Simon arrived at the train station just before midnight. The air was cold, damp, and heavy with something intangible—an unspoken promise of danger. Others had gathered, too, holding the same black envelope. The station was alive with whispers, curiosity, and tension.
The selection process began the moment they stepped into the decommissioned station. A hologram flickered into view, depicting a figure whose face was hidden beneath a hood. The voice was monotone, clinical.
"You have been chosen to enter the Grand Dungeon," it said. "Before proceeding, you must undergo augmentation. Step forward and present yourselves for **mana integration."
Simon hesitated. Others stepped forward, their confidence betraying how little they understood the risks. The first participant—a young man in his early twenties—screamed as the holographic machine descended, injecting his body with an artificial Arcane Nexus. His veins glowed faintly before the light subsided.
When Simon's turn came, he felt a rush of heat spread through his chest. His vision blurred, and his body trembled as the Nexus bonded with his nerves. Unlike others, who seemed to recover quickly, Simon's integration took longer. When he stood, his eyes briefly glowed amber—a phenomenon no one else experienced.
"Interesting," the hologram muttered. "Proceed."