I stood near the stack of crates, quietly watching the hunters move through the main hall of the Association. They were loud, confident, shining like the heroes everyone believed them to be. Their armor glinted under the harsh lights, magical weapons strapped to their backs, their voices booming as they joked and prepared for their next raid.

No one even glanced in my direction. Not that I expected them to. I wasn't one of them—I didn't belong.

"Hey, Zero!"

I sighed quietly and turned just in time to see Toru stomping toward me. His frame was massive, his armor bulky, and his grin infuriatingly smug. He always found an excuse to come over and remind me of my place.

"Did you finish packing, or were you too busy dreaming of being a real hunter?" he sneered, stopping so close I could smell the cheap cologne he wore.

"It's done," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "Potions, mana shards, weapons, all accounted for."

He loomed over me, his grin widening. "Good. Wouldn't want you screwing up again, right? Not that it matters—you're just baggage anyway."

The others in his group laughed, not bothering to hide it. My fingers tightened around the crate I was carrying, but I said nothing. Experience had taught me that anything I said would only make things worse.

Toru gave me one last shove as he walked past, his shoulder knocking me off balance. I caught myself before I stumbled, but he didn't even bother to look back.

The portal room was quieter, but the air was thick with anticipation. The shimmering blue surface of the portal rippled in the center of a massive ring, its energy humming faintly. It always amazed me how something so strange had become so ordinary to the world.

Misaki, the team leader, stood at the front, double-checking her equipment. She was sharp and efficient, a no-nonsense type who rarely spared me more than a glance.

"This is a D-rank dungeon," she announced. "Should be routine. Toru, you're on point. Kana, you'll take rear guard. Watch for traps. As for you…" Her eyes flicked to me briefly. "Stay out of the way. If anything goes wrong, use your recall stone and report back. Got it?"

"Got it," I said.

She didn't wait for more. The team stepped through the portal one by one, disappearing into the rippling light. I followed last, the crate of supplies still clutched in my hands.

The air inside the dungeon was heavy, almost suffocating. It always felt like this, as if the place itself didn't want us there. The walls were dark stone, smooth and unnaturally cold, illuminated by floating orbs of light.

Misaki gave the signal, and the group fell into formation. Toru took the lead, gripping his massive axe like he was waiting for an excuse to use it. I hung back, staying near the entrance like I always did. My job was to carry supplies, not fight.

The first wave of monsters came quickly—goblins, their green skin gleaming under the dim light. They screeched and charged, their crude weapons clanging against the stone floor.

Toru roared as he swung his axe, cleaving through the first goblin with ease. Spells and arrows followed, the team dismantling the creatures with practiced precision. I watched from a distance, ready to step in if anyone needed healing potions or emergency supplies.

The fight was over in minutes, the goblins dissolving into shimmering fragments of mana. The hunters cheered, already moving on, but I stayed behind to collect what was left. Mana shards, broken weapons, potions—anything valuable went into my bag.

That's when I saw it.

A faint glow pulsed against the far wall, so subtle I almost missed it. It looked like a crack in the stone, but it vibrated softly, like it was alive.

Curiosity got the better of me. I stepped closer, placing my hand against the wall. The surface was warm, the glow intensifying slightly at my touch.

"What the hell are you doing, Zero?" Toru's voice snapped from across the room.

I ignored him, too focused on the strange sensation. My fingers pressed harder against the wall, and before I realized what was happening, the stone began to shift.

With a low rumble, the wall collapsed inward, revealing a dark passageway.

"Kei!" Misaki shouted, rushing toward me. "Step away from that—"

Before she could finish, a force like an invisible hand grabbed me. It yanked me forward, pulling me into the darkness of the passage.

"Kei!" Misaki's voice echoed, but I was already gone.

I landed hard on solid stone, the impact knocking the wind out of me. Gasping, I rolled onto my back, staring up at a cavernous ceiling far above.

The air here was different—hot, oppressive, and filled with a faint metallic tang. Slowly, I sat up, my head pounding.

The chamber around me was massive, carved with strange symbols that glowed faintly red. At its center floated a portal, unlike any I'd ever seen.

It wasn't blue.

The light was a deep, menacing red, pulsing like a heartbeat. Heat radiated from it, and I could feel something in the air—something wrong.

I stood shakily, my instincts screaming at me to turn back, but there was no turning back. The passage I'd fallen through was gone, replaced by a smooth wall of stone.

A low growl echoed through the cavern, sending chills down my spine. Slowly, I turned toward the sound.

A massive shape emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing like embers. The creature was unlike anything I'd ever seen—towering, muscular, and radiating an aura of raw malice.

My heart hammered in my chest. I had no weapon, no powers, no way to fight.

There was only one option.

I turned and sprinted toward the red portal, the heat intensifying with every step. The creature roared behind me, its claws scraping against the stone as it gave chase.

I didn't look back.

The red light swallowed me whole, and the world dissolved into searing heat and weightlessness.