A group of recruits moved through what appeared to be a natural cave system, wide smiles on their faces as they pushed forward at full speed.
"Hahaha, this is truly awesome."
"No kidding. These underground tunnels weren't on the map. Maybe they've been sealed for who knows how many years."
"We're unbelievably lucky. This route lets us bypass so many dangerous areas. Who knows—we might even end up being the first ones to reach the finish line!"
Excitement surged through the group at that idea. They were strong, yes, but none of them were considered special. All of them ranked somewhere in the low hundreds. Reaching the finish ahead of everyone else would be a blessing—and a rare chance to prove their worth.
Of course, the cave system wasn't empty. They had avoided many dangers, but a place like this was never without threats. A moment later, another wave of xeno beasts—giant rats the size of dogs—burst from the darkness ahead.
