I reached the designated location, and right nearby was a dungeon. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was some sort of test before they'd commit to signing a contract with me. Just as I was pondering this, a voice chimed in from behind, confirming my suspicions, "You've got it right, they wanted to test you before sealing the deal."
I turned to see who had spoken, and it was none other than Victor, accompanied by the other three officers. Victor seemed to have an uncanny ability to read my thoughts. He continued, explaining the terms of the test, "We'll observe your fight from the sidelines. We won't directly engage in combat, but you'll need to protect us while clearing the dungeon. For safety, we'll have our weapons at the ready, so no need to worry."
As Victor produced his axe, I found myself inexplicably flustered. "What's going on?" I thought, "I'm a guy, why am I feeling this way?" Then, a sudden realization struck me – my underwear had failed to keep me dry. In a momentary lapse, I even thought of myself as a girl. "No, Tarun, you're not a girl," I chided myself, "you're just... well, you're homosexual."
Interrupting my inner musings, I heard a lady's voice inquire if we were the five individuals entering the dungeon. Her presence and the way she carried herself had an alluring quality that left me momentarily entranced. It was as if a cupid was swirling around me.
Victor stepped forward, explaining that they were the alpha team and that I was being tested, hence the limited group size. She granted us entry, but my thoughts strayed as I couldn't help but think, "You can enter... my heart." This may have made me seem desperate, but what others didn't understand was the feeling of being single for 24 years while all your friends were dating, leaving you alone with your corn and your little brother.
With the preparations complete, we entered the dungeon. The four officers proceeded one by one, and I brought up the rear. Victor was wielding his trusty axe, and among the other three, one held a sword and shield, another carried two guns, and the last wielded a hefty hammer. I tightly gripped my dragon sword with my right hand, using sword kinesis to manifest my shadow sword.
I had initially trained with two swords, as I was uncertain about the durability of my weapons. However, I had complete confidence in my dragon sword. This test was not just to prove my worth to the government but also to myself. I wanted to know if I could rise to the challenge. With the dragon sword in hand, I anxiously awaited the appearance of the dungeon's denizens.
As we ventured deeper into the dungeon, we encountered numerous mana stones. After covering some distance, we encountered a flock of wyverns, which left all four officers in a state of shock. Wyverns were typically found in grade C dungeons, yet this was supposed to be a grade E dungeon. Victor voiced his suspicions, "I think there might have been an issue with the inspection. We'll have to fight our way out to survive."
I reassured him, "No need to worry. You've come to evaluate me, and you will. You mentioned it's a grade C dungeon, so these mana stones must be valuable. You focus on collecting them, and I'll protect you and prove my worth."
With unwavering determination, I charged toward the approaching wyverns, while Victor instructed the other officers to collect the mana stones. My first official dungeon battle had begun.