The morning air in Veldenar was cool, carrying the faint scent of dew and earth. Renji, still wearing his black mask, walked silently through the cobblestone streets. His destination: the Adventurer's Guild.
Inside, the guild buzzed with activity—adventurers gathering quests, merchants shouting for escorts, and scribes writing reports. Renji approached the counter calmly.
"I need directions to the nearest dungeon."
His voice was steady but carried a quiet authority.
The guild guard blinked, studying him curiously.
"You? Alone? That's suicide."
Renji's sharp eyes cut through him.
The guard swallowed nervously, then sighed.
"Fine… Head north through the Verdant Pass. Past the cliffs, you'll find the entrance to Rhazor's Depths. It's not a place for rookies."
Renji gave a curt nod and left without another word.
The dungeon's entrance loomed like the gaping maw of a beast. Moss clung to jagged stone walls, and cold air spilled from within. Renji gripped his blade tighter.
Inside, the darkness swallowed him whole.
GRAAAAH!!
Monsters lunged from the shadows—goblins, armored wolves, and twisted ogres. But Renji's movements were sharp and merciless.
CLANG! SLASH! BOOM!
Each step he took left corpses behind. His blade cut through flesh, his shadow step dodged ambushes, and his strikes exploded with precision.
"I didn't excepted these monsters were too easy to kill."
He pressed forward, deeper and deeper, until he reached the massive double doors of the boss room.
Renji froze. His instincts screamed. Mana radiated from within like a storm ready to break free.
"This presence… It's far beyond normal."
But just as he prepared to push the door—
"Well, well. Look who's here."
Voices echoed behind him. Turning, Renji saw them.
The heroes' party. The same group he had faced yesterday. Among them was the arrogant hero, bandaged but still glaring with pride. And beside him—the girl who had secretly recognized Renji yesterday.
The arrogant hero smirked.
"What's a mere guard doing here? Entering a dungeon alone? Don't tell me you thought you could clear this."
The other heroes chuckled, but Renji's eyes narrowed.
"I could ask you the same. What are you doing here?"
One of them laughed.
"Isn't it obvious? We're going to clear the boss and take the loot. This is what real heroes do."
Renji glanced at the ominous door again. His tone sharpened.
"This boss isn't normal. The mana inside is overflowing. If you rush in carelessly, you'll be slaughtered."
The heroes rolled their eyes, clearly not interested in listening.
But the girl stepped forward, her brows furrowed.
"Wait. I… I think he's right. I can feel it too. Something dangerous is inside."
The arrogant hero turned to her angrily.
"Are you seriously siding with him? A mere guard? After he humiliated me yesterday?!"
Renji's expression didn't change.
"Whether you trust me or not, it doesn't matter. But if you ignore this, you'll regret it."
The argument heated, voices rising, until finally the arrogant hero spat on the ground and strode toward the boss room.
"I don't need advice from mere guard. Watch me clear it in one blow."
CREAK… BOOOOM!!
The doors groaned open.
And instantly—
WHOOSH!
A gigantic black sword, larger than a man, came crashing down from the darkness inside. The sheer force of the swing split the ground open.
The arrogant hero's eyes went wide in shock.
"Wha—?!"
But before the blade could crush him—
"Tch!"
"You always cause trouble hugh..."
Renji's body moved faster than thought. He dashed forward, grabbed the hero by his collar, and yanked him backward.
BOOOOOM!!!
The massive sword struck, the impact shaking the entire chamber, rubble flying everywhere. Dust choked the air as cracks spread across the floor.
The arrogant hero collapsed against the wall, stunned and trembling, realizing just how close to death he had been.
The crowd of heroes stood frozen, horror etched on their faces.
Renji stood tall, his blade drawn, eyes narrowed at the darkness inside the chamber.
"I warned you…"
he muttered coldly.
And from within the room, two crimson eyes gleamed, glowing like fire in the abyss.
The true battle had only just begun.