The moment Rain stepped through the dungeon gate, the air changed. Heavy. Unfamiliar. It pressed against his chest, stealing his breath for a moment.
Roxy didn't stop. She walked calm and steady, and after a second, Rain forced himself to follow. Step by step, the tightness eased. His breathing evened out, like his body was learning to accept the dungeon's air.
How could she be so calm?
Rain looked around more closely. Despite the academy's attempts to make a practice dungeon, it still felt real. The ground was uneven stone, dirt filling the cracks. Rough rock walls rose on either side, faint crystals embedded here and there casting pale, flickering light. Somewhere deeper, water dripped.
The air smelled old—metallic, damp, almost rotten. Rain couldn't place it. He wanted to plug his nose, but seeing Roxy walk ahead reminded him just how much of a wimp he was.
While he struggled with the smells and the squelch of wet stones beneath his shoes, she remained unwavering. Like she had been in countless dungeons before.
Rain wanted to start a conversation, at least to practice his speaking skills. "So…" he began, then froze. What could he say?
Roxy didn't slow. Dagger in hand, she seemed absorbed in the dungeon itself.
"So… why did you decide to use Dungeon Meet?" Rain tried again.
Silence. Then, after what felt like hours—but was really ten seconds—she finally answered. "I guess… the same reason as you." Her voice carried no emotion, steady and calm as always.
It sucked. Seeing as Roxy didn't really care to talk much.
Rain thought teaming up with a girl would help his social skills. He could talk to guys fine—just like he did with his best friend Alex—but girls were a whole different story.
Rain had thought her looks on the app made her seem outgoing and friendly. But in the dungeon, that impression faded. She wasn't as social as he had imagined. Her long, straight black hair flowed down to her waist when she pulled back her hood, and her light green eyes scanned the dungeon with sharp focus. She walked confidently, every step deliberate.
As they continued down the dungeon, Rain stayed a couple of feet behind Roxy. Then, without warning, she stopped.
"Ouch!" Rain exclaimed, bumping into her. She didn't flinch—not even an inch. She was like a boulder.
Rain instinctively took a few steps back. Roxy drew her dagger, settling into a ready stance. "Get ready," she said.
"I can feel a presence," she added, her voice calm, almost eerily so.
Rain fumbled with his own dagger, trying to mirror her stance. His heart thumped wildly, threatening to escape his chest.
Far ahead, the dungeon stretched into pure darkness. Rain couldn't see a thing, only shadows.
"They are coming," Roxy said, still calm, still poised.
"They?" Rain echoed, panic rising.
Then he heard it—distant, soft enough to be ignored, but unmistakable: multiple steps. Slow at first… then heavier, faster. The thuds reverberated through the stone floor, each one vibrating under Rain's feet.
The small rocks under his boots bounced with each approaching thud. His chest tightened, his pulse hammering in his ears. Fear clawed at him.
Until suddenly—he saw them.
A pack of rats emerged from the darkness. Each one was massive, easily the size of a wolf. Their bodies were hunched low to the ground, teeth bared, eyes reflecting faint light like dull embers.
They stood at least fifty feet ahead.
Rain tried to count them, but more shapes kept crawling out from the shadows. One… two… five… ten. At least ten of them now, all spread out across the stone floor, blocking the path forward.
Roxy spoke again.
"Are you ready?"
Her voice wasn't calm anymore. If anything, it sounded… excited. Like she was looking forward to this.
"Wha—" Rain stuttered, adrenaline flooding his body. His heart pounded violently in his chest. "Ready for what?" he asked, panic slipping into his voice.
She laughed.
"Ready to fight. Duh."
Before Rain could say another word, Roxy moved.
She shot forward in a blur, dagger gleaming as she charged straight toward the rats. Rain barely had time to register what was happening before instinct took over.
He tightened his grip on his dagger and ran after her—straight toward the rats.
They moved all at once.
Not chaotically, but in unison. Like a pack that had done this before.
Two broke away from the group and rushed straight for Rain, while the others split off to engage Roxy.
Rain barely had time to breathe—let alone react.
One of the rats darted low, its jaws snapping around his leg. Pain exploded as teeth tore into his flesh, ripping a chunk free.
"Fuck!" Rain groaned, his voice breaking.
He dropped to one knee, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. His leg screamed in protest, but he forced himself back up, teeth clenched, hands shaking.
Without meaning to, his eyes flicked toward Roxy.
She was fighting two—no, three rats at once. Easily. Her movements were sharp, controlled, almost casual, like this was nothing more than a game to her.
The sight twisted something deep inside him. How could he be this weak? These rats were supposed to be some of the easiest dungeon monsters, yet they already felt stronger than him.
Rain tore his eyes away from Roxy and focused entirely on the rats. Nothing else mattered now. He would kill these two rat bastards, no excuses.
The rat that had bitten him prowled behind him, its small eyes glinting faintly in the dungeon's dim light. The other stood in front, perfectly still, almost as if it were studying him, calculating his movements.
Without thinking, Rain lunged at the one in front, dagger swinging in a wide arc. The blade scraped its skin, but the wound barely slowed it. How… how is this not hurting it? he thought. Aren't these supposed to be weak?
A sharp movement behind him caught his attention just in time. The rat that had bitten him lunged, and Rain stumbled back, pressing himself against the dungeon wall to see both of them clearly. He needed a strategy. He couldn't afford to get cornered.
Both rats struck at once, moving faster than he expected. Rain barely blocked the one in front, the clash of teeth and steel ringing in his ears, but the other's attack slashed across his left arm. Pain exploded, blood spilling freely down his forearm, and a sharp sting shot through his shoulder.
Rain swung his leg out and kicked the rat that had bitten his left arm. At the same time, he slashed at the other one with his right hand, dagger clutched tightly.
Both rats were sent sprawling across the dungeon floor. The one he cut with the dagger let out a high-pitched squeal, writhing in pain. The one he kicked scrambled back to its feet like nothing had happened, shaking off the blow effortlessly.
At least I got one down… for now, Rain thought, chest heaving.
He glanced at Roxy. She had already taken down seven rats in the same time it had taken him just to injure one. Her movements were sharp, precise—efficient. Watching her, Rain felt a mix of awe and frustration twist in his stomach.
How… how could someone be this strong?
The way she moves her dagger—it's effortless. Her feet shift so fast it barely looks human, like she's gliding instead of stepping.
Is this really the gap between a rank one and a rank three?
He forced his eyes away from Roxy and back to the rat standing in front of him.
No more hesitating.
No more distractions.
Without giving himself time to think, Rain dashed forward, trying to close the distance before it could react. His dagger swinged toward its body—
—but the rat slipped sideways instantly, its movements sharp and practiced.
His attack cut nothing but air.