Myles turned his eyes around, studying every warped corner of the subway.
He had passed through this station countless times in the past but now it felt like a grotesque reflection of what he once knew.
The benches, the walls, even the tiled floor were still there, but they were merged together with strange fleshy tissue and glowing jagged rocks.
This place no longer belonged to their world.
"This really does look like a dungeon," Ethan said again, his voice carrying an almost excited tremor.
"You keep saying that since earlier, but what the hell is a dungeon?" George asked with irritation that started becoming heavy in his tone. The oldest among them didn't have much knowledge for that kind of thing.
"It's like…" Ethan pushed up his glasses, trying to explain in terms they could understand. "Another dimension. A place where you can find unique materials for weapons and armor… or even treasures."
At that mention George's eyes lit up.
"...Treasures?" Sam's eyes widened, her childlike curiosity shining through her fear.
"Yes! Treasure!" Ethan nodded eagerly.
"Hey, keep your voice down." Ryan shot him a glare. "I play games too, you know. You know what else dungeons usually have?"
Ethan blinked, his excitement faltering. Slowly, the realization dawned on him. "…Monsters."
"Exactly," Ryan said grimly.
A hush fell over the group. The weight of his words settled on all of them.
Myles tightened his grip on the black sword at his side and gave them a steady look.
"We just need to stay careful. As long as we're ready to fight at any moment, we'll be fine. Now let's move."
They nodded in agreement, forcing their nerves into silence.
With disciplined steps the group slipped into formation they already agreed upon. Myles, Nadine, Victor, Ryan, and Kade at the front while George, Daniel, Ethan, Clara, and Sam stay in the rear.
As they advanced into the warped tunnel, Myles's gaze lingered on the glowing rocks embedded in the wall. Their faint pulses of green and purple flowed like liquid veins of energy.
He stopped and pointed.
"Those rocks…" he said, "they're not just simple rocks I think. I'm sure they're special materials. We should collect them. But do it carefully. If anything feels wrong, drop it and step back immediately."
The others exchanged cautious looks but nodded.
They spread out slightly, picking at the strange rocks.
Each piece pulsed with colors that seemed to crawl under their skin with unnatural energy when they held it.
George reached out first, prying a jagged fragment free.
The moment his fingers touched it a faint tingle shot up his arm and into his skull like a buzzing vibration in the back of his mind.
His vision blurred for an instant then the familiar text shimmered before him.
[You have obtained: Ether Shard (Low-Grade)]
[This is a crystallized fragment formed from the merging of earthly stone and foreign energy. It can be used for basic crafting, alchemy, or enchantments. Emits faint energy when held.]
George stumbled back a step, clutching the shard tightly in his calloused hand.
His face went pale, but his eyes were wide with wonder.
"I… I got something," he whispered.
The others stopped what they were doing, their attention instantly snapping toward him.
"What do you mean?" Nadine asked, lowering her knife slightly.
George raised the glowing shard for them to see. The veins of purple light inside it moving softly inside it.
"The system told me its name. This is a low grade Ether Shard. It says it can be used for crafting and enchantments."
The group stared at it in silence for a few seconds. The air filled with anticipation.
Ethan's grin spread wide. "See? I told you! Dungeons do have something like this!"
Ryan glared at him again, but this time his own hands itched toward the rocks.
Myles narrowed his eyes at the shard, his expression calm but approving.
"It must be because you have the Forgemind skill that you can see that notification," Myles said to George. Then turn to the others. "We should gather more. We'll test its use later. Everyone must stay on guard while gathering. If materials exist here, then monsters won't be far behind."
They knew Myles was right. Monsters were inevitable here.
"You said this is a low-grade material?" Myles asked George.
George nodded, still clutching the shard. "Yes."
"Then most likely the monsters here are also low and weak. Hopefully." Myles said firmly.
Everyone silently hoped the same.
They returned their focus to the glowing rocks, working quickly but carefully.
Shards cracked free from walls, the green and purple veins shifting like liquid with each pull. Their backpack began to fill with faint light.
Five minutes later, the sound came.
Thump… thump… scrape…
Uneven, dragging, yet steady footsteps echoed from deeper in the mist. The group froze.
"Here they come," Myles said. "I, Nadine, and Victor will handle them. The rest keep gathering the shards. Don't stop unless they get too close."
Victor stepped beside him without hesitation now that he has his [Stonehide] skill he has become more confident.
Nadine moves beside Myles. Her grip on her short makeshift spear tightening, her eyes sharp.
The mist at the far end of the warped tunnel stirred. Shadows shifted. Figures emerged.
At first glance, they looked human wearing torn jackets, scorched jeans, and boots smeared with filth.
Their faces obscured by shadow. But as they drew closer, the details became clear.
Their flesh was broken in places, replaced with shards of glowing rocks jutting from their skin like parasitic growths. Their eyes burned faint green. Horns curled from their temples.
Victor's jaw tightened. "Mutated humans."
Nadine narrowed her eyes. "But this kind only appears inside a dungeon… not in the outside world."
There were five of them. All hunched and twitching, their movements jerky.
They opened their mouths, releasing guttural noises, before breaking into a sudden sprint.
The impact of their footsteps reverberated through the warped floor.
"Get ready," Myles said.
—