The E-Rank Dungeon loomed ahead, its entrance a Blue void swallowing the surrounding light. Pulses of strange energy emanated from it, crackling with a sense of danger that chilled Zane's bones. A rift, left unchecked, had caused havoc in the nearby village. Weak monsters like low-tier lizards had been spilling through for weeks, and now the adventurers had been sent in to contain the threat.

Zane Striker stood at the mouth of the dungeon, his worn-out armor creaking as he adjusted his stance. His breath came in shallow gasps, and his heart hammered against his chest. It wasn't the fear of the monsters that unnerved him, but the fact that he was the weakest one in the group.

The team had arrived early that morning, their faces set with determination. They were a mismatched bunch, but they knew their roles—each of them skilled, powerful in their own right. Zane, on the other hand, had no delusions of grandeur. He wasn't there because they wanted him; he was there because he had no other choice. The money from dungeon runs was the only way he could afford the treatments Mia his sister needed , and today, he'd do whatever it took to keep her alive.

His eyes swept over his teammates. They were all far stronger than he was. Leah, the Blaster, stood at the front, her platinum blonde hair catching the light as she sized up the dungeon. Her arms were crossed, her expression cold, but there was an edge of impatience in her gaze.

"Quit staring and get in line," Leah snapped without turning, her voice as sharp as a whip. She wasn't looking at him directly, but Zane felt the weight of her words all the same.

Toby, the rogue, grinned as he leaned against the rock wall, his twin daggers gleaming in the sunlight. "Don't worry about her, Zane," he said with a wink. "She's just grumpy because we're going into another dung heap."

Jenna, the defender, remained silent, her towering frame draped in thick armor. She adjusted the strap on her shield, the sheer weight of it a reminder of her role as the team's tank. She wasn't much for words, but she had a presence that demanded respect. Her eyes, though stern, flicked toward Zane with a brief nod. She didn't mock him like Leah did, but she never spoke to him much either.

Derrick, the healer, glanced at Zane for a moment, his usual calm demeanor in place. "Stay close, Zane," he murmured, his voice low. "The monsters here are more dangerous than they look."

Zane nodded, not trusting his voice. He had to prove himself. Today would be the day. He couldn't afford to mess up.

Leah, Toby, Jenna, and Derrick were an upcoming rookie group they've been in many dungeons, each for their own reasons—fame, money, the thrill. But Zane, as always, was here out of necessity. The System had passed him by; no higher rank would take him seriously, and his skills had plateaued years ago. He had been reduced to taking any job he could, scraping by just to afford a little more time with his sister.

Today, the tension was thick in the air. The dungeon hadn't been cleared in days, and rumors circulated that something far more dangerous had emerged from the depths. The last team to go in hadn't come out.

Leah glanced back at Zane, her lips curling into a smirk. "Just follow the group, and we'll be fine. If you die, don't expect us to carry you out."

Zane clenched his fists, but he didn't argue. It was true—he was nothing more than a liability in their eyes. But he had to prove them wrong, just once. For Mia.

The group descended into the dungeon, the smell of damp stone and stale air filling their nostrils as they moved through the dark corridors. The deeper they went, the more unsettling the atmosphere became, the silence pressing in on them from all sides.

Then, they heard it—the unmistakable sound of claws skittering across stone.

A Crag Lizard appeared, its yellow eyes glowing in the dark. The monster was the size of a bear, with jagged scales that looked like they could slice through steel. Its jaws snapped open, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Leah acted immediately, her voice sharp as she raised her hand and summoned a torrent of flames. The fire roared, spiraling through the air and crashing into the Crag Lizard's thick hide. The creature howled, thrashing its massive head, but the flames barely seemed to faze it. The tough, stone-like scales were resistant, and only the smallest areas were scorched.

Toby, ever the agile fighter, darted from the side, his twin daggers flashing like silver streaks. He struck at the creature's flank, aiming for any soft spot he could find, but the lizard's tail whipped around with a speed that belied its size. Toby's eyes widened just as the tail slammed into his side, sending him sprawling backward with a grunt of pain.

Jenna, the team's formidable Defender, stepped in immediately, her shield raised high. She absorbed the next swipe from the lizard's claws, the impact reverberating through her body, but her stance didn't falter. She was built for this—built to take the hits, to protect. Derrick, the healer, didn't waste a second. His hands were already weaving through the air, muttering an incantation as the faint glow of his healing magic enveloped Toby, mending his wounds.

But Zane? Zane was paralyzed.

He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him, the intensity of the creature's growls vibrating through the air, the tension of his teammates' movements. His throat was tight, and his hands—clutching his sword—felt like they were made of lead. His legs refused to move.

His gaze snapped back to the Crag Lizard, just as its massive claws scraped against the stone floor, the sound sharp like a jagged knife. It was coming for him.

Not again. I can't… The thought echoed through his mind, the memory of past failures rushing back like a tide. Every time he had hesitated, every time his abilities had fallen short, the weight of it all slammed into him. I can't let this happen again. Not while Mia's depending on me.

The lizard's eyes locked onto his, its yellow irises glowing with malice. The creature's jaws parted, revealing rows of jagged teeth that dripped with venomous saliva. Time slowed. Zane's pulse roared in his ears, his vision narrowing until all he saw was that monstrous maw closing in on him.

A cold sweat trickled down his neck as panic clawed at his chest. He wasn't fast enough. He wasn't strong enough. His sword—the only thing he had—was barely an extension of his own frail arm.His legs trembled, frozen in place.

Just as the lizard lunged, a shout came from behind him. "Zane, MOVE!"

Before he could react, Jenna was there. Her shield intercepted the lizard's massive claws with a deafening crash, blocking the creature's strike just in time. Zane was jerked out of his stupor as the lizard howled, its attention diverted toward the Defender.

Jenna took the brunt of the attack, her shield absorbing the force, but her armor groaned under the pressure. She staggered back but managed to hold her ground. Derrick's magic flared again, healing her with a pulse of energy.

Zane's heart was still racing, but the immediate danger had passed—for now. His team had acted quickly, taking control of the situation. But Zane? He was still standing there, completely useless.

The battle continued, but Zane couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that weighed him down like a thousand tons. His teammates fought valiantly, pushing the Crag Lizard back, each of them doing their part. Leah's fire blasts scorched the creature's hide. Toby, despite the pain, quickly recovered and slashed at its legs. Jenna stood like a wall, blocking blow after blow. Derrick's healing magic kept them all standing, his calm composure grounding the team.

It took them several minutes, but eventually, the Crag Lizard collapsed in a heap, defeated. The battlefield was still, the team's heavy breathing the only sound as they caught their breath.

Jenna grunted, lowering her shield. "That's the last of it."

Toby winced, rubbing his side. "I don't know how much more I can take." His grin was strained, but there was relief in his voice.

Leah scanned the area. "Everyone okay?"

"I'm fine," Derrick said, nodding at Toby, whose wounds had mostly healed.

Zane stood at the back, barely able to speak. He stared down at his sword, clenching and unclenching his fingers around the hilt. He had done nothing.

"You should head back," Leah said, her voice blunt. She wasn't unkind, but there was a firmness to her tone that left no room for argument. "We've cleared out the monsters here. You don't belong in a fight like this."

Zane felt a pang of humiliation, but it wasn't the first time it had happened. He didn't say anything, just nodded and turned to leave.

But when he reached the entrance, his heart sank. The dungeon's exit had... vanished.

"Where the hell did the entrance go?" Toby asked, his voice edged with disbelief.

Jenna, too, scanned the area, trying to make sense of the situation. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

Leah gritted her teeth. "It must be another anomaly. Damn it."

Derrick's eyes widened in realization. "We're trapped."

After a long pause, Leah exhaled. "We have no choice. We venture deeper. Maybe there's another way out."

They moved forward, deeper into the dungeon, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Zane hesitated, but despite his failure, something inside him pushed him forward. Mia's face flashed in his mind.

The deeper they went, the stronger the monsters became. Lizardmen were the main challenges of the dungeon, more aggressive and far more dangerous than the Crag Lizard. It was a relentless battle, each step harder than the last. But they pressed on.

Finally, after fighting through wave after wave, they came upon the boss room—a massive cavern with a creature unlike anything they had seen before. The Lizard Champion. A towering figure and with a Giant sword, it stood over 10 feet tall, its fists capable of crushing them with a single strike and with its giant sword in a single swing.

They fought with everything they had, their teamwork, their strength, their resolve. It took everything they had to defeat the Stone Goliath, but they managed it, though the cost was high everyone was exhausted And then, as if by fate, the exit to the dungeon finally appeared before them, a shimmering path leading back to the surface they decided to rest and catch back their breath .

But something else had appeared.

A path open in the dungeon , they had heard of hidden pathway that had different rewards other than loot they they got from the mobs and bosses sometimes they even got equipment that are above the dungeons rank,

Despite their eagerness to enter, Zane insisted that they exit. However, as an F rank, he doubted anyone would pay attention to his opinion.

Greed clouded their judgment.

"Let's go," Leah said, her voice almost eager. "There's treasure down there. We can't leave it behind."

Despite Zane's unease he followed them maybe thinking this could be life changing for him , they all moved toward the new path. And with each step, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was a mistake.

Chap 1 End