The Next Day in Dungeon Town
Morning light spread across Dungeon Town as the sun slowly rose, painting the streets in a warm, golden glow.
The sky was clear, not a single cloud in sight. In a place surrounded by constant danger, such peaceful mornings were rare.
This was also the busiest time of day.
Adventurers filled the streets, preparing for what lay ahead. Some checked their weapons, fingers running along sharpened blades. Others stopped at shops to stock up on potions and supplies.
Small groups gathered at street corners, forming temporary parties before heading toward the dungeons.
Hunting monsters. Gathering resources. Risking their lives.
That was the daily routine of Dungeon Town.
Near the town gate, two figures stood side by side.
Elina and Kai.
They waited quietly, occasionally glancing toward the road leading deeper into town. Their expressions were calm, but a trace of impatience lingered beneath the surface.
They were waiting for the final member of their party.
Before long, footsteps approached.
A slim young woman walked toward them, wearing light leather armor. A short bow rested against her shoulder, and a quiver of arrows hung at her back.
Her movements were quiet and practiced, and her sharp eyes constantly scanned her surroundings.
She was their team's archer and scout.
"You're late, Rin," Elina said flatly.
"Tsk. Elina, you're as cold as ever," Rin replied, clicking her tongue.
"Our meeting time was five in the morning," Elina continued, her gaze sharp. "It's almost six-thirty now. What do you have to say for yourself?"
They were already late.
Early morning was the best time for hunting. Many rare herbs bloomed at dawn, and monsters were less active then.
By now, who knew how many valuable resources had already been taken.
"I… I was drinking last night," Rin admitted, scratching her cheek. "With… someone."
Her voice grew quieter at the end.
Elina sighed.
"Enough. We don't have time to waste," she said. "Let's go."
Without another word, Elina turned around. Kai and Rin quickly followed behind her.
The three passed through the town gate and showed their adventurer cards to the guards before being allowed through.
Soon, the stone-paved roads of Dungeon Town faded away, replaced by dirt paths and wild grass.
Ahead of them stretched the wilderness.
The sounds of the town slowly disappeared, replaced by rustling grass, distant bird calls, and the occasional low growl echoing from far away.
Kai tightened his grip on his sword.
No matter how many times he left the town, the wilderness always made him uneasy.
Elina walked at the front, posture straight and focused. Her eyes swept the surroundings constantly, alert to even the smallest movement.
Rin followed slightly behind, light on her feet, already slipping into her role as a scout.
After walking for a while, Rin suddenly raised her hand.
"Stop."
The group froze instantly.
Rin crouched low, pressing her fingers against the ground. She narrowed her eyes, studying faint marks in the dirt and broken blades of grass.
"Fresh tracks," she said quietly. "Low-grade early-stage monster beasts. A small group. Passed through not long ago."
Kai swallowed.
"How many?"
"Three. Maybe four," Rin replied. "Not strong, but careless fighting will still get you hurt."
Elina nodded calmly.
"Good. That's our target," she said. "Kai, stay focused. Don't rush in like last time."
"I know, I know," Kai replied, though his grip tightened slightly.
They adjusted their formation.
Rin moved ahead, disappearing into the tall grass almost instantly.
Elina followed at a steady pace, staff held lightly in her hand.
Kai stayed close behind her, heart pounding with tension and excitement.
As they moved deeper into the wilderness, the trees grew denser. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in broken patterns.
Somewhere ahead, a branch snapped.
Rin's voice drifted back, barely above a whisper.
"…Contact. Get ready."
Kai took a deep breath and steadied himself.
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, the familiar weight grounding him.
Ahead, the tall grass rustled.
Rin slipped back toward them like a shadow and crouched beside Elina.
"Four of them," she whispered. "Horned hounds. Low-grade early stage. They hunt together. One is bigger than the others. Probably the leader."
Horned hounds.
Kai swallowed again. They were not powerful individually, but their speed and coordination made them dangerous.
Elina nodded once.
"Same formation," she said softly. "Rin, take the left. Kai, stay behind me and wait for my signal."
Kai nodded. "Got it."
They moved.
The grass parted as Elina stepped forward. Almost immediately, a low growl echoed through the trees.
Then they appeared.
Four horned hounds emerged, dark fur bristling, curved horns jutting from their heads. Saliva dripped from their exposed fangs as their yellow eyes locked onto the group.
The largest one stepped forward and snarled.
Elina raised her staff.
A faint glow gathered at its tip.
"Now."
Rin moved first.
A sharp twang rang out. An arrow flew from the shadows and struck one of the hounds cleanly in the eye. The beast collapsed instantly.
The remaining three lunged forward.
"Left!" Rin shouted.
Elina slammed her staff into the ground.
A burst of wind surged forward, throwing one hound off balance and sending it rolling through the dirt.
The other two charged straight at them.
"Kai," Elina said sharply.
This was it.
Kai stepped forward.
For a brief moment, his old habits surfaced. Charge. Swing hard. Finish it fast.
Then something clicked.
The warmth he had felt while reading the manga stirred inside him.
His stance shifted. His grip adjusted. His footwork became lighter, smoother.
The world seemed to slow.
One hound leaped.
Kai moved.
He sidestepped instead of blocking head-on, his blade flashing upward in a clean arc. The sword cut deep into the monster's neck.
Blood sprayed.
The hound collapsed at his feet.
Kai's eyes widened.
"…That worked?"
The last hound lunged.
"Behind you!" Rin shouted.
Kai turned, calm this time.
He twisted his body, letting the beast rush past, then thrust his sword forward with controlled force.
The blade pierced straight through its chest.
The hound convulsed once before falling still.
Silence returned to the clearing.
Kai stood there, breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on the fallen monsters.
Without warning, a sharp pain stabbed into his chest.
His mana core trembled violently, then expanded by a small margin. A rush of mana surged through his body, spilling outward before slowly settling.
A breakthrough.
Kai had advanced from low-grade early stage to low-grade mid stage.
Power flooded his limbs. His senses sharpened, and his connection with his sword felt clearer and more natural than ever before.
Elina and Rin could only stare at him, shock written plainly across their faces.
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Author's Note
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