Gervas's team entered the ruins, their footsteps echoing through the ancient stone halls. Ahead of them loomed an imposing open door that led underground. That door emanating a visible aura of magic that rippled faintly in the air.Gervas stopped for a moment, studying the door with a nod of satisfaction, while his team shifted restlessly behind him.Griselda, the sly woman with the panther at her side, sneered as she glanced back over her shoulder."Why don't we just turn around and teach those amateurs a lesson?" Her voice dripped with disdain, and her panther flicked its tail as if mirroring her impatience.But Gervas shook his head and said with flat and dismissive tone. "We'd be wasting time. Besides, they're hardly worth the effort."Griselda raised an eyebrow with a pout on her lips."Are you sure it's not because you don't want to hurt her?" she asked, her words laced with a hint of challenge. "Not because you still have some...feeling?"Gervas's eyes narrowed, and he turned to glare at her, his expression hardening. "Drop it. I don't want to talk about that now."Griselda shrugged, a flicker of irritation crossing her face but she kept quiet, though her frustration simmered beneath the surface. She couldn't understand why Gervas was so fixated on someone like Irene, especially after that illegitimate child rejected him so openly.But the truth hidden behind his hardened expressions and mocking sneers, was that Gervas couldn't shake the sting of that rejection. No one had ever turned him down before. Moreover a girl from a ragtag team like Irene. His words toward her may have grown sharper but a small part of him still lingered on the idea of what could have been. He still have a feeling for her.Gervas pushing down his irritation and motioned his team forward. They moved through the door and descending into the Dungeon.---Not far behind, John, Irene, Marik, and Amel paused, watching Gervas's team disappear into the shadows below. They waited until the rival team was well out of earshot before moving closer to the Dungeon entrance.Before they could proceed, John held up a hand."Before we go in, I need to know more about your abilities. I'm still new here, remember?"Irene gave a thoughtful nod, then turned to Marik and Amel, gesturing for them to share."You've already seen my Beast," Marik said. "I'm the one who stay up front and most of the time take the brunt of the hits. I also have a shield if things get too rough.""My Beast's a healer," Amel said. "I'm here for support, to keep everyone patched up if we get into trouble."John nodded, appreciating the balance in the team. Having a tank and a healer was essential for their survival. This group, even without rare or legendary Beasts, had the critical elements that could carry them through, if used effectively.He glanced at Irene. "And your Beast?" he asked.For a moment, a shadow passed over Irene's face. She hesitated, her gaze dropping. When she looked back up at John, her expression was solemn, a sad smile pulling at her lips."My Beast died a few months ago."John's eyes widened, caught off guard. He hadn't expected that.John blinked, momentarily stunned, before glancing over at Marik and Amel. Their faces reflected the same sadness."I'm... sorry," John said quietly, sensing the weight of her loss. He could only imagine how devastating it must be to lose a Beast. A Beast that was more than just a fighter, but most likely also her partner and a friend."It's because of that bastard," Amel muttered, her glare directed at the Dungeon door, as if she could burn it down with sheer anger."Gervas?" John asked.Amel nodded, her face twisting with resentment. "Yeah.""Don't worry," Irene said. "It doesn't matter right now. Let's go inside. I'm still pretty strong even without a Beast, you know." She gave John a reassuring smile as if wanted to assured him. But John could see a glimmer of pain behind her eyes.He smiled back, nodding as he tried to lift the somber mood."Alright then. But you guys might be surprised when you see what Inky here can do." He reached down to pat his Beast. "His name's Inky, by the way. He has a Shadow affinity, and he's got a skill for hiding us in the shadows. Keeps our presence hidden from enemies."Irene, Marik, and Amel's eyes widened in surprise."Wait, really?" Amel's eyes sparkled with awe as she crouched down to get a closer look at Inky, her voice filled with wonder.John chuckled, while Inky, sensing the attention, gave a proud nod and flashed a wide, toothy grin."A Beast with a Shadow affinity is rare," Marik murmured, his tone a mix of respect and curiosity. "How'd you manage to tame him?"John hesitated, looking down at Inky. Memories flashed through his mind of their first battle, the bond they'd created after trying to kill each other."Well, I just tamed him," he finally said with a small smile, the simplicity of his answer hiding the weight of the awkward memories behind it.A sense of understanding passed between them after hearing John's revelation and Irene stepped forward, her confident smile widening as she gestured toward the darkened entrance."Alright then. Let's show Gervas and his team that we're more than just 'low-ranked adventurers.' Shall we?"With a shared nod, they entered the Dungeon.---