Back inside, Arthur continued his hunt, unaware of the reinforcements or the growing urgency beyond the dungeon walls.
He moved through the thickening mana with steady focus, his senses locked onto the next distortion ahead.
The dungeon had begun to fight back.
And Arthur welcomed the challenge.
Meanwhile, the moment the Bronze Squad stepped into the dungeon, they knew something was wrong.
The air itself felt heavy.
Mana flowed like thick smoke, unstable and restless. The pressure clung to their skin, sharp and uncomfortable.
And the goblins.
They were everywhere.
Groups moved through the pathways in numbers far beyond what an E rank dungeon should produce. Some roamed without pattern, others gathered in clusters, and more kept appearing from deeper areas.
One of the squad members clicked his tongue. "That's not normal."
Captain Ryn didn't respond immediately. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, already measuring the situation.
The numbers.
The frequency.
