The ground cracked lightly beneath Jin's foot as he moved, lightning-threaded motion carrying him ahead of the formation in a clean burst. The first Stonefang Wolf lunged from the left wall, claws scraping stone, but Jin twisted mid-step and drove his spear forward with practiced precision.
[ Focused Strike ]
The thrust pierced the wolf's shoulder at an angle—deep enough to tear muscle and ruin balance, but not enough to kill. The beast crashed into the ground, screeching as it rolled.
Two more wolves rushed in, one from each side. Jin didn't slow or retreat. He slipped between them, spear sweeping low in a controlled arc, slicing tendons and flanks before either could commit fully. Blood splattered the stone as the wolves staggered back, wounded but alive, instincts forcing them to retreat and reassess.
"Now," Jin said, already moving back.
Liang Xu stepped forward and drove his shield into the ground.
[ Earthguard Brace ]
Stone-aspected energy locked his stance, turning him into an immovable anchor.
Chen followed immediately, blade flashing.
[ Crosswind Slash ]
Compressed air tore through one of the crippled wolves, ending it cleanly.
Sun Wei raised his staff, breath tight but focused.
[ Venom Spit ]
A thick glob of toxin struck another wolf mid-leap, dropping it convulsing to the ground.
Qiao Ning stayed silent, eyes tracking each of them, gene energy held in reserve as she monitored injuries and stamina.
The remaining wolves backed off, pacing warily instead of charging again.
"They're fast," Chen muttered, adjusting his grip.
Jin nodded slightly. "But they learn. They won't rush blindly again."
They pushed forward.
The pace stayed steady, clashes short and controlled. Jin moved with unsettling ease, his spear always striking first, weakening targets before leaving them for the others to finish. Minutes passed, and before anyone noticed, they were already approaching the middle of the gorge.
Chen wasn't breathing hard. Neither was Jin.
The others were.
Sun Wei wiped sweat from his forehead, Liang Xu's shield arm trembling slightly as he reset his stance. Qiao Ning exhaled slowly, keeping herself steady.
"We're slowing you down," Sun Wei said quietly. "You don't have to hold back."
Liang Xu nodded. "We can tell you're doing it on purpose."
Jin slowed and looked at Chen.
Chen met his gaze for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You go. I'll handle things here. Someone's got to show them what Tenth Academy can really do."
Jin's expression softened just a little. "Alright. I'll leave them to you."
When he moved again, it was different.
Not rushed. Not explosive.
Just faster.
Only then did they realize he hadn't been using his full speed.
Wolves rushed him and fell in quick succession, bodies collapsing behind him as lightning snapped faintly around his steps. By the time the arena reacted, Jin had already reached the open cavern ahead.
The boss den.
Even Teacher Han Qiu stiffened, eyes fixed on the screen.
Jin rolled his shoulder once, spear resting loosely in his hand, and stepped forward as the Stonefang Alpha began to rise.
The passage ahead opened into a wider stone chamber.
The ground was littered with deep claw marks, some fresh, some old.
Jin slowed his steps.
From the darkness ahead, a low growl echoed.
A large grey wolf stepped out.
It was bigger than the others, its body lean and tightly packed with muscle. Its eyes were calm, alert—nothing like the frantic wolves from before.
"The alpha," Jin thought.
The moment their eyes met, it moved.
The wolf crossed the distance in a blink, claws tearing at the ground as it lunged straight for his throat.
Jin pulled his body sideways and felt the wind of its bite graze past his neck. The impact shattered stone where he had been standing.
Before he could counter, the wolf was already gone, circling.
Fast.
Much faster than the others.
Jin adjusted his stance and tightened his grip on the spear.
The alpha attacked again, this time from the side. Jin blocked with the shaft, but the force still pushed him back a step. The wolf didn't stop. It pressed forward, claws and fangs striking in rapid succession.
Jin retreated steadily, parrying instead of attacking.
"So you're testing me," he thought.
He could feel it now—the rhythm of its movement.
The wolf lunged again.
This time, Jin stepped forward instead of back.
The spear stabbed out, grazing its shoulder. Not enough to kill it, but enough to slow it for a moment.
The alpha landed and immediately jumped away, eyes narrowing.
Both of them paused.
Jin exhaled slowly and adjusted his grip on the spear.
The alpha moved again, its body lowering before it sprang forward, claws tearing across the stone as it committed fully to the charge.
Jin's breathing stayed steady.
Water-aspected gene energy gathered quietly along the spearhead, not overflowing, not flashy—compressed, dense.
[ Tidebreaker Thrust ]
He stepped in and thrust.
The spear pierced straight through the alpha's chest.
A heavy impact followed as the compressed water force exploded outward, hurling the wolf's body back into the stone wall behind it.
The alpha slid down slowly, leaving a dark trail on the rock before collapsing onto the ground.
Its body twitched once.
Then went still.
Jin kept his stance for a second longer, watching.
Only when he was sure did he lower the spear.
He turned and walked back toward the exit without looking back.
[ Dungeon Cleared ]
Stonefang Gorge
Completion Time: 09:35
Inside the dungeon, the moment the system notice appeared, there was a short silence.
Then—
"What?! Nine minutes?!"
Sun Wei shouted first, staring at the glowing panel like it might be wrong.
"9:35?!" Liang Xu yelled, then laughed out loud. "Are you kidding me?! That's faster than First Academy!"
Qiao Ning covered her mouth for a second before breaking into a smile. "We're… first?"
Zhao Chen turned to Jin, eyes wide, then burst out laughing. "You did it. You actually did it."
Jin had just walked back when they rushed him all at once.
Someone grabbed his shoulder, someone else nearly tackled him, and the next thing he knew, all four of them were crowding around him, laughing and shouting over each other.
"We shaved almost seven minutes off the record!"
"Stonefang Gorge in nine minutes—who does that?!"
"This isn't even supposed to be a speed dungeon!"
Jin let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and smiled. "Alright, alright. You're crushing me."
But he didn't push them away.
Outside the dungeon, the reaction exploded.
Lower-ranked academy sections erupted first.
Cheers burst out, loud and unrestrained.
"They did it!"
"Starfall Tenth is first!"
"Nine minutes?! Are you serious?!"
Students from smaller schools stood up, clapping, shouting names they hadn't even known this morning.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere around the top academies dropped sharply.
Faces darkened.
Some stared at the ranking board in disbelief. Others clenched their jaws.
"That shouldn't be possible."
No one answered.
The replay footage was already looping on the main screen—Jin moving ahead, breaking the pack's rhythm, the team cleaning up with precision.
In the scout sections, the mood shifted completely.
"Who's Wei Jin?"
"Starfall Tenth Academy?"
"Pull their school records—now."
"A 9.9 purity and this level of execution… how did he stay hidden?"
Names were written down. Messages were sent out quietly.
When the dungeon gate finally opened, Team 211 stepped out together.
They looked excited.
Sun Wei pumped his fist in the air. "We did it!"
Liang Xu laughed loudly. "First place! Who would've thought!"
Qiao Ning smiled so hard her cheeks hurt.
Zhao Chen walked beside Jin and clapped him on the shoulder. "Nice work, captain."
Jin scratched his cheek lightly. "You guys did your part too."
But the crowd didn't care about modesty.
"Jin!"
"Wei Jin!"
"Starfall Tenth!"
The name spread quickly, echoing through the arena.
Teacher Han Qiu stood frozen for a moment—then slowly exhaled.
A smile crept onto his face.
"Good," he murmured. "Very good."
Team 211 stood together under the lights, laughter still spilling out between them.
For the first time that day—
Starfall Tenth Academy was at the top.