JC stood at the edge of the shelter's balcony, staring out at the sprawling city of Magina. Neon lights flickered in the distance, illuminating the towering skyscrapers and the faint outlines of the barrier walls beyond. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one louder than the last.
The attack, the cloaked figure, the shadows—none of it was a coincidence. If they were going to survive whatever was coming, they couldn't afford to stay on the defensive. They had to get stronger.
His hand instinctively went to the pendant around his neck, its soft glow pulsing against his palm. The weight of his family's legacy pressed down on him, heavier than it had ever felt before.
Behind him, Angel's voice broke the silence. "You've been quiet all morning."
JC didn't turn around. "Thinking."
Angel leaned against the railing beside him, her arms crossed. "That's never a good sign. What's going on in that head of yours?"
JC hesitated for a moment before speaking. "We're not ready."
Angel raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For whatever's coming next," JC said, his voice firm. "That thing I fought—it wasn't even the worst of what they can throw at us. If we stay here, hiding, we're just sitting ducks."
"So, what do you suggest? Running?"
"No," JC replied, his gaze hardening. "Training. And not just any training. There's a dungeon not far from here—outside the walls."
Angel stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "A dungeon? Are you serious? Those places are suicide! Even the elites don't go in there without backup."
"Exactly," JC said, turning to face her. "That's why we need to go. If we're going to stand a chance against whoever's after us, we have to push ourselves past our limits. The dungeon will do that."
Angel shook her head, her frustration evident. "And what about the others? You really think Mark, Lissy, and Jackson are ready for something like that? We barely survived the last fight."
"They won't be ready if we don't try," JC said firmly. "Look, I know it's dangerous. I know what I'm asking. But sitting around, waiting for the next attack, isn't an option. If we don't take control of the situation, we're as good as dead."
Angel sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You're really set on this, aren't you?"
JC nodded. "I am. But I won't force anyone to come. If they're not ready, they can stay here."
"And you?"
JC smirked faintly. "I'm going, with or without them."
---
Later, JC gathered the group in the main room of the shelter. The tension in the air was palpable as he explained his plan.
"A dungeon?" Mark repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."
"He's not," Angel said, her arms crossed.
Lissy looked worried. "But… those places are filled with monsters. And traps. People don't come back from them."
"Which is exactly why we need to go," JC said. "We need to get stronger. The dungeon will force us to learn, adapt, and grow. It's the only way we stand a chance."
Jackson glanced nervously at the others. "But what if we don't make it out?"
JC's gaze softened slightly. "That's a risk we have to take. I won't lie to you—this is dangerous. But the alternative is waiting here, doing nothing, and hoping we survive the next attack. I'm not willing to take that chance."
Silence filled the room as everyone processed his words.
Finally, Angel spoke up. "I'm in."
JC glanced at her, surprised.
She shrugged. "Someone's gotta make sure you don't get yourself killed."
Mark groaned, running a hand through his hair. "This is insane. But… I guess if Angel's going, I don't have much of a choice."
Lissy hesitated, her green eyes darting between the others. "I'm scared," she admitted. "But… I trust you, JC. If you think this is what we need to do, then I'll go."
All eyes turned to Jackson, who looked like he wanted to disappear. After a long pause, he sighed. "Fine. But if I die, I'm haunting all of you."
JC smiled faintly. "Fair enough."
---
The next morning, the group stood at the edge of the barrier wall, the shimmering energy field towering above them. Beyond it lay the wastelands—a desolate expanse of ruins and monsters, with the dungeon looming in the distance like a dark, foreboding shadow.
"This is it," JC said, his voice steady. "Once we step through, there's no turning back."
Angel smirked. "No pressure, right?"
Mark adjusted his gear nervously. "I can't believe we're actually doing this."
"Believe it," Lissy said, her voice trembling slightly but filled with resolve.
Jackson muttered something under his breath, but he stepped forward with the others.
JC took a deep breath, his hand tightening around his pendant. The storm within him stirred, a mix of fear and determination.
"Let's go," he said.
And with that, they stepped through the barrier, into the unknown.