Chapter 37: A Dungeon Date
Outside the C-Rank Dungeon
Raven and Seraphine stood before the entrance of the C-Rank dungeon, its jagged stone archway framed by swirling blue energy. The air was thick with tension and excitement.
Raven was dressed in basic armor provided from training, a dark ensemble perfectly suited for stealth. His black leather vest hugged his tall, well-built frame, emphasizing his lean yet muscular physique. He wasn't overly bulky, but his muscles were defined and sharp, visible even beneath the armor. His white hair framed his strikingly handsome face, contrasting beautifully with his intense black eyes that carried both charm and danger. At his waist, twin daggers rested securely, their edges glinting with a promise of swift, deadly precision.
Beside him stood Seraphine, her presence radiating elegance and strength. She wore similar basic armor, fitted to highlight her perfectly sculpted body — graceful, toned, and undeniably alluring. Her crimson hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her beautiful face with mesmerizing golden eyes that sparkled with determination. In her hand, she held a sleek sword, its blade polished to perfection, complementing her refined yet fierce demeanor.
"Do you think we should do this? And… will we be able to clear it?" Seraphine asked, her gaze flickering between the entrance and Raven's calm expression.
"Well, I think it will be easy. I'm stronger than before," Raven replied with a confident grin.
Seraphine's eyes glowed momentarily as she activated her ability, Queen's Eyes, assessing their stats.
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STATS
SERAPHINE ASHFALL
Level - 40
Strength - 60
Speed - 50
Endurance - 52
IQ - 80
Ability - Queen's Eyes (SSS), Enhanced Reflex (A)
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STATS
RAVEN CROSS
Level - 89
Strength - 90
Speed - 80
Endurance - 100
IQ - 89
Ability - ??, Time's Eye (S)
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She stared at him, her eyes widening slightly before a soft smile broke across her lips. "You are stronger."
Raven met her gaze and smirked. "Well, now I have you to protect, so of course, I have to grow stronger. I don't want anyone to take you from me, and if anyone tries…" His eyes darkened with determination. "I'll beat the hell out of them."
Seraphine's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, her composure momentarily shaken. "No need to say it like that…" She quickly looked away, hiding her embarrassment. Then, with more enthusiasm, she extended her hand toward him. "We have a dungeon date, let's not be late."
Raven couldn't help but blush at her words, but he smiled nonetheless and took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers, not letting go.
"You know, right? The time inside is different from the time outside. But since it's only C-rank, it's almost the same," Raven said.
"Got it," Seraphine replied, her voice steadying.
They stepped through the swirling portal, and the world shifted around them.
Inside, the dungeon resembled an entire forest, vast and sprawling with thick trees and dense underbrush. The air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of leaves and soil. It was beautiful and almost serene—if not for the foreboding silence.
"What do we have to do?" Seraphine asked, her fingers still wrapped around Raven's.
Just then, a screen appeared before them, words glowing with an eerie luminescence.
DUNGEON (C)
Objective: DEFEAT THE TRIBE (ORCS).
Raven's eyes scanned the message, and he let out a low chuckle. "Looks like we have to defeat a whole tribe of those orcs we faced in the tutorial room."
"I don't know if it will be alright or not," Seraphine admitted, her voice tinged with worry. "The orc back then was no easy target. And now… we have to face a whole tribe?"
Raven stepped closer, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Seraphine. We're strong enough, and we can easily defeat them together. You and me."
Seraphine's anxiety melted under his touch. She looked up at him, her golden eyes shimmering with renewed courage. "Yeah. Let's do this."
They walked forward, Raven's arm still around her shoulders, their bodies pressed close as they ventured deeper into the forest.
"Guess this is the most unique date we've ever had," Raven joked, his voice light.
Seraphine laughed softly. "Yeah, fighting monsters together on a beautiful afternoon. Definitely unconventional… but kind of perfect."
"I'd say very perfect," Raven replied, his smile genuine.
The closeness between them was undeniable. Despite the looming danger, Raven couldn't help but feel an overwhelming warmth from having her by his side. And Seraphine, though nervous, felt a deep sense of security whenever Raven was near.
Hand in hand, they continued their journey into the depths of the dungeon.
---
As Raven and Seraphine ventured deeper into the forest, the air grew colder, and the trees twisted with unnatural shapes. Their footsteps crunched against the leaves, the silence eerie and heavy.
"It's strange how quiet it is," Seraphine whispered, her golden eyes scanning their surroundings. Her crimson hair swayed softly as she moved, her expression both anxious and excited.
"They're probably gathered somewhere… waiting for us," Raven replied, his tone calm yet alert. His black eyes glinted with determination as he tightened his grip on his daggers. Dressed in black armor, his lean yet muscular frame was built for stealth, his white hair striking against the dark surroundings.
Seraphine wore similar armor, her figure elegant yet strong. Despite her flawless appearance, a hint of worry lingered in her gaze.
"Are you sure we can handle this?" Seraphine asked.
"With you by my side? Always." Raven smirked, trying to reassure her.
Her cheeks turned slightly red. "Alright, then. Let's do this."
They moved like shadows, slipping closer until they were within striking distance of the orc village.
A crude settlement built from wood and bone, scattered around a clearing surrounded by towering trees. Rough huts rose like jagged stones, and the air reeked of blood and sweat. At least two dozen orcs milled about, their massive, brutish figures armed with crude weapons.
Raven's eyes narrowed as he assessed their targets. "More than I expected. But nothing we can't handle."
Seraphine activated her Queen's Eyes, her vision sharpening instantly. The stats and weaknesses of each orc flickered before her eyes. Enhanced Reflex allowed her to dodge their heavy blows with precision, her movements fluid and graceful.
"There's too many… And they're stronger than I thought," she said, her voice slightly trembling.
"Don't worry. We've got this." Raven squeezed her hand, his touch bringing a sense of comfort. "And besides, you have me to protect you."
Seraphine blushed slightly but nodded, her eyes determined. "Let's do this."
They charged into battle.
Seraphine moved with elegance and determination, her sword flashing as she struck at the orcs. Her strength wasn't enough to sever limbs or kill them, but her enhanced reflexes allowed her to dodge their brutal strikes and counter with swift, precise stabs to their eyes.
The orcs roared in agony as their eyes were pierced, blinded and disoriented by her strikes.
"Raven! Their eyes! Blind them first, then go for the neck!" Seraphine shouted.
"Got it!" Raven responded.
As the blinded orcs stumbled around in confusion, Raven's Shadow Step skill allowed him to close the distance in a split second, appearing beside them before they even realized what was happening. His daggers flashed, slicing through their thick necks in one clean motion.
Green blood splattered everywhere, staining his armor and skin.
Despite the brutal nature of the battle, their teamwork was flawless. Raven relied on Seraphine's guidance, her sharp eyes spotting the orcs' weaknesses and making it easier for him to deliver killing blows.
But the fight was anything but easy.
An orc's massive club crashed against Raven's side, sending him flying into a tree with a sickening thud.
"Raven!" Seraphine screamed, her eyes widening.
But Raven stood up almost instantly, his body already healing. The wound that should have crippled him was closing before her eyes, his stamina restored in mere moments.
"Relax, I'm fine." He grinned, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Takes more than that to kill me."
"H-How…?" Seraphine stared at him, confusion flashing in her gaze. "You were hurt… badly."
"I'll explain later. For now, let's just get through this," Raven said, his eyes never leaving the orcs.
He rushed back into battle, his instant healing ability allowing him to fight like a beast. No matter how many blows struck him, his body healed faster than the damage could accumulate. He moved through the orcs like a force of nature, slicing throats and dodging attacks with unnatural precision.
But then—
"Agh!" Seraphine cried out as an orc's club grazed her arm, knocking her back. The pain shot through her like fire, and she stumbled, nearly dropping her sword.
Raven's gaze snapped toward her, his eyes blazing with intensity.
Before the orc could land another blow, Raven rushed to her side, his Shadow Step allowing him to close the distance instantly. Without hesitation, he intercepted every attack aimed at Seraphine, his daggers flashing as he took down the orcs one by one.
"Raven, stop doing that! You're going to get yourself killed!" Seraphine shouted as she struggled to stay on her feet.
"You know I can handle it. Just keep blinding them, and I'll take care of the rest," Raven replied, his voice calm and determined.
Seraphine gritted her teeth and nodded, focusing on injuring the orcs' eyes. One by one, they fell to Raven's merciless strikes.
The last orc collapsed with a heavy thud, its body sinking into the blood-soaked ground.
They stood in silence, catching their breaths. Green blood coated their armor, dripping from their weapons.
"That was... rough," Seraphine muttered, her shoulders sagging from exhaustion.
"You're hurt." Raven's voice was stern as he stepped closer.
"It's nothing. Just a scratch," she said, trying to brush it off. But the blood dripping from her arm said otherwise.
Ignoring her protests, Raven gently removed his own torn cloak and ripped a piece of it, wrapping it around her wounded shoulder to stop the bleeding. His hands were steady and firm.
Seraphine watched him with a mix of relief and confusion. "You're… not injured at all, are you?"
He shrugged. "Guess I'm tougher than I look."
"No... that was more than tough. It's like you weren't even hurt in the first place."
Raven didn't answer, just kept securing the makeshift bandage around her arm. "There. That should stop the bleeding."
"Thanks," Seraphine said softly, her gaze locked on him.
He met her eyes, a hint of a smile forming on his lips. "You did good out there."
"So did you… though you were a little reckless."
"Maybe. But it worked, didn't it?"
Seraphine let out a tired laugh, the tension finally easing from her shoulders. "Yeah… it did."
They stood there in the aftermath of battle, their breathing finally settling as they faced each other.
---
As they stood amidst the fading remains of the orc village, blood and sweat mixing on their bodies, a notification screen flashed before their eyes.
DUNGEON CLEARED
COLLECT YOUR REWARDS
Raven and Seraphine exchanged glances, relief washing over them. They both reached out to claim their rewards.
Seraphine's eyes widened as a rush of energy coursed through her. The notification displayed:
NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED:
SPEED RUSH (A) – Temporarily boosts speed to incredible levels for a short duration.
Raven's reward was different. A pair of sleek, beautifully crafted daggers materialized in front of him, the blades glinting with a faint, eerie glow.
ITEM ACQUIRED:
TWIN FANGS (A) – Dual daggers designed for swift, lethal strikes. Increases attack speed and damage when wielded together.
"Did you get anything good?" Seraphine asked, her crimson hair clinging to her skin as she brushed a stray strand away from her golden eyes.
Raven held up the daggers with a satisfied smile. "Yeah, these. They look amazing. What about you?"
"I got a new ability. Speed Rush. I guess I can move faster now when I need to." She replied, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Looks like we're pretty lucky," Raven chuckled, examining the daggers closely before strapping them to his waist. "From what I've heard, most people only get C or D-rank abilities or items. Nothing as powerful as A or S-rank."
"I think it's all about how well you perform inside the dungeon," Seraphine suggested. "The stronger you are and the better you fight, the greater the rewards."
"Yeah, you're probably right. We'll have to give our best in every dungeon if we want to keep improving." Raven agreed, his black eyes gleaming with determination.
Seraphine's gaze softened. "But, Raven... you haven't told me about your ability. The way your wounds heal so quickly... It's like you don't even get hurt."
Raven hesitated, his expression unreadable. "I'll explain it... but not right now. I feel like my strength has been drained. It's probably part of my ability. The more I get hurt, the more tired I feel afterward. Right now... I can barely stand."
He swayed slightly, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. His shoulders drooped, and his eyes threatened to close.
Seraphine's concern was evident. Without a word, she moved to his side and slipped her arm around his, offering him support. Her touch was gentle yet firm.
"Okay, let's go. You need to rest," she said with a warm smile, trying to reassure him.
Raven couldn't help but smile back, his heart easing at her kindness. "Yeah... thanks, Seraphine."
Together, they made their way back, leaning against each other.
As Raven and Seraphine reached the room, Raven was tired enough that he can sleept right away. Just before sleeping, he said good night to Seraphine and briefly wondered where his brother Grim or his sister-in-law Aurelia were. While thinking that, he drifted into sleep.
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It was a dream.
Raven found himself standing in a dark, cold place. His eyes widened in horror as he saw his brother Grim, whose whole body was covered with injuries, his right hand shattered, and his face pale from blood loss. He was clearly dying. Beside him, Aurelia lay in Grim's arms, her body so pale it seemed like her soul was slipping away. Her eyes were dull, and no strength remained in her broken form. Both of them were dying.
Raven's heart pounded as he watched the scene, his breathing rapid and desperate. He tried to reach out, to call their names, but no words left his mouth. The vision was vivid, too real to be just a nightmare.
He jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat and his breathing ragged. Panic gripped his chest, his mind racing. But when he looked around, he found himself back in the room with Seraphine sleeping peacefully beside him. The terror slowly ebbed away, but the fear remained.
"It was just a dream... just a dream," he whispered to himself. But deep down, something told him it wasn't. Somehow, he knew what he saw was real. He clenched his fists, his body too weak to do anything about it now. So, he closed his eyes, trying to convince himself it was just a nightmare. Not knowing that what he saw was the truth.