Kai scanned the glowing rune on the wall, his gaze settling on the list of assigned teams. His fingers traced the names beside his own, committing them to memory.
Team Composition:
Kai Night (Rank 42, Element: Space)
Noah Balavan (Rank 7, Element: Severance)
Amani Vasir (Rank 8, Element: Death)
Ferris Alden (Rank 107, Element: Acceleration)
Celeste Astrea (Rank 2, Element: Pure Mana)
Kai frowned slightly. He had expected to be paired with competent fighters, but this lineup was better than he had anticipated.
Noah was a mystery his Severance element was rare and highly destructive, capable of cutting through well everything, an ability that few could counter.
Amani, despite her smug attitude, wielded the Death element, one of the most feared affinities in existence, capable of unraveling life itself.
Ferris, the only one lower ranked than Kai, possessed the Acceleration element, granting him bursts of speed that could make him one of the fastest fighters if utilized correctly.
And Celeste… Pure Mana meant flawless control, near-limitless adaptability, and raw magical power. As the Rank 2 student, she was likely the most dangerous one here, her ability to manipulate mana with precision making her an unpredictable force in battle.
Noah, standing beside him, chuckled softly. "Not bad, huh?" Kai blinked, startled. He hadn't even noticed Noah approaching. It was like he had just appeared out of nowhere.
He also seemed overly friendly for battle maniac as protrayed in the novel.
Kai turned, noting the amused glint in his red eyes. "You mean the team? Yeah, it's solid. Didn't expect you to be talkative."
Noah shrugged. "I'm usually not. But you" he gave Kai a sidelong glance "you're interesting."
Kai tensed slightly. "Why's that?"
"During the Will Test," Noah said, crossing his arms, "you went from total suppression to complete indifference. That doesn't just happen."
Amani, who had just walked up, smirked. "Yeah, that was weird. I thought you were going to be another dropout, but then boom you just decided the weight of will didn't matter? Doesn't work like that."
Kai forced a neutral expression. "Maybe I just realized it wasn't as bad as I thought."
Noah didn't look convinced, but he let it go. "Right."
Ferris joined them then, his usual grin in place. "Well, looks like we're stuck together. Hope you guys aren't slow I'm not planning to babysit anyone."
Amani rolled her eyes. "Relax, Ferris. The only one who needs babysitting here is Kai."
Kai sighed. "You just love taking shots at me, don't you? And for the record, I am ranked higher than Ferris."
Amani snorted. "Please. Everyone knows your rank was a mistake. Have you seen your mana control?"
Kai groaned. "Stop bringing that up."
Amani grinned. "It's entertaining."
Celeste arrived last, her presence immediately shifting the mood. Unlike the others, who carried themselves with casual confidence, Celeste's steps were deliberate, controlled. She regarded them with a calm, assessing gaze before speaking. "Before we proceed, we should understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. There's no point in forming a team if we don't know what we bring to the table."
She turned to the group expectantly. "I'll start. Celeste Astrea, Rank 2, Element: Pure Mana. My strength is adaptability I can manipulate mana precisely for both offense and defense. Weaknesses? I don't specialize in brute force."
Noah nodded, stepping forward. "Noah Balavan, Rank 7, Element: Severance. My ability cuts through mana itself, making most magical defenses useless. Weakness? My element is incredibly draining. Overuse will slow me down." " So I typically fight without usingit.
Amani grinned. "Amani Vasir, Rank 8, Element: Death. I don't need to explain, do I? Let's just say, you don't want to be on the receiving end. Weakness? My magic isn't subtle it's strong, but it draws attention."
Ferris smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Ferris Alden, Rank 107, Element: Acceleration. I'm fast. Really fast. That's my strength. Weakness? Well… let's just say if I get caught, things aren't looking good for me."
All eyes turned to Kai. He sighed, crossing his arms. "Kai Night, Rank 42, Element: Space-time. Strength? Mobility and unpredictability. Weakness?"
Amani cut in before he could answer. "His mana control is garbage."
Kai groaned. "Would you stop bringing that up?"
"We should strategize," she said, skipping any pleasantries. "The Dungeon may be novice-level, but it would be foolish to underestimate it."
Ferris groaned. "Oh great, she's one of those people."
Celeste's gaze flickered to him, her expression unreadable. "Those people?"
Ferris held up his hands. "The ones who take everything too seriously."
Celeste ignored him and turned to the rest of the group. "Our biggest concern will be the Warden. We have no information on its type, abilities, or combat style. We need to be adaptable."
Noah nodded. "I agree. We don't split up under any circumstances."
Kai folded his arms. "If things go south, escape plans?"
Amani leaned against a nearby pillar. "Run."
Kai sighed. "Fantastic."
Celeste's gaze flickered over them once more before she turned. "We meet at dawn. Be ready."
The morning air was crisp as they gathered at the Academy's outer courtyard. In the distance, the Grey Gate loomed a swirling mass of grey mist, the entrance to the Dungeon.
Kai felt a faint pull toward it, an unnatural sensation tugging at his core. It's like the world itself rejects it.
Arnold stood before them, his sharp gaze scanning the group. "This is your final chance to back out. Dungeons are not controlled environments. You die inside, you don't come back."
No one moved.
"Good," Arnold said, nodding. "The teams are set. Once you enter, your objective is simple find and eliminate the Warden. The Dungeon will collapse once it's dead."
Kai took a steadying breath. He had read about this. Studied it. But now, standing before the unknown, theory and reality felt miles apart.
"Step forward," Arnold commanded.
They did.
"Enter."
Kai's stomach twisted as he stepped into the swirling darkness of the Grey Gate. The world blurred around him, colors bleeding together into an unrecognizable void.
And then, they were inside.
The air was thick with decay. The sky if it could even be called that was a swirling mass of deep purple and black, shifting like an endless storm. Twisted structures loomed in the distance, jagged and unnatural, as though the Dungeon itself was alive.
A low growl echoed through the barren landscape.
Noah's hand went to his sword.
"Welcome to hell," Amani muttered.
Kai exhaled, steadying himself. Time to survive.