It's been a week since he last talked to me. She feels like Kaizen is so far away, even though we see each other at the office every day. Since that day, I've been left alone, but he seems so close and comfortable with Sarah, which makes me feel jealous.
But I've tried to talk to him. He always avoids me, and it makes me feel so lonely. Now, it's too late. Everything is my fault.
Today, I went to the office as usual. For today, our guild has been called for our first job—managing a Tier B dungeon. I need to stay professional about work. Okay, let's do this. Stay motivated!
The clock struck 10 in the morning. We headed to the dungeon as usual, and there were already guards waiting for us. The area was filled with crystal mining operations. Our task was to protect them, and as always, Sarah handled it flawlessly, while Kaizen seemed to avoid going in.
Today, it would be just Sarah and me entering the dungeon to guard the crystal mining team.
The captain of the mining team started the operation, and we followed closely behind to ensure everything went smoothly. They all worked with such enthusiasm and efficiency that it seemed our task would be over quickly. Everything appeared to be going well, and for a moment, it felt like the day would end without any issues.
An hour later, the captain began to grow suspicious. "This is the first time the job has gone so smoothly," he muttered. "There are always monsters that show up, but today it feels... too clear. It's like something is holding them back." His unease was palpable, and the tension in the air grew thicker. Something didn't feel right.
Don't worry, I'll go deeper to check the situation," she ventured further into the dungeon alone. After a while, she returned, her expression relaxed. "Everything seems fine. Nothing unusual today. Maybe we're just lucky. Let's head back," she suggested, her tone reassuring.
The team exchanged glances, some still uneasy, but with no signs of danger, they began to pack up and prepare to return.
As they were leaving, a pair of eyes watched them. They were huge and glowing red. It felt scary, but whatever it was stayed hidden, just watching. The team didn't notice and kept walking, but the air felt heavy, like something dangerous was waiting.
After everything was done and everyone was getting ready to leave, one of the mining team members suddenly spoke up.
"Someone's missing. They didn't come out." The captain's face turned red with anger. "How could they just disappear? Do you realize we'll be in big trouble if the higher-ups find out? This could cost us everything!"
The team froze, the earlier relief replaced by panic. They had to act fast—before it was too late.
Emma heard their conversation and volunteered to go search. Sarah wanted to join, but Emma stopped her. "Stay outside. If something happens inside, I'll let you know. Plus, I'm strong enough to handle it alone." Her tone was firm, and Sarah agreed, staying back with the team while Emma went back into the dungeon .
As Emma entered, the dungeon meter, which had shown Rank B before, suddenly changed to Rank SS. Her heart dropped. Everyone knew the rule: for dungeons Rank S and above, no one could leave until the dungeon was cleared.
The air felt heavier, and Emma realized—this wasn't a normal mission anymore. She was trapped, and the only way out was to face whatever was waiting deep inside the dungeon.
The scene changed inside the dungeon, which had turned into a swampy area with tall grass. Emma started searching, calling out for the missing person. Suddenly, she heard a walkie-talkie crackling somewhere in the grass.
Her heart pounded as she followed the sound, pushing through the thick grass. What she found shocked her—there, lying in the mud, was the body of the missing person. The head was gone, only the body remained. The air felt colder, and Emma knew the danger was much worse than she thought.
Emma pulled out her sword and activated her zone area, a skill that would instantly kill anything entering her range. She stood still, calm and focused, listening carefully.
The sound of the monster that killed the mining team member grew louder, coming closer quickly, but it was still invisible, its direction unclear.
The air felt tense, and Emma tightened her grip on her sword, ready to attack as soon as the creature appeared. The dungeon seemed to pause, waiting for the fight to begin.
The monster was smart—it came out from the ground under Emma, but she was lucky to dodge in time. It looked like a giant snake, with a sleek, dangerous body, clearly suited for the wet environment. Emma's heart raced as she realized this fight would be tough.
The creature's speed and the swampy area gave it an advantage, but Emma tightened her grip on her sword . This was going to be a hard battle, but she had no choice—she had to win.
Emma tried to jump onto the snake and swung her sword at its scales, but its skin was tough, making it invulnerable. The snake then whipped its tail at Emma's body. Emma attempted to block it with her sword, but the impact caused her to be thrown far away.
"I won't give up," Emma said, tying up her hair. She stood still, activated her zone area once again, and unleashed her Battle Cry and Sword Ballet . This time, she knew she had to aim precisely for the snake's eyes.
The snake charged at her head-on, but as soon as it entered Emma's zone, it began to get injured, as if something invisible was attacking it. Yet, Emma remained standing. It was the zone that granted Emma incredible speed, making her movements almost too fast to see.
Ah, the snake still has a trick! Just as Emma prepares to deliver her final strike, the snake suddenly releases a cloud of toxic venom into the air, filling the zone around it. The venom burns Emma's eyes and lungs, forcing her to retreat momentarily. The snake, now enraged and desperate, begins to thrash wildly, its movements becoming even more unpredictable.
Emma realizes she needs to adapt quickly. She tightens her grip on her sword, using her Battle Cry to boost her morale and resist the effects of the venom. She knows she can't afford to waste any more time. With her enhanced speed from the zone, she circles the snake, looking for an opening.
But it didn't last long. The venom began to spread, and Emma couldn't hold on any longer. Her vision started to blur, and her nose began to bleed. "Is this my last day? I should have tried harder to apologize to Kaizen... at least one last time. I really need to see him again."
Emma used all her remaining energy and mana in this final fight, hoping it would be enough. With every ounce of strength she had left, she poured her heart into this last effort, praying it would succeed.
she activated all her strongest abilities—Battle Cry, Sword Ballet , and her zone—in one last, hopeful attack.
Her sword gleamed with the pure energy of her resolve as she charged forward, pouring every ounce of her willpower into this decisive moment. "This is it... everything I have left," she thought, her heart racing .
The air around her crackled with power as she unleashed her final assault, aiming straight for the snake's weak point.
And in the end, Emma remained standing while the snake lay motionless. However, Emma too collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. The venom had spread throughout her body, and she realized that even though she had won, the poison would kill her. *"It looks like I won, but this venom will be the end of me. Never mind... why am I thinking of him?"*
Blood began to trickle from Emma's mouth, but in her final moments, she gathered all her remaining strength to utter her last words: "I LOVE YOU, KAIZEN!" as loudly as she could, her voice echoing with raw emotion.
After that, Emma closed her eyes, her body growing weaker. Though she had defeated her enemy, her sacrifice might mark the end of her story.
Before her eyes closed, Emma thought she saw Kaizen, and then her vision faded to darkness.
Kaizen had been there since the beginning of the fight. From the start, he had been clearing the path of monsters, ensuring nothing would interfere. *"Aish, this girl... if you wanted to confess your feelings, at least don't do it when you're about to die," . He knelt beside her, lifting her into his arms. "You're strong, Emma. I won't let you die. I'll support you, even from afar."
Kaizen carried Emma out of the dungeon, cradling her in his arms. Everyone outside was waiting anxiously. As they saw a figure emerge from the dungeon, their eyes widened. "It's Kaizen and Emma!!" someone shouted.
The medical team rushed forward, quickly taking Emma from Kaizen's arms and rushing her to the hospital as fast as possible.