Chapter—The Gate To The Dungeon.
The next two days at school passed quietly.
Too quietly.
Classes went on as usual, students talked about aura, guilds, and rankings, and Luke continued pretending to be just another average student.
But beneath that calm routine, the world felt like it was slowly shifting—one step at a time—pulling him further away from the normal life he wanted.
On the third day, Luke left his house at the usual time, walking toward school with his bag slung over one shoulder.
Inside the bag, Auru floated silently.
"Something feels… off," Luke whispered under his breath as he walked. "The air feels heavier today."
Auru's gentle voice answered just as softly.
"I feel it too, Luke. The aura density around the city is slightly higher, but I don't know why."
When Luke reached the school gate, he stopped.
Marin, Chika, Loid, and Uno were standing outside, gathered together and talking seriously. None of them had gone inside yet.
That alone was strange.
Luke frowned. "Why are they still here?"
Before he could think further, Loid noticed him and raised a hand.
"Luke! Over here!"
Luke walked up to them. "What's going on? Why aren't we inside?"
Uno answered first, excitement mixed with tension in his voice.
"A dungeon has been discovered near our city."
Luke's heart skipped slightly.
"A dungeon?" he repeated.
Uno nodded. "Yeah. A cave-like place where aura becomes extremely dense.
When aura gathers like that, monsters can form naturally. Dungeons are ranked by danger, and this one has been classified as E-rank."
Marin continued, calm but serious.
"Because it's E-rank, no-rank and E-rank guilds are allowed to explore it. Many students and teachers have already gone there."
Luke clenched his fist slightly.
"So… no lectures today?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Chika nodded. "Most teachers went to the dungeon site."
Luke felt a familiar heaviness in his chest.
Again… this world refuses to stay normal.
But there was no turning back now.
They all agreed to go together.
The dungeon was located on the outskirts of the city. When they arrived, a large crowd had already gathered. Government officials stood near the entrance, managing the flow of people.
Suddenly, a group of injured explorers staggered out of the dungeon.
"Don't go inside!" one of them shouted. "The monsters in there are strong—huge, muscular things! We were completely overwhelmed!"
Fear spread through the crowd.
Chika swallowed nervously.
"Maybe… maybe we shouldn't go in."
Uno shook his head confidently. "We're not like them."
People nearby noticed the group of students approaching.
"Kids think it's a game," someone scoffed.
"They'll end up in the hospital," another said.
Loid clenched his teeth, anger flashing across his face, but Marin quietly stopped him.
"Ignore them."
A government official stepped forward.
"Only officially registered guilds may enter."
Marin calmly showed their guild card.
The official's eyes widened slightly.
"E-rank guild… AuraFiest."
After a moment, he nodded. "You're cleared to enter."
More whispers followed them as they passed.
"Must be luck."
"Probably got that rank illegally."
Loid nearly snapped, but Luke placed a hand on his arm.
"It doesn't matter," Luke said quietly. "What matters is what we do inside."
They entered the dungeon.
The deeper they went, the denser the aura became.
The air felt heavy, almost pressing against their skin. The walls glowed faintly with raw aura energy.
Chika hugged her arms. "It's… scary."
"Stay alert," Marin said. "This is real now."
Suddenly—
Luke felt it.
A sharp movement behind them.
"Something moved," Luke said instinctively.
They all turned.
The aura surged violently.
From the darkness ahead, something emerged.
A massive creature stepped forward—its body resembling an ant, but grotesquely enlarged, its exoskeleton thick and powerful, aura leaking from its frame.
Luke's vision blurred for a moment.
Then information appeared before his eyes.
[Monster Detected]
Rank: E
Luke's breath caught.
He ask Marin that as she can see anything above the monster.
Marin reply that she can't see anything above the monster.
Luke realise that since he is aurmaster he only can watch panel above the monster.
Marin raised her hand, forming a small aura sphere.
"Everyone, take positions," she said firmly.
"This is our real test."
And the monster let out a low, vibrating screech.
End of Chapter.