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When the strongest adventurer of all time took his final breath, the world changed rapidly. History continued to move forward, and the name Corrin Syxder—once a force that shook the world—slowly faded with time, forgotten by the new generation.
However, the era of adventurers was far from over. As time passed, numerous adventurer clans emerged across the world, each with their own ambitions and goals. Among them, one clan stood out—not just for its strength, but because every single one of its members was a woman.
One day, deep inside a B-rank dungeon, one of the clan's members stood alone, gasping for breath.
Her body was covered in wounds, her sword trembled in her grip, and before her—monsters continued to swarm in, their numbers overwhelming.
For the first time, she felt that this might be the end for her.
This dungeon was supposed to be only B-rank.
It shouldn't have been a problem for Alisia Veylance, an A-rank adventurer and one of the top members of Azure Valkyrie—an elite adventurer clan composed entirely of highly skilled women.
Yet now, she stood amidst the ruins, her body shaking, her breathing ragged, and blood trickling from the wounds that marred her pale skin. Her long, beautiful blue hair was disheveled, strands clinging to her sweat-drenched face. The confidence that usually shone in her eyes was now replaced by exhaustion—and a hint of despair.
Surrounding her were dozens of monsters. Their eyes gleamed in the darkness, their fangs and claws poised to tear her apart.
"Damn it… why are there so many…?"
Alisia gritted her teeth.
This made no sense. According to the guild's report, this dungeon was only inhabited by a limited number of B-rank monsters. But their numbers were far greater than anticipated, as if something had lured them out from the dungeon's depths.
And to make things worse…
"I'm alone."
That wasn't part of the plan. Initially, she had come here with her team, fellow members of Azure Valkyrie. But midway through their exploration, they were caught in a sudden teleportation trap—and before she realized it, she had been thrown into the dungeon's deepest section, completely alone.
She had tried to find a way out, but before she could escape, the monsters began swarming in. One by one, they emerged, surrounding her.
Now, her stamina was running out. Her mana was nearly depleted.
She still gripped her sword tightly, but her strength was fading.
"Damn it… if this keeps up, I'm going to die here…"
The monsters started moving.
Alisia straightened her back, even though her legs felt heavy. If this was going to be her end, then she would die with the dignity of an adventurer.
She took a deep breath and prepared to swing her sword one last time—
—but before she could move, something happened.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted.
The air, once filled with the growls of monsters, now fell into an eerie silence, as if something far more terrifying had just appeared.
SHRACK!
Something shot through the air at terrifying speed—and in a blink, the head of one monster was severed, black blood spraying into the air.
Alisia's eyes widened.
Amidst the darkness of the dungeon, a boy stood before her.
He was young, perhaps only a few years younger than her. His messy black hair framed sharp eyes that gleamed with an intense focus, and in his hands—he wielded a massive longsword that seemed far too heavy for someone his size.
Yet, without hesitation, he swung it.
SLASH!
A single strike.
The monsters that had surrounded Alisia were cleaved apart in an instant, their bodies scattering like dried leaves in a storm.
Alisia could only watch, her heart pounding.
"Who… is this boy?"
Despite his small frame, his strength was far beyond what his appearance suggested. With overwhelming power, he swung that massive longsword as if it weighed nothing. Every slash was swift and precise, cutting down the clustered monsters in mere moments.
But what made him even more terrifying wasn't just his strength.
His jet-black eyes, sharp as a predator's, didn't strike randomly. He analyzed the battlefield instantly, making split-second decisions to maximize his advantage.
The dungeon's traps—designed to hinder adventurers—were used to restrict the monsters' movement instead. The rubble scattered across the floor became his footholds, allowing him to maneuver and build momentum for his attacks.
The massive longsword spun in his hands, creating a whirlwind of destruction. With one final slash, the dungeon fell silent once more.
Only the corpses of monsters remained.
Alisia, still catching her breath, finally had the chance to observe her savior more closely.
He wasn't tall, perhaps only reaching her chest, though it was hard to judge because of his strong posture and the way he carried himself—with unwavering confidence.
His black hair was unkempt, slightly long, with a few strands falling over his forehead. His skin was neither too pale nor too tanned—giving the impression of someone who trained outdoors but wasn't constantly under the sun.
The most striking thing about him was his eyes.
A pair of deep black eyes, sharp and calculating, as if he was constantly analyzing everything around him. A gaze that didn't match the youthful face he wore.
His outfit was simple—a sleeveless black tunic, durable trousers, and battle-worn boots that had clearly seen countless fights. The most eye-catching thing about him was the massive longsword strapped to his back—far too large for his frame, yet he wielded it as if it was an extension of his own body.
At a glance, he seemed like an ordinary young adventurer. But after witnessing the way he fought…
Alisia was certain. This boy was anything but ordinary.
Meanwhile, the boy tapped his sword, shaking off the remaining monster blood clinging to its blade. He didn't seem out of breath at all, as if this had been nothing more than routine for him.
Then, without even looking at Alisia, he finally spoke.
"Hey," he said in a flat tone, as if what had just happened was nothing worth mentioning. "Are you okay?"
Alisia remained in shock for a few seconds before finally blinking, grounding herself back to reality.
"I…" She hesitated for a moment, then straightened her back. As an A-rank adventurer, she couldn't afford to look weak. With a slightly strained voice, she answered, "I'm fine."
The boy finally turned his head, his black eyes locking onto Alisia's.
He was silent for a moment before giving a small nod. "Good."
Then, he slid his sword back into its sheath on his back. The metallic sound of steel meeting leather echoed through the now-empty dungeon.
Alisia observed his movements.
"He's… too calm."
A child shouldn't be this composed after slaughtering dozens of monsters. Even veteran adventurers would still feel some tension after a battle of this scale.
She wanted to ask more, but before she could, the boy spoke again.
"Your name?" he asked directly, his tone curt and to the point.
Alisia blinked. "Me?"
"Who else?" the boy replied flatly.
Alisia let out a small huff. For someone who had just saved her, he was surprisingly rude. But somehow, that was better than dealing with someone who pretended to be humble.
"Alisia," she finally said. "Alisia Veylance, A-rank adventurer of Azure Valkyrie."
The boy didn't react much. He simply gave a slight nod, as if the information didn't particularly matter to him.
Then, he spoke, introducing himself for the first time.
"Corrin," he said casually. "Just an ordinary adventurer."
Alisia felt a strange sensation upon hearing that name.
"Corrin? That name… sounds familiar."
But before she could dwell on it, the boy—Corrin—had already started walking past her.
"If you can stand, let's go," he said without looking back. "We're still in a dungeon, and I don't want to waste time here."
Alisia hesitated for a moment before hurriedly following after him. "Ah… yeah…"