Two days passed in a flash.
Eastern Outskirts of Prosperous City, Dungeon Entrance Plaza.
The plaza, usually empty and deathly silent, was now completely drowned in a clamor of voices. It was packed with graduating candidates about to enter the Dungeon, along with the teachers, family, and friends who had come to see them off.
A massive spatial rift, like a water mirror rippled by a thrown stone, silently warped and twisted in the center of the plaza, exuding a dark and mysterious gravitational pull.
Beside the rift, several enormous energy stabilization devices hummed deeply, their cold metal structures forming a stark contrast with the supernatural tear in space.
"Sis! Hurry up!"
Lin Xiyue, clad in gleaming silver knight's armor, stood out in the crowd like a mobile lightbulb.
The bulging, oversized backpack slung over her shoulders was nearly half her height. With every movement, it clanged and rattled with the sound of metal colliding—making her look like a metallic hedgehog preparing for a grand expedition.
Lin Qingyue hurried to catch up, her gaze landing on the massive backpack. The corner of her eye twitched uncontrollably.
"Did you bring the whole house with you?"
"This is a Dungeon exam, not a wilderness survival trip."
In contrast, her own pack was streamlined to the extreme, containing only essential survival supplies and potions—nothing more.
As for the pink staff she kept ready for "physical salvation," it rested silently in her System Space, taking up not a single slot of Equipment Space.
"Better safe than sorry!" Lin Xiyue declared, slapping her chestplate with a crisp metallic clang.
She puffed out her chest proudly. "I have to protect you, Sis! Bringing extra supplies gives me peace of mind!"
"Look, I even secretly packed five bags of your favorite spicy strips!"
"Streamline it! Leave the non-essentials! How are you supposed to fight while carrying all that?"
-
Around them, other teams were mostly standard three-to-four-person squads, all well-equipped. Their members murmured tactics to each other, their gazes sweeping over potential rivals.
In contrast, the team of just the two sisters looked exceptionally vulnerable.
Many gazes fell upon them, a mix of pity, disdain, and undisguised mockery.
"Just two girls, a Paladin and a Priest... Is this lineup meant to just hand over points?"
"They did well in the Arena Tournament, but a Dungeon isn't an arena. Monsters won't fight you one-on-one with honor."
"They're probably planning to rely on the Paladin's defense to survive until the exam ends. They'll be lucky to just get participation points."
Lin Xiyue's delicate brows shot up in anger. If Lin Qingyue hadn't grabbed her arm, she would have charged forward with her shield to "educate" those people on the principle that "the best offense is a good defense."
"Ignore them," Lin Qingyue said, her voice as calm as a deep pool of water. She was busy checking her Noelle Character Card and special supplies in her System Space.
"Stay close to me once we're inside. Stick to the plan we discussed."
Soon, official staff began organizing the examinees into lines to enter the Dungeon.
A wave of slight dizziness washed over them, as if their souls had been briefly pulled from their bodies and then shoved back in.
Hand in hand, Lin Qingyue and Lin Xiyue were completely engulfed by the teleportation light.
-
The scene before them shifted abruptly.
A distinct odor washed over them—a mixture of damp earth and decaying plants, tinged with a strange, metallic sweetness.
Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, their canopies overlapping in dense layers. The light filtered through, leaving only dappled fragments that danced on the thick carpet of fallen leaves.
A faint mist hung in the air, severely limiting visibility.
The silence was terrifying, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind and the buzzing hum of some unknown insect's wings drilling into their eardrums.
"So this is the 'Shadowed Forest'?" Lin Xiyue tightened her grip on her shield, her eyes darting warily around. "It feels... oppressive."
Lin Qingyue nodded.
She could feel an invisible mental pressure, like a spiderweb enveloping them, constantly prodding at their nerves, trying to stir up irritation and unease.
This must be the "Continuous Mental Strain" mentioned in the rules, she thought.
She raised her wrist. The Exam Wristband glowed faintly, showing they were on the edge of the Dungeon, with most of the map obscured by thick fog.
Points: 0
Ranking: Unranked
"First, let's find a sheltered, hidden spot, then we'll explore outward," Lin Qingyue decided quickly.
Her perception, honed by her experience with the Millelith, allowed her to vaguely discern which direction held a stronger sense of threat.
The sisters suppressed their auras and moved cautiously through the dense forest.
Lin Xiyue led with her shield, while Lin Qingyue brought up the rear, holding that blindingly pink staff. Her gaze was like a scalpel, dissecting every dark corner that might hide danger.
They hadn't gone far when a rustling sound erupted from the bushes ahead.
"Careful!" Lin Xiyue hissed, instantly dropping into a low stance. She planted her shield firmly in front of her, and a flicker of Holy Light flashed across its surface.
Hiss—!
Three black shadows tore through the air, lunging from the bushes!
Jungle Poison Wolves!
Their fur was pitch-black, their crimson eyes burning with ravenous hunger. The stench of their saliva-laced breath washed over the sisters as they attacked.
The wristband vibrated instantly, displaying a notification:
[Jungle Poison Wolf Lv. 18]
[Points: 15/each]
[Traits: Agile, Attacks inflict neurotoxin, Pack-dwelling]
"Three of them! Sis, get back!" Lin Xiyue shouted, fearless. She thrust her shield forward as a soft ring of Holy Light bloomed around her, activating the skill [Devotion Aura] to slightly increase her and Lin Qingyue's armor.
In the past, Lin Qingyue would have already retreated behind her sister and begun chanting [Power Word: Shield].
But today, she merely sidestepped, clearing the direct defensive line of Lin Xiyue's shield.
She leveled the pink, bow-topped staff in her hand, its tip angled toward the ground.
It was the standard opening stance of the Millelith Spear Techniques.
"No need. Let's take them together. Quick and clean."
Before her words faded, the lead Poison Wolf leaped through the air, its sharp claws aimed straight for Lin Xiyue's shield arm!
Just as Lin Xiyue was about to block with her shield, a pink blur shot past her, striking first despite moving second!
Thwump!
It was the dull thud of metal sinking into flesh.
Lin Qingyue lunged forward, her staff striking like a spear—precise, ruthless, and instantly piercing the wolf's relatively soft underbelly
The ferocious force sent the hundred-pound Poison Wolf flying backward. It slammed violently against the trunk of a giant tree, let out a short whimper, and slid limply to the ground, twitching before losing all combat capability.
"Sis! You..." Lin Xiyue knew her sister was strong in close combat, but this was the first time she'd witnessed such brutal elegance up close. "No matter how many times I see it, watching you fight with that pink lollipop is just so... jarring!"
The remaining two Poison Wolves, enraged by their companion's fate, split up and closed in from the left and right, forming a pincer attack.
Lin Xiyue snapped back to reality, swinging her massive shield horizontally to block the wolf on the right. The screech of claws scraping against metal pierced the air.
Meanwhile, the wolf on the left cunningly circled behind Lin Qingyue, its blood-red maw gaping wide!