Toby's sweat soaked through his clothes as he dreamed of a devil attacking him, his efforts to fight back was futile. He jolted awake, taking a moment to recall what had happened before jumping up in anger.
"JOHN, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?" Toby shouted, his voice echoing off the cave walls. John and Maxwell, just waking up and washing their faces, turned to confront the enraged Toby.
John straightened his back, looking at Toby coldly as he emerged from his tent. "Am I the one who's out of their mind? You nearly got us killed yesterday."
"You're a freaking idiot who just complains and whines!" Toby snapped, igniting his hands in flames.
"Try throwing that and see if you can leave this dungeon alive," John shot back, his eyes locked onto Toby's with a serious expression, killing intent almost palpable.
"Calm down, both of you. We're here for a mission. Let's get it done first, and then you can throw punches after we're back," Maxwell intervened, stepping between them to prevent things from escalating.
Toby's face flushed with anger, his flames flickering as he shouted, "You have no right to kick me! Who do think you are? Did you really think you are some kind of leader? Stop daydreaming, you are as clueless as we are."
John's expression hardened, his voice cold and steady. "I never claimed to be the leader. I asked for your input before we even started. If you had doubts, you should have voiced them then. Instead, you agreed to the plan and then bailed on it when things got tough. Stop acting like a brat and take responsibility for your own actions. At least then I'd have some respect for you."
"I don't need your freaking respect!" Toby retorted, his voice dripping with venom. "You think we're just here to cheer you on while you play the big hero?"
John sneered, taking a step forward. "Maybe you should take a look in the mirror."
"Oh, right. You're the expert with the sword. You think you're so perfect with your talent? You couldn't even draw the rats' attention properly!" Toby snorted, his sarcastic laugh echoed.
"Are you blind? I killed twice as much as you did despite the risk I was in" John shot back, the tension crackling between them.
With a mocking expression, Toby retorted, "Maybe if you weren't so busy playing the hero, you'd realize how much of a risk you were taking!"
"Do you think I want to take the risk? I was making them target me so you could use your ability without harassment from the monsters. Your job was distracting, mine was killing. That all you had to do. And what did you do instead? You used the most ineffective way to fight. "
Maxwell, trying to intervene, said, "Guys, this isn't helping. We need to focus on—"
"Shut up, Maxwell!" Toby shouted, his flames flickering dangerously as he turned his attention back to John. "My talent is fire. I burn staff and that what I did. But you're just a scared kid hiding behind his sword."
John narrowed his eyes dangerously. "At least I follow through with what I say, Unlike you. Throwing fire around like a toddler! I actually considered the team, not acting like we're in a damn playground!"
"I did the best I can, but what about you? Hiding your ability from us, we could have done better if I know you had that much power." Topy snapped back at him.
John's face twisted with frustration. "Oh, so now you're blaming me for your mistakes? You seriously can't see how your recklessness affected me?"
Maxwell interrupted, "You both need to stop! This isn't helping anyone. We've all made mistakes, but fighting about it isn't going to change anything. We need to focus on getting out of this dungeon, not tearing each other apart!"
"You think you can just swoop in and play peacemaker? Stay out of this!" Toby spat, flames flaring as he glared at Maxwell.
The argument heated further, both men shouting over each other, their voices echoing off the cave walls. Maxwell, feeling helpless, stepped back.
Finally, John's voice cut through, quieter but intense. "You know what, Toby? Do whatever you please. After this dungeon, I don't want to be on the same team as you again." He turned to Maxwell. "Let's head to the gate, finish this, and get out of here."
John huffed as he gathered his belongings.
"Fine. But don't think I'm going to forget what you did," Toby shot back, his voice sharp.
Maxwell shot a glance at Toby. "We'll handle it later. Right now, let's focus on finishing this dungeon without any more mistakes."
After a quick meal and some water, they collected their gear and began the walk towards the gate. The foul stench from the previous night's battle lingered in the air, pushing them to quicken their pace.
The area surrounding the gate was vast and barren. John averted his gaze from the gate, eyeing Toby with a severe expression. "Don't do anything stupid when we go in."
Toby snorted dismissively. "Stop complaining and whining all the time."
"We are at the last hurdle. can we get it over with first?" Maxwell groaned, rolling his eyes.
John placed his hands at the door, pushing it. But the door remained stubbornly closed. His veins became visible as he pushed harder, adjusting his attributes to boost his strength. (STR 12 --> 17, INT 16 --> 11)
The door creaked open slowly, and they let go of their relaxing expressions. BAM! As soon as the door swung open, Maxwell took the lead, his body acting as a shield while John and Toby followed closely behind.
They weren't expecting what they saw: rows upon rows of pulsating, grotesque eggs filling the hall, each one illuminated by an eerie red light emanating from a glowing crystal at the far end of the chamber.
"What is this?" Toby's fingers brushed against an egg, causing it to tremble violently. The trio watched in alarm as cracks spider-webbed across its surface, and a monstrous head slowly emerged, dripping with viscous fluid.
Not leaving a chance for the Gigantic-Rat to be born, John ran forward and beheaded it. "So, all of these are monsters." John scrutinized the hall as blood dripped from his blade. "Let's finish them before they become a danger."
With a scornful grin, Toby's hand ignited. "I don't need you to tell me what to do."
They cut, smashed, or scorched one egg after another, killing whatever was inside. By the time they finished, half an hour had passed. A putrid smell filled the hall.
Maxwell moved to the crystal. "I think by breaking or taking out this crystal, we'll be done here and can go back."
"Yeah, I think so too. Just smash it." John nodded in agreement.
With his hardened hand, Maxwell punched the crystal. Once, twice, thrice, he continued smashing it and with every hit a slight tremor could be felt from the dungeon's ground.
Finaly, the crystal cracked. The crack started as a 'X' shape, then it spread, forming a spider web pattern. The hall quaked violently as soon as the crystal shattered, sending chunks of rock raining down from the ceiling.
"Let's move!" Maxwell shouted, his voice barely audible over the deafening rumble.
They sprinted towards the exit, hearts pounding as they raced back the way they entered the dungeon. With John in the lead this time, he ran, balancing himself while the ground shook. Finally, they reached the portal out of the dungeon.
John looked behind him. After finding they kept up with his pace, he jumped into the portal. "I will go first."
A feeling of disorientation hit him. Shaking his head, John breathed a sigh of relief as the dizziness subsided. He looked around and found his team, recognizing they were at the same place they entered from.
After taking a small break to calm their nerves, John opened his watch and called his mentor. "Report your stats." Quinn's easygoing voice helped him relax a bit from two days of killing.
"We killed every monster we found in the dungeon and destroyed a weird crystal. Then the dungeon started shaking nonstop. We ran to the exit and we're just out. Did destroying the crystal mean we cleared the dungeon?"
"Good job. Yes, you cleared the dungeon. But it's not always a crystal. Sometimes it's a monster, and other times you have to destroy multiple places in the dungeon to clear it. You'll know better in the future. For now, stand by as someone will take you back."
"Yes, mentor." The call ended with a sigh of relief from John and the rest.
Minutes ticked by as Maxwell relaxed on a rock, feeling exhausted from the whole ordeal. A sound of a car getting close made them look over.
A jeep stopped in front of them. As the driver's window slid down, a girl with pretty features came into view. "John, Maxwell, and Toby, I presume? I'm Evelyn from the Technology and Planning Department. I came to take you back."
"Hello there." John exchanged greetings as he moved to the trunk to put the sword and the backpack. Toby and Maxwell did the same. The car began to move as soon as the trio got in.
The silent trip took two hours until they reached the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation building.
"I want to repair my sword. Where can I do that, Evelyn?" John asked as soon as the car parked.
"Leave it to me. I will inform you as soon as it's repaired. Anything else?"
"No, thanks for your help." After adding her to his comm (watch), she said, "I will take the three of you to Mentor Quinn's office."
After leading them to Quinn's office, she left. The trio knocked before entering.
What was before them was a spacious and well-designed office but without extravagance. Reclining in his comfy chair, drinking his tea, Quinn gestured for them to sit down.
"You finished your first mission. What is your impression, feeling, and opinion about the dungeon, yourself, and your team?"
As they settled into their seats in Quinn's office, an air of tension was visible, particularly between John and Toby. Quinn studied them, his gaze assessing. "Speak freely. Maxwell, you go first."
Maxwell leaned forward. After narrating what happened in the dungeon, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. "It was intense. The dungeon was… chaotic, and we had to adapt quickly. I learned that there are monsters that could crack my hardened body."
Quinn nodded, encouraging him to continue. "What else?"
"I felt like we were constantly on edge. We made mistakes that could have killed us, but I think we managed to pull through as a team. The monsters could have talents too, which shocked me. I learned a lot about how things could go wrong quickly."
"That is good insight. And you, John, what is your insight?" Quinn changed his posture as his gaze shifted between John and Toby with interest.
John straightened his back, feeling the weight of Quinn's gaze. "It was frustrating. We went in with no intel about what to do or what kind of monsters we would be fighting. We didn't even know what kind of environment we had to deal with."
"Mhm. Continue." Quinn was listening attentively.
"But the most frustrating part was that Toby was treating the dungeon like playtime, flaunting his talent by disregarding the plan we agreed upon before the fight. It put me in a dangerous situation. If I didn't have my talent's second effect, which he was not aware of, I could have died. And if I had, they would have soon followed because I was occupying most of the monsters' attention." If looks could kill, the anger in John's eyes could have killed Toby a thousand times over.
Toby clenched his fists at his sides, his face flushing with anger. "You think you're so perfect, the center of everything? Your plan sucked, and you were reckless. It's not my fault. You didn't trust me at all, and you didn't even tell us your full talent."
John snorted in return. "Be a man and take responsibility for your own actions. The more you talk, the more I despise your pathetic excuses."
Quinn raised a hand to intervene. "This isn't the time for blame. You both faced a real challenge, and it's crucial to learn from it. What about you, Toby?"
Toby's expression softened slightly, but he kept his gaze locked on John. "I felt trapped. It was like I was being forced into a role I didn't want. I just wanted to protect myself and the team, but it felt like John didn't care about anyone but himself."
John's brow furrowed in disbelief. "You think I was only thinking about myself? I was trying to keep us alive!"
Quinn intervened before the argument could escalate further. "Enough. This mission was your first taste of reality, and it won't be the last. It's essential to communicate better and respect each of your team's strengths and weaknesses."
Quinn leaned back in his chair, observing them closely. "It's crucial to reflect on how you handle these conflicts. Each of you will be assigned to different departments, focusing on your talents and skills. It's time for you to begin your specialized training. This is just the beginning of your journey."
After a while, Quinn stood, indicating that their time was up. "Take the rest of the day off and tomorrow. Come to the training ground after your days off. Dismissed."
John couldn't shake the frustration brewing inside him. He understood the importance of teamwork, but he felt that Toby's reckless behavior jeopardized everything. He wanted to get his point across, but each time he opened his mouth, it felt like he'd only make things worse.
As they exited Quinn's office and walked down the corridor, each lost in their own thoughts. John glanced at Toby, who refused to meet his eyes, and knew it was better that he would be assigned to a different team after the next training.
John took a shower, changed his clothes, and took his car back to his apartment after not staying there the whole training period.
Upon entering his apartment, John was greeted by a thick layer of dust covering every surface. "I just want to sleep. I will clean when I wake up," John sighed as he went to his bedroom, changed the bed sheet, and threw himself on the bed, sleeping.