Two years later.
Standing at the entrance of a dungeon was a pale blonde-haired, tall elven teen with lean muscles—ones that could only be acquired from strict regime training that enhanced dexterity and agility.
He was dressed as if ready for a fight, in fitting combat robes beneath light leather chest armor.
Around him were several other elven teens in teams of four, also dressed similarly in varying armor.
"The rules are simple," came an authoritative voice from the side of the dungeon's entrance,
where teachers and academy staff stood with arranged equipment necessary for monitoring mana signals from the dungeon. Behind them were emergency medic tents staffed with healers on standby.
"Once you step into the dungeon, each team will be transported randomly into different zones."
Aeon paid full attention to the instructor, an imposing man with a domineering aura—one of the largest elves he had seen so far, standing 1.9 meters tall with heavily compact lean muscles.
"Please ensure you step in together with your teams, because although the bracelet handed out ensures you remain together, it doesn't account for members that don't get teleported at the same time.
"Once you're in, your bracelet records each defeated monster in a points system.
"Each F-rank monster awards one point, E-rank monsters award two points, and finally, D-rank monsters award five points.
"Your team's final rank is determined by the total sum of points you individually accumulate.
"And finally, do not forget that anything below 20 points is an automatic fail," the instructor concluded.
"Hey, am I the only one feeling a little bit scared?" asked Beren Zylkian,
a thirteen-year-old teen with short blonde hair who's been friends with Aeon since his first year of school.
"Uhmm… although it's an E-rank dungeon, I heard D-rank monsters rarely appear, so it shouldn't be that much different from fights we've had with E-rank monsters. I think…"
Amarie Eigarwyn, a twelve-year-old girl with amber hair and turquoise eyes, nervously replied.
Aeon chuckled, watching his teammates nervously prepare for their first run in an E-rank dungeon.
They'd made so much progress over the years that it began to show not just in the way they handled their skills, but also in their temperament.
Out of everyone Aeon knew, Isode was the one that had changed the most.
Where a goofy silver-haired child that always clung too close to him once was, now stood a cold ethereal beauty with sharp features and eyes that seemed eternally frozen in indifference.
"Other teams have already started moving in, we should too," Aeon said, drawing his sword from its sheath.
As the unofficial team leader, Isode led the team into the dungeon. She carried a long sword that looked as if it had been cut from diamonds.
Beren carried a sword and a shield.
Amarie held a bow, with her quiver and daggers strapped to her back and waist.
And although they had no mage, Isode balanced the team with her high mana output, while Aeon played the role of healer and assault—making them a somewhat balanced team of two assault, one support, a healer, and a tank.
When they walked through the dungeon entrance, Aeon was momentarily blinded by a bright light.
When he was finally able to see again, he attentively scanned his surroundings and noticed how different his new location looked.
The air felt different. Mana was noticeably more present here than it was outside—albeit flowing more chaotically.
The walls and ceilings were covered in sharp-edged rocks, like that of a cave. It was also darker here, with luminous rocks and crystals embedded in the ceilings and walls, being the only source of light.
"Ughhh…"
His teammates, still visibly disoriented from the abrupt teleportation, groaned while they tried to gather their bearings.
"I don't think I'm ever going to get used to that," Beren said disgruntled, with a hand on his head.
"No signs of monsters yet, but over there and there—tracks of maybe four or six of them," Amarie said, already getting to work despite still feeling a bit dizzy.
She followed the tracks she pointed to, scrutinizing each briefly before she looked back at Isode.
"Judging from the print sizes, I'd say goblins. And with how recent they appear, they can't be that far."
Isode replied with a nod before following Amarie, tracing the goblin tracks.
"Ah, man, is this how you feel every time you use your skill?" Beren said, wrapping one arm around Aeon's shoulder.
Aeon, thanks to his [SSS Rank] space affinity, had managed to acquire a [Teleportation] skill. He had tried using his unique [Riftwalk] skill but could only manage to open portals big enough for teacups.
"Honestly, no. I've never had problems with teleportation the way everyone else does," Aeon replied with a grin.
"Tch," Beren hissed.
"Lucky you and your space affinity," he said, increasing the pressure of the arm around Aeon's shoulder.
"Trust me when I say—it's really, really, really… not pleasant at all," he emphasized each word with a pause.
Aeon chuckled, removing Beren's arm from his shoulders.
"I guess."
He remembered how big of a commotion his triple [SSS Rank] affinity caused.
Looking up toward Isode, who had also caused surprise and wonder with her double [SSS Rank] affinities, he had expected more.
But for some reason, the affinity orb—known for its precise evaluations—could only detect [SSS Rank] affinities from her.
The thought of her [EX Rank] being false crossed his mind, but he debunked it almost immediately.
He was sure she wasn't lying when she told him about her affinity rank two years ago.
"Get ready, we're close."
Amarie slowed down her pace while drawing an arrow from her quiver.
They walked in dreadful silence, footsteps echoing slightly with every step until the chittering noise of goblins broke the oppressive quiet.
Several meters ahead they could faintly see about twelve goblins around a makeshift campfire—dirty little green men with bald heads and long noses, dressed in makeshift beast furs tied around their loins.
"They're way more than expected," Beren said, shifting his weight.
"Nothing we can't handle," Isode said after scanning the camp.
"Ten F-rank goblins, one goblin archer, and one E-rank goblin shaman," said Amarie.
"Amarie will take out the archer, I'll face the shaman, while the two of you handle the rest," Isode instructed.
The goblins were still oblivious around their campfire when suddenly, an arrow burst through a goblin's eye—splattering green blood and brain matter onto the goblins nearby.
Shriieeek!
Panic swept through the camp as the goblins fumbled to take up makeshift weapons of rock and iron.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Amarie followed through, taking out two more goblins and critically impaling another.
Shrieeek! Shieeek!
The goblin shaman ordered, its voice louder than the rest, directing them toward Beren, who charged in with his shield and sword raised, inches away from smashing into a goblin.
Behind him, Aeon sped toward the camp at full speed before activating his first acquired skill—[Teleportation]—appearing within the midst of three goblins.
He took the head of the first goblin before it could get its bearings,
using the momentum of the sword swing to shift his weight to his left foot,
and the arc of his sword to guard against a stone axe from the goblin sixty degrees to his left.
CLAAANG!
The force made him stumble two steps back,
but he kept his eyes on the second goblin that had already raised its iron sword in a swing toward his left shoulder.
Despite seeing its trajectory,
Aeon charged in—leaving only inches between them before teleporting behind the other goblin,
and impaled its heart with a sword thrust.
"Fwooo…"
With only one goblin left before him,
Aeon finally released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Raising his sword,
he noticed how bloody it had gotten as he walked toward the last goblin,
which had already begun running in fear.
He slashed the air,
splattering all the blood clinging to it onto the ground.
He raised his sword again, admiring how spotless it now was before channeling mana into it until it began glowing in a bluish-green color.
Adjusting into a proper sword stance,
Aeon slashed his sword horizontally toward the running goblin.
The blade released a bluish-green arc that traveled fast, almost like wind,
decapitating the goblin several meters ahead.
By the time Aeon was done,
Isode and Beren had already finished taking down the rest of the goblins.
He looked toward what barely remained of the goblin shaman,
its body littered with arrows and frostbite—no doubt from Amarie's support.
"That rounds up to fourteen points—and that too within our first five minutes in the dungeon. We're off to a great start," Beren laughed sheepishly.
The four teens regrouped,
their appearance still pristine, without wrinkle or stain despite the carnage they caused.
"Let's head on. We're going to need way more than fourteen points if we're going to make it to first place," Isode said, her eyes glowing briefly in silver hues.