In the damp darkness of the Dungeon's first floor, three hurried silhouettes descended deeper underground. Their footsteps echoed through layers of cold stone, mingling with endless bickering that clanged like swords on shields—shrill and incessant.
"It's all your fault, you blockhead!"
Lee, a young mage with a scholarly face and perpetually exasperated eyes, sighed for the tenth time in as many minutes. His companions, a pair of bald, muscle-bound twin warriors known more for their strength than brains, were arguing again—as usual.
"Me? You're the one who messed up! If you hadn't gone chasing after that stupid Goblin, we wouldn't have fallen behind!"
"Oh yeah? And who was it that yelled 'It has a speed ring! Get it!'? Wasn't that you?"
"That was a tactical warning!"
Lee turned away, trying to hide his exhausted grimace. It wasn't just that they'd fallen behind Celestia's main group—that was still manageable. What bothered him was the ridiculous reason why. As everyone prepared to depart, the twins had suddenly decided to relieve themselves, only to spot a lone Goblin sprinting by.
What followed was a farcical chase, with the two warriors bolting after the tiny creature like it held the kingdom's treasury. Ten minutes of chaos later, the Goblin escaped, and the twins began blaming each other, as always. And so, Lee had waited.
He quickened his pace, ignoring the ongoing squabble behind him.
Then, he suddenly froze.
Not because of a sound. Not because of a light. But due to a strange wave of mana pulsing through the air like a ripple in space. It was a teleportation—but unlike any spell he had ever known. It was raw, ancient... like the very foundation of the Dungeon itself.
"Stop." Lee's voice was calm, low, and firm.
The twin warriors halted instinctively, though they hadn't sensed anything.
Then—as if reality shattered like a broken mirror—two figures appeared before them. No sound. No light. Just a ripple of mana, and suddenly they were there, standing where nothing had been.
One was a tall, lean man clad in a black cloak like a living shadow. Half his face was obscured by a silver-gray mask. His fingers were adorned with gem-encrusted rings, each exuding potent magical energy. Beside him stood a young girl with waxy white skin and glassy eyes that didn't move. She stared forward, expressionless, like the world around her was beneath notice. Her armor, though exquisitely crafted, looked absurdly ill-fitted on her childish frame.
"Where... where did they come from?" one twin whispered, voice trembling. Who could blame him? The pair's sudden appearance was unnerving.
"Teleportation magic," Lee murmured, eyes locked on the two figures. "But... different. This isn't standard teleportation. It's spatial displacement. And yet..."
His mind raced. No chant. No summoning circle. No catalyst or binding sigil. Even he couldn't make sense of it.
Silence fell. The three held their breath, while Lee's gaze remained sharp—alert. Whoever these two were, they were far from ordinary.
Then the cloaked man nodded.
"Good evening."
His voice echoed softly in the dark corridor, like a bell in a holy hall. Not threatening, not sharp—yet enough to send a chill down their spines.
Lee had no idea that this was no magic at all. It was merely the system relocating Gen and Dolly after they completed a hidden quest.
While the trio remained wary, Gen turned and began walking away, utterly uninterested in them. His gaze fixed forward, seeking rewards and the next challenge. Dolly followed wordlessly, her steps silent and mechanical.
"H-Hey... Are you human!?"
One of the bald twins blurted the question. The other glared, clearly asking what are you thinking?! But no reply came. The cloaked figure simply walked on.
"S-Sorry... Was that spatial magic just now?"
Surprisingly, Lee chased after him, curiosity overcoming caution.
Without turning back, Gen answered, "Maybe." A breeze-light reply, yet it weighed heavily on Lee's heart.
"That magic... How did you do it?"
"That's a difficult question. Let's not talk about it." Gen continued. Magic? What magic? I don't even know if I have mana. But better to stay mysterious.
Then, Gen paused and turned slightly toward Lee.
"Hey, kid. Do you know how one learns magic?"
Lee blinked. "Huh... Why are you asking?"
"Just answer."
Though confused, Lee felt a surge of excitement. Was this a test?
"Usually, basic spells are found in grimoires or taught at the Academy. But for those outside formal education... there's another way."
Gen tilted his head.
"What way?"
"Through Spirit Summoning. After completing the Awakening ritual, a person can attempt to summon a Spirit to receive magic skills tailored to their affinity."
"Spirit Summoning?"
Gen was silent for a moment.
Then, calmly: "So, how does one summon a Spirit?"
Lee, immersed in his passion, explained eagerly: "You need a summoning chant. If successful, a Spirit will appear and form a contract. Some can even bond with multiple Spirits, if strong and knowledgeable enough."
Gen asked more, and Lee answered all, unaware he was handing over the blueprint of the world's magic system. Gen began to feel a spark of excitement.
Spirit Summoning... Sounds like drawing cards from a deck.
He asked about the chant and the process. Lee answered everything—none of it secret knowledge.
Finally, Gen waved a hand.
"Alright. Take care of yourselves. All of you—leave." His eyes swept across the twins, then rested on Lee's youthful face.
"Hahaha... Well, t-then... we'll just go ahead! Bye...!"
"Y-Yeah! Lee, come on!"
The bald warriors forced awkward laughs as they retreated. Who would want to stick around that eerie man and his deathly porcelain doll?
Lee had a thousand more questions, but his comrades dragged him away.
Gen watched their backs fade into the corridor, then continued walking at a leisurely pace.
"Spirit Summoning, huh... Sounds like a card draw game."
Some time later.
He saw Lee's group frozen before a massive gate at the corridor's end. The gate stood wide open, and all three bore horrified expressions.
"What happened?"
Gen approached.
He needed no answer. One glance beyond the gate told all.
A sea of Orcs.
In stark contrast to the dim corridor, the vast chamber beyond glowed with magical light, illuminating a horde of snarling monsters. Orcs, level 18 to 20, led by two Level 30 Orc Leaders—the same type Celestia's unit had struggled to defeat. Clearly, they'd been revived by the Dungeon's ancient magic.
"Ugh... These Orcs got recreated by the room again..." one bald twin groaned in despair. Unless someone foolishly charged in, the Orcs would not leave their room. But the three of them had no hope of winning.
"So, how long are you planning to stand there? Either charge in or get lost. Decide quickly." Gen snapped, then turned to Dolly. "Wait here."
"If you want to live, follow me."
While Lee's group still reeled in confusion, Gen became a blur, charging straight into the Orc horde.
"W-What do we do!?"
The twins hesitated, but Lee gritted his teeth and followed.
"Yaaaahhh!!"
The bald warriors exchanged glances, then shouted and leapt in. Despite all their bickering, they worked together seamlessly in combat.
"[Muscle Strength]!!" They activated their body-enhancing skills.
"Wind Magic—[Wind Sword]!" Lee halted and swung his staff. Razor-sharp blades of wind tore through the air, slicing into the Orcs with shrieks of pain. His staff not only boosted his mana but drastically reduced casting time.
"Awesome!" the twins roared as several Orcs were cleaved in two.
But then... they froze.
The mysterious man who had plunged into the horde was now returning. Not retreating—walking calmly through a path of corpses.
As he moved, Orcs fell like wheat in a storm. He murmured [Sword Skill], but his strikes were so fast and precise that enemies fell before they could scream.
Not a drop of blood stained him. His clothes remained pristine, as if the Orcs were impaling themselves on his blade.
The trio stood stunned.
And then... they saw it.
Behind Gen, the two Level 30 Orc Leaders lay in mangled heaps, unrecognizable. The fight had ended before they even noticed it began.
Those monsters, with superior strength and numbers, should have posed a serious threat—especially since Gen was only Level 36.
But who told him to wear gear dropped from a Level 40 Bloodsucker? The rings on his fingers alone would make any adventurer go mad with envy.
In the end, that battle hadn't even been a proper warm-up for him.