughed lightly, never knowing how wrong he was.
Elsewhere...
Lyre stood before a dying inferno, its last flickers illuminating the jungle.
Behind her, a circle of blackened wolf corpses lay smoldering.
She looked... different.
Golden rune-like symbols glowed around her eyes, giving her an almost divine presence. Her mage robe was slashed but intact.
As the fire died out, the charred body of the Alpha Wolf was revealed, completely destroyed.
But Lyre's gaze hadn't moved.
She didn't even blink.
Only when the notification appeared did the glowing runes fade, and clarity returned to her eyes.
"Huh...? What... happened to me?"
She glanced around, confused.
"I was fighting the Alpha... and then it used a skill. I remember the slash—but after that… nothing."
She stared at the wolf's corpse, trying to piece things together.
Did I… lose control?
The notification still lingered in the corner of her eye:
{You've defeated the Mini-Boss: Alpha Wolf. Gained 330 EXP.}{Lv.9 Reached.}
With a deep breath, she drank her potions, then stepped into the third stage portal.
Back outside, the leaderboard buzzed with life.
Two new names had just entered Stage 3.
Lyre? No surprise.
Lucas?Shock.
Whispers spread through the monitoring room like wildfire. How could someone with an E-rank class keep pace with Lyre?
Tess, watching the screen with pride, smiled to herself.
"I'll give him a surprise tonight. He earned it."
But in all the commotion, no one noticed the smallest change at the bottom of the screen:
[Stage 1 → Stage 2: Evan Ravencall]
There was no need for commentary.
Everyone already knew who he was.
—To be continued.