As promised, the next day we returned to Dwargen to finish the Dark Mines dungeon and reach level 900 as fast as possible.
No sightseeing. No wandering. No accidental side quests because someone saw a shiny rock.
Just grinding.
So far, we had crossed the early 800s. The progress was steady. Brutal, but steady. With this pace, I was sure we would be able to protect and save Zethara in time.
That thought stayed in my chest like a burning ember. It never cooled. It never disappeared.
We didn't wait long and immediately went to the dungeon's entrance.
The moment we stepped inside, the system appeared.
[DARK MINES DUNGEON]
[DIFFICULT MODE CLEARED]
[HELL MODE UNLOCKED]
The air changed.
No.
It rotted.
A heavy, suffocating darkness pressed against us. It wasn't just visual. It clung to the skin, seeped into the lungs, crawled under armor. Even breathing felt wrong, as if the air itself was watching.
It was ominous. Dark aura mingled with every breath we took.
