"Haha…"
Hearing Bastion's words, the staff couldn't hold back their laughter, and even Ryan, Elena, and the others burst out chuckling.
Cleared the dungeon? First day in the Initiation Dungeon, starting from Level 1, soloing through it in just eight hours? That's absurd.
If it were that easy, then the record set by Warren and his team all those years ago wouldn't still be at the top. Back then, Warren and his group were high-level hidden classes who had reached Level 7 before they even entered the dungeon together. Their record was achieved with top-tier teamwork and elite experience.
Ryan couldn't resist sneering. "You? A Beast Summoner with a Fire Fox cleared the dungeon? Stop pretending to be something you're not!"
Though Elena and the others didn't say it out loud, their expressions were filled with disbelief as well.
The only one who seemed to sense something was off was Principal Michael, who raised an eyebrow, his face thoughtful. He knew Bastion well and couldn't imagine him making up something so outlandish. Plus, Bastion had spent eight hours in the dungeon and didn't appear to be injured at all...
Could it be…?
Michael threw out an Appraisal spell to verify. When he saw the results, his face turned to shock.
Level 7?
How had Bastion gone from Level 1 to Level 7 in just eight hours?
What had he been doing in there? Had he actually cleared the dungeon?
Before Michael could recover from the shock, a figure rushed over from the administrative area.
Seeing who it was, Elena couldn't contain herself, and her grievances welled up. "Dad!"
Ryan jumped at the chance, addressing the man in a flattering tone. "Commander Samuel, hello! I'm Ryan, Elena's teammate. We met before."
Samuel looked surprised to see his daughter emerging from the dungeon area, but his focus was on the figure standing alone in front of the dungeon entrance—Bastion. He completely ignored Ryan.
"Hello, Bastion," Samuel said with a bright smile. "I'm Samuel, the Initiation Dungeon coordinator. Congratulations on breaking the record for the fastest solo completion of the Initiation Dungeon!"
His voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
Silence fell over the entire area, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared, stunned, even Principal Michael, who was now visibly trying to process this turn of events.
Elena's mouth fell open, her gaze fixed on Bastion in disbelief. Ryan's face twisted in horror as he stammered, "How is that possible? He's just a Beast Summoner with a Fire Fox! There's no way he soloed it! The monsters alone would crush him!"
Samuel turned to him with a stern look. "Are you doubting me? Or are you doubting the fairness of the Initiation Dungeon?"
Ryan immediately shrank back. "N-no… I'm not doubting anything… I just… I thought he only had a Fire Fox… How could it be this powerful?"
Samuel's expression softened as he looked at Bastion again. "Bastion has cleared the Initiation Dungeon, and his completion time is officially recorded. His summoned beast's abilities are his private matter. If you don't believe it, feel free to check the records yourself."
All eyes turned to the electronic display board.
There, at the very top, Bastion's name stood proudly, pushing down the previous record. No one could doubt it now.
Elena and her healer teammate felt a pang of regret. If they hadn't turned Bastion down as a teammate, would their names be up on that board too?
Ryan, meanwhile, looked like he'd swallowed something bitter. His expression was twisted with frustration.
As Principal Michael recovered from his surprise, he beamed with pride, his wrinkles stretching with a smile. Bastion had given him the greatest surprise possible. Entering at Level 1 and completing the dungeon in eight hours was practically unheard of; even on a global scale, this would be considered a phenomenal achievement.
Michael couldn't help but recall the mysterious phenomenon during Bastion's class awakening ceremony. Could it have been caused by Bastion, not Ryan?
The thought made him uneasy. Bastion's extraordinary talent and unprecedented dungeon clear time could make him a target for Abyssal followers and dark organizations. He decided to keep his suspicion to himself.
"Haha! I was worried something had happened to you, but it seems you've given me a massive surprise instead," Michael laughed. "Soloing the dungeon in eight hours! Excellent work, Bastion!"
"Take a day to rest, and then go again! Let's see if you can break your own record," Michael added encouragingly.
Samuel's mind was racing. His gaze fell on his daughter. He didn't know what had caused her to leave the dungeon early, but he saw an opportunity here. The right teammate could help her make up lost ground, and no one would be better than Bastion.
"Bastion," he said, "you must be getting tired of solo runs. Why not partner with my daughter, Elena, next time? Her cooldown matches yours, and a team of two could be an interesting change."
Elena blushed, a hint of hope in her eyes. Bastion had cleared the dungeon alone; if she could join him, she'd gain experience faster than anyone else. But would he want her now, after she'd rejected him?
Bastion's gaze flicked over to her, and his voice was calm. "I'm sorry, I'll pass. The difference in our abilities is too large for us to team up."
Elena's face paled as she heard her own words thrown back at her, her teeth pressing into her lip until it bled. Samuel's expression faltered as he realized his daughter must have burned her bridge with Bastion earlier.
As Samuel pondered the lost opportunity, a notification flashed on his interface. His face grew serious, and his gaze turned thoughtful.
Michael noticed and asked, "What's going on, Samuel?"
Samuel swallowed, trying to steady his voice as he shared the message. "I just received a communication from Ironwall Outpost's commander, Lord Warren."
The name drew everyone's attention, even Bastion's.
"Lord Warren wants me to keep Bastion's record private until after the exams. He doesn't want Abyssal followers targeting Bastion prematurely." Samuel looked at Bastion with envy. "Additionally, Lord Warren sent a message to you personally, Bastion."
Samuel's tone was reverent as he relayed Warren's words: "Do well in your exams. I look forward to the day you join us at Ironwall Outpost."