As morning light filtered into his room, AK stared at his screen, fingers hovering over his keyboard.
"Hey, I won't be joining today's raid with our guild. I'm going with another team to raid the lowest D-Rank dungeon. I need to grind faster. Hope you understand." AK texted Hazzy.
He stuffed a few essentials into his inventory. then left for the dungeon gate with steady steps.
Upon arriving near the massive blue portal that shimmered like an endless whirlpool, AK spotted his raiding team. There were 3 swordsmen, 2 magicians, 4 tankers, and 1 healer—a balanced formation meant to handle the unpredictable dangers of a D-rank dungeon.
As he approached them, the group turned to size up the new face.
"You the extra member?"
"Hope you're not dead weight. D-rank's not a playground."
"Calm down, he's new to our team, not to raiding. Just don't break formation, alright?"
"We could use another damage dealer anyway. You sword or spell?"
"Neither," AK replied with a smirk. "I'm just... me."
A few chuckled, though some eyes remained skeptical.
Just then, a man in black armor with a silver-lined sword walked toward them confidently. His aura was calm yet commanding. AK immediately recognized him.
Ajay, the Raid Master—highest-ranked C rank swordsman in the city.
"Name's Ajay. I'm leading this raid. You follow my word, you survive. Don't, and the dungeon eats you alive," Ajay said, voice sharp as his blade.
AK nodded. "Understood. Looking forward to seeing how the top C-ranker swings his sword."
Ajay chuckled faintly. "Let's hope you're worth the extra spot."
---
Moments later, the raid team stepped through the portal. The world shifted. In an instant, they were inside—a dim cavern lit by glowing mushrooms and strands of web stretching between stalagmites like curtains of silk.
The air was damp. The walls seemed to pulse with faint clicking sounds.
And then they appeared.
Human-sized spiders, each the size of a bear, crawling from the ceiling and walls. Their fangs dripped with venom, and their eyes glowed red.
"Formation B!" Ajay commanded.
The team moved instantly:
Tankers raised their shields and formed a half-circle wall in front.
Magicians positioned themselves behind, preparing area spells.
Swordsmen flanked the tankers for close combat.
Healer stayed at the center-back, ready to support.
AK joined the flanks, slicing through spiders with swift precision. His blade danced like a flame, guided by RED's training.
"Fireball volley—now!" a magician shouted.
A wave of flames scorched the incoming horde, weakening their frontlines. One spider leapt over, landing on a tanker's shield. AK dashed in and decapitated it in a single motion.
They kept fighting—each spider dropping, but the tide didn't seem to stop.
"Push forward! We clear this floor before resting!" Ajay barked.
Spiders screeched and fell one by one. Finally, after nearly half an hour, silence returned.
---
The team trudged deeper into the dungeon, but the path became more treacherous. The floor grew slippery, coated in a slimy green mucus that clung to their boots, draining stamina with every step.
They stopped near a rock wall to catch their breath.
The healer, a petite girl with snow-white hair and gentle blue eyes, raised her staff.
"Blessing of Vital Stream."
A soft green light washed over the team. Fatigue melted away. Tension in shoulders and legs eased like magic—because it was magic.
> [ RED: AK, SHE'S GOING TO BE VERY USEFUL IN THE UPCOMING WAR. HER SKILL IS EXCEPTIONAL. ]
AK leaned against the wall, glancing toward her.
"Is her skill really that amazing?" he whispered. "Forget that—look at her beauty… How can someone be so cute?"
His face flushed slightly, a crooked smile tugging his lips.
> [ RED: DID YOU JUST FALL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? ]
"What?! No, I'm just praising her beauty!" AK whispered defensively, looking away. "You're jumping to conclusions. We don't even know her name. And we just met a few hours ago… You're too fast."
His cheeks glowed red as he scratched his neck, trying to hide his flustered face.
> [ RED: WHO KNOWS? MAYBE SHE IS NOT FROM BIHAR. ]
AK muttered, "Yes, She wasn't there in the erased timeline…"
---
After Few minutes
"Enough resting!" Ajay's voice echoed.
Everyone stood up quickly, weapons raised. The formation resumed:
Tankers in front.
Mages and Healer in the back.
Swordsmen and AK took flanks, defending casters and aiding tanks.
This time, they faced a more coordinated ambush—spiders dropping from the ceiling and attacking from three directions.
"Formation C—Tri-Defensive Circle!" Ajay ordered.
They shifted seamlessly:
Tankers split into two walls, one facing front, the other guarding the rear.
Magicians rotated positions, preparing AOE (area of effect) spells in all directions.
AK took central defense, cutting down anything breaching the line.
Lightning and fire collided with webs and fangs.
AK spun mid-air, slicing through two spiders in one motion. Blood splattered the walls.
The healer's spell glowed again. "Pulse of Rejuvenation!" She refreshed stamina and healed minor wounds instantly.
> [ RED: SHE'S DEFINITELY A RARE SUPPORT. DON'T LOSE HER. ]
After nearly four hours—fighting in bursts, recovering in between—they cleared the entire dungeon floor.
---
Finally, as their boots stepped across a long, narrow bridge wrapped in webs, the hallway opened into a giant stone chamber with a colossal gate carved with spider patterns.
A chilling wind blew from the cracks of the door. The air trembled. Every hunter felt the tension shift.
Ajay raised his sword and pointed toward the gate.
"This is it—the Boss Room. Everyone, prepare your skills. We don't die here."
The team gathered, breath steady, hearts ready.
And with a deep creak, the boss room door began to open.