The four hunters stood in awkward silence, each one still processing the impossibility of their surroundings. Two moons. Alien trees. And the silhouette of that had just flown over them.
The tall man in heavy armor was the first to speak. He straightened himself, his posture felt rigid and militaristic. "Isaac Thorne. B-Rank. Confederation Guild." His voice was sharp. "Tank specialization. Shield and defensive skills."
The woman with twin daggers nodded. "Lyra. A-Rank. Glory Road." Her eyes were sharp and Yuki felt a sort of justness about her. She had the bearing of someone who wouldn't stand for injustice. "Dual-blade specialist."
The younger man clutched his staff nervously, but forced a bright smile. "Lucien Wells! B-Rank, Gate Zero! I'm a support mage, buffs, barriers, a little healing. Nice to meet you all!" His cheerful energy seemed almost out of place given their situation.
All three turned to Yuki expectantly.
She swallowed. "Yuki Goldberg. C-Rank. In-...Independent hunter." She gestured to Owen on her shoulder. "This is Owen. My Dragon."
Isaac's eyes widened. "Wait. The dragon tamer? I knew I recognised that little beast from somewhere!"
Lyra's sharp gaze locked onto Owen with newfound respect. "I've heard about you. You caused quite a stir at HQ."
Lucien practically bounced with excitement. "Oh my gosh, a real dragon! I mean wee just saw one fly over us too but.... Can I, can I touch him? Just once?"
Owen huffed, puffing out a small cloud of steam. "Absolutely not."
Yuki quickly summoned Owen back into her [Beast Space] before Lucien could get any closer. "Maybe later. For now..." She looked at the three of them. "We should work together. At least until we figure out where we are and what this Dungeon is about."
Lyra nodded. "Agreed. Story Dungeons are unpredictable. We should take advance of our Strength in numbers."
Isaac fell into step beside them, his shield already drawn. "Standard formation. I'll take point. Miss Lyra, rear guard. Sir Lucien, stay in the center with Miss Yuki."
"Roger that!" Lucien said cheerfully.
They began walking deeper into the forest.
---
As they moved through the massive trees, lucien couldn't contain his curiosity. "So, about that dragon earlier? The one that flew overhead right after we entered?"
"Yeah?" Lyra said, her voice tense. "Massive. Easily the size of a building. Probably S-Rank or higher."
Isaac grunted. "If that thing is the dungeon boss, we'll need everyone who entered this dungeon to take it down. A coordinated assault from all the guilds."
"Assuming we can even find everyone" Lyra added. "Story Dungeons don't always keep parties together. We might be scattered across this entire... world? Dimension? Whatever this place is."
Yuki's stomach tightened. The sheer scale of this dungeon felt overwhelming.
A rustling sound ahead made them all freeze.
Isaac raised his shield. "Contact"
From the underbrush emerged a group of creatures, short, green-skinned, with pointed ears and crude weapons. Goblins. Six of them, snarling and advancing.
"Hah, Standard mobs, I'm relieved just seeing them" Lyra said, unsheathing her daggers.
Isaac charged forward, his shield slamming into the first goblin and sending it flying. Lyra moved like a shadow, her blades flashing as she cut down two more in rapid succession. Lucien raised his staff, casting [Speed Boost] on Isaac and Lyra, and their movements became even faster.
Yuki activated [Beast Sync], copying Owen's [Fireball] skill. She aimed at the remaining goblins and unleashed a concentrated blast. The creatures screeched as flames consumed them.
Within seconds, all six goblins were dead.
Lucien whistled. "Wow, you're way stronger than most C-Ranks"
Yuki forced a smile. "I've hada good teacher"
They continued walking.
---
After another hour of trekking through the forest, the trees began to thin. Light filtered through the canopy more strongly now.
And ahead, rising above the treeline, were walls.
Massive stone walls, easily fifty feet high, stretching as far as the eye could see. Guard towers dotted the perimeter, and banners fluttered in the breeze, Red cloth designed with a golden dragon emblem.
"A city" Isaac breathed.
As they approached, they saw the gates, enormous wooden doors reinforced with iron. And standing guard in front were two soldiers in full plate armor, spears crossed, blocking entry.
"Humans?" Yuki whispered, confused. "There are humans in the dungeon?"
Lyra glanced at her. "You really don't know much about Story Dungeons, do you?"
Yuki shook her head.
Lyra sighed. "Think of them as NPCs. Like in a video game. They look human, talk like humans, but they're not real. They're constructs of the dungeon. Part of the Story. They'll follow scripts, offer quests, give information. But they're not alive the way we are."
"That's... unsettling" Yuki muttered.
Lucien shrugged. "Just go with it. The dungeon creates a narrative. We're players in that narrative now."
The four of them approached the gate.
The two guards immediately lowered their spears, crossing them to bar entry.
"Halt!" one barked. "State your business and present identification!"
Isaac stepped forward. "We're travelers. We don't have..."
"No identification?" the guard sneered. "Then you don't enter. Orders from the Captain."
The second guard raised his spear threateningly. "Move along, or we'll move you."
Yuki's heart sank. Were they seriously going to be turned away?
But Lyra stepped forward calmly, her hand disappearing into her [Inventory] as she pulled out a small pouch from it and handed it to the first guard.
The guard's eyes flicked down. He opened the pouch slightly, revealing the glint and blinding shine of gold coins inside.
His demeanor changed instantly. He pocketed the pouch smoothly and stepped aside. "Ah, my apologies. I didn't realize you were distinguished travelers. Please, enter."
The gates creaked open.
Yuki blinked. "Did you just... bribe them?"
Lyra smirked. "We are in medieval times, this is standard practice!"
Lucien giggled.
---
The city beyond the gates was breathtaking.
Cobblestone streets stretched in every direction, lined with medieval-style buildings, stone and timber, thatched roofs, market stalls overflowing with goods. People filled the streets, dressed in tunics, robes, leather armor. Merchants hawked wares. Children ran through alleys. The smell of fire and iron filled the air as Blacksmiths hammered at forges.
It looked too real to just be part of a dungeon.
But Yuki couldn't shake the uncanny feeling. These weren't real people. They were constructs. Scripts playing out in an endless loop.
Their modern armor and clothing drew stares. Yuki's hunter gear, Isaac's advanced plating, Lyra's sleek tactical outfit, lucien's enchanted robes, they all stood out like sore thumbs.
But the NPCs quickly lost interest and returned to their routines.
Isaac glanced at a nearby tavern. "I need to find my guild members. Confederation should have a rally point."
Lucien nodded. "Same. Gate Zero hunters were supposed to regroup at the central market."
Lyra looked at Yuki. "You don't have a guild, so you don't have a rally point. Want to stick with me for a bit? I can teach you the basics of navigating a Story Dungeon"
Yuki hesitated. "Why would you help me?"
Lyra shrugged. "My guild master,Aurelius Solhart, has a philosophy. 'Strong individuals strengthen humanity, Together'. Besides..." She glanced at where Owen had been. "I'm curious about that dragon of yours "
Yuki weighed her options. She was completely out of her depth here. Having someone experienced guide her, even temporarily, was smart.
"Alright" Yuki said. "I'll come with you."
Isaac nodded approvingly. "Smart choice. Glory Road has the best intel on Story Dungeons."
Lucien gave a cheerful wave. "Good luck, Yuki! Maybe we'll run into each other again!"
The group split up.
Isaac marched toward the northern district as Lucien skipped towards the market square.
And Yuki followed Lyra deeper into the medieval city, her mind racing with questions.
What is this place? What's the Story we're supposed to complete? And what role will that massive dragon we saw earlier play in all of this?
Lyra glanced back at her. "Keep up. And stay alert. The real danger in Story Dungeons aren't just the monsters"
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Yuki asked.
Lyra's expression darkened. "You'll see..."