After a dizzying flash, Bastion found himself in a dense forest. The earthy scent of soil and the fragrance of wildflowers filled his nose, while distant howls echoed through the trees.
"So, this is Initiation Dungeon," he muttered, surveying his surroundings. Beside him, Pyra leaped down gracefully, her fox ears twitching as she remained alert to any approaching threats.
"Let's go in," he said.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the temperature noticeably dropped. Suddenly, rustling came from a nearby thicket, and a red-furred Fire Fox emerged.
Bastion cast Appraisal.
[Fire Fox]
[Level: 2]
[Strength: 10]
[Mental Power: 15]
[Agility: 10]
[Endurance: 10]
[Skill: Bite (Iron-tier)]
At his mental command, Pyra charged forward like a streak of red light. Her sharp claws extended from her fluffy paws, gleaming like blades.
Whoosh!
Her claws cut through the air, striking the Fire Fox with a swift, decisive blow that tore its body apart, depleting its health bar instantly.
Instant kill!
[Congratulations! You gained 12 XP for defeating a Level 2 Fire Fox.]
[Loot obtained: Fire Fox Pelt ×1]
Not bad—the first monster had already dropped some materials. Bastion checked his experience bar; he needed 100 XP to reach Level 2, so killing just nine Fire Foxes would get him there.
Pyra rubbed against Bastion's leg in excitement, and he patted her. "Nice job! Keep it up!"
A few steps later, they encountered another Fire Fox. This one was only Level 1, with even lower stats, and Pyra easily tore it apart.
The forest had no clear paths, and Bastion couldn't rely on tech devices to navigate, so he followed the advice he'd read: just keep moving toward the setting sun.
Suddenly, a white blur shot out from a nearby bush, lunging straight at him.
[Thunder Rabbit]
[Level: 3]
[Strength: 22]
[Mental Power: 8]
[Agility: 32]
[Endurance: 22]
[Skill: Thunder Rush (Iron-tier)]
The rabbit was small but had long, razor-sharp fangs that looked deadly. Electric sparks crackled around it as it activated Thunder Rush, aiming to sink its fangs into Bastion.
Just as the sharp teeth were about to strike, Pyra darted forward, gracefully pinning the rabbit to the ground with her elegant paw. Her claws sliced through it effortlessly, tearing the creature in two.
[Congratulations! You gained 22 XP for defeating a Level 3 Thunder Rabbit.]
[Loot obtained: Thunder Rabbit Pelt ×1]
The power of a divine-blooded summon was truly terrifying!
---
Meanwhile, outside Initiation Dungeon, in the administrative office area…
Brighton High School's principal, Michael, was chatting with Samuel, the dungeon supervisor.
"This is your last year, isn't it?" Samuel asked. "You're retiring next year?"
"Yeah, I'm hoping to make Honorary Lifetime Principal before I go."
Samuel glanced at the report his assistant had handed him. "Brighton High School's students don't seem to be doing too well in their class changes this year."
"That's why I'm here, to see how other schools are faring," Michael sighed. "Though we do have Ryan—his class change phenomenon was extraordinary."
Samuel, known for his bluntness, replied, "Phenomena only indicate potential class strength. To become a true powerhouse, it still depends on the person. I've met Ryan, and I'm not impressed."
"Yet you let him team up with your daughter?" Michael teased.
"Just for leveling speed," Samuel shrugged. "Besides, it's not like she has to get too close."
Samuel's expression softened as he recalled something. "Oh, right! What about your top student, the one who used to ace every exam… what's his name? Jiang Ping?"
"Bastion," Michael corrected with a sigh. "He ended up as a Beast Summoner. It's a slow start, but if he finds a good team, he might still be able to catch up at his second transition."
Samuel shook his head. "Beast Summoners have a tough time finding teams. My eldest daughter also ended up as a divine Beast Summoner. Even with her hidden class, finding teammates wasn't easy."
"But she was lucky—her companion egg hatched into a rare humanoid pet, a twin-winged angel. Without that, she wouldn't have gotten into Horizon Academy."
Michael laughed. "Come on, we all remember your three-day banquet after her class change. You practically announced it to the world."
"Can't help it!" Samuel chuckled. "Anyway, let's get back to business. I have the school reports here if you're interested in how Brighton compares."
"C'mon, you know I'm not here to steal secrets," Michael said. "Just give me an overview, I won't pry for names."
Samuel glanced at him with a playful grin. "Fine, fine… Well, to be honest, Brighton isn't doing great this year. First High has you beat by a mile. They even have a unique hidden support class, a sound mage with incredible area-wide buffs. Apparently, they're already lined up for Horizon Academy."
Michael's smile faded. He forced a laugh, saying, "Well, at least Ironwall Outpost will have stronger support in the future."
"Don't worry too much. Who knows, maybe Ryan will surprise you," Samuel said, trying to reassure him. He opened his screen to check the new students' dungeon entries.
"Hmm, as expected, the sound mage didn't enter the Initiation Dungeon. The family probably arranged a safer way for them to level."
"Ryan and Elena's team looks solid. With good coordination, they should level up quickly."
"Oh?" Samuel's expression shifted as he saw a name. "I have some bad news for you."
"What?"
"One of your students—Jiang Ping—entered the dungeon solo."
"What?" Michael's fatigue disappeared as he leaped to his feet. "A Beast Summoner… He must have had trouble finding a team and decided to go alone."
"That's reckless! Even with the emergency talisman, a sudden death impact could leave him mentally damaged or even a vegetable."
"Can you pull him out?"
Samuel's face turned serious. "I can't. The Initiation Dungeon is a closed system. No one can interfere, and I've already bent the rules just by telling you. Please don't make it harder for me."
Michael collected himself and nodded. "You're right. My apologies."
Turning to leave, Michael muttered, "He's from Heartstone Orphanage."
Samuel's gaze hardened as he repeated softly, "Heartstone Orphanage…"
"I just hope it's not too late."