Just like Mei Rin and her team, the other Genesis squads were also raiding the King-level difficulty of the Misty Palace Dungeon at the same time. One of these squads was directly led by Kaito's fourth aunt herself.
For her, as a Rank 2 martial artist, defeating the Mist Queen was not difficult at all. With her strength, she could have finished the boss in moments. But she didn't as she wasn't just a member of Genesis she was also the trainer of its members. Her role wasn't to carry them through fights, but to make sure they grew stronger. So instead of stepping in, she observed. She used the battles not only to sharpen her own discipline but also to train others, both in reality and in Glory.
And just like Mei Rin and others, she had also divided her squad carefully. Ten players were sent to hold back the Royal Wraith Guards, while the other nine focused on the Mist Queen herself while Kaito's fourth aunt remained at the sidelines, careful not to draw the boss's aggro. From there, she kept her sharp eyes on the battle, constantly pointing out mistakes and correcting them at the same time.
The team struggled as expected. The Mist Queen's spells pressured them heavily, and soon, she completed her demonification. Her body twisted into the Mist Queen Demon, her power surging. The players were quickly overwhelmed, their attacks barely holding her back.
It was at that moment that Kaito's fourth aunt moved. With swift, precise strikes, she intervened directly and in just three or four moves, the Mist Queen Demon was slain.
Although the members of her team were surprised by how easily she killed the boss, their shock didn't last long. They had already witnessed her strength many times before during their training in reality. They knew well what she was capable of.
Afterward, they collected the loot and exited the dungeon together. Once outside, Kaito's fourth aunt then addressed the squad.
"You have half an hour to rest," she said firmly. "After that, we'll go for another raid."
Everyone nodded in response and began their recovery. Some drank potions, while others sat down and entered a meditative stance. This meditation method was something Kaito's fourth aunt had taught them a technique to help ease their minds and bodies after intense combat.
Fifteen minutes later, as her team was still recovering, the Solaris Kingdom announcement rang out.
[Solaris Kingdom Announcement]
Congratulations to player Raen for being the first player to reach a city in Glory. This deed will be recorded in the Hall of Fame. Rewards include: 100 Honor Points and +2 Reputation Level in Astralis City.
Excitement rippled through the group instantly. Members shouted in celebration, grins spreading across their faces. Even Kaito's fourth aunt couldn't stop a small smile from appearing, though she quickly regained her calm demeanor.
"Don't get too excited," she reminded them coolly. "You still have about fifteen minutes left to rest. After that, we'll move out."
Though reluctant, the squad listened and returned to their recovery.
Around this time, Mei Rin and her team also emerged from the dungeon. The first thing Mei Rin did was to greet Kaito's fourth aunt respectfully before handing over the recording of their run. She had carefully recorded every part of the battle, as requested. Kaito's fourth aunt had insisted that every dungeon raid be recorded. She used the footage to evaluate each member's performance, pointing out errors and providing corrections later.
As Mei Rin walked behind her, Kaito's fourth aunt was already reviewing the footage with a sharp eye.
Meanwhile, three players stood up from the earlier squad and hurried over to Mei Rin. They were Ayu, Shiori, and Nozomi Mei Rin's close friends. Back when they had registered in the Genesis studio, they had been placed into different Genesis teams. And with Mei Rin's help, they had managed to keep up with the main group and hence had been included in the Misty Palace dungeon raid and by chance, they had ended up in Kaito's fourth aunt's squad for the raid.
The friends caught up quickly, laughing and sharing stories. Ayu, Shiori, and Nozomi couldn't stop praising Kaito, repeating how incredible it was that he had surpassed so many so-called god-level players to become the first to reach Astralis City.
As they talked, another commotion drew their attention. Looking back, they saw more Genesis squads emerging from the dungeon. Raven Blade appeared first, leading his team with his sister Nina beside him. Behind them came Kaede and Daichi, both assigned as team leaders. Then came Hiroto and Lucien, each leading their squads. Finally, Aika and Suzune arrived, also serving as team leaders.
Most of Genesis's core members had been tasked with leading the squads while the rest of the members followed under the overall command of Kaito's fourth aunt.
One by one, each leader then greeted her respectfully and handed over their recorded battle footage. Soon, the place was filled with Genesis members, buzzing with excitement. Almost everyone was talking about the system announcement, celebrating the fact that their leader had reached Astralis City before anyone else.
The core members also gathered together, sharing their own thoughts. They not only celebrated but also discussed their experiences in the dungeon, exchanging insights about combat and teamwork. The mood was lively, filled with pride and motivation.
After carefully reviewing all the recordings, Kaito's fourth aunt stood up. Her gaze swept across the excited faces of the members before she spoke.
"Judging by your expressions, it looks like you're ready for another raid," she said evenly.
Though they technically still had fifteen minutes left to rest, no one protested. Their excitement had erased their fatigue. They all wanted to push forward as quickly as possible, to reach Astralis City and catch up to their leader. Seeing their determination, Kaito's fourth aunt gave a small nod of approval.
"Good," she said. Then her eyes turned toward the core team. "This time, we'll change the team configurations."
Mei Rin and the others nodded in agreement. They trusted her decisions completely.
Then, Kaito's fourth aunt shifted her gaze toward the crowd. Her eyes landed on Nyx Blade, who sat with her teammates. Nyx Blade froze for a moment under her attention.
She was a little confused. Although she had joined Genesis, she and her teammates had not yet traveled to the Genesis Dome in reality. According to their plan, they were supposed to make the trip in two or three days. Until then, they were only connected virtually.
So when Kaito's fourth aunt looked directly at her, Nyx Blade wasn't sure what to expect as she was yet to train under her.
Kaito's fourth aunt looked towards Nyx Blade and spoke. "Your name is Nyx Blade, right? You'll go with Mei Rin and help her lead her team."
Nyx Blade was a little confused at first, but she understood the status Kaito's fourth aunt held. Without hesitation, she nodded, greeted her teammates, and then walked over to stand beside Mei Rin.
The other Genesis members nearby couldn't help but glance at her with envy.
Noticing this, Kaito's fourth aunt chuckled. "Don't be envious," she said calmly. "I've been training you all for a week now. After all this time, I know your general qualities and levels. You all have the same potential to become part of the core team. But that depends on your own effort. It might feel difficult at the start, but as you continue and begin to enjoy the results of your hard work, you'll understand."
Hearing her words, the expressions of the envious members shifted. They nodded, and their eyes turned firm with resolve.
"Good," Kaito's fourth aunt continued. "Now divide into teams. We'll head out for another dungeon run."