It was already Monday, and as Daemon had expected, the authorities had found the bodies of Dylan and Ren. And Amy was the prime suspect, and she was missing. Though the media didn't cover anything about the deaths of Dylan and Ren.
They only reported that Amy was wanted. The tension in the room was palpable as students whispered among themselves.
"Did you hear about the news?" a random guy asked his friend.
"Yeah, I heard. I always knew Amy was a bully, but I never thought she'd be a criminal," the friend replied, shaking his head.
"Exactly. The news said she's wanted, but they don't even know what she did yet. And her gang is missing, too."
"Well, I heard a rumor that those three killed someone."
"No, I heard Amy killed those two for some reason, and now she's gone. They found her weapon's mark on Dylan and Ren's bodies."
"How do you know that?"
"I heard it from a friend."
The room buzzed with speculation and rumors. Some of the gossip was far from the truth, but others had more than a hint of accuracy. The reason why all the details about Dylan and Ren's deaths were being kept from the public was because of the Academy's influence. After all, the tragic truth was that one of their own students had killed two others.
Just as the conversation continued, a cold but authoritative voice cut through the noise.
"Good morning, Cadets," Professor Elena's voice echoed as she entered the classroom, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she made her way to her desk. The room fell silent, everyone snapping to attention.
Professor Elena didn't waste any time. "Today, you will be participating in practical dungeon explorations," she announced, her tone firm and unwavering.
A wave of excitement rippled through the classroom. Students exchanged eager glances, some whispering to their friends. Dungeon explorations were one of the most thrilling parts of their training—a real test of everything they had learned so far.
It made sense that they had waited a full month for this. Most first-year students had never stepped foot inside a dungeon before. They needed time to understand the dangers and prepare themselves before being thrown into real combat situations.
Professor Elena continued, "You will be divided into teams based on your ranks. Each team will enter a different dungeon, facing unique challenges and monsters."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the room.
"Dungeons are extremely dangerous. Your safety is the top priority. Always follow your team leader's instructions and work together. Failure to do so could lead to serious consequences."
The energy in the room was still buzzing, but now a layer of tension crept in. This wasn't just another classroom exercise—it was the real thing.
Most students gave a nod of acknowledgment, though Daemon could tell by their casual expressions that many weren't taking it as seriously as they should. They assumed it would be simple.
Professor Elena turned toward the board at the front of the room, and a screen flickered to life. "The dungeon you'll be entering is one of the Academy's controlled training grounds," she announced. "There's no risk of fatal injuries."
On the screen, a small icon pulsed in the corner. "This indicator tracks your condition," Elena continued. "If it turns red, it means you've sustained critical damage. At that point, the examiners will immediately pull you from the session. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Professor!" The class responded in unison, their voices filling the room. Elena's gaze swept over them, and a faint smile crossed her lips, satisfied with their enthusiasm.
She gave a small nod before continuing, "By now, you should have received a message on your bracelets. This contains all relevant details for today's dungeon run—your assigned team and the creatures you'll be facing. Read it carefully."
The air in the classroom buzzed with a mix of excitement and nerves. Thanks to his enhanced perception, Daemon easily picked up the hushed conversation of two nearby students.
"This is kind of exciting, isn't it?" one whispered eagerly.
"It is, but I hope we don't run into anything too dangerous," the other replied, his voice low and uncertain.
Their soft chatter was abruptly cut off when Professor Elena's piercing gaze swept across the room. Instantly, the lively murmurs died down, as if the silence itself had been commanded by her presence.
"Am I interrupting something?" she asked, her tone cool and unyielding.
The students quickly averted their eyes, knowing all too well that Elena was not one to tolerate idle chatter. "I asked you a question, didn't I?" she continued, a hint of anger edging her words.
A girl sitting in the front, known for her loud conversations, answered timidly, "No, Professor," her voice shaking slightly.
Elena's stern expression said it all. "I suggest you all focus on the training ahead instead of wasting time with idle talk," she admonished sharply.
"I'm sorry, Professor," the girl muttered in response.
Elena's eyes swept the room, and with a pointed remark she added, "It's good that you know your faults, unlike someone else." At that, every head turned—naturally, many eyes fixed on Daemon. Despite the provocation, he held her gaze steadily, his eyes growing cold.
"Now," Elena continued, "the dungeon will be monitored by examiners who will step in if they see any serious risk to your safety. Form your teams and proceed to the entrance of the artificial dungeon".
With that, the room shifted from whispers to organized murmurs of preparation, the tension and anticipation mounting as the students began to form their teams.
Daemon flicked open his watch, his eyes scanning the glowing screen displaying his team assignment.
[Team 6]
Amelia Emberfall – Student Rank 2
Alex Talon – Student Rank 538
Lydia Hamor – Student Rank 1062
Daemon Gracefall – Student Rank 3250
His expression darkened. Of all the people he could have been grouped with, it had to be her.
Twice now, he thought bitterly. He had been doing his best to steer clear of the main characters, avoiding unnecessary entanglements with them. Yet fate—or whatever cruel force governed this world—seemed intent on throwing them in his path.
And Amelia Emberfall, of all people.
Daemon exhaled sharply, suppressing the irritation bubbling inside him. If there was one character in the game he never had the patience for, it was her. A whiny, arrogant girl with parental issues. That single sentence summed her up perfectly.
This dungeon expedition was going to be more annoying than he had anticipated.
Daemon exhaled a quiet sigh before rising from his seat, making his way toward the corner where his team had gathered.
A girl with striking crimson hair and sharp golden eyes stood at the center, radiating confidence. She crossed her arms and spoke in a tone laced with arrogance.
"I don't think I need to introduce myself, but for formality's sake, my name is Amelia Emberfall."
"Obviously not, Miss Emberfall." A boy with a sturdy build and dark brown hair responded with a stiff voice. "I'm Alex. I specialize in defense—I'm a tank."
Next, a girl with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes stepped forward. Her expression was calm but composed.
"Lydia Hamor, archer," she introduced herself briefly.
Amelia gave a satisfied nod. "Good. With Alex handling defense, Lydia covering us from a distance, and me dealing damage, our team is well-balanced."
Just as Lydia turned toward Daemon to ask about his role, Amelia cut in without sparing him a glance.
"We shouldn't waste any more time. Let's head to the dungeon entrance."
Daemon didn't react. He had expected this. He knew Amelia all too well—her personality, her strengths, and her flaws. She was someone who disregarded the weak and only respected those she deemed strong.
Without a word, he followed behind the group.
Upon reaching the entrance to the artificial dungeon, Daemon's eyes landed on the large warp gate pulsing with a steady blue glow. Its energy shimmered like rippling water, distorting the air around it.
A nearby examiner, dressed in a dark uniform, stepped forward. "Team 6, you may enter now."
Without hesitation, the team stepped into the gate. As Daemon followed, a faint hum filled the air, and in the next instant, his vision was swallowed by a brilliant blue light. When it faded, they found themselves standing inside the dungeon.
The moment Daemon materialized inside the dungeon, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew thick, heavy with an eerie silence, and the dim light from the warp gate faded behind them. Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, swallowing their surroundings whole.
"I'll take the lead," Amelia declared with unwavering confidence. A small flicker of fire ignited in her palm, growing into bright flames that illuminated the passage ahead. The firelight cast flickering shadows along the jagged walls, revealing narrow corridors stretching deeper into the unknown.
"Alright, everyone, foll—" Amelia began, but before she could finish, the flames abruptly snuffed out.
Darkness returned, deeper and more suffocating than before.
"What?" Amelia's voice carried a rare note of confusion. She waved her hand, attempting to reignite the fire, but nothing happened. Her golden eyes widened in disbelief. "What's going on?"
Daemon remained silent, observing her reaction. While he knew the key events of Arthur's journey, the game never revealed every detail about the rest of the main cast. This was one of those moments—an unfamiliar dungeon, details that even Daemon doesn't know.
But it was then, a soft chime rang in his mind, and a translucent blue window appeared before him.
[Quest: Complete the dungeon before everyone in the class, including your teammates.]
[Reward: +10 to all stats]
A slow smirk formed on Daemon's lips.
'Now this just got interesting'.